Securing device for connecting bicycle rack to vehicle

• US 8,006,876 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chiu-Kuei Wang
• Original Assignee: Chiu-Kuei Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Chiu-Kuei
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson; Justin M
• Assistant Examiner(s): COGILL, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US12/153,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20080303244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 224/520, 224/555, 224/558, 224/924, 248481-482, 248/288.31, 248/288.51, 248/181.1, 269/109, 269/191, 403141-143, 403/122, 403/90, 280511-512, 70209-210, 70215-217
• US Class Current: 224/520
• 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 connection device for connecting a bicycle rack to a connection member on a vehicle includes a clamping unit composed of four quarters and a mounting member is mounted onto the four quarters withinhich the connection member is enclosed. A bolt'"'"'s head is clamped by four respective protrusions on the four quarters and the shank extends through the top of the clamping unit and the mounting member so as to be connected with a knob. A lock is received in the knob and cooperated with the bolt. The mounting member has a T-shaped slot and two lugs extend from the mounting member. The vertical slot is located between the two lugs and a quick release unit is cooperated with the two lugs so as to control the distance between the two lugs. By using the quick release unit, the four quarters can quickly release the connection member.

Claims

1. A securing device (A) for connecting a bicycle rack (72) to a connection member (71) on a vehicle, the securing device (A) comprising:

a bolt (1) having a head (11) and a shank (12);

a clamping unit (2) composed of four quarters and each quarter having a protrusion (23) extending from a top thereof and a recessed space (21) defined in an inner side thereof, a notch (22) defined in an inner side of each of the protrusion (23), a room formed by the recessed spaces (21) of the four quarters adapted to accommodate the connection member (71), the head of the bolt (1) received in a space composed of the four notches (22) of the four quarters and the shank (12) extending through the top of the clamping unit (2);

a mounting member (3) mounted to the clamping unit (2) and having a through hole (33) defined through a top thereof, the shank (12) of the bolt (1) extending through the through hole (33), an extension (32) connected to the mounting member (3) and adapted to be connected with the bicycle rack (72), a nut (42) threadedly connected to the shank (12), and

a knob (4) having an inner threaded recess (41) which is threadedly connected to the shank (12) and pressing on the top of the mounting member (3), a lock (44) located in the knob (4) and cooperated with the shank (12) of the bolt (1).

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shank (12) of the bolt (1) includes a groove (13) defined in an outer periphery thereof and the lock (44) includes a tongue (443) extending from a body (441) of the lock (44), the tongue (443) is removably engaged with the groove (13).

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nut (42) is accommodated by a lower end of the knob (4).

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusion (23) of each of the four quarters includes a part (24) extending from a top thereof and a groove (25) is defined in an outside of each part (24), a resilient ring (26) is securely engaged with the grooves (25) of the four parts (24) on the protrusions (23).

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of recesses (27) are defined in an outer periphery of each of the quarters.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting member (3) includes a T-shaped slot (34) defined therethrough which includes a vertical slot (341) and a horizontal slot (342), the vertical slot (341) communicates with the lower end of the mounting member (3), two lugs (35) extend radially from the mounting member (3) and the vertical slot (341) is located between the two lugs (35), the two lugs (35) include two holes (351, 352) respectively, a quick release unit (5) controls the distance between the two lugs (35) so as to clamp the four quarters by the mounting member (3).

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the quick release unit (5) includes a lever (61) and a cam piece (611) is connected to an end of the lever (61), a rod (62) has a first end pivotably and eccentrically connected to the cam piece (611), a second end of the rod (62) extends through the two holes (351, 352) of the two lugs (35) and is connected with a nut (63).