Anti-sway bicycle mount
View Patent ↗An anti-sway bicycle mount is provided. The bicycle mount includes a trough section, a collar section disposed adjacent to the trough section, a neck section disposed adjacent to the collar section, opposite the trough section, and a channel section disposed adjacent to the neck section, opposite the collar section. The trough section is adapted to receive a crossbar of a bicycle, the collar section is adapted to receive a support arm of a bicycle carrier, and the channel section is adapted to receive a tube member of the bicycle. The neck section facilitates forward and back motion of the channel section while restricting side to side movement of the channel section.
1. A bicycle carrier comprising:
a frame for mounting to a vehicle;
first and second support arms extending in a horizontal direction away from the frame; and
a plurality of bicycle mounts disposed on each of the first and second support arms, wherein each of the bicycle mounts comprises:
a trough for receiving a crossbar of a bicycle, the trough including raised first and second sides for restricting side to side movement of the crossbar;
a first strap, a first end of the first strap attached to the first side of the trough, and a second end of the first strap attached to the second side of the trough, the first strap securing the crossbar in the trough;
a collared opening disposed adjacent to the trough section for receiving either the first or second support arm, the collared opening extending generally perpendicular to the trough section, at least a portion of the collared opening having a ribbed configuration in perspective, the ribbed configuration formed by a plurality of raised elongated ribs spaced apart from one another and longitudinally extending through the collared opening;
raised support ribs extending along an exterior surface of the bicycle mount in a direction generally perpendicular to the collared opening, the support ribs disposed along opposing sides of the collared opening and extending to opposite ends of the trough, the raised support ribs increasing in height as they extend toward the ends of the trough;
an elongated member disposed adjacent to the collared opening, opposite the trough;
a channel disposed adjacent to the elongated member, opposite the collared opening for receiving a tube member of the bicycle, the channel including raised first and second sides for restricting side to side movement of the tube member; and
a second strap, a first end of the second strap attached to the first side of the channel, and a second end of the second strap attached to the second side of the channel, the second strap securing the tube member in the channel,
wherein the elongated member facilitates forward and back motion of the channel to accommodate receiving the tube member of the bicycle while restricting side to side movement of the channel.
2. An anti-sway bicycle mount comprising:
a trough for receiving a crossbar of a bicycle, the trough including raised first and second sides for restricting side to side movement of the crossbar;
a first strap, a first end of the first strap attached to the first side of the trough, and a second end of the first strap attached to the second side of the trough, the first strap securing the crossbar in the trough;
a collared opening disposed adjacent to the trough section for receiving a support arm of a bicycle carrier, the collared opening extending generally perpendicular to the trough section, at least a portion of the collared opening having a ribbed configuration in perspective, the ribbed configuration formed by a plurality of raised elongated ribs spaced apart from one another and longitudinally extending through the collared opening;
raised support ribs extending along an exterior surface of the bicycle mount in a direction generally perpendicular to the collared opening, the support ribs disposed along opposing sides of the collared opening and extending to opposite ends of the trough, the raised support ribs increasing in height as they extend toward the ends of the trough;
an elongated member disposed adjacent to the collared opening, opposite the trough;
a channel disposed adjacent to the elongated member, opposite the collared opening, for receiving a tube member of the bicycle, the channel including raised first and second sides for restricting side to side movement of the tube member; and
a second strap, a first end of the second strap attached to the first side of the channel, and a second end of the second strap attached to the second side of the channel, the second strap securing the tube member in the channel, wherein the elongated member facilitates forward and back motion of the channel to accommodate receiving the tube member of the bicycle while restricting side to side movement of the channel.
3. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 2 wherein each of the first and second straps includes a plurality of openings disposed along the lengths thereof.
4. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 2 wherein the channel receives a rear tube of the bicycle while the trough receives the crossbar.
5. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 2 wherein the channel receives a transverse tube of the bicycle while the trough receives the crossbar.
6. An anti-sway bicycle mount comprising:
a trough section adapted for receiving a crossbar of a bicycle;
a collar section adapted for receiving a support arm of a bicycle carrier, the collar section disposed adjacent to the trough section, the collar section having an central opening through which the support arm traverses, the central opening extending generally perpendicular to the trough section, at least a portion of the central opening having a ribbed configuration in perspective, the ribbed configuration formed by a plurality of raised elongated ribs spaced apart from one another and longitudinally extending through the central opening, the collar section having an exterior surface with at least one raised support rib, the at least one raised support rib extending along the exterior surface of the collar section in a direction generally perpendicular to the central opening, the at least one raised support rib extending from the exterior surface of the collar section to an end of the trough section, the at least one raised support rib increasing in height as it extends toward the end of the trough section;
a neck section disposed adjacent to the collar section, opposite the trough section; and
a channel section adapted for receiving a tube member of the bicycle, the channel section disposed adjacent to the neck section, opposite the collar section, wherein the neck section facilitates forward and back motion of the channel section while restricting side to side movement of the channel section.
7. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 6 wherein the opening is one of circular, ovular, square, or rectangular.
8. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 6 whereby the exterior surface of the collar section has opposing sides each having at least one raised support rib.
9. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of connection points disposed on an exterior surface of the trough section.
10. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 9 further comprising at least one strap, wherein a first end of the strap attaches to a first connection point, and a second end of the strap attaches to a second connection point, and wherein the strap secures the crossbar in the trough section.
11. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 6 wherein the neck section extends generally perpendicular to the trough section.
12. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 11 wherein the neck section is flexible in a first direction and rigid in a second direction.
13. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 6 further comprising first and second connection points disposed on an exterior surface of the channel section.
14. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 13 further comprising at least one strap, wherein a first end of the strap attaches to a first connection point, and a second end of the strap attaches to a second connection point, and wherein the strap secures the tube member in the channel section.
15. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 6 wherein the trough section extends in a lateral direction, the trough including open first and second ends and raised first and second sides.
16. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 15 wherein the raised first and second sides restrict movement of the crossbar.
17. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 15 further comprising ribbing disposed within the trough section.
18. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 6 wherein the channel section contiguously extends from the neck section, the channel section including a closed end, an open end opposite the closed end, and raised first and second sides.
19. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 18 further comprising an angled transition disposed proximate to the closed end of the channel section.
20. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 18 wherein the first and second raised sides restrict movement of the tube member.
21. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 18 further comprising ribbing disposed on at least a back side of the channel section.
22. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 6 formed from one integral piece of material.
23. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 22 wherein the material includes thermoplastic rubber.
24. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 22 wherein a second material is disposed over at least portions of the trough section and the channel section.
25. The anti-sway bicycle mount of claim 24 wherein the second material includes a polyurethane foam.