Abstract:
A carrier comprised of a holding member and an article support member. The holding member includes a tubing with a plurality of grooves lengthwise down the tubing. The article support member is coupled to the holding member. The article support member includes a tray and a collar. The collar engages and interlocks with orientation grooves associated with the holding member. The collar enables the tray to be rotatably adjusted with a slope in accordance with a selected angular orientation of the plurality of angular orientations without the presence of an article in the tray.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 09/209,928, which was filed Dec. 9, 1998 and is owned by Assignee of the present application. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of bicycle carriers. In particular, the present invention relates to a carrier and adjustable article support members to secure bicycles during transport.  
           [0004]    2. General Background  
           [0005]    For many years, a substantial majority of bicycle frames have been manufactured with a generally horizontal top tube, which is connected to the seat tube and the head tube of the frame. In light of these features, rear-mounted bicycle carriers have been designed to hold the top tube of a bicycle frame during transport. For example, both U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,414 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,195 disclose standard rear-mounted bicycle carriers, each employing a pair of horizontal, hook-like arms to support the top tube of a bicycle frame. In addition, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,529,231 and 5,647,521 disclose a rear-mounted bicycle carrier having a horizontal support member upon which V-shaped frame holders are permanently affixed. A single clamping mechanism, when fastened, is used to secure all of the bicycles placed on the V-shaped frame holders. The clamping mechanism is incapable of securing individual bicycles.  
           [0006]    It is evident, however, that these rear-mounted bicycle carriers are unable to easily accommodate bicycles with sloped top tubes, which are usually found in ladies&#39; bicycles and in an increasing number of mountain and racing bicycles. Normally, bicycles having sloped top tubes (generally referred to herein as “sloped tube bicycles”) rest in an awkward, unstable position when transported by conventional rear-mounted bicycle carriers. This awkward position can cause damage to the bicycle or cause the bicycle to become partially or completely dislodged from the carrier during transit.  
           [0007]    In addition, conventional rear-mounted bicycle carriers are designed so that the spatial distance between bicycle frames placed on the carrier is constant and non-modifiable. This is problematic when bicycles are upgraded with components that increase the width of the bicycle. For example, a bicycle with front-fork shock absorbers would require more spacing between neighboring bicycles than a conventional bicycle. If the additional spacing cannot be provided, some of the bicycles being transported can become damaged.  
           [0008]    Recently, various companies have attempted to develop bicycle carriers for sloped top tubes. However, these carriers employ brackets designed with a conventional pressure-based locking mechanism relying solely on a locking handle (or cam). This type of locking mechanism raises safety concerns because there is no secondary locking mechanism to prevent the bicycles from rotating if the locking handle is loosened intentionally or accidentally. This constitutes a safety concern. Also, this locking mechanism supports rotational adjustment of the bracket when the bicycle is attached, which would encourage users to conduct difficult manipulations of the brackets and bicycles that would likely result in injury to the user or damage to the bicycle.  
           [0009]    Hence, it is desirable to provide a carrier that allows the spacing between neighboring bicycles placed on the carrier to be adjusted and an article support member that is precluded from further rotation when the article when placed therein.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0010]    Briefly, the present invention relates to a carrier comprising a holding member and an article support member. The holding member includes a tubing with a plurality of grooves length-wise down the tubing. The article support member is coupled to the holding member. The article support member includes a tray and a collar. The collar is coupled to the tray and engages with the holding member in a plurality of angular orientations. In one embodiment, the engagement is accomplished by a fastening mechanism to prevent movement of the article support member upon placement of the article in the tray.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an illustrative embodiment of a carrier including adjustable, article support members.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is an illustrative embodiment of the column and holding members of the carrier of FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is an illustrative embodiment of the column and holding members of the carrier of FIG. 1 inclusive of a locking mechanism and article support members.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the illustrative embodiment of the locking mechanism of FIG. 3.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a first illustrative embodiment of an article support member of FIG. 2.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is an illustrative embodiment of an article support member of FIGS. 2 and 5 before attachment of the collar fastening mechanism.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is an illustrative embodiment of the article support member of FIG. 6 after attachment of the collar fastening mechanism.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is an illustrative embodiment of the article support member of FIG. 7 when placed in a locked state.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is an illustrative embodiment of the article support member of FIG. 7 when placed in an unlocked state.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a second illustrative embodiment of the locking mechanism.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is a top-down view of the second embodiment of the locking mechanism of FIG. 10.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is a second illustrative embodiment of an article support member of FIG. 2.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 13 is an illustrative embodiment of a tray of the article support member of FIG. 12.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 14 is an illustrative embodiment of a pin of the collar fastening mechanism of the article support member of FIG. 12.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]    Herein, an embodiment of a carrier comprising one or more adjustable article support members is shown. Each article support member is designed to accommodate articles with different structures such as, for example, any type of bicycle including sloped tube bicycles of varying tube diameters, wheelchairs and the like. While numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention, it is apparent to one of reasonable skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In fact, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention, well known features may not be described herein.  
