US3921869A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bicycle carrying rack
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-05-06
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-05-06
Abstract
Abstract A bicycle carrying rack for mounting on an automobile comprised of an inverted U-shaped carrying frame having a multiplicity of offset bicycle handle engaging bracket pairs attached thereto, a bicycle seat support bar and an adjustable mounting frame whereby adjacent bicycle handle bars can be laterally nested such that bicycles can be closely arranged to project perpendicularly from the carrying frame.
Inventors
- 👤 Winston L Rogers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:17
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R9/00; B60R9/08; B60R9/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S224/00; Y10S224/924
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
303 words
A bicycle carrying rack for mounting on an automobile comprising an inverted U-shaped carrying frame the U-shaped frame having a horizontal bar portion; a multiplicity of bicycle handle bar engaging bracket pairs, each pair for supporting a bicycle, secured to the horizontal bar portion of said carrying frame, each of said bracket pairs being offset in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle with respect to adjacent bracket pairs whereby the adjacent handle bars of adjacent bicycles may be laterally nested in a close arrangement rather than arranged apart in abutting relation, an intermediate cross bar member horizontally disposed between the leg portions of said inverted U-shaped carrying frame for supporting the seats of said bicycles and means securing the cross bar relative to said carrying frame whereby the bicycles carried on said carrying frame project perpendicularly outward from the automobile in a closely spaced parallel relationship, means for securing the bicycle seats to said cross bar member, means for mounting said carrying frame to the rear portion of said automobile in an approximately vertical upright position, said means for mounting said carrying frame to an automobile includes a mounting frame fixably adaptable to the rear portion of automobiles having different inclinations such as a vertical back, a slant back, or a horizontal back, said mounting frame having a means for adjustably engaging the leg portions of said inVerted U-shaped carrying frame and securing the same to said mounting frame whereby the attitude of said carrying frame can be varied with respect to said mounting frame depending on the inclination of the rear surface of the automobile to which said mounting frame is attached, and wherein said bicycles are supported on the rack by their handle bars and seats with the longitudinal axis of the bicycle in a substantially vertical position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
303 words
A bicycle carrying rack for mounting on an automobile comprising an inverted U-shaped carrying frame the U-shaped frame having a horizontal bar portion; a multiplicity of bicycle handle bar engaging bracket pairs, each pair for supporting a bicycle, secured to the horizontal bar portion of said carrying frame, each of said bracket pairs being offset in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle with respect to adjacent bracket pairs whereby the adjacent handle bars of adjacent bicycles may be laterally nested in a close arrangement rather than arranged apart in abutting relation, an intermediate cross bar member horizontally disposed between the leg portions of said inverted U-shaped carrying frame for supporting the seats of said bicycles and means securing the cross bar relative to said carrying frame whereby the bicycles carried on said carrying frame project perpendicularly outward from the automobile in a closely spaced parallel relationship, means for securing the bicycle seats to said cross bar member, means for mounting said carrying frame to the rear portion of said automobile in an approximately vertical upright position, said means for mounting said carrying frame to an automobile includes a mounting frame fixably adaptable to the rear portion of automobiles having different inclinations such as a vertical back, a slant back, or a horizontal back, said mounting frame having a means for adjustably engaging the leg portions of said inVerted U-shaped carrying frame and securing the same to said mounting frame whereby the attitude of said carrying frame can be varied with respect to said mounting frame depending on the inclination of the rear surface of the automobile to which said mounting frame is attached, and wherein said bicycles are supported on the rack by their handle bars and seats with the longitudinal axis of the bicycle in a substantially vertical position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The bicycle carrying rack of claim 1 wherein said carrying bracket pairs are U-shaped for cradling the handle bars of said bicycle and are interconnected to said horizontal support bar member by extension bar members having alternatingly different lengths to create the offset to said pairs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The bicycle carrying rack of claim 1 wherein said means for adjustably engaging said carrying frame to said mounting frame includes a series of selectively positioned holes formed in each leg portion of said carrying frame and a similiar set of holes formed in said mounting frame such that said carrying frame can be secured to said mounting frame at a multiplicity of different attitudes with respect thereto by lining up corresponding holes in said carrying and mounting frames and inserting fastening means therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
294 words
