SUPPORT APPARATUS

SUPPORT APPARATUS

The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting or carrying a bicycle or the like in or on a vehicle, and to a vehicle.

Many vehicle users commonly wish to transport bicycles, motorbikes or the like using their vehicle. For example, families going on vacation may wish to take their bicycles with them for use on the vacation. There are a number of devices, known generally as bike racks that are widely available for the carrying of bicycles on vehicles such as automobiles.

A first form of device consists of a clamping arrangement which is fixed to a roof rack of the vehicle. A disadvantage of such systems is that they require the fitting of a standard roof rack system and then the additional fitting of the clamping arrangement. This fitting can be difficult and time consuming and the complexity of the clamping arrangement makes it relatively expensive.

Another form of device consists of a frame which is attached to the rear of the vehicle by means of straps which hook around the upper and lower edges of the vehicle rear hatch or tailgate. The frame sits on and bears against the rear hatch which thus carries much of the weight of the frame. The frame has two or more rearwardly projecting legs which extend through the bicycle frame in order to carry the bicycle. The bicycle is then secured to the bike rack frame by suitable fixings. Although this form of device is arguably the most commonly used, it suffers from the disadvantage that owing to is bearing against the vehicle tailgate, the tailgate can become scratched or dented by the frame or the bicycle, the weight of the rack and bicycle can exert excessive pressure on the rear windscreen causing it to crack and the position of the rack means that the tailgate cannot easily be opened when the rack is in use.

A still further form of bike rack consists of a frame which is attachable to a conventional ball hitch or towbar of a vehicle. The frame is secured to, and carried by, the ball hitch and supported away from the vehicle tailgate by means of spacing arms. This form of bike rack reduces damage to the vehicle by spacing the rack and bicycles away from the tailgate. However, it requires the fitment of a towbar on the vehicle which can be expensive and it does not allow the opening of the tailgate when the rack is in use.

Furthermore, none of these devices can be used with, for example, vehicles having flat-bed luggage areas such as pick-up type vehicles.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for carrying or securing a bicycle or the like in or on a vehicle such as an automobile or pick-up type vehicle.

According to one aspect of the present invention, therefore, there is provided an apparatus for supporting or carrying a bicycle or the like in or on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising support means for supporting at least a part of a wheel of said bicycle or the like, engagement means for engaging a fixed part of the bicycle and hinge means for rotatably securing the support means to the vehicle

The support means may comprise an elongate support member having a slot disposed therein for engagement with at least a part of the wheel of the bicycle. The slot may be adjustable in length or width to cater for different sizes of wheels and/or bicycles.

The support means may be arranged to hinder or substantially prevent turning and/or rotational movement of the wheel relative to the fixed part of the bicycle. The support means may be configured so that a front wheel of the bicycle engages with the slot so that left/right movement of the wheel is hindered or substantially prevented.

The support member may be mounted in a recess disposed in a load carrying surface of the vehicle. The support member may be movable between a first, non-use position wherein the support member lies substantially within the recess and a second, use position wherein the support member extends out of the recess. In one embodiment, one end of the support member is pivotably mounted within the recess and the support member is pivotable between the first and second positions. The other end of the support member may be free. In the first position, the support member may lie within the recess substantially flush with the load carrying surface of the vehicle. In the second, use position, the support member may extend upwardly from the recess for engagement with the bicycle.

The engagement means may comprises a substantially semicircular member which is movable relative to, and/or detachable from, the free end of the support member, the semicircular member defining with the support member an aperture for engagement with the bicycle frame.

The apparatus may further comprise locking means for locking the semicircular member in position relative to the support member and for selectively releasing the clamping member for movement thereof relative to the support member.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle having a load carrying surface, said load carrying surface defining a recess, said recess adapted to receive pivot means of a bicycle carrier comprising support means, engagement means and pivot means, the support means configured to support at least a part of a wheel of a said bicycle, the engagement means being configured for engaging a fixed part of a said bicycle, the pivot means being arranged to allow the bicycle carrier to be disposed substantially within the recess in a storage position and to be deployed to extend from the load surface for supporting a said bicycle.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle having a load carrying surface, said load carrying surface defining a recess, a bicycle carrier comprising support means, engagement means and pivot means, the support means configured to support at least a part of a wheel of a said bicycle, the engagement means being configured for engaging a fixed part of a said bicycle, the pivot means being secured in the recess and arranged to allow the bicycle carrier to be disposed substantially within the recess in a storage position and to be deployed to extend from the load surface for supporting a said bicycle.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the interior of a vehicle including a form of apparatus embodying to the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the support member and semicircular member of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a part of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective, cut-away view of a frame engaging member of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an alternative perspective view of the frame engaging member of Figure 3;

