Load carrier for motor vehicles

• US 7,857,180 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbH (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Car Top Systems GmbH (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hahn, Gerald, Waller, Michael, Bergerhoff, Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): LARSON, JUSTIN MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US11/773,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20080006665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 224/282, 224/496, 224/497, 224/508, 224/924, 224/489, 224/491, 224/281, 224/495, 224/510, 296/26.09, 340/904, 340/438, 340/426.34
• US Class Current: 224/510
• 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 bicycle carrier includes a base holder mountable to a vehicle and a support holder for holding a bicycle. The holders both include front and rear frames which extend transversely to a longitudinal vehicle direction. The support holder is movable in the longitudinal direction between a neutral position in which the holders extend over one another and an operating position in which the holders extend out from one another. The front frames meet when the support holder is in the neutral position and the rear frames meet when the support holder is in the operating position. A switch has a pair of switching components respectively located on one of the pair of front frames or the pair of rear frames. The switching components contact one another to activate the switch when the pair of frames meet and the switch actuates an indicator device upon being activated.

Claims

1. A bicycle carrier for a vehicle, the carrier comprising:

a base holder mountable to a vehicle, wherein the base holder includes transversely extending spaced-apart front and rear frames;

a support holder for holding a bicycle, wherein the support holder includes transversely extending spaced-apart front and rear frames;

wherein the support holder is movable relative to the base holder between a neutral position and an operating position, wherein the front frames meet when the support holder is in the neutral position and the rear frames meet when the support holder is in the operating position;

first and second indicators and a warning device;

a first switch connected to the first indicator, the first switch having a pair of first switching components respectively located on the front frames, wherein the first switching components contact one another to activate the first switch when the front frames meet while the support holder is in the neutral position, wherein the first switch actuates the first indicator upon being activated;

a second switch connected to the second indicator, the second switch having a pair of second switching components respectively located on the rear frames, wherein the second switching components contact one another to activate the second switch when the rear frames meet while the support holder is in the operating position, wherein the second switch actuates the second indicator upon being activated; and

wherein the first and second switches are operable together to actuate the warning device when neither switch is activated while the support holder is not in either of the neutral position operating position.

2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the first and second indicator devices includes a sound generator or a light generator.

3. The carrier of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the first and second indicator devices includes a tail light.

4. A bicycle carrier for a vehicle, the carrier comprising:

a base holder mountable to a vehicle, wherein the base holder includes front and rear frame elements which are spaced apart from one another and extend transversely to a longitudinal vehicle direction;

a support holder for holding a bicycle, wherein the support holder includes front and rear frame elements which are spaced apart from one another and extend transversely to the longitudinal vehicle direction;

wherein the support holder is movable relative to the base holder in the longitudinal vehicle direction between a neutral position and an operating position, wherein the front frame elements meet when the support holder is in the neutral position, wherein the rear frame elements meet when the support holder is in the operating position;

a first switch having a pair of first switching components respectively located on the front frame elements, wherein the first switching components contact one another to activate the first switch when the front frame elements meet while the support holder is in the neutral position;

a second switch having a pair of second switching components respectively located on the rear frame elements, wherein the second switching components contact one another to activate the second switch when the rear frame elements meet while the support holder is in the operating position;

a first indicator device actuable to generate an indicator indicating that the support holder is in the neutral position, wherein the first switch actuates the first indicator device upon being activated while the support holder is in the neutral position;

a second indicator device actuable to generate an indicator indicating that the support holder is in the operating position, wherein the second switch actuates the second indicator device upon being activated while the support holder is in the operating position; and

a warning device actuable to generate a warning signal indicating that the support holder is in an intermediate position between the neutral position and the operating position, wherein the switches are operable together to actuate the warning device when neither switch is activated while the support holder is not in either of the neutral position or the operating position.

5. The carrier of claim 4 wherein:

one of the indicator devices includes a tail light connected to one of the base holder and the support holder.

6. The carrier of claim 4 wherein:

each pair of the switch components respectively form a Reed contact relay.

7. The carrier of claim 4 wherein:

the warning signal is an acoustic signal.

8. The carrier of claim 4 wherein:

the warning signal is a visual signal.

9. The carrier of claim 4 wherein:

the warning device is in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

10. The carrier of claim 9 wherein:

the warning device is on an instrument panel in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

11. A bicycle carrier for a vehicle, the carrier comprising:

a base holder mountable to a vehicle, wherein the base holder includes front and rear frame elements which are spaced apart from one another and extend transversely to a longitudinal vehicle direction;

a support holder for holding a bicycle, wherein the support holder includes front and rear frame elements which are spaced apart from one another and extend transversely to the longitudinal vehicle direction;

wherein the support holder is movable relative to the base holder in the longitudinal vehicle direction between a neutral position and an operating position, wherein the front frame elements meet when the support holder is in the neutral position, wherein the rear frame elements meet when the support holder is in the operating position;

a first switch having a pair of first switching components respectively located on the front frame elements, wherein the first switching components contact one another to activate the first switch when the front frame elements meet while the support holder is in the neutral position;

a first indicator device supported on at least one of the base holder and the support holder, the first indicator device connected to the first switch and actuable to generate an indicator indicating that the support holder is in the neutral position, wherein the first switch actuates the first indicator device upon being activated while the support holder is in the neutral position;

a second switch having a pair of second switching components respectively located on the rear frame elements, wherein the second switching components contact one another to activate the second switch when the rear frame elements meet while the support holder is in the operating position;

a second indicator device supported on at least one of the base holder and the support holder, the second indicator device connected to the second switch and actuable to generate an indicator indicating that the support holder is in the operating position, wherein the second switch actuates the second indicator device upon being activated while the support holder is in the operating position; and

a warning device actuable to generate a warning signal indicating that the support holder is in an intermediate position between the neutral position and the operating position, wherein the switches are operable together to actuate the warning device when neither switch is activated while the support holder is not in either of the neutral position or the operating position.

12. The carrier of claim 11 wherein:

at least one of the first and second indicator devices includes a sound generator.

13. The carrier of claim 11 wherein:

at least one of the first and second indicator devices includes a light generator.

14. The carrier of claim 11 wherein:

at least one of the first and second indicator devices includes a tail light.

15. The carrier of claim 11 wherein:

the second indicator device includes a pair of tail lights supported on the support holder.

16. The carrier of claim 11 wherein:

the switch components of the first switch form a first Reed contact relay, and the switch components of the second switch form a second Reed contact relay.