초록 ▼

A ride ready vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier includes a pair of spaced apart wheel supports and a stabilizing member which is engageable with the bicycle, preferably with one of the bicycle wheels, at a location above the wheel supports. One of the wheel supports is in the form of a pair of spaced a

A ride ready vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier includes a pair of spaced apart wheel supports and a stabilizing member which is engageable with the bicycle, preferably with one of the bicycle wheels, at a location above the wheel supports. One of the wheel supports is in the form of a pair of spaced apart wheel engagement members which are pivotably mounted to a structural member associated with the carrier, and which are configured to grip the wheel so as to provide initial support for the bicycle on the carrier. The stabilizing member is in the form of a clamp arm mechanism having a base mounted to the structural member and an extendible and retractable arm having a wheel-engaging portion at its outer end, which can be moved into and out of engagement with the wheel. The clamp arm mechanism is located between the wheel support members, and is arranged to apply a vertical downward force on the wheel at a location between the wheel engagement members, to provide a secure three-point engagement of the wheel and thereby to provide stable mounting of the bicycle to the carrier.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier for carrying a bicycle having first and second wheels, comprising:a frame arrangement;a first wheel support section interconnected with the frame arrangement for supporting the first bicycle wheel;a second wheel support section interconnected with the frame arran

1. A vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier for carrying a bicycle having first and second wheels, comprising:a frame arrangement;a first wheel support section interconnected with the frame arrangement for supporting the first bicycle wheel;a second wheel support section interconnected with the frame arrangement for supporting the second bicycle wheel, wherein the second wheel support section includes a pair of spaced apart pivoting wheel engagement members, each of which has a wheel engagement area, wherein positioning of the second bicycle wheel between the wheel engagement members causes the second bicycle wheel to engage the wheel engagement areas and wherein the wheel engagement members pivot to grip the second bicycle wheel therebetween; anda stabilizing member engageable with the second bicycle wheel at a location above the first and second wheel support sections to stabilize the bicycle when the first and second bicycle wheels are engaged with the first and second wheel support sections, respectively, wherein the stabilizing member includes a variable length arm arrangement defining a lower end engaged with the frame arrangement and an upper end having a wheel engagement area configured to engage the second bicycle wheel at a location above the wheel engagement members. 2. The vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier of claim 1, wherein the frame arrangement includes a first structural member, and wherein the first wheel support section includes a stationary first wheel support member mounted to the first structural member, and a movable first wheel retainer for selectively maintaining the first wheel in engagement with the first wheel support member. 3. The vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier of claim 2, wherein the frame arrangement includes a second structural member to which the pair of spaced apart pivoting wheel engagement members are mounted, and wherein the stabilizing member is mounted to the second structural member. 4. The vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier of claim 3, wherein the first and second structural members are formed integrally with each other. 5. The vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier of claim 1, wherein the wheel engagement area of each pivoting wheel engagement member has a generally arcuate configuration for engaging the second bicycle wheel on opposite sides of the center of the second bicycle wheel. 6. A vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier for carrying a bicycle having first and second wheels, comprising:a first wheel support section for supporting the first bicycle wheel, wherein the first wheel support section comprises a first structural member, a stationary first wheel support member mounted to the first structural member, and a movable first wheel retainer for selectively maintaining the first wheel in engagement with the first wheel support member;a second wheel support section for supporting the second bicycle wheel, wherein the second wheel support section includes a pair of spaced apart pivoting wheel engagement members, each of which has a wheel engagement area, wherein positioning of the second bicycle wheel between the wheel engagement members causes the second bicycle wheel to engage the wheel engagement areas and wherein the wheel engagement members pivot to grip the second bicycle wheel therebetween; anda stabilizing member engageable with the bicycle at a location above the first and second wheel support sections to stabilize the bicycle when the first and second bicycle wheels are engaged with the first and second wheel support sections, respectively;wherein the second wheel support section comprises a second structural member to which the pair of spaced apart pivoting wheel engagement members are mounted, and wherein the stabilizing member is mounted to the second structural member, wherein the stabilizing member comprises a variable length arm arrangement defining a lower end engaged with the second structural member and an upper end having a wheel engagement area. 7. A vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier for carrying a bicycle having first and second wheels, comprising:a first wheel support section for supporting the first bicycle wheel;a second wheel support section for supporting the second bicycle wheel, wherein the second wheel support section includes a pair of spaced apart pivoting wheel engagement members, each of which has a wheel engagement area, wherein positioning of the second bicycle wheel between the wheel engagement members causes the second bicycle wheel to engage the wheel engagement areas and wherein the wheel engagement members pivot to grip the second bicycle wheel therebetween, wherein the wheel engagement area of each pivoting wheel engagement member has a generally arcuate configuration for engaging the second bicycle wheel on opposite sides of the center of the second bicycle wheel; anda stabilizing member engageable with the bicycle at a location above the first and second wheel support sections to stabilize the bicycle when the first and second bicycle wheels are engaged with the first and second wheel support sections, respectively, wherein the stabilizing member extends upwardly at a location between the pivoting wheel engagement members. 