AU777831B2 - Bicycle rack - Google Patents

Description

I

BICYCLE RACK This invention relates to bicycle racks for attachment to automobiles and the like. In particular, the invention provides for a bicycle rack which is easily adjusted to accommodate bicycles of various sizes and designs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bicycle racks, fitted to automobiles or other suitable vehicles and able to accommodate one or more bicycles, have found wide spread acceptance over recent years. This has allowed the carriage of bicycles to areas where the cyclist can ride, for example in parks or in the country, without the need to utilise space inside the vehicle to carry the bicycle. This is particularly relevant when one considers the relatively awkward shape of bicycles. In addition, dirt and grease etc may accumulate on the bicycle and hence it has been found preferable to carry such bicycles externally on specially designed racks. Bicycle racks of this nature are generally fitted to the rear of the automobile or other vehicle.

However, the presently known designs for bicycle racks tend to suffer from one or more major deficiencies. Firstly, racks are generally of a fixed nature and are hence unable to accommodate a variety of sizes of bicycles. This is particularly disadvantageous when one considers that families who enjoy cycling together will often have bicycles ranging from full "size men's bicycles through to relatively small bicycles for tiny tots. Furthermore, not all bicycles are built on identically designed frames, for example compare men's bicycles having a generally triangular frame structure to say women's bicycles having a strengthened v-shape frame structure. Alternatively, various forms of so-called suspension bicycles have distinctly different frame structures.

With the advent of new designs including plastic frames and frames of other light weight materia;!s it hws broming increasingly necessary to hold particular bicycles at specific points of strength on the frame to avoid damage to the frame. In addition the incorporation of elements like drink bottles attached to the frame has made it increasingly difficult to place bicycles on standard racks as there are less ways in which they can be conveniently accommodated. Also when one considers children's bicycles not only is the size relevant but the addition of training wheels may prove to be an impediment.

Secondly, the means to attach bicycles to presently known racks is generally cumbersome or not existent in the sense that bicycles are simply fitted over support members located on the rack and are generally tied to the rack structure by loose tie ropes or other strapping means such as elastic straps. These may be easily misplaced or lost with the result that bicycles may not be attached as securely as they should.

Thirdly, very often the design of the rack does not allow for clear visibility of the registration or number plate which is also attached to the rear of the vehicle, because the 10 bicycle obscures at least a portion ofit.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention has therefore been conceived out of the need to provide an improved and cost effective bicycle rack for accommodating and/or carrying one or more bicycles of varying sizes if necessary, whilst at the same time overcoming some or all of the foregoing disadvantages. At the very least, the invention provides an alternative to presently known S .means for carrying bicycles.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an adjustable bicycle rack having a support structure and one or more support arms attached thereto for supporting bicycles thereon, the one or more arms being adjustable to accommodate bicycles of varying size and design.

In one formn f the in entinn there is provided an adjustable bicycle rack for attachment generally to the rear of a suitable automobile or other vehicle, comprising a substantially vertical support post for attachment to the rear of the automobile or other suitable vehicle, a cross member fixedly attached thereto, and one or more support arms extending rearwardly therefrom with respect to the vehicle to which it is attached, each support arm being 09/05/2004 21:10 Chryslllou Law 95534755 4/7 3 slideably mounted on the cross member to provide infinite adjustment within the overall dimensions of the bicycle rack to accommodate bicycles of various sizes and/or configurations, and wherein there are provided vertical members extending upwardly from the vicinity in which the arms are attached to the cross member. Preferably the cross member is substantially horizontal and more preferably located at the upper end of the support post in T-shaped arrangement.

The arms may be secured to the cross member by any suitable means which allows them to be repositioned. For example, one convenient means of attachment comprises a sleeve which is located at one end of the support arms and which is slideably mounted on the cross member. A suitable bolt passing therethrough allows the collar to be fixed at variable positions to the cross member in known fashion. Preferably such bolt has a wing nut or lever attached thereto to facilitate manual adjustment without the need for specific tools.

It will also be appreciated that the cross member and support arms may be of various dimensions to accommodate a range of different bicycles. Similarly the cross member 15 itself need not be mounted centrally with respect to the upright support post but may in some circumstances where required be mounted asymmetrically. Indeed it will be appreciated that the cross member itself may be made to be adjustable in relation to the upright post to provide further adjustment to suit a variety of bicycles etc to be carried.

Alternatively, the support structure may be in the form of a v-shaped or wedge shaped 20 structure, eg comprising a pair of support members in an inverted A frame, which themselves may be either in fixed relationship or pivoted about some suitable axis, eg in the vicinity of where they are attached to the vehicle. In any such arrangement support arms may be slideably attached thereto to provide variable location thereof.

