Universal mounting bracket for a vehicle-mounted equipment carrier

A universal mounting bracket for a bicycle rack includes a pair of upstanding members extending from opposite sides of a base member. Each upstanding member includes aligned pivot openings through which a pivot pin is positioned to pivotally secure an equipment carrier support member between the upstanding members. The upstanding members also each include two sets of auxiliary openings spaced from the pivot openings and from one another. Depending upon the particular configuration of the support member, each pair of aligned auxiliary openings can be utilized to lock the support member in a transport position, or to stop or maintain the support member in a non-use position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted equipment carrier such as a bicycle carrier or rack, and more specifically to a mounting bracket for use in mounting a carrier or rack to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hitch mounted equipment carriers, such as bicycle carriers or racks, are often utilized to secure equipment such as one or more bicycles to a vehicle to transport the bicycles from one location to another. Such racks generally include a hitch-mounting stem or hitch-mounting member such as a bar or tube that is releasably attachable to a trailer hitch receiver located on the rear of a vehicle. The hitch-mounting member supports a bracket to which is attached a support member that extends from the bracket. In some racks the support member is an upwardly extending tube that includes a rearwardly extending section at its upper end, which is provided with frame engagement structure for supporting bicycles in a suspended manner. In other racks the support member is a rearwardly extending horizontal member having wheel or fork engagement structure for supporting bicycles from below.

In either rack configuration, the bracket allows the support member to be pivoted or moved relative to the hitch-mounting member, such that the rack and the support member can be moved from a use or operative position to a non-use or inoperative position. For a support member in the form of an upwardly extending tube, the tube is adapted to be pivoted from an upstanding operative position to a rearwardly angled non-use position, which allows access to the rear tailgate or trunk area of the vehicle. For a rearwardly extending horizontal support member, the support member is pivoted from a horizontal operative position to an upstanding non-use position.

Based on the very different manners of pivoting movement between the operative and non-use portions for bicycles racks incorporating an upstanding support member and a horizontal support member, and the particular configuration of the individual support members, the brackets utilized to secure each of these support members to the hitch-mounting members have previously been specially designed to accommodate the configuration of the particular support member and its manner of pivoting movement between its operative and non-use positions. Therefore, it has been necessary for a manufacturer to produce a separate bracket for each type of rack. Further, in order for a user to change from a bicycle rack with a horizontal supporting member to a rack with an upright supporting member, or vice versa, it has been necessary for the user to purchase one of each type of rack.

As a result, it is desirable to develop a universal mounting bracket that can be fixed to a hitch-mounting member and utilized to movably secure a rack having either a horizontal support member or an upright support member to the hitch-mounting member, in order to provide manufacturing efficiencies and to allow the bicycle rack to be converted from one type to another without having to change the bracket and the hitch-mounting member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a universal mounting bracket for an equipment carrier such as a bicycle rack, that is capable of mounting both upright and horizontal support members to a hitch-mounting hitch-mounting member of the rack, and which is capable of providing movement of the rack between operative and non-use positions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a universal mounting bracket including a releasable securing mechanism capable of selectively locking the upright or horizontal support member in either of its positions.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a universal mounting bracket including stop structure that is capable of limiting pivoting movement of either an upright support member or a horizontal support member between operative and non-use positions.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a universal mounting bracket which can be utilized in original manufacture, and which can also be retrofitted on existing bicycle racks utilizing either upright or horizontal support members.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a universal mounting bracket that has a relatively simple construction and which can be inexpensively manufactured, yet which is capable of providing easy and effective movable mounting of either type of support member to the hitch-mounting member.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method of mounting an equipment carrier having either an upright or a horizontal support member to a vehicle-mounted member such as a hitch-mounting stem, for providing movement of the equipment carrier between operative and non-use positions.

