Abstract:
A bicycle carrier comprising an upwardly extending tube having a substantially horizontal tube connected thereto, a clamping mechanism for retaining a bicycle mounted on the horizontal tube, a display mounted on the tube, the display including a plurality of lights and a license display portion, and electrical interconnection between the lights and the electric wiring of the vehicle to which the bicycle carrier is to be attached.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a bicycle rack accessory and more particularly, relates to a display arrangement for use with a bicycle rack. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The use of bicycle racks for attachment to passenger vehicles is well known in the art. Bicycle racks which may be detachably secured to a conventional trailer hitch mounted on a passenger vehicle are numerous. Generally, the bicycle racks utilize a rectangular base tube that is received in the trailer hitch. Means are utilized for securing the tube in the hitch and the bicycle rack is secured thereto. The bicycle rack generally has some form of cross bar arrangement with a clamping arrangement utilized to hold the bicycle at one or more places. 
         [0003]    The bicycle racks, as mentioned, will generally use a horizontal member which is designed to support a structural portion of the bicycle. The horizontal member will typically have a plurality of grooves and clamps associated therewith to transport between two and four bicycles. One of the problems associated with the carrying of a plurality of bicycles is that visual access to the directional lights of the vehicle is inhibited. This is dangerous since a vehicle following the one carrying the bicycles may not know of the intent of the preceding vehicle to turn or to stop. 
         [0004]    One further problem, especially for law enforcement authorities, is the inhibiting of visual access to the license plate of the vehicle. Particularly when a plurality of bicycles are involved, it is usually difficult or impossible to view the license plate. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a display member which may be utilized with bicycle racks to transfer information from the signal lights and a license plate to a position where visual access may be had thereto. 
         [0006]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bicycle carrier comprising an upwardly extending tube, a substantially horizontal tube connected to the upwardly extending tube, a clamping mechanism mounted on the horizontal tube, the clamping mechanism being arranged to receive and retain a structural portion of a bicycle, a display mounted rearwardly of the clamping mechanism on the horizontal tube, the display including a plurality of lights and a license display portion, and interconnecting means between the lights and the electrical wiring of a vehicle to which the bicycle carrier is to be attached. 
         [0007]    According to a further aspect of the invention there is also provided a bicycle carrier comprising a first arm, the arm having a distal end, the distal end having a hook shaped configuration, a second arm, the second arm having a distal end with a hook shaped configuration, the first arm and the second arm being moveable with respect to each other to thereby change the distance between the first arm hook configuration and the second arm hook configuration, means for securing the first arm and the second arm together, and a display mounted on one of the arms, the display including a plurality of lights and a license display portion. 
         [0008]    The display device of the present invention may be used with any type of bicycle rack. While some adjustments to mount the same may be required, most racks will have an end piece or other arrangement which can receive the display device. 
         [0009]    The display device of the present invention will include at least two lights and as is conventional, these may utilize red lenses. Naturally, one may also utilize lenses of different colors such as orange and white. They may be hooked up to the wires of the vehicle which function for the turn indicators, four way flashers, and brake lights. The lights may have different intensities depending upon the purpose. Also, they may utilize different capacity bulbs depending upon the purpose for which they are signalling. More than two lights can also be utilized. 
         [0010]    The display device will also include a display member which is designed to display the markings on the license plate. These may include numerals and letters as required. Various methods of doing the same may provide for temporary display or permanent display. In other words, the signage may be designed to be adjusted depending upon the license plate or alternatively, it may be permanently marked thereon. 
         [0011]    The bike rack may take many different configurations. Thus, it may utilize a vertical tube along with a substantially horizontal tube connected thereto. The horizontal tube will normally carry a clamping mechanism which is arranged to receive and retain a structural portion of the bicycle. This structural portion is normally the top tube. Naturally, depending upon the particular clamping arrangement, other portions could be retained such as the down tube. 
         [0012]    The display device may also be mounted in other different manners. Thus, for example, a clamping arrangement which is designed to fit between two horizontal tubes may likewise be utilized. Other arrangements will be shown in the detailed description. 
         [0013]    A separate clamping device for presenting the desired information may be provided. This clamping device would be designed to clamp to any appropriate part of the bicycle to thereby present the desired information and signals. Preferably, in one embodiment, the device is rotatable such that it may be utilized at different angles. 
