SECURING DEVICE FOR ON BICYCLE CARRY RACK

A securing device includes a base, a positioning member and a belt. The positioning member has a lever pivotably connected thereto and an insertion hole is defined between the inside of the lever and the positioning member. A tooth extends from the inside of the lever and located in the insertion hole. The base is mounted to the bicycle carry rack and the positioning member is connected to the base. The bicycle frame is accommodated in the positioning member. The belt has one end connected to the base and the other end of the belt inserted into the insertion hole. The belt has multiple engaging notches and the tooth on the lever is engaged with one of the engaging notches to secure the bicycle frame between the belt and the positioning member. The tooth is disengaged from the engaging notch to release the belt by pivoting the lever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bicycle carry rack, and more particularly, to a securing device for positioning a bicycle frame on the bicycle carry rack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The conventional bicycle carry racks are designed to be connected to the rear end of the car and is able to carry bicycles with the car. There are two types of carry rack available, one of which includes grooves in which the bicycle frames are secured, and the other type is a trailer which is moved with the car and the bicycles are located in the trailer. The conventional bicycle carry rack has a connection member so as to be connected with the hitch, or the bicycle carry rack directly attached to the rear end of the car by hooks and tightening strips. There are many tightening strips are used to secure the bicycle to the carry rack, most of the tightening strips are made by plastic which has a head on one end and the other end of the tightening strip extends through the head. Multiple teeth are formed on the tightening strip and one of the teeth is engaged with a locking tooth in the head so as to tighten the bicycle frame, such as the top tube, to the carry rack.

However, the tightening strip is mounted to outside of the bicycle frame and most of the bicycle frames and the carry rack are composed by round tubes, so that the contact area between the bicycle frames and the carry rack is small. Therefore, the bicycles on the carry rack easily shake when the car moves along a rugged road. The plastic-made tightening strips do not have proper flexibility to match the curvatures of the bicycle frames and the carry rack. This causes the bicycles to be loosened during transportation.

When dismounting the bicycles from the carry rack, the plastic-made tightening strips have to be cut, and this causes waste and the user has to prepare scissors or knifes. Besides, when the bicycles are secured to the carry rack again, new tightening strips are required.

The present invention intends to provide a securing device for positioning a bicycle frame on the bicycle carry rack so as to improve the shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a securing device and comprises a base having a first outer plate and a second outer plate on two sides thereof. A connection plate is connected between the first and second outer plates. A recess is defined between the first and second outer plates and the connection plate. A C-shaped part extends from an end of the connection plate and a first passage is defined transversely through the C-shaped part. The first outer plate has a first notch defined therein. The second outer plate has a lever pivotably connected thereto. At least one tooth extends from the inside of the lever. An insertion hole is defined between the inside of the lever and the second outer plate. The at least one tooth is located in the insertion hole.

A positioning member is located between the first and second outer plates of the base. The positioning member has a groove which accommodates a bicycle frame. A slit is defined in the positioning member and located below the groove. The connection plate of the base is inserted into the slit.

A belt has a head on the first end thereof and the head is movably engaged with the first notch of the base. Multiple engaging notches are defined in the surface of the belt. The second end of the belt is inserted into the insertion hole and the at least one tooth of the lever is engaged with one of the engaging notches to secure the bicycle frame. When pivoting the lever, the at least one tooth of the lever is disengaged from the engaging notch so that the belt is able to be pulled out from the insertion hole.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a securing device for securing a bicycle on a bicycle carry rack, and no extra tool is needed.

By the engagement between the at least one tooth of the lever and one of the engaging notches of the belt, the bicycle frame is secured to the bicycle carry rack.

The operation of the belt is easy and convenient without any tool. The belt is simply inserted into the insertion hole to let the at least one tooth of the lever be engaged with the engaging notch of the belt to secure the bicycle frame. When pivoting the lever, the at least one tooth of the lever is disengaged from the engaging notch so that the belt is able to be pulled out from the insertion hole. The lever has proper flexibility and can be pivoted back to its original position. The release of the belt does not need to use any tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the securing device for positioning a bicycle frame to a bicycle carry rack of the present invention comprises a base10, a positioning member30, and a belt40. The positioning member30is connected to the base10and the bicycle frame50is positioned in the positioning member30. The belt40has a first end connected to the base10and a second end of the belt40secures the bicycle frame50.