The present invention is a universal mounting bracket for an equipment carrier such as a bicycle rack, that enables both upright and horizontal support members to be movably attached to and utilized with the bracket. The bracket includes a pair of spaced apart generally vertical walls, and either an upright or horizontal support member is adapted to be received within the space between the walls. In one form, the walls are defined by a pair of generally vertical spaced apart upstanding members which are interconnected with and extend upwardly from a bottom member, which in turn is adapted to be secured to a hitch-mounting stem or other hitch-mounting member for securing the bicycle rack to the hitch of a vehicle. The upstanding members define several sets of aligned openings, including a set of aligned primary pivot openings and at least two sets of auxiliary openings spaced from the pivot openings and from each other. Each rack support member includes a pair of spaced apart transverse passages, including an inner passage and an outer passage. Each transverse passage may be defined by a transverse bushing secured to the rack support member, which may be in the form of a tubular member. The bracket walls include stop structure located adjacent each auxiliary opening. In one form, the stop structure consists of an inwardly deformed area of each bracket wall, which is configured and arranged to define an outer edge of each auxiliary opening. At least the outer bushing of each rack support member has outer ends that extend outwardly from the outer surface of the rack support member. The outer ends of the outer bushing are adapted to engage the inwardly deformed areas of the bracket walls, to control the range of movement of the rack support member.

For a suspension-type rack, the upright support member is positioned between the spaced apart walls of the bracket such that the inner passage in the support member, which is defined by an inner transverse bushing, is aligned with the pivot openings in the spaced apart walls. A pivot member, such as a pivot pin, is engaged within the pivot openings and extends through the inner transverse passage in the upright support member. The pivot pin defines a pivot axis about which the upright support member is pivotable for moving the rack between its operative and non-use positions. The outer passage in the upright support member, which is defined by an outer transverse bushing, is positioned between a lower set of aligned auxiliary openings in the bracket walls located below the pivot openings, preferably by engagement of the ends of the outer transverse bushing with the stop structure of the bracket walls adjacent the lower set of aligned auxiliary openings. A releasable engagement member, such as a releasable locking pin, is engaged within the lower set of aligned auxiliary openings and the outer passage in the support member, for maintaining the support member in an upright position which is operable to place the rack in its operative position. The upper set of aligned auxiliary openings in the bracket walls are spaced horizontally from the pivot openings, and are unused when the support member is in its upright position. To place the rack in its non-use position, the user disengages the locking pin from the outer passage in the support member, to enable pivoting movement of the support member about the pivot pin away from its upright position. The support member can then be pivoted downwardly away from the vehicle to a position in which the ends of the outer transverse bushing engage the stop structure of the bracket walls adjacent the upper set of aligned auxiliary openings. This functions to place the rack in its non-use position, in which the rack is positioned so as not to obstruct movement of the vehicle tailgate between its closed and opening positions. The locking pin can be inserted through the upper set of aligned auxiliary openings and the outer transverse bushing, to secure the rack in its non-use position.

For a tray-type rack, the horizontal support member is formed with inner and outer passages and is adapted to be positioned between the spaced apart upstanding walls of the bracket. Again, the support member may be in the form of a tubular member, and the inner and outer passages may be defined by respective inner and outer transverse bushings secured to the walls of the support member. The inner passage is located between and aligned with the pivot openings in the upstanding members of the bracket. A pivot pin is engaged within the pivot openings and the inner passage of the support member, and defines a pivot axis about which the support member is pivotable between horizontal and upright positions. The outer passage defined by the outer bushing is located between the upper set of auxiliary openings, and the ends of the outer bracket are engaged with the stop structure of the bracket walls adjacent the upper set of auxiliary openings, to place the support member in a generally horizontal position. A locking pin is releasably engaged within the upper set of auxiliary openings and extends through the passage defined by the outer bushing. In this manner, the locking pin and stop structure function to maintain the support member in its horizontal position, in which the rack is in its operative position. The locking pin can be removed from engagement within the passage defined by the outer bushing, and the support member can then be pivoted about the pivot axis defined by the pivot pin to an upright position, which places the rack in its non-use position. The ends of the outer bushing engage the stop structure adjacent the lower set of auxiliary openings, such that the passage defined by the outer bushing is placed into alignment with the lower set of auxiliary openings. The locking pin is then engaged within the lower set of auxiliary openings and extends through the passage defined by the outer bushing, for releasably maintaining the support member in its upright position.

