Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing a shock absorbing bicycle carrier engageable with a transporting vehicle is disclosed. The carrier includes an interconnecting frame to which mounting members are arranged for fixed orientation thereto and support arms are connected thereto for limited and controlled relative motion therebetween. A shock absorber is coupled within the carrier between the shock inducing carrying vehicle and the bicycle support arm. The shock absorber may be selectively chosen for variable resistive force or may be selectively variable by an operator. Among other embodiments, the shock absorber may take the form of an elastomeric shock, a coil spring shock, and/or a compressed fluid shock.

Abstract: A load carrier mountable upon a transporting vehicle having an extension member for positioning an article carried upon the load carrier away from the transporting vehicle. The extension member has a vehicle engaging end that is coupleable to the transporting vehicle and a supporting end substantially opposite the vehicle engaging end upon which an upwardly extending support assembly is connected. The support assembly has an upright post fixed to the extension member and an upright support member coupled to the extension member for relative pivotal movement between the upright post and the upright support member. A collar is slidingly engagable upon the upright support member for releasably securing the upright support member to the upright post thereby establishing a traveling orientation of the load carrier.

Abstract: A device for laterally translating the force vector between a load carrier foot and the upper surface of a vehicle roof according to the slope of the contour of the vehicle roof at the location of the foot upon the vehicle roof. The device includes a load carrier foot for attachment of a load carrier to the vehicle roof and the load carrier foot has a first foot support portion and a second foot support portion. A foot plate for engaging the upper surface of the vehicle roof is provided that is pivotally attached to the load carrier foot and has a first foot plate support portion adjacent the first foot support portion to form an inner support pair and a second foot plate support portion adjacent the second foot support portion to form an outer support pair.

Abstract: A securement assembly for releasably securing an article to an elongate member of a load carrier that is mountable upon a transporting vehicle. The securement assembly includes an elongate member of a load carrier adapted to slidably receive an article thereupon that at least partially surrounds the elongate member. The elongate member has a receiving portion and an extension portion, each portion being established when an article is engaged about the elongate member in a secured configuration. A depressible securing button is located at the extension portion and depressibly projects outwardly from the extension portion for preventing unintended disengagement of an engaged article from the elongate member.

Abstract: A mechanism for releasably fixing a bicycle's fork upon a support such as a vehicular load carrier or a storage mount. The mechanism includes a pair of skewers (123) that are at least partially received within a bicycle fork anchor (100) and the skewers (123) are movable one skewer (125) relative to the other skewer (130). The pair of skewers (123) are configured for fixing a bicycle's fork to the anchor (100). Each skewer (125,130) of the pair (123) is operable between a bicycle fork pre-pinched position and a bicycle fork pinch-secured position. Each skewer (125) of the skewer pair (123) is longitudinally aligned with the other skewer pair (130) and the skewers (125,130) are spaced apart from one another in at least one of the two positions. At least one handle (110) is coupled to the bicycle fork anchor (100) for operating at least one skewer (125,130) of the skewer pair (123) between the bicycle fork pre-pinched position and the bicycle fork pinch-secured position.

Abstract: A load carrier foot is intended to secure, on a vehicle roof (9), a load carrier strut, and has a support portion (7) which supports the foot on the vehicle. The load carrier foot is further provided with a clamping portion (12) which, under the action of a clamping mechanism (18, 22, 24), is urgeable against a bead (10) on the vehicle in order thereby to secure the load carrier foot. The clamping portion (12) is provided, in its central region, with a rockable or tiltable anchorage (13) in the body (1) of the load carrier foot so that a clamping member (14) located at its one end is movable into and out of engagement with the bead (10). The opposite end (15) of the clamping portion (12) is actuable by means of the one end (20) of a lever (18) pivotally secured in the body (1) and whose other end (21) is actuable by a cam section (24) on a pivotal operating handle (22).

Abstract: A device for fastening onto a vehicle a load carrier of the type provided with a strut extending transversely across the vehicle roof, support feet disposed at the ends of the strut and abutting against the vehicle roof, and clamping units which, for fastening the load carrier to the vehicle roof, are movable in clamping directions substantially transversely of the direction of travel of the vehicle. The device includes securement means having engagement members which are designed for interconnection with corresponding engagement members on the clamping units. The securement means have narrow neck portions which extend behind decoration or sealing strips on the vehicle. The securement means are provided with anchorage portions which are anchored on the vehicle.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier is adapted to be mounted on the rear of a vehicle. The carrier comprises first and second mounting members and a pair of horizontally spaced bicycle supporting arms connected to the mounting members. The mounting members are pivotably connected for relative rotation about a horizontal pivot axis between a plurality of adjusted positions. The carrier includes indicia corresponding to each of the adjusted positions of the mounting members, so that a user can quickly return the carrier to the same adjusted position. The supporting arms carry cradles formed of an elastic material for receiving a bicycle. Each cradle includes a curved supporting surface for receiving a bar of the bicycle frame, and an integral strap which can be extended over the bar to retain the bar within the cradle. An anti-sway bar hangs downwardly from at least one of the supporting arms for resisting swinging movement of a bicycle.

Abstract: A load carrier for a vehicle has a load carrier bar which, at opposite ends, has anchorage devices for fixing on longitudinal so-called railings on the vehicle root. The anchorage devices have two clamping jaws (14) which, from opposite sides, are urgable against the railings. The one clamping jaw (14) has a sliding body (20) which is disposed in a channel (6) in the load carrier bar and has a free-going aperture (25) for a screw (21). The other clamping jaw (14) has a wedge body (17) slidable in the channel and provided with a through aperture (25) for the screw (21). The wedge body (17) of the clamping jaw (14) cooperates in the channel (6) with a second wedge body (19) which has a threaded aperture (26) for the screw. By tightening the screw (21), the wedge bodies (17, 19) are tightened towards one another and positionally fixed in the channel (6) at the same time as the clamping jaws (14) are forced towards one another.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier for fixedly retaining a bicycle on a vehicle roof (1) comprises a carrier device fastened to the vehicle roof and having a longitudinally extending support member for the wheels of the bicycle and an upwardly extending arm with a gripping device (8) for gripping a frame tube of the bicycle. The gripping device has two clamping jaws pivotable towards and away from one another and interconnected via a cog arrangement. One of the clamping jaws is connected to a draw bar having its lower and connected to an operating member at the lower end of arm.

Abstract: A load carrier roof-mounted on a vehicle has longitudinal so-called railings (2) with elongate, undercut spaces for anchorage bodies (8) which have anchorages (12, 30) for struts or other accessories extending between the railings. The anchorage bodies (8) have upper (11) and lower (10) parts which are separately insertable in the undercut space transversely of the longitudinal direction thereof. The parts (10 and 11) are, interiorly in the undercut space, combinable to form the anchorage body (8). A screw (16) between the parts (10 and 11 ) tightens these to expansion in the undercut space.