US 5,709,521 A · Lift assist bicycle carrier for car rooftop

Abstract

The bicycle carrier apparatus of the invention has a commercially obtainable pneumatic or similar power lift device positioned longitudinally in and along an elongate bicycle lifting and supporting columnar standard whose lower end is pivotally mounted on a preferably rotatable turntable as part of a mounting base that is adapted for attachment, usually through longitudinal bars inserted in such base, to conventional transverse bars of the usual rooftop luggage rack of an automotive vehicle. The columnar standard includes a bicycle-securing lift bar having a height adjustable lift arm carrying a device that is attachable to the frame of a bicycle to be carried in upstanding position on the rooftop of the vehicle and that accommodates the pivotal swinging movement of such lift bar and of the columnar standard to which it is attached. Also included in the columnar standard are components that guide the power stroke of the power lift device and transfer the power thereof to the columnar standard for raising or assisting in raising it from the down position to the upstanding position.

Claims29

Dependent claims

An assisted lift bicycle carrier for installation on the rooftop of a vehicle, comprising a columnar standard for raising, lowering, and supporting on said rooftop, a bicycle in an upright position;

a base for mounting on the rooftop of a vehicle;
means for pivotally attaching the lower end of said columnar standard to said base on a substantially horizontal pivot axis;
power lift means incorporated in said columnar standard and comprising an elongate piston and cylinder power lift device, for executing upward power lift and return reciprocative strokes, one of the piston and cylinder components of said power lift device having the lower end thereof pivotally fastened against longitudinal movement relative to the other component thereof, which other component is extendable longitudinally for carrying out the power lift strokes;
guide means for said reciprocative strokes, said power lift device being operably associated with said guide means for guiding back and forth movement of said longitudinally extendable component of said power lift device;
and flexible, elongate, but substantially longitudinally non-extendible power transfer means extending between the extendable component of the power lift device and the base, and having length such as will be tensioned during the power lift stroke of said power lift device to force said columnar standard to move upwardly from a down position to an upstanding position on the rooftop during a power lift stroke of said power lift device.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lift assist bicycle carrier for car rooftop

Life of this patent

Lift assist bicycle carrier for car rooftop

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29