Patent Publication Number: US-2009229093-A1

Title: Method and fastening means or device for clamping of a support rail at a load carrying tube of a bicycle carrier of a vehicle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of PCT application PCT/SE2007/000750 filed Aug. 24, 2007, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference, said PCT application claims priority to Swedish application 0601752-9 filed Aug. 25, 2006. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention refers to a method and device for clamping a support rail at a load carrying tube of a bicycle carrier of a vehicle, by means of a fastening means. 
     The present invention also refers to a fastening means or device for clamping of a support rail at a load carrying tube, comprising a shackle, intended to extend essentially around the load carrying tube, and a clamping means, intended to clamp the load carrying tube between the shackle and the clamping means. 
     STATE OF THE ART 
     A fastening means or device for clamping of accessories to a load carrier is previously known, for instance, through U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,971 and comprising a bracket, which is intended to be clamped firmly around a load carrying tube and an upper recess for a mounting bolt or similar. 
     The previously known fastening means or device works satisfactory, but has not prove itself suitable to clamp support rails at a bicycle carrier, as the placement of the support rail depends on were the holes for the mounting bolts have been located. 
     Problem 
     The problem with a fastening means or devices of known kind is that it will not give a desired flexibility and that the cost for adopting the fastening means or device to different bicycle carriers becomes too high. 
     Solution 
     The purpose with the present invention is to achieve a method for a more compact loading of bicycles on the load carrier and to achieve a fastening means or device, which can be used together with different bicycle carriers, and thereby provide a large flexibility on how the bicycle being located on the bicycle carrier, and to achieve a simple clamping of a support rail at the bicycle carrier. 
     The present invention overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages with a method of introductory mentioned kind which being characterized in that the fastening means or device is arranged initially slidable along the support rail and along the load carrying tube, wherein the support rail is displaceable along the load carrying tube and transverse to the load carrying tube to a desired position, and that a clamping means or fastener of the fastening means or device being operated to an essential simultaneously contact against the supporting rail and against the load carrying tube to fasten these relative each other. 
     Preferably, at least two support rails are arranged on the load carrying tube and being displaced relatively to each other, whereby two bicycles, for example, directed away from each other may be located closer to each other, compared to a placement on two side by side arranged support rails. 
     The invention also refers to a fastening means or device of introductory mentioned kind which being characterized in that the fastening means or device having at least one to the support rail adopted guiding integrated with the fastening means or device, wherein the support rail being clamped between the clamping means or fastener and the guiding at tightening of the clamping means or fastener. 
     According to a first embodiment, the fastening means or device comprises an elongated body, which at one end, by means of a hinge or similar, being turnable attached at the shackle, and which at its other end having said clamping means or fastener, which is intended to bring the shackle in direction against the body and firmly clamping the load carrying tube between the shackle and a lower surface of the body, whereby an upper surface of the body, having said elongated guiding, which is integrated with the body, and that the body, at least partly, is elastic deformable, wherein the body being deformed at tightening of the clamping means or fastener, so that the support rail become fixed at the guide. 
     Preferably, the guiding comprises two T-shaped guiding rails, which are intended to be brought into two corresponding C-shaped recesses in the support rail. At tightening of the clamping means or fastener, the upper surface of the body is at least partly in contact with the support rail, wherein said support rail becomes firmly wedged to the fastening means or device, between the upper surface and the guiding rails. Alternatively, the respective guiding rail abuts, at tightening of the clamping means or fastener, against the boundary wall of respective recess in the support rail, wherein said guiding rail becomes firmly wedged to the fastening means or device. Preferably, the body is located above and abuts essential perpendicular against the load carrying tube. 
     According to a second embodiment, the guiding extends along at least an elongated upper edge of the shackle and in that the clamping means or fastener comprising a wedge shaped device, which by means of a bolt is engaged with the support rail and the load carrying tube at tightening of the clamping means or fastener, so that the load carrying tube is clamped between the shackle and a lower surface of the wedge shaped device and so that the support rail is clamped between the guiding and an upper surface of the wedge shaped device, whereby the support rail and the load carrying tube are fixed to each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       A fastening means according to the present invention shall hereafter be described with reference to the enclosed figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view in perspective of a fastening means or device according the present invention, 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic exploded view of the fastening means or device according to  FIG. 1 , with a support rail and a load carrying tube, 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view in perspective of a load carrier with two support rails in a first position, 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view in perspective of the load carrier according to  FIG. 3  with the support rails in a second position, and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic exploded view of an alternative designed fastening means or device, with a support rail and a load carrying tube. 
     
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The fastening means or device  1 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , comprises an elongated body  2  of an elastic material, for instance a plastic material. The body  2  is formed in one piece with an essential flat upper surface  3   a , on which surface at least one elongated guiding  4 , adopted to an in itself previously known support rail  5  being arranged. The support rail  5  is suitable made of aluminum or similar. In  FIGS. 1 and 2  said guiding  4  being shown in the shape of two T-shaped guiding rails  4   a  and  4   b , which are intended to be brought into two corresponding C-shaped recesses  6   a  and  6   b  in the support rail  5 . Of course, it may be possible to utilize one or several guiding rails. It should also be possible that the guiding  4  is in the shape of a recess, with suitable profile, and that the support rail  5  is provided with corresponding guiding rails. 
     The body  2  is likewise formed with a profiled lower surface  3   b , which being adapted to an in itself previously known load carrying tube  7 . The design of the lower surface  3   b  can naturally be adapted to different profiles of the load carrying tube  7 , as an example, a circular or an oval or a rectangular shape. The essential is that the body  2  could be placed above and abutting essentially perpendicular against the load carrying tube  7 . 
