ZA200510414B

ZA200510414B - A bicycle carrier

Info

Publication number: ZA200510414B
Application number: ZA200501041A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Detlef P Hamann
Original assignee: Metropolitan Power Services Pt
Priority date: 2004-09-28
Filing date: 2005-12-22
Publication date: 2006-07-26

Description

A BICYCLE CARRIER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bicycle carrier and, more specifically, to a bicycle carrier mountable on a trailer.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Bicycle carriers mountable on vehicles and trailers are known. For example, bicycle carriers that are mountable to the tow bar of a vehicle and that grip a bicycle’s frame are known.

It is also known to mount bicycles on roofs of vehicles or on trailer lids by means of bicycle carriers. These carriers usually include clamps that fasten onto the frame of the bicycle, and may require the front wheel to be removed so that the front wheel fork of the bicycle can be clamped. Securing a bicycle on these carriers can be an awkward and cumbersome process, and these carriers are generally unsightly and offer significant wind resistance when not in use. They

1 L = SN oa “ may also suffer from compatibility problems as they may not be suitable for bicycles of differing sizes, tyre widths and frame tubing thickness.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a bicycle carrier that, at least partially, alleviates some of the abovementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a bicycle carrier comprising a frame having a pair of jaws mounted opposite each other on the frame, each jaw having a web and a pair of sides and being configured to allow the tyre of a bicycle wheel to fit between the sides, wherein at least one jaw is movable between a loading position in which a bicycle can be positioned between the jaws and a securing position in which the web of each jaw abuts one of the bicycle tyres at a point further from the frame than the axle of the bicycle wheel to hold the bicycle wheel securely against the frame.

Further features of the invention provide for each jaw to be an elongate generally rectangular frame; and for at least one jaw to be pivotally mounted to the frame.

Still further features of the invention provide for each jaw to be further pivotable into a stowed position in which the jaw extends substantially along the frame.

Yet further features of the invention provide for one jaw of each pair of jaws to include a brace that prevents it from being pivoted beyond the securing position; and for the brace to be a strut which extends between the jaw and the frame.

Further features of the invention provide for the jaws to include two generally U- shaped telescoping members, the free ends of one member being shaped to slidably fit into the free ends of the other member, and in which locking means is provided for locking the members in any one of a number of user selectable positions; and in which the locking means includes a pin that fits through aligned apertures in the telescoping members.

A still further feature of the invention provides for the web of each jaw to be V- shaped; and for the bicycle carrier to have at least two pairs of jaws mounted on the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle carrier in accordance with the invention with first and second jaws in a loading position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bicycle carrier of Figure 1 with the jaws in a securing position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bicycle carrier of Figure 1 with the jaws in a stowed position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the second jaw of the bicycle carrier of

Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the bicycle carrier of Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A bicycle carrier (10) is shown in Figures 1 to 5 and includes a frame (12) having first and second jaws (14, 16) mounted opposite each other on the frame (12).

The frame (12) includes four U-sectioned elements (18) and four cross pieces (20) fixed thereto, and each jaw (14, 16) is mounted to a pair of pivot plates (22) provided adjacent the end of each of the U-sectioned elements (18). For simplicity, the carrier (10) in this description is shown with only one pair of jaws (14, 16), but it will be appreciated that the bicycle carrier (10) illustrated accommodates four pairs of jaws, each jaw being mounted to one pair of pivot plates (22).

The first and second jaws (14, 16) each include a generally rectangular frame having two sides (24) and a web (26), and are pivotally movable on the frame between a loading position, shown in Figure 1, in which the jaws are opened to allow a bicycle (28) to be positioned between them and a securing position, shown in Figure 2, in which the jaws are closed so that the bicycle tyres (30) fit between the sides (24) of the jaws (14, 16), and the web (26) of each jaw (14, 16) abuts a bicycle tyres (30) at a point above the axle (32) of the bicycle wheel to hold the bicycle (28) securely against the frame (12).

The jaws (14, 16) are further pivotable ino a stowed position, shown in Figure 3, in which the jaws (14, 16) lie flat on the frame (12).

Each of the jaws (14, 16) includes first and second U-shaped telescoping members (34, 36), which can be more clearly seen with reference to the second jaw (16) shown in Figure 4. A web of the second telescoping member (36) forms the web (26) of the jaw (16), and a web of the first telescoping member (34) forms a second web (40) adjacent the point (42) about which the jaw (16) pivots.

Each web (26, 40) is outwardly V-shaped so as to grip bicycle tyres (30) of different width therein and locking means, in this embodiment pins (not shown) that fit through aligned apertures (38) in the telescoping members (34, 36), are provided for locking the telescoping members (34, 36) together in an extendably fixed condition.