In either embodiment, whether singular support post or v-shaped frame, or in any other suitable sunpprt structure to achieve variable location of the support arms, preferably, the support arms are inclined upwards to provide greater security against bicycles simply sliding off, especially as they are being loaded to the rack, ie prior to being strapped on. In ny eve.. nt h ,a inrline in the nnnort arms will greatly assist in the support of any bicycle carried by providing the assistance of gravity to keep the bicycles on the rack without relying entirely on whatever strapping means is utilised.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00740996 Received by IP Australia: Time 21:10 Date 2004-05-09 It will also be appreciated that arms of varying shapes may be utilised for specific purposes.

Thus, the adjustable arms allow various sorts of bicycles including those for children and suspension or mountain style bicycles to be carried conveniently. The arms in fact allow a variety of other mobile devices whether for work or pleasure including scooters etc to be carried as well.

Similarly, the arms may be straight or bent, the shape varying as required. Specifically the free ends may be bent up to provide even better retention of bicycles mounted thereon. The arms may be bare or covered with for example soft flexible covering such as sponge or plastic to provide a measure of protection against marking the frames of the bicycles to be carried.

.oo.#i Preferably, extending upwardly from the vicinity in which the arms are attached to the cross member, there are provided vertical members, for example extending from the sleeve, to prevent bicycles sliding over the cross member or other bar or rail to which they are attached and into the back of the vehicle to which the rack is mounted. Again these vertical members may be covered with suitable material to prevent damage to the bicycles.

Preferably, strapping means is provided in the form of a suitable elastic or web strap which is secured at one end to a convenient location on the bicycle rack, so that in use the free end of the strap may be wrapped around or otherwise located around or through the bicycles which are being carried to secure them. The free end may be tied or otherwise secured in known fashion, including utilising buckles, catches or hooks of suitable nature to accommodate the particular strapping. In this way bicycles are restrained by pulling downwards and against the frame of the device. Where a flexible strap is employed the free end may be provided with a hook to be located at some suitable point on the bicycle rack.

Alternatively, if webbing is utiiised, iit may be secured at some suitable point by meaiis of known quick release adjusters. Alternatively rope or chain, suitably covered, may be amnnvi.dl and may even be locked for security.

To comply with motor traffic regulations, it is preferred to provide suitable means for mounting a registration plate so that it remains visible when bicycles are carried. Thus the mounting point of the registration plate may be suitably adjustable to accommodate changes in the location of the support arms as required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Fig 1 which shows a perspective view of a bicycle rack according to one embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to Fig 1, there is shown a bicycle rack, generally referenced 11, which comprises a generally vertical support post 12, extending upwardly from a mounting base 13, for attachment to a vehicle (not shown) in known fashion. Located adjacent the mounting base °13 is a registration plate support mounting 14.

At the upper end of the support post 12, there is fixedly attached a cross member 15, on which there are slideably mounted a pair of support arms 16, which each have a sleeve 17 located at one end thereof for slideable mounting on the cross member 15. Each sleeve 17 g 15 and hence arm 16 may be secured in known fashion to the cross member 15, by means of grub screw, or other bolt means with suitable hand adjustment such as a lever or wing nut (not specifically shown).

Extending upwardly from each sleeve 17, there are short vertical arms 18 to prevent bicycles (not shown) which are mounted on the 11 rack from sliding over the back thereof and into the vehicle, which would otherwise result in damage to bicycle or vehicle.

Attached at some suitable point to the frame, eg on the post 12 as illustrated, there is i-A- str•-n m, ng 1Q fnr eYamnle in the form of suitable webbing or elastic material to allow bicycles (not illustrated) to be strapped onto the bicycle rack when being transported.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention, and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (13)

1. An adjustable bicycle rack having a support structure and one or more support arms attached thereto for supporting bicycles thereon, the one or more arms being adjustable to accommodate bicycles of varying size and design, wherein the adjustable bicycle rack for attachment generally to the rear of a suitable automobile or other vehicle, comprises a substantially vertical support post for attachment to the rear of the automobile or other suitable vehicle, a cross member fixedly attached thereto, and one or more support arms extending rearwardly therefrom with respect to the vehicle to which it is attached, each support arm being slideably mounted on the cross member to providc infinite adjustment within the, overall dimensions of the bicycle rack to accommodate bicycles of various sizes and/or configurations, and wherein there are provided vertical members extending upwardly therefrom in the vicinity in which the arms are attached to the cross member; and wherein the support arus are inclined upwards to provide greater security against bicycles simply sliding off; especially as they are being loaded to the rack; and wherein strapping means is provided in the form of a suitable elastic or web strap which is secured at one end to a convenient location on the bicycle rack, so that in use the free end of the strap may be wrapped around or otherwise located around or through the bicycles which are being carried to secure them, the free end being tied or otherwise secured in known fashion, :including utilising buckles, catches or hooks of suitable nature to accommodate the particular strapping, to restrain the bicycles by pulling downwards and against the support structure; and where in which in order to comply with motor traffic regulations, there is provided suitable means for mounting a vehicle registration plate so that it remains visiblc when bicycles are carried.

