NZ236741A - Bicycle carrier for mounting on vehicle towball; securing system of carrier socket over ball - Google Patents

Description

236741 Divided out of 226926 dated 7 November 1989 No: 236741 Date: 10 November 1988 der the provisions of Regu- NEW ZEALAND sn 23 (1) the Patents Act 1953 ;cification has been ante-dated "7 -ig SR COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Ov-QC■ A CARRIER Initials We, Progress Marketing Limited, a New Zealand company of 45 Newton Street, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga, New Zealand,- do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- 2 236741 This invention relates to a bicycle carrier of the type which can be mounted on a motor vehicle and more particularly a tow bar of the vehicle.

Such bicycle carriers are well known and generally consist of an upright having a support arrangement (usually incorporating two hook elements) at the upper end thereof and a mounting at the lower end. In one form the mounting is designed to bolt onto the tow bar of the vehicle. According to another form the mounting engages with a tow ball located on the tow bar.

In its simplest form, the carrier can support a single bicycle by a frame element, normally the cross bar, of the bicycle being engaged with the two hook elements of the support arrangement. However, it is known to incorporate two support arrangements (one being located behind the other and spaced therefrom) so that one or two bicycles can be supported by the carrier. This latter arrangement provides a satisfactory means of carrying two bicycles even though the mounting of the bicycle on the inside support arrangement can be difficult as the bicycle must be manoeuvred past the outer support arrangement to enable the cross bar of the bicycle to be located in place on the hook elements.

A problem associated with known carriers is insecure or unstable coupling between the mounting and tow bar especially when the mounting engages with the tow ball.

The object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle carrier which overcomes or at least goes some way to overcoming the aforementioned problems. 3 23 According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a bicycle carrier comprising an elongate member having at one end, which in use of the carrier is uppermost, a support arrangement for engagement with part of a biycle and at the other end, which in use of the carrier is lowermost, a mounting for attachment of the carrier to the tow ball of the vehicle's tow bar, said mounting having two locking means for mounting said carrier to the tow bar such that the carrier is substantially prevented from moving axially and rotating on the tow ball.

In a preferred form of the invention the locking means is a threaded stem engaged in a threaded opening in said mounting, there being an operating member with said stem to enable rotational movement to be imparted to said stem. Preferably the locking means are located at substantially right angles to one another.

The mounting can be a sleeve which is fixed at one end to said elongate member such that the axis of the sleeve is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

The carrier can further include at least one anchor member in the vicinity of where the elongate member joins with the mounting. The or each anchor can be formed by a substantially shallow "V" shaped element fixedly attached between the lower end of the elongate member and an upper part of the mounting.

To more fully describe the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of a preferred form of the biycle carrier, 4 23 6 7 4 1 Figure 2 is an exploded side view of the carrier, Figure 3 is an exploded elevation view of the carrier, and Figure 4 is a detail cross-section view.

The bicycle carrier, in the illustrated form, comprises a tubular upright 10 to which the support arrangement 11 is fixedly attached. This support arrangement 11 can consist of a cross piece 12 of shallow U or V shape forming a pair of upwardly diverging arms 13 extending from the upright. Hook elements 14 are fixedly mounted to the upper ends of the arms 13. These hook elements 14 can be covered with a protective sleeve or coating, such as plastic tube or foam to prevent damage to the bicycle frame. The hook elements 14 are suitably spaced apart and shaped to suit the various shapes of bicycle frames.

At the lower end of the upright 10 is a mounting 15 whereby the upright can be attached to the tow bar of the vehicle. In the illustrated form, this mounting 15 comprises a sleeve 16 fixedly attached to the lower end of the upright 10 and so shaped and dimensioned as to be able to locate over a tow ball attached to the tow bar of the vehicle. A pair of locking members 17 are provided and are in the form of a "T" the threaded stem 18 of which engages in a threaded opening in a mounting block 19. Accordingly, when the sleeve 16 is in place on the tow ball, the "T" locks 17 can be screwed inwardly so as to engage in the waisted portion of the tow ball to thereby lock the mounting 15 on the tow ball. The "T" lock 17 can be located in a side mounting and, at right angles thereto, a rear mounting as shown. It has been found this gives a secure and stable locking effect against axial movement of the upright relative to the tow ball and against rotational movement on the tow ball. 236 7 4 1 Optionally a pair of substantially shallow "V" shaped members 20 can be fixedly attached between the lower end of the upright 10 and the sleeve 16 to provide eyes for "tie downs" in the form of stretch straps, rope, belts or the like. These are useful in applying a downward restraining force to the bicycle frame to ensure that the bicycle remains correctly located on the hook elements 14.

