Abstract: A hitch-mount bicycle carrier including a stinger, a support member coupled to the stinger by a variably configurable hub, a foot having a distal end disposed distally from the support member, and a manual actuator disposed at a distal end of the support member. The stinger is configured to be inserted into a hitch receiver of a vehicle. The support member is configured to be disposed in a plurality of orientations relative to the stinger. The support member supports one or more bicycles. The manual actuator includes a trigger coupled to the variably configurable hub to dispose the support member in the plurality of orientations. A portion of the foot is disposed below the trigger when the support member is in a bicycle carrying position.

Abstract: A hitch-mount bicycle carrier including a stinger, a support member coupled to the stinger by a variably configurable hub, a foot having a distal end disposed distally from the support member, and a manual actuator disposed at a distal end of the support member. The stinger is configured to be inserted into a hitch receiver of a vehicle. The support member is configured to be disposed in a plurality of orientations relative to the stinger. The support member supports one or more bicycles. The manual actuator includes a trigger coupled to the variably configurable hub to dispose the support member in the plurality of orientations. A portion of the foot is disposed below the trigger when the support member is in a bicycle carrying position.

Abstract: A hitch-mount bicycle carrier including a vehicle engaging frame, an elongate support member coupled to the vehicle engaging frame, a foot, and a trigger. The vehicle engaging frame has a proximal end configured to be coupled to a hitch receiver of a vehicle. The elongate support member has a longitudinal axis and a distal end. The elongate support member is configured to move between a plurality of orientations relative to the vehicle engaging frame. The foot is fixedly coupled to and extends distally from the distal end of the elongate support member. The foot defines an interior space, and the trigger is disposed within the interior space. A distal end of the foot is the distal-most end of the bicycle carrier. The foot and the trigger are configured to be gripped by a user, and the trigger is configured to translate linearly.

Abstract: A hitch-mount bicycle carrier including a stinger, a support member coupled to the stinger by a variably configurable hub, a foot having a distal end disposed distally from the support member, and a manual actuator disposed at a distal end of the support member. The stinger is configured to be inserted into a hitch receiver of a vehicle. The support member is configured to be disposed in a plurality of orientations relative to the stinger. The support member supports one or more bicycles. The manual actuator includes a trigger coupled to the variably configurable hub to dispose the support member in the plurality of orientations. A portion of the foot is disposed below the trigger when the support member is in a bicycle carrying position.