2. An adjustable bicycle rack according to claim 1 wherein the cross member is substan'tially horizontal.

3. An adjustable bicycle rack according to claim 2, wherein the cross member is located at the upper end of the support post in T-shaped arrangement.

4. An adjustable bicycle rack according to any one of the preceding claims, in which __means for attachment of the support arms o the cross miember comprises a sleeve which is~ GIL/ 991tESS6 mal nolliSAi 4 0 ItO~6,9 9t:GL tOOZ/60/90 O"-6O-VO ]eO £:SL O-u. :e!leilsnVcdl Aq pOA!aa8D tVO1VV0600-1INS :ONO I SbNOO 8 located at one end of the support arms and which is slideably mounted on the cross member.

An adjustable bicycle rack according to claim 4, wherein the support arms are fixed at variable positions to the cross member by means of a suitable bolt passing through the sleeve, coupled with a wing nut or lever attached thereto to facilitate manual adjustment of the support arms on the cross member without the need for specific tools.

6. An adjustable bicycle rack according to claim 5, wherein the cross member is mounted asymmetrically with respect to the upright support post.

7. An adjustable bicycle rack according to claim 6, wherein the position of the cross member is adjustable in relation to the upright post to provide further adjustment to suit a variety of bicycles etc to be carried.

8. An adjustable bicycle rack having a support structure and one or more support arms attached thereto for supporting bicycles thereon, the one or more arms being adjustable to *0 :eoc accommodate bicycles of varying size and design, wherein the adjustable bicycle rack for 15 attachment generally to the rear of a suitable automobile or other vehicle, comprises a support structure in the form of a v-shaped or wedge shaped structure for attachment to the rear of the automobile or other suitable vehicle, and one or more support arms extending rearwardly therefrom with respect to the vehicle to which it is attached, each support arm be:: being slideably mounted on the support structure to provide infinite adjustment within the e: overall dimensions of the bicycle rack to accommodate bicycles of various sizes and/or e :configurations, and wherein there are provided vertical members extending upwardly from the vicinity in which the arms are attached to the support structure; and wherein the support arms are inclined upwards to provide greater security against bicycles simply sliding off, especially as they are being loaded to the rack; and wherein strapping means is provided in the form of a suitable elastic or web strap which is secured at one end to a convenient location on the bicycle rack, so that in use the free end of the strap may be wrapped around or otherwise located around or through the bicycles which arc being carried to secure them, the free end being tied or other-wise secured in known fashion, including utilising buckles, catches or hoo.ks-of suitable nature to accommodate theparticulax strappingo rstrain the tiS GGLt;S6 Mul nOllISAI3 gt:91 *O0 /60/9O 8o60-6Ov)O (P-IN-A) ale(O P:gS aeu- :eileJsnv dl Aq paA!aaO Ot'0600-I9S :ON GI SNOO 9 bicycles by pulling downwards and against the support structure; and where in which in order to comply with motor traffic regulations, there is provided suitable means for mounting a vehicle registration plate so that it remains visible when bicycles are carried.

9. An adjustable bicycle rack according to any one of the preceding claims in which the arms are bent.

An adjustable bicycle rack according to any one of the preceding claims in which the arms are covered with soft flexible covering such as sponge or plastic to provide a measure of protection against marking the frames of the bicycles to be carried.

11. An adjustable bicycle rack according to claim 10, in which the free end of the flexible strap is provided with a hook to be located at some suitable point on the bicycle rack.

12. An adjustable bicycle rack according to claim 10, in which any webbing, if webbing is utilised, is secured at some suitable point by means of known quick release adjusters.

13. An adjustable bicycle rack substantially as described herein in conjunction with the 15 drawing. @0 0 0 U 0* 0 0 6* 0 0 U 0 000 0 6 0 DATED this Seventh day of September 2004 Philip Victor Edwards Patent Attorneys for the Applicant CHRYSILIOU LAW 91/6 9ttESS6 Al 1011no 1sAJ4 L 9Sl 00Z/60,'80