Granted Patent B2

US 12,459,443 · App. 19/018,802 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Inventors: Anders Nilvius (Värnamo, SE); Magnus Ferman (Värnamo, SE); Hannes Ulvegard (Jönköping, SE); Jonas Ringdahl (Vaggeryd, SE); Fredrik Larsson (Vaggeryd, SE); Tobias Jönsson (Värnamo, SE); Klara Rosenqvist (Jönköping, SE); Simon Helmersson (Värnamo, SE); Johan Larsson (Jönköping, SE); Hannes Olaison (Falun, SE)

Assignee: Thule Sweden AB

B60R9/10B60R9/06

Abstract

Claims (30)

1 . A bicycle support arm for a bicycle carrier, comprising:

a first arm rotatably coupled to the bicycle carrier;

a second arm slidably coupled to the first arm; and

a pivotable head coupled to the second arm and configured to secure a bicycle to the bicycle carrier,

wherein the pivotable head at least partially encloses a distal end of the second arm; and

wherein the pivotable head is pivotable about a head axis extending substantially perpendicular to a length direction of the second arm.

2 . The bicycle support arm of claim 1 , further comprising a ratchet buckle coupled to the pivotable head and configured to receive and hold a strap.

3 . The bicycle support arm of claim 2 , further comprising a strap locking arrangement associated with the ratchet buckle and configured to lock the strap to prevent the strap from being released from the ratchet buckle.

4 . The bicycle support arm of claim 3 , wherein the strap locking arrangement is disposed on the pivotable head.

5 . The bicycle support arm of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable head is spaced apart from the distal end of the second arm.

6 . The bicycle support arm of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable head comprises a bicycle support surface against which a bicycle rests when a strap has tensioned the bicycle to the bicycle support arm.

7 . The bicycle support arm of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable head is L-shaped.

8 . The bicycle support arm of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable head comprises a bicycle support portion extending in a length direction of the bicycle support arm and a buckle support portion extending at least partially over the distal end of the second arm.

9 . The bicycle support arm of claim 8 , wherein the bicycle support portion comprises a bicycle support surface configured to contact the bicycle when the bicycle is secured to the bicycle support arm.

10 . The bicycle support arm of claim 1 , further comprising a strap configured to secure the bicycle to the pivotable head, wherein a proximal end of the strap is fixably coupled to the pivotable head and extends in a direction parallel to a length direction of the bicycle support arm, and wherein a distal end of the strap is releasably coupled to a buckle coupled to the pivotable head.

11 . A load support arm for a load carrier configured to secure a load to the load carrier, the load support arm comprising:

an elongated arm; and

a load securement head moveably coupled to the elongated arm, wherein the load securement head comprises:

a load support surface configured to contact the load and extending in a length direction of the elongated arm, and

a buckle support portion extending at least partially over a distal-most end of the elongated arm in a first orientation such that the buckle support portion intersects a longitudinal axis extending through the elongated arm in the length direction.

12 . The load support arm of claim 11 , wherein the elongated arm is rotatably coupled to the load carrier and configured to rotate about an arm rotation axis,

wherein the load securement head rotates about a head axis, and

wherein the head axis extends parallel to the arm rotation axis.

13 . The load support arm of claim 11 , wherein the buckle support portion is spaced apart from the distal-most end of the elongated arm.

14 . The load securement arm of claim 11 , wherein the elongated arm comprises a front side and a lateral side, and wherein the buckle support portion extends at least partially over the lateral side in a second orientation, and wherein the load support surface is disposed adjacent to the front side in the first orientation and the second orientation.

15 . A load support arm for a load carrier configured to secure a load to the load carrier, the load support arm comprising: an elongated arm; a load securement head moveably coupled to the elongated arm, wherein the load securement head comprises: a load support surface configured to contact the load and extending in a length direction of the elongated arm, and a buckle support portion extending at least partially over a distal-most end of the elongated arm in a first orientation; and a strap configured to secure the load to the load securement head.

16 . The load support arm of claim 15 , wherein a proximal end of the strap is fixably coupled to the load support surface.

17 . The load support arm of claim 16 , wherein the proximal end of the strap extends away from the load support surface in a direction approximately parallel to the length direction of the elongated arm.

18 . The load support arm of claim 15 , wherein a distal end of the strap is releasably coupled to a ratchet buckle disposed on the buckle support portion.

19 . The load support arm of claim 18 , wherein the distal end of the strap extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the length direction of the elongated arm.

Continuity (2)

References Cited (25)