Abstract: A hitch-mount bicycle carrier including a vehicle engaging frame, an elongate support member coupled to the vehicle engaging frame, a foot, and a trigger. The vehicle engaging frame has a proximal end configured to be coupled to a hitch receiver of a vehicle. The elongate support member has a longitudinal axis and a distal end. The elongate support member is configured to move between a plurality of orientations relative to the vehicle engaging frame. The foot is fixedly coupled to and extends distally from the distal end of the elongate support member. The foot defines an interior space, and the trigger is disposed within the interior space. A distal end of the foot is the distal-most end of the bicycle carrier. The foot and the trigger are configured to be gripped by a user, and the trigger is configured to translate linearly.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier includes a vehicle engaging frame portion configured to be coupled a carrying vehicle and a rearward extending support member coupled to the vehicle engaging frame portion by a variably configurable hub configured to set the support member in a plurality of orientations relative to the vehicle engaging frame portion. The support member accommodates one or more bicycles and the support member is configured to be coupled to an add-on support member that accommodates one or more additional bicycles. The add-on support member includes an actuator configured to set the support member in the plurality of orientations relative to the vehicle engaging frame.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier convertible between a first configuration in which one or more bicycles are accommodated and a second extended configuration in which one or more additional bicycles are accommodated for transport on a carrying vehicle. The bicycle carrier can include a vehicle engaging frame configured to be mounted on a carrying vehicle. An elongate rearward extending support member can be coupled to the frame at a proximate end of the support member by a variably configurable hub configured to set the support member in a plurality of orientations relative to the frame. A manual actuator can be operably coupled to the variably configurable hub by a linkage. A distal end of the support member can be positioned away from the frame and configured to be alternately coupled to the actuator, or an add-on support member that accommodates one or more additional bicycles coupled to the bicycle carrier.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier includes a vehicle engaging frame portion configured to be coupled a carrying vehicle and a rearward extending support member coupled to the vehicle engaging frame portion by a variably configurable hub configured to set the support member in a plurality of orientations relative to the vehicle engaging frame portion. The support member accommodates one or more bicycles and the support member is configured to be coupled to an add-on support member that accommodates one or more additional bicycles. The add-on support member includes an actuator configured to set the support member in the plurality of orientations relative to the vehicle engaging frame.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier convertible between a first configuration in which one or more bicycles are accommodated and a second extended configuration in which one or more additional bicycles are accommodated for transport on a carrying vehicle. The bicycle carrier can include a vehicle engaging frame configured to be mounted on a carrying vehicle. An elongate rearward extending support member can be coupled to the frame at a proximate end of the support member by a variably configurable hub configured to set the support member in a plurality of orientations relative to the frame. A manual actuator can be operably coupled to the variably configurable hub by a linkage. A distal end of the support member can be positioned away from the frame and configured to be alternately coupled to the actuator, or an add-on support member that accommodates one or more additional bicycles coupled to the bicycle carrier.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier convertible between a first configuration in which one or more bicycles are accommodated and a second extended configuration in which one or more additional bicycles are accommodated for transport on a carrying vehicle. The bicycle carrier can include a vehicle engaging frame configured to be mounted on a carrying vehicle. An elongate rearward extending support member can be coupled to the frame at a proximate end of the support member by a variably configurable hub configured to set the support member in a plurality of orientations relative to the frame. A manual actuator can be operably coupled to the variably configurable hub by a linkage. A distal end of the support member can be positioned away from the frame and configured to be alternately coupled to the actuator, or an add-on support member that accommodates one or more additional bicycles coupled to the bicycle carrier.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier convertible between a first configuration in which one or more bicycles are accommodated and a second extended configuration in which one or more additional bicycles are accommodated for transport on a carrying vehicle. The bicycle carrier can include a vehicle engaging frame configured to be mounted on a carrying vehicle. An elongate rearward extending support member can be coupled to the frame at a proximate end of the support member by a variably configurable hub configured to set the support member in a plurality of orientations relative to the frame. A manual actuator can be operably coupled to the variably configurable hub by a linkage. A distal end of the support member can be positioned away from the frame and configured to be alternately coupled to the actuator, or an add-on support member that accommodates one or more additional bicycles coupled to the bicycle carrier.

Abstract: A rotatable strap arrangement for a load carrier of a transporting vehicle. The load carrier includes an elongate tray with a rotation mechanism coupled thereto, the rotation mechanism permitting rotation relative to the elongate tray. The rotatable strap arrangement has a strap coupled to the rotation mechanism, the strap operable for securing an object to the elongate tray. The rotatable strap arrangement further includes a strap receiving mechanism coupled to the rotation mechanism, the strap receiving mechanism operable for receiving the strap.

Abstract: A device for removably securing an article having an elongate section to a portable frame used for transporting the article on a vehicle. The device includes an elongate structure with a floor and sidewalls extending above the floor to form an open channel with the sidewalls including at least one slot parallel to the longitudinal axis of the floor. Part of the device is a conformable strap, having a first side opposite a second side, an insertable end and an enlarged end separated from the insertable end by a length of flexible material, the conformable strap having a plurality of binding elements on the first side and a plurality of contact elements disposed on the second side of the strap at the insertable end.

Abstract: A rotatable strap arrangement for a load carrier of a transporting vehicle, the load carrier including an elongate tray, including a rotation mechanism coupled to the elongate tray, the rotation mechanism permitting rotation relative to the elongate tray. The rotatable strap arrangement also including a strap coupled to the rotation mechanism, the strap operable for securing an object to the elongate tray. The rotatable strap arrangement further including a strap receiving mechanism coupled to the rotation mechanism, the strap receiving mechanism operable for receiving the strap.