         [0027]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a carrier  100  comprising a plurality of article support members  200  is shown. Carrier  100  comprises a base member  110 , a column member  120  and a holding member  130 . In particular, base member  110  is capable of being securely attached to a hitch receiver of a vehicle through a fold-down receiver footing  140 . Of course, it is contemplated that carrier  100  may be attached to a bumper or chassis of a vehicle in lieu of the hitch receiver. Also, instead of being attached to a vehicle, carrier  100  may be used as a stationary locking apparatus.  
         [0028]    As further shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2, column member  130  includes a cylindrical tube having a first end  121  coupled to base member  110  and a second end  122  coupled to holding member  130 . In particular, at the first end  121 , column member  120  is pivotally coupled to base member  110 . This allows column member  120  to be rotated downward for loading and unloading of articles and to remain generally perpendicular to base member  110  during transport. Column member  120  is coupled to holding member  130  at second end  122  as shown in more detail in FIG. 2.  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIG. 2, one embodiment of holding member  130  includes a cylindrical tube having an outer surface  131  featuring a plurality of orientation grooves  150  lengthwise across the tube. For this embodiment, orientation grooves  150  are immediately adjacent to each other and placed around a circumference of outer surface  131  (e.g., each groove occupies about one-twentieth of the circumference of holding member  130 ). This allows a spacing distance (X) between article support members  200  to be adjustable. It is contemplated, however, that grooves  150  may be separated from each other by non-grooved or protruding portions. The separation may be equal distances or varying distances. Also, holding member  130  may be smooth along surface  131  with an insert having cylindrical grooves placed over holding member  130  and securely fastened thereto.  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, in this embodiment, an integral, locking mechanism  170  is implemented within carrier  100 . As shown, locking mechanism  170  includes a cable lock  171  placed at the end of locking cable  172 . Locking cable  172  is partially situated within the cylindrical tubing of column member  120  and optionally holding member  130 . To lock an article situated on one or more article support members  200 , cable  172  would be partially removed from the tubing of column member  120  and wrapped either around a portion of the article, or perhaps placed through an aperture of the article. Cable  172  are made of metal, a hardened plastic or any other material that is difficult to break. Optionally, to reduce wear, an optional plastic sheath  173  is placed over cable  172 .  
         [0031]    Cable  172  are prevented from being completely removed and disconnected from carrier  100  by (i) providing a channel  174  through which cable  172  can be pulled therethrough, and (ii) securely attaching a clamp  175  at one end  176  of cable  172 . Channel  174  is created, for example, by placing of a pre-manufactured aperture within the cylindrical tubing of column member  120 . By sizing clamp  175  to be greater in size than channel  174 , cable  172  can only be partially removed from column member  120 , not completely removed.  
         [0032]    The opposite end  177  of cable  172  is adapted with cable lock  171 . In this embodiment, cable lock  171  includes a tubular cable lock that operates in cooperation with a cable lock securing pin  178 . In particular, upon insertion of securing pin  178  into an opening  179  of cable lock  171 , a head portion  180  of securing pin  178  causes a securing flange  181  of cable lock  171  to rotate upward. Since a depressed region  182  follows head portion  180  of securing pin  178 , securing flange  181  returns to its original state once head portion  180  is cleared. Thereafter, securing pin  178  cannot be removed from opening  179  without insertion of key  183  into a keyhole  184  of cable lock  171 . Upon insertion, the rotation of key  183  causes the rotation of securing flange  181  as well. This allows cable lock  171  to become disconnected from securing pin  178 .  
