GB2278819A

GB2278819A - Carriers

Info

Publication number: GB2278819A
Application number: GB9417651A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edwin William Smith; Raymond Bracewell Smith; Steven Robert Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-05-22
Filing date: 1991-05-22
Publication date: 1994-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-22
Also published as: GB2255943A; GB9417651D0; GB9111051D0; GB2255943B; GB2278819B

Abstract

A carrier (10) for mounting on a vehicle comprises a support means (14a, 14b) arranged, in use, to support an object to be carried, such as a bicycle, and at least two spaced mounting members (12, 13) arranged, in use, to co-operate with a surface of a vehicle, the orientation of one of the mounting members (12, 13) relative to the support means (14a, 14b) being adjustable between a plurality of operative positions without affecting the orientation of the other mounting member (12, 13) relative to the support means (14a, 14b). <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CARRIERS The present invention relates to carriers and is concerned particularly with carrying apparatus for the carrying of cycles.

There has recently been a resurgence of interest in the bicycle both as a source of leisure and as a means of improving health and fitness. Often it is necessary to transport one or more bicycles to places where it is desired to use them, but due to the shape and size of most bicycles it can be extremely diilicult to carry them inside a motor vehicle. As a result, various attempts have been made to mount bicycles on the outside of motor vehicles, for example by harnessing them to a rack or frame attached to the roof or rear of a motor vehicle.

United States patent number 3,927,811 discloses apparatus for carrying bicycles, which apparatus is harnessed to the boot of a car by means of straps. The apparatus comprises two U-shaped members which are pivotally connected together. One of the U-shaped members is arranged to bear against a car bumper and the other U-shaped member is arranged to bear against a car boot lid. The apparatus is capable of adopting two configurations, namely a collapsed configuration in which both U-shaped members lie in substantially the same plane for ease of transport, and a mounting configuration in which the two U-shaped members lie in a substantially orthogonal relationship to one another. A spring-biased latch device maintains the Ushaped members in one or other of the configurations. In the mounting configuration a pair of arms of one U-shaped member extend upwardly and rearwardly of the car boot lid to support a bicycle.

A disadvantage of the known apparatus is that it is not adapted for use with differently shaped motor vehicles.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a carrier for mounting on a vehicle, the carrier comprising a support means arranged, in use, to support an object to be carried and at least two spaced mounting members arranged, in use, to cooperate with a surface of a vehicle, the orientation of one of the mounting members relative to the support means being adjustable between a plurality of operative positions without affecting the orientation of the other mounting member relative in the support means.

Preferably the support means comprises at least one and preferably two support arms. The or each support arm may be translationally movable relative to the remainder of the carrier and may be telescopically mounted on the carrier.

The or each support arm may comprise a substantially Shaped member, one arm of the L being arranged to telescopically engage the support member and the other arm of the L being arranged to support a load, in use.

The carrier may include a frame, and one of the mounting members may be mounted on the frame and movable relative to the frame between a plurality of operative positions.

One or both of the mounting members may be movably mounted on the frame, and one or both mounting members may be pivotally mounted on the frame and one or each mounting member may be pivotally mounted on the frame at a pair of spaced locations. The support means may be movably mounted on the frame, for instance by a telescopic mounting.

At least one of the mounting members may comprise a Ushaped member.

The carrier may include releasable locking means arranged to retain said one mounting member in the selected operative position.

Preferably the releasable locking means comprises a substantially U-shaped peg, one arm of which is pivotally connected to a frame of the carrier and the other arm of which is arranged to releasably engage both, an opening in a mounting member and an opening in the frame such that the mounting member is releasably fixed in position relative to the frame.

The releasable locking means may be provided at spaced locations on the or each mounting member.

In a preferred arrangement one of the mounting members is pivotally connected to a frame of the carrier and is moveable between a first position in which the mounting member lies in substantially the same plane as the extent of the frame a second, operable position in which the mounting member extends from this general plane of the frame.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of mounting a carrier on a vehicle comprises altering the orientation of one mounting member relative to another, spaced mounting member by locating said mounting member in one of a plurality of possible operative positions with the orientation of the other mounting member relative to the support means remaining unchanged as a result of the altering of the orientation of the mounting member.

The present invention also includes a method of mounting a carrier as herein referred to on a vehicle.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a carrier includes a frame arranged, in use, to be located on a vehicle and article support means connected to the frame and being move able translationally relative to the frame.

The article support means may be telescopically mounted on the frame.

In accordance with any aspect of the present invention there may be provided at least one buffer means comprising a shock absorbent member arranged in use to be supported by the support means and arranged to be positioned between an article supported by the or each supporting means and the carrier or, alternatively or additionally, arranged to be located between articles supported by the support means. The use of the buffer member reduces the likelihood of damage being done to an article supported by the support means due to contact with another article being supported or due to contact with the carrier.

The buffer means may comprise a foam portion. The buffer means may have a substantially waterproof coating.

