Abstract:
A rack arm rotatably mounts to a cross bar of a rack system. Multiple cross sectional shape cross bars are accommodated, enabling use with different rack styles. The rack arm rotates into position to engage an item of gear placed in the rack for securing the gear item to the rack.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to gear racks, and more particularly, to a gear retention system for use with gear racks. 
     Vehicle racks for carrying bicycles or other wheeled vehicles or sports gear (such as canoes, surfboards, etc.) need to secure the gear to the rack, to ensure that the gear does not get bounced out of the rack as a result of road conditions or sudden stops, etc. 
     For example, with bicycles, there are two popular styles of securing bicycles to racks, particularly when considering roof racks. The fork mount style employs a receiving member on the rack that is adapted to clamp to the front fork of the bicycle. A disadvantage to this style is that the front wheel of the bicycle must be removed to attach the bicycle to the rack. Some people prefer not to have to remove the wheel. Another style employs a clamp that attaches to the bicycle&#39;s frame. Both wheels remain on the bicycle in this style. However, some cyclists are reluctant to use the clamping style racks, fearing that the clamps might damage the finish of the bicycle frame as a result of vibration during transport. 
     There are two popular styles of roof rack systems for vehicles. One system employs cross bars (the bars extending from one lateral side of the roof rack system to the other lateral side) having a rectangular shape, while the other system uses circular shaped cross bars. Heretofore, having purchased one style or the other, a user had to purchase equipment specifically adapted to mount to that style of system. 
     As an attempt to overcome some of the above disadvantages, for bicycles, a clamping mechanism that secures the bicycle by attachment to the pedal and crank has been devised. The axis of rotation of the clamping mechanism is separate from the cross bar axis, and a substantial secondary structure is required to carry the side loads arising from the bicycle trying to tip over. The mounting mechanism transfers the load to the cross bar, but adds cost to the overall system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention, a rack arm is provided that rotatably mounts to the cross bars of a rack for sports gear. The arm rotates about the cross bar, causing the side loads to be carried by the cross bar. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sports gear rack arm adapted to rotatably mount to the cross bars of different style rack systems. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved rack arm that rotates about a rack cross bar and enables a bicycle to be secured to a roof rack system without attaching to the bicycle&#39;s frame. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved rack arm that enables a bicycle to be secured to a roof rack system via the rack&#39;s cross bar without requiring removal of the bicycle&#39;s wheel. 
     The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the retention arm as mounted to a vehicle roof top bicycle rack; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the mounting components of the retention arm; 
     FIG. 3 is a view of the mounting components of FIG. 2, in assembled form; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the mounting components taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the mounting components taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3, when mounted on a cross bar having a circular cross section; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bicycle roof rack with two wheel trays and two retention arms. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a bearing that clamps to the cross bar of a sports gear rack, rotatably carrying a bicycle tire engaging arm thereon. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a side view of the retention arm as mounted to a vehicle roof top bicycle rack, a vehicle  10  has a roof top rack system  12  mounted thereon, via standoff supports  14  (one such support being visible in FIG.  1 ). The standoff supports are suitably mounted at front and rear positions on the vehicle roof, and at left and right sides of the vehicle. A cross bar  16  is supported and secured between each of the left front and right front standoffs, and the left rear and right rear standoffs. An elongate ratchet arm assembly  18  rotatably mounts to the cross bar  16 , and includes a toothed rack  20  along an extent thereof. A grip member  22  slidingly engages the rack portion, including a release trigger  24  thereon, and carrying a wheel hook arm  26  at an end most distal from the end of the arm assembly  18  mounted to the cross bar. 
     A wheel tray  28  attaches to the front and rear cross bars, suitably extending at least at one end thereof some distance beyond the area bounded by the front and rear cross bars. A wheeled vehicle (such as bicycle  30 , illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1) is suitably received in the wheel tray, and is secured in place by engagement of the wheel hook arm  26  with the tire on the bike wheel. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, an exploded view of the mounting components of the retention arm, the manner of attaching the wheel retention arm to the cross bar  16  may be better understood. The mounting assembly includes a pivot bearing  32 , which is provided as upper and lower portions  32   a  and  32   b . The pivot bearing is suitably plastic, vinyl or an ultra high molecular weight plastic, for example. The interiors of the pivot bearing portions are shaped with a profile to correspond to the profile of the cross bar, so that when the two pieces  32   a  and  32   b  of the pivot bearing are brought together, they engage the cross bar. The external profile of the pivot bearing is circular. A bearing groove  34  is defined in each portion of the pivot bearing, so as to define a circumferential groove around the exterior profile of the pivot bearing when portions  32   a  and  32   b  are brought together. The groove is suitably defined off of the center line  36  of the bearing. The ratchet arm assembly  18  has a first bearing clamp portion  38  mounted thereto, including a semicircular portion  40  having a profile corresponding to the exterior profile of the pivot bearing portions. A pair of spaced nibs  42  are defined at the edge of the clamp portion most distal from the arm portion of the assembly. 