         [0033]    As shown in FIG. 10, it is contemplated that another embodiment of locking mechanism  170  may be employed. In this embodiment, locking cable  172  is secured to column member  120  through a securing device  190 . Securing device  190  is situated just prior to grooved holding member  130 . This would avoid internal placement of locking member  170 .  
         [0034]    Referring now to FIGS.  5 - 7 , a first embodiment of article support member  200  is shown. Article support member  200  comprises a collar  300 , a tray  400 , a collar fastening mechanism  500  and an article anti-sway mechanism  600 . In one embodiment, article support member  200  is substantially made of a hardened plastic. This allows collar  300  and tray  400  to be molded together as a single structure. Instead of hardened plastic, it is contemplated that article support member  200  may be substantially made of metal in which collar  300  and tray  400  are molded together either as a single structure or attached together through adhesive, welding or any other type of fastening technique.  
         [0035]    As shown in FIG. 5, an embodiment of collar  300  comprises a fixed curved collar portion  310  and a rotational curved collar portion  350 . In particular, curved collar portion  310  includes an end  320  having an aperture  330  for collar fastening mechanism  500  (see FIG. 6). In this embodiment, curved collar portion  310  is permanently positioned while rotatable collar portion  350  is pivotal about a hinge  390 . Rotatable collar portion  350  includes a stationary first segment  360  and a pivotal second segment  370  having an end  375  with an aperture  376  for collar fastening mechanism  500  (see FIG. 6). Thus, when placed in a closed state, rotatable collar portion  350  is positioned so that aperture  330  is generally aligned with aperture  376 .  
         [0036]    In addition, an inner surface  380  of second segment  370  is configured to generally interlock with outer surface  160  of holding member  130  write the remaining inner surface of collar  300  is held on holding member  130  by applied pressure. For example, in this embodiment, second segment  370  of release clamp  350  includes one or more protrusions  377  complementary with the orientation grooves  150  of holding member  130  of FIGS. 1 and 2. Of course, protrusions  377  can possess any geometric shape so long as it is complementary and adaptive to generally interlock with grooves  150 . As a result, once article support member  200  is placed on holding member  130  and rotated as need to accommodate different types and structures of the articles, rotatable collar portion  350  is placed in a closed position to present article support member  200  from further unwanted rotation. Herein, when in a closed state, a diameter (ID) of inner surface  380  of collar  300  is measured to be slightly greater than the diameter of holding member  130  of FIG. 2 taken from its outer surface  160 .  
         [0037]    Referring to FIG. 6, tray  400  is placed along curved collar portion  310  and stationary  360  segment of rotatable collar portion  350  through buttress portions  410  and  420 , respectively. These buttress portions  410  and  420  provide a stable structure to support an article. Tray  400  further includes a generally concave channel  430  which features a plurality of extensions  440  at its ends to prevent the article (not shown) from swaying and/or becoming dislodged during transport. It is contemplated that tray  400  may be configured in a half-rectangular shape to hold skis or in any different shape to hold the article(s). To further prevent swaying of the article during transport, a material (e.g., Kraton) having an acceptable coefficient of friction may be placed on channel  430  and/or one or more of extensions  440 .  
         [0038]    Referring now to FIG. 7, fastening mechanisms of article support member  200  include (i) collar fastening mechanism  500  joining collar portion  310  and release clamp  350  (see FIG.  5 ), and (ii) article anti-sway mechanism  600 . An example of collar fastening mechanism  500  includes a quick release lever  510  which, when inserted through apertures  330  and  376  (see FIG. 5) and placed in a locked state provides positive fastening (e.g., pressure and interlocked protrusion(s)/groove(s)) of collar  300  on to holding member  130 . When placed in an unlocked state, article support member  200  can be rotated and moved laterally along holding member  130 .  
