Abstract:
A bicycle carrier includes a base and a clam shell for retaining an axle. The clam shell includes a bottom, which is coupled to the base and a lid. The lid is hingedly coupled to the clam shell and is capable of rotating between an open and closed position. A lever is coupled to the bottom and adapted to secure the lid in the closed position.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to an adapter device for attachment to the end of the fork of a bicycle to facilitate attachment of the bicycle to a bike rack after removal of the front wheel. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The typical bicycle has a fork which is adapted to receive an axle of a front wheel assembly. The axle of the front wheel assembly is received in the ends of the fork and engaged on the front fork ends using various means including clamps, quick releases, or nuts. 
         [0003]    The fork is commonly used as a means for attaching the bike on bike racks or carriers usually positioned on the roof of an automobile or in the bed of a truck. The carrier is adapted to hold the bike in an upright vertical position. The wheel of the bike is removed and the fork is inserted onto the carrier. The carrier may have a transverse rod which mimics the axle of the wheel assembly. The fork is positioned on the rod in much the same way as the front wheel axle fits in the ends of the fork. Alternatively, the carrier may have extensions on either end that fork clamps attach to. 
         [0004]    In addition to the carriers, adapters are provided that allow for multiple fork designs to be mounted on a carrier. These adapters are mounted on the carrier and the bike fork is attached to the adapter. An example of such an adapter is U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,069. 
         [0005]    The problems with the solutions above are that the assembly of the fork to the carrier or adapter is cumbersome and time consuming. 
         [0006]    The present invention describes a carrier and adapter for bike forks that allow for various fork designs to be mounted on the same bike rack or carrier. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    Briefly, the invention relates to a carrier and adapter device for attachment to a bicycle fork axle or dummy axle/rod. 
         [0008]    More particularly, the invention is directed to a bike carrier device for transporting a bicycle. The carrier is of a clam shell type design with a lever locking means. 
         [0009]    The invention further includes an adapter device for use with other carriers. The adapter has an innovative attachment feature that allows for the adapter to fit onto carriers using a closed end and open end combination. 
         [0010]    A bicycle carrier is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The bicycle carrier comprises a base and a clam shell for retaining an axle. The clam shell includes a bottom coupled to the base and a lid hingedly coupled to the bottom. The lid is capable of rotating between an open and closed position. The bicycle carrier further comprises a lever coupled to the clam shell and adapted to secure the lid in the closed position. 
         [0011]    A bicycle carrier adapter is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The bicycle carrier adapter comprises a clam shell for retaining an axle. The clam shell includes a bottom and a lid hingedly coupled to the bottom. The bicycle carrier adapter further comprises a lever coupled to the clam shell and adapted to secure the lid closed. The bicycle carrier adapter further comprises two or more legs coupled to the clam shell. The two or more legs are adapted to engage a carrier. 
         [0012]    A method for forming a bicycle axle mount is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The method comprises coupling a clam shell to two or more legs. The clam shell is adapted to retain an axle and includes a bottom and a lid hingedly coupled to the bottom. The method further comprises positioning a lever on the clam shell such that the lever can rotate to secure the lid closed. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a prior art standard carrier. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of a carrier. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a clam shell lid. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a front elevation of a lever. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows is a back elevation of the lever. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  shows an exploded perspective view of an adapter. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  shows a back elevation of a base. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  shows a standard lock. 
       
    
    
     ITEM LIST 
       [0021]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 1 
                 Standard Carrier 
                 2 
                 Mount 
               
               
                 3 
                 Rod 
                 4 
                 Legs 
               
               
                 10 
                 Clam shell carrier 
                 20 
                 Base 
               
               
                 22 
                 Platform 
                 24 
                 mounting holes 
               
               
                 28 
                 Legs 
                 30 
                 Clam shell 
               
               
                 32 
                 Clam shell lid 
                 34 
                 Clam shell bottom 
               
               
                 36 
                 hinges 
                 38 
                 hinge pins 
               
               
                 40 
                 lever 
                 42 
                 pivot bolt 
               
               
                 44 
                 lever hole 
                 46 
                 Bolt/Pivot hole 
               
