Bicycle rack for autos

A plurality of pairs of tubular members are secured at their lower ends in spaced relation on the roof or trunk lid of an automobile by conventional suction cups. One member of each pair has a socket in its upper end for receiving and supporting the goose neck portion of an inverted bicycle frame, and the other member of the pair has a cylindrical projection on its upper end adapted to slide snugly into the bore of the tubular seat post of a bicycle frame after the bicycle seat has been removed. Threaded rods extend between and adjustably separate the two support members of each pair; and the pairs of members are held in laterally spaced relation by a plurality of spacer bars which extend between adjacent pairs of support members. At least one of the spacer bars is a flexible torsion bar which permits at least one support member of a pair to be pivoted about its lower end slightly to adjust the space between the upper ends of the pair so that bike frames of different sizes can be held on the rack.

This invention relates to bicycle racks, and more particularly to a novel 
rack which is attachable to the roof or trunk top of automobiles, and the 
like. 
Numerous automobile-mounted bicycle racks are available, but most of them 
have certain disadvantages. Some support the bicycles in such a manner 
that they project too far from the automobile on which they are mounted; 
and others are mounted so that they interfere with the opening and closing 
of a vehicle's doors or trunk lid. In the case of certain other racks it 
is necessary to remove one or two of the wheels of the bike in order to 
mount it on the rack. This has the disadvantage that the rather cumbersome 
wheel or wheels must then be stored somewhere else in or on the vehicle. 
Also, since the bearing mountings for such wheels are usually lubricated, 
the storing of the wheels apart from the bicycles can be a vexing problem. 
It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved 
bicycle rack of the type described which enables a plurality of bicycles 
to be mounted on the vehicle in a very compact and secure manner. 
Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved bicycle 
rack of the type described which is readily mountable on the roof, trunk 
lid or hatch back of a vehicle, such as an automobile, and can be adjusted 
to suit variously sized automobiles. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved bicycle rack of 
the type described which is very light, yet sturdy, and which can be 
readily assembled or disassembled for storage when not in use. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a bicycle rack of the type 
described which can be used for supporting a plurality of bikes of 
different frame sizes. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved bicycle rack 
which, as compared to certain prior such bicycle racks, reduces the extent 
to which bicycles project from the automobile on which they are carried. 
Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the 
specification and from the recital of the appended claim, particularly 
when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, and first to FIG. 
1, 10 denotes generally an adjustable bicycle rack comprising two pairs of 
spaced support members, the two members of each pair being denoted 
generally by the numerals 11 and 12, respectively. As noted hereinafter, 
each of the support members 11 is adapted to support the goose neck 
portion of a bicycle, and each member 12 its tubular seat post portion. 
Each support member 11 and 12 has on its lower end a conventional suction 
cup 13 by means of which the respective member is adapted to be secured on 
the roof 15 of an automobile 16, or the like. 
Each of the members 12 is tubular in configuration, and comprises a lower, 
cylindrical end portion 21 (FIGS. 2 and 3), an intermediate, 
truncated-conical shoulder portion 22, and an upper, cylindrical end 
portion 23, which is smaller in diameter than the lower end portion 21. 
The lower end of each member 12 is press fit onto the reduced-diameter, 
upper end portion 13' (FIG. 3) of its associated suction cup 13. 
Secured in the upper end of each member 12 is a nylon expander sleeve 25, 
having a reduced-diameter shank portion 26 which is secured in the bore of 
portion 23 of the associated member. At its upper end each sleeve 25 has 
in its annular wall a plurality of angularly spaced, axially extending 
slots 27 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Mounted in the bore of sleeve 25 with its 
externally threaded shank portion threaded into the lower end 26 of the 
sleeve is an adjustable expansion screw 28, which has an inverted, 
truncated-conical head portion 29 formed on its upper end. The screw 28 is 
adjustable manually by a wrench, whereby the tapered surface on its head 
29 either spreads the slotted upper end of the sleeve radially outwardly 
when the screw is threaded downwardly into the sleeve or allows the 
slotted end of the sleeve to retract radially inwardly when the screw 28 
is backed off. 
The two tubular support members 12 in the embodiment illustrated are fixed 
in laterally spaced relation by an elongate torsion bar 31, opposite ends 
of which are welded or otherwise secured to the outer peripheral surfaces 
of members 12 just beneath their sloped or truncated-conical shoulder 
portions 22. Each bar 31 is generally rectangular in cross section, and is 
capable of being flexed or twisted about its longitudinal axis, so that it 
is possible for the two supports 12 to be tilted slightly relative to each 
other as noted hereinafter. 
As shown more clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the tubular members 11 is 
generally tubular in configuration and has its lower end press fit over 
the reduced-diameter end 13' of the associated suction cup 13. Fixed or 
integral at its closed end with the upper end of each support member 11 is 
a generally U-shaped bracket having spaced legs 34 and 35 which project 
generally tangentially beyond the member 11 and in directions away from 
the associated support member 12. This bracket can be formed as an 
integral part of a member 11 by having diametrally opposite portions of 
its annular wall cut away from the main portion of the member and formed 
as at 34 and 35 to extend parallel to each other. These cut away portions 
34 and 35 form on each member 11 adjacent its upper end an arcuate seat or 
edge 36 on the member for a purpose noted hereinafter. 
