VEHICLE MOUNTED BICYCLE CARRIER

A vehicle mounted bicycle carrier has a telescopic assembly which comprises a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The second tubular member is movable between an extended position wherein the second tubular member extends relatively more from the first tubular member and a retracted position wherein the second tubular member extends relatively less from the first tubular member. A mounting assembly is secured to the first tubular member. A bicycle support is secured to the second tubular member. A drive unit is provided which selectively moves the second tubular member from the retracted position to the extended position and from the extended position to the retracted position, thereby raising and lowering the bicycle support.

FIELD

There is described a bicycle carrier that mounts to a vehicle for the purpose of transporting a bicycle.

BACKGROUND

SUMMARY

There is provided a vehicle mounted bicycle carrier with a telescopic assembly which comprises a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The second tubular member has a first end and a second end. The first end of the second tubular member is telescopically received within the first tubular member. The second tubular member is movable between an extended position wherein the second tubular member extends relatively more from the first tubular member and a retracted position wherein the second tubular member extends relatively less from the first tubular member. A mounting assembly is secured to the first tubular member. The mounting assembly is used to mount the tubular assembly to a vehicle in a vertical orientation with the second end of the second tubular member being in a downward orientation. A bicycle support is secured toward the second end of the second tubular member. A drive unit is provided which selectively moves the second tubular member from the retracted position to the extended position and from the extended position to the retracted position, thereby raising and lowering the bicycle support.

The bicycle carrier, as described above, is capable of lowering the bicycle support to ground level in order to receive a bicycle. The bicycle support is then raised, so that the bicycle can be safely transported by vehicle. Once the vehicle arrives at a location where the bicycle is to be ridden, the bicycle support is again lowered to ground level for the off-loading of the bicycle.

The advantage that the above-described bicycle carrier provides is that it is not necessary to lift the bicycle onto the bicycle carrier. These and other aspects of the bicycle carrier will hereinafter be described in the description which follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A bicycle carrier generally identified by reference numeral10, will now be described with reference toFIG.1throughFIG.7.

Structure and Relationship of Parts:

Referring toFIG.4andFIG.5, bicycle carrier10has a main body which is a telescopic assembly, generally indicated by reference numeral12, comprising a first tubular member14and a second tubular member16. Referring toFIG.5, second tubular member16has a first end18and a second end20(remote end). First end18of second tubular member16is telescopically received within first tubular member14. Second tubular member16is telescopically movable between an extended position illustrated inFIG.5wherein second tubular member16extends relatively more from first tubular member14and a retracted position illustrated inFIG.4wherein second tubular member16extends relatively less from first tubular member14.

Referring toFIG.1, a mounting assembly, generally indicated by reference numeral22, is secured to first tubular member14. Mounting assembly22is used to mount tubular assembly12to a vehicle in a vertical orientation. Referring toFIG.5, when in the correct vertical orientation second end20of second tubular member16is in a downward orientation. Mounting assembly22, as illustrated, comprises coupling24mounted to first tubular member14. Coupling24supports a square hitch pin26which is designed to mate with a female receiver (not shown) mounted to a vehicle. The mounting assembly will not be further described, as the use of a square hitch pin is known. It will be understood that there are alternative mounting assemblies which could have been used.

Referring toFIG.4andFIG.5, there is one aspect of mounting assembly22that deserves further mention. When mounting assembly is mounted to a vehicle having a pivoting rear cargo door, there may be a need for additional clearance to accommodate the opening and closing of the rear cargo door. Coupling24which supports square hitch pin26has two mounting apertures25and27. When cotter pins29are inserted in both mounting aperture25and mounting aperture27, tubular assembly is maintained in a perpendicular relationship to square hitch pin26. However, when access to rear cargo door is desired, the cotter pin29in mounting aperture27is removed. This results in a pivotal movement about the cotter pin29in mounting aperture25, which places tubular assembly in an angular position to allow clearance. After cargo is loaded, the rear cargo door is then closed, tubular assembly is raised, and the cotter pin is inserted into mounting apertures27in preparation for transport.

Referring toFIG.1, a bicycle support, generally identified by reference numeral30is secured in a cantilever manner to second end20of second tubular member16. Referring toFIG.6andFIG.7, bicycle support30is adapted to support a bicycle100in a horizontal orientation. Referring toFIG.1andFIG.2, bicycle support30has opposed ends32. Tire lock arms34and36are pivotally mounted at pivot37to opposed ends32of bicycle support30. Referring toFIG.1, tire lock arms34and36both have a tire engagement cavity38. Referring toFIG.6andFIG.7, it can be seen how by pivoting tire lock arms34and36into a position in which a tire102of bicycle100is captured in tire engagement cavity38, bicycle100can be secured to bicycle support30. It is to be noted that a pivotal stop40limits rotation of tire lock arm34. It is to be noted that a locking brace42is used to lock tire lock arm36into engagement with tire102. Tire102cannot be released until locking brace42is removed to allow tire lock arm36to be pivoted to release tire102from tire engagement cavity38. It should also be noted that in order to facilitate loading of bicycle100, tire locking arm36is lowered until it rests on the ground. This allows bicycle100to be rolled over tire locking arm36onto bicycle support30.