               
                 48 
                 nut 
                 50 
                 Keyway 
               
               
                 52 
                 catch 
                 54 
                 lever stop (closed 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 position) 
               
               
                 56 
                 lever stop (open/closed position) 
                 58 
                 protrusion 
               
               
                 60 
                 detent 
                 62 
                 lock core 
               
               
                 64 
                 Lock channel 
                 70 
                 axle (real or dummy) 
               
               
                 74 
                 Registration groove/slot (c-clip) 
                 76 
                 Registration groove or 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 protrusion 
               
               
                 78 
                 Shim cavities 
                 80 
                 lateral movement 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 restrictors 
               
               
                 200 
                 Thru-axle adapter 
                 220 
                 Open leg 
               
               
                 222 
                 open end 
                 224 
                 slot 
               
               
                 226 
                 clamp surface 
                 228 
                 carrier surface 
               
               
                 230 
                 closed leg 
                 232 
                 closed end 
               
               
                 234 
                 through-hole 
                 236 
                 clamp surface 
               
               
                 238 
                 carrier surface 
                 240 
                 keyway 
               
               
                 242 
                 clamp hole 
                 250 
                 outer periphery 
               
               
                 260 
                 inner periphery 
                 280 
                 safety tab 
               
               
                 300 
                 lock 
                 301 
                 Key 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a prior art carrier  1 . The prior art carrier  1  includes a base  2  and a rod  3  attached to the base  2  by legs  4 . Typically the fork of a bicycle would be positioned on the rod  3  and held using some known means. Additionally, the base  2  could be secured to a vehicle, for example, using known means. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a clam shell bike carrier  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. The carrier  10  is comprised of a base  20  and a clam shell  30 . Base  20  has a platform  22  which attaches to a vehicle or other structure using mounting holes  24 . Extending from platform  22  are legs  28  which support clam shell  30 . 
         [0024]    Clam shell  30  consists of lid  32  and bottom  34 . Lid  32  is attached to bottom  34  via hinges  36  and pin  38 . Lid  32  and bottom  34  may also consist of features that prevent the lateral movement of lid  32 . For example, lid  32  and bottom  34  may comprise a series of cavities or extensions that interact to prevent such lateral movements of lid  32 . 
         [0025]    Clam shell  30  is secured closed using lever  40 . Lever  40  is mounted to bottom  32  using pivot bolt  42 . Pivot bolt  42  is inserted into lever hole  44  formed in lever  40  and bolt hole  46  formed in bottom  34  and secured using nut  48 . 
         [0026]    In operation, lid  32  is closed and lever  40  is rotated in a counter clock-wise direction. Keyway  50 , located in lever  40  ( FIG. 5 ), moves over catch  52  located on lid  32 . In its closed position lever  40  is prevented from being over rotated by stop surface  54  contacting catch  52  and stop surface  56  contacting an outer surface of lever  40 . Further, lever  40  also has a protrusion  58  which interacts with a detent  60  formed on catch  52  (See  FIG. 4 ) to prevent unwanted unlatching of the lever  40  in certain circumstances (i.e. vibration). 
         [0027]    To further ensure the undesirable unlatching of the lever  40 , carrier  10  may comprise a locking mechanism. An example of a locking mechanism includes a standard key actuated lock  300  ( FIG. 8 ). The precise lock used is not important for the present invention and a variety of styles may function properly. The lock  300  can be inserted into lock core  62  formed in lever  40  and extends into lock channel  64  formed in bottom  34 . Lock channel  64  contains a catch feature in the form of a cavity, undercut or the like which interacts with the lock  300 , preventing movement of lever  40 . 
         [0028]    To mount the bike to the carrier  10 , the front wheel of the bike is removed. The axle of the bike or a dummy axle  70  (depending on bike style) attached to the bike, is placed into clam shell  30 . A locating feature may be provided in axle  70  and shell  30  to ensure proper location of axle  70  in shell  30 . An example locating feature may comprise a registration groove/slot or protrusion  74  located on axle  70  that interacts with a corresponding protrusion or groove/slot  76  located in the shell  30 . As an alternative, both axle  70  and shell  30  may have grooves in which a c-clip may be inserted. 
         [0029]    Once axle  70  is located in shell  30 , the lid  32  is closed and lever  40  is actuated into a closed position. In some cases it may be desirable to prevent marking of the axle during insertion or removal or it may be necessary to accommodate varying sizes of axles. In order to accomplish these goals, shim cavities  78  are located in shell  30 . Cavities  78  allows for the placement of inserts (rubber, plastic or the like) that will cushion axle  70  as well as restrain any lateral movement of axle  70 . While the shim cavities  78  are shown in bottom  34 , it should be understood that the shim cavities  78  could be located anywhere within shell  30 . 
         [0030]    In addition to carrier  10 , an adapter  200  is disclosed that allows for the use of current carriers. 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  shows the adapter  200  according to an embodiment of the invention. Adapter  200  may be comprised of similar elements as described above with the exception of platform  22 . Instead of platform  22 , adapter  200  is attached to a carrier using legs  220  and  230 . For example, adapter  200  may be attached to a carrier similar to the prior art carrier  1  shown in  FIG. 1 . Leg  220  ends in an open end  222 . Open end  222  consists of slot  224  and an outer clamp surface  226  and an inner block surface  228 . 
         [0032]    Leg  230  consists of a closed end  232  having a through-hole  234 , an outer clamp surface  236 , and an inner block surface  238 . Through-hole  234  is comprised of a keyway  240  and a clamp hole  242 . In alternative embodiments, leg  230  may be substantially similar to leg  220 . 
         [0033]    In operation, adapter  200  is inserted over a carrier and clamped to the carrier. The carrier will usually have two cylindrical protrusions that interact with slot  224  and through-hole  234 . A first cylindrical protrusion of a carrier is slid into through-hole  224  via keyway  240 . Once inside keyway  240 , the cylindrical protrusion is slid into clamp hole  242 . Slot  224  of adapter  200  is then placed on the second cylindrical protrusion of the carrier. A clamping mechanism (i.e. bolt/nut, quick-clamp etc.) is inserted into the carrier and adapter through legs  220  and  230 . The clamp compresses against clamp surfaces  226  and  236  which in turn forces carrier surfaces  228  and  238  against the carrier. Safety tabs  280  may be provided on leg  220  to prevent the adapter from releasing from the clamp in cases when the clamp becomes loose. 
         [0034]    In order to allow for easier insertion, the outer periphery  250  and the inner periphery  260  of through-hole  234  may be offset. This offset causes a taper in the interior surface of the through-hole, which creates a guide for the carrier to pass through. It should be understood that the opening  240  in leg  220  can also include a taper in order to create a guide for the carrier. 
         [0035]    After both legs  220 ,  230  are properly in place, a clamp may be used to retain the adapter on the carrier. Once in place, the adapter  200  functions substantially the same as carrier  10 . However, the adapter  200  allows the ease of use provided by carrier  10  to be implemented with prior art standard carriers. 
         [0036]    The above described invention provides a device which can be used to quickly and easily attach a bicycle to a vehicle for example. The invention can also be implemented to keep a bicycle in a stationary position, such as a workbench or the like by using the mounting platform. Unlike prior art carriers which typically engage the forks of a bicycle, the present invention retains a bicycle by either its axle or by a dummy axle. Many times, this can be a more efficient means of holding onto the bicycle. Additionally, the clam shell design provides for a quick release of the bicycle. 
         [0037]    The detailed descriptions of the above embodiments are not exhaustive descriptions of all embodiments contemplated by the inventors to be within the scope of the invention. Indeed, persons skilled in the art will recognize that certain elements of the above-described embodiments may variously be combined or eliminated to create further embodiments, and such further embodiments fall within the scope and teachings of the invention. It will also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the above-described embodiments may be combined in whole or in part to create additional embodiments within the scope and teachings of the invention. 
         [0038]    Thus, although specific embodiments oft and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The teachings provided herein can be applied to other carriers, and not just to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying figures. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined from the following claims.