         [0039]    Referring still to FIG. 7, an example of article anti-sway mechanism  600  includes a cap  610  which conforms with the curvature of channel  430  and is designed to rest over a portion of an article to prevent the article from being dislodged from channel  430 . Cap  610  is secured by inserting fastening straps  620  (e.g., Velcro® straps, canvas straps, etc.) through strap inserts  630  placed on a top surface of cap  610 .  
         [0040]    Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, in a locked state, cap  610  is positioned over an article resting in channel  430 . Straps  620  are inserted through inserts  630  and fastened to ensure that cap  610  maintains the article (placed in tray  400 ) from becoming dislodged. In an unlocked state, as shown in FIG. 9, straps  620  are loosened so cap  610  does not rest above the channel to allow the article  700  (e.g., a top-tube of a sloped-tube bicycle) from being removed from the channel of tray  400 .  
         [0041]    Referring now to FIGS.  11 - 13 , a second embodiment of article support member  200  is shown. Article support member  200  comprises a collar  700 , a tray  800 , a collar fastening mechanism  900 . In this embodiment, article support member  200  is substantially made of a hardened plastic. This allows collar  700  and tray  800  to be molded together as a single structure, although collar  700  and tray  800  may be attached together through any attachment technique.  
         [0042]    Referring now to FIG. 11, a backside view of a second embodiment of article support member  200  is shown. Article support member  200  comprises a collar  700  including a pair of curved, collar portions  710  and  720 . These portions  710  and  720  are rotational about pins  740  and  741 , respectfully. Collar portion  710  includes an inner surface  730  with a general curvature complementary to holding member  130  of FIG. 2. Collar portion  710  includes one or more protrusions  750  planned on its inner surface  730  to engage orientation groove(s)  150  of holding member  130  or alternatively an insert placed snugly over holding member  130 . The insert would be configured with the orientation grooves while holding member  130  may have a smooth surface. Collar portion  720  also includes one or more protrusions  760  on inner surface  730  for engaging orientation grooves  150 . These protrusion(s)  750  and  760  act as the primary locking mechanism to prevent rotation of article support member  200  when securely placed on holding member  130  of FIG. 1 (or an insert). The collar portions  710  and  720  may be attached together through a quick return lever as shown or any other device for attachnent of two semi-rotational collars.  
         [0043]    Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, tray  800  is placed along collar  700  through mid-section buttress portion  810 . Buttress portion  810  provides a stable structure to support an article. Tray  800  further includes a generally concave channel  820  having sloping extensions  830  at its ends to prevent the article (not shown) from swaying and/or becoming dislodged during transport. To further prevent swaying of the article during transport, one or more strips of material (e.g., Kraton)  840  having an acceptable coefficient of friction may be placed along channel  820  and/or one or more of extensions  830 . Also, a top portion  920  of pins  910  of collar fastening mechanism  900  protrudes from cut-out apertures  850  in material  840  to frictionally engage the article when positioned in channel  820 . To avoid harming the finish of the article, top portion  920  of pins  910  is made of a smooth material such as hardened plastic.  
         [0044]    Referring now to FIGS.  11 - 13 , an embodiment of collar fastening mechanism  900  acting as a secondary locking mechanism to prevent rotation of article support member  200  with articles is shown. Collar fastening mechanism  900  includes spring-loaded pins  910  placing article support member  200  in a locked, non-rotational state when an article is placed within channel  830 . More particularly, as shown, pin  910  is depressed when pressure is applied against its top portion  920 , causing a spring  930  to be compressed. This also causes a bottom portion  940  of pin  911  to become engaged with outer surface  160  of holding member  130  of FIG. 2. For example, in this embodiment, bottom portion  940  of pin  911  is complementary with orientation grooves  150  of holding member  130  of FIG. 2. When the article is removed, pins  910  are placed in an unlocked state because spring  930  returns to a non-compressed state. As shown, pin  910  is in an unlocked state when its top portion  920  protrudes from a surface of channel  820  at a height substantially greater than evident in a locked state.  
         [0045]    The present invention described herein may be designed in many different architectures and using many different components. While the present invention has been described in terms of various embodiments, other embodiments may come to mind to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The invention should, therefore, be measure in terms of the claims that follow.