The two support members 11 are secured in laterally spaced relation by 
means of an elongate rod 38 (FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6), opposite ends of which 
are bent at right angles to the length of the rod to form thereon 
hook-shaped end portions 39 (FIG. 5), which are secured in openings formed 
in the annular wall of each member 11 adjacent its lower end. The torsion 
bar 31 and rod 38 thus maintain the two pairs of bicycle supports in 
laterally spaced relation on the roof 15 of the car. 
The two supports 11 and 12 of each pair thereof are adjustably connected to 
each other by a connecting rod 41 or 42, opposite ends of which are 
externally threaded. The rods 41 and 42 project at one end (the right ends 
thereof as shown in FIG. 1) through a pair of registering, vertical slots 
43, which are formed in diametrally opposite sides of support member 12 
beneath its shoulder portion 22. Each rod 41 and 42 projects through its 
associated support member 12 and has threaded on its outer end (the right 
in FIG. 1) a lock nut 45, which is engageable with the outer peripheral 
surface of the associated member 12 to prevent withdrawal of the rod 41 
and 42 from the member. Another lock nut 46 is threaded onto the right end 
of each rod 41 and 42 for engagement with the side of the associated 
support 12 diametrally opposite the associated lock nut 45. In this manner 
each pair of lock nuts 45, 46, secures the associated rod 41 or 42 to the 
associated support 12 for rotation relative to the member, and for limited 
pivotal movement in planes extending parallel to the vertical slots 43 in 
the support members 12. 
At its opposite end each of the rods 41 and 42 threads, as shown for 
example at 47 in FIG. 2, through registering, internally-threaded bores 
that are formed in diametrally opposite sides of each support member 11 
intermediate its ends. Each of the rods 41 and 42 extends beyond the 
associated support member 11 and has threaded thereon an adjustable wing 
nut 48, which is designed to lock the associated rod 41 or 42 against 
rotational adjustment relative to its members 11, 12 when the nut 48 is 
seated against the associated support member 11. Rods 41 and 42 thus 
permit the spaces between the supports 11 and 12 of each pair to be 
adjusted as noted hereinafter. 
The interconnected supports 11 and 12 are also clamped to the top 15 of the 
automobile 16 by means of two pairs of clamps 51 and 52 (FIGS. 1 and 3). 
Each of the clamps 51 is secured at its inner end to one end of a clamping 
rod 53, the opposite end of which is externally threaded, and extends 
slidably through registering openings formed in opposite sides of each 
support member 11 adjacent its lower end. Similar connecting rods 54 are 
attached at one end to the inner ends of the clamps 52, and have on their 
opposite ends externally threaded portions which project slidably through 
registering openings formed in each of the support members 12 adjacent its 
lower end. At their inner ends the rods 53 and 54 have wing nuts 55 and 
56, respectively, threaded thereon for engagement with the respective 
supports 11 or 12. Each clamp 51 and 52 has on its outer end the usual, 
curved clamping flange 58 (FIG. 3) which is clampingly engageable in known 
manner over the drain ridge 59 which usually surrounds the perimeter of 
the conventional automobile roof. 
In use, the two wing nuts 48 are backed off from engagement with the 
associated supports 11 to allow the adjusting rods 41 and 42 to be 
rotated, if necessary, to adjust the distance separating each goose neck 
support 11 from its associated seat post support 12. Assuming, for 
example, that two 28" frame bicycles are to be carried by the rack, the 
rods 41 and 42 are rotated in one direction or the other to shift the 
posts 11 into their desired positions, after which the wing nuts 48 are 
threaded back into their locking positions against the supports 11. The 
wing nuts 55 and 56 are also loosened at this time to engage the clamps 51 
and 52 properly to be adjusted into the positions in which they engage 
over the ridge line 59 of the car roof. When the rack has been centered, 
the suction cups 13 are secured in place against the roof, and the wing 
nuts 55 and 56 are tightened against the associated supports 11 and 12 to 
draw the clamps 51 and 52 securly against the ridge 59 at opposite sides 
of the roof, thereby clamping the rack securly on the car. 
The seats of the two bicycles which are to be mounted on the car are then 
removed from the tubular seat posts of the respective bicycle frames. Each 
bicycle B (FIG. 2) is then inverted and mounted on one pair of supports 11 
and 12 by placing the tubular seat post (65 of FIGS. 2 and 3) of the 
associated bicycle downwardly over the upper end of the support 12 to the 
extent permitted by the tapered shoulder 22 on the support. At the same 
time the goose neck portion (66 in FIGS. 2 and 5) of the bicycle is 
inserted into the upper end of the associated support member 11, so that 
the portion 67 thereof (FIG. 2) to which the bicycle handlebars are 
attached, projects between the parallel leg portions 34 and 35 of the 
bracket on member 11, and rests upon the shoulder 36 which is formed on 
each support 11 adjacent its upper end. Each bike is then secured in this 
position by, for example, a pair of conventional rubber or plastic 
tie-down straps 71 and 72 (FIG. 2), which are engaged beneath the 
associated rod 41 or 42, and around the frame portions of the bicycle 
above the associated supports 11 and 12. The weight of the bicycle helps 
to secure it against movement on its respective supports 11 and 12, so 
that the only purpose of the tie-downs 71 and 72 is to prevent accidental 
vertical movement of the bicycle off of the supports whenever the 
associated automobile is in motion. 
