IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,155,217
Granted Patent B2
US 11,155,217 · App. 16/534,687 · Granted Oct 26, 2021

Vehicular rack having modular design with outside handle and quick release

Inventors: Keith L. Prescott (Cambridge, VT); Jeffrey R. Edgerly (Bristol, CT)
Assignee: Thule Sweden AB
B60R9/10B60R9/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,155,217
App. No.
16/534,687
Granted
Oct 26, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bicycle carrier convertible between a first configuration in which one or more bicycles are accommodated and a second extended configuration in which one or more additional bicycles are accommodated for transport on a carrying vehicle. The bicycle carrier can include a vehicle engaging frame configured to be mounted on a carrying vehicle. An elongate rearward extending support member can be coupled to the frame at a proximate end of the support member by a variably configurable hub configured to set the support member in a plurality of orientations relative to the frame. A manual actuator can be operably coupled to the variably configurable hub by a linkage. A distal end of the support member can be positioned away from the frame and configured to be alternately coupled to the actuator, or an add-on support member that accommodates one or more additional bicycles coupled to the bicycle carrier.

Claims (8)

1. A bicycle carrier convertible between a first configuration in which one or more bicycles are accommodated and a second configuration in which one or more additional bicycles are accommodated for transport on a carrying vehicle, the bicycle carrier comprising:

a vehicle engaging frame configured to be mounted on a carrying vehicle;

an elongate rearward extending support member having a proximal end coupled to the vehicle engaging frame by a variably configurable hub configured to set the support member in a plurality of orientations relative to the vehicle engaging frame and having a distal end positioned away from the vehicle engaging frame, wherein the support member accommodates one or more bicycles coupled to the bicycle carrier; and

an actuator operably coupled to the variably configurable hub by a linkage,

wherein the distal end of the support member is configured to be coupled to the actuator in the first configuration, and wherein the distal end of the support member is configured to be coupled to an add-on support member that accommodates one or more additional bicycles coupled to the bicycle carrier in the second configuration.

2. The bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a distal end and a trigger spaced proximally from the distal end, wherein the distal end of the actuator is configured to be decoupled from the distal end of the support member.

3. The bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is coupled to a distal end of the add-on support member in the second configuration.

4. The bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein the add-on support member comprises a second linkage configured to couple with the linkage coupled to the variably configurable hub.

Assignments (2)
ADDRESS UPDATE Recorded Nov 12, 2021
From: THULE SWEDEN AB
To: THULE SWEDEN AB
Reel/Frame 058108/0504 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2021
From: PRESCOTT, KEITH L.; EDGERLY, JEFFREY R.
To: THULE SWEDEN AB
Reel/Frame 058027/0844 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14845640 · Sep 4, 2015
Provisional Application 62048257 · Sep 9, 2014
Related Publication 20200023787A1 · Jan 23, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 1,110,927