WO2003008236A1

WO2003008236A1 - Bicycle rack

Info

Publication number: WO2003008236A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/003319
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles Stephen Simmons-Jacobs
Original assignee: Charles Stephen Simmons-Jacobs
Priority date: 2001-07-20
Filing date: 2002-07-19
Publication date: 2003-01-30
Also published as: GB0216779D0; EP1453700A1; GB2377682A

Abstract

A bicycle rack (1) comprises: a base (3, 4) for supporting the wheels of a bicycle (2), a front wheel support member (6) for engaging the front wheel tyre at least at a point at a height above an artificial line (X-X) drawn through the front and rear wheel axes, an arm (10) pivoted at one first end to the base which rotates towards and away from the rear wheel, a rear wheel support member (11) on the arm spaced from said first end for engaging the rear wheel tyre adjacent the rear of the bicycle below said artificial line, and arm locking means (12-14) to lock arm relative to the base in a position such that the bicycle is prevented from prevented from forward and back movement by being restrained between said front and rear wheel support members, and said front wheel is prevented from lifting by said front wheel member.

Description

Bicycle Rack

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a rack for a bicycle which may be mounted on a road vehicle such as a trailer, and also to such trailers.

In order to make a contribution to a reduction in motor vehicles, it is proposed that buses could accommodate racks to take bicycles, so that persons can be transported to a location and travel locally from that location by bicycle. These racks may ideally be mounted on a trailer towed by the bus.

Bicycle racks per se are known as are trailers with bicycle racks, but the method of securing bicycles on such racks makes them undesirable for towing behind buses where passengers need to place, lock and remove bicycles on a rack on a trailer easily and quickly so as not to delay the bus unduly.

The invention, or at least specific embodiments of it, provides solutions to this problem.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bicycle rack comprising: a base adapted to support the front and rear wheel of a bicycle, a front wheel support member adapted to engage the front wheel tyre at least at a point at a height above an artificial line drawn through the front and rear wheel axes, an arm pivoted at one first end to the base which rotates towards and away from the rear wheel, a rear wheel support member on the arm spaced from said first end and adapted to engage the rear wheel tyre adjacent the rear of the bicycle below said artificial line, and arm locking means to lock the arm relative to the base in a position such that the bicycle is prevented from forward and back movement by being restrained between said front and rear wheel support members, and said front wheel is prevented from lifting by said front wheel support member.

Preferably, the base is in the form of an elongate channel, which may be U-shaped in cross section.

In one embodiment, the section of the base supporting the front wheel has an aperture to receive an arc of the front wheel or is curved to receive an arc of the front wheel. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a bicycle rack comprising a base having a front channel section to support a front wheel of a bicycle and a rear channel section to support a rear wheel of the bicycle, the front section being pivoted at a pivot point between its ends and being arranged such that, in use, when the weight of the front wheel is placed on the front channel section to the side of the pivot point remote from the rear channel section, the end of the front channel section on the other side of the pivot point is raised to engage with the rear wheel so limiting the forward movement of the bicycle.

Preferably, the pivot point is provided at one end of the rear channel section.

Preferably, the front and rear channel sections are generally U-shaped in cross-section.

The rack preferably includes a front wheel support member that is adapted to engage the front wheel tyre at least at a point at a height above an artificial line drawn through the front and rear wheel axes so that front wheel is prevented from lifting by the front wheel support member.

Preferably, an arm is pivoted to the end of the rear channel section remote from the pivot point, the arm being rotatable towards and away from the rear wheel, and further including a rear wheel support member on the arm spaced and adapted to engage the rear wheel tyre adjacent the rear of the bicycle below an artificial line drawn through the front and rear wheel axes. An arm locking means is preferably provided to lock the arm relative to the rear channel section in a position such that the bicycle is prevented from backward movement by being restrained by the rear wheel support member.

In this case, or in the case of the first aspect of the invention, the arm locking means preferably includes a ratchet connected to one of the arm and the base, and a pawl connected on the other of the arm and the base, rotation of the arm towards the rear wheel allowing the pawl to follow the ratchet and to engage with the ratchet normally to prevent the arm rotating away from the bicycle, the pawl being disengageable from the ratchet by a user when it is desired to rotate the arm away from the bicycle rear wheel. The rack preferably further includes a device operable to prevent the pawl being disengaged from the ratchet.