Figures 6a - 6e illustrate the apparatus of the invention in use;

Figures 7a and 7b illustrate the frame engaging member in use; and

Figure 8 illustrates part of a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, an apparatus embodying of the invention for carrying or supporting a bicycle or the like in or on a vehicle is shown generally at 10. The apparatus has support means in the form of a relatively narrow, elongate and rigid support member 12 located within a shallow recess 14 formed in a load carrying surface of the vehicle such as the vehicle floor 13 (shown in Figure 1). Referring to Figure 2, the support member 12 of this embodiment is primarily made of metal and has two opposing parallel sides 121, 122 which define between them a generally parallel sided slot 18, and which extend at one end 16 via respective right- angled bends into pivot-pin portions 123, 124.

The one end 16 of the support member 12 is pivotably connected to the load carrying surface 13 via the pivot pin portions 123, 124. Returning to Figure 1, the pivot pin portions 123, 124 engage in corresponding pivot apertures (not shown) formed in the side walls of the recess 14. The support member 12 can thus be pivoted between a first, non use position in which the support member 12 lies fully within the recess 14 and a second, use position wherein the support member 12 is inclined upwardly out of the recess, as illustrated in Figures 6d and 6e. The depth of the recess 14 is such that, when the support member 12 is in the first, non-use position, it lies substantially flush with the load-carrying surface 13.

The elongate slot 18 extends lengthwise along the support member 12 and in the illustrated embodiment, the length of the slot 18 is approximately 70% of the length of the support member 12. Other embodiments may have a slot over between 50% and 90% of the extent of the support member although other slot lengths may be used as desired. The width of the slot 18 is such as to allow a conventional bicycle tyre to fit therein. In practice, the slot 18 is selected to be of sufficient width and length to enable at least a range of bicycle wheels, or at least a part or sector of such wheels, to engage in the slot.

In this embodiment, the end of the support member 12 distal to the first end 16, hereafter referred to as the free end 20, defines a substantially semicircular recess 22. In addition, two bores 24a, 24b extend longitudinally into the support member 12 from the free end 20, the purpose of which is described below.

The apparatus comprises engagement means which in this embodiment comprises a U-shaped or semi-annular member 30 in use cooperating with the recess 22. Each end surface 32a, 32b of the semi-annular member 30 has a respective leg 34a, 34b extending generally orthogonally from the surface and generally parallel to one another. The legs are arranged to slidably engage with the bores 24a, 24b defined in the free end 20 of the support member 12 such that the semi-annular member 30 is movable relative to the support member 12 telescopically between a first, closed or engaging position shown in Figure 5 and a second, disengaged or open position shown in Figure 3.

It can be seen from Figure 5 that, in the closed position, the shape of the engaging member 30 and the semicircular recess 22 in the free end of the support member 12 cooperate to form a generally circular aperture 23 within which the frame of a bicycle can be engaged, as described below.

The member 30 can be secured or fixed in the desired position relative to the support member by means of a detent mechanism 36. The detent mechanism 36 is locatable within a laterally extending bore 38 disposed in a side surface 37 of the support member 12. The bore 38 is conjunctive with the bore 24b and the detent mechanism is provided with a corresponding aperture 39 which, when the detent mechanism is in place, is axially aligned with the bore 24b so that the leg 36b can pass therethrough.

The detent mechanism 36 has a nub 40 which projects by a small amount into the aperture 39. The nub 40 is spring mounted and can be retracted from the aperture 39 by pressing an associated knob or button 42. The nub is arranged to be biased into engagement with one of a plurality of detents or recesses 44 disposed along the inside of the leg 34b, thereby retaining the member 30 in the desired position relative to the support member 12. The arrangement is similar in principle to the sliding and locking mechanism of conventional vehicle head-restraints.