Abstract: A hitch pin used for releasably connecting a load carrier frame to a receiving hitch attached to a carrying vehicle for transporting objects such as bicycles on the load carrier. The hitch pin includes a bolt having a head portion opposite a threaded section and a stem integrally formed between the head portion and the threaded section. A sleeve includes a bore, sized to receive the head and the stem of the bolt which is slidably held inside the bore of the sleeve using a transverse pin, secured inside the bore of the sleeve and passing through an elongate slot in the stem of the bolt. When the sleeve is rotated, the transverse pin transmits the rotation to the bolt providing the turning motion used during connecting of the frame to the receiving hitch. The connection may be made in two stages with hand-tightening as the first stage, followed by application of mechanical force, operating from a set screw, through the bolt to intensify the contact between the frame and the receiving hitch.

Abstract: A device for removably securing an article having a elongate section to a portable frame used for transporting the article on a vehicle. The device comprises an elongate structure with a floor and sidewalls extending above the floor to form an open channel with the sidewalls including at least one slot parallel to the longitudinal axis of the floor. Part of the device is a conformable strap, having a first side opposite a second side, an insertable end and an enlarged end separated from the insertable end by a length of flexible material, the conformable strap having a plurality of binding elements on the first side and a plurality of contact elements disposed on the second side of the strap at the insertable end.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for transporting a bicycle in a substantially upright orientation. The method includes positioning a bicycle in a carrier so that a wheel of the bicycle is located in a trap space of the carrier. The trap space is configured to maintain the bicycle in a substantially upright orientation when the wheel is located therein and the carrier is in a released configuration. This permits the operator to use both hands to secure the bicycle in the carrier. The wheel of the bicycle, and typically the front wheel, is fixed in the carrier by applying a squeeze force upon the wheel and thereby establishing a securing configuration of the carrier. Preferably, the squeeze force is imposed across a perimeter of the wheel and the actuators for imposing the squeeze force are positioned low enough to be within the typical user's reach, also referred to as the reach zone, when the carrier is mounted on the roof-top of a carrying vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for transporting a bicycle in a substantially upright orientation. The method includes positioning a bicycle in a carrier so that a wheel of the bicycle is located in a trap space of the carrier. The trap space is configured to maintain the bicycle in a substantially upright orientation when the wheel is located therein and the carrier is in a released configuration. This permits the operator to use both hands to secure the bicycle in the carrier. The wheel of the bicycle, and typically the front wheel, is fixed in the carrier by applying a squeeze force upon the wheel and thereby establishing a securing configuration of the carrier. Preferably, the squeeze force is imposed across a perimeter of the wheel and the actuators for imposing the squeeze force are positioned low enough to be within the typical user's reach, also referred to as the reach zone, when the carrier is mounted on the roof-top of a carrying vehicle.

Abstract: A coupling for attaching a support tube of a sports equipment carrier frame to a hitch mount, securely held to a mounting stinger received in a receiving type hitch of a transporting vehicle. The hitch mount includes a slot for sliding engagement with a lock pin held to the support tube by a bracket. A latch, pivotally mounted in the hitch mount, moves between open and closed positions. Its open position allows the lock pin to move into the slot to establish a suitable position for joining the support tube to the hitch mount. When the latch moves to its closed position, it captures the lock pin to secure the connection between the hitch mount and the support tube.

Abstract: A modular hitch mount connection for attaching a tubular carrier structure to a load arm that is inserted in the receiving tube of a receiving type hitch. A tubular seat is provided that has an open end for slidably receiving the support tube in an open end of the seat. Correct positioning of the support tube in the tubular seat produces alignment of holes in walls of the tubular seat with orifices in sidewalls of the support tube. A tensioning bolt inserted through a hole in the seat wall and a corresponding orifice in the sidewall of the support tube screwably engages a threaded nut located inside the support tube to secure the support tube to the tubular seat and in the process reduce play and wobble between them. Further play and wobble may be eliminated from the modular hitch mount connection by further inserting a connecting bolt through a hole in another wall of the tubular seat and a corresponding orifice in the second sidewall.