Assembly for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle

• US 6,431,423 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yakima Products Incorporated (Kemflo International Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Yakima Products Incorporated (Kemflo International Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Robins, Duncan G., Settelmayer, Joseph J., Dean, Gregory A., Cole, Stephen J., Allen, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garbe, Stephen P.
• Application Number:
  US09/574,677
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 224/924, 224/501, 224/502, 224/509, 224/533, 224/537, 224/324
• US Class Current: 224/509
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/048 Carriers characterised by article-gripping , -covering,-retaining, or -locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/06 at vehicle front or rear rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/10 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/924 Vehicle attached carrier for bicycle or motorcycle

Abstract

A rack assembly for carrying recreational equipment on a vehicle. The assembly includes at least one mount attachable to the vehicle, and a load-carrying support member coupled to the mount and configured to support the recreational equipment adjacent the vehicle. At least one securing apparatus is associated with the load-carrying support member and configured to secure the equipment to the support member. The securing apparatus includes a strap adapted to extend at least partially around the recreational equipment, and a ratchet drive mechanism adapted to receive and grip one end of the strap. In one embodiment, the ratchet drive mechanism includes at least one drive actuator that is operable to grip successive portions of the strap and draw it tight around the recreational equipment.

Claims

1. Apparatus for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle having a rear hitch-mount, where the bicycle includes a frame having a top tube, a down tube and a seat tube, the apparatus comprising:

a bicycle rack mountable on the vehicle hitch-mount and adapted to support one or more bicycles adjacent the rear of the vehicle during travel, where the rack includes a generally upright mast and at least one support arm extending outwardly from the mast; and

at least one assembly mounted on the at least one support arm to hold a bicycle, including

load-carrying structure adapted to receive and retain a first one of the frame tubes of the bicycle on the support arm, the load-carrying structure including a cradle member, and

a stabilizer member coupled to the load-carrying structure and pivotal about a pivot axis to selectively grip either of the frame tubes of the bicycle other than the first one, while the first one of the frame tubes is fixedly retained by the load-carrying structure, the stabilizer member including

an elongate pivot arm with a first end portion proximal to the pivot axis and a second end portion distal to the pivot axis, and

a gripping member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the pivot arm.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, where the load-carrying structure includes a cradle member adapted to receive the top tube of the bicycle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a securing mechanism adapted to retain the top tube in the cradle member, where the securing mechanism includes a strap positionable over the top tube, a housing attached to the cradle member and adapted to receive the strap, and a ratchet coupled to the housing and adapted to engage the strap and prevent removal of the strap from the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, where the securing mechanism includes a drive actuator coupled to the housing and operable to grip the strap and advance it through the housing to tighten the strap over the top tube. cradle member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, where the drive actuator is operable to disengage the ratchet from the strap to allow removal of the strap from the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, where the housing is integrally formed with the cradle member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, where the other frame tubes of the bicycle are the seat tube and the down tube and the stabilizer includes a gripping member that is shaped to present a uniform gripping surface whether pivoted in one direction to grip the down tube, or pivoted in an opposite direction to grip the seat tube.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, where the stabilizer includes a gripping member having a gripping surface that is concave as viewed along both pivot directions.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, where the stabilizer member is pivotally mounted on the at least one support arm.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, where the support arm has a non-circular lateral cross section, and where the stabilizer member includes a pivot assembly adapted to receive, and rotate about, the support arm.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, where the pivot assembly includes a bushing adapted to fit over the support arm, and a circular collar adapted to rotate about the bushing.

