Foldable bicycle rack

Claim 2

A foldable bicycle rack for transporting a bicycle having a framework and having a framework bar extending longitudinally thereof said rack adapted to be mounted on a vehicle having a bumper comprising a base assembly, means for affixing said base assembly to said bumper, a top plate member, a bicycle hanger attached to said top plate member, left and right upright support members having a length longer than said top plate member, pivot members at each end of said left and right upright support members pivotally attaching each of said upright support members at opposite ends to both top plate member and the base assembly, and locking means for preventing pivoting of said support members when in an unfolded configuration for carrying a bicycle, whereby said top plate member is inverted when said locking means is released and said support members are moved to a folded stored configuration substantially parallel to said bumper while mounted on the vehicle without detachment at any pivot member and said top plate member is positioned substantially midway between said pivot members attaching said upright support members to said base assembly.

Claim 3

A foldable bicycle rack as in claim 1 wherein said base assembly comprises left and right bumper brackets having an upper surface and a lower extension, the brackets each having first and second holes for receiving said pivot members and said locking means respectively, and a base member attached to said left and right bumper brackets for spacing the brackets to afford rack stability when in the unfolded carrying configuration.

Claim 4

A foldable bicycle rack as in claim 2 wherein said means for affixing said base assembly to said bumper comprises left and right adjustable bracket members attached to the upper surfaces of said left and right bumper brackets and left and right turnbuckle members attached to the lower extensions of said left and right bumper brackets, said adjustable bracket and turnbuckle members operating to firmly engage the inside edges of the bumper.

Claim 5

A foldable bicycle rack as in claim 3 wherein the upper surfaces of said left and right bumper brackets have a hole and wherein said left and right adjustable bracket members comprise a flat rigid elongate rectangular piece having a short portion at one end bent through 180* forming a hook-like portion adapted to engage the upper inside edge of said bumper and having an elongate hole aligned with the long dimension, and a bolt passing through said elongate hole and said bracket hole, and a nut for engaging the end of said bolt operating to affix said flat elongate pieces in predetermined positions on said left and right bumper brackets.

Claim 6

A foldable bicycle rack as in claim 3 wherein the lower extensions of said left and right bumper brackets have an additional hole therethrough and wherein said left and right turnbuckle members comprise a V-shaped hook on the end of one threaded member for engaging the lower inside edge of said bumper, and a C-shaped hook on the end of the other threaded member for passing through said additional hole in the lower extension of said bumper bracket.

Claim 7

A foldable bicycle rack as in claim 1 wherein said bicycle hanger comprises at least two lower supports having at least one U-shaped depression each adapted to receive the bicycle framework bar and capable of pivotal motion between positions extending parallel to and perpendicular to said top plate member, and at least two upper bicycle retainer members of a length sufficient to overlie said U-shaped depressions when aligned with said lower supports and capable of the same degree of pivotal movement as said lower supports but movable independently of said lower supports.

Claim 8

A foldable bicycle rack as in claim 6 wherein said lower supports and said upper retainers have a soft non-abrasive plastic encapsulating coating adhering thereto for protecting the bicycle finish, a loop formed on the end of said retainer opposite the pivot end, and securing means for passing through said loop and around said lower supports for locking the bicycle framework bar in the U-shape depressions when the retainers overlie the U-shaped depressions.

Claim 9

A foldable bicycle rack as in claim 6 wherein said bicycle hanger has two lower supports having two U-shaped depressions each.

Claim 10

A foldable bicycle rack as in claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a pin having a threaded end, said upright support members having a clearance hole therethrough at the base assembly end, said base assembly having threaded holes aligned with said clearance holes for receiving said pin when in the unfolded carrying configuration.

Claim 11

A foldable bicycle rack for transporting a bicycle having a framework and having a framework bar extending longitudinally thereof, said rack adapted to be mounted on a vehicle having a bumper comprising a base assembly, means for affixing said base assembly to said bumper, a top plate member, a bicycle hanger attached to said top plate member, left and right upright support members, pivot members at each end of said left and right upright support members pivotally attaching each of said upright support members at opposite ends to both top plate member and the base assembly, and locking means for preventing pivoting of said support members when in an unfolded configuration for carrying a bicycle, said top plate, base assembly and support member combination movable between an unfolded carrying configuration and a folded stored configuration while mounted on the vehicle wihtout detachment at any pivot member, said base assembly including left and right bumper brackets having an upper surface and a lower extension, the brackets each having first and second holes for receiving said pivot members and said locking means respectively, and a base member attached to said left and right bumper brackets for spacing the brackets to afford rack stability when in the unfolded carrying configuration, said left and right upright support members forming a trapezoid when in the unfolded carrying configuration with the top plate forming the short parallel side and the base member forming the long side, each upright support member having a hole extending through the end pivotally attached to said bumper brackets, said support member hole aligning with said second hole in the bumper bracket when in the unfolded carrying configuration for allowing insertion of said locking means.

