Patent ID: 7857180

Claim:
A bicycle carrier for a vehicle, the carrier comprising: a base holder mountable to a vehicle, wherein the base holder includes transversely extending spaced-apart front and rear frames; a support holder for holding a bicycle, wherein the support holder includes transversely extending spaced-apart front and rear frames; wherein the support holder is movable relative to the base holder between a neutral position and an operating position, wherein the front frames meet when the support holder is in the neutral position and the rear frames meet when the support holder is in the operating position; first and second indicators and a warning device; a first switch connected to the first indicator, the first switch having a pair of first switching components respectively located on the front frames, wherein the first switching components contact one another to activate the first switch when the front frames meet while the support holder is in the neutral position, wherein the first switch actuates the first indicator upon being activated; a second switch connected to the second indicator, the second switch having a pair of second switching components respectively located on the rear frames, wherein the second switching components contact one another to activate the second switch when the rear frames meet while the support holder is in the operating position, wherein the second switch actuates the second indicator upon being activated; and wherein the first and second switches are operable together to actuate the warning device when neither switch is activated while the support holder is not in either of the neutral position operating position.