As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the upper end of each post 12 projects 
upwardly into the tubular bore in the seat post 65 of the associated 
bicycle, thereby securly supporting the bicycle against any lateral 
movement. Moreover, by adjusting the screw 28 the upper end of the sleeve 
27 on a respective support 12 can be adjusted to increase or decrease its 
effective outer diameter, so that depending upon the diameter of the bore 
in the associated bicycle seat post 65, the upper end of the nylon sleeve 
25 can be expanded or retracted, as necessary, so that it will always have 
snug, frictional engagement with the bore wall of the seat post supported 
thereon, thus tending also to secure the bicycle against vertical movement 
on the post. The sloping shoulder portion 22 on each support 12 also tends 
frictionally to engage in the lower end of the bore in a post 65, at least 
to a certain extent, and cooperates with the outer peripheral shoulder of 
the associated nylon sleeve 25 to present at least two, axially spaced 
points at whih the bore in the bicycle post 65 is supported against 
lateral movement. 
The two, parallel, wing-shaped portions formed on the upper end of each 
support member 11 embrace opposite sides of the handle bar supporting 
section 67 to hold the handlebars against undesireable turning movement 
during motion of the associated automobile. These parallel support 
portions also support the front end of a bicycle against lateral 
displacement, or any turning movement that the bicycle might otherwise 
tend to have about the axis of the rear support 12. 
In the foregoing description the use of the novel rack was described in 
connection with the mounting of two identical bicycles. If, instead, two 
bicycles of different size are to be mounted on the rack (for example 
bicycles having 24" and 28" frames, respectively), the rack will still 
function to carry the two differently sized bicycles merely by adjusting 
the connecting rods 41 and 42 to handle either the 24" or 28" bicycle, and 
thereafter mounting one of the bicycles on a pair of supports 11, 12 which 
are properly spaced for the associated bicycle. The second bicycle can be 
mounted on the remaining pair of supports 11, 12 by engaging the goose 
neck portion of the bicycle in the front support 11 in the manner shown in 
FIG. 2, and then mounting the seat post 65 of the associated bicycle on 
the rear support 12 by pivoting the latter about its lower end either 
forwardly or rearwardly, toward or away from the front support 11, while 
causing the associated torsion bar 31 to be twisted about its axis, if 
necessary, and at the same time causing the associated connecting rod 41 
and 42 to be swung slightly relative to the associated support 12 as 
permitted by the vertical slots 43 in the support. The bicycles are then 
secured in position by the above-described tie-downs, so that when the two 
bikes are mounted on the rack the axes of the two supports 11, will, in 
essence, remain parallel to each other, while the axes of the two supports 
12 will no longer be parallel. Despite this slight strain on the torsion 
bar 31, it has been found that two such differently sized bicycles can be 
readily carried on the rack 10 merely by adjusting one of the supports 12 
as noted. 
From the foregoing it will be apparent that the instant invention provides 
relatively simple and inexpensive means for carrying bicycles on the roof, 
trunk lid or hatch back of automobiles, or the like. By removing the 
bicycle seat from each bicycle that is to be mounted on the rack, and by 
employing the vertically disposed support members 12, which extend 
upwardly into the bore in each of the seat posts of the bicycles mounted 
on the rack, the rear portions of the bikes are firmly and securly held 
against movement on the rack both as a result of the weight of the bicycle 
itself, and as a result of the configuration of the support 12. Similarly, 
each support 11 utilizes both its configuration and the weight of the 
bicycle to secure the forward end of a bike against any undesireable 
movement on the rack. One of the major advantages of this novel rack is 
the simplicity of utilizing tubular members of relatively simple 
construction for adjustably clamping bicycles on an automobile. The 
overall rack is not only extremely light (for example in the range of 7 
pounds in the case of the illustrated embodiment), but it also can be 
readily stored when not in use. Although it is necessary to remove the 
associated bicycle seat from any bike that is to be mounted on the rack, 
the storage of the seat is a relatively simple matter, as is the process 
of removing or replacing the seat in the seat post. Usually this can be 
done merely by loosening or tightening a nut, which locks a post that 
normally projects from the bottom of the bicycle seat into the bore of the 
seat post. 
Moreover, while the rack has been described in connection with one which is 
designed for mounting only two bicycles, it will be apparent that 
additional pairs of supports 11 and 12 could be incorporated in the rack 
so as to enable it to support additional bicycles without departing from 
this invention. Also, while the invention has been illustrated and 
described in detail in connection with only a single embodiment thereof, 
it will be apparent that still other modifications can be made, and that 
this application is intended to cover any such modifications as may fall 
within the scope of one skilled in the art or the appended claims.