초록 ▼

A bicycle rack for a vehicle is disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, the bicycle rack includes: (i) a central support assembly; (ii) a first rail member coupled to the central support assembly, the first rail member having an elongate groove formed therein for receiving a portion of a first

A bicycle rack for a vehicle is disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, the bicycle rack includes: (i) a central support assembly; (ii) a first rail member coupled to the central support assembly, the first rail member having an elongate groove formed therein for receiving a portion of a first wheel of a bicycle; (iii) a second rail member coupled to the central support assembly, the second rail member having an elongate groove formed therein for receiving a portion of a second wheel of the bicycle; (iv) a first pedal support assembly coupled to the central support assembly, the first pedal support assembly configured to structurally engage a first pedal of the bicycle in a supporting relationship; and (v) a second pedal support assembly coupled to the central support assembly, the second pedal support assembly configured to structurally engage a second pedal of the bicycle in a supporting relationship.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A bicycle rack for a vehicle comprising, in combination: a central support assembly;a first rail member coupled to said central support assembly, said first rail member having an elongate groove formed therein for receiving a portion of a first wheel of a bicycle;a second rail member coupled to s

1. A bicycle rack for a vehicle comprising, in combination: a central support assembly;a first rail member coupled to said central support assembly, said first rail member having an elongate groove formed therein for receiving a portion of a first wheel of a bicycle;a second rail member coupled to said central support assembly, said second rail member having an elongate groove formed therein for receiving a portion of a second wheel of said bicycle;a first pedal support assembly coupled to said central support assembly, said first pedal support assembly configured to structurally engage a first pedal of said bicycle in a supporting relationship; anda second pedal support assembly coupled to said central support assembly, said second pedal support assembly configured to structurally engage a second pedal of said bicycle in a supporting relationship;wherein each of said first and second pedal support assemblies comprises an adjustable upright support member and a clamping subassembly, said clamping subassembly comprising a lower clamping plate and an upper clamping plate, a respective one of said first and second pedals of said bicycle configured to be sandwiched between said lower clamping plate and said upper clamping plate, and said clamping subassembly further comprising a threaded clamping rod and an adjustable pivot pin, said threaded clamping rod having a first end and a second end, a first end of said threaded clamping rod engaging a plurality of internal threads in said lower clamping plate and/or in a weld nut attached thereto, a second end of said threaded clamping rod operatively coupled to said adjustable pivot pin, said upper clamping plate configured to rotate about said adjustable pivot pin. 2. The bicycle rack according to claim 1, wherein said central support assembly comprises a trailer hitch mounting bar, said trailer hitch mounting bar configured to be received within a receiver of a trailer hitch assembly on a vehicle. 3. The bicycle rack according to claim 1, wherein said first rail member and said second rail member are pivotally coupled to said central support assembly. 4. The bicycle rack according to claim 1, further comprising at least one chock member, at least a portion of said at least one chock member received within said elongate groove of one of said first and second rail members, said at least one chock member configured to stabilize one of said first and second wheels of said bicycle in said one of said first and second rail members. 5. The bicycle rack according to claim 4, wherein said at least one chock member comprises a first chock member and a second chock member, at least a portion of said first chock member received within said elongate groove of said first rail member, at least a portion of said second chock member received within said elongate groove of said second rail member, said first and second chock members configured to stabilize said first and second wheels of said bicycle in respective said first and second rail members. 6. The bicycle rack according to claim 1, wherein said clamping subassembly further comprises a lower clamping bracket attached to said lower clamping plate and a pivotable clamping latch member, said pivotable clamping latch member being rotatably coupled to said adjustable upright support member, and said pivotable clamping latch member including a lock eye for receiving a shackle portion of a padlock. 7. The bicycle rack according to claim 1, wherein said clamping subassembly further comprises a lower compression pad and an upper compression pad, said lower compression pad coupled to said lower clamping plate, and said upper compression pad coupled to said upper clamping plate, wherein said upper and lower compression pads are configured to be sandwiched between said respective one of said first and second pedals of said bicycle and a respective one of said upper and lower clamping plates. 