Adjustable bicycle carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016355140-A1
Application number	US-201514732645-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 5, 2015
Priority date	Jun 5, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An adjustable bicycle carrier may include a frame and a hub assembly. One or more limb members may be rotatably attached to the hub assembly. Each limb member may be selectively locked in position by a rotatable release mechanism having an axially-translating lock portion. The frame may define a continuous, closed perimeter. The hub assembly may be connected across the frame between upper and lower end portions of the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An adjustable bicycle carrier comprising:
a frame having a continuous, closed outer perimeter, the configuration of the frame being the same in a collapsed position and a use position of the carrier; a hub assembly spanning the frame, the hub assembly including an axle member attached at each end to the frame by a fixed connection; a plurality of limb members, each limb member having a proximal end rotatably connected to the axle member of the hub assembly; a plurality of release mechanisms, one for each of the limb members, each of the release mechanisms having a manual interface rotatable about a long axis of the axle member and an associated set of locking portions movable by the release mechanism in a direction parallel to the long axis of the axle member; wherein each of the limb members is selectively operable in
(a) a locked mode, in which the respective set of locking portions are engaged with the proximal end of the limb member, and
(b) an unlocked mode, in which the respective release mechanism is rotated, the set of locking portions are disengaged from the limb member, and the limb member is rotatably positionable relative to the axle member.

2 . The adjustable bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein the limb members comprise a pair of spaced apart, elongate equipment support members.

3 . The adjustable bicycle carrier of claim 1 , wherein each of the release mechanisms is biased toward the locked mode.

4 . The adjustable bicycle carrier of claim 3 , wherein each of the release mechanisms is biased by a spring.

5 . The adjustable bicycle carrier of claim 4 , wherein each spring is coaxial with the axle member.

6 . An adjustable bicycle carrier comprising:
a frame having a pair of opposing lateral frame portions; a hub assembly including an axle member having opposing ends respectively affixed to the opposing lateral frame portions; a release sleeve rotatably connected around the axle member, the release sleeve including a knob portion and an actuating portion having a helical slot formed therein; a locking sleeve keyed to the axle member such that the locking sleeve is translatable along a length of the axle member, the locking sleeve having an outer surface including a plurality of circumferentially disposed first teeth and a protrusion configured to interface with the helical slot of the release sleeve; and a limb member having a proximal hub portion rotatably connected around the axle member and a distal portion protruding from the hub assembly, the hub portion having an inner surface including a plurality of second teeth; wherein the bicycle carrier is selectively operable in a locked mode, in which the first teeth engage with the second teeth to prevent rotation of the limb member with respect to the axle member, and an unlocked mode, in which the release sleeve is rotated, the protrusion of the locking sleeve is urged in a lateral direction by the helical slot, the locking sleeve is translated along the axle member, and the first teeth are disengaged from the second teeth to allow rotational positioning of the limb member.

7 . The adjustable bicycle carrier of claim 6 , wherein the locking sleeve and axle member are splined together.

8 . The adjustable bicycle carrier of claim 7 , wherein a spline pattern of the axle member includes a gap indicating a desired positioning of the locking sleeve.

9 . The adjustable bicycle carrier of claim 6 , wherein the frame forms a continuous, closed outer perimeter configuration which remains in a fixed orientation between collapsed and used positions.

10 . The adjustable bicycle carrier of claim 9 , wherein the frame has a generally four-sided shape.

11 . The adjustable bicycle carrier of claim 6 , wherein the limb member comprises an elongate equipment support member.

12 . A method for adjusting a bicycle carrier, the method comprising:
unlocking a selectively rotatable limb member of a bicycle carrier from a fixed central axle by rotating a release knob about the fixed central axle to force a corresponding locking sleeve to translate along the fixed central axle, thereby disengaging the locking sleeve from the support arm; rotating the limb member about the fixed central axle to a selected angular position while maintaining the position of the release knob; and locking the limb member in the selected angular position by rotating the release knob to cause the locking sleeve to reengage with the limb member; wherein the locking sleeve is keyed to the fixed central axle, such that the locking sleeve is prevented from rotating.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the release knob comprises a sleeve portion rotatably connected around the central axle, the sleeve portion including a helical member that interfaces with a follower member on the locking sleeve to convert rotation of the release knob into translation of the locking sleeve.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the helical member comprises a helical slot and the follower member comprises a pin.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein unlocking the limb member includes rotating the release knob in one direction, and locking the limb member includes rotating the release knob in an opposite direction.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the release knob is biased such that locking the support arm includes allowing a spring to urge the release knob in the opposite direction.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the central axle spans a frame of the bicycle carrier and is fixed relative to the frame.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the frame forms a continuous closed perimeter that stays in a fixed orientation between collapsed and use positions.

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein locking the limb member includes axially moving a first plurality of teeth of the locking sleeve into mating engagement with a corresponding second plurality of teeth of the support arm.

20 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising preventing the release knob and the support arm from translating along the central axle.

Assignees

• Yakima Products Inc

Inventors

• Condon David
• Sagen Jason A
• Guo Haitao

Classifications

• B60R9/10 Primary

  for cycles · CPC title

• B60R9/06

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