Located adjacent the upper end of the upright 10 is a mounting bracket 21 which in the illustrated form is tubular. The tubular mount 21 can be of substantially rectangular cross section as illustrated or equally it can be of circular, oval, square or other suitable cross section to suit the mounting end of the second support arrangement 22.

The second support arrangement 22 is formed of a substantially "L" or shallow "V" shape arm with one end portion thereof or as shown a transversely depending projection 24) able to locate within the tubular mounting bracket 21- Accordingly the cross sectional shape of the projection 24 is substantially the same as the cross section of the inside of the mounting bracket 21 so that a snug fit there between is achieved. Preferably the shape of projection 24 and the bore of bracket 21 are angular in cross-section or include an angular portion so as to prevent rotational movement of projection 24 in the bracket. Also, while not ne% illustrated, a locking arrangement can be provided whereby the arm 23 when located by mounting bracket 21 is physically retained in place. 6 23 6 7 The other end of arm 23 carries a cross piece 25 to which is attached a pair of hook elements 26. As with the hook elements 14, the hook elements of the second carrier 22 are suitably spaced apart and shaped to fit the various shapes of bicycle frames and are also provided with a covering to protect the bicycle frame from damage.

Arm 23 extends across and contacts the cross piece 12 at the top of the upright 10 so that any forces applied by a bicycle on the second support arrangement are translated into a downward force in the upright.

The end user can use the carrier in the conventional manner for carrying a single bicycle. If a second bicycle needs to be carried, then the user merely attaches the arm 23 to the mounting bracket 21 and this provides the second support arrangement for the second bicycle. When the arm 23 is located in position via the mounting bracket 21 the area of the arm indicated at 27 locates, as stated above, over and is supported by the main cross arm 12 where it connects with the upright 10. As also noted previously, the arm 23 can be locked in position by suitable locking means incorporated with the mounting bracket 21.

To make it easier to locate two bicycles on the carrier, the first bicycle can be mounted to the first support arrangement 11 whereupon the second carrier 22 can be put in place and then the second bicycle mounted thereon. This can overcome the difficulties sometimes experienced in manoeuvering the bicycle onto the hook elements 14.

The carrier can be constructed from suitable materials though generally the upright 10, sleeve 16 and the cross pieces for the support arrangements will be of tubular 7 236 7 4 1 steel with a suitable finish such as painting, galvanizing or the like. The arm 23 is also produced from tubular steel as is the mounting bracket 21 while the hook elements 14 and 26 can be made of steel rod. Thus the carrier can be fabricated and welded together thereby permitting economic manufacture and strength of finished product. .f x i 's 1U 1L^ 8

Claims (8)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A bicycle carrier comprising an elongate member having at one end, which in use of the carrier is uppermost, a support arrangement for engagement with part of a bicycle and at the other end, which in use of the carrier is lowermost, a mounting for attachment of the carrier to a tow ball of a vehicle's tow bar, said mounting having two locking means for mounting said carrier to the tow ball such that the carrier is substantially prevented from moving axially and rotating on the tow ball.

2. A bicycle carrier as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each locking means is a threaded stem engaged in a threaded opening in said mounting, there being an operating member with said stem to enable rotational movement to be imparted to said stem.

3. A bicycle carrier as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the mounting is a sleeve which is fixed at one end to said elongate member such that the axis of said sleeve is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

4. A bicycle carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the locking means are located at substantially right angles to one another.

5. A bicycle carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims further including at least one anchor member in the vicinity of where the elongate member joins with the mounting.

6. A bicycle carrier as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the or each anchor is formed by a substantially shallow "V" shaped element fixedly attached between the lower end of the elongate member and an upper part of the mounting. o uu o 9

7. A bicycle carrier as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 6 wherein the sleeve is of a diameter and length such as to be able to locate over the tow ball of a vehicle tow bar, each opening through which a said threaded stem passes being positioned such that the end of the stem can engage in the waisted portion of the tow ball.

8. A bicycle carrier as claimed in Claim 2, 3 or 7 wherein the operating member is an element fixedly attached to an end of the stem and projecting at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the stem. PROGRESS MARKETING LIMITED By its Attorney Don Hopkins & Associates Per / .-/a. ,/ O UJ a o