Operation of the apparatus 10 will now be described with reference to Figures 6a - 6e. In the first instance, the support member is in its first, non-use position, lying generally horizontally in the recess 14 disposed in the load-carrying surface 13 of the vehicle. As mentioned above, in this position the support member is substantially flush with the load-carrying surface 13. The bicycle to be transported in or on the vehicle is then wheeled across the load- carrying surface 13 until its front wheel is aligned with, and sits within, the slot 18 in the support member 12, still lying within the recess 14 (Figure 6a). The free end 20 of the support member 12 is then pivoted upwardly such that the wheel of the bicycle engages or sits within the slot 18 (Figures 6b and 6c).

The member 30 is removed from the support member after axial movement of the button 42. This disengages the nub 40 from the corresponding recess in the leg 34b enabling the engaging member 30 to slide apart from the support member 12 (Figure

6c and Figures 7a, 7b). As the support member 12 is pivoted up further, the free end contacts with the frame of the bicycle so that the frame becomes seated in the recess 22 (Figure 6d and Figure 7a).

Next, the legs 34a, 34b of the member 30 are reinserted into the bores 24a, 24b and the member 30 is slid towards the free end 20 of the support member 12 so that the frame of the bicycle becomes engaged therebetween, within the aperture 23 (Figure 6e and Figure 7b). The detent mechanism ensures that the member 30 is locked in position and can only be released by pressing on the button 42 to disengage the nub from the recesses in the leg 34b.

In this use position of the apparatus, the bicycle is secured so that it is unable to move forwards or backwards owing to the frame being engaged by the support member 12 which is fixed to the load-carrying surface by the pivot pins. The bicycle is also retained generally upright due to the seating of the wheel in the slot 18 which retains the wheel in position relative to the frame and ensures that the wheel and frame are substantially coplanar. This arrangement also advantageously ensures that the wheel is unable to turn left or right, reducing damage to the vehicle or to the bicycle itself.

The recess 22 and the inner surface of the member 30 may be provided with a resilient cushioning or padded insert to reduce or obviate damage to the bicycle frame as the member 30 and support member 12 are urged together. The detent mechanism may be replaced by any suitable mechanism which permits the member 30 to be locked in a desired position and selectively released therefrom. For example, a simple threaded bolt could be tightened against one of the legs or a conventional quick release mechanism could be used.

The apparatus may be formed from any desired material which provides the necessary stiffness and strength. In the illustrated embodiment, the front wheel of the bicycle is engaged in the slot 18. However, it will be understood that embodiments of the apparatus will also work with the back wheel of the bicycle.

The apparatus can be used with various sizes of bicycles. Clearly, where used with bicycles having relatively large wheels and frame, only a part of the wheel, or a segment thereof, will engage within the slot 18. However, where used with smaller bicycles, more of the wheel may be engaged in the slot. In this regard, the support member 12 itself may be adjustable in size to cater for different sizes of bicycles. For example, the sides 50, 52 of the support member 12 may be telescopic, being extendable and retractable to adjust the length of the support member 12.

The slot 18 may also be adjustable in width to cater for different widths of bicycle wheels. For example, the slot 18 may have adjustable clamps on either side thereof to clamp the bicycle wheel in the slot as shown in Figure 8. In this respect, the apparatus may also find use in supporting and transporting larger wheeled vehicles such as motorbikes, scooters or the like.

The apparatus may be located within the vehicle cabin, the latter requiring sufficient space to store the bicycle. A flat vehicle floor is also advantageous in this case. A particularly advantageous use for the apparatus is in the flat-bed or load area of a pick-up type vehicle. Embodiments of the apparatus lie substantially flush with the load-carrying surface in which it is located thereby presenting no difficulties with respect to loading goods or cargo when the apparatus is not to be used. The apparatus can thus advantageously remain a permanent or semi-permanent fit to the vehicle with no disadvantageous aesthetic effect. It is also possible for embodiments to include a mounting plate shaped to permit hinging of the support member 12. Such embodiments may then be secured to a load carrying surface for example via conventional bolts, or via quick release fasteners, e.g. of the so-called "quarter-turn" type.

The apparatus is simple to manufacture and use and addresses may of the disadvantages associated with previous devices.