Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A bicycle carrier for removable attachment to either the front hood and bumper or rear trunk lid and bumper of a vehicle, comprising in combination: a pair of bicycle wheel retaining cable means, one for each bicycle wheel, each having bracket means at the ends thereof for removable fastening to an upper margin of the vehicle bumper and for passing around a loweR portion of each bicycle wheel with the bicycle in an upright orientation adjacent the front or rear of the vehicle; each cable having a length selected to form in conjunction with the adjacent bumper to which it is attached a wheel receiving, elongate horizontal loop bounded on one side by said cable with a width commensurate with that of the wheel and a length smaller than the diameter of the wheel, such that each wheel is supported in both lateral and vertical directions; bicycle body cable means having fastening means at the end thereof for removable attachment at one end to a lower margin of said vehicle bumper and for passing upwardly therefrom around a central body portion of the bicycle to a point of attachment at the opposite end of the cable means to the hood or trunk of the vehicle; and tensioning means associated with said body cable means for applying a constant restraining force to the bicycle for keeping the wheels of the bicycle under tension downwardly in said loops, and means for adjusting said tensioning means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
A bicycle carrier for removable attachment to either the front hood and bumper or rear trunk lid and bumper of a vehicle, comprising in combination: a pair of bicycle wheel retaining cable means, one for each bicycle wheel, each having bracket means at the ends thereof for removable fastening to an upper margin of the vehicle bumper and for passing around a loweR portion of each bicycle wheel with the bicycle in an upright orientation adjacent the front or rear of the vehicle; each cable having a length selected to form in conjunction with the adjacent bumper to which it is attached a wheel receiving, elongate horizontal loop bounded on one side by said cable with a width commensurate with that of the wheel and a length smaller than the diameter of the wheel, such that each wheel is supported in both lateral and vertical directions; bicycle body cable means having fastening means at the end thereof for removable attachment at one end to a lower margin of said vehicle bumper and for passing upwardly therefrom around a central body portion of the bicycle to a point of attachment at the opposite end of the cable means to the hood or trunk of the vehicle; and tensioning means associated with said body cable means for applying a constant restraining force to the bicycle for keeping the wheels of the bicycle under tension downwardly in said loops, and means for adjusting said tensioning means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The carrier of claim 1, each said bracket means of said wheel cable means comprising: a plate-like member connected to said cable means adjacent one edge and formed with a re-entrant portion for hooked engagement with said bumper margin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The carrier of claim 2, wherein said re-entrant portions of said bracket means plates are adapted for hooked attachment to an inwardly facing edge of an upper horizontally extending margin of said bumper to support an outwardly directed force on said cables caused by the wedging of the lower wheel portions between the cables and the adjacent bumper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The carrier of claim 1, wherein said adjusting means for cinch tightening of said body cable comprises means to enable said tensioning means to apply said constant tensioning for firmly holding said bicycle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
The carrier of claim 4, wherein said tensioning means is provided by a coiled spring and said body support cable means is comprised of a first section of cable connected between one of said bracket means and a lower end of said spring, and a second section of cable having one end connected to the remaining bracket means and the other end having a slip connection with the upper end of said spring and doubled back as a third section of cable, and a fastening means selectively securing the free end of said third section of cable at selected locations along said second cable section to provide said cinch tightening means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The carrier of claim 1, said fastening means of said body cable means comprising a first bracket member for removable attachment to a lower margin of said vehicle bumper and a second bracket member for removable attachment to a marginal edge of either the hood or trunk lid of the vehicle depending upon the vehicle end at which the bicycle is mounted.