Abstract:
A bicycle transportation device that can be removably attached to any bicycle for transportation of the bicycle in the bed of a truck. The bicycle transportation device can be attached to the bike without the need to install hardware on the bicycle and carried securely in the bed of a truck without the need to make any modifications to the truck bed or to install any hardware on the truck anywhere.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/801,798 filed Apr. 5, 2013 by Christian Tofte and Dusty Goble. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of bicycle transportation devices, and more particularly to a device for transporting bicycles in the back of a truck. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With increased popularity of biking, both mountain and road, more people are transporting bicycles to the areas they desire to ride them. Those using trucks to transport their bicycles will often just set the bicycle in the bed of the truck. Many bicycles are very expensive, and it is nor prudent to leave them to shift around in the bed of a truck. There are available bicycle racks that can be installed in the bed of a truck, but these racks can then get in the way of using the truck for other purposes, such as hauling materials in the bed of the truck. The user is forced to remove the bicycle rack when using the truck as something other than a bicycle hauler and then reinstall the rack when it is time to transport a bicycle. Some have attempted to use a pad that protects the truck bed and allows the user to hang a wheel of a bicycle over the pad. This does not however prevent the bicycle from shifting around and potentially being damaged. 
     There is a need for a way to transport a bicycle in the bed of a truck or other vehicle that provides adequate protection for the bicycle by preventing it from shifting in the bed of the truck, that allows for easy installation and that eliminates the need to attach and remove hardware from the truck or the bicycle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a way for the secure and safe transport of a bicycle in the back of a truck by hanging the front tire over the side or tailgate of the truck. 
     In one aspect of the invention, it provides an improved bicycle transportation device that can be used on virtually any pickup truck without the need to install hardware on the truck. 
     In another aspect of the invention, it provides an improved bicycle transportation device that prevents a bicycle from moving around during transportation. 
     In another aspect of the invention, it provides an improved bicycle transportation device that can be used with virtually any bicycle without the need to dissemble the bicycle in any way. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related aspects, the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings, however, are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the top and side of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a view from the end of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the other end of present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of top of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the top and side of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a view of the top of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the side and bottom of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The bicycle transportation device disclosed herein improves upon prior devices in that a bicycle can be conveniently, quickly, and securely placed in the bed of a truck without the need to remove the wheels/tires on the bicycle and without the need to install any hardware on the truck. The device disclosed herein can be attached to virtually any bicycle in a matter of seconds, costs a fraction of the price of existing racks and pads, and can be used on any truck because of the unique tailgate lip taper  15  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the improved bicycle transportation device  10  consists of frame/fork cradle  11 , bicycle security bumpers  12 , frame/fork strap voids  13 , frame/fork straps  14  and tailgate lip taper  15 . The frame/fork of a bicycle rests on frame/fork cradle  11  between bicycle security bumpers  12  on either side of the fork/frame. The bicycle transportation device  10  is attached to the bicycle by the use of frame/fork straps  14 , which pass through frame/fork strap voids  13  in frame/fork cradle  11  and then go around either the frame or fork of the bicycle being secured for transportation, depending on the shape of the bed tailgate or side. In securing bicycle transportation device  10  to the fork, the user must necessarily slightly turn the handle bar of the bicycle to align the fork with frame/fork cradle  11 . 
     One end of bicycle transportation device  10  is tapered as is shown in  FIGS. 2, 3 and 7 .  FIG. 2  provides a perspective view from the thinner end of bicycle transportation device  10  and shows tailgate lip taper  15  at the other end of bicycle transportation device  10 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view from the tapered end of bicycle transportation device  10  where tailgate lip taper  15  is located. Tailgate lip taper  15  permits the user to use bicycle transportation device  10  with a variety of truck tailgate and side shapes. If the tailgate or sides of the truck bed have a lip, the thicker end of bicycle transportation device  10  is secured to the fork of the bicycle by a frame/fork strap  14  and tailgate lip taper  15  prevents the bicycle from moving during transportation. If the truck tailgate sides do not have a lip, the user can attach tailgate lip taper  15  to either the fork or the frame depending on what creates a tighter fit against the truck tailgate or sides.  FIG. 7  shows the taper present in tailgate lip taper  15 . 
     Bicycle transportation device  10  is preferably made out of a non-rigid material allowing frame/fork cradle  11  and bicycle security bumpers  12  to move flexibly when being installed on a bicycle by frame/fork straps  14 . Frame/fork straps  14  are shown in a closed or looped position in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , frame/fork cradle  11  is of a sufficient width that bicycle transportation device  10  can be attached to virtually any bicycle, including, but not limited to, road bikes, mountain bikes and cruiser bikes. With the frame/fork cradle  11  pressed against the underside of the bicycle frame and against the bicycle fork, bicycle security bumpers  12 , which extend above the sides of frame/fork cradle  11 , grip the sides of the frame and fork as frame/fork straps  14  secure bicycle transportation device  10  to the bicycle. 
     Bicycle transportation device  10  is different from a tailgate pad or other existing devices because it is for a bicycle only and does not attach to the pickup truck. It uses bicycle security bumpers  12  to keep the fork and frame in the smaller surface area of the pickup truck tailgate or side. It is understood that rails or guides could also be used in place of bicycle security bumpers  12 . Bicycle transportation device  10  can be attached to a bicycle in virtually seconds, permitting the user to quickly lift the bike into place on the truck bed. It does not require the user to install any hardware on the truck or bicycle. It replaces the need for installing a rack within the bed of the truck, which would need to be removed if the truck were being used to haul other materials in the back. It also replaces know bicycle racks that attach to the hitch, often included on the back of a truck. 
     One of the main advantages of the improved bicycle transportation device are storage size and ease of use. It takes up a fraction of the space used by known tailgate pads or truck bed or truck hitch bicycle racks. It can easily be stored underneath a seat in the truck cab because of its compact size. If a user desired to attach the improved bicycle transportation device even more securely, it could include magnets or straps to secure it to the truck bed. 
     The description of the invention above should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to the disclosed embodiment because those who are skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to devise other equivalent forms thereof within the scope of the invention. Variations and changes, which are obvious to one skilled in the art, are intended to be within the scope and nature of the present invention.