# US 4,392,597 A · Bicycle rack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,392,597 A - Document ID: US4392597A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/345,199 - Filed: 1980-02-02 - Granted: 1983-07-12 - Earliest claimed: 1980-02-02 - Inventors: Hubert L. Traugh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392597A ## CPC - B60R 9/10: for cycles - Y10S 224/924: Vehicle attached carrier for bicycle or motorcycle - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A bicycle rack particularly adapted for use in combination with an externally mounted spare tire on a vehicle, such as a recreational, motor home, or van type vehicle, the rack incorporating means for releasably mounting the rack on the spare tire without requiring the use of tools and means for releasably supporting one or more bicycles on the rack with the bicycles in a fully assembled condition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bicycle rack particularly adapted for use with an exteriorly mounted spare tire on an automotive vehicle, said rack comprising, in combination, a horizontally disposed support section and a vertically disposed base section, means connecting said support section and said base section together, said support section being of generally U-shaped configuration and including a pair of laterally spaced, horizontally extending arms and a transverse portion extending between said arms in vertically spaced relationship with respect thereto, said base section including a horizontally extending member disposed in horizontally spaced relationship with respect to said transverse portion of said support section whereby a portion of a tire may be received therebetween, said base section also including a pair of oppositely angularly disposed members each having one end portion thereof connected to said support section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The combination as set forth in claim 1, the free end portions of said arms extending angularly upwardly to form abutment stops. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The combination as set forth in claim 1 including resilient means for releasably securing said rack to a spare tire. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The combination as set forth in claim 1, said arms and said transverse portion of said support section being formed of a single cylindrical rod. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The combination as set forth in claim 4, said base section being formed of additional cylindrical rods including rods having a diameter less than the diameter of said single rod. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The combination as set forth in claim 1 including means for releasably securing a bicycle to said support section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The combination as set forth in claim 1, said base section be releasably connected to said support section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The combination as set forth in claim 1, said base section being integrally joined to said support section. ### Claim 9 A bicycle rack particularly adapted for use with an exteriorly mounted spare tire on an automotive vehicle, said bicycle rack comprising, in combination, a horizontally disposed support section and a vertically disposed base section, means connecting said support section and said base section together, said support section being of generally U-shaped configuration and including a pair of laterally spaced, horizontally extending, substantially parallel arms and a transverse portion extending between said arms in vertically spaced relationship with respect thereto, said transverse portion being integrally joined to said arms by integral segments, said base section including a horizontally extending member disposed in horizontally and vertically spaced relationship with respect to said transverse portion of said support section whereby said support section and said base section define an opening spaced from the free ends of said arms and adapted to receive a portion of a tire, said base section also including a pair of oppositely angularly disposed members each having one end portion thereof connected to said support section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The combination as set forth in claim 9, the free end portions of said arms extending angularly upwardly to form abutment stops. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The combination as set forth in claim 9, said base section being releasably connected to said support section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The combination as set forth in claim 9, said base section being integrally joined to said support section. ### Claim 13 In combination with an exteriorly mounted spare tire on an automotive vehicle, a bicycle rack including a horizontally disposed support section and a vertically disposed base section, means connecting said support section and said base section together, said support section being of generally U-shaped configuration and including a pair of laterally spaced, horizontally extending, substantially parallel arms and a transverse portion extending between said arms in vertically spaced relationship with respect thereto, said transverse portion being joined to said arms by integral segments, said base section including a horizontally extending member disposed in horizontally and vertically spaced relationship with respect to said transverse portion of said support section whereby said support section and said base section define an opening spaced from the free ends of said arms and adapted to receive a portion of said spare tire, said base section also including a pair of oppositely angularly disposed members each having one end portion thereof connected to said support section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The combination as set forth in claim 13, said base section being of generally inverted isosceles triangular configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The combination as set forth in claim 13, said base section being of generally H-shaped configuration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The combination as set forth in claim 13, the free end portions of said arms extending angularly upwardly to form abutment stops. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The combination as set forth in claim 13, the length of said horizontally extending member being approximately one-half to two-thirds the maximum diameter of said spare tire. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The combination as set forth in claim 13, the length of said angularly disposed members being less than the maximum diameter of said spare tire. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The combination as set forth in claim 13 including resilient means connected to said support section and said base section to hold said rack firmly on said spare tire. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The combination as set foprth in claim 13, said arms and said transverse portion of said support section being formed of a single cylindrical rod. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The combination as set forth in claim 13, said base section being releasably and adjustably connected to said support section. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The combination as set forth in claim 13, said base section being integrally joined to said support section.