Abstract:
A carrying rack for mounting on a bicycle comprises an upper support portion for mounting luggage, goods or the like, a first side supporting limb having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being configured to be attached in use to a mounting location at a lower part of the bicycle frame; and first and second co-operating formations attached respectively to the upper support portion and the second side supporting limb, the said co-operating portions being relatively moveable thereby to adjust the distance between a side margin of the upper support portion and the second side supporting limb.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of UK Patent Application Serial No. 0800945.8, filed Jan. 18, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to carrying racks for cycles, in particular to carrying racks arranged to be mounted over the rear wheel of a cycle. More especially, the present invention relates to carrying racks arranged to be mounted over the rear wheel of a pedal cycle. 
       DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Carrying racks for cycles are well known and are described, for example, in GB1572958, EP0581692, NL9301007, NL9400404, NL1002738, NL1009804, DE29911818U1, U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,818, U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,004, U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,338, U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,717, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,190. Typically, the carrying rack comprises a frame portion which is arranged nominally horizontally in use, a forward fixing portion which is attached directly or indirectly to the seat post or seat post tube of the cycle and respective side supporting limbs which are attached at or adjacent the rear axle of the bicycle. Adjustment means may be provided to accommodate different sizes of seat post, seat post tube or associated fixings and to ensure that the frame portion is substantially horizontal in use. 
         [0004]    Conventionally the lateral spacing of the rear portion of the bicycle frame to which the rear wheel is attached is substantially invariant between different cycles. In other words, the distance between the rear forks along the rotational axis of the wheel is at least nominally the same on different cycles. Therefore, cycle carrying racks can be made to standard dimension which comply with this width. Where there is some difference in this width, it is not unusual for a user to attempt to bend one or more of the side supporting limbs to accommodate this difference. This can, of course, compromise the structural strength of the carrying rack. 
         [0005]    Problems have now arisen in that increasingly complex gear arrangements mean that the distance between the points on the rear forks of the bicycle frame to which the side supporting limbs of the carrying rack are mounted is no longer constant between different cycles. Furthermore, it is increasingly common for cycles (in particular those used off road) to be provided with disc brakes. The disc brake calliper extends laterally beyond the rear forks of the cycle frame and this increase in width must also be accommodated by the side support limbs of the cycle carrying rack. 
         [0006]    Embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome, or at least alleviate, the above disclosed problems. 
         [0007]    According to embodiments of the present invention there is provided a carrying rack for mounting on a bicycle comprising 
         [0000]    an upper support portion for mounting luggage, goods or the like,
 
a first side supporting limb having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being configured to be attached in use to a mounting location at a lower part of the bicycle frame; and
 
first and second co-operating formations attached respectively to the upper support portion and the second side supporting limb, the said co-operating portions being relatively moveable thereby to adjust the distance between a side margin of the upper support portion and the second side supporting limb.
 