With this arrangement, the universal bracket of the present invention is adapted to mount either a suspension-type or tray-type rack to a vehicle, and to provide movement of the rack between operative and non-use positions. In either configuration, the rack support member is pivotably mounted to the bracket, and is releasably retained in a first position in which the rack is in its operative position, and can then be moved to a second position and engaged with the bracket so as to place the rack in its non-use position.

The invention contemplates a bracket arrangement for use with an equipment carrier or rack, as well as a method of mounting an equipment carrier or rack to a vehicle mounting member, substantially in accordance with the foregoing summary.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the following description in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the disclosure, a vehicle-mounted equipment carrier in the form of a suspension-type bicycle rack is indicated generally at20inFIG. 1. Rack20includes a hitch-mounting stem or hitch-mounting member22releasably mounted within a conventional hitch receiver24secured to a rear end26of a vehicle28having an outwardly movable rear door29. Hitch-mounting member22is adapted to be secured to hitch receiver24in any conventional manner, such as by means of one or more spaced openings30that are selectively alignable with a pair of openings32extending through opposite sides of the hitch receiver24. Hitch-mounting member22is formed from a generally rigid material, such as a metal, and has a cross-section slightly smaller than, but complementary to the cross-section of a passage defined by hitch receiver24. When hitch-mounting member22is inserted into the passage of hitch receiver24, one of the hitch-mounting member openings30is aligned with the hitch receiver openings32, and a locking member is inserted through the respective openings to releasably fix hitch-mounting member22to hitch receiver24, and thereby to vehicle28. Representatively, the locking member may be in the form of a threaded bolt that is engageable with a threaded member associated with hitch-mounting member22, although it is understood that any other type of releasable engagement arrangement may be employed.

Referring toFIGS. 3–7, hitch-mounting member22supports a universal mounting bracket34constructed in accordance with the present invention, at its outer end opposite hitch receiver24. Mounting bracket34is formed from a single or multiple pieces of a rigid material, preferably a metal such as steel, iron or aluminum. Mounting bracket34includes a bottom member or wall36that is fixed to the hitch-mounting member22, and a pair of upstanding members or walls38and40that extend upwardly from the opposite sides of bottom wall36. An open interior space41is defined between upstanding members38and40. Each upstanding member38and40can be integrally formed with the bottom member36, or can be a separate member fixedly secured to bottom member36, such as by welding or any other suitable means. Upstanding members38and40are formed similarly to one another and have a front edge42, a rear edge44and a top edge46opposite the bottom member36extending between the front edge42and rear edge44. Upstanding members38and40are generally rectangular in shape, but can have any suitable configuration.

Upstanding members38and40each include a pivot opening48disposed adjacent the front edge42and top edge46, an upper auxiliary opening50disposed adjacent the rear edge44and top edge46, and a lower auxiliary opening52disposed adjacent the front edge42and bottom member36. Openings48,50and52in upstanding members38and40are in alignment with each other. Upper auxiliary opening50is located generally horizontally rearwardly of pivot opening48, and lower auxiliary opening52is located generally vertically below pivot opening48.

Upstanding members38and40of bracket34are formed with indented stop structure adjacent each of auxiliary openings50and52. The indented stop structure adjacent upper auxiliary opening50is in the form of an inwardly bent or deformed stop area54, located above the upper edge of upper auxiliary opening50, which is bent inwardly relative to the remainder of its associated upstanding wall38and40so as to be laterally offset inwardly from the inner surface of the upstanding wall38or40. Stop area54is configured to define a downwardly facing stop edge which forms the upper edge of upper auxiliary opening50. In a similar manner, the stop structure adjacent each lower auxiliary opening52is in the form of an inwardly bent or deformed stop area, shown at56, of the associated upstanding wall38or40, located forwardly of lower auxiliary opening52. Stop area56is configured to define a rearwardly facing stop edge which forms the forward edge of lower auxiliary opening52, and which is disposed inwardly of the inner surface of the remainder of the associated upstanding wall38,40.

