AU2019101491C4

AU2019101491C4 - Vertical carry bicycle rack with improved mounting and securing system

Info

Publication number: AU2019101491C4
Application number: AU2019101491A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mitch Currie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-11-29
Filing date: 2019-11-29
Publication date: 2021-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 2027-11-29
Also published as: AU2019101491B4; AU2019101491A4; WO2021102524A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to bicycle racks, with a focus on hitch mount vertical carry bicycle racks. A spring loaded capture release mechanism is used to secure the bike to the rack, in a preferred embodiment using a tether with extends a downwards tension force against a pedal spindle of a bicycle.

Description

VERTICAL CARRY BICYCLE RACK WITH IMPROVED MOUNTING AND SECURING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates, in various embodiments, to a vertical carry bicycle rack with an improved mounting and securing system. In some embodiments this provides a hitch-mounted rack for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Any discussion of the background art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

[0003] Vertical carry bicycle racks, for example hitch mount racks, have become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly for dual suspension mountain bicycles. Conventionally, bicycles are held in place via two connection points: an upper connection point (for example a front wheel bucket, headtube holder, or the like) and a lower connection point (at which the rear wheel is secured). Known lower connection point arrangements include elastic tethers and the like, which are fiddly to operate and/or result in a low-security mounting (which can lead to a risk of a bicycle becoming dislodged during travel).

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Example embodiments are described below in the section entitled "claims", and in the section entitled "detailed description".

[0006] One embodiment provides a structure for mounting one or more bicycles in substantially vertical configuration, the structure including:

[0007] an attachment member configured to be secured to a vehicle;

[0008] a structure body, wherein the structure body is configurable to extend substantially vertically from the attachment member when the attachment member is secured to the vehicle;

[0009] an upper support bar coupled to the structure body, wherein the upper support bar is substantially horizontal when the attachment member is secured to the vehicle;

[0010] a lower support bar coupled to the structure body, wherein the lower support bar is substantially horizontal when the attachment member is secured to the vehicle;

[0011] one or more mounting arrangements, wherein each mounting arrangement is configured to receive and secure a respective bicycle;

[0012] wherein each mounting arrangement includes:

[0013] an upper mounting member which is configured to engage with a first region of the bicycle;

[0014] a lower mounting member which is configured to engage with a second region of the bicycle; and

[0015] a securing mechanism which is configured to secure the bicycle with respect to the upper and/or lower mounting member;

[0016] wherein the securing mechanism includes:

[0017] a tether extending between: a first end that is attachable to a third region of the bicycle; and a second end; and

[0018] a progress capture device coupled to the lower mounting member, wherein in use the tether extends through the capture device, wherein the capture device is configured such that, when the progress capture device is in an operative configuration, the tether is able to be progressed through the capture device in a first direction via pulling of the second end, but restricted from progressing through the capture device in a second direction opposite to the first direction;

[0019] such that in use, when the first end of the tether is secured to the third region of the bicycle, pulling tension on the second end of the tether secures the bicycle with respect to the structure.

[0020] One embodiment provides a structure wherein the third region of the bicycle is positioned between a pedal body of the bicycle and a crank arm of the bicycle, and the first end of the tether includes a loop that is attached between the pedal body and the crank arm.

[0021] One embodiment provides a structure wherein in use, when the first end of the tether is secured to the third region of the bicycle, pulling tension on the second end of the tether secures the bicycle with respect to the structure via a substantially downwards force which biases the first region of the bicycle into secure engagement with the upper mounting member.

[0022] One embodiment provides a structure wherein the progress capture mechanism includes an unlocking member which is manually manipulated thereby to transition the progress capture mechanism from the operative configuration to an unlocked configuration in which the tether is able to be progressed in the second direction.

[0023] A capture release mechanism configured to be installed on a bicycle rack thereby to provide a structure according to any preceding claim.

[0024] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment", "some embodiments" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in some embodiments" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[0025] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

[0026] In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms comprising, comprised of or which comprises is an open term that means including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding others. Thus, the term comprising, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a device comprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B. Any one of the terms including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

[0027] As used herein, the term "exemplary" is used in the sense of providing examples, as opposed to indicating quality. That is, an "exemplary embodiment" is an embodiment provided as an example, as opposed to necessarily being an embodiment of exemplary quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0029] FIG. 1A illustrates a bicycle rack according to one embodiment, showing bicycle positioning.