         [0008]    In a first preferred embodiment the carrying rack further comprises an upper fixing arrangement configured for attachment directly or indirectly to an upper portion of the bicycle frame. 
         [0009]    In another preferred embodiment the carrying rack further comprises a second side supporting limb having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being attached to the upper support portion and the lower end being configured to be attached in use to a mounting location at a lower part of the bicycle frame. 
         [0010]    In a further preferred embodiment the first co-operating formation comprises a laterally extending member extending from an upper part of the first side support limb and wherein the second co-operating formation comprises a receiving body mounted in fixed relation to the upper support portion and configured to receive said laterally extending member. Preferably in this embodiment the co-operating formations comprise a plurality of laterally extending members and an equal number of receiving bodies, each body receiving a respective laterally extending member. 
         [0011]    Preferably the carrying rack further comprises means for urging the receiving body into fixed or locking engagement with the laterally extending member, thereby to prevent unintended removal of the laterally extending member from the receiving body. 
         [0012]    For a better understanding of embodiments of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the following drawings in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bicycle carrying rack according to one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing the bicycle carrying rack in an expanded configuration; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows the detail of a fixing arrangement for the bicycle carrying rack of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a gripping member which forms a part of the bicycle carrying rack of one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a lateral cross section through the gripping member of  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  shows schematically the application of a disc brake to a bicycle frame. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The bicycle carrying rack as illustrated is typically made form shaped or formed metal rods or tubes and includes an upper frame portion  14 . The frame portion  14  in the illustrated embodiments comprises longitudinal side members  14   a  and  14   b  and lateral side members  14   c  and  14   d  which together form a substantially rectangular unit. At least one cross brace  14   e  may be provided between longitudinal side members  14   a  and  14   b , but is not essential. The frame provides a supporting body on which bags, equipment, child seats or the like can be mounted. Towards its front portion the frame  14  includes a lateral mounting plate  18  which extends between the longitudinal side members  14   a  and  14   b . Attachment means  16  are adjustably attached to the lateral mount  18  by means of adjustable fixings  20  which allow a user to select the lateral position of the attachment means  16 . Attachment means  16  are configured for attachment at ends  16   a  directly or indirectly to the seat post or seat post tube of the bicycle or, more conveniently, to the seat stays of the bicycle frame. In one example, the seat post tube may be provided with a suitable collar to which the ends  16   a  may be fastened by suitable means such as a nut and bolt. Collars of this type are well known in the art and are not described further herein. 
         [0020]    A mounting plate  22  may conveniently be attached to the rear lateral side member  14   c  for mounting lights, reflectors or the like. 
         [0021]    The carrying rack  12  further comprises first and second side support limbs  26  and  24 . Second side support limb  24  comprises limb elements  24   a  and  24   b  which together adopt a V-shaped configuration and a limb element  24   c  which, approximately, bisects the elements  24   a  and  24   b . Elements  24   a ,  24   b  and  24   c  are fixedly attached to the frame  14  at the side defined by longitudinal side member  14   a.    
         [0022]    First side support limb  26  similarly comprises first and second limb elements  26   a  and  26   b  which are arranged in a V-shaped configuration and a third element  26   c  which, approximately, bisects the elements  26   a  and  26   b . However, first side support limb  26  is not fixedly attached to frame  14 . Both first and second side support limbs  24  and  26  include respective cross brace members  28  which can conveniently serve as a mounting member for pannier bags and the like. 
         [0023]    The first and second side support limbs  26 ,  24  terminate at their lower ends in respective flattened plate portions  30   a ,  30   b  which define respective through bores  30   c ,  30   d . The plate portions  30   a ,  30   b  and bores  30   c ,  30   d  are configured for attachment of the carrying rack  12  to the bicycle frame in the region of the bicycle rear axle. 
         [0024]    Conveniently the bicycle frame is provided with suitable fixing locations such as complementary bores which accept a bolt passing through the bore  30   c ,  30   d  of respective plate portion  30   a ,  30   b . A typical bolt is illustrated at  44  in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 6  which shows schematically a brake disc arrangement for a bicycle, the illustrated bicycle frame includes frame members  4   a  and  4   b  which are typically attached to the bicycle seat post tube (not illustrated). The frame members  4   a  and  4   b  terminate at, and are joined in, a region which includes means for accommodating the axle bolt of the bicycle rear wheel, as indicated at  6 . The bicycle disc brake is indicated at  8  and is in the form of a disc or ring, typically of metal, which during braking is gripped by calliper  10 . The width of calliper  10  extends beyond the maximum lateral extent of frame members  4   a  and  4   b  as indicated by arrow w. Thus calliper  10  would interfere with the side support of a conventional bicycle carrying rack which would be attached to the bicycle frame in the region generally indicated at  6 . 
         [0026]    Referring now in particular to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the bicycle carrying rack of embodiments of the present invention includes an adjustable second side support limb  26 . Elements  26   a  and  26   b  of the first side support limb  26  includes at their upper ends a respective extension portion  32   a ,  32   b  which extends in use nominally parallel to cross member  14   e . That is, the extension portions  32   a ,  32   b  extend nominally parallel to the axle of the rear wheel when the bike carrying rack is mounted on the bicycle. The extension portions  32   a    32   b  are received in respective bores  42  of clamping members  34  which are mounted in the frame  14 . Thus, the extension portions  32   a ,  32   b  are moveable in the directions indicated by arrows A into and out of the bores  42  thereby to vary the spacing of the first and second side support limbs  24 ,  26 . The additional width required to accommodate the calliper  10  of the disc brake, or to accommodate more complex gear arrangements, is thereby provided. 
         [0027]    The gripping member  34  includes a channel  48  which opens into the bore  42  and is also open to the exterior of the gripping member  34 . Thus, the channel is nominally radial with respect to the bore  42 . The gripping member  34  further includes one or more lateral bores  36  which intersect the channel  48 . The bores  36  are configured to accommodate bolts  38  and captive nuts  40 . The nuts  40  and bolts  38  have a complementary thread so that tightening of the bolts  38  into the nuts  40  urges the walls  48 ′ of the channel  48  towards each other. The cross sectional dimension of the bore  42  is also thereby reduced so that the wall  42 ′ of the bores  42  is urged more tightly into engagement with the extension portions  32   a ,  32   b  of the second side support limb  26 . Thus, by tightening the bolts  36  into the nuts  40  the first side support limb  26  is secured and retained on the frame  14 . 
         [0028]    In the above described arrangement, when the first side support limb  26  has been set at the desired width to accommodate the brake calliper  10 , it will be noted that the lower end  30   b  remains spaced apart from its corresponding fixing point on the bicycle frame in region  6 . Therefore, in preferred embodiments of the invention one or more spacers are provided which are located in use between the bicycle frame and the lower end  30   b.    
         [0029]    Each spacer  46  includes a through bore to accommodate a fastening bolt  44  and, preferably, the spacers are configured to be stackable. That is, each spacer includes an externally extending protrusion  46   a  which can be received in a correspondingly sized and shaped bore  46   b  or an adjacent spacer  46 . 
         [0030]    Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of the words, for example “comprising” and “comprises”, means “including but not limited to”, and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. The words, bike, bicycle and cycle are used herein interchangeably. 
         [0031]    Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise. 
         [0032]    Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.