# US 9,751,470 B2 · Strap with removable hook for rack arrangement mountable to a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,470 B2 - Document ID: US9751470B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/060,397 - Filed: 2016-03-03 - Published: 2016-07-28 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-09-22 - Assignees: Thule Sweden AB - Applicants: Thule Sweden AB - Inventors: Keith L. Prescott; John D. Fiegener; Joseph R. Flaherty; Thomas J. Hanson; Timothy J. Makris; Michael Tinstman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751470B2 ## CPC - B60R 9/10: for cycles - B60R 9/06: at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)} - 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 carrier rack mountable to a vehicle includes a mounting member configured to abut against the vehicle and a flexible strap coupled to the mounting member, the flexible strap having a free end. A blocker is disposed at the free end of the flexible strap and a hooked end piece is removably coupled to the free end of the flexible strap. The hooked end piece includes a distal end having a hooked portion and a proximal end. A cover has a passage extending therethrough from a first end of the cover to a second end of the cover. The cover is slidably disposed about the flexible strap and configured to enclose the blocker and a portion of the hooked end piece within an interior of the cover. The blocker inhibits movement of the flexible strap through the proximal end of the hooked end piece in the proximal direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bicycle carrier rack mountable to a vehicle, the bicycle rack comprising: a mounting member configured to abut against the vehicle; a flexible strap coupled to the mounting member, the flexible strap having a free end; a blocker disposed at the free end of the flexible strap; a hooked end piece removably coupled to the free end of the flexible strap, the hooked end piece comprising: a distal end having a hooked portion and a proximal end, and an extension protruding away from an upper surface of the hooked end piece; and a cover having a passage extending therethrough from a first end of the cover to a second end of the cover, wherein the cover is slidably disposed about the flexible strap and configured to enclose the blocker and a portion of the hooked end piece within an interior of the cover, wherein the blocker is configured to engage the extension of the hooked end piece to inhibit movement of the flexible strap through the proximal end of the hooked end piece in the proximal direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 1, wherein the blocker inhibits removal of the hooked end piece from the flexible strap by interference with the extension of the hooked end piece when tension is applied to the flexible strap in the proximal direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 1, wherein the hooked end piece is removable from the flexible strap by sliding the flexible strap toward the hooked portion and passing the flexible strap through a channel in the hooked end piece. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 1, wherein the extension of the hooked end piece defines an opening for receiving the flexible strap therethrough. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 4, wherein the extension forms a continuous arch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 4, wherein the blocker is larger than the opening, and wherein the blocker is configured to engage a rim of the extension. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 1, wherein the flexible strap comprises a cable, wherein a diameter of the blocker is larger than a diameter of the cable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 1, wherein the hooked end piece is configured to attach to a portion of the vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 1, wherein the flexible strap comprises metal wire. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 1, wherein the blocker is disposed at a distal-most end of the flexible strap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 1, wherein an opening to the passage through the cover is larger at the first end of the cover than at the second end of the cover. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 11, wherein the opening at the first end of the cover is smaller than the hooked portion of the hooked end piece. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 1, wherein the cover is configured to prevent the hooked end piece from being removed from the flexible strap. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises rubber, elastomer, or plastic. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The bicycle carrier rack of claim 1, wherein the mounting member comprises at least one arm configured to abut a trunk of the vehicle. ### Claim 16 A device for securing a bicycle to a vehicle, comprising: a mounting member configured to abut against the vehicle; a strap coupled to the mounting member, the strap having a blocker disposed at a distal portion of the strap; and a hook removably coupled to the distal portion of the strap, the hook comprising: a first end configured to attach to the vehicle, and a second end configured to engage the blocker, the second end comprising an extension protruding away from an upper surface of the hook, wherein the second end is configured to inhibit removal of the hook from the strap by interference with the blocker when the strap is pulled in a direction opposite the distal portion of the strap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device for securing a bicycle carrier rack to a vehicle of claim 16, wherein the hook is removable from the strap by sliding the strap toward the first end of the hook and passing the strap through a channel in the hook. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The device for securing a bicycle carrier rack to a vehicle of claim 16, further comprising a protective sleeve slidably disposed along the strap and configured to cover a portion of the strap and a portion of the hook in a first configuration which prevents removal of the hook from the strap. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device for securing a bicycle carrier rack to a vehicle of claim 18, wherein the hook is removable from the strap when the protective sleeve is in a second configuration where the hook is exposed by sliding the protective sleeve in the direction opposite the distal portion of the strap. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The device for securing a bicycle carrier rack to a vehicle of claim 16, wherein a diameter of the blocker is larger than a diameter of an opening at the second end of the hook. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The device for securing a bicycle carrier rack to a vehicle of claim 16, wherein the strap is coupled to the bicycle carrier rack. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The device for securing a bicycle carrier rack to a vehicle of claim 21, wherein the strap is wound about a spool configured to retract the strap to secure the bicycle carrier rack to the vehicle.