Bicycle-Carrier Device For Motor Vehicles
A bicycle-carrier device includes a brace for connection to the frame of a vehicle, and bearing supporting elements to support one or more bicycles oriented transversely relative to the vehicle. The brace consists of a transverse bar, and the bicycles are supported by at least first and second supporting elements affixed to the bar, in positions that can be adjusted along the bar, so as to receive and support from below the two wheels of a bicycle. Mounted on the bar in an articulated manner is an arm that can be shifted between a raised operating position and a lowered non-operating position. Secured to the bar in an adjustable manner is at least one third supporting element that receives and supports from below an element of a bicycle frame. Each of the supporting elements is provided with means for locking in place the part that is received.
The present invention relates to bicycle-carrier devices for motor vehicles, of the type consisting of a brace equipped with connection means for connecting the said brace to the frame of the motor vehicle behind the motor vehicle, and supporting means carried by the said brace in order to support one or more bicycles behind the motor vehicle, with the bicycles oriented transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.
Specifically, the invention relates to devices of the type described above, in which the bicycles are not suspended from the bicycle-carrier but instead are supported from below, by means of supporting elements upon which the wheels of the bicycles rest.
A first purpose of the present invention is to implement a bicycle-carrier device of this type whose structure is extremely simple and economical to manufacture.
A further purpose is to implement a bicycle-carrier device of this type that has extremely limited dimensions but that at the same time is extremely versatile, such that it can be designed to carry bicycles of any dimensions and configurations, including bicycles with non-standard configurations, such as, for example, bicycles on which the cyclist adopts a semi-supine position, which bicycles are characterized by an extended wheelbase.
Yet another purpose is to implement a bicycle-carrier device of the type described above that, in addition to displaying the above-mentioned characteristics of simplicity and versatility, can also be used easily and rapidly.
The above-mentioned goals are achieved, according to the invention, through the provision of a bicycle-carrier device that includes:
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- A brace equipped with connection means for connecting the said brace to the frame of the motor vehicle behind the motor vehicle;
- Supporting means carried by the said brace in order to support one or more bicycles behind the motor vehicle, with the bicycles oriented transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle,
characterized by the fact that the said brace includes a bar that, when the bicycle-carrier device is mounted on the motor vehicle, extends transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle; and
by the fact that the said supporting means include:
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- At least one first supporting element and one second supporting element secured to the bar in a position that can be adjusted along the bar, in order to receive and support from below the two wheels of a bicycle, respectively, and
- An articulated arm that is mounted on the bar and that can be shifted between a raised operating position that is substantially orthogonal to the bar and a lowered non-operating position, and
- At least one third supporting element secured to the said arm into position that can be adjusted along the arm, in order to receive and support from below an element of the frame of a bicycle,
with each of the said first, second, and third supporting elements being provided with means for locking in place the part that is received.
In the preferred embodiment, each of the said first and second supporting elements includes a body made of a cradle-shaped plastic material in order to receive a respective wheel of a bicycle, with the said cradle-shaped body consisting of one single piece with a clamp portion locked removably onto the said bar.
In this preferred embodiment, the bar is a hollow metal bar with a quadrangular cross-section, which, when in the mounted position on the motor vehicle, displays an upper surface, lower surface, a front surface, and a rear surface. The above-mentioned arm consists of an inverted U-shaped element, with two parallel branches whose ends are positions respectively on the front surface and on the rear surface of the bar, and are joined thereto in an articulated manner about a common axis, parallel to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle when the device is in its mounted position. One of the two branches of the U-shaped element constituting the said arm has an extremity that is extended beyond the said axis of articulation of the arm and carries a latch that is suitable for engaging a seat formed in the bar or in an element rigidly connected to the bar, so as to lock the arm in its raised operating position. The latch consists of a pin slidably mounted inboard of the said extended extremity of the arm and drawn by a spring toward a position of engagement with the said seat. The said pin is connected to a handle that can be grasped in order to draw the pin, against the action of the spring, toward a position in which it is disengaged from its seat. The said pin is also designed to engage the upper surface of the bar or of an element rigidly connected to the bar, with the bar in the lowered non-operating position, in order to lock the arm in the said position.
Still with regard to the above-mentioned preferred embodiment, the two parallel branches of the U-shaped element constituting the arm are associated respectively with the above-mentioned third supporting element and a fourth supporting element, each of which includes a cradle-shaped body in order to receive the respective elements of the frame of two bicycles, with the said body being connected orientably about a longitudinal axis (with reference to the mounted position on the motor vehicle) to a clamp portion that is locked removably onto the respective branch of the said U-shaped element constituting the arm.
The above-mentioned third supporting elements are preferably positioned so as to support the bicycle frame, not in correspondence with its highest element (that is, the horizontal tube, for a standard frame), but rather in correspondence with a lower element (typically the diagonal tube, or even the seat tube). As a result, the above-mentioned arm carrying the elements that support the bicycle can be relatively small in size, with a resulting reduction in the overall dimensions of the device.
