A device for loading, unloading and carrying bicycles on the roof of motor vehicles provided with a pair of carrier rails

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for loading, unloading and carrying a bycicle in an upright position on the roof of a motor vehicle provided with a pair of transverse carrier rails (5, 12), comprising a shaped tube (1) having its base pivotally connected to a support (4) fastened to a first carrier rail, adapted to be rotated in a continuous manner from a lowered position for the engagement or disengagement of the bicycle frame (27), to a raised position for transporting the bicycle. There are further provided means for supporting and securing the bicycle front wheel and the bicycle frame, that are fastened to the second carrier bar (12) and to the free end of the tube (1), respectively.

Description: The present invention relates to a device for loading, unloading and carrying a bicycle on the roof of a motor vehicle provided with a rack or structure for carrying articles formed by a pair of transverse anchoring rails. There are known several devices for uprigthly carrying bicycles provided with a frame having a horizontal upper tube, such as the racing bicycles or those known as "mountain bikes", on the roof of a motor vehicle, such devices usually comprising fastening members having various shapes and sizes adapted to firmly secure the bicycle frame and the front wheel to a supporting structure fastened in turn to the roof edge, or to the drip moulding in case the motor vehicle is so equipped. The operations of locating the bicycle onto the roof of the motor vehicle and then securing it for the transport require the lifting of the bicycle from ground level to a height in the bicycle carrying structure equal to the resting area of the wheel, usually the front wheel, which is 20-30 cm above the motor vehicle roof. This requires a considerable effort in the loading and unloading operations with the associated risk that the bicycle frame or the pedals strike the car body damaging this latter. DE-U-9 105 551 discloses a device for loading, unloading and carrying bicycles on the roof of motor vehicles adapted to be orthogonally fastened to a support bar transversely secured to two transverse anchoring rails and comprising a rotatable arm shaped in such a manner as to longitudinally define four sections that extend successively at about 90° in respect of each other. The object of the present invention is that of providing a device that makes easier the bicycle loading and unloading operations, moreover rendering safer the operations. Another object of the invention is that of providing a device that can be easily applied to the already existing rack structures of the type comprising a pair of transverse carrier rails. The above and other objects are achieved by imparting to the device of the invention the characteristics defined in the attached claims. A preferred but non exclusive embodiment of the device according to the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the components of the device when this latter is standing erect for the transport of a bicycle; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the components of the device when this latter is lowered for loading and unloading a bicycle; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the means for fastening the rest for the front wheel of the bicycle to one of the carrier rails; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the means for supporting the bicycle frame; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the fastening means to the carrier rail according to another embodiment. With reference to the attached Figures, the device of the invention comprises a tube 1 having a circular cross section and so shaped as to longitudinally define four tube sections that extend successively at about 90° in respect of each other. The tube 1 has a first section 2 rotatably connected through an extractable pass-through pin to the base of a hollow rest support 4 having a semicircular cross section, such pin being blocked by a knob 3 which is internally threaded and adapted to be manually rotated for the quick mounting and dismounting of the tube 1 when this latter is not used. Such support 4 is mounted fastened to a shell member 7 having a hexagonal inner cross section and provided with a side hinge and tightening screws 8. The shell member 7 is therefore adapted to be fastened to only one carrier rail of the structure for carrying articles provided on the roof of the motor vehicle. Such rail can be indifferently either the front one 12 or the rear one 5, in respect of the advancing direction of the vehicle, in order to allow for the transport of two bicycles located side by side and in opposed directions. There is further provided an extractable fastening pin passing through a hole 17 and parallel to the preceding rotation pin, for keeping in a vertical position the section 2 of the tube 1 at the end of the loading operation and during the transport of the bicycle. A second internally threaded knob 6 is provided for firmly securing the fastening pin in the support 4. A second section 10 of the tube 1 is provided that is bent at about 90° with respect to the section 2, in such a way as to be parallel to the vehicle roof and facing towards the side opposite to that from which a bicycle is loaded, when the section 2 is in the vertical transport position. A third section 11 of the tube 1 is further provided that is bent at about 90° with respect to the section 10 in such a way as to be substantially parallel to the vehicle roof and facing towards the second carrier rail 12 of the structure for carrying articles that is mounted on the vehicle roof when the section 2 is in the vertical transport position. A fourth section 13 of the tube 1 is provided that is bent at about 90° with respect to the section 11 in such a way as to be substantially orthogonal to the vehicle roof when the section 2 is in the vertical transport position. In other words such fourth section 13 of the tube 1 results in being parallel to the first section 2. The free end of this latter section 13 is lengthwise adjustable thanks to a telescopic extension 16 with parallel holes 9, sligthly bent upward when the tube 1 is in the lowered position. Such telescopic extension is retained within the tube section 13 by an extractable screw. The free end of such telescopic extension 16 has a hole for receiving a pin which engages the brackets 18 of a hollow rest 19 having a semicircular cross section and being adapted to receive and hold the upper tube of the frame of the bicycle (27). Releasable straps 20 and 21 of elastic material, equipped with anchoring hooks 32 and 33, are provided around the rest 19, on the external lower surface of which projections 29 and 30 are present for the anchoring of the hooks 32 and 33 in order to firmly secure the bicycle frame during the loading and unloading operations and the transport thereof. There is further provided a rest member 22 for supporting and laterally holding the front wheel of the bicycle during the transport, which is fastended to the carrier rail 12 of the structure for carrying articles provided on the vehicle roof. Such resting member 22 is mounted integer with and orthogonal to a shell member 23 having a hexagonal cross section and provided with a side hinge 25 and tightening screws 24. An elastic strap 26 equipped with an anchoring hook 34 is provided around the resting member 22 and a projection 31 extends from the lower outer surface of the member 22 for anchoring the hook 34 in order to firmly secure the rim of the bicycle front wheel. During the bicycle loading operation the tube 1 is lowered towards the side of the vehicle from which the bicycle is to be loaded until it reaches a position in which the section 2 is rotated by about 90° from the vertical position that is assumed during the bicycle transport, whereas the end portion of the section 13 which carries the rest 19, after a rotation of about 90° extends outside the vehicle outline in order to allow the mounting of the bicycle. When the tube 1 is in the lowered position the upper tube of the bicycle frame is located onto the rest 19 and the elastic straps 20 and 21 are secured to the projections 29 and 30 through the hooks 32 and 33. Then the bicycle is lifted towards the vehicle roof with the aid of the tube 1 acting as a guide for the path that the bicycle has to follow during this operation. After the tube 1 has been lifted to the transport position whith the section 2 standing vertical, the fastening pin is inserted and tightened by screwing the knob 6 to firmly hold the tube 1 in the hollow support 4 during the transport. Finally the front wheel of the bicycle is secured to the rest member 22 through the strap 26. In order to unload the bicycle the above described loading operations are executed in the reverse order. An extensible leg or stand 28 with an end rubber pad 15 is pivotally connected to the section 11 of the tube 1 through a supporting bracket 14 present on the portion facing the vehicle roof when the tube is in the lowered position, for resting against the vehicle roof when a heavy bicycle frame is to be secured to or disengaged from the rest 19. When such extensible stand 28 does not act as a support of the tube 1, it is maintained against the tube 1 by a retaining spring (not shown) wound around the same pin about which the stand is rotatable. With reference to Fig. 5 a further embodiment is shown in which the fastening shell members in which the hinged shell member 7' have a rectangular cross section.

