Anti-sway device adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9307795-B2
Application number	US-201213613532-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2012
Priority date	Sep 13, 2011
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

An angled adapter configured for engagement between a carrier-mounted bicycle cradle and a bicycle anti-sway device. The adapter includes an adapter body. The adapter body has a cradle engagement portion at a top end thereof and an anti-sway engagement portion at a bottom end thereof. The adapter body also includes an angled extension portion interconnected between the cradle engagement portion and the anti-sway engagement portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An angled adapter configured for engagement between a carrier-mounted bicycle cradle and a bicycle anti-sway device, the adapter comprising:
an adapter body having:
a cradle engagement portion comprising a pivot connector at a top end thereof configured to pivotably engage the bicycle cradle about an upper pivot axis of the adapter body;
an anti-sway engagement portion comprising a pivot connector at a bottom end thereof configured to pivotably engage the bicycle anti-sway device about a lower pivot axis of the adapter body; and
an angled extension portion interconnected between the cradle engagement portion and the anti-sway engagement portion;
wherein the upper and lower pivot axes are obliquely oriented with respect to one another.

2. The angled adapter as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pivot connector of the cradle engagement portion is configured to couple with a mating pivot connector on the bicycle cradle.

3. The angled adapter as recited in claim 2 , wherein the pivot connector of the cradle engagement portion is a hinge connector configured to couple with a mating hinge connector on the bicycle cradle.

4. The angled adapter as recited in claim 2 , wherein the anti-sway engagement portion is fixedly interconnected to an engaged anti-sway device.

5. The angled adapter as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pivot connector of the anti-sway engagement portion is configured to couple with a mating pivot connector on an engaged anti-sway device.

6. The angled adapter as recited in claim 5 , wherein the pivot connector of the anti-sway engagement portion is a hinge connector configured to couple with a mating hinge connector on an engaged anti-sway device.

7. The angled adapter as recited in claim 5 , wherein the cradle engagement portion is fixedly interconnected to the bicycle cradle.

8. The angled adapter as recited in claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower pivot axes are offset at least five degrees with respect to one another.

9. The angled adapter as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pivot connector of the cradle engagement portion comprises a hinge connector configured to couple with a mating hinge connector on the bicycle cradle and the pivot connector of the anti-sway engagement portion comprises a hinge connector configured to couple with a mating hinge connector on an engaged anti-sway device.

10. The angled adapter as recited in claim 1 , wherein the angled extension portion comprises a non-linear lengthwise central axis extending from the cradle engagement portion to the anti-sway engagement portion and located equidistant between two lateral sides of the angled extension portion.

11. The angled adapter as recited in claim 10 , wherein the lengthwise central axis comprises a first straight segment at the cradle engagement portion and a second straight segment at the anti-sway engagement portion and wherein the first straight segment and the second straight segment are not parallel.

12. The angled adapter as recited in claim 10 , wherein the lengthwise central axis comprises a first straight segment at the cradle engagement portion and a second straight segment at the anti-sway engagement portion and wherein the first straight segment and the second straight segment are obliquely oriented to one another.

13. The angled adapter as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first straight segment of the lengthwise central axis at the cradle engagement portion is offset at least five degrees from the second straight segment of the lengthwise central axis at the anti-sway engagement portion.

14. The angled adapter as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first straight segment of the lengthwise central axis at the cradle engagement portion is offset at least ten degrees from the second straight segment of the lengthwise central axis at the anti-sway engagement portion.

15. A bicycle carrier, comprising:
an elongate arm;
a bicycle cradle mounted on the elongate arm;
a bicycle anti-sway device; and
an angled adapter configured to couple the bicycle cradle and the bicycle anti-sway device, the adapter comprising:
an adapter body having:
a cradle engagement portion comprising a pivot connector at a top end thereof configured to pivotably engage the bicycle cradle about an upper pivot axis of the adapter body;
an anti-sway engagement portion comprising a pivot connector at a bottom end thereof configured to pivotably engage the bicycle anti-sway device about a lower pivot axis of the adapter body; and
an angled extension portion interconnected between the cradle engagement portion and the anti-sway engagement portion;
wherein the upper and lower pivot axes are obliquely oriented with respect to one another.

Assignees

• Wiedemann Karl
• Frick Reed E
• Roberts Noel W
• Semeraro Stewart
• Stevens James T
• Bogoslofski Kevin S
• Thule Sweden Ab

Inventors

• Wiedemann Karl
• Frick Reed E
• Roberts Noel W
• Semeraro Stewart
• Stevens James T
• Bogoslofski Kevin S

Classifications

• B60R9/10 Primary

  for cycles · CPC title

• A41D13/015 Primary

  with shock-absorbing means (A41D13/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16B7/044

  for rods or tubes being in angled relationship · CPC title

• Y10T428/239

  Complete cover or casing · CPC title

• B29C2043/182

  completely · CPC title