This latter feature may be provided independently of some of the other features of the first and second aspects of the invention. According, a third aspect of the present invention provides a bicycle rack comprising a base for supporting a bicycle and locking means for locking the bicycle to the base, the locking means including a locking member pivotally mounted to the base, a ratchet connected to one of the locking member and the base, and a pawl connected on the other of the locking member and the base, rotation of the locking member in a direction to lock the bicycle to the base allowing the pawl to follow the ratchet and to engage with the ratchet normally to prevent the locking member rotating in the opposite direction, the pawl being disengageable from the ratchet by a user when it is desired to rotate the arm away from the bicycle rear wheel, the locking means further including a device operable to prevent the pawl being disengaged from the ratchet.

The device may comprise a solenoid actuator, a key-operated mechanism, or a coin- freed mechanism.

In another embodiment, the arm locking means includes a disc on one of the arm and the base, and a brake calliper on the other of the arm and the base, the calliper being lockable on the disc to lock the arm relative to the base. The calliper may be hydraulically operable.

In the cases where an arm is provided, it is preferably rotatable to a position below the base to allow the bicycle to be wheeled on and off the base.

Preferably, a lock is provided to secure the bicycle rear wheel to the base or rear channel section to prevent the rear wheel from lifting. In this case, the lock is preferably operated by the arm such that the lock engages the rear wheel when the arm is rotated towards the rear wheel. The lock may include a clamp such as jaw connected to the base.

The invention also relates to a trailer supporting one or more bicycle racks, which may be as described above.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a bus trailer having: a plurality of bicycle racks each having means for locking a bicycle in that rack, and means for connecting each rack to a control device in the bus so that each rack can be remotely locked and unlocked from the bus independently of the other racks. It is therefore possible for the driver, or conductor, of the bus to control which bicycle rack is unlocked without the driver or conductor needing to leave the bus or needing to supply a cyclist with a key so as to lock their bicycle in one of the racks or to unlock it from the rack.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides a bus trailer having: a plurality of bicycle racks, a video camera for viewing the bicycle racks, and means for connecting the camera to a video monitor in the bus. It is therefore possible for the driver, for example, of the bus to observe the trailer without leaving the bus. A housing may at least partly enclose the bicycle racks, in which case the first-mentioned video camera is preferably arranged for viewing the space inside the housing, and a second video camera is preferably provided arranged to view the space between the housing and the bus. It is therefore possible for the driver of the bus to observe not only the bicycle racks but also the space between the bus and trailer which will alert the driver to the danger of driving off if somebody has moved into that space. Preferably, the bus is provided with means for selecting whether the video output that is viewable by the video monitor is from the first or the second video camera, thus avoiding the need to provide two video monitors in the bus.

A sixth aspect of the invention provides a bus trailer having: one or more bicycle racks, an intercom terminal usable by people at the trailer, and means for connecting the intercom terminal to a further intercom terminal in the bus. Preferably, the intercom terminal is a two- way intercom terminal. It is therefore possible for a cyclist who may be having difficulty loading or unloading their bicycle to ask for advice from the driver, or conductor, of the bus and/or for the driver/conductor to give instructions to a cyclist without needing to leave the bus.

It should be noted that the various aspects of the invention may be combined in any permutation.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1A shows a side view of a bicycle on a first embodiment of rack,

Figure IB shows a plan view of part of Figure 1 A,

Figure 1C shows an end view of Figure 1A, and

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the rack of Figure 1 without a bicycle.

Figure 3 shows a side view of a bicycle on a second embodiment of rack,

Figure 4A shows a perspective view of the rack of Figure 3 without a bicycle with the arm and locking means in the open position,

Figure 4B shows a perspective view of the rack of Figure 4A with the arm and locking means in the locked position,

Figure 5 is a side view of a bus trailer, with part of the rear of a bus also shown, Figure 6 is a face view of a control panel for use with the trailer,

Figure 7 is a circuit diagram of the bus trailer of Figure 5, and

Figure 8 is a circuit diagram of the control panel of Figure 6.

