Removable bicycle beam

An apparatus for converting a bicycle for attachment to a vehicle-mounted bicycle rack, the apparatus comprising:

• a first hollow central body having an outer dimension and an inner dimension, a first pair of opposed bores at one end of the central body, opposed first and second ends, and a first latch opening spaced from one of the first pair of bores;
• a first releasable latching mechanism disposed within the central body including a first latch slidably mounted within the first latch opening;
• and
• a first securing assembly disposed on the first end of the central body, the first securing assembly including:
• a) a first fixed arm having a first attachment portion fixedly secured within the central body and a first gripping portion extending outwardly from the first attachment portion, the first gripping portion including one of a first notch or a first tab;
• and
• b) a first pivoting arm having a first aligning sleeve pivotably secured to the central body and a first gripping portion extending outwardly from the first aligning sleeve and including the other of the first notch or the first tab, the first aligning sleeve having an inner dimension greater than the outer dimension of the central body, a first pair of opposed apertures aligned with the first pair of opposed bores in the central body, and a first latch hole releasably engagable with the first latching mechanism.

A bicycle beam adapted for engagement with a bicycle to enable the bicycle to be engaged with a vehicle-mounted carrier, comprising:

• an axially extending central body defining opposed first and second ends;
• a releasable engagement arrangement at each end of the central body, wherein at least one of the releasable engagement arrangements comprises a pair of arms extending outwardly from one of the ends of the central body, wherein at least one of the arms is movable relative to the central body toward and away from the other of the arms for movement between an open position and a closed position, wherein the arms are disposed in a first plane and wherein the direction of movement of the movable arm is in the first plane;
• and
• a releasable retainer mechanism interposed between the movable arm and the central body, for selectively maintaining the movable arm in its closed position, wherein the movable arm includes a transversely open sleeve located inwardly of a pivot axis about which the movable arm is movable relative to the central body, wherein the sleeve is placed about the central body when the movable arm is in its closed position, and wherein the releasable retainer arrangement includes a spring biased latch member mounted to the shaft member inwardly of the pivot axis, and a latch hole associated with the sleeve within which the latch member is received, for releasably maintaining the movable arm in its closed position.

A method for adapting a frame of a bicycle in order to secure the bicycle on a vehicle-mounted bicycle rack, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a beam comprising a central body having an outer dimension, first opposed bores at one end of the central body, opposed first and second ends and a first latch opening spaced from one of the opposed bores, a first releasable latching mechanism carried by the central body and including a first latch slidably retained within the first latch opening, and a first securing assembly disposed on the first end of the central body, the first securing assembly including a first fixed arm having a first attachment portion secured to the central body and a first gripping portion extending outwardly from the first attachment portion, and a first pivoting arm pivotably secured to the central body, wherein the first pivoting arm includes a first sleeve and a first gripping portion extending outwardly from the first sleeve, the first sleeve having an inner dimension greater than the outer dimension of the central body, a first pair of opposed apertures aligned with the first opposed bores in the central body and a first latch hole selectively alignable with the first latch opening and releasably engagable with the first latching mechanism;
• b) opening the first securing assembly;
• c) positioning the first fixed arm and first pivoting arm of the first securing assembly on opposite sides of a component of the bicycle;
• and
• d) closing the first securing assembly.