Abstract: A bicycle rack is described with an actuated arm that pivots to an open position in response to user activation of the actuator. The actuator is attached to the rack and the arm and exerts a force on the arm by extension to pivot the actuated arm to the open position. The actuator extends only when a release mechanism has been actuated by a user, but a user may pivot the actuated arm back to a closed position, or a position securing a bicycle, without actuating the release. The actuated arm will then be retained at a position selected by the user until the release is actuated by the user again.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for a pivoting bicycle rack provides a pivot release actuator on an extension that is added on to the bicycle rack. The latch mechanism comprises a connector body that is attached to the bicycle rack, and that may have an actuator for operating the pivot release. The rack extension assembly has an actuator and a linkage that connects to the connector body in the bicycle rack so that the actuator in the extension can release the pivot on the bicycle rack. The connector body may be shaped to guide the linkage during the process of attaching the extension assembly to the bicycle rack. The mechanism may be provided with a means for disconnecting the linkage from the connector body.

Abstract: A ramp for use and integration with bicycle carriers for automobiles. The integrated ramp allows a user to roll a bicycle onto the bicycle carrier without using a separate ramp. The integrated ramp may include one or more integrated or removable ramp components that attach to a wheel securement arm of the bicycle carrier. The ramp components may include a ramp portion that folds or moves from a stowed position to a deployed position. In the stowed position the ramp portion does not interfere with the use of the wheel securement arm of the bicycle carrier to hold a bicycle on the carrier. In the deployed position the ramp portion serves as a ramp for rolling a bicycle onto the carrier.

Abstract: A cargo container for a vehicle roof has dual latch handles, with one latch handle on each side of the cargo container. The cargo container comprises a lid that may be in closed or open configurations. In the closed configuration, the latch handles may be in a locked or unlocked state. In the unlocked state the latches may be latched or unlatched. The cargo container may be reconfigured from closed to open configurations when either of the latches is in the unlocked and unlatched state, even if the other latch is in the locked state or the unlocked, latched state. This allows a user to open the cargo container without walking around to both sides of a vehicle to unlocking both latches. The cargo container does not require a dual hinge system to function in the described manner.

Abstract: An integrated lock for a bicycle rack allows the position of the lock cable to be adjusted along the length of the bicycle rack tray to best accommodate locking of the bicycle to the rack. This allows a bicycle to be placed facing either direction on the bicycle rack. The lock cable can be positioned on the bicycle rack at a preferred location for locking the bicycle, such as near the rear wheel of the bicycle. The lock cable may also be stored inside a channel in the support tray when not in use. The channel may provide both the storage cavity and the adjustment mechanism for the lock cable.

Abstract: A collapsible shelter includes an inwardly folding hinge configured to fold into a substantially flat configuration when the collapsible shelter is closed or collapsed for transport. The hinge may be configured to fold or pull flexible shelter walls inwardly as the shelter is opened or closed. The inward folding prevents or reduces interference of the flexible shelter walls with the closing or latching of the collapsible shelter in the closed configuration. A collapsible shelter may also require multiple latches to secure it in the closed configuration during transportation on a vehicle. A collapsible shelter may also be provided with an actuator configured to release or disengage all the latches with a single operation.

Abstract: A releasable attachment device for mounting a component to a t-slot or similar channel includes an actuator for latching, unlatching, and disengaging a bolt from the t-slot or similar channel. In the latched configuration the releasable attachment device secures the component to the t-slot. The actuator may comprise a lever for rotating a cam mechanism on a first axis. The rotation of the cam mechanism translates a bolt from a latched position to an unlatched position. The actuator may rotate in a second axis to rotate the bolt from an unlatched position to a disengaged position. In the disengaged position the releasable attachment device may be removed from the t-slot. The device may have an adjustment bolt to adjust the device to secure to different sizes of t-channels.

Abstract: A utility rack for a truck may be removably attached to the side walls of the bed of the truck. The disclosed utility rack discloses internal cavities for attachment bolts or other fasteners. The internal cavities allow the fasteners to be hidden under an access cover during use of the utility rack while also providing strong and secure butt joints between the ends of some of the components. The ends of the components of the utility rack may be provided with protrusions and sockets that interlock to improve the stability of flush butt joints between components. The utility rack may include closed-loop outer-boundary side frames configure to clamp on opposing side walls of a truck cargo bed, with a crossbar spanning the truck cargo bed between top rails of the side frames. The closed-loop outer-boundary side frames do not require internal vertically oriented support posts inside the outer-boundary frame.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier is provided with an integrated work stand to support a bicycle during maintenance or repair. The integrated work stand may be used when the bicycle carrier is in a non-use configuration. The non-use configuration may also comprise a storage configuration for the bicycle carrier. The integrated work stand may retract into the bicycle carrier. The integrated work stand may include an arm with a clamp mechanism at one end of the arm. The bicycle carrier may include a locking mechanism to lock the integrated work stand in place with respect to the bicycle carrier. Integrated work stands having jaws may capture the frame of a bicycle in the jaws.