[0030] FIG. 1B shows the rack of FIG. 1 without bicycle positioning.

[0031] FIG. 2A illustrates a progress capture device according to one embodiment in an operative configuration.

[0032] FIG. 2B illustrates the progress capture device in an unlocked configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The present invention relates to bicycle racks, with a focus on hitch mount vertical carry bicycle racks. Example embodiments are described by reference to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, which are representative only and not drawn to scale.

[0034] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate a structure for mounting one or more bicycles in substantially vertical , in the form of a vertical carry hitch-mountable bicycle rack 100. Rack 100 is illustrated in a four-bicycle configuration, however it will be appreciated that other embodiments are configured to hold alternate number of bicycles (for example between 1 and 8 bicycles). Other embodiments are configured as structures for purposes other than hitch-mounted arrangements (for example on trailers or the like). FIG. 1A illustrates simplified bicycle outlines.

[0035] Rack 100 includes an attachment member 101 configured to be secured to a vehicle. In this example, member 100 is a hitch-mountable arrangement, for example including a horizontal bar which is secured in a rectangular tow hitch socket. A structure body 102 is configurable to extend substantially vertically from attachment member 101 when the attachment member is secured to the vehicle. In some embodiments the coupling of member 101 to body 102 allows selective adjustment of the angle between those components, for example to allow tilting of the rack (which may allow a car boot door to be opened in some cases).

[0036] An upper support bar 103 is coupled to the structure body. The upper support bar is substantially horizontal when the attachment member is secured to the vehicle. A lower support bar 119 is also coupled to the structure body, wherein the lower support bar is substantially horizontal when the attachment member is secured to the vehicle. In use, these bars are preferably offset vertically such that the lower bar is closer to the vehicle (i.e. the structure body is substantially vertical but inclined away from the vertical .to extend upwards and outwardly from the vehicle

[0037] The structure includes or more mounting arrangements, wherein each mounting arrangement is configured to receive and secure a respective bicycle.

[0038] Each mounting arrangement includes an upper mounting member 104 which is configured to engage with a first region of the bicycle. In FIG. 1A, member 104 is a wheel receiving member, into which a front wheel 150 is inserted (for example vertically lowered), also known as a "wheel bucket". This includes an opening into which a wheel is lowered such that the wheel is secured loosely by the opening and the upper support bar (or an adjacent member) under influence of gravity. Alternate upper mounting member types may be used, for example upper mounting members which couple to a headtube region of a bicycle. Upon inserting a front wheel 150 into member 104, the bicycle hangs in a semi-secured fashion with handlebars 151 angled.

[0039] A lower mounting member 105 which is configured to engage with a second region of the bicycle, in this example being a rear wheel 152. Member 105 may be a locating member which restricts sideways movement of wheel 152 (for example a pair of flanges between which the rear wheel type/rim region is above to be positioned). It will be appreciated that member 105 may be relatively rudimentary, for example any form of channel into which a tyre is able to rest with lateral movement inhibited upon securing of the bicycle as discussed below.

[0040] A securing mechanism is configured to secure the bicycle with respect to the upper and/or lower mounting member. As discussed below, the mechanism of FIG. 1A r secures the bicycle with respect to the rack via a substantially downwards force which biases the first region (front wheel) of the bicycle into secure engagement with the upper mounting member, and also holds the rear wheel in the slower mounting member.

[0041] The securing mechanism includes: a tether (108a, 108b) and a progress capture device 106.

[0042] The tether extends between: a first end 110 that is attachable to a third region of the bicycle; and a second end 109. In the illustrated example the third region of the bicycle is positioned between a pedal body 154 of the bicycle and a crank arm 153 of the bicycle, and the first end 110 of the tether includes a loop that is attached between the pedal body and the crank arm (around a pedal axle).

[0043] Progress capture device 106 is coupled to the lower mounting member 119. In use the tether extends through the capture device (region 108a of the tether is illustrated upstream of the capture device, region 108b of the tether is illustrated as downstream of the capture device). The capture device is configured such that, when the progress capture device is in an operative configuration, the tether is able to be progressed through the capture device in a first downstream direction via pulling of the second end 109, but restricted from progressing through the capture device in a second upstream direction opposite to the first direction. As a result, in use, when the first end of the tether is secured to the third region of the bicycle, pulling tension on the second end of the tether secures the bicycle with respect to the structure.

