Retractable bicycle carrier for vehicles

Claim 2

For use with a vehicle closure, a bicycle carrier comprising a pair of carrier assemblies mountable on the inner surface of said vehicle closure a spaced distance apart adjacent to an edge of said closure distal from its hinge axis, each said carrier assembly comprising: a bracket comprising a housing defining, together with said closure when mounted thereon, a longitudinal bore, and mounting means attached to said housing for mounting said housing to said closure; and a bicycle-supporting member carried partially within said bore for movement therealong from a stowed position against said inner surface of said closure to an extended position for carrying bicycles thereon rearwardly of said closure, said bicycle-supporting member integrally comprising (a) a leg section slidably receivable by said bore for extendable/retractable movement along said bore from, and to, said stowed position, respectively, and for rotational movement of at least about 90 degrees about its longitudinal axis when said bicycle-supporting member is in said extended position, (b) a bicycle-supporting arm extending from a first end of said leg section and disposed at an angle relative thereto to provide, when said bicycle-supporting member is at its said extended position and said leg section has been rotated about 90 degrees about its said longitudinal axis from said stowed position, a substantially horizontal platform for suspending bicycles therefrom, and (c) a keeper extending from said bicycle-supporting arm distal from said leg section at an angle sufficient to retain said bicycles on said bicycle-supporting arm; said leg section being partially housed within said bore when said bicycle-supporting member is in both said stowed position and said extended position.

Claim 3

The bicycle carrier of claim 1 wherein said (a), (b), and (c) lie in substantially the same plane.

Claim 4

The bicycle carrier of claim 2 wherein said bicycle-supporting arm is disposed at an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to said leg section.

Claim 5

The bicycle carrier of claim 1 wherein said bicycle-supporting member further comprises: (d) a foot section projecting radially from a second end of said leg section to provide a stop for limiting the extendable movement of said leg section through said bore, said leg section having a radial length greater than the width of said bore and disposed with respect to said leg section to permit said leg section, when said bicycle-supporting member is in said extended position, to rotate at least about 90 degrees about its longitudinal axis to orient said bicycle-supporting member for supporting bicycles thereon in said extended position, said leg section having a length sufficient to permit movement of said bicycle-supporting member to said extended position before abutment of said foot section against said housing.

Claim 6

The bicycle carrier of claim 4 wherein said (a), (b), (c) and (d) lie in substantially the same plane.

Claim 7

The bicycle carrier of claim 4 wherein said (a), (b), and (c) lie in substantially the same plane, and said (d) is disposed at an angle thereto.

Claim 8

The bicycle carrier of claim 6 wherein said angle of said (d) to said plane of said (a), (b) and (c) is about 90 degrees.

Claim 9

The bicycle carrier of claim 6 wherein said housing defines a T-shaped slot in communication with said bore and comprising a longitudinal leg extending longitudinally centrally of said housing from an inner end thereof adjacent to said foot section and a transverse leg extending transversely of said housing intermediate the ends thereof, said foot section being slidably received therethrough for travel along said longitudinal leg into said transverse leg when said bicycle-supporting member is moved to said extended position and for travel along said transverse leg when said bicycle-supporting member is rotated about said longitudinal axis of said leg section, said (a), (b), and (c) being co-planar and said (d) being at about 90 degrees to the plane defined by said (a), (b) and (c).

Claim 10

The bicycle carrier of claim 4 wherein said housing defines an L-shaped slot in communication with said bore and having a longitudinal leg extending longitudinally of said housing adjacent to said mounting means from an inner end thereof adjacent to said foot section and terminating transversely of said housing in a transverse leg intermediate the ends thereof, said foot section being slidably received therethrough for travel along said longitudinal leg and into said transverse leg when said bicycle-supporting member is moved to said extended position from said stowed position and for travel along said transverse leg when said bicycle-supporting member is rotated about said longitudinal axis of said leg section, and (a), (b), (c) and (d) being co-planar.

Claim 11

The bicycle carrier of claim 1 wherein said bicycle carrier further includes, when intended for use with closures pivotable about a forward axis; rigid support means extendable between each said bracket and a base therebelow for urging said brackets against said closure when bicycles are suspended from said bicycle carrier.

Claim 12

In combination with a vehicle closure pivotable about an axis adjacent to a first edge thereof for closing an opening in said vehicle, a bicycle carrier for suspending bicycles therefrom transversely of said vehicle and rearwardly of said closure, said bicycle carrier comprising: bicycle support means carried in a concealed stowed position on the underside of said closure adjacent to a second edge thereof remote from said first edge thereof, said bicycle support means being extendable beyond said second edge of said closure from said stowed position to an extended position for supporting bicycles therefrom when said closure is open.

Claim 13

In combination with a vehicle closure pivotable about an axis adjacent to a first edge thereof for closing an opening in said vehicle, a bicycle carrier for suspending bicycles therefrom transversely of said vehicle and rearwardly of said closure, said bicycle carrier comprising: bicycle support means carried in a concealed stowed position on the underside of said closure adjacent to a second edge thereof remote from said first edge thereof, said bicycle support means being extendable beyond said second edge of said closure from said stowed position to an extended position for supporting bicycles therefrom when said closure is open.

Claim 14

The bicycle carrier of claim 11 wherein said bicycle support means, when in said extended position, is rotatable about 90 degrees about a longitudinal axis thereof with respect to said stowed position to provide a substantially horizontal platform for suspending said bicycles therefrom.

