Hitch-mounted bicycle rack system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10850678-B2
Application number	US-201816206794-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2018
Priority date	Nov 30, 2017
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A bicycle rack is disclosed, including a hitch mount device and a mast structure. A proximal portion of the mast structure is connected to the hitch mount device, and a distal portion extends upward from the proximal portion. The bicycle rack further includes an upper beam structure connected horizontally to the distal portion of the mast structure and a first fork crown gripping station mounted on the upper beam structure. The first fork crown gripping station includes a first post structure and a strap configured to cooperatively bind a bicycle front fork crown to the first fork crown gripping station.

First claim

We claim:

1. A bicycle rack, comprising:
a hitch mount device,
a mast structure having a proximal portion connected to the hitch mount device, and a distal portion extending upward from the proximal portion,
an upper beam structure connected horizontally to the distal portion of the mast structure, and
a first fork crown gripping station mounted on the upper beam structure, wherein the first fork crown gripping station includes a first post structure and a strap configured to cooperatively bind a bicycle front fork crown to the first fork crown gripping station,
wherein the first post structure has an inverted V-shape.

2. The bicycle rack of claim 1 , wherein the first post structure and the strap are configured to engage the front fork crown on opposite sides of the steerer tube.

3. The bicycle rack of claim 1 , wherein the first fork crown gripping station includes a second post structure configured to project over a top side of a bicycle front fork crown.

4. The bicycle rack of claim 1 , wherein the first fork crown gripping station includes a base having a laterally inclined surface configured to support a bicycle front fork crown.

5. The bicycle rack of claim 4 , wherein the first post structure and the strap are connected to the base.

6. The bicycle rack of claim 1 , wherein the first post structure is configured to project under a bicycle front fork crown.

7. The bicycle rack of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lower beam structure connected horizontally to the proximal portion of the mast structure, and
a wheel binding device mounted on the lower beam structure, configured to secure a rear wheel of a bicycle while the front fork crown is supported by the first fork crown gripping station.

8. The bicycle rack of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second fork crown gripping station mounted on the upper beam structure, configured to support a first bicycle adjacent to a second bicycle supported by the first fork crown gripping station.

9. A bicycle rack, comprising:
a hitch mount device,
a mast structure having a proximal portion pivotally connected to the hitch mount device, and a distal portion extending upward from the proximal portion,
an upper beam structure connected horizontally to the distal portion of the mast structure, and
a first fork crown gripping station mounted on the upper beam structure, including a first post structure and a second post structure,
wherein the second post structure has an inverted V-shape.

10. The bicycle rack of claim 9 , wherein the first post structure is configured to project over a top side of a bicycle front fork crown, and the first fork crown gripping station includes a strap configured to bind the bicycle front fork crown to the first fork crown gripping station.

11. The bicycle rack of claim 10 , wherein the second post structure is configured to project under a bicycle front fork crown.

12. The bicycle rack of claim 9 , further comprising:
a lower beam structure connected horizontally to the proximal portion of the mast structure, and
a wheel binding device mounted on the lower beam structure, configured to secure a rear wheel of a bicycle while the front fork crown is supported by the first fork crown gripping station.

13. The bicycle rack of claim 9 , further comprising:
a second fork crown gripping station mounted on the upper beam structure, configured to support a first bicycle adjacent to a second bicycle supported by the first fork crown gripping station.

14. The bicycle rack of claim 9 , wherein the first fork crown gripping station includes a base having a laterally inclined surface configured to support a bicycle front fork crown.

15. A bicycle rack, comprising:
a hitch mount device,
a mast structure having a proximal portion connected to the hitch mount device, and a distal portion extending upward from the proximal portion,
an upper beam structure connected horizontally to the distal portion of the mast structure, and
a first fork crown gripping station mounted on the upper beam structure, wherein the first fork crown gripping station includes a first post structure having an inverted V-shape and a ramp-shaped base mounted directly on the upper beam structure, the base having a flat crown support surface forming an oblique angle with a long axis of the upper beam structure.

16. The bicycle rack of claim 15 , wherein the first fork crown gripping station includes a second post structure configured to project over a top side of a bicycle front fork crown, and a strap configured to bind the bicycle front fork crown to the first fork crown gripping station.

17. The bicycle rack of claim 15 , further comprising:
a lower beam structure connected horizontally to the proximal portion of the mast structure, and
a wheel binding device mounted on the lower beam structure, configured to secure a rear wheel of a bicycle while the front fork crown is supported by the first fork crown gripping station.

18. The bicycle rack of claim 15 , further comprising:
a second fork crown gripping station mounted on the upper beam structure, configured to support a first bicycle adjacent to a second bicycle supported by the first fork crown gripping station.

19. The bicycle rack of claim 15 , wherein the crown support surface is sloped relative to a line parallel to the long axis of the upper beam structure and at least a portion of the base is sloped in another direction.

20. The bicycle rack of claim 19 , wherein the at least a portion of the base is sloped relative to a line perpendicular to the long axis of the upper beam structure.

Assignees

• Yakima Products Inc

Inventors

• Mcfadden Scott A
• D'Angelo Gian-Marco
• Sagen Jason Attfield
• Stoneburner Warren E
• Willems Brandon Michael

Classifications

• B60R9/10 Primary

  for cycles · CPC title

• B60R9/06

  at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)} · CPC title