12. Apparatus for securing a bicycle on a vehicle-mounted rack, where the rack includes at least one support arm adapted to support the bicycle, the apparatus comprising:

a stabilizer member coupled to the support arm and selectively pivotal about a pivot axis, where the stabilizer member includes

an elongate pivot arm with a near end adjacent the support arm, and a far end spaced apart from the support arm, and

a gripping member disposed adjacent the far end of the pivot arm, where the gripping member defines symmetric gripping surfaces facing in opposite pivot directions.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, where the support arm defines a central elongate axis, and where the pivot axis coincides with the central elongate axis of the support arm.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, where the gripping member defines oppositely concave gripping surfaces.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, where the gripping member defines a circumferentially concave gripping surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, where the gripping member defines a generally hourglass-shaped gripping surface.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, where the near end of the pivot arm includes at least one collar adapted to fit over and rotate around the support arm.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, where the stabilizer member includes a bushing rotatably receivable in the collar and having a rectilinear central bore adapted to receive a support arm having a rectilinear lateral cross-section.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, where the at least one collar includes two spaced-apart collars adapted to fit over and rotate about the support arm, and further comprising a cradle member mountable on the support arm between the spaced-apart collars, where the cradle member includes a rectilinear central bore adapted to receive and grip the support arm to prevent rotation of the cradle member about the support arm.

20. Apparatus for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle having a rear hitch-mount, where the bicycle includes a frame having a top tube, a down tube and a seat tube, the apparatus comprising:

a bicycle rack mountable on the vehicle hitch-mount and adapted to support a bicycle adjacent the rear of the vehicle during travel; and

at least one assembly mounted on the rack to hold a bicycle, including

a load-carrying member having two spaced-apart regions adapted to support the top tube of the bicycle at two corresponding spaced-apart locations,

a securing system associated with the load-carrying member and adapted to hold the top tube against both spaced-apart regions of the load-carrying member, and

a stabilizer member coupled to the load-carrying member and pivotal about a pivot axis to selectively engage and grip either the down tube or the seat tube, while the top tube is fixedly retained by the load-carrying member, the stabilizer member including

an elongate pivot arm with a first end portion proximal to the pivot axis and a second end portion distal to the pivot axis, and

a gripping member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the pivot arm.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, where the rack includes a generally upright mast and at least one support arm extending outwardly from the mast, and where the two spaced-apart regions of the load-carrying member are positioned adjacent opposite sides of the at least one support arm.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, where the securing system includes two straps, and where each strap is coupled to the load-carrying member and positioned adjacent a different one of the two spaced-apart regions.

23. A rack for securing sports equipment to a vehicle, comprising:

at least one elongate support member having a non-circular cross section;

mounting structure adapted to secure the support member to the exterior of a vehicle;

a bushing portion configured to fit around the elongate support member; and

a first member pivotally mounted to the bushing for pivotal movement about the elongate axis of the support member.

24. The rack of claim 23, wherein the mounting structure is adapted to attach to a hitch receiver tube mounted to the vehicle.

25. The rack of claim 23, wherein the elongate, support member is generally rectilinear in cross section.

26. The rack of claim 23, wherein the bushing has a generally circular outer surface and the first member includes a collar adapted to fit over the bushing.

27. Apparatus for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle having a rear hitch-mount, where the bicycle includes a frame having a top tube, a down tube and a seat tube, the apparatus comprising:

a bicycle rack mountable on the vehicle hitch-mount and adapted to support one or more bicycles adjacent the rear of the vehicle during travel, where the rack includes a generally upright mast and at least one support arm extending outwardly from the mast; and

at least one assembly mounted on the at least one support arm to hold a bicycle, including

load-carrying structure including a cradle member adapted to receive the top tube of the bicycle on the support arm,

a securing mechanism adapted to retain the top tube in the cradle member, where the securing mechanism includes a strap positionable over the top tube, a housing attached to the cradle member and adapted to receive the strap, and a ratchet coupled to the housing and adapted to engage the strap and prevent removal of the strap from the housing, and

a stabilizer member coupled to the load-carrying structure and pivotal about a pivot axis to selectively grip either the down tube or the seat tube to impede swinging of the bicycle, the stabilizer member including

an elongate pivot arm with a first end portion proximal to the pivot axis and a second end portion distal to the pivot axis, and

a gripping member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the pivot arm.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, where the securing mechanism includes a drive actuator coupled to the housing and operable to grip the strap and advance it through the housing to tighten the strap over the top tube.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, where the drive actuator is operable to disengage the ratchet from the strap to allow removal of the strap from the housing.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, where the housing is integrally formed with the cradle member.