8. The bicycle rack according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pedal support assemblies is configured to engage a shoe cleat locking mechanism on a bicycle pedal. 9. The bicycle rack according to claim 1, wherein said bicycle is configured to be mounted in at least one of the following locations: (i) proximate to the rear bumper of a vehicle; and (ii) on the roof of a vehicle. 10. The bicycle rack according to claim 1, wherein two or more sets of rail members and pedal support assemblies are mounted on said central support assembly so that two or more bicycles are capable of being transported by a vehicle using said bicycle rack. 11. The bicycle rack according to claim 10, wherein each of said two or more sets of rail members are disposed in a generally parallel relationship to one another. 12. The bicycle rack according to claim 10, wherein one clamping subassembly from each of said two or more sets of pedal support assemblies is mounted on a single one of said adjustable upright support members. 13. A bicycle rack for a vehicle comprising, in combination: a central support assembly;at least one rail member coupled to said central support assembly, said at least one rail member having an elongate groove formed therein for receiving a portion of a first wheel and a portion of a second wheel of a bicycle;a first pedal support assembly coupled to said central support assembly, said first pedal support assembly structurally engaging a first pedal of said bicycle in a supporting relationship when said bicycle is supported in said bicycle rack, said first pedal support assembly being laterally spaced apart from a first crank arm of said bicycle by a first gap when said bicycle is supported in said bicycle rack; anda second pedal support assembly coupled to said central support assembly, said second pedal support assembly structurally engaging a second pedal of said bicycle in a supporting relationship when said bicycle is supported in said bicycle rack, said second pedal support assembly being laterally spaced apart from a second crank arm of said bicycle by a second gap when said bicycle is supported in said bicycle rack. 14. The bicycle rack according to claim 13, wherein each of said first and second pedal support assemblies comprises a clamping subassembly, said clamping subassembly comprising a lower clamping member and an upper clamping member, a respective one of said first and second pedals of said bicycle being disposed between said lower clamping member and said upper clamping member. 15. The bicycle rack according to claim 14, wherein each of said first and second pedal support assemblies further comprises an adjustable upright support member, and wherein said clamping subassembly further comprises a pivotable clamping latch member, said pivotable clamping latch member being rotatably coupled to said adjustable upright support member, and said pivotable clamping latch member including a lock eye for receiving a shackle portion of a padlock. 16. The bicycle rack according to claim 13, wherein each of said first and second pedal support assemblies engages a shoe cleat locking mechanism on a bicycle pedal when said bicycle is supported in said bicycle rack. 17. A bicycle rack system for a vehicle comprising, in combination: a bicycle having a frame, a first wheel rotatably coupled to said frame, a second wheel rotatably coupled to said frame, and first and second pedals operatively coupled to said second wheel; anda bicycle rack configured to support said bicycle from a vehicle, said bicycle rack including:a central support assembly;a first rail member coupled to said central support assembly, said first rail member having an elongate groove formed therein for receiving a portion of said first wheel of said bicycle;a second rail member coupled to said central support assembly, said second rail member having an elongate groove formed therein for receiving a portion of said second wheel of said bicycle;a first pedal support assembly coupled to said central support assembly, said first pedal support assembly structurally engaging said first pedal of said bicycle in a supporting relationship; anda second pedal support assembly coupled to said central support assembly, said second pedal support assembly structurally engaging said second pedal of said bicycle in a supporting relationship;wherein each of said first and second pedal support assemblies comprises a clamping subassembly, said clamping subassembly comprising a lower clamping member and an upper clamping member, a respective one of said first and second pedals of said bicycle being disposed between said lower clamping member and said upper clamping member. 18. The bicycle rack system according to claim 17, wherein said first rail member and said second rail member of said bicycle rack are pivotally coupled to said central support assembly, and wherein said first rail member and said second rail member are configured to be locked in an upright position by respective pin members. 19. The bicycle rack system according to claim 17, wherein said central support assembly comprises a trailer hitch vertical post member, said trailer hitch vertical post member configured to engage with a bracket member of a vertically-oriented trailer hitch assembly on a vehicle. 20. The bicycle rack system according to claim 17, wherein each of said first and second pedal support assemblies further comprises a plurality of pedal insert members, each of said pedal insert members having one or more protruding portions that engage with apertures in at least one of said first and second pedals of said bicycle.