Tire lock arms34and36have been chosen for illustration as a suitable means for securing bicycle100to bicycle support30. Some bicycles have fenders and other bicycles do not have fenders. It will be understood that the sizing of tire lock arms34and36may vary depending upon whether bicycle carrier10is to be used with bicycles having fenders or not having fenders. It will be understood that the manner of securing bicycle100to bicycle support30may vary depending upon whether bicycle carrier10is to be used with bicycles having fenders or not having fenders.

When bicycle support30is not in use supporting bicycle100, it is preferred that bicycle support30be capable of being folded. Referring toFIG.2andFIG.3, bicycle support30comprises two pivoting support arms44and46, which pivot about pivot47. Support arms44and46pivot between a substantially vertical stored position illustrated inFIG.3and a substantially horizontal operative position illustrated inFIG.1andFIG.2. Referring toFIG.3, it is to be noted that tire lock arm34and tire lock arm36fold to enable bicycle support30to assume a relatively compact configuration.

Referring toFIG.1, a drive unit, generally identified by reference numeral50, is provided. Drive unit50comprises a linear actuator52which is powered by a battery pack54. Linear actuator52is secured to first tubular member14by mounting plates55. Referring toFIG.4andFIG.5, when selectively activated drive unit50moves second tubular member16from the retracted position illustrated inFIG.4to the extended position illustrated inFIG.5or, conversely, from the extended position illustrated inFIG.5to the retracted position illustrated inFIG.4, thereby raising and lowering bicycle support30.

FIG.1throughFIG.7show bicycle support30as supporting a single bicycle. It will be understood that twinning the support configuration that bicycle support30can be adapted to hold two bicycles. Referring toFIG.8andFIG.9, bicycle support30is designed to receive in parallel spaced relation a second bicycle support30′ by inserting a male member31of second bicycle support30′ into a female receiver33in bicycle support30and securing it in position with a lock pin35. It will be further understood that the configuration of bicycle support30can be modified to hold three or more bicycles, by mating a third bicycle support with the second bicycle support, by mating a fourth bicycle support with the third bicycle support and so on.

Referring toFIG.4andFIG.5, mounting assembly22is used to mount tubular assembly12to a vehicle in a vertical orientation. Drive unit50is then activated to move second tubular member16from the retracted position illustrated inFIG.4to the extended position illustrated inFIG.5, thereby lowering bicycle support30to ground level in preparation for loading. Referring toFIG.3andFIG.2, support arms44and46are pivoted from the substantially vertical stored position illustrated inFIG.3and to the substantially horizontal operative position illustrated inFIG.2. Tire lock arm36is lowered to rest on the ground, providing a path for the loading of bicycle100. Referring toFIG.6andFIG.7, bicycle100is rolled onto bicycle support30. Tire lock arms34and36are pivoted into a position in which a tire102of bicycle100is captured in tire engagement cavity38in order to secure bicycle100to bicycle support30. Pivotal stop40limits rotation of tire lock arm34. Tire lock arm36is raised and locking brace42is used to lock tire lock arm36into engagement with tire102. Tire102cannot be released until locking brace42is removed to allow tire lock arm36to be pivoted to release tire102from tire engagement cavity38. Drive unit50is then activated to move second tubular member16from the extended position illustrated inFIG.5to the retracted position illustrated inFIG.4, thereby raising bicycle support30in preparation for transport.

Referring toFIG.8andFIG.9, for reasons of safety, it is preferred that, with a single bicycle100, support30be configured to load bicycle100from the passenger side of the vehicle (sidewalk side when parked), rather than the driver side of the vehicle where vehicular traffic goes. When two or more bicycles are being loaded, the orientation of the bicycles is alternated so that the handlebars of one bicycle is toward tire lock arm34and the handlebars of the next bicycle is toward tire lock arm36. This may require that one bicycle be rolled forward onto bicycle support30from the passenger side and the next bicycle be rolled onto bicycle support30′ from the driver side.

Upon arrival at the destination, drive unit50is again activated to move second tubular member16from the retracted position illustrated inFIG.4to the extended position illustrated inFIG.5, thereby lowering bicycle support30to ground level in preparation for unloading. Locking brace42is removed to allow tire lock arm36to be pivoted to release tire102from tire engagement cavity38. Bicycle100can then be rolled off of bicycle support30.

The scope of the claims should not be limited by the illustrated embodiments set forth as examples but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with a purposive construction of the claims in view of the description as a whole.