8. The vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier of claim 7, wherein engagement of the second bicycle wheel with and between the pair of pivoting wheel engagement members is operable to position a hub located at the center of the second bicycle wheel in a centered position between the pair of pivoting wheel engagement members, and wherein the stabilizing member includes a base section centered between the pair of pivoting wheel engagement members and an extendible wheel-engaging arm movably mounted to the base section, wherein the arm includes a wheel engagement area adapted to engage an upper area of the second bicycle wheel, wherein the base section includes a portion in alignment with the hub of the second bicycle wheel to prevent operation of a quick-release mechanism associated with the hub. 9. A vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier for carrying a bicycle having first and second wheels, comprising:a first wheel support section for supporting the first wheel;a second wheel support section for supporting the second wheel, wherein the second wheel support section includes a pair of movable wheel engagement members that engage the wheel on opposite sides of the center of the wheel; anda variable height clamping member for selectively maintaining the second bicycle wheel in engagement with the pair of movable wheel engagement members, wherein the variable height clamping member includes a wheel engagement area which engages the second bicycle wheel at a location between the pair of movable wheel engagement members. 10. The vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier of claim 9, wherein the second wheel support section includes a structural member to which the pair of movable wheel engagement members are mounted, and wherein the variable height clamping member comprises a base portion secured to the structural member and an arm which defines the upper engagement area, wherein the arm is movably mounted to the base portion. 11. The vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier of claim 10, wherein the base portion of the variable height clamping member is mounted to the structural member at a central location between the pair of movable wheel engagement members. 12. The vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier of claim 9, wherein each of the movable wheel engagement members defines a wheel engagement area, wherein the upper engagement area of the variable height clamping member and the wheel engagement areas of the pivoting wheel engagement members function to provide a three-point engagement with the second bicycle wheel to stabilize the bicycle on the bicycle carrier. 13. The vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier of claim 12, wherein the wheel engagement areas of the wheel engagement members are arcuate in shape and are configured to grip the second bicycle wheel when positioned therebetween. 14. A vehicle-mounted bicyc le carrier for carrying a bicycle having first and second wheels, comprising:a first wheel support section including a first structural member and a first wheel support member mounted to the first structural member for supporting the first wheel of the bicycle;a second wheel support section including a second structural member and a pair of pivoting wheel engagement members pivotably mounted to the second structural member, wherein the second bicycle wheel is adapted for engagement with and between the pair of pivoting wheel engagement members;a first wheel engagement member movably mounted to the first structural member for movement between an engaged position for retaining the first bicycle wheel in engagement with the first wheel support member, and a release position for enabling disengagement of the first bicycle wheel from the first wheel support member, wherein the first wheel engagement member comprises a mounting section secured to the first structural member and a wheel engagement section pivotably interconnected with the mounting section for pivoting movement into and out of engagement with a rim portion defined by the first bicycle wheel; anda second wheel engagement member movably mounted to the second structural member for movement between an engaged position for retaining the second bicycle wheel in engagement with and between the pair of pivoting wheel engagement members, and a release position for enabling disengagement of the second bicycle wheel from between the pair of pivoting wheel engagement members. 15. A vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier for carrying a bicycle having first and second wheels, comprising:a first wheel support section including a first structural member and a first wheel support member mounted to the first structural member for supporting the first wheel of the bicycle;a second wheel support section including a second structural member and a pair of pivoting wheel engagement members pivotably mounted to the second structural member, wherein the second bicycle wheel is adapted for engagement with and between the pair of pivoting wheel engagement members;a first wheel engagement member movably mounted to the first structural member for movement between an engaged position for retaining the first bicycle wheel in engagement with the first wheel support member, and a release position for enabling disengagement of the first bicycle wheel from the first wheel support member; anda second wheel engagement member movably mounted to the second structural member for movement between an engaged position for retaining the second bicycle wheel in engagement with and between the pair of pivoting wheel engagement members, and a release position for enabling disengagement of the second bicycle wheel from between the pair of pivoting wheel engagement members, wherein the second wheel engagement member comprises a base portion secured to the second structural member between the pair of pivoting wheel engagement members, and an extendible and retractable wheel engagement arm interconnected with the base portion, wherein the arm includes a wheel engagement area movable into and out of engagement with the wheel upon retraction and extension of the arm relative to the base portion. 