IP Library Granted Patent US 9,254,790
Granted Patent B2
US 9,254,790 · App. 12/828,891 · Granted Feb 9, 2016

Bike rack

Inventors: Jason Matthew Dreger (Livonia, MI); Gail Rae Matheus (Salem, MI); Paul Caruso (Grosse Pointe Park, MI); Mitchell Auerbach (Ft. Wayne, IN); Maurice R. Fredricks (Grand Haven, MI); Todd Ireland (Coopersville, MI); Brett Kooistra (Grand Haven, MI); Sean Phillips (Huntsville, CA)
Assignee: Cequent Performance Products, Inc.
B60R9/10B60R9/048B60R9/06B60R11/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,254,790
App. No.
12/828,891
Granted
Feb 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatus for a bike rack for securing at least one bicycle are described herein. The bike rack is attachable to a vehicle receiver hitch. The bike rack includes a hub assembly, hitch insert assembly, and support wing assembly. The tub assembly includes a pair of hubs each having an arm. The hitch insert assembly includes a first end and a second end. The first end is located within the hub assembly and the second end is engageable with the receiver hitch. The hubs are rotatably adjustable about the first end of the hitch insert assembly. The support wing assembly includes a first wing engageable with the arm of the first hub and a second wing engageable with the arm of the second hub. The bike rack also includes an integral locking member and a pair of independently moveable cradles on each wing. Each cradle includes a bike support member.

Claims (45)

1. A bike rack comprising:

a hub assembly comprising a first hub and a second hub, said first and second hubs generally axially aligned at an axis, wherein each hub includes an elongated arm extending upward relative to the axis when in an operative position;

a support wing assembly including a first wing and a second wing, wherein said first wing is selectively attached with said elongated arm of said first hub and said second wing is selectively attached with said elongated arm of said second hub;

wherein said first and second hubs are rotatably adjustable; and

a hitch insert assembly having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is located within said hub assembly and said second end is engaged with a receiver hitch of a vehicle, said first hub and said second hub are rotatably adjusted about said first end of said hitch insert assembly.

2. The bike rack of claim 1 , wherein said first end of said hitch insert assembly includes first and second sets of engaging members wherein said first set of engaging members are radially spaced around said first end at a first location.

3. The bike rack of claim 2 , wherein said second set of engaging members are radially spaced around said first end at a second location.

4. The bike rack of claim 3 , wherein said first hub is engageable with said first set of engaging members and said second hub is engageable with said second set of engaging members.

5. The bike rack of claim 3 , wherein said elongated arms are insertable within said wings or said wings are insertable within said elongated arms.

6. The bike rack of claim 5 , wherein said first wing is rotatably adjustable about said first set of engaging members and said second wing is rotatably adjustable about said second set of engaging members.

7. The bike rack of claim 6 , wherein said wings are independently rotatably of each other.

8. The bike rack of claim 6 , wherein said hubs each include a locking mechanism operable by an actuator.

9. The bike rack of claim 1 , wherein said first and second hubs are rotatably adjustable to at least three positions.

10. The bike rack of claim 1 , wherein said first and second hubs are rotatably adjustable to a plurality of operable positions.

11. A bike rack for securing at least one bicycle, said bike rack comprising:

a hub assembly comprising a pair of hubs;

at least one wing, wherein said at least one wing is engaged with one of said pair of hubs;

a pair of cradles located on said at least one wing, wherein a first cradle of said pair of cradles is movable passes a second cradle of said pair of cradles;

at least one bike support member located on each cradle; and

an anti-sway finger located on said wing, wherein said anti-sway finger is engageable with the bicycle and the rack thereby providing three points of support for a bike secured to the rack.

12. The bike rack of claim 11 , wherein said wings include a channel located on each side.

13. The bike rack of claim 12 , wherein said cradles include a pair of slats that are slidable within said channels.

14. The bike rack of claim 11 , wherein said wings include a plurality of apertures located on each side.

15. The bike rack of claim 14 , wherein each cradle includes a spring loaded pin to engage said cradles with said wing apertures.

16. The bike rack of claim 11 , wherein each hub includes an arm, whereby said at least one wing is engaged with one of said arm.

17. The bike rack of claim 11 , wherein each of said cradles is moveable independently of one another along said wing.

18. A bike rack for securing at least one bicycle to a vehicle, said bike rack comprising:

a hub assembly comprising a pair of hubs;

at least one wing associated with each hub;

a cradle selectively securable to said at least one wing, said cradle including at least one bike support member;

an integral locking member located adjacent said hub assembly, said locking member comprises at least one ring configured accept a locking device to secure a bike to said locking member, wherein said at least one ring is selectively secured to said at least one wing; and

a hitch insert assembly having first and second ends, wherein said first end is located within said hub assembly and said second end is engageable with a receiver hitch of a vehicle, said pair of hubs are rotatably adjustable about said first end of said hitch insert assembly.

