US 8,783,536 B1 · Universal bicycle rack with lifting mechanism

Abstract

A universal bicycle rack with a lifting mechanism comprises a vehicle hitch-mounted bicycle carrier with mechanical vertical adjustment capabilities, a bicycle rack and a crank assembly. The bicycle rack comprises a durable metal bicycle receiving and retaining structure which provides securement of a plurality of bicycles to a motor vehicle for transport. The rack is connected to a crank assembly, comprising a hitch receiver, a vertical adjustment assembly, and a crank handle. The crank assembly is attached to an existing vehicle hitch via the hitch receiver portion. The vertical adjustment assembly provides attachment to the bicycle rack. The height of the attachment portion is manually adjustable via the crank handle. In use, a user may lower the rack, roll a bicycle into position over the rack, and utilize the crank handle to raise the rack and bicycles off of the ground surface for subsequent transport.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An adjustable hitch-mounted bicycle carrier for use with a vehicle, said hitch-mounted bicycle carrier comprising:

a lower connecting arm;
a lower base section attached to said lower connecting arm;
an upper base section;
an adjusting gear mechanism attached to said lower base section and engaged with said upper base section, comprising:
an adjusting nut rotatable between clockwise and counter clockwise directions to lower and raise said upper base section in relation to said lower base section;
a first conical meshing gear disposed at a horizontal configuration relative to a longitudinal length of said lower and upper base sections respectively;
a second conical meshing gear;
a bearing firmly connected to a central vertical shaft;
and,
a bearing plate attached to said second conical meshing gear;
a hand crank engaged with said adjusting gear mechanism such that rotational movement of said hand crank causes rotational movement of said adjusting gear mechanism and thereby linearly reciprocates said upper base section relative to said lower base section.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Universal bicycle rack with lifting mechanism

Life of this patent

Universal bicycle rack with lifting mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12