16. The vehicle-mounted bicycle carrier of claim 15, further comprising a selectively operable locking mechanism interposed between the base portion and the arm for selectively locking the position of the arm relative to the base portion for engaging the wheel engagement portion of the arm with the wheel, wherein the selective locking arrangement is releasable so as to enable extension of the arm relative to the base portion to disengage the wheel engaging portion of the arm from the wheel. 17. In a bicycle carrier for carrying a bicycle having first and second wheels, wherein the carrier includes a frame and a first stationary wheel support section for supporting the first bicycle wheel, the improvement comprising:a self-centering sec ond wheel support section interconnected with the frame for supporting the second bicycle wheel, wherein the second wheel support section is operable to position the center of the second bicycle wheel in a predetermined location relative to the frame when the second bicycle wheel is engaged with the second wheel support section; andan extendible and retractable retainer member interconnected with the frame, wherein the extendible and retractable retainer member includes an upper wheel-engaging portion, and wherein the second extendible and retractable retainer member is constructed and arranged such that the upper wheel-engaging portion is adapted to engage the wheel at a location substantially vertically above the center of the wheel. 18. The improvement of claim 17, wherein the self-centering second wheel support section comprises a pair of wheel engagement members pivotably interconnected with the frame. 19. The improvement of claim 18, wherein each wheel engagement member includes an arcuate wheel engagement area, wherein the wheel engagement areas engage the second bicycle wheel in spaced locations and are configured so as to position the second bicycle wheel such that the center of the second bicycle wheel is centrally located between the pair of wheel engagement members. 20. The improvement of claim 19, wherein the wheel engagement areas of the wheel engagement members are configured to grip the sides of the wheel so as to support the bicycle on the frame. 21. The improvement of claim 18, wherein the extendible and retractable retainer member comprises a base portion secured to the frame between the pair of wheel engagement members, and an arm which includes the upper wheel-engaging portion, wherein the arm is extendible and retractable relative to the base portion for moving the wheel-engaging portion of the arm into and out of engagement with the second bicycle wheel at a location vertically above the center of the wheel. 22. The improvement of claim 21, further comprising a releasable latch arrangement interposed between the base portion and the arm for selectively locking the arm in position relative to the base portion for maintaining the wheel-engaging portion of the arm in engagement with the wheel. 23. The improvement of claim 22, wherein the releasable latching arrangement comprises a series of teeth formed on the arm, and a biased latching member movably mounted to the base portion for selective engagement with the teeth. 24. A method of securing a bicycle having first and second wheels to a vehicle, comprising the steps of:mounting a carrier to the vehicle, wherein the carrier includes a first wheel support section and a second wheel support section having a pair of movable wheel engagement members;positioning the bicycle on the carrier such that the first bicycle wheel is engaged with and supported by the first wheel support section and the second bicycle wheel is engaged with and supported between the movable wheel engagement members, wherein engagement of the first and second bicycle wheels with the first wheel support section and with the movable wheel engagement members, respectively, functions to support the bicycle on the carrier; andengaging a stabilizing member with the bicycle at a location above the first and second wheel support sections. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of engaging the stabilizing member with the bicycle is carried out by engaging the stabilizing member with one of the bicycle wheels. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of engaging the stabilizing member with one of the bicycle wheels is carried out by engaging the stabilizing member with the second bicycle wheel at a location above and between the pair of movable wheel engagement members. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of engaging the stabilizing member with the second bicycle wheel is carried out by operation of a variable length engagement member having a wheel-engaging portion movable into a nd out of engagement with the wheel. 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of releasably locking the wheel-engaging portion in engagement with the wheel so as to maintain the second bicycle wheel in engagement with the movable wheel engagement members. 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the movable wheel engagement members are pivotably mounted to a structural member associated with the bicycle carrier, wherein each movable wheel engagement member is pivotably mounted to the structural member, wherein the step of engaging the second bicycle wheel with and between the movable engagement members is carried out such that a lower area of the wheel engages the movable wheel engagement members at spaced locations so as to pivot the wheel engagement members toward each other and to capture the wheel therebetween. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of engaging the stabilizing member with the bicycle is carried out by engaging the stabilizing member with the second bicycle wheel at a location above and between the pivoting wheel engagement members by application of a downward force on the wheel so as to prevent disengagement of the wheel from the pivoting wheel engagement members.