The base10comprises a first outer plate11and a second outer plate12on two sides thereof. A connection plate14is connected between the first and second outer plates11,12, a recess13is defined between the first and second outer plates11,12and the connection plate14. A C-shaped part141extends from one end of the connection plate14and a first passage15is defined transversely through the C-shaped part141as shown inFIG. 4. The axis of the first passage15of the C-shaped part141is perpendicular to the first and second outer plates11,12. The C-shaped part141has two extensions between which an opening is formed. A bolt16is threadedly connected to the two extensions to control a size of the first passage15of the C-shaped part141. The first outer plate11has a first notch111defined therein. A slot17is defined in the inner end of the first notch111and located beneath the first notch111. The slot17is perpendicular to the first passage15.

The second outer plate12has a lever20pivotably connected thereto. The lever20has a shoulder plate21, an operation portion22and at least one tooth23. The shoulder plate21extends downward from the top of the second outer plate12and the operation portion22extends from the shoulder plate21at an angle. The at least one tooth23extends from the inside of the lever20as shown inFIG. 5. An insertion hole24is defined in the inside of the lever20and extends toward the operation portion22. In detail, the insertion hole24is defined between the inside of the lever20and the second outer plate12. The at least one tooth23is located in the insertion hole24.

The positioning member30has a first inner plate31and a second inner plate32on two sides thereof. The positioning member30is located between the first and second outer plates11,12of the base10. The positioning member30has a groove33which is a semi-circular recess and defined in the surface of the plate connected between the first and second inner plates31,32. A C-shaped holding plate34extends from one end of the plate with the groove33. A second passage341is defined transversely through the holding plate34. An inverted L-shaped support plate342is connected to the opening of the C-shaped holding plate34. A slit35is defined between the underside of the portion defining the groove33and the inverted L-shaped support plate342. The connection plate14of the base10is inserted into the slit35. A U-shaped opening343is defined between the support plate342and the holding plate34, the U-shaped opening is located beneath the slit35. The first inner plate31of the positioning member30has a second notch311which is located corresponding to the first notch111. The second inner plate32of the positioning member30has a third notch321which is located corresponding to the insertion hole24.

The belt40has a head41on the first end thereof and the head41is movably engaged with the slot17of the base10. Multiple engaging notches42are defined in the surface of the belt40as shown inFIGS. 3 and 7. The second end of the belt40is inserted into the insertion hole24, and the at least one tooth23of the lever20is engaged with one of the engaging notches42to secure the bicycle frame50.

As shown inFIGS. 1,2and4, the first and second inner plates31,32of the positioning member30are located between the first and second outer plates11,12of the base10. The holding plate34is mounted to the C-shaped plate141, the connection plate14is inserted into the slit35. As shown inFIG. 5, one part of the bicycle carry rack extends through the first passage15and the bolt16tightens the U-shaped opening343so that the securing device is fixed to the bicycle carry rack.

As shown inFIGS. 3,5and6, the top tube of the bicycle frame50is accommodated in the groove33of the positioning member30, and the second end of the belt40goes across the top tube and then inserted into the insertion hole24. The operation portion22of the lever20is operated to pivot the lever20so that the at least one tooth23is removed from the belt40. When the belt40tightly secure the top tube, the lever20is released as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the lever2has proper flexibility so that the lever20bounces back and the at least one tooth23is engaged with one of the engaging notches42. The engaging notches42of the belt40are shaped such that the at least one tooth23does not disengaged from the engaging notch42once being engaged. The bicycle frame50is then well secured.

As shown inFIG. 8, when lifting the operation portion22of the lever20, because the lever20is connected to the shoulder plate21and has flexibility, so that the at least one tooth23of the lever20is disengaged from the engaging notch42, and the belt40is able to be pulled out from the insertion hole24. The bicycle frame50is then released from the securing device. After the user releases the operation portion22, the lever20returns to its original position, the operation processes do not need any tool.