Bicycle frame cradle with fold-in anti-sway device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11034308-B2
Application number	US-201816025256-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2018
Priority date	Jul 2, 2018
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

A bicycle carrier includes a bicycle cradle. The bicycle cradle includes a through hole defining an inner surface and a slot through a portion of an outer surface of the bicycle cradle and a portion of the inner surface. The through hole is configured to receive a bicycle carrier support arm disposed therethrough. The slot is configured to allow a fastener to be coupled to the bicycle carrier support arm. An assembly for a bicycle carrier includes a bicycle cradle including a storage cavity and an anti-sway member coupled to the bicycle cradle and configured to secure a bicycle frame loaded onto the bicycle carrier. The anti-sway member is configured to be disposed at least partially within the storage cavity of the bicycle cradle in a storage configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle carrier, comprising:
a bicycle cradle comprising:
a through hole defining an inner surface, wherein the through hole is configured to receive a bicycle carrier support arm disposed therethrough; and
a slot through a portion of an outer surface of the bicycle cradle and a portion of the inner surface, wherein the slot is configured to allow a fastener to be coupled to the bicycle carrier support arm,
wherein the through hole and the slot are orthogonal to each other,
wherein the slot is a radial slot extending at least about 60 degrees along the outer surface of the bicycle cradle, and
wherein the radial slot is configured to allow the bicycle cradle to rotate about the bicycle carrier support arm when the fastener is disposed in the radial slot.

2. The bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein the radial slot extends about 90 degrees along the outer surface of the bicycle cradle and is configured to allow the bicycle cradle to rotate about 90 degrees about the bicycle carrier support arm when the fastener is disposed in the radial slot.

3. The bicycle carrier of claim 1 , further comprising an anti-sway member coupled to the bicycle cradle.

4. The bicycle carrier of claim 3 , wherein the anti-sway member is pivotably coupled to the bicycle cradle by a pin.

5. An assembly for a bicycle carrier, comprising:
a bicycle cradle comprising a storage cavity; and
an anti-sway member coupled to the bicycle cradle and configured to secure a bicycle frame loaded onto the bicycle carrier,
wherein the anti-sway member is configured to be disposed at least partially within the storage cavity of the bicycle cradle in a storage configuration, and
wherein the bicycle cradle comprises a locking mechanism configured to secure the anti-sway member in the storage configuration.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the anti-sway member is pivotably coupled to the bicycle cradle by a pin.

7. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein in the storage configuration a majority of the anti-sway member is disposed within the storage cavity.

8. The assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a transverse slot through the anti-sway member configured to receive a strap.

9. A bicycle carrier, comprising:
a bicycle cradle comprising:
a through hole defining an inner surface, wherein the through hole is configured to receive a bicycle carrier support arm disposed therethrough, and
a transverse slot through the bicycle cradle;

a first strap configured to extend through the transverse slot of the bicycle cradle and around a bicycle frame disposed on the bicycle cradle;
an anti-sway member coupled to the bicycle cradle and configured to reduce movement of a bicycle loaded onto the bicycle carrier, the anti-sway member comprising a transverse slot through the anti-sway member; and
a second strap configured to extend through the transverse slot of the anti-sway member and around a bicycle frame disposed on the anti-sway member,
wherein the transverse slot of the bicycle cradle is disposed below an outer surface of the bicycle cradle configured to support the bicycle frame,
wherein the transverse slot of the bicycle cradle comprises a first groove and the first strap comprises a first rail disposed on a first side of the first strap,
wherein the first rail of the first strap is configured to extend through the first groove of the transverse slot of the bicycle cradle,
wherein the transverse slot of the anti-sway member comprises a first groove and the second strap comprises a first rail disposed on a first side of the second strap, and
wherein the first rail of the second strap is configured to extend through the first groove of the transverse slot of the anti-sway member.

10. The bicycle carrier of claim 9 , wherein the anti-sway member is pivotably coupled to the bicycle cradle by a pin.

11. The bicycle carrier of claim 9 , wherein the transverse slot of the bicycle cradle comprises a second groove and the first strap comprises a second rail disposed on the first side of the first strap, wherein the second rail is configured to extend through the second groove, and wherein the second rail is parallel to the first rail.

12. The bicycle carrier of claim 9 , wherein the first strap includes a first buckle disposed at a first end of the first strap and configured to receive and secure a toothed side of the first strap.

13. The bicycle carrier of claim 12 , wherein the first buckle comprises a spring-loaded tab.

14. The bicycle carrier of claim 12 , wherein the first buckle comprises a first groove and the first strap comprises a first rail disposed on a first side of the first strap, and wherein the first rail is configured to extend through the first groove of the first buckle.

15. An assembly for a bicycle carrier, comprising:
a bicycle cradle;
a buckle;
a strap configured to be coupled to the buckle;
an anti-sway member coupled to the bicycle cradle;
a second buckle; and
a second strap configured to be coupled to the second buckle,
wherein the buckle comprises a first groove and the strap comprises a first rail disposed on a first side of the strap,
wherein the first rail of the strap is configured to extend through the first groove of the buckle,
wherein the buckle comprises a spring configured to bias the buckle to the strap,
wherein the bicycle cradle comprises a transverse slot comprising a first transverse groove extending through the bicycle cradle,
wherein the first rail of the strap extends through the first transverse groove of the bicycle cradle,
wherein the second buckle comprises a first groove and the second strap comprises a first rail disposed on a first side of the second strap,
wherein the first rail of the second strap is configured to extend through the first groove of the second buckle,
wherein the second buckle comprises a spring configured to bias the second buckle to the second strap,
wherein the anti-sway member comprises a transverse slot comprising a first transverse groove extending through the anti-sway member, and
wherein the first rail of the second strap extends through the first transverse groove of the anti-sway member.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the buckle comprises a spring-loaded tab configured to secure a toothed side of the strap.

17. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the buckle comprises a second groove and the strap comprises a second rail disposed on the first side of the strap and parallel to the first rail, and wherein the second rail is configured to extend through the second groove of the buckle.

18. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the buckle is disposed at a distal end of the strap.

19. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a tab disposed at an edge of the storage cavity and configured to provide a releasable snap-fit connection with the anti-sway member.

20. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the transverse slot of the bicycle cradle comprises a second transverse groove and the strap comprises a second rail disposed on the first side of the strap and parallel to the first rail, and wherein the second rail of the strap is configured to extend through the second transverse groove of the bicycle cradle.

Assignees

• Thule Sweden Ab

Inventors

• Viklund Mark

Classifications

• B60R9/10 Primary

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