Claims: A device for loading, unloading and carrying bicycles on the roof of motor vehicles provided with a pair of carrier rails (5,12) comprising a tube (1) shaped in such a manner as to longitudinally define four tube sections that extend successively at about 90° in respect of each other, characterized in that said tube (1) is rotatably connected at one end to a pin passing through a hollow rest support (4) adapted to be orthogonally fastened to only one of said carrier rails (5,12), such rail being indifferently either the front one (12) or the rear one (5). A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in the transport position the tube (1) has a first section (2) orthogonal to the roof of the motor vehicle, a second section (10) parallel to the roof of the motor vehicle and facing towards the opposite side in respect of the side of the vehicle from which a bicycle is loaded, a third section (11) substantially parallel to the roof of the motor vehicle and facing towards the second carrier rail (12), and a fourth section (13) substantially parallel to the first section (2). A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in the loading or unloading positions the tube (1) has a first section (2) parallel to the roof of the motor vehicle and facing towards the side of the motor vehicle from which a bicycle is loaded, a second section (10) orthogonal to the roof of the motor vehicle and facing upwards, a third section (11) substantially parallel to the roof of the motor vehicle and facing towards the second carrier rail (12), and a fourth section (13) substantially parallel to the first section (2). A device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said fourth section (13) is provided with a telescopic extension (16) for allowing changes of the distance of the fastening point of the bicycle frame with respect to the carrier rails (5, 12) provided on the roof of the motor vehicle. A device as claimed in the preceding claims, characterized in that during the bicycle loading and unloading operations, the rotation of the parallel tube sections (2 and 13) takes place in a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the length of the vehicle. A device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that at the free end of the telescopic extension (16) there is rotatably mounted a support adapted to receive one of the tubes of the bicycle frame, said support being further provided with elastic means and hooks for securing said tube of the bicycle frame during the lifting, lowering and transport on the roof of the motor vehicle. A device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said support rotatably mounted on the telescopic extension (16) comprises a hollow member having a semicircular cross section. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a rest (22) for the front wheel which is mounted through fastening means orthogonally to one of the carrier rails (5, 12) on the roof of the motor vehicle. A device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the fastening means for mounting the rest member (22) and the hollow rest support (4) comprise shell members having a rectangular cross section and provided with a side hinge and tightening screws.

Inventors: MOTTINO ALESSANDRO, MOTTINO, ALESSANDRO
Applicants: ALMAS SRL, ALMAS S.R.L.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B60R9
IPC codes: B60R9