Claim 12

A foldable bicycle rack for transporting a bicycle having a framework and having a framework bar extending longitudinally thereof, said rack adapted to be mounted on a vehicle having a bumper comprising a base assembly, means for affixing said base assembly to said bumper, a top plate member, a bicycle hanger attached to said top plate member, left and right upright support members, pivot members at each end of said left and right upright support members pivotally attaching each of said upright support members at opposite ends to both top plate member and the base assembly, and locking means for preventing pivoting of said support members when in an unfolded configuration for carrying a bicycle, said top plate, base assembly and support member combination movable between an unfolded carrying configuration and a folded stored configuration while mounted on the vehicle wihtout detachment at any pivot member, said base assembly including left and right bumper brackets having an upper surface and a lower extension, the brackets each having first and second holes for receiving said pivot members and said locking means respectively, and a base member attached to said left and right bumper brackets for spacing the brackets to afford rack stability when in the unfolded carrying configuration, said left and right upright support members forming a trapezoid when in the unfolded carrying configuration with the top plate forming the short parallel side and the base member forming the long side, each upright support member having a hole extending through the end pivotally attached to said bumper brackets, said support member hole aligning with said second hole in the bumper bracket when in the unfolded carrying configuration for allowing insertion of said locking means.

Claim 13

A foldable bicycle rack for transporting a bicycle having a framework and having a framework bar extending longitudinally thereof, said rack adapted to be mounted on a vehicle having a bumper, comprising a base assembly, means for affixing said base assembly to the bumper, a top plate member formed of an open channel section having a length less than said base assembly, and having two sets of overlying spaced holes in the sides of said channel section, a bicycle hanger pivotally mounted in each set of said spaced holes for movement between a folded position adjacent the base of said channel and an unfolded position perpendicular thereto, a plurality of upright support members each of which is pivotally attached at its opposite ends to both the top plate member and the base assembly, and locking means for preventing pivoting of said support members, said top plate, base assembly and support member combination movable between an unfolded carrying configuration and a folded stored configuration.

Claim 14

A foldable bicycle rack for transporting a bicycle having a framework and having a framework bar extending longitudinally thereof, said rack adapted to be mounted on a vehicle having a bumper, comprising a base assembly, means for affixing said base assembly to the bumper, a top plate member formed of an open channel section having a length less than said base assembly, and having two sets of overlying spaced holes in the sides of said channel section, a bicycle hanger pivotally mounted in each set of said spaced holes for movement between a folded position adjacent the base of said channel and an unfolded position perpendicular thereto, a plurality of upright support members each of which is pivotally attached at its opposite ends to both the top plate member and the base assembly, and locking means for preventing pivoting of said support members, said top plate, base assembly and support member combination movable between an unfolded carrying configuration and a folded stored configuration.

Claim 15

A foldable bicycle rack for transporting bicycles for mounting on a vehicle having a bumper comprising a base assembly means for affixing said base assembly to said bumper, left and right upright support members, lower pivot means pivotally attaching the lower portions of said left and right upright support members to said base assembly, a top plate member, A bicycle hanger attached to said top plate member, upper pivot means pivotally attaching said top plate member to the upper portion of said left and right upright support members, and locking means for preventing said support members from pivoting about said upper and lower pivot means, thereby forming a rigid framework for supporting a bicycle whereby said top plate is inverted when said locking means are released, and said support means are pivoted about said upper and lower pivot means to fold downward to lie substantially alongside the bumper without detachment at any pivot means.

Claim 16

A foldable bicycle rack for transporting bicycles for mounting on a vehicle having a bumper comprising a base assembly means for affixing said base assembly to said bumper, left and right upright support members, lower pivot means pivotally attaching the lower portions of said left and right upright support members to said base assembly, a top plate member, A bicycle hanger attached to said top plate member, upper pivot means pivotally attaching said top plate member to the upper portion of said left and right upright support members, and locking means for preventing said support members from pivoting about said upper and lower pivot means, thereby forming a rigid framework for supporting a bicycle whereby said top plate is inverted when said locking means are released, and said support means are pivoted about said upper and lower pivot means to fold downward to lie substantially alongside the bumper without detachment at any pivot means.