     The fastening means or device  1  also comprising a shackle  8 , which by means of a hinge  9  is in a turnable way attached at one end  10  of the body  2 , and at the other end  11  of the body  2  having a clamping means or fastener  12  to tighten together the body  2  and the shackle  8  around the load carrying tube  7 . The clamping means or fastener  12  may consist of a bolt  13 , which extends through a hole  14  at the other end  11  of the body  2  and through a hole  15  in the shackle  8  to a nut  16 , which suitable is in the shape of a hand wheel or similar. Naturally, the clamping means or fastener  12  may be formed in other known ways, for instance, as a quick-grip of eccentric form or similar. The hinge  9  may as well be formed in other known ways, for instance, as appear from U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,971. 
     According to some embodiments, when the fastening means or device  1  is in an unloaded condition, that is, when the fastening means or device  1  is mounted on the load carrying tube  7 , but before the clamping means or fastener  12  has been tightened, the fastening means or device  1  can be moved along the load carrying tube  7  and that the support rail  5  can be moved backwards and forwards along the fastening means or device  1 . At tightening of the clamping means or fastener  12 , the shackle  8  is brought in direction against the body  2 , wherein the load carrying tube  7  being firmly clamped between the shackle  8  and the lower surface  3   b  of the body  2 . Simultaneously, the clamping force, acting between the hinge  9  at one end  10  of the body  2 , and the hole  14  at the other end  11  of the body  2 , will cause a deflection or elastic deformation of the elongated body  2 . The upper surface  3   a  of the body  2  will, at least partly, come into contact with the support rail  5 , where said support rail will be firmly wedged between the upper surface  3   a  and the guiding rails  4  of the fastening means or device  1 . It is also possible to design the guiding rails  4   a  and  4   b , respective, which are integrated with the body  2 , to bending out to abutment against the upper and lower boundary walls of the recesses  6   a  and  6   b , respective, in the support rail  5 . 
     In  FIGS. 3 and 4  a bicycle carrier  17  being shown, that is intended to be mounted at a vehicle (not shown). The bicycle carrier  17  comprises a load carrying tube  7 , of the above mentioned kind, which extends in an arc-shape, out of the bicycle carrier  17 , and two support rails  5   a  and  5   b . The support rails  5   a  and  5   b  are intended to be fastened at the load carrying tube  7  by aid of said fastening means. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the support rails  5   a  and  5   b  are arranged parallel and relatively close to each other, which can be sufficient at transportation of one or two standard bicycles. At larger bicycles or at transportation of bicycles having luggage, it can be desirable to achieve more space for the bicycles on the bicycle carrier  17 . This is possible with the present invention, and as appear from  FIG. 4  the support rails  5   a  and  5   b  may, for instance, be displaced relative each other and the distance between the support rails  5   a  and  5   b  can also become increased. It is also easy, when required, to introduce a third support rail (not shown). 
     By displacing the support rails  5   a  and  5   b  relatively each other an extra space can also be provided, for example for locating two bicycles directed from each other closer each other, compared with a placement on two adjacent each other arranged support rails. It will hereby become possible to load the bicycles more compact compared to known bicycle carriers. 
     It is also an advantage that a load being displaced towards the vehicle, which will reduce the lever that acts on the vehicle. 
     In  FIG. 5 , an alternative shaped fastening means or device  1  is shown and corresponding details have been marked with equal reference numerals as in the other figures. The fastening means or device  1  is intended for clamping of a support rail  5  at a load carrying tube  7  and comprising a shackle  8  in shape of a semicircular double-walled housing with a recess  27 , which is intended to extend essentially around the load carrying tube  7 . An upper lock  18  is fasten at the shackle  8  with bolts or similar (not shown), which extends through the holes  19  and  20 . The load carrying tube  7  being clamped between the shackle  8  and a clamping means or fastener  12 . The fastening means or device  1  having at least one guiding  4 , adopted to the support rail  5 , and integrated with the fastening means or device  1 , whereby the support rail  5  being clamped between the clamping means or fastener  12  and the guiding  4  at tightening of the clamping means or fastener  12 . 
     A guiding  4   a  and  4   b  is suitably integrated with respective sidewall  28  and  29  of the shackle  8  and extends along at least one elongated upper edge of the shackle  8 . The clamping means or fastener  12  comprising a wedge shaped device  21 , which can be operated back and forth by aid of a bolt  22 . The wedge shaped device  21  can extend through the hole  25  and the opening  26  of the upper lock  18 . At tightening of the clamping means or fastener  12  the wedge shaped device  21  is brought into engagement with the support rail  5  and the load carrying tube  7 , such that the load carrying tube  7  being clamped between a the shackle  8  and a lower surface  23  of the wedge shaped device  21 , and such that the support rail  5  being clamped between the guiding  4  and an upper surface  24  of the wedge shaped device  21 , whereby the support rail  5  and the load carrying tube  7  being fixed relatively each other. 
     In  FIG. 5 , said guiding  4  being shown in shape of two L-shaped guiding rails  4   a  and  4   b , which are intended to be introduced into two corresponding L-shaped recesses  6   a  and  6   b  in the support rail  5 . Naturally, it would be possible to utilize one or several guiding rails. It should also be thinkable that the guiding  4  is in shape of a recess, with suitable profile, and that the support rail  5  having a corresponding guiding rail. 
     An advantage with this alternative embodiment of the fastening means  1  is that the parts will keep together even though the clamping means or fastener  12  is not tightened or if the bolt  22  loosens. 
     Another alternative embodiment of the fastening means is that the device according  FIG. 5  being used, but the lock being excluded and that the clamping means is in the shape of a bolt or a quick-clamp, comprising an eccentric lever, arranged from beneath of the shackle and directly acting towards the load carrying tube. The load carrying tube would in such case abut directly against the support rail and at tightening of the clamping means being clamped against this.