[0044] The progress capture mechanism includes an unlocking member, in the form of a handle 107, which is manually manipulated thereby to transition the progress capture mechanism from the operative configuration to an unlocked configuration in which the tether is able to be progressed in the second direction. Handle 107 is biased (e.g. spring loaded) into position to keep the device in the operative configuration in absence of manual interaction. In use, a user pulls handle 107, which temporarily transitions the device into the unlocked configuration, thereby to move the tether in the upstream direction (for example to gain enough slack to loop/unloop end 110 with respect to the pedal/crank connection area).

[0045] Device 106 is preferably mounted to support member 119 approximately vertically below a location anticipated for a pedal axle.

[0046] It will be appreciated that various forms of known capture release devices may be used, including spring-loaded capture release devices which include a rotating pully having locking teeth/nubs which are able to engage with a tether in the form of a nylon rope.

[0047] In use, with the rack installed on a vehicle, a user lifts a bicycle onto the rack such that the front wheel 105 is lowered into the wheel bucket 105. The user then wraps the loop at end 110 over pedal 154, and pulls end 109 tightly. This serves to secure the bicycle to the rack for the purposes of transportation. Then, to remove the bicycle, the user pulls handle 107, which allows the loop at end 110 to be removed from the bicycle. The bicycle is then lifted from the rack.

[0048] FIG. 2A illustrates as a partial cutaway view a progress capture device according to one embodiment in an operative configuration, and FIG. 2B illustrates the progress capture device in an unlocked configuration. As shown, handle 104 is coupled to a cammed locking member 201, which is biased into position for the operative configuration by a spring 202. The cammed shape of member 201 prevents upstream movement of the tether. Rotating the level clockwise releases the tether from member 201 for the unlocked configuration, allowing the tether to be pulled in either direction.

[0049] It should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, FIG., or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[0050] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

[0051] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

[0052] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as falling within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A structure for mounting one or more bicycles insubstantially vertical configuration, the structure including:

an attachment member configured to be secured to a vehicle;

a structure body, wherein the structure body is configurable to extend substantially vertically from the attachment member when the attachment member is secured to the vehicle;

an upper support bar coupled to the structure body, wherein the upper support bar is substantially horizontal when the attachment member is secured to the vehicle;

a lower support bar coupled to the structure body, wherein the lower support bar is substantially horizontal when the attachment member is secured to the vehicle;

one or more mounting arrangements, wherein each mounting arrangement is configured to receive and secure a respective bicycle;

wherein each mounting arrangement includes:

an upper mounting memberwhich is configured to engage with a first region of the bicycle;

a lowermounting memberwhich is configuredto engagewith asecond regionof the bicycle; and

a securing mechanism which is configured tosecure the bicyclewith respecttothe upper and/or lower mounting member;

wherein the securing mechanism includes:

a tether extending between: a first end that is attachable to a third region of the bicycle; and a second end; and

a progress capture device coupled to the lower mounting member, wherein in use the tether extends through the capture device, wherein the capture device is configured such that, when the progress capture device is in an operative configuration, the tether is ableto be progressed through the capture device in afirst direction via pulling of the second end, but restricted from progressing through the capture device in a second direction opposite to the firstdirection;

such that in use, when the first end of the tether is secured to thethird regionof the bicycle, pulling tension on the second end of the tether secures the bicycle with respect to the structure.

2. A structure according to claim 1 wherein the third region of the bicycle is positioned between apedal bodyof thebicycle and acrankarm of thebicycle, andthefirstendof the tether includes a loop that is attached betweenthe pedal bodyandthecrank arm.

3. A structure according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein in use, when the first end of the tether is secured to the third region of the bicycle, pulling tension on the second end of the tether secures the bicycle with respectto thestructurevia a substantially downwards force which biases the first region of the bicycle into secure engagement with the upper mounting member.

4. A structure according to any preceding claim wherein the progress capture mechanism includes an unlocking member which is manually manipulated thereby to transition the progress capture mechanism from theoperative configuration to an unlocked configuration in which the tether is able to be progressed in the second direction.

5. A structure according to any preceding claim wherein the progress capture mechanism includes a body which is rigidly mounted to the lower support bar, wherein the progress capture device is provided on the body.