Upstanding walls38,40are also formed with aligned locking apertures58, which are adapted to receive a locking cable for locking bicycles to rack20. Each aperture58is formed with a key hole shape, to provide a visual indication to the user as to the intended function of aperture58and the location at which the locking cable is to be engaged with bracket34.

Interior space41between the upstanding members38and40receives a generally upright support member62associated with rack20. While the support member62is shown as having a circular or tubular cross-section, it is understood that support member62may have any configuration capable of being received within the interior space41of the bracket34. As shown inFIGS. 1–7, support member62is generally an inverted L-shaped, tubular member having a lower upright or vertical section64and an upper rearwardly-extending or horizontal section66joined by a curved section67. One or more bicycles68or other equipment such as skis, snowboards, etc. are adapted to be secured to horizontal section66in any satisfactory manner. Representatively, bicycle68may be secured to horizontal section66using a support arrangement such as is disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 09/668,437 filed Sep. 22, 2000, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, or by means of supports such as are disclosed in Bloemer et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,093, which is also hereby incorporated by reference. Any other type of satisfactory securing arrangement may also be employed, in a manner as is known. Bicycles68are secured to horizontal section66so as to be suspended therefrom, typically by engagement with the bicycle frame or an upper area of one or more of the bicycle wheels. In the case of skis, snowboards or the like, a basket-type structure may be secured to upright or vertical section64for receiving the lower ends of the skis or snowboards, which are then engaged with horizontal section66via straps or any other satisfactory engagement arrangement. Alternatively, skis may be supported in a transverse orientation on horizontal section66in a manner as is known.

Opposite curved section67, vertical section64of support member62includes a lower or outer transverse passage defined by a transverse bushing70that extends through aligned openings formed in the lower end of support member62. Bushing70is secured to support member62in any satisfactory manner, such as by welding. The length of bushing70is greater than the outside transverse dimension of support member62, such that each end of bushing70extends outwardly past the outer surface of support member62. Vertical section64further includes an upper or inner transverse passage defined by a transverse bushing72that extends through aligned openings formed in the lower end of support member62. Bushing72is secured to support member in any satisfactory manner, such as by welding. The length of bushing72is greater than the outside transverse dimension of support member62, such that each end of bushing72extends outwardly past the outer surface of support member62. Bushings70and72have a length slightly less than the space between the facing inside surfaces of upstanding walls38and40. When vertical section64is positioned within interior space41of bracket34, the passage defined by bushing72is aligned with the pivot openings48in each upstanding member38and40. A pivot pin74is engaged within pivot openings48in upstanding members38and40, and extends through the passage defined by pivot bushing72. Pivot pin74includes a shank that extends from a head76at one end and which has a threaded end78opposite head76. When threaded end76of pivot pin74is inserted completely through the pivot openings48and the transverse passage of bushing72, threaded end78is releasably engaged by a nut80to retain pivot pin74between the upstanding members38and40. Pivot pin74thus functions to pivotably mount vertical section64to and between upstanding members38and40, such that support member62is pivotable relative to bracket34for movement about a transverse pivot axis defined by pivot pin74.

Support member62is pivotable about pivot pin74so as to enable movement of carrier20between an operative, upright transport or use position shown inFIGS. 1 and 3, an inoperative, lowered non-use position shown inFIGS. 2 and 4. When support member62is in the non-use position ofFIGS. 2 and 4, the pivotable door29on the rear end26of vehicle28can swing outwardly along an arc A (FIGS. 1 and 2) such that an individual can access the interior of the vehicle28. Alternatively, the vehicle door29may have a side hinge construction so as to move in a horizontal path between its open and closed positions. In either event, movement of support member62to its non-use position enables the vehicle door29to be freely moved between its open and closed positions without interference from the components of rack20.

