Lockable quick release mechanism

A mechanism for retaining a pair of prongs of a bicycle fork, comprising:

• a skewer, the skewer having a flange at a first end thereof, the flange having a flange bearing surface;
• a block, the block having first and second bearing surfaces on first and second sides thereof, respectively, a through hole extending through the block from the first one of the bearing surfaces to the second one of the bearing surfaces, the skewer being axially movable in the through hole, the flange being unable to move into the through hole past the second bearing surface on the second side;
• an adjustable clamping assembly attached to a second end of the skewer, the clamping assembly including
• a housing, the housing being movably mounted on the second end of the skewer,
• a lever, a first end of the lever being pivotably mounted on the housing, the lever including a cam surface,
• a clamping body, the clamping body including a cam follower disposed in the housing and a clamping body bearing surface disposed outside of the housing, pivoting of the lever causing the clamping body bearing surface to be urged further outside of the housing, and
• a stop, the stop being movably mounted on the second end of the skewer over a range of movement to prevent axial movement of the housing beyond the stop, and
• a lock assembly, the lock assembly including a first portion on a second end of the lever and a second portion, lockable to the first portion, on a first side of the block.

A mechanism for retaining a pair of prongs of a bicycle fork for transportation of the bicycle on a carrier on a vehicle, comprising:

• a skewer, the skewer having a member at a first end thereof, the member having a bearing surface;
• a block, the block having first and second bearing surfaces on first and second sides thereof, respectively, a through hole extending through the block from the first one of the bearing surfaces to the second one of the bearing surfaces, the skewer being axially movable in the through hole, the member being unable to move into the through hole past either of the bearing surfaces on the sides of the block;
• means for securing the block to a portion of the carrier;
• and
• a clamping assembly attached to one end of the skewer, the clamping assembly including
• a housing, the housing being movably mounted on said one end of the skewer,
• a lever, a first end of the lever being pivotably mounted on the housing, the lever cooperating with a cam surface,
• a clamping body, the clamping body including a cam follower disposed in the housing and a clamping body bearing surface disposed on an outside of the housing, pivoting of the lever causing movement of the housing, and
• a fixed stop mounted on only one of the first and second ends of the skewer to prevent outward axial movement of one of the member and the housing beyond the stop, and
• a lock assembly arranged in the housing for preventing movement of the housing.

A mechanism for retaining prongs of a bicycle for transportation of the bicycle on a carrier for a vehicle, comprising:

• a block, the block having a first bearing surface on a first side thereof;
• means for securing the block to a portion of the carrier;
• a skewer having first and second ends, said skewer extending through the block and having the first end extending from the first bearing surface;
• and
• an adjustable clamping assembly attached to the first end of the skewer, the clamping assembly including
• a clamping body movably mounted on the first end of the skewer, the clamping body including a clamping body bearing surface,
• urging means, movably mounted on the first end of the skewer, for urging the clamping body bearing surface toward the first bearing surface, and
• a stop, the stop being movably mounted on one of the first and second ends of the skewer over a range of movement to limit outward axial movement of the urging means on the skewer;
• and
• a fixed stop arranged on the other end of the skewer opposite said one end having the stop.

A mechanism for retaining a pair of prongs of a bicycle fork for transportation of a bicycle on a carrier for a vehicle, comprising:

• a skewer having first and second ends, portions of the skewer being adapted to receive the prongs;
• a block, the block having a through hole extending through the block for receiving the skewer, the skewer being axially movable in the through hole and extending from both sides of the block;
• means for securing the block to a portion of the carrier;
• the skewer having a fixed stop on one of the first and second ends thereof and a member on the other end thereof, a clamping assembly being provided on one of the one end and the other end of the skewer, the member and the clamping assembly each including a bearing surface directed toward the block, said fixed stop preventing further outward axial movement of the bearing surface of one of the clamping assembly and the member relative to the skewer;
• and
• the clamping assembly including a lever pivotally mounted on a housing for the clamping assembly, pivoting of the lever causing movement of the housing along the skewer.