Supporting unit for a bike carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12017618-B2
Application number	US-202017628478-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2020
Priority date	Dec 20, 2019
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

Disclosed is a supporting unit for a bike carrier. The supporting unit is configured for fixedly holding a mounting portion mountable to the fork of a bike instead of a wheel or being formed by a part other than the wheel of the bike to be transported, for example by a portion of the fork of the bike. The supporting unit comprises a locking mechanism for receiving the mounting portion and to be transferable between a locking state in which the mounting portion is non-releasably fixed on the supporting unit and an unlocking state in which the mounting portion is dismountable from the supporting unit. The locking mechanism is lockable by receiving a force from the mounting portion upon inserting the mounting portion into the supporting unit so that the locking mechanism is transferable into the locking state by the force exerted on the locking mechanism by the mounting portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A supporting unit for a bike carrier, said supporting unit configured to fixedly hold an axle mountable to a fork of a bike, said supporting unit comprising:
a locking mechanism configured to receive said axle and to be transferable between a locking state in which said axle is non-releasably fixed on said supporting unit and an unlocking state in which said axle is dismountable from said supporting unit,
wherein said locking mechanism is configured to be lockable by receiving a force from said axle upon inserting said axle into said supporting unit, and wherein said locking mechanism is transferable into said locking state by said force exerted on said locking mechanism by said axle.

2. The supporting unit of claim 1 , wherein said axle is a thru axle of said bike configured to mount said wheel to said fork, a thru axle adapter axle configured to be coupled to said fork by said thru axle of said fork, or a quick release adapter axle configured to be coupled to said fork by a quick release skewer mechanism.

3. The supporting unit of claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises an arrangement for positively locking said axle between at least two locking members, wherein at least one of said at least two locking members is arranged movable with respect to another one of said at least two locking members to positively lock said axle.

4. The supporting unit of claim 3 , wherein said at least two locking members comprise receiving sections for partially receiving said axle, and clamping sections configured to clamp said axle when said locking mechanism is in said locking state.

5. The supporting unit of claim 4 , wherein at least one of said receiving sections comprises a shape at least partially following an outer contour of said axle.

6. The supporting unit of claim 3 , wherein said locking mechanism is configured to at least partially automatically transfer into said locking state when said axle is at least partially inserted into said supporting unit.

7. The supporting unit of claim 3 , further comprising a blocking unit configured to block a movement of said at least one movable locking member in at least an opening direction of said at least one movable locking member,
wherein said blocking unit comprises an engaging unit configured to engage behind or with said at least one movable locking member to temporarily block a movement of said at least one movable locking member in said opening direction.

8. The supporting unit of claim 7 , wherein said blocking unit comprises a blocking member configured to move between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein said blocking member is configured to translate, pivot, or both in said blocking unit.

9. The supporting unit of claim 8 , wherein said blocking member is biased towards said locking position by a biasing member wherein said blocking member is configured to automatically engage behind or with said at least one movable locking member when said at least one movable locking member is moved by a predetermined distance towards a positive locking position.

10. The supporting unit of claim 9 , wherein said biasing member is a coil spring.

11. The supporting unit of claim 8 , wherein said blocking member comprises a cam surface configured for sliding contact with a force receiving portion directly or indirectly coupled with said at least one movable locking member, wherein said cam surface is configured such that a force exerted on said force receiving portion is directed such that said at least one movable locking member is urged towards a positive locking position.

12. The supporting unit of claim 8 , further comprising an operating lever configured to return said blocking member into said unlocking position.

13. The supporting unit of claim 12 , further comprising a cross bar attachment member configured to couple said supporting unit to a cross bar of a load carrier.

14. The supporting unit of claim 13 , further comprising an operating member configured to operate said cross bar attachment member, wherein said operating member is arranged below or behind said operating lever.

15. The supporting unit of claim 3 , wherein said at least one movable locking member is arranged on said supporting unit movable towards and away from said positive locking position, wherein said at least one movable locking member is configured and arranged pivotably about a pivot axis, wherein at least one movable locking member is pivoted by said force exerted by said axle, and configured such that a bike weight force pivots said at least one movable locking member towards said positive locking position.

16. The supporting unit of claim 3 , wherein at least one movable locking member is arranged on said supporting unit movable towards and away from a positive locking position, wherein said at least one movable locking member is slidingly movable along a path which is oriented in a descending manner towards said positive locking position such that said force received from said axle in a vertical downward direction is at least partially transferred into a pushing force towards said positive locking position.

17. A bike carrier, comprising:
a supporting unit for a bike carrier, said supporting unit configured to fixedly hold an axle coupled to a fork of a bike, said supporting unit comprising:
a locking mechanism configured to receive said axle and to be transferable between a locking state in which said axle is non-releasably fixed on said supporting unit and an unlocking state in which said axle is dismountable from said supporting unit,
wherein said locking mechanism is configured to be lockable by receiving a force from said axle upon inserting said axle into said supporting unit, and wherein said locking mechanism is transferable into said locking state by said force exerted on said locking mechanism by said axle; and

a supporting bar coupled to said supporting unit and configured to directly or indirectly support a rear wheel of said bike.

18. A method of mounting a mounting portion provided on a bike onto a supporting unit, comprising the steps of:
inserting said mounting portion in a receiving section of a movable locking member of a locking mechanism, wherein said mounting portion is an axle mounted to a fork of a bike; and
moving said mounting portion into a stationary locking member thereby moving said movable locking member into a positive locking position in which a movement of said movable locking member in an opening direction is automatically blocked.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said movable locking member is movable along a path that is oriented in a descending manner towards said positive locking position.

Assignees

• Thule Sweden Ab

Inventors

• Lindholm Olof
• Svensson Thomas
• Arvidsson Andreas
• Stråth Simon
• Nordström Simon
• Olaison Hannes

Classifications

• B60R9/10 Primary

  for cycles · CPC title

• B60R9/048 Primary

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