When support member62is in its upright position ofFIGS. 1 and 3, the ends of bushing70engage the edge of indented stop areas56in upstanding walls38,40, to locate bushing72in a position in which the passage of bushing72is in alignment with lower auxiliary openings52in upstanding members38,40. When support member62is in its upright operative position ofFIGS. 1 and 3, support member62is locked in position by inserting a locking pin86through the lower auxiliary openings52in upstanding members38and40, and through the passage defined by bushing70, which is aligned with the lower auxiliary openings52. In this manner, support member62is positioned and retained generally vertically with respect to bracket34. Locking pin86may include a transverse opening88at one end and a finger ring90at the other end. Ring90can be grasped and used to insert locking pin86within, and to withdraw locking pin86from, the respective openings. In addition, ring90may be attached to one end of a cord or lanyard that is secured to one of the upstanding members, such as40, to maintain locking pin86in engagement with bracket34. Transverse opening88opposite ring90receives a securing member, such as a cotter pin92, in order to maintain locking pin86in engagement within lower auxiliary openings52in upstanding members38and40. In this manner, the bracket34functions to maintain support member62in the upright operative position until the locking pin86is removed.

In order to move carrier20to its lowered inoperative position ofFIGS. 2 and 4, locking pin86is removed from lower auxiliary openings52and the passage of bushing70, which enables support member62to be pivoted about pivot pin74in a clockwise direction so as to move support member62downwardly. The ends of bushing70are moved into contact with the inwardly deformed stop areas54of upstanding members38and40, which functions to prevent further movement of support member62when support member62is pivoted away from its operative position ofFIGS. 1 and 3, to limit the pivoting movement of support member62to its inoperative or non-use position as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4. Engagement of the ends of bushing70with the edges of stop areas54functions to bring the passage of bushing70into alignment with upper auxiliary openings50. If desired, locking pin86can be inserted through upper auxiliary openings50and the passage of bushing70to maintain support member62in its lowered inoperative position. When it is subsequently desired to return carrier20to its upright operative position, locking pin86is removed and support member62is pivoted about pivot pin72to its upright position as described previously, and locking pin86is then inserted through lower auxiliary openings52and the passage of bushing70to maintain support member62in its upright operative position.

Referring now toFIGS. 8 and 9, bracket34is shown in combination with a vehicle-mounted tray-type equipment carrier that provides equipment support from below. In the specific illustrated embodiment, the equipment carrier is in the form of a bicycle rack93that is adapted to support one or more bicycles rearwardly of the vehicle. Bicycle rack93includes a generally horizontal support member94that extends in a forward-rearward direction, and which is interconnected with and extends from bracket34. Support member94is in the form of a tube formed of a rigid material that can be any suitable shape, e.g. generally rectangular, circular or D-shaped in cross-section, which supports one or more bicycle wheel-engaging or bicycle fork-mounting members, schematically shown at96. Representatively, support member94may be utilized to mount a tray-type rack such as is disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 09/624,546 filed Jul. 24, 2000, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, or such as is disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 60/314,428 filed Aug. 23, 2001, the disclosure of which is also hereby incorporated by reference. Alternatively, it is understood that any other type of arrangement may be employed for engaging the bicycle wheels, such as shown at97, or the fork of a bicycle for providing support for the bicycle from below.

Support member94includes an inner or proximal end98that is positioned within the interior space41of bracket34, and a distal end100located outwardly or rearwardly of bracket34. Support member94further includes an outer transverse passage defined by a bushing, in the same manner as outer bushing70of support member62, adjacent the proximal end98. Similarly, support member94includes an inner transverse passage defined by a bushing in the same manner as pivot bushing72of support member62. Support member94is pivotably mounted to and between upstanding members38and40of bracket34by means of pivot pin74that extends through the support member pivot bushing72and the aligned pivot openings48in upstanding members38and40. Support member94is pivotably mounted to bracket34for movement between operative and non-use positions about a transverse pivot axis defined by pivot pin74, in a manner similar to that of support member62as discussed previously. To maintain support member94in the operative transport position shown inFIG. 8, locking pin86is inserted through the upper auxiliary openings50and through the passage defined by bushing70aligned locking openings in the walls of support member94. The securing member, such as cotter pin92, is then engaged with locking pin86through transverse opening88, to maintain locking pin94in engagement with support member94and upstanding walls38and40.

