GB2235909A - Bicycle holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A bicycle holder (1) intended to be fitted onto a vehicle provided with a towing device for a trailer, caravan or the like, having a ball towing-hook, a removable plate (4) for fastening to the vehicle, capable of being interposed between the trailer towing-device (2) and the towing hook (3), a removable frame (5) capable of retaining at least one bicycle transversally, in a substantially vertical plane, behind the vehicle, and means (21) for engaging said frame (5) onto said fastening plate (4)50 that said ball towing-hook (3) is free when the bicycle holder (1) is installed onto the vehicle, in order to simultaneously enable the fastening of a trailer or the like and carriage of a bicycle. <IMAGE>

Description

BICYCLE HOLDER The invention relates to a tricycle holder intended to be fitted o-..c c; vehicle; rnore particularly, the invention is intended for being fitted onto motor vehicles provided with v towing device fcr 2 trailer, caravan or the like.

It will namely find its application in the field of the manu- factoring of accessories and equipment for vehicles as well as in the field of transportation of objects.

The evolution of the conditions of living and of sports and leisure makes it often interesting to transport bicycles or the like by means of a motor vehicle.

Sore vehicles present no difficulties for such a transporta- tic: This is, e.i., so when the car has a sufficiently large inner volume or an irportant boot which opens by means of e beck door.

i;evertheless, these objects are relatively important and un- practical to be stored end, even for very large vehicles, this is a hindrance.

In order to cope with this situation, the manufacturers have imagined to provide bicycle holders adapted onto the roof of the vehicles or even onto a rec fitted onto this roof.

These systeme are interesing, for they can be removed~ fro::. tie crr and are relatively cheap to be purchased. In contrast, th':y have a lot cf disadvantages for the vehicle.

Mechanical etrains are indeed brought about or. a part cf the vehicule which has not actually been designed for this. purpose.

Heresver, the wind catching of the vehicle is increased, which has very substantial repercussion onto the stability and the fuel con sumption of the vehicle.

In order to cope It this situation, the manufacturers have, subsequently, imagined bicycle holders enabling to arrange the transported object at the rear of the vehicle, transversally to sane.

Such devices are advantageous, for the arrangement of the vice cle at the rear has no influence onto the penetration factor of the vehicle while driving, the rechanical strains venerated by the holding of the bicycle are no longer borne by a weak part of the vehicle, the noise and turbulence phenomenae generated by the presence of the bicycle on the roof are eliminated.

However, the so far proposed devices are heavy and unpractical.

Indeed, there are knowo. large-size luggage-re platforms, which are fastened onto the rear of the vehicles, onto which the bicycle is installed on its wheels.

Such devices are complicated to be mounted or removed and require an important place to be stored when they are not used.

Besides, most of the known devices for holding a bicycle transversally to the rear of a vehicle use, as fastening means, the ball of a trailer towing-hook and, hence, impede the simultaneous use of a bicycle holder! and the fastening of a trailer, caravan or the like.

The main object of this invention is to provide a bicycle holder, intended to be fitted onto a vehicle provided with a towing device for a trailer or the like, which allows to cope with the disadvantages of the known devices and namely enables the transportation of a bicycle outside at the rear of a vehicle while enabling the fastening of a trailer, caravan or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bicycle holder, intended to be fitted onto a vehicle provided with a towing device for a trailer or the like, which is adaptable to any kind of vehicle so fitted and makes its use universal.

pother object of this invention is to provide A bicycle holder the design of which iE easy and collapsible, which. allows a ic mounting and removal as well aE a storage within a minimum volume.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bicycle holder wallowing to arrange the bicycle outside and transversally to the rear of the vehicle and facilitates the installation of the bicycle, thus avoiding the delicate operations which could damage the body of the vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bicycle holder, intended to be fitted onto a vehicle provided with a towing device for a trailer or the like, which allows to simultaneously transport one or several bicycles without infringing the legisla tion in force.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become appearant from the description which follows, which is however given only as an indication and is not intended to be restrictive.

According to the invention, the bicycle holder, intended to be fitted onto a vehicle provided with a towing device for a trailer or the like, having a ball towing-hook, is characterized in that it comprises at least: - a removable plate for fastening to the vehicle, capable of being interposed between the trailer towing-device and the towing hook, - a removable frame capable of retaining at least one bicycle transversally, in 2 substantially vertical plane, behind the vehicle, - means for engaging said frame onto said fastening plate so that said ball towing-hook be free when the bicycle holder is installed onto the vehicle, in order to simultaneously enable the fastening of a trailer or the like.

This invention will be better understood when reading the following description with reference to the attached drawings which are an integral part of same.

figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of e bicycle holder according to one C eodinnt of this invention.

Figure 2 is C front view of the bicycle holder shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of the bicycle holder shown in Figure 1.

rigure 4 is a top view of the bicycle holder shorn in Figure 1.

The invention relates to a bicycle holder for a motor vehicle, in particular, intended to be fitted onto a vehicle provided with a towing device for a trailer, caravan or the like.

Nowadays, many vehicles are fitted with a towing device for a trailer, caravan or the like. These devices are namely used, when the owner of the the vehicle goes on holiday and occasionally during the rest of the year, for towing a trailer or the like.

It is thus interesting to use this towing device as an anchoring point for a luggage rack such as the bicycle holder according to this invention. Furthermore, the structure of same will enable the simultaneous use of the bicycle holder when a trailer, caravan or the like is fastened to the vehicle.

