A Carrier For Mounting To A Vehicle
AssigneeFreeload Auto Limited
InventorPatrick David Maguire
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to a bicycle carrier for mounting to a vehicle. The carrier includes a mounting portion for attaching the carrier to a vehicle, a main member attached to the mounting portion, and a pair of wheel supports affixed relative to the main member and at an angle of between about 35 degrees and about 55 degrees to a substantially horizontal axis, such that upper ends of the wheel supports are closer together than lower ends of the wheel supports. Each wheel support includes a channel for partial receipt of a bicycle wheel. The wheel supports are configured to support the wheels of bicycles having a range of wheel diameters and/or wheel base lengths.
Claims8
A bicycle carrier for mounting to a vehicle, the carrier comprising:
- a mounting portion for attaching the carrier to a vehicle;
- a main member attached to the mounting portion;
- and
- a pair of wheel supports fixed relative to the main member and at an angle of between about 35 degrees and about 55 degrees to a substantially horizontal axis, such that upper ends of the wheel supports are closer together than lower ends of the wheel supports, so that collectively the pair of wheel supports are angled inwards towards each other to form a rotational angle therebetween of about substantially 70-110 degrees;
- wherein each wheel support comprises a channel for partial receipt of a bicycle wheel, and wherein the wheel supports includes a curved support surface for providing a contact surface between the bicycle tire and the wheel support to frictionally support the wheels of bicycles having a range of wheel diameters and/or wheel base lengths.
6-18. (canceled)
A bicycle carrier for mounting to a vehicle, the carrier comprising:
- a mounting portion for attaching the carrier to a vehicle;
- a main member attached to the mounting portion;
- and
- a pair of wheel supports fixed relative to the main member and at an angle of between about 35 degrees and about 55 degrees to a substantially horizontal axis, such that upper ends of the wheel supports are closer together than lower ends of the wheel supports, so that collectively the pair of wheel supports are angled inwards towards each other to form a rotational angle therebetween of about substantially 70-110 degrees;
- wherein each wheel support comprises two opposed side walls defining a channel contact surface, for receiving a portion of a bicycle wheel, and wherein the channel support surface has three support portions with different curvatures, for supporting tires and wheel rims of different widths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.