Vehicle mounted bicycle carrier
View Patent ↗A vehicle mounted bicycle carrier has a telescopic assembly which comprises a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The second tubular member is movable between an extended position wherein the second tubular member extends relatively more from the first tubular member and a retracted position wherein the second tubular member extends relatively less from the first tubular member. A mounting assembly is secured to the first tubular member. A bicycle support is secured to the second tubular member. A drive unit is provided which selectively moves the second tubular member from the retracted position to the extended position and from the extended position to the retracted position, thereby raising and lowering the bicycle support.
1 . A vehicle mounted bicycle carrier, comprising:
a telescopic assembly comprising a first tubular member and a second tubular member, the second tubular member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second tubular member being telescopically received within the first tubular member, the second tubular member being movable between an extended position wherein the second tubular member extends relatively more from the first tubular member and a retracted position wherein the second tubular member extends relatively less from the first tubular member;
a mounting assembly secured to the first tubular member and adapted to mount the telescopic assembly to a vehicle in a vertical orientation with the second end of the second tubular member being in a downward orientation;
at least one bicycle support secured toward the second end of the second tubular member;
a drive unit selectively moving the second tubular member from the retracted position to the extended position and from the extended position to the retracted position, thereby raising and lowering the at least one bicycle support; and
wherein the telescopic assembly is connected to the mounting assembly by an adjustable mounting, wherein the adjustable mounting comprises first and second mounting apertures and first and second pins insertable into the first and second mounting apertures, and wherein the mounting assembly is configured to selectively accommodate limited pivotal movement of the telescopic assembly and the adjustable mounting relative to the mounting assembly by removing one of the first and second pins from the mounting aperture into which it is inserted,
wherein the first and second pins define respective first and second longitudinal axes and are insertable into the first and second mounting apertures by inserting the first and second pins into the first and second mounting apertures by respectively translating the first and second pins along the first and second longitudmal axes, and wherein the mounting assembly is configured to selectively accommodate limited pivotal movement of the telescopic assembly and the adjustable mounting relative to the mounting assembly by removing one of the first and second pins from the mounting aperture into which it is inserted by translating the one of the first and second pins along its longitudinal axis.
2 . The vehicle mounted bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bicycle support is adapted to support at least one bicycle in a horizontal orientation.
3 . The vehicle mounted bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein each bicycle support of the at least one bicycle support is comprised of a pair of pivoting support arms, which pivot between a substantially vertical stored position and a substantially horizontal operative position.
4 . The vehicle mounted bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein tire lock arms are pivotally mounted to opposed ends of each bicycle support of the at least one bicycle support, each tire lock arm having a tire engagement cavity for receiving therein a tire of a bicycle.
5 . The vehicle mounted bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bicycle support accommodates more than one bicycle.
6 . The vehicle mounted bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bicycle support comprises a first bicycle support and a second bicycle support, wherein each of the first and second bicycle supports is adapted to support a single bicycle in a horizontal orientation, and wherein the first bicycle support comprises a male member for releasably mating with a female member of the second bicycle support, thereby enabling the first bicycle support to be releasably connected to the second bicycle support.
7 . The vehicle mounted bicycle carrier of claim 1 , further comprising a battery mounted to the bicycle carrier for powering the drive unit.
8 . The vehicle mounted bicycle carrier of claim 7 , wherein the battery is mounted to the telescopic assembly.
9 . The vehicle mounted bicycle carrier of claim 7 , wherein the first and second pins are cotter pins.
10 . The vehicle mounted bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein edges of the first and second mounting apertures do not meet edges of the adjustable mounting.
11 . The vehicle mounted bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable mounting comprises at least one surface bounded by a periphery, and wherein the first and second mounting apertures are comprised in the at least one surface and are spaced from the periphery.
12 . A vehicle mounted bicycle carrier, comprising: a telescopic assembly comprising a first tubular member and a second tubular member, the second tubular member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second tubular member being telescopically received within the first tubular member, the second tubular member being movable between an extended position wherein the second tubular member extends relatively more from the first tubular member and a retracted position wherein the second tubular member extends relatively less from the first tubular member, a mounting assembly secured to the first tubular member and adapted to mount the telescopic assembly to a vehicle in a vertical orientation with the second end of the second tubular member being in a downward orientation; at least one bicycle support secured toward the second end of the second tubular member; a drive unit selectively moving the second tubular member from the retracted position to the extended position and from the extended position to the retracted position, thereby raising and lowering the at least one bicycle support; and wherein the telescopic assembly is connected to the mounting assembly by an adjustable mounting, wherein the adjustable mounting comprises first and second mounting apertures and first and second pins insertable into the first and second mounting apertures, and wherein the mounting assembly is configured to selectively accommodate limited pivotal movement of the telescopic assembly and the adjustable mounting relative to the mounting assembly by removing one of the first and second pins from the mounting aperture into which it is inserted; wherein the at least one bicycle support comprises a first bicycle support and a second bicycle support, wherein each of the first and second bicycle supports is adapted to support a single bicycle in a horizontal orientation, and wherein the first bicycle support comprises a male member for releasably mating with a female member of the second bicycle support, thereby enabling the first bicycle support to be releasably connected to the second bicycle support.