A bicycle carrying rack for mounting on an automobile comprising an inverted U-shaped carrying frame, a multiplicity of U-shaped bicycle handle engaging bracket pairs secured to said carrying frame by extension bar members having alternatingly different lengths, the brackets receiving and supporting a bicycle handle bar assembly, whereby each bracket pair is offset with respect to adjacent bracket pairs of said carrying frame so that adjacent handle bars of adjacent bicycles may be laterally nested in a close arrangement rather than arranged apart in abutting relation, an intermediate cross bar member horizontally disposed between the leg portions of said inverted U-shaped carrying frame for permitting the seats of the bicycles to be supported on said carrying frame whereby the bicycles project perpendicularly outward from the automobile in a closely spaced parallel relationship, means for releasably securing said bicycle seats to said cross bar, a mounting frame adaptable to the rear portion of variously shaped automobiles, said carrying frame and said mounting frame having a series of corresponding holes formed in the lateral sides thereof to permit said carrying frame to be secured to said mounting frame at a multiplicity of different attitudes with respect to said mounting frame by aligning preselected holes in said frames and inserting fastening means therethrough whereby said carrying frame can be secured to said mounting frame in an approximately vertical position regardless of the shape of the rear portion of the automobile, means for securing said U-shaped frame to said mounting frame, means for releasably securing said mounting frame in fixed relation to the automobile, whereby the attitude of said carrying frame can be varied with respect to said mounting frame depending on the inclination of the rear surface of the automobile to which said mounting frame is attached.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
294 words
A bicycle carrying rack for mounting on an automobile comprising an inverted U-shaped carrying frame, a multiplicity of U-shaped bicycle handle engaging bracket pairs secured to said carrying frame by extension bar members having alternatingly different lengths, the brackets receiving and supporting a bicycle handle bar assembly, whereby each bracket pair is offset with respect to adjacent bracket pairs of said carrying frame so that adjacent handle bars of adjacent bicycles may be laterally nested in a close arrangement rather than arranged apart in abutting relation, an intermediate cross bar member horizontally disposed between the leg portions of said inverted U-shaped carrying frame for permitting the seats of the bicycles to be supported on said carrying frame whereby the bicycles project perpendicularly outward from the automobile in a closely spaced parallel relationship, means for releasably securing said bicycle seats to said cross bar, a mounting frame adaptable to the rear portion of variously shaped automobiles, said carrying frame and said mounting frame having a series of corresponding holes formed in the lateral sides thereof to permit said carrying frame to be secured to said mounting frame at a multiplicity of different attitudes with respect to said mounting frame by aligning preselected holes in said frames and inserting fastening means therethrough whereby said carrying frame can be secured to said mounting frame in an approximately vertical position regardless of the shape of the rear portion of the automobile, means for securing said U-shaped frame to said mounting frame, means for releasably securing said mounting frame in fixed relation to the automobile, whereby the attitude of said carrying frame can be varied with respect to said mounting frame depending on the inclination of the rear surface of the automobile to which said mounting frame is attached.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
The bicycle carrying rack of claim 4 wherein said means for securing said mounting frame to an automobile includes adjustable straps secured at one end of said mounting frame and having hooks attached to the free ends thereof for fixably engaging said frame to the automobile, and resilient suction cups secured to the ends of said outwardly projecting legs of said mounting frame whereby said mounting frame can adapt in non-sliding relation to the body contour of the automobile.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The bicycle carrying rack of claim 4 wherein said mounting frame includes side bar members generally formed in the shape of an inverted U whereby said carrying frame can be secured to said mounting frame between said side bar members at different attitudes by aligning corresponding holes in said frames and inseRting fastening means therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
160 words
The bicycle carrying rack of claim 4 further including at least one auxiliary carrying rack attachable to either side of said inverted U-shaped carrying frame, to laterally extend therefrom, said auxiliary rack comprising a C-shaped carrying frame with a plurality of holes aligned along the vertical portion thereof whereby said frame can be bolted to the legs of said inverted U-shaped carrying frame, the lower outward projecting leg portion of said C-shaped frame being formed to support the seats of bicycles carried on said auxiliary carrying rack and having means for securing same thereto, and a pair of bicycle handle engaging brackets secured to the top outward projecting leg of said C-shaped frame by extension bars of a length such that said auxiliary rack brackets are offset with respect to the brackets secured to said inverted U-shaped carrying frame whereby additional bicycles carried by said auxiliary rack can be laterally nested with bicycles disposed on the inverted U-shaped carrying frame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3710999A
Cited
US3752375A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |