Adapter for a bike mount

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11459048-B2
Application number	US-202117362422-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2021
Priority date	Jul 3, 2020
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

An adapter fixable to a bike mount of a bike supporting unit for changing the dimension of said bike mount such that a predetermined bike axle mount type of several bike axle mount types configured to be supported on the bike mount. The adapter is configured as a multiway adapter comprising at least two different adapter sections each provided to adapt the bike mount to a specific one of the different bike axle mount types so that by means of the adapter, the bike mount can be adapted to at least two different bike axle mount types. Furthermore, a bike mount for receiving the adapter and a bike mount system is disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter fixable to a bike mount of a bike supporting unit for changing the dimension of said bike mount such that a predetermined bike axle mount type of several bike axle mount types is configured to be supported on said bike mount, wherein said adapter is configured as a multiway adapter comprising at least two different adapter sections each provided to adapt said bike mount to a specific one of said several bike axle mount types, wherein with said adapter said bike mount is configured to be adapted to at least two different bike axle mount types.

2. The adapter according to claim 1 , said adapter comprising at least one adapter portion defining at least one of said different adapter sections, wherein said at least one adapter portion comprises a first mounting orientation in which said adapter portion provides a first fixation option for a first bike axle mount type, and a second mounting orientation in which said adapter portion provides a second fixation option for a second bike axle mount type, wherein said adapter is configured such that a change between said first mounting orientation and said second mounting orientation is achieved by turning said adapter about a turning axis.

3. The adapter according to claim 2 , said adapter comprising at least two of said adapter portions, wherein said at least two adapter portions are arranged laterally offset with respect to each other, and wherein said adapter portions are coupled to each other by means of a coupling portion such that said adapter is formed as an integral unit.

4. The adapter according to claim 3 , wherein said coupling portion is formed such that the positions of said at least two adapter portions are simultaneously changeable by rotating said adapter about a rotational axis.

5. The adapter according to claim 4 , wherein said adapter portions are paraxially arranged with respect to said rotational axis.

6. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein said adapter is configured as a plug-like adapter which is at least partially insertable into a corresponding socket-like supporting portion provided in said bike mount.

7. The adapter according to claim 3 , wherein said coupling portion comprises a coupling plate.

8. The adapter according to claim 3 , wherein at least one adapter portion of said at least two adapter portions extends on both sides of said coupling portion such that said adapter sections are arranged on opposite sides of the coupling portion.

9. The adapter according to claim 8 , wherein two or more adapter portions protrude from opposite sides of the coupling portion and adjacent adapter sections on the same side may comprise different lengths such that said adapter sections do not interfere with bike axle mount types to be mounted.

10. The adapter according to claim 8 , wherein said adapter comprises at least one positioning portion configured to correctly position one of said adapter portions in a supporting portion of said bike mount by contacting a mating positioning portion on said bike mount.

11. The adapter according to claim 10 , wherein said positioning portion is a portion of said coupling portion or is a portion of an adapter portion configured to contact an inner surface of said supporting portion and which is configured as a curved surface with a curvature corresponding to the curvature of an outer circumferential surface of said adapter section.

12. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein each adapter section comprises an opening for passing a fixation axle therethrough.

13. The adapter according to claim 3 , wherein adjacent adapter sections on the same side of said coupling portion comprise openings with different diameters for inserting axles of different diameters therein.

14. A bike mount comprising:
a fixation portion for coupling said bike mount to a bike supporting unit, wherein said bike supporting unit is a member of a bike transport case, a bike carrier, a bike stand or a bike training arrangement, and
at least one convertible supporting portion adaptable to different bike axle mount types by means of the adapter according to claim 1 ,
wherein said convertible supporting portion is configured in a socket-type manner for at least partially receiving said adapter such that an adapter section to be used for supporting a bike is at least aligned with a support opening of said bike mount.

15. The bike mount according to claim 14 , further comprising an additional supporting portion adapted for a predetermined bike axle mount type.

16. The bike mount according to claim 15 , wherein said additional supporting portion is arranged at a greater distance from said fixation portion than said convertible supporting portion in order to provide a better ground clearance for specific bike mount types.

17. The bike mount according to claim 14 , wherein said bike mount comprises a recess separating said convertible supporting portion into two distinct support members arranged at a distance from each other such that said adapter is insertable into said convertible supporting portion from inside.

18. A bike mount system comprising:
a bike mount comprising a fixation portion for coupling said bike mount to a bike supporting unit, and at least one convertible supporting portion adaptable to different bike axle mount types by means of an adapter,
wherein said adapter is mountable on one side of said bike mount in at least two different ways,
wherein said adapter is configured as a multiway adapter comprising at least two different adapter sections each provided to adapt said bike mount to a specific one of said different bike axle mount types so that by means of said adapter said bike mount can be adapted to at least two different bike axle mount types,
wherein said convertible supporting portion is configured in a socket-type manner for at least partially receiving said adapter such that an adapter section to be used for supporting a bike is at least aligned with a support opening of said bike mount, and
wherein said bike supporting unit is a member of a bike transport case, a bike carrier, a bike stand or a bike training arrangement.

19. A bike carrier comprising a bike mount system according to claim 18 fixed to an elongate supporting profile, and a coupling portion fixed to said elongate supporting profile and configured for mounting said bike carrier to a carrying device.

20. A bike carrier case comprising a supporting portion and a bike carrier according to claim 19 mounted to said supporting portion, wherein said bike carrier is releasably mountable to the supporting portion by means of said coupling portion.

Assignees

• Thule Sweden Ab

Inventors

• Ardmar David
• Pleasants Parke
• Schmidt Michael
• Hazeltine Philip
• Karlsson Daniel
• Thibadeau Mark
• Hassett Eric

Classifications

• B60R9/048

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

• B60R9/10 Primary

  for cycles · CPC title

• B62H3/08 Primary

  involving recesses or channelled rails for embracing the bottom part of a wheel · CPC title