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A bike carrier which includes a U-shaped frame structure having an intermediate section and first and second leg sections. A first rail is supported by the frame structure and laterally spans between said first and second legs and extends out past at least one of said legs and preferably both in can

A bike carrier which includes a U-shaped frame structure having an intermediate section and first and second leg sections. A first rail is supported by the frame structure and laterally spans between said first and second legs and extends out past at least one of said legs and preferably both in cantilever fashion. A carrier mount having a frame attachment device and a vehicle attachment device is provided for securing the U-shaped frame to a vehicle. Additionally preferably provided is a securement device supported by the U-shaped frame and extending upwardly from that frame. The securement device includes a lock receptor at an upper end for enabling locking of a bike to the carrier and provides an additional strap down location. Preferably a pair of bike support rails are spaced apart along the legs and each extend laterally out away from opposite outer sides of said legs to provide cantilever extensions to each side of the U-shaped frame structure. In addition one and preferably two adjustable cradle wheel mounts are provided on each rail, with at least some of the wheel mounts being slideably received by a respective one of the cantilever extensions provided by the rails.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A bike carrier, comprising:a U-shaped frame structure having an intermediate section and first and second leg sections; a first rail supported by said frame structure and laterally spanning said first and second legs and extending out past at least one of said legs in cantilever fashion; a carrie

1. A bike carrier, comprising:a U-shaped frame structure having an intermediate section and first and second leg sections; a first rail supported by said frame structure and laterally spanning said first and second legs and extending out past at least one of said legs in cantilever fashion; a carrier mount having a U-shaped frame attachment device and a vehicle attachment device, and said U-shaped frame attachment device being secured to said U-shaped frame; and a securement device supported by said U-shaped frame and extending upwardly therefrom. 2. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising releasable securement means provided on said intermediate section and legs of said U-shaped frame to enable the release and securement of said securement device to either one of said legs or said intermediate section.3. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said securement device includes a vertically rising post and a lock receptor provided on said post.4. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said securement device includes a vertically rising post and a lock receptor provided on said post.5. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising a second rail arranged parallel to said first rail and wherein the first and second rails extend between and out past each of the outer sides of said legs to provide an opposite side cantilever arrangement in each rail.6. The carrier of claim 5 wherein the rails are spaced apart along the length of said legs and parallel to said intermediate section and also spaced away from said intermediate section.7. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said intermediate section has a length of at least 50% of the length of said rail.8. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising a pair of wheel mounts positioned on opposite ends of said rail and with at least one being adjustable along an end region of said rail.9. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said U-shaped frame attachment device is secured to the intermediate section of the U-shaped frame.10. The carrier of claim 9 wherein said U-shaped frame attachment device comprises a bar having a fastening plate and fasteners for attaching said plate to said intermediate section.11. The carrier of claim 10 wherein said fastening plate extends along at least 10% of the length of said intermediate section and includes fastener locations to opposite sides of said bar.12. The carrier of claim 10 wherein said bar has hitch pin receptor holes at an end opposite that on which said fastening plate is provided.13. The carrier of claim 10 wherein said bar has an L-shape and includes a reception collar at one end of said bar.14. The carrier of claim 1 wherein a pair of wheel mounts are provided on said first rail and said wheel mounts include cradles that are sliding adjustable along cantilever end regions provided at each end of said rail outside of said legs.15. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said securement device comprises a main post and a base flange having bolt holes to opposite sides of said main post for use in securing said securement device to said U-shaped frame structure.16. The carrier of claim 15 wherein said U-shaped frame structure includes three pairs of bolt holes which are intermediately positioned respectively on said legs and intermediate section.17. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said U-shaped frame attachment device includes first and second framing bars and bumper clamps on a first end of each of the framing bars and affixing means for affixing said framing bars to a respective one of said legs.18. The carrier of claim 17 wherein said framing bars include pairs of bolt holes which are aligned with pairs of bolt holes provided in said legs.19. The carrier of claim 18 wherein said bolt holes in said legs are aligned with fasteners used for securing said securement device to either of said legs.20. The carrier device of claim 17 wherein said bumper clamps include U-bolts and U-bolt reception holes provided on an end region of each of said framing bars.21. The carrier device of claim 17 wherein said securement device, one of said legs and one of said framing bars are in a stacked arrangement.22. The carrier device of claim 1 further comprisinga second rail spaced apart from said first rail along said legs; a first beam secured to a first of said legs and extending in a direction out away from a free end of said first leg; a second beam secured to a second of said legs and extending in a direction out away from a free end of said second leg; a third rail supported by and extending between and laterally out away from said beams. 23. The carrier device of claim 22 wherein said first and second rails are permanently affixed to said U-shaped frame and said third rail is releasably secured to said beams and extending parallel to said first rail.24. The carrier device of claim 22 further comprising a third rail wheel mount which is adjustably received by a cantilevered end region of said third rail.25. The carrier device of claim 24 further comprising a fourth rail and each of said third and fourth rails extend in cantilever fashion to an outer side of each of said first and second beams.26. The carrier device of claim 22 wherein said securement device is in a stacked arrangement with one of said legs and one of said beams, and one or more fasteners extend through aligned reception holes in the stacked arrangement.27. A carrier device comprising:a U-shaped frame having an intermediate section and first and second legs; a vehicle mount device having a vehicle connection means and U-shaped frame attachment means; a pair of rails which are spaced apart along said legs and each extend laterally out away from opposite outer sides of said legs to provide cantilever extensions to each side of said U-shaped frame structure; a wheel mount provided on each of said rails, and said wheel mount being slideably received by a respective one of said cantilever extensions. 28. The carrier device of claim 27 further comprising a securement device and each of said intermediate section and legs having securement means for securing said securement device in three optional positions, and said securement device having a vertically rising post and a lock receptor on said post.29. The carrier device of claim 28 wherein said securement means includes a fastener which also secures said vehicle mount device to said U-shaped frame structure.30. The carrier device of claim 29 wherein said fastener extends through the intermediate section.31. The carrier device of claim 29 wherein said vehicle mount device includes a pair of laterally spaced apart beams and said fastener extends through one of said legs and one of said beams in securing said securement device to said U-shaped frame.32. The carrier device of claim 27 wherein said vehicle mount device includes a pair of laterally spaced apart beams which are in a stacked arrangement with said legs and secured to said legs.33. The carrier device of claim 27 further comprisinga second rail spaced apart from said first rail along said legs; a first beam secured to a first of said legs and extending in a direction out away from a free end of said first leg; a second beam secured to a second of said legs and extending in a direction out away from a free end of said second leg; a third rail supported by and extending between and laterally out away from said beams.