     A second bearing clamp portion  44  is provided, with a semicircular portion  46 , corresponding in profile to the exterior profile of the pivot bearing portions. First and second slots  48  are defined in the clamp portion  44 , corresponding to spaced nibs  42  of the first clamp portion. Inside the semicircular portion  46 , a raised dimple  50  is provided. A corresponding dimple  50 ′ may be provided in the semicircular portion of bearing clamp  38 . Dimple  50  is sized to fit into the bearing groove  34 . A pair of threaded mounting bolts  52  are received through mounting holes  54  in the second bearing clamp portion  44 , through holes  56  in the first bearing clamp portion  38 , and are threadably engaged by wing nuts  58 . The first clamp portion has an opening  57  defined therein, and a corresponding opening  59  is defined in the second clamp portion. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a view of the mounting components of FIG. 2, in assembled form, together with FIG. 2, to mount the assembly to cross bar  16 , the two pivot bearing portions are placed around the cross bar, with their respective bearing groove portions  34  aligned. Second bearing clamp portion  44  and first bearing clamp portion  38  are brought close to the bearing portion, aligning dimple  50  with the bearing groove  34 , and the clamp portions are connected, by inserting the nib portions  42  of the first clamp portion into the corresponding slots  48  of the second clamp portion. The mounting bolts  52  are inserted through the holes  54 ,  56 , and wing nuts  58  are threaded onto the bolts, and are tightened down. The bearing portion  32  suitably remains stationary relative to the cross bar, while the bearing clamp (comprising portions  38  and  44 ) is able to rotate about the bearing. The alignment of the bearing clamp longitudinally along the bearing portion is maintained by the engagement of dimple  50  with bearing groove  34 . When mounted as in FIG. 3, the arm  18  is able to rotate about the axis of the cross bar, as shown by arc  72 . The openings  57  and  59  align when the clamp is assembled, providing an opening through which a locking cable may be passed, for the purpose of locking a bicycle stored on the rack so as to prevent theft. When the clamp is closed, a small separation  39  may be present between the two clamp portions. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the mounting components taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . As may be observed, the interior profile of the bearing member portions  32   a  and  32   b  define rectangular shaped corner portions, so as to fit and engage with the rectangular profile of the cross bar  16 . Also provided in the two bearing members are partial circular profiles  62   a  and  62   b . These profiles accommodate circular cross section cross bars. FIG.  5 . is a cross sectional view of the mounting components as engaged to a circular cross section cross bar  16 ′. The interior profile of the bearing portions can also be modified to engage with cross bars having other profiles than those shown. For example, a cross bar with an oval, triangular, square, octagonal, etc. profile is suitably accommodated, with corresponding changes to the interior profile of the bearing portions. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bicycle roof rack with two wheel trays and two retention arms attached thereto. The left most arm at  64  is rotated forwardly to a loading position, wherein the rack is ready to receive a bicycle therein. A wheel retainer  66  is shown, to engage the back portion of the front wheel of a bicycle. The second, right most arm at  68 , is rotated counterclockwise, to a stowed position, when a bicycle is not present. The axis of rotation of the arms are illustrated at  72 ,  74 . Note also that the wheel retainer  66 ′ is moved counterclockwise to a stowed position, relative to the retainer  66 . 
     As may be observed in FIG. 3, when the bearing clamp is assembled, one end  60  of the bearing portion  32  extends beyond the bearing clamp, as a result of the bearing groove being off center on the bearing and the cooperation with dimple  50 . Thus, the bearing portion also acts as a spacer member, such that the pivoting arm is kept a specific distance away from the wheel tray. This provides a desired alignment between the wheel arm and the wheel of the bicycle, without requiring any special measuring by the user. The user merely clamps the bearing portions so that the end  60  of the bearing  32  abuts a mounting bracket for the wheel tray of FIG.  6 . Therefore, by providing a bearing portion  32  of a certain length, and positioning the bearing groove  34 , alignment of the mounted rack arm relative to the wheel tray is easily accomplished, maintaining a desired spacing  70  (see FIG. 6) without requiring any measurement or other alignment considerations by the user. 
     Also shown in FIG. 6 is a strap member  76 , suitably comprising a hook and look type fastening system, for securing the wheel that is not being held by the rack arm to the wheel tray. 
     In use, to load a bicycle onto the rack, the ratchet arm is extended forwardly (as at  64  in FIG. 6) and the wheel retainer  66  is moved to the position in the left portion of FIG.  6 . The bicycle (or other wheeled vehicle) is placed onto the wheel tray and rolled so the tire back (either front or rear tire) is resting against the wheel retainer. The hook arm is rotated counterclockwise (in the view of FIG. 6) so that the hook arm portion is positioned at the top of the tire (see FIG.  1 ). The handle  22  is pulled downwardly to secure the bike to the rack. The ratchet action between the handle and the rack  20  holds the hook in position, until the release  24  is pressed. Strap  76  is then secured around the other wheel of the bicycle. 
     When the arm is in the stowed position  68  of FIG. 6, the strap is suitably secured around the arm to keep it in the stowed position. 
     Therefore, according to the present invention, a rack arm is suitably mounted to a rack cross bar, and is adapted to rotate about the cross bar. Thus, an arm or clamp engages an article placed in the rack (where the article is e.g., a bicycle or other sporting gear), to assist in keeping the article in the rack. In the preferred embodiment, the arm is mounted so its rotational axis is coaxial with the cross bar, although other configurations may be employed. 
     It will be understood that while the illustrated embodiment is employed in the context of a bicycle rack, the invention is not limited to such uses. The invention is suitably used with other gear racks, whether for sport gear or not. For example, canoe racks, surfboard racks, windsurfer gear racks and the like are suitably adapted to use of the invention. In such case, modification to the arm mechanism that engages the gear may be desired. In the case of a canoe, for example, the canoe is positioned on it rack, and then the arm according to the invention is rotated into position so as to engage the canoe. A clamping mechanism, such as a screw clamp, is carried on the arm, and is rotated to engage the gunwale of the canoe. Once in position where it engages the gunwale, the screw clamp is tightened, securing the canoe to the rack. Accordingly, the invention may be employed with various types of racks for securing items, while keeping within the scope of the invention. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.