Thus far described, the second jaw (16) is substantially identical to the first jaw (14). However, the second jaw (16) further includes a brace, in this embodiment a strut (44), which abuts the frame (12) to prevent the jaw from pivoting beyond the securing position, as shown in Figure 2. The strut (44) is mounted to the jaw (16) on a pivot (46) so that the strut (44) lies flat along the frame (12) when the jaw (16) is in the stowed position shown in Figure 3.

In use, the bicycle carrier is mounted to a supporting structure, such as the lid of a trailer or a vehicle roof, by means of bolts, rivets, spot welding, mounting spacer or the like. A mounting spacer is preferred to avoid damage to the surface to which the bicycle carrier is mounted. One such mounting spacer is disclosed in South African registered design no F2004/1291, which disclosure is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference thereto. When the carrier is not in use transporting bicycles, the jaws of the bicycle carrier are in the stowed position shown in Figure 3, in which position the carrier offers relatively little wind resistance. To mount a bicycle on the carrier, the jaws are pivoted into the loading position shown in Figure 1 and a bicycle is placed between the jaws so that its tyres rest in the channel sectioned element. The bicycle is then rolled forward so that its front tyre extends between the sides of the second jaw and the

V-shaped webs of the second jaw grip the front tyre at positions above and below the axle of the front bicycle wheel. The first jaw is then pivoted into the securing position, shown in Figure 2, so that the rear tyre extends between the sides of the first jaw and the V-shaped webs of the first jaw grip the rear tyre at positions above and below the axle of the rear bicycle wheel.

The jaws (14, 16) are then biased towards each other by means of a first elastic chord (48) fastened between the jaws (14, 16) through apertures (49) adjacent the webs (26) thereof as shown in Figure 5. Optional second and third elastic chords (50, 52) extending between the jaws (14, 16) and the frame (12) can also be used to provide additional biasing force. In this condition, the bicycle (28) is now held securely to the frame (12) and can be safely transported.

. 20° ERIE AN 4

In the embodiment described, four bicycles can be secured on the bicycle carrier in an alternating side-by-side configuration with the handlebars of one bicycle adjacent the saddle of its neighbour. In this configuration the bicycles are compactly mounted on the carrier.

The invention therefore provides a bicycle carrier that allows quick and easy mounting and dismounting of bicycles without any dismantling of the bicycles.

The bicycle carrier is compact and offers little wind resistance when in the stowed position. Importantly, the V-shaped webs make the bicycle carrier compatible with different wheel thicknesses of, for example, racing bicycles and mountain bicycles, and the adjustable jaws make the bicycle carrier compatible with virtually any sized bicycle and bicycle wheel diameters, including children’s bicycles.

It will be appreciated that other embodiments of a bicycle carrier may be devised that fall within the scope of the invention. For example, the jaws could be spring- loaded rather than biased by means of elastic chords, the jaws could be configured to translate rather than pivot relative to the frame, and any number of jaws could be provided.

Claims

1. A bicycle carrier comprising a frame having a pair of jaws mounted opposite each other on the frame, each jaw having a web and a pair of sides and being configured to allow the tyre of a bicycle wheel to fit between the sides, wherein at least one jaw is movable between a loading position in which a bicycle can be positioned between the jaws and a securing position in which the web of each jaw abuts one of the bicycle tyres at a point further from the frame than the axle of the bicycle wheel to hold the bicycle wheels securely against the frame.

2. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 1 in which each jaw is an elongate generally rectangular frame.

3. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which at least one jaw of each pair of jaws is pivotally mounted to the frame.

4. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 3 in which each jaw is pivotable into a stowed position in which the jaw extends substantially along the frame.

5. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 in which one jaw includes a brace that prevents it from being pivoted beyond the securing position.

6. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 5 in which the brace includes a strut which extends between the jaw and the frame.

7. A bicycle carrier as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 in which each jaw includes two generally U-shaped telescoping members, the free ends of one member being shaped to slidably fit into the free ends of the other member, and in which locking means is provided for locking the members in any one of a number of user selectable positions.

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8. A bicycle carrier as claimed in claim 7 in which the locking means includes a pin that fits through aligned apertures in the telescoping members.

9. A bicycle carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the web of each jaw is V-shaped.

10. A bicycle carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which at least two pairs of jaws are mounted on the frame.

11. A bicycle carrier substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. DATED THIS 22" DAY OF DECEMBER 2005 BOWMAN GILFILLAN (JOHN & KERNICK) FOR THE APPLICANT