Clamping jaw for a support assembly for a bicycle carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10994663-B2
Application number	US-201816179253-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2018
Priority date	Aug 27, 2013
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

A jaw member for a support assembly for securing a bicycle to a load carrier for a vehicle. The jaw member includes a frame work structure formed by at least one support element and at least one rib. The frame work structure is adapted to enable the jaw member to withstand a relative high amount of tensile stress while still being relatively light weight.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clamping jaw for a support assembly for securing a bicycle to a load carrier for a vehicle, said clamping jaw comprising:
a first jaw member comprising:
a first frame work structure formed by a first support element and a first plurality of ribs, wherein said first support element of said first jaw member comprises:
a bicycle facing side configured to be positioned substantially adjacent said bicycle when mounted thereto, and
a distal side, opposite the bicycle facing side, wherein each of said first plurality of ribs extends from said distal side and away from said bicycle facing side of said first support element of said first jaw member, and wherein a first pair of ribs of said first plurality of ribs are separated from each other by a first groove,

wherein at least one of said first plurality of ribs comprises a base having a thickness proximal to said first support element, and a top surface distal to said first support element,

wherein said thickness gradually decreases from said base to said top surface; and
a second jaw member coupled to the first jaw member to form the clamping jaw, the second jaw member comprising:
a second frame work structure formed by a second support element and a second plurality of ribs, wherein said second support element of said second jaw member comprises:
a bicycle facing side configured to be positioned substantially adjacent said bicycle when mounted thereto, and
a distal side, opposite the bicycle facing side, wherein each of said second plurality of ribs extends from said distal side and away from said bicycle facing side of said second support element of said second jaw member, and wherein a second pair of ribs of said second plurality of ribs are separated from each other by a second groove.

2. The clamping jaw according to claim 1 , wherein:
each of said first plurality of ribs extends from said distal side of said first support element in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first support element; and
each of said second plurality of ribs extends from said distal side of said second support element in a direction substantially perpendicular to said second support element.

3. The clamping jaw according to claim 1 , wherein said first frame work structure is positioned at a center section of said first jaw member.

4. The clamping jaw according to claim 3 , wherein said first jaw member comprises a first and a second mouth rib, and wherein said first frame work structure is positioned between said first and said second mouth rib and separated by a groove on either side of said first frame work structure.

5. The clamping jaw according to claim 3 , wherein said first jaw member comprises three grip sections, wherein said first frame work structure and said first support element forms, or supports, a center grip section between two grip sections.

6. The clamping jaw according to claim 1 , wherein said first support element and said first plurality of ribs are formed in one unitary piece of material.

7. The clamping jaw according to claim 1 , wherein said bicycle facing side of said first support element comprises a friction enhancing material defining a grip section.

8. The clamping jaw according to claim 1 , wherein said first jaw member is coupled to said second jaw member at a pivot axis, and said first frame work structure is disposed at a mouth of said clamping jaw.

9. The clamping jaw according to claim 1 , wherein said first plurality of ribs is disposed between said distal side and an outer distal most surface of said first support element.

10. A jaw member for a support assembly for securing a bicycle to a load carrier for a vehicle, said jaw member comprising:
a frame work structure formed by at least one support element and at least one rib, wherein said support element of said jaw member comprises:
a bicycle facing side adapted to grip said bicycle when mounted thereto; and
a distal side facing away from the bicycle facing side, wherein said at least one rib extends from said distal side of said support element of said jaw member; and

first and second mouth ribs coupled to said frame work structure,
wherein said frame work structure is positioned between said first and second mouth ribs and separated by a groove on either side of said frame work structure,
wherein said groove laterally spaces said frame work structure from said respective first and second mouth ribs,
wherein said groove is disposed within said jaw member and extends away from said bicycle facing side and toward said distal side, and
wherein the at least one rib comprises a base having a thickness proximal to said support element, and a top surface distal to said support element, wherein said thickness gradually decreases from said base to said top surface.

11. The jaw member according to claim 10 , wherein said at least one rib is disposed between said distal side and an outer distal most surface of said first and second mouth ribs.

12. The jaw member according to claim 11 , wherein said at least one rib comprises a plurality of ribs.

13. A jaw member for a support assembly for securing a bicycle to a load carrier for a vehicle, said jaw member comprising:
a frame work structure formed by at least one support element and at least one rib,
wherein said support element of said jaw member comprises:
a bicycle facing side adapted to be positioned substantially adjacent said bicycle when mounted thereto and
a distal side, wherein said at least one rib extends from said distal side of said support element of said jaw member,

wherein said at least one rib comprises a base having a thickness proximal to said support element, and a top surface distal to said support element, wherein said thickness gradually decreases from said base to said top surface.

14. A support assembly for securing a bicycle to a load carrier for a vehicle, the support assembly comprising:
a clamping jaw for clamping a frame of the bicycle; and
a tensioning device comprising a rotatable knob configured to tighten or untighten the clamping jaw, wherein the clamping jaw comprises:
a first jaw member; and
a second jaw member opposite the first jaw member, wherein the first jaw member comprises:
a frame work structure formed by at least one support element and at least one rib; and
an aperture which extends through the first jaw member and permits an axle connected to the rotatable knob to extend through the first jaw member,
wherein the at least one rib projects from the support element in a direction away from the second jaw member, and
wherein the at least one rib comprises a base proximal to the support element, and a top surface distal to the support element, wherein a thickness of the at least one rib gradually decreases from the base towards the top surface.

15. The jaw member according to claim 10 , wherein said frame work structure comprises first and second side ribs disposed on either side of said support element and extending toward said distal side, wherein said first and second side ribs are separated from said respective first and second mouth ribs by said groove.

16. The support assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said at least one rib comprises a plurality of ribs.

Assignees

• Thule Sweden Ab

Inventors

• Zander Patrik
• Sjödell Anders

Classifications

• F16B31/027

  with a bolt head causing the fastening or the unfastening tool to lose the grip when a specified torque is exceeded · CPC title

• B60R9/10

  for cycles · CPC title

• F16B2/10

  using pivoting jaws · CPC title

• F16B2/02

  Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening · CPC title

• B60R9/048 Primary

  Carriers characterised by article-gripping {, -covering,}-retaining, or -locking means · CPC title