Load carrier, such as a bike carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12459443-B2
Application number	US-202519018802-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2025
Priority date	Jul 6, 2021
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a bicycle support arm for a bicycle carrier. The bicycle support arm includes a first arm rotatably coupled to the bicycle carrier, a second arm slidably coupled to the first arm, and a pivotable head coupled to the second arm and configured to secure a bicycle to the bicycle carrier. In some embodiments, the pivotable head at least partially encloses a distal end of the second arm.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A bicycle support arm for a bicycle carrier, comprising:
a first arm rotatably coupled to the bicycle carrier; a second arm slidably coupled to the first arm; and a pivotable head coupled to the second arm and configured to secure a bicycle to the bicycle carrier, wherein the pivotable head at least partially encloses a distal end of the second arm; and wherein the pivotable head is pivotable about a head axis extending substantially perpendicular to a length direction of the second arm.

2 . The bicycle support arm of claim 1 , further comprising a ratchet buckle coupled to the pivotable head and configured to receive and hold a strap.

3 . The bicycle support arm of claim 2 , further comprising a strap locking arrangement associated with the ratchet buckle and configured to lock the strap to prevent the strap from being released from the ratchet buckle.

4 . The bicycle support arm of claim 3 , wherein the strap locking arrangement is disposed on the pivotable head.

5 . The bicycle support arm of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable head is spaced apart from the distal end of the second arm.

6 . The bicycle support arm of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable head comprises a bicycle support surface against which a bicycle rests when a strap has tensioned the bicycle to the bicycle support arm.

7 . The bicycle support arm of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable head is L-shaped.

8 . The bicycle support arm of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable head comprises a bicycle support portion extending in a length direction of the bicycle support arm and a buckle support portion extending at least partially over the distal end of the second arm.

9 . The bicycle support arm of claim 8 , wherein the bicycle support portion comprises a bicycle support surface configured to contact the bicycle when the bicycle is secured to the bicycle support arm.

10 . The bicycle support arm of claim 1 , further comprising a strap configured to secure the bicycle to the pivotable head, wherein a proximal end of the strap is fixably coupled to the pivotable head and extends in a direction parallel to a length direction of the bicycle support arm, and wherein a distal end of the strap is releasably coupled to a buckle coupled to the pivotable head.

11 . A load support arm for a load carrier configured to secure a load to the load carrier, the load support arm comprising:
an elongated arm; and a load securement head moveably coupled to the elongated arm, wherein the load securement head comprises:
a load support surface configured to contact the load and extending in a length direction of the elongated arm, and
a buckle support portion extending at least partially over a distal-most end of the elongated arm in a first orientation such that the buckle support portion intersects a longitudinal axis extending through the elongated arm in the length direction.

12 . The load support arm of claim 11 , wherein the elongated arm is rotatably coupled to the load carrier and configured to rotate about an arm rotation axis,
wherein the load securement head rotates about a head axis, and wherein the head axis extends parallel to the arm rotation axis.

13 . The load support arm of claim 11 , wherein the buckle support portion is spaced apart from the distal-most end of the elongated arm.

14 . The load securement arm of claim 11 , wherein the elongated arm comprises a front side and a lateral side, and wherein the buckle support portion extends at least partially over the lateral side in a second orientation, and wherein the load support surface is disposed adjacent to the front side in the first orientation and the second orientation.

15 . A load support arm for a load carrier configured to secure a load to the load carrier, the load support arm comprising: an elongated arm; a load securement head moveably coupled to the elongated arm, wherein the load securement head comprises: a load support surface configured to contact the load and extending in a length direction of the elongated arm, and a buckle support portion extending at least partially over a distal-most end of the elongated arm in a first orientation; and a strap configured to secure the load to the load securement head.

16 . The load support arm of claim 15 , wherein a proximal end of the strap is fixably coupled to the load support surface.

17 . The load support arm of claim 16 , wherein the proximal end of the strap extends away from the load support surface in a direction approximately parallel to the length direction of the elongated arm.

18 . The load support arm of claim 15 , wherein a distal end of the strap is releasably coupled to a ratchet buckle disposed on the buckle support portion.

19 . The load support arm of claim 18 , wherein the distal end of the strap extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the length direction of the elongated arm.

Assignees

• Thule Sweden Ab

Inventors

• Nilvius Anders
• Ferman Magnus
• Ulvegard Hannes
• Ringdahl Jonas
• Larsson Fredrik
• Jönsson Tobias
• Rosenqvist Klara
• Helmersson Simon
• Larsson Johan
• Olaison Hannes

Classifications

• B60R9/06 Primary

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

• B60R9/10 Primary

  for cycles · CPC title