In accordance with the any aspect of the present invention there may be provided at least one abutment member which abutment member is arranged to abut an article supported by the support means to limit movement of the object relative to the carrier. The abutment member may comprise a lug.

In accordance with any aspect of the present invention there may be provided a lighting member arranged to be supported by the carrier, which lighting member is arranged to support lights related to the operation of a vehicle on which the carrier may be mounted.

The present invention also includes a vehicle having a carrier as herein referred to mounted thereon.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by the way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a carrier according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a more detailed view of a bracket of the carrier of Figure 1.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 a carrier 10 for carrying a bicycle comprises a hollow U-shaped support frame 11 and hollow U-shaped mounting members 12 and 13 pivotally connected to the frame. L-shaped support arms 14a and 14b extend telescopically from opposed sides of the hollow frame 11. The support arms 14a, 14b are held in their telescopically extended position by locking pins 15a, 15b which are pivotally mounted on brackets 16a, 16b secured to the frame.

The arms 12a, 12b of the mounting member 12 are pivotally connected to brackets 16a, 16b secured to the frame by means of locking pins 17a, 17b which are themselves pivotally connected to the brackets 16a, 16b. The pins releasably engage selected holes in the brackets 16a, 16b and holes in the arms 12a, 12b of the mounting member 12.

The L-shaped support arms 14a, 14b have lugs 18a, 18b which act, in use, to the cross bar of a bicycle, supported on the arms to restrict their movement along the arms. Protective plastic sleeves 19a, 19b and 20a, 20b extend part way along the part of the support arms 14a, 14b which receives the bicycles and lugs 18a, 18b respectively. The purpose of the protective sleeves 19a, 19b and 20a, 20b is to protect objects (not shown) supported on the support arms 14a, 14b from damage by rubbing against the metallic arms.

Figure 2 shows in more detail the brackets 16a. The locking pin 15a is pivotally connected to brackets 16a at 21. By means of a spring bias (not shown), the locking pin 1Sa is held in engagement with a hole 22 passing through the arm ila of the frame and the support arm 14a telescopically mounted inside arm lla. The locking pin 15a can be pulled outwardly to disengage hole 22 or, alternatively, can be pushed in the region of pivotal connection 21 from the reverse side of the brackets (not shown) of the brackets 16a. By telescopic adjustment of the support arm 14a with respect to the arm ila other holes such as 23, 24, 25 in the support arm 14a can be aligned with the hole 22 in the arm 11a and the locking pin 15a can be allowed to pass through the newly aligned holes.

The operation of the locking pin 17a is similar to that of the locking pin 15a except that there is only one hole in the arm 12a and several in the bracket 16a. The pin 15a may be released from its spring biased engagement with hole 26 by pulling the pin or pushing from the reverse side of the brackets 16a in the region of a pivot point 27 of the pin. By pivotal movement of the mounting member 12 the hole 26 in the arm 12a can be brought into alignment with other holes 28, 29, 30 and the locking pin can be moved about the pivot 27 to enter the aligned holes. The mounting member 12 can therefore be locked in any one of several positions.

Whilst the co-operation of the locking pins 15a, 17a, the brackets 16a and the arms Ila, 12a have been described it will be understood that the co-operation of the locking pins 15b, 17b, the brackets 16b and arms llb, 12b occurs in the same manner.

The mounting member 13 can be held in place by abutment of the parallel arms of the member 13 with the base of the Ushaped frame.

Referring to both Figures 1 and 2 the carrier 10 is, in use, mounted on a vehicle (not shown) by pivotal adjustment of the mounting members 12 and 13 in the manner described above such that they cooperate with the boot lid or rear door and rear bumper of the vehicle respectively.

Straps (not shown) are attached to suitable securing points along the vehicle such as the boot or lid hinge or door or towing eye and, after being tightened, are then secured at buckles (not shown) mounted on the brackets 16a, 16b. Thus the carrier having being arranged to cooperate with the surface of the vehicle is held in cooperation by the straps (not shown). Rubber feet 31 are positioned on the mounting members 12 and 13 to engage surfaces of the vehicle to prevent damage to those surfaces. The carrier can be mounted on both saloons and estates or vans.

The support arms may be telescopically extended or retracted in the manner described above as necessary to accommodate differently sized bicycles or to enable the required clearance to be achieved on differently configured vehicles.

The carrier can be folded to be substantially flat, in the general plane of the frame by pivoting the member 13 in an anti-clockwise direction, pivoting the member 13 either up or down, and by removing the arms 14 such that the projecting portions extend across the frame 11 rather than outwardly therefrom. This configuration is particularly suited for storage of the carrier.

The mounting member 13 may be arranged to be releasably locked in the position shown in Figure 1, for instance by providing locking means having any of the features or limitations of the locking means and associated parts provided for the mounting member 12.

In order to further minimise the risk of damage to cycles being carried by the carrier 10 it is possible to use buffer members (not shown) comprising foam-filled cover plastic-covered bags which, in use, are hung from the support arms between cycles supported on the support arms and between the first bicycle and the carrier. The use of these buffer members is likely to reduce the risk of accidental damage to the cycles caused by the banging or rubbing against each other during transportation on a vehicle eg over an uneven road surface.