Abstract: A receiver hitch adapter is described for allowing the receiver hitch to receive several different sizes of receiver tubes or drawbars. The receiver hitch adapter allows the use of receiver tubes that have expansion type clamps such as corner expansion clamps or travelling wedges. The receiver hitch adapter is easily removable from the receiver hitch when not in use, but also remains in place during installation and removal without the user holding it in place.

Abstract: A bicycle rack is described with a retention arm for securing a wheel of the bicycle to the bicycle rack. The retention arm is provided with a tire chock for contacting the tire of the bicycle. An adjustable tire chock may be positioned on the retention arm to secure different sizes of bicycles with different sizes of wheels on the bicycle rack. The adjustable tire chock may have latching components that can be released by a user with a single hand by applying opposing or rotational forces to the latch components or the tire chock. The latch components may be provided with a biasing mechanism to urge them into a latch or engaged position when aligned with latching features on the retention arm.

Abstract: Equipment such as bicycle racks are often delivered to the end user in a partially assembled state. The component subassemblies may be heavy or unwieldy in size, making it difficult for the end user to hold the subassemblies in the correct positions with respect to each other while attaching the fasteners that hold the subassemblies together while the equipment is in use. An equipment rack is described having features that hold the subassemblies in an assembled configuration while the operational fasteners are added or engaged to hold the equipment rack in its final, assembled configuration. These features may be surface features that the end user is able to engage with each other to provide support to subassemblies and hold them in the proper orientation and position while the operational fasteners are aligned, inserted, tightened, or otherwise affixed to the assembled parts.

Abstract: A vertical bicycle rack is described with an adjustable tire cradle to provide optimal support to bicycles having different widths of tires. The adjustable tire cradle has two tire retention members that may be moved with respect to one another to change the distance between them to match a desired tire size. The adjustable cradle reduces movement of a bicycle tire in the cradle during use and reduces movement of and damage to bicycles stored in the rack. The tire retention members may be attached to the bicycle rack by separate brackets, one of which may be movable. The tire retention members may also be supported on the same bracket provided with a mechanism for moving one or both of the tire retention members to alter the distance between them.

Abstract: A bicycle rack is described with a platform for supporting a bicycle and an arm for securing the bicycle to the platform. The arm rotates or pivots from a closed position adjacent to the platform, to an open position to allow the loading of a bicycle. The arm may also be pivoted past the horizontal to an over-center position and further past horizontal to a lowered position. The arm may be provided with a latch mechanism to limit the rotation of the arm in certain ranges of rotation. The arm may also be provided with an actuator to power the movement of the arm in certain ranges of rotation.

Abstract: Bicycle carriers or racks for attachment to vehicles may be provided with a pivoting mechanism to rotate the rack in a vertical plane to provide access to the rear of the vehicle without removing bicycles from the rack. An actuator may be provided for a user to engage and disengage the pivoting mechanism to respectively secure the rack in a desired orientation or allow it to pivot from one desired orientation to another. The actuator may be coupled to a bar that engages one or more protrusions in the pivoting mechanism to secure the pivoting mechanism at a desired orientation. In some mechanisms the actuator may be actuated by hand or by foot, or both.

Abstract: A bicycle rack is described with a retention arm for securing a wheel of the bicycle to the bicycle rack. The retention arm is provided with a tire chock for contacting the tire of the bicycle. An adjustable tire chock may be positioned on the retention arm to secure different sizes of bicycles with different sizes of wheels on the bicycle rack. The adjustable tire chock may have latching components that can be released by a user with a single hand by applying opposing or rotational forces to the latch components or the tire chock. The latch components may be provided with a biasing mechanism to urge them into a latch or engaged position when aligned with latching features on the retention arm.

Abstract: A rack is described for securing equipment, such as a kayak, to a vehicle. The rack has a base member for attaching to the vehicle, a support member pivotally attached to the base member, and an actuator that is operable to engage or disengage a latch mechanism that fixes the movement of the support member in one or more desired positions in relation to the base member. The actuator may be actuated from either side of the base. The actuator may extend transversely across the lengthwise axis of the base member. The opposite ends of the actuator may each be displaced toward one end of the base to release the support member and allow it to pivot with respect to the base member.

Abstract: A mechanism for clamping a drawbar in a receiver hitch uses a clamp pad to engage two adjacent interior surfaces of the receiver hitch tube. The clamp pad presses outwardly on the receiver hitch tube causing the opposing corner of the drawbar to engage the other sides of the receiver hitch tube. The clamp pad is extended and retracted by a shuttle member disposed inside the drawbar tube. The clamp may be self-aligning with respect to the receiver hitch. An adjustment mechanism is described for translating the shuttle member. An extendable pin mechanism may be actuated by the shuttle assembly. A locking mechanism may be provided to prevent an unauthorized person from releasing the clamp pad and the extendable pin.

Abstract: An equipment rack is described with an integrated lighting system. The integrated lighting system may connect to the vehicle's electrical system to provide tail light, brake light, hazard, reverse light, and turn signal functions. The lighting system may include an automatic connection for lighting attached to a rack extension when the rack extension is attached to a base rack. The lighting may also be visible on a pivoting rack when the rack is stowed or in use to carry bicycles. The lighting elements may be disposed on or inside the equipment rack and may be provided with internal wiring to connect the lights to the vehicle's electrical system.