Referring to the Figures 1A to 2 of the drawings, there is shown a rack 1 for a bicycle 2. Bicycle 2 has an artificial line X-X drawn through the front and rear wheel axes.

Rack 1 has a rear channel section 3 formed from a length of generally "U-shaped" channel section to support the rear wheel of bicycle 2. Rack 1 also has a front channel section 4 formed from a length of generally "U-shaped" channel section to support the front wheel of a bicycle. The front channel section 4 is pivoted generally about a mid point between its ends by a pivot pin 5 to one end 3 A of rear channel section 3.

As shown in Figure IB, when the weight of the front wheel is placed on the side of the pivot point on the front channel section remote from the rear channel section, the end 4A of the front channel section on the other side of the pivot point is raised to engage with the rear wheel so limiting the forward movement of the bicycle.

A roller 6 engages the front wheel tyre at a point above the artificial line X-X. Roller 6 is mounted on an arm 7 pivoted to a support frame 8 so the roller may support wheels of varying diameter. Rear channel section 3 includes support feet 9A,9B to support the rear section above a floor (not shown), and frame 8 includes support foot 9C to support it and the front section 4 above a floor (not shown). In this respect it will be seen that frame 8 includes guide slots 8A,8B for a front section pin 4B.

A U-shaped arm 10 is pivoted at one first end 10A to the end of rear channel section 3 remote from pivot 5. Arm 10 can rotate towards and away from the rear wheel of bicycle 2 and a handle 10B is provided for this purpose.

Arm 10 has a rear wheel support member in the form of U-shaped bracket 11 spaced from the first end 10A and adapted to engage the rear wheel tyre adjacent the rear of the bicycle below line X-X. Mounted on rear channel section 3 adjacent first end 10A is an arcuate toothed ratchet 12. A pawl 13 is pivoted to arm 10 to follow and engage with the teeth of the ratchet as the arm is rotated towards the bicycle rear wheel, preventing normally the arm rotating away from the bicycle rear wheel. As arm 10 is rotated towards the bicycle, so the bicycle rear wheel is sandwiched between the front channel section end 4A and bracket 11 respectively and thus the bicycle is restrained from forward and back movement. The ratchet 12 and pawl 13 form a locking means to lock the arm relative to the base in a position when the bicycle is restrained.

Because the roller 6 is above the centre line X-X, the front wheel is prevented from lifting by roller 6. A pawl lever 14 is provided to disengage the pawl 13 from the ratchet when it is desired to rotate the arm 10 away from the bicycle rear wheel.

A lock 15 is provided to secure the bicycle rear wheel to the base to prevent the rear wheel from lifting. The lock has a jaw clamp in the form of a pair of locking arms 15A.15B pivoted to rear channel section 3 with wheel-engaging plates 16A,16B at their ends. The ends of arms 15A,15B remote from plates 16A,16B engage in cam grooves 17A.17B (See Figure IB) in a sliding plate 18. Plate 18 is connected by a link 19 to a trigger arm 20 extending below arm 10. As the arm 10 is rotated towards the rear wheel, so the trigger 20 pulls sliding plate 18 to force plates 16A.16B together to lock the rear wheel to the base 3 when the bracket 11 engages over the rear wheel rims (see Figure 2B). As the arm 10 is then rotated away from the rear wheel, so sliding plate 18 forces the plates 16A,16B apart to unlock the rear wheel.

A key-operated lock mechanism 21 (see exploded inset diagram) may be used to lock and prevent rotation of the pawl.

A cable 22 is connected at one end to plate 18 and at the other end to roller 6 on pivot arm 7. As arm 10 is rotated towards the rear wheel, so the trigger 20 pulls sliding plate 18, which in turn pulls on cable 22 to pull roller 6 onto the front wheel of the bicycle 2, so preventing the front wheel from lifting.

In use a bicycle may simply be rolled into the rack 1 until front channel section 4 pivots under the weight of the front wheel of the bicycle and the rear wheel abuts against raised end 4A of front channel section 4. The arm 10 is rotated until the bracket 11 engages the rear wheel and it will be locked relative to the base by the pawl. At the same time the front roller 6 engages the front wheel. The pawl is then locked by the key mechanism and the key removed by the bicycle owner. The bicycle is then securely fastened in the rack.