The means connecting the bar to the frame of the motor vehicle include an auxiliary connecting arm extending orthogonally from a central part of the bar and having a facing extremity positioned for connection to a hitch on the motor vehicle, which typically is a hitch for pulling a trailer. In one embodiment the auxiliary arm is connected rigidly to the bar, while in a variant the auxiliary arm is connected to the bar in an articulated manner about an axis parallel to the bar, and is equipped with stop means so as to allow limited oscillation of the entire bicycle-carrier device in relation to the auxiliary arm, between an upright operating position and a tilted position, angled away from the motor vehicle, so as to facilitate access to the luggage compartment of the motor vehicle when the device is in its mounted position on the motor vehicle, even with the bicycles mounted on the device.
According to a further optional characteristic, the bar supports an auxiliary structure that includes a number-plate holder and taillights.
Thanks to the above-mentioned characteristics, the invention provides significant advantages in terms of construction simplicity, versatile applicability, reduced size, and ease and rapidity of use.
These and other advantages will become clear from the following description, which makes reference to the annexed drawings, which are provided non-limitatively and purely as examples, on which:
On the drawings, the number [1] designates, in its entirety, a bicycle-carrier device for motor vehicles of the type intended to be connected to the frame of a motor vehicle behind the motor vehicle, with the aid of a hitch provided on the motor vehicle in order to pull a trailer. The bicycle-carrier device according to the invention is intended to carry one or more bicycles (two bicycles, in the embodiment illustrated here) oriented transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, behind the motor vehicle (see
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the brace structure [2] consists exclusively of a metal bar [3]. In the example shown here, the bar [3] is a straight hollow metal bar with a quadrangular cross-section, which, when in the mounted position on the motor vehicle, includes an upper surface [3a], a lower surface (not visible on the drawings), a front surface [3b], facing the side opposite the direction of forward travel of the motor vehicle, which is indicated in
The means for supporting the bicycle include at least one first and one second supporting elements [4] [5] intended to receive and to support from below the wheels of a respective bicycle. In the examples of embodiments shown, the bar is equipped with two pairs of identical supporting elements [4] [5] in order to support two bicycles. The form of each supporting element will be better understood with reference to
With reference again to
The means for supporting the bicycles also include an arm [6] that is mounted in an articulated manner on the bar [3] about an axis [7] (see
In the embodiments shown, two supporting elements [8] are provided that are intended to support the frame of the two bicycles resting on the two pairs of supporting elements [4] [5]. More specifically, each supporting element [8] it intended to support one element of the bicycle frame that is not the highest element of the frame (which, for a standard frame, is the horizontal tube), but that is instead a lower element, typically the diagonal tube of the bicycle frame (or, alternatively, the seat tube). Because the bicycle frame is supported in correspondence with one of its lower parts, the arm [6] may be relatively short, with the resulting advantage of reducing the overall dimensions of the device. Moreover, this arrangement is entirely sufficient to counter a tilting or moment load of the bicycle, due to the fact that the arm [6] has the U-shaped configuration as shown, with two branches [60] joined in an articulated manner to the bar [3] at longitudinally separated points, so as to be able effectively to withstand forces that tend to cause the arm [6] to rotate about an axis parallel to the bar [3].
The structure and shape of each of the supporting elements [8] in accordance with the embodiment shown here, can be seen more clearly in
As also visible in
In the embodiment shown in
The embodiment illustrated in
Still with reference to the embodiments shown in
In the normal operating state illustrated in
As is clear from the foregoing description, the bicycle-carrier device according to the invention, in both of the embodiments described hereinabove, offers a series of significant advantages.
First of all, the device is relatively small in size, despite being suitable for receiving bicycles of any size and configuration. The cradle-shaped bodies of the supporting elements may be positioned adjacent to the extremities of the bar, so as to be able to receive bicycles with a substantially long wheelbase, bearing in mind that the cradle-shaped bodies can be positioned at a distance from each other that is shorter than the wheelbase. For bicycles with a non-standard configuration, e.g., with a very long wheelbase, the bicycle-carrier device can easily be adapted through the appropriate dimensioning of the bar [3]. The supporting element that supports the bicycle frame is intended to support the diagonal tube of the frame or the seat tube, or, in any event, a part of the frame other than the upper horizontal tube, such that the size of the arm [6] that carries the said supporting element can be reduced accordingly. The cradle-shaped strike of the supporting element that supports the frame can be adjusted in terms of both its position along the arm [6] and its angular position about the axis [82] (see
The structure of the bicycle-carrier device is extremely simple, consisting of a limited number of components (essentially the bar [3] and the articulated arm [6]). The latch device that can be operated with the handle [64] is easy and rapid to use, and ensures the locking of the articulated arm [6] in both its operating position and its lowered position. In the latter position, the configuration of the entire device becomes extremely compact, for convenient and easy storage.