The carrier 10 may be additionally provided with lighting members (not shown) to support vehicle auxiliary lights such that the lights may not be obscured by cycles being carried. The lighting member may comprise a frame of hollow tubular steel which is bolted or strapped to or hung on the carrier in the region of the support arms. On the frame is a board to which may be secured auxiliary break lights, indicators etc of the vehicle.

The carrier may have a catch or retention lug secured beneath the support arms to hold one wheel of at least one bicycle in place.

Bicycles mounted on the arms of the carrier can be strapped to the carrier, to maintain them on the carrier.

Locking means may be provided, such as a looped padlock, to prevent unauthorised removal of the bicycles from the carriers.

Claims

1 A carrier for mounting on a vehicle, the carrier comprising a support means arranged, in use, to support an object to be carried and at least two spaced mounting members arranged, in use, to co operate with a surface of a vehicle, the orientation of one of the mounting members relative to the support means being adjustable between a plurality of operative positions without affecting the orientation of the other mounting member relative to the support means.

2 A carrier as claimed in Claim 1 in which the support means comprises at least one support arm.

3 A carrier as claimed in Claim 2 in which the support means comprises two support arms.

4 A carrier as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 in which the or each support arm is translationally movable relative to the remainder of the carrier.

5 A carrier as claimed in any of Claims 2, 3 or 4 in which the or each support arm is telescopically mounted on the carrier.

6 A carrier as claimed in any preceding claim in which the or each support arm comprises a substantially L shaped member, one arm of the L being arranged to telescopically engage the support member and the other arm of the L being arranged to support a load, in use.

7 A carrier as claimed in any preceding claim including a frame with one of the mounting members arranged to be mounted on the frame and movable relative to the frame between a plurality of operative positions.

8 A carrier as claimed in Claim 7 in which one or both of the mounting members is movably mounted on the frame.

9 A carrier as claimed in either of Claims 7 or 8 in which one or both of the mounting members is pivotally mounted on the frame.

10 A carrier as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 9 in which one or both of the mounting members are pivotally mounted on the frame at a pair of spaced locations.

11 A carrier as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 10 in which the support means is movably mounted on the frame.

12 A carrier as claimed in Claim 11 in which the support means is telescopically mounted on the frame.

13 A carrier as claimed in any preceding claim in which at least one of the mounting members comprises a U shaped member.

14 A carrier as claimed in any preceding claim including releasable locking means arranged to retain one mounting member in the selected operative position.

15 A carrier as claimed in Claim 14 in which the releasable locking means comprises a substantially U shaped peg, one arm of which is pivotally connected to a frame of the carrier and the other arm of which is arrange to releasably engage both an opening in a mounting member and an opening in the frame such that the mounting member is releasably fixed in position relative to the frame.

16 A carrier as claimed in any of Claims 14 or 15 in which the releasable locking means is provided at spaced locations on the or each mounting member.

17 A carrier as claimed in any preceding claim in which one of the mounting members is pivotally connected to a frame of the carrier and is movable between a first position in which the mounting member lies in substantially the same plane as the extent of the frame and a second, operable position in which the mounting member extends from the general plane of the frame.

18 A carrier including a frame arranged, in use, to be located on a vehicle and article support means connected to the frame which are arranged to be movable translationally relative to the frame.

19 A carrier as claimed in Claim 18 in which the support means are telescopically mounted on the frame.

20 A carrier as claimed in any preceding claim in which there are provided at least one buffer means comprising a shock absorbent member arranged, in use, to be supported by the support means and arranged to be positioned between an article supported by the or each supporting means and the carrier.

21 A carrier as claimed in any preceding claim in which there are provided at least one buffer means comprising a shock absorbent member arranged, in use, to be supported by the support means and arranged to be located between articles supported by the support means and the support means.

22 A carrier as claimed in Claim 20 or 21 in which the buffer means comprises a foam portion.

23 A carrier as claimed in Claim 22 in which the buffer means have a substantially waterproof coating.

24 A carrier as claimed in any preceding claim in which there is provided at least one abutment member arranged to abut an article supported by the support means to limit movement of an object so supported relative to the carrier.

25 A carrier as claimed in Claim 24 in which the abutment member comprises a lug.

26 A carrier as claimed in any preceding claim in which there is provided a lighting member arranged to be supported by the carrier, which lighting member is arranged to support lights related to the operation of a vehicle on which the carrier may be mounted.

27 A carrier substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

28 A vehicle having a carrier in accordance with any preceding claim mounted thereon.

29 A method of mounting a carrier according to any of the proceeding claims comprising mounting the carrier on a vehicle.

30 A method of mounting a carrier on a vehicle comprising altering the orientation of one mounting member relative to another, spaced mounting member by locating the mounting member in one of a plurality of possible operative positions with the orientation of the other mounting member relative to the support means remaining unchanged as a result of the altering of the orientation of the mounting member.