To remove the bicycle, the key is used to unlock the pawl and the pawl rotated using lever 14, and the arm 10 rotated away from the rear wheel. The bicycle can be rolled off the rack. It is envisaged that a plurality of racks 1 may be mounted side by side on a trailer to be towed by a vehicle such as a bus, with the feet 9A,9B,9C bolted or otherwise secured to a trailer floor.

The rack of the invention may take a different form to that specifically described above.

For example instead of roller 6, the front channel section 4 supporting the front wheel may be curved to receive an arc of the front wheel with the end of the trough providing a front wheel support member to engage the front wheel tyre at a point above the artificial line X-X.

Instead of a pawl and ratchet to lock the arm 10 relative to the base 3, the arm locking means may be in the form of a disc on the arm or base and a brake calliper on the base or arm respectively, said callipers being lockable on said disc to lock the arm relative to the base. The callipers may be operated hydraulically. If a number of racks were mounted on a trailer, a single hydraulic pump could power hydraulic callipers on each rack.

The arm may be rotatable to a position below the base to create a ramp to allow a bicycle to be wheeled on and off the base. This may be useful if the rack is mounted on a trailer and hence raised off the ground.

The arm locking means may be operated by a coin-freed mechanism rather than a key mechanism as described.

The racks of the invention could be mounted on a static base such as a concrete base, e.g. in public places, rather than on trailers.

It is envisaged that the racks would be fabricated largely from metal, although other materials may be used.

A second embodiment of the invention will now be described. Referring to Figures 3 to 4B of the drawings, there is shown a rack 101 for a bicycle 102. Bicycle 102 has an artificial line X-X drawn through the front and rear wheel axis.

Rack 101 has a base 103 formed from a length of generally "U-shaped" channel section to support the front and rear wheel of a bicycle. The section of base 103 under the front wheel includes an elongate aperture 103A through which an arc of the front wheel can enter, with a roller 104 and 105 at each end of the aperture. A roller 106 engages the front wheel tyre at a point above the artificial line X-X. Rollers 105 and 106 are mounted on a triangular frame 107 pivoted to a support frame 108 so the rollers may support wheels of varying diameter. The rollers 104,105,106 provide a front wheel support member. Base 103 further includes support feet 109 A-C to support the base above a floor (not shown).

An arm 110 is pivoted at one first end 110A to the end of base 103 remote from aperture 103A. Arm 110 can rotate towards (Figures 3 and 4B) and away (Figure 4A) from the rear wheel of bicycle 102.

Arm 110 has a rear wheel support member in the form of U-shaped bracket 111 spaced from the first end 110A and adapted to engage the rear wheel tyre adjacent the rear of the bicycle below line X-X. Mounted on base 103 adjacent first end 110A is an arcuate toothed ratchet 112. A pawl 113 is pivoted to arm 110 to follow and engage with the teeth of the ratchet as the arm is rotated towards the bicycle rear wheel, preventing normally the arm rotating away from the bicycle rear wheel. As arm 110 is rotated towards the bicycle, so the bicycle front and rear wheels are sandwiched between the roller 106 and bracket 111 respectively and thus the bicycle is restrained from forward and back movement. The ratchet 112 and pawl 113 form a locking means to lock the arm relative to the base in a position when the bicycle is restrained.

Because the roller 106 is above the centre line X-X and the distance "A" between the roller 106 and bracket 111 is less than the length "B" of the bicycle, the front wheel is prevented from lifting by roller 106. A pawl lever 114 is provided to disengage the pawl 113 from the ratchet when it is desired to rotate the arm 110 away from the bicycle rear wheel.

A lock 115 is provided to secure the bicycle rear wheel to the base to prevent the rear wheel from lifting. The lock has a jaw clamp in the form of a pair of locking arms 115A,115B pivoted to base 102 with wheel-engaging plates 116A,116B at their ends. The ends of arms 115A,115B remote from plates 116A,116B engage in a cam grooves 117A.117B (117B not visible) in a sliding plate 118. Plate 118 is connected by a link 119 to a trigger arm 120 extending below arm 110. As the arm 110 is rotated towards the rear wheel, so the trigger 120 pulls sliding plate 118 to force plates 116A.116B together to lock the rear wheel to the base 103 when the bracket 111 engages over the rear wheel rims (see Figure 4B). As the arm 110 is then rotated away from the rear wheel, so sliding plate 118 forces the plates 116A,116B apart to unlock the rear wheel.