In addition to being simple and easy to use, the device according to the invention is also characterized by a high degree of versatility, inasmuch as it is easily adaptable to different bicycle configurations and also allows different relative positions of the bicycles, as shown for example in
Naturally, without limiting the principle of the invention, the details of its construction and the embodiments may be varied broadly from the ones described and illustrated here purely as examples, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. Bicycle-carrying device for motor-vehicles, comprising:
- a support (3) provided with connecting means (12,18), for connecting said support (3) to the motor-vehicle structure at the rear of the motor-vehicle,
- holding means (4,5,6,8) carried by said support (3) for holding one or more bicycles at the rear of the motor-vehicle, with the bicycles oriented transversally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the motor-vehicle,
- characterized in that said support comprises a bar (3) which extends transversally to the longitudinal direction (A) of the motor-vehicle in the mounted condition of the bicycle-carrying device on the motor-vehicle, and
- in that said holding means comprise:
- at least first and second holding members (4,5) connected to said bar (3) at positions which are adjustable along the bar (3), for receiving and holding from below the two wheels of a bicycle, respectively, and
- an arm (6) pivotally mounted onto said bar and movable between a raised operative position, substantially orthogonal to the bar (3) and a lowered inoperative position, and
- at least a third holding member (8) connected to said arm (6) at a position adjustable along the arm (6), for receiving and supporting from below a frame element of a bicycle,
- said first, second and third holding members (4,5,8) each being provided with means (51,52,89) for clamping a respectively associated received part.
2. Bicycle-carrying device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said first and second holding members (4,5) comprises a cradle-shaped body (50) for receiving a respective bicycle wheel, said body (50) being connected to a clamp portion (52) which is removably clamped onto the bar (3).
3. Bicycle-carrying device according to claim 2, characterized in that the bar (3) is a hollow metal bar having a quadrilateral cross-section, which in the mounted position on the motor-vehicle has an upper face (3a), a lower face, a front face (3b) and a rear face, and in that said arm (6) is constituted by an element in form of an upturned U with two parallel portions (60) having ends respectively arranged on the front face (3b) and the rear face of the bar (3) and pivotally connected thereto around a common longitudinal axis (7).
4. Bicycle-carrying device according to claim 3, characterized in that one of the two portions of the upturned U-shaped element constituting said arm (6) has one end (61) extending beyond said articulation axis (7) of the arm and carrying a bolt (62) adapted to engage a seat (102) formed in said bar or in an element (10) connected to said bar (3), for clamping the arm (6) in its raised operative position.
5. Bicycle-carrying device according to claim 4, characterized in that said bolt (62) is constituted by a pin slidably mounted within said extended end (61) of the arm (6), said pin been biased by a spring (63) towards a position of engagement of said seat and being connected to a knob (64) which can be gripped to pull said pin (62), against the action of said spring (63), towards a release position, disengaged from said seat (102).
6. Bicycle-carrying device according to claim 5, characterized in that said knob (64) and/or said pin (62) are provided for engaging the upper face (3a) of said bar (3) or the upper face of an element (10) connected to the bar (3) in the inoperative lowered position of the arm (6) for clamping the arm (6) in this position.
7. Bicycle-carrying device according to claim 3, characterized in that with the two parallel portions (60) of the U-shaped element (6) constituting said arm (6) there are associated said third holding member (8) and a fourth holding member (8) respectively, each comprising a cradle-shaped body (80), for receiving respective frame elements of the two bicycles, said cradle-shaped body (80) being connected to a clamp portion (84,85) so that it can be oriented around an axis (82) parallel to the longitudinal direction (A) of the motor-vehicle in the mounted condition of the device, said clamp portion (84,85) being removably clamped onto the respective portion (60) of said U-shaped element (6) constituting said arm.
8. Bicycle-carrying device according to claim 7, characterized in that said arm is designed with dimensions adapted for the engagement of said third holding member (8) on a frame element of the bicycle which is not the upper-most element of the frame.
9. Bicycle-carrying device according to claim 7, characterized in that on said bar (3) there are mounted two pairs of said first and second holding members (4,5), with respective cradle-shaped bodies (50) arranged on the two sides of the bar (3), for supporting the wheels of two bicycles.
10. Bicycle-carrying device according to claim 1, characterized in that said connection means for connecting the bar (3) to the motor-vehicle structure comprise an auxiliary connection arm (12;18) extending orthogonally from a central portion of the bar (3) and having an opposite end provided for connection to a hitch support of the motor-vehicle.
11. Bicycle-carrying device according to claim 10, characterized in that the auxiliary arm (12) is rigidly connected to said bar (3).
12. Bicycle-carrying device according to claim 10, characterized in that the auxiliary arm (18) is pivotally connected to the bar (3) around an axis (21) parallel to the bar (3) and is provided with stop means (24) for enabling a limited tilting movement of the bicycle-carrying device with respect to the auxiliary arm (18) between an operative upright position, and a position inclined downwardly away from the motor-vehicle, for facilitating access to the luggage compartment of the motor-vehicle in the mounted condition of the bicycle-carrying device on the motor-vehicle, with one or more bicycles mounted on the device.
13. Bicycle-carrying device according to claim 1, characterized in that said bar (3) supports an auxiliary structure (14) including a license plate carrying element (15) and rear lights (16).
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 15, 2012
Publication Date: Mar 14, 2013
Inventor: Fabio Pedrini (Bologna)
Application Number: 13/586,194
International Classification: B60R 9/10 (20060101);