In Figure 1, the bicycle holder is generally designated b the reference numeral 1, the towing device for a trailer or the like is partially shown and designated by the reference numeral 2, an embodiment of ball toving-hooks is designated by the reference numeral 3.

The bicycle holder 1 according to this invention is mainly comprised of a fastening plate 4 for the bicycle holder as well as of a frame 5 intended for holding the bicycle(s).

The fastening plate 4 is removably fitted onto the vehicle and capable of being interposed between the trailer towing-device 2 and the towing hook 3, as particularly shown in Figure 1.

Said fastening plate 4 is in the form of a distance plate, namely made of steel, having a bore corresponding to the fastening of said hook 3 and/or to the bore of said trailer towing-device 2.

The towing devices generally have indeed four fastening holes, but the towing hooks are authorized in various forms the fastening of which is by means of two or four screws or studs.

The boring of the fastening plate of the bicycle holder according to the invention will be provided for, so as to enable any kind or fastening. Moreover, the bores will be made namely so that the fastening of the hook 3 onto the towing device 2 occurs by studs through 5.

As far as the frame 5 is concerned, it is advantageously renv- ably fixed onto the vehicle and designed so as to be capable of retaining at least one bicycle transversally, in a substantially vertical plane, behind the vehicle.

Such a frame will be adapted to the configuration of the known bicycles and will, in some cases, advantageously be adjustable in height, in order to facilitate this adaptation.

As particularly shown in the Figures, the frame is comprised of at least two arms 7, 8 the respective booms 9, 10 of which are ir.- tended to substantially form the plane of installation and hookingin of the bicycles, namely shown chain-dotted in Figure 2.

In order to increase the distance between the axes of the points of installation and to favour the stability and the fastening of the bicycle, the axes of the uprights 11, 12 of the arms 7, 8 are divergent, as particularly shown in Figures 1 and 2. Their point of concurrence is located near to the fastening plate 4.

In an interesting embodiment, each arm is in the form of 2 tube having the shape of a reversed L, both legs of the L being substantially arranged at 90 degrees. Hbwever, this angle may be completely adapted to thè situations, in order to enable the mounting of the bicycles in a plane substantially vertical with respect to the rear of the vehicle.

Furthermore, each arm is formed by one single tube or by an as serbling of tubes, as particularly shown in Figure 1, which will advantageously be telescopic and provided with means for locking into position.

Particularly, each upright 11, 12 of the arms 7, 8 is formed by to tubular members, one sliding into the other one, the locking being ensured by a positioning by means of studs 13 or the like passing through the holes 14, 15 foreseen for this purpose.

It should be appreciated that these arms will also be provided wit other accessories, such as bands or straps 16, 17 for retin- inQ te frames into position, protection foam-sleeves 18, 19, 20.

Furthermore, in order to eke the frame 5 removable fror. the trailer towing-device 2, the bicycle holder 1 according to thiE invention comprises means 21 for engaging said frame 5 onto the fastening plate 1 so that said ball toving-hook 3 be free when the bicycle holder 1 is installed onto the vehicle, in order to allow the fastening of a trailer or the like.

According to one embodiment of this invention these said engaging means 21 are in the form of male and/or female rods 22, 23, arranged on the side of said fastening plate 4, capable of cooperating with a corresponding female and/or male part 24, 25 pro vided for at the level of said frame 5.

As shown in Figure 1, on both sides of the fastening plate 4 is provided for a tubular member 22, 23, protruding upwards and sidely offset, in order to enable the installation of the towing hook 3.

Onto the protruding parts of said tubes 22, 23 will then be engaged the lower end 24, 25 of the tubes forming the uprights 11, 12 of the arms 7, 8.

In order to enable an easy engaging and disengaging, imm.obiliz- ing of both members 22, 24 or 23, 35 with respect to each other will be by means of a pin or the like 26, 27, as particularly shown in Figure 1.

Of course, further embodiments of this invention, at the reach of those skilled in the Art, could also have been envisaged, without departing from the framework of same.

Claims (9)

1. Bicycle holder, intended to be fitted onto a vehicle provided with a towing device for a trailer1 caravan or the like, having a ball towing-hook comprising - a removable plate for fastening to the vehicle, capable of being interposed between the trailer towing-device and the towing hook, - a removable frame capable of retaining at least one bicycle transversally, in a substantially vertical plane, behind the vehicle, - means for engaging said frame onto said fastening plate so that said ball towing-hook be free when the bicycle holder is installed onto the vehicle, in order to simultaneously enable the fastening of a trailer or the like.

2. Bicycle holder according to claim 1, wherein the engaging means are in the form of male and/or female rods arranged on the side of said fastening plate, capable of co-operating with a corresponding finale an/or male pait provided for at the level of said frare.

3. Bicycle holder according to claim 2, wherein the frame is adjustable in height.

4. Bicycle holder according to claim 1 wherein the frame comprises at least two ars the booms of which are intended to substantially form the plane of installation of the bicycle.

5. Bicycle holder according to claim 4, wherein the axes of the uprights of the arms are divergent, their point of concurrence being located near to the fastening plate.

6. Bicycle holder according to claim 4, wherein the arm is formed by one or an assembling of tubes arranged in the form of a reversed L.

7. Bicycle holder according to claim 4, wherein the uprights of the arms are fore by an assembling of telescopic tubes provided with means for locking into position.

8. Bicycle holder according to claim 1, wherein the bastening plate is in the for of a distance plate having a bore corresponding to the fastening of said hook and/or to the bore of said towing device.

9. a. bicycle holder substantially as described herein by reference to the accompanying figures.