A key-operated lock mechanism 121 (see exploded inset diagram in Figure 4B) may be used to lock and prevent rotation of the pawl. In use a bicycle may simply be rolled into the rack 101 until the front wheel engages the rollers 104,105, 106. The arm 110 is rotated until the bracket 111 engages the rear wheel and it will be locked relative to the base by the pawl. The pawl is then locked by the key mechanism and the key removed by the bicycle owner. The bicycle is then securely fastened in the rack.

To remove the bicycle, the key is used to unlock the pawl and the pawl rotated using lever 114, and the arm 110 rotated away from the rear wheel. The bicycle can be rolled off the rack.

The rack of the invention may take a different form to that specifically described above. For example instead of rollers 104,105,106, the section of the base supporting the front wheel may be curved to receive an arc of the front wheel with the end of the trough providing a front wheel support member to engage the front wheel tyre at a point above the artificial line X-X.

The arm may be longer than shown and may be rotatable to a position below the base to create a ramp to allow a bicycle to be wheeled on and off the base. This may be useful if the rack is mounted on a trailer and hence raised off the ground.

A bus trailer and bus will now be described with reference to Figures 5 to 8. The trailer

30 has a bed 32, one or two wheeled axles 34, and a towing hitch 36 for coupling to a tow bar 38 at the rear of the bus 40. A plurality of bicycle racks 1, for example seven in number as shown in dashed outline in Figure 5, and substantially as described with reference to Figures 1A to 2, are secured to the bed 32. (Alternatively, racks 101 as described with reference to Figures 3 to 4B may be employed.) The racks 1 are alternately mounted flat on the bed 32 and inclined with respect to the bed 32 in a manner known for static bicycle racks so as to avoid clashing of the handlebars of bicycles supported in adjacent racks. A housing partly encloses the racks 1, the housing having a front wall 42, rear wall 44, off-side wall 46 and roof 48. A roller curtain (not shown) may also be provided for closing the near side of the housing.

The racks 1 are modified as compared with the racks 1, 101 described with reference to

Figures 1A to 4B in the following respects:-

• The key-operated lock mechanisms 21,121 are omitted, and instead each pawl 13,113 is formed with a notch that can be engaged by a plunger of a solenoid 50 normally to prevent the pawl 13,113 from being disengaged from the ratchet 12,112. However, when the solenoid 50 is energised, the pawl 13,113 can be manually released from the ratchet 12,112. • Each rack 1 is provided with a microswitch 52, for example on the foot 9C,109C, that is normally open, but which is closed when a bicycle is loaded into the rack.

• Each rack 1 is provided with a further microswitch 54, for example operated by the pawl 13,113 or the pawl-operating mechanism 14,114, that is closed when the pawl 13,113 is engaging the ratchet 12,112 (thus indicating that the arm 10,110 is in a closed position and is not projecting from the side of the trailer 30), and which is open when the pawl 13,113 is disengaged from the ratchet 12,112.

• An indicator light 56 is provided on or adjacent each rack 1, for indicating that the rack is unlocked.

Referring in particular to Figures 5 and 7, the trailer 30 is also provided with:-

• A rearwardly-looking video camera 58 mounted high up on the front wall 42 of the housing and viewing the space inside the housing. The camera 58 has a fish-eye lens to give a wide field of vision.

• A forwardly-looking video camera 60 mounted part-way up the front wall 42 and viewing the space between the front wall 42 of the housing and the bus 40. Again, the camera 60 has a fish-eye lens.

• An intercom terminal 62 mounted at a convenient location on the trailer 30.

• A battery 64 and associated battery charging regulator circuit 66.

• A main switch 68. • A cable having a connector 70 for connection to a complementary connector 72 of the bus 40.

Referring in particular to Figures 6 and 8, the driver's cab of the bus is provided with a control panel 74 having a switch 76 for each rack 1, a "bicycle present" indicator light 78 for each rack 1, and a "rack unlocked" indicator light 80 for each rack. There is also a common "All racks closed" indicator light 82. The control panel also includes an intercom terminal 84 having a "Press to talk" switch 86, an LCD video monitor 88 and a video selection switch 90.