19. The bike rack of claim 18 , wherein said at least one ring includes at least one annular ring.

20. The bike rack of claim 18 , wherein each hub includes an arm to which said wing is attached and said locking member is integrally formed with said arms.

21. The bike rack of claim 18 , wherein said locking member is integrally formed with a hitch receiver of the vehicle.

22. A bike rack for securing at least one bicycle to a vehicle, said bike rack comprising:

a hub assembly comprising:

a pair of hubs generally axially aligned and rotatably adjustable;

a locking device integrally formed with said hub assembly, wherein said locking device locks said pair of hubs relative to one another;

a wing associated with each hub; and

a cradle positionably engaged with each of said wings; and

a plurality of apertures located on each side of said wings, wherein each cradle includes a spring loaded pin to engage said cradles with said apertures.

23. The bike rack of claim 22 , further comprising a slot located within said wings, said cradle being slidably adjustable along said slot.

24. The bike rack of claim 23 , further comprising a-second cradle positionably engaged with at least one of said wings, wherein at least one of said cradles is movable independent of said second cradle.

25. The bike rack of claim 24 , wherein said at least one of said cradles is configured to slide past said second cradle along said at least one of said wings.

Assignments (14)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2021
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; C.P. WITTER LIMITED; WESTFALIA-AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: ATLANTIC PARK STRATEGIC CAPITAL FUND, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055262/0949 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2021
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS COLLATERAL AGENT (AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.)
To: HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; WESTFALIA-AUTOMOTIVE GMBH; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055262/0842 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2020
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
To: HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 053453/0229 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 052463/0091 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2020
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 052918/0733 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2020
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
To: ENCINA BUSINESS CREDIT, LLC
Reel/Frame 052183/0590 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2019
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 048648/0006 →
MERGER Recorded May 10, 2017
From: CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.
To: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
Reel/Frame 042435/0260 →
SECURITY INTEREST (ABL) Recorded Jul 8, 2015
From: CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 036082/0668 →
SECURITY INTEREST (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jul 6, 2015
From: CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036062/0554 →
RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 029537/0582 Recorded Nov 15, 2013
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: TRIMAS CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR TO MASCO TECH, INC.); TRIMAS COMPANY LLC; ARMINAK & ASSOCIATES LLC; ARROW ENGINE COMPANY; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC. (SUCCESSOR TO CEQUENT ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS, INC., CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS, INC., CEQUENT TRAILER PRODUCTS, INC., FULTON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC., HIDDEN HITCH INTERNATIONAL, AND THEODORE BARGMAN, INC.); COMPAC CORPORATION; INNOVATIVE MOLDING; LAMONS GASKET COMPANY; MONOGRAM AEROSPACE FASTENERS, INC.; NI INDUSTRIES, INC.; NORRIS CYLINDER COMPANY; RIEKE-ARMINAK CORP.; RIEKE CORPORATION; RIEKE LEASING CO., INCORPORATED; TRIMAS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 031645/0436 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2012
From: TRIMAS CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR TO MASCOTECH, INC.); TRIMAS COMPANY LLC; ARMINAK & ASSOCIATES LLC; ARROW ENGINE COMPANY; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC. (SUCCESSOR TO CEQUENT ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS, INC., CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS, INC., CEQUENT TRAILER PRODUCTS, INC., FULTON PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC., HIDDEN HITCH INTERNATIONAL, AND THEODORE BARGMAN, INC.); COMPAC CORPORATION; INNOVATIVE MOLDING; LAMONS GASKET COMPANY; MONOGRAM AEROSPACE FASTENERS, INC.; NI INDUSTRIES, INC.; NORRIS CYLINDER COMPANY; RIEKE-ARMINAK CORP.; RIEKE CORPORATION; RIEKE LEASING CO., INCORPORATED; TRIMAS INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 029537/0582 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2012
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: TRIMAS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029291/0265 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2010
From: DREGER, JASON MATTHEW; MATHEUS, GAIL RAE; CARUSO, PAUL; AUERBACH, MITCHELL; FREDERICKS, MAURICE R.; IRELAND, TODD; KOOISTRA, BRETT; PHILLIPS, SEAN
To: CEQUENT PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025513/0276 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120000952A1 · Jan 5, 2012