Patent ID: 8220681

Claim:
A bicycle carrier comprising: a frame for mounting to a vehicle; first and second support arms extending in a horizontal direction away from the frame; and a plurality of bicycle mounts disposed on each of the first and second support arms, wherein each of the bicycle mounts comprises: a trough for receiving a crossbar of a bicycle, the trough including raised first and second sides for restricting side to side movement of the crossbar; a first strap, a first end of the first strap attached to the first side of the trough, and a second end of the first strap attached to the second side of the trough, the first strap securing the crossbar in the trough; a collared opening disposed adjacent to the trough section for receiving either the first or second support arm, the collared opening extending generally perpendicular to the trough section, at least a portion of the collared opening having a ribbed configuration in perspective, the ribbed configuration formed by a plurality of raised elongated ribs spaced apart from one another and longitudinally extending through the collared opening; raised support ribs extending along an exterior surface of the bicycle mount in a direction generally perpendicular to the collared opening, the support ribs disposed along opposing sides of the collared opening and extending to opposite ends of the trough, the raised support ribs increasing in height as they extend toward the ends of the trough; an elongated member disposed adjacent to the collared opening, opposite the trough; a channel disposed adjacent to the elongated member, opposite the collared opening for receiving a tube member of the bicycle, the channel including raised first and second sides for restricting side to side movement of the tube member; and a second strap, a first end of the second strap attached to the first side of the channel, and a second end of the second strap attached to the second side of the channel, the second strap securing the tube member in the channel, wherein the elongated member facilitates forward and back motion of the channel to accommodate receiving the tube member of the bicycle while restricting side to side movement of the channel.