Referring in particular to Figures 7 and 8, the circuitry for one of the racks 1 is shown in detail. The circuitry for the other racks 1 is similar and for clarity is simply shown by empty dashed-line boxes 92,94. The main features of the circuitry, when the complementary connectors 70,72 are interconnected and the trailer main switch 68 is on, will now be described.

The trailer battery 64 is charged from the bus battery 96 via the battery charging regulator circuit 66. Power is supplied from the trailer battery 64 to the video cameras 58,60 and to intercom terminal 62 by connections that are not shown for clarity. Power is also supplied from the bus battery 96 to the intercom terminal 82 and to the video monitor 88 by connections that are also not shown for clarity.

The microswitches 54 for all of the racks 1 are connected in series with the "All racks closed" indicator light 82, and therefore that light is illuminated only if the arms 10 of all of the racks 1 are in their closed positions and thus not projecting from the side of the trailer 30.

Each solenoid 50 is connected to a respective one of the switches 76 so that the bus driver can unlock the racks 1 independently. When a particular rack 1 is unlocked, the respective indicator light 56 on the trailer and the respective "Rack unlocked" light 80 on the control panel 74 are illuminated.

Each microswitch 52 is connected to a respective one of the "Bicycle present" lights 78 on the control panel, so that the light 78 is illuminated when a bicycle is present in the respective rack 1.

The intercom terminals 62,82 are interconnected so that the driver and a cyclist using the intercom terminal 62 can talk to each other.

The driver can select with switch 90 whether the video from the forward video camera 60 or the video from the rearward camera 58 is displayed on the video display 88.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and developments may be made to the system described above with reference to Figures 5 to 8. For example, rather than employing separate connections for the unlocking signals, indicator signals, video signals and intercom signals, these signals may be multiplexed onto a single connection. The unlocking switches 76 may be interlocked with, for example, the parking brake of the bus so that the racks 1 cannot be unlocked unless the brake is applied. Also, the parking brake of the bus may be interlocked with the rack-closed switches 54 so that the brake cannot be released unless all of the racks 1 are closed. Furthermore, the parking brake of the bus may be interlocked with the video selection switch 90 so that the brake cannot be released unless the driver has operated the switch 90, thus indicating that the video from both cameras 58,60 has been displayed. Infra-red illumination may be provided with the video cameras 58,60 so that they can see in the dark.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bicycle rack (1,101) comprising: a base (3,4; 103) adapted to support the front and rear wheel of a bicycle (2; 102), a front wheel support member (6; 106) adapted to engage the front wheel tyre at least at a point at a height above an artificial line (X-X) drawn through the front and rear wheel axes, an arm (10; 110) pivoted at one first end to the base which rotates towards and away from the rear wheel, a rear wheel support member (11; 111) on the arm spaced from said first end and adapted to engage the rear wheel tyre adjacent the rear of the bicycle below said artificial line, and arm locking means (12-14; 112-114) to lock the arm relative to the base in a position such that the bicycle is prevented from forward and back movement by being restrained between said front and rear wheel support members, and said front wheel is prevented from lifting by said front wheel support member.

2. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is in the form of an elongate channel (103).

3. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elongate channel is U-shaped in cross section.

4. A bicycle rack as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the section of the base supporting the front wheel has an aperture to receive an arc of the front wheel or is curved to receive an arc of the front wheel.

5. A bicycle rack (1) comprising a base (3,4) having a front channel section (4) to support a front wheel of a bicycle (2) and a rear channel section (3) to support a rear wheel of the bicycle, the front section being pivoted at a pivot point (5) between its ends and being arranged such that, in use, when the weight of the front wheel is placed on the front channel section to the side of the pivot point remote from the rear channel section, the end (4A) of the front channel section on the other side of the pivot point is raised to engage with the rear wheel so limiting the forward movement of the bicycle.

6. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pivot point is provided at one end

(3A) of the rear channel section.

7. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the front and rear channel sections are generally U-shaped in cross-section.

8. A bicycle rack as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, further including a front wheel support member (6) that is adapted to engage the front wheel tyre at least at a point at a height above an artificial line (X-X) drawn through the front and rear wheel axes so that front wheel is prevented from lifting by the front wheel support member.

