Tie-down Patents (Class 224/534)
  • Patent number: 5570825
    Abstract: A rack particularly suited for carrying one or more bicycles held firmly in place with a three point connection without the necessity for removing a wheel and with the rack extensible to allow moving the loaded rack with minimal effort to gain access to the rear of the vehicle being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: John A. Cona
  • Patent number: 5520315
    Abstract: A bike rack apparatus is provided for supporting a bicycle on an automobile, and includes a channel for receiving the wheels of a bicycle and supporting the weight of the bicycle. The channel is supported on the automobile, preferably by a male hitch member sized for receipt in a female hitch member of the automobile, and includes a pair of clamps for stabilizing the apparatus on the automobile. The apparatus also includes a shackle assembly for holding a bicycle in an upright position on the channel and restraining movement of the bicycle relative to the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Inventor: Ronald A. Graham
  • Patent number: 5497927
    Abstract: A bicycle rack is cantilevered from a trailer hitch receiver of a transporting vehicle. The bicycle rack comprises an elongate, central support member having a first end that is received in the trailer hitch receiver, with the central support member extending rearwardly from the transporting vehicle. At least two elongate, transverse support members are attached to the central support member so that the transverse support members extend transversely across the rear end of the transporting vehicle. First and second, elongate, rigid, stabilizer members are connected between and securely affixed to the transverse support members at a position closely adjacent to the respective first and second ends of the transverse support members. Wheel support members are associated with one end of each of the transverse support members for retaining a back wheel of a bicycle at the one end of such transverse support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Douglas C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5460304
    Abstract: A carrier system is provided for attachment to a vehicle having a pair of tubular trailer hitches mounted thereon. The carrier system comprises a pair of spaced, deflectable articulated tubular support assemblies, each having a first open end and a second open end each of the first ends being adapted for telescopic engagement with one of the trailer hitches. A cargo carrier is removably attached and solely supported from the vehicle by the support assemblies, the cargo carrier having a base provided with a pair of guide channels formed thereon. The support assemblies are receivable in the guide channels and the cargo carrier is slidably disposed along and extends over a portion of the support assemblies between the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Porter, Frank Mikic