         [0014]    The electrical connections would be similar to those utilized in pulling a trailer and which connections are well known. In one preferred embodiment, the wires may be run through the bicycle rack or carrier inside one or more of the structural components. A standard pin and socket arrangement may then be utilized to connect the display device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle, bicycle rack with bicycle, and the display device; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are side elevational views of the bicycle rack and display device; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an end elevational view of the display device. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a portion of the bicycle rack of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a bicycle rack; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a bicycle rack using the display device of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view thereof; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a top elevational view thereof; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a display device according to the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a top plan view thereof; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a rear view illustrating movement of the placement of the device; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the device of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a top plan view thereof; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a rear view thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  a vehicle generally designated by reference numeral  10  and which vehicle  10  has a conventional trailer hitch  12 . A bicycle rack generally designated by reference numeral  14  includes a vertical arm  16  meeting with an element  17  designed to fit within hitch  12 . An upper horizontal arm  18  is designed to support a bicycle  11 ; the bicycle is retained by means of a clamp  20 . 
         [0033]    The display device of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral  22  and includes a body  24  for housing the necessary electrical components. A pair of lights  26  are provided so that they are readily visible to any person rearwardly of the vehicle. Lights  26  are preferably operatively connected to the electrical system of the vehicle such that they can display turn signals, four way flashers and stopping lights. 
         [0034]    A display plate  28  is designed to carry signage  30  which corresponds to the license plate of vehicle  10 . 
         [0035]    As may be seen in  FIG. 2 , wiring  32  from a wiring harness terminates in a receptacle  34 . Receptacle  34  is preferably mounted on vertical arm  16  of bicycle rack  14 . A plug  38  is designed to be received in receptacle  34  and wiring  36  extends to lights  26 . 
         [0036]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there is illustrated a bicycle rack generally designated by reference numeral  40  and which includes an upwardly extending post  42  and a lower horizontal member  44 . A pair of U-shaped elements  46  are provided for two bicycles—i.e. four wheels. A pair of retaining arms  48  will serve to secure the bicycle in position. 
         [0037]    According to the present invention, there is provided a mounting member  50  which has a slot  52  and at least one side wall. It will be understood that both side walls may have such slots  50  to receive a pin  54  therein. A securing screw  56  will secure mounting member  50  to post  42 . A display device  58  may then be mounted on the upper end of mounting member  50 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 6 to 9  illustrate an embodiment which might be used with a trunk mounted bicycle rack  62 . In a known configuration, bicycle rack  62  will include a front U-shaped portion  64  having a cushion  66  mounted thereon and a rear U-shaped portion  68  also having a cushion  70  mounted thereon. The rack includes a pair of rearwardly extending arms  72 . Clamps  74  are provided thereon to receive a bicycle tube. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a clamping device generally designated by reference numeral  75  will include a body portion  76  having a first end  78  extending therefrom with a hook shape portion  80  at the end. A telescoping sliding member  82  is located at the other end and interfaces with main body  76 . Member  82  includes a hook shaped portion  88  at one end thereof and an apertured portion  84  designed to receive a securing screw  86 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , clamping arrangement  75  may be used to clamp on arm  72  irrespective of the distance between the arms. 
         [0040]    A further embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 10 to 12 . In this arrangement, a pair of clamp halves  96  and  98  are designed to be secured together by securing screw  100  and grip bicycle tube  94 . As in the previous embodiments, a cushion/gripping liner  102  is employed and display device  104  mounted on clamp half  96 . As seen in  FIG. 12 , display device  104  may be swiveled as will be discussed in the embodiment of  FIGS. 13 to 16 . 
         [0041]    In the embodiment of  FIGS. 13 to 16 , there is illustrated an arrangement wherein there are a pair of lower clamps  108  having lower clamp inserts  110  therein. Inserts  110  form a gripping surface and conventionally may be of a rubber like material. An upper clamp  112  also has insert  114  therein. Upper clamp  112  has a downwardly extending leg  115  with a plurality of teeth  116  for gripping an opposed surface thereon. An adjustment member  118  is arranged to raise lower clamp  112  to grip bicycle tube  120 . 
         [0042]    A plurality of teeth  122  are formed facing an inner surface of display device  126 . A spring member  124  is provided such that display device  126  may be rotatably adjusted with respect to the mounting portion. A plurality of locking apertures  128  may be provided at the bottom of leg  115  to receive a locking device. 
         [0043]    In the embodiments of  FIGS. 4 to 16 , the necessary wiring and the like have not been shown; it is understood that arrangements similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  may be used. 
         [0044]    It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.