9. A bicycle rack as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8, wherein an arm (10) is pivoted to the end of the rear channel section remote from the pivot point, the arm being rotatable towards and away from the rear wheel, and further including a rear wheel support member (11) on the arm spaced and adapted to engage the rear wheel tyre adjacent the rear of the bicycle below an artificial line drawn through the front and rear wheel axes.

10. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 9, wherein an arm locking means (12-14) is provided to lock the arm relative to the rear channel section in a position such that the bicycle is prevented from backward movement by being restrained by the rear wheel support member.

11. A bicycle rack as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 and 10, wherein the arm locking means includes a ratchet (12; 112) connected to one of the arm and the base, and a pawl (13; 113) connected on the other of the arm and the base, rotation of the arm towards the rear wheel allowing the pawl to follow the ratchet and to engage with the ratchet normally to prevent the arm rotating away from the bicycle, the pawl being disengageable from the ratchet by a user when it is desired to rotate the arm away from the bicycle rear wheel.

12. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 11, further including a device (21; 121; 50) operable to prevent the pawl being disengaged from the ratchet.

13. A bicycle rack (1; 101) comprising a base (3,4; 103) for supporting a bicycle (2; 102) and locking means for locking the bicycle to the base, the locking means including a locking member (10; 110) pivotally mounted to the base, a ratchet (12; 112) connected to one of the locking member and the base, and a pawl (13; 113) connected on the other of the locking member and the base, rotation of the locking member in a direction to lock the bicycle to the base allowing the pawl to follow the ratchet and to engage with the ratchet normally to prevent the locking member rotating in the opposite direction, the pawl being disengageable from the ratchet by a user when it is desired to rotate the arm away from the bicycle rear wheel, and the locking means further including a device (21; 121; 50) operable to prevent the pawl being disengaged from the ratchet.

14. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein said device comprises a solenoid actuator (50), key-operated mechanism (21; 121) or a coin-freed mechanism.

15. A bicycle rack as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 and 10, wherein the arm locking means includes a disc on one of the arm and the base, and a brake calliper on the other of the arm and the base, the calliper being lockable on the disc to lock the arm relative to the base.

16. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 15, wherein the calliper is hydraulically operable.

17. A bicycle rack as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, 10 to 12, 15 and 16, wherein the arm is rotatable to a position below the base to allow the bicycle to be wheeled on and off the base.

18. A bicycle rack as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 and 15 to 17, wherein a lock (16A,B; 116A,B) is provided to secure the bicycle rear wheel to the base or rear channel section to prevent the rear wheel from lifting.

19. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 18, when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 1 or 9, wherein the lock is operated by the arm such that the lock engages the rear wheel when the arm is rotated towards the rear wheel.

20. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein the lock includes a clamp such as jaw (16A,B; 116A,B) connected to the base.

21. A trailer (30) supporting one or more bicycle racks (1) as claimed in any preceding claim.

22. A bus trailer (30) having: a plurality of bicycle racks (1) each having means (50) for locking a bicycle in that rack, and means (70) for connecting each rack to a control device (74) in the bus (40) so that each rack can be remotely locked and unlocked from the bus independently of the other racks.

23. A bus trailer (30) having: a plurality of bicycle racks (1), a video camera (58) for viewing the bicycle racks, and means (70) for connecting the camera to a video monitor (88) in the bus (40).

24. A trailer as claimed in claim 23, wherein: a housing (42-48) at least partly encloses the bicycle racks, the first-mentioned video camera is arranged for viewing the space inside the housing, and a second video camera (60) is provided arranged to view a space between the housing and the bus.

25. A trailer as claimed in claim 24 in combination with a bus (40) having a video monitor (88) for viewing the video output from the first and/or the second video camera.

26. A combination as claimed in claim 25, wherein the bus is provided with means (90)for selecting whether the video output that is viewable is from the first or the second video camera.

27. A bus trailer (30) having: one or more bicycle racks (1), an intercom terminal (62) usable by people at the trailer, and means (70) for connecting the intercom terminal to a further intercom terminal (74) in the bus (40).

28. A bus trailer as claimed in claim 27, wherein the intercom terminal is a two-way intercom terminal.