Claim 15

The bicycle carrier of claim 12 wherein said bicycle support means comprises a pair of carrier assemblies, each said assembly comprising: a bracket mounted to said underside of said closure and defining, in combination with said closure, a longitudinal bore extending therethrough; and a bicycle-supporting member carried by said bracket and comprising a first end section slidably receivable in said bore and a second end section extendable beyond said second edge of said closure for supporting bicycles thereon when said first end section is partially withdrawn from said bore, said second end section providing said substantially horizontal platform, said first and second end sections defining a plane substantially parallel to said undersurface of said closure in said stowed position and at about 90 degrees relative thereto in said extended position for supporting bicycles therefrom.

Claim 16

The bicycle carrier of claim 13 wherein said first end section terminates in a foot section distal from said second end section for limiting movement of said member in the direction of said extended position, said foot section having a length greater than that required to pass through said bore to effect abutment with said bracket when said member is substantially at said extended position and said foot section extending radially from said first end section at an angle permitting rotation of said plane defined by said first and second end sections from said stowed position to said extended position for suspending bicycles.

Claim 17

In combination with a vehicle trunk lid which is pivotable about an axis adjacent to a first edge thereof for closing an opening in a deck of said vehicle, a bicycle carrier mounted to the undersurface of said trunk lid for carrying bicycles transversely of said vehicle rearwardly of said trunk lid, said bicycle carrier comprising a pair of carrier assemblies disposed a spaced distance apart adjacent to a second edge of said closure remote from said first edge, each said carrier assembly comprising: a bracket mounted to said undersurface of said trunk lid and defining, in combination with said trunk lid, a longitudinal bore extending therethrough; and a bicycle-supporting member carried partially within said bore for movement therealong from a stowed position against said undersurface of said trunk lid to an extended position for carrying bicycles thereon rearwardly of said closure, said bicycle-supporting member integrally comprising (a) a leg section slidably receivable by said bore for translational reciprocal movement therealong and for rotational movement of at least about 90 degrees about its longitudinal axis when said bicycle-supporting member is in said extended position, (b) a bicycle-supporting arm projecting from a first end of said leg section and disposed at an angle relative thereto to provide a substantially horizontal platform for suspending bicycles therefrom when said bicycle-supporting member has been rotated about 90 degrees about said longitudinal axis of said leg section in said extended position relative to said stowed position, and (c) a keeper projecting from said bicycle-supporting arm distal from said leg section at an angle sufficient to retain bicycles on said bicycle-supporting arm, said bicycle supporting member being movable from said stowed position to said extended position in a plane substantially parallel to said undersurface of said trunk lid and being rotatable in said extended position about 90 degrees with respect to said plane to rotate said bicycle-supporting arm into bicycle-carrying position.

Claim 18

In combination with a vehicle trunk lid which is pivotable about an axis adjacent to a first edge thereof for closing an opening in a deck of said vehicle, a bicycle carrier mounted to the undersurface of said trunk lid for carrying bicycles transversely of said vehicle rearwardly of said trunk lid, said bicycle carrier comprising a pair of carrier assemblies disposed a spaced distance apart adjacent to a second edge of said closure remote from said first edge, each said carrier assembly comprising: a bracket mounted to said undersurface of said trunk lid and defining, in combination with said trunk lid, a longitudinal bore extending therethrough; and a bicycle-supporting member carried partially within said bore for movement therealong from a stowed position against said undersurface of said trunk lid to an extended position for carrying bicycles thereon rearwardly of said closure, said bicycle-supporting member integrally comprising (a) a leg section slidably receivable by said bore for translational reciprocal movement therealong and for rotational movement of at least about 90 degrees about its longitudinal axis when said bicycle-supporting member is in said extended position, (b) a bicycle-supporting arm projecting from a first end of said leg section and disposed at an angle relative thereto to provide a substantially horizontal platform for suspending bicycles therefrom when said bicycle-supporting member has been rotated about 90 degrees about said longitudinal axis of said leg section in said extended position relative to said stowed position, and (c) a keeper projecting from said bicycle-supporting arm distal from said leg section at an angle sufficient to retain bicycles on said bicycle-supporting arm, said bicycle supporting member being movable from said stowed position to said extended position in a plane substantially parallel to said undersurface of said trunk lid and being rotatable in said extended position about 90 degrees with respect to said plane to rotate said bicycle-supporting arm into bicycle-carrying position.

Claim 19

The bicycle carrier of claim 15 wherein said (a), (b), and (c) lie in substantially the same plane.

Claim 20

The bicycle carrier of claim 16 wherein said bicycle-supporting arm is disposed at an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to said leg section.

Claim 21

The bicycle carrier of claim 15 wherein said bicycle-supporting member further comprises: (d) a foot section projecting radially from a second end of said leg section to provide a stop for limiting the extendable movement of said leg section through said bore, said leg section having a radial length greater than the width of said bore and disposed with respect to said leg section to permit said leg section, when said bicycle-supporting member is in said extended position, to rotate at least about 90 degrees about its longitudinal axis to orient said bicycle-supporting member for supporting bicycles thereon in said extended position, said leg section having a length sufficient to permit movement of said bicycle-supporting member to said extended position before abutment of said foot section against