Patent ID: 8235268

Claim:
A bicycle carrier comprising a tongue portion having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion being configured for connection to a vehicle hitch, a vertical portion connected to the distal end portion and having a top surface, a mast structure having lower and upper end portions, the lower end portion being pivotally connected to the vertical portion, the mast structure being moveable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the vehicle and spaced above the vehicle hitch, thereby allowing the mast structure to move in a direction directly backward relative to the vehicle from a vertical use position, wherein the vertical portion includes a ramp that extends from the top surface toward the mast structure, the mast structure including a spring-biased pin which slides along the ramp with the mast structure when the mast structure is moved back to the vertical use position, the mast structure including an aperture configured to receive the ramp when the mast structure is in the vertical use position, a pair of arms rotatably connected to the upper portion of the mast structure, the arms being moveable between a collapsed position in which the arms are substantially parallel to the mast structure, and a use-position in which the arms are substantially perpendicular to the mast structure, and tube mounts on the arms for securing one or more bicycles to the arms.