31. Apparatus for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle having a rear hitch-mount, where the bicycle includes a frame having a top tube, a down tube and a seat tube, the apparatus comprising:

a bicycle rack mountable on the vehicle hitch-mount and adapted to support one or more bicycles adjacent the rear of the vehicle during travel, where the rack includes a generally upright mast and at least one support arm extending outwardly from the mast, the at least one support arm having a non-circular lateral cross section; and

at least one assembly mounted on the at least one support arm to hold a bicycle, including

load-carrying structure including a cradle member adapted to receive and retain a first one of the tubes of the bicycle on the support arm, and

a stabilizer member pivotally mounted on the at least one support arm, adapted to selectively grip either of the frame tubes of the bicycle other than the first one to impede swinging of the bicycle, and including a pivot assembly adapted to receive, and rotate about, the support arm, the stabilizer member including

an elongate pivot arm with a near end adjacent the support arm, and a far end spaced apart from the support arm, and

a gripping member disposed adjacent the far end of the pivot arm.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, where the pivot assembly includes a bushing adapted to fit over the support arm, and a circular collar adapted to rotate about the bushing.

33. Apparatus for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle having a rear hitch-mount, where the bicycle includes a frame having a top tube, a down tube and a seat tube, the apparatus comprising:

a bicycle rack mountable on the vehicle hitch-mount and adapted to support a bicycle adjacent the rear of the vehicle during travel; and

at least one assembly mounted on the rack to hold a bicycle, including

a load-carrying member having two spaced-apart regions adapted to support the top tube of the bicycle at two corresponding spaced-apart locations,

a securing system associated with the load-carrying member, adapted to hold the top tube against both spaced-apart regions of the load-carrying member, and including two straps, each strap being coupled to the load-carrying member and positioned adjacent a different one of the two spaced-apart regions, and

a stabilizer member coupled to the load-carrying member and selectively pivotal about a pivot axis to engage and grip either the down tube or the seat tube, the stabilizer member including

an elongate pivot arm with a first end portion adjacent the pivot axis and a second end portion spaced from the pivot axis, and

a gripping member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the pivot arm.

34. Apparatus for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle having a rear hitch-mount, where the bicycle includes a frame having a top tube, a down tube and a seat tube, the apparatus comprising:

a bicycle rack mountable on the vehicle hitch-mount and adapted to support one or more bicycles adjacent the rear of the vehicle during travel, where the rack includes a generally upright mast and at least one support arm extending outwardly from the mast; and

at least one assembly mounted on the at least one support arm to hold a bicycle, including

a load-carrying member having two spaced-apart regions adapted to support the top tube of the bicycle at two corresponding spaced-apart locations, and

a stabilizer member coupled to the load-carrying member and selectively pivotal about a pivot axis positioned generally between the two spaced-apart regions of the load-carrying member, to grip either of the frame tubes of the bicycle other than the first one to impede swinging of the bicycle, the stabilizer member including

an elongate pivot arm with a first end portion proximal to the pivot axis and a second end portion distal to the pivot axis, and

a gripping member disposed adjacent the second end portion of the pivot arm.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, where the at least one support arm defines a central elongate axis, and the pivot axis coincides with the central elongate axis of the support arm.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, where the gripping member defines oppositely concave gripping surfaces.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, where the gripping member defines a circumferentially concave gripping surface.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, where the gripping member defines a generally hourglass-shaped gripping surface.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, where the near end of the pivot arm includes at least one collar adapted to fit over and rotate around the at least one support arm.