To place support member94in its inoperative or non-use position, as shown inFIG. 9, cotter pin92is removed from locking pin86and locking pin86is then withdrawn. This allows support member94to be pivoted upwardly in a counterclockwise direction indicated by arrow B inFIG. 9, to a position in which the passage defined by bushing70is aligned with the lower auxiliary openings52. When the respective openings are aligned with one another, locking pin86is then reinserted through the support member locking openings and lower auxiliary openings52, and secured therein by the securing member60. This functions to place support member94in an upright vertical non-use position, typically for transport when rack93is not being used to transport bicycles.

In the same manner as described with respect to support member62, the ends of outer bushing70engage the edges of stop areas54to locate support member94in its lowered operative position and to align the passage in outer bushing70with upper auxiliary openings50. Similarly, the outer ends of bushing70engage the edges of stop areas56, to place support member94in its upright inoperative position and to align the passage of bushing70with lower auxiliary openings52.

It can thus be appreciated that universal mounting bracket34enables mounting of two differently configured types of equipment carriers to hitch-mounting member22, and provides the capability for moving each type of carrier between an operative or use position and an inoperative or non-use position. Mounting bracket34further provides the capability to retain each type of carrier in both its operative and non-use positions. Mounting bracket34may be incorporated into the assembly of either an upright or tray-type carrier, and may be utilized as original equipment or in a retrofit or modular carrier arrangement. In order to provide manufacturing efficiencies, universal mounting bracket34can be incorporated in either type of carrier during original manufacture, which can thus provide lower production costs than when separate specially designed mounting brackets are provided for either type of carrier. In a modular application, hitch-mounting member22and universal mounting bracket34are provided as a base, and either type of carrier can be purchased and assembled together with hitch-mounting member22and universal mounting bracket34for assembling the desired type of carrier. In a retrofit application, the user can purchase an assembly consisting of hitch-mounting member22and universal mounting bracket34, and can then connect the support member of an existing pivotable carrier to mounting bracket34to adapt an existing carrier for use with other types of carriers. In addition, the user can purchase one type of carrier incorporating universal mounting bracket34, and can then purchase components for another type of carrier and assemble such components to universal mounting bracket34in order to provide a different type of carrier.

While the universal mounting bracket34has been shown and described with respect to a preferred embodiment, numerous variations and alternative configurations are contemplated by the present invention and are covered by the claims of this application. For example, and without limitation, the locking pin86could be replaced by another suitable selectively engageable locking mechanism, such as one or more spring-biased locking clips positioned on the bracket34that releasably engage the support member62or94in the storage and transport positions. The bracket34can also have a top wall (not shown) extending between the upright members38and40that can function as the stop for the support member62or94. The bottom wall36can also be omitted such that each of the upstanding members38and40is secured directly to mounting stem22. Alternatively, upstanding walls38and40of universal mounting bracket34may be replaced with any other type of structure defining a space within which either support member62or94may be received, and which incorporates provisions for the pivot pin, locking member and/or stop member. In addition, while the stop structure associated with upstanding members38and40has been shown and described as inwardly deformed stop areas which define edges that engage ends of bushings to limit pivoting movement of the support member, it is also contemplated that other types of stop arrangements may be used to limit pivoting movement of the support member. For example, transverse stop pins may be engaged with and extend between upstanding members38,40, to engage the support member and to limit pivoting movement of the support member between its operative use position and inoperative non-use position.

It is also understood that the stop arrangement associated with bracket34may be used in connection with any type of carrier, such as a trunk-mounted carrier to limit movement of any component associated with the carrier, and is not limited to use in connection with a hitch-mounted rack as shown and described.

In addition, while mounting bracket34has been shown and described with respect to equipment carriers such as bicycle racks, it is understood that mounting bracket34may be used in combination with any type of equipment carrier which has either an upright support member or a rearwardly extending support member, such as luggage carriers, motorcycle racks, etc. Further, while universal mounting bracket34has been shown and described in connection with a hitch-mounted carrier, it is understood the mounting bracket34may be used in combination with any type of vehicle engagement arrangement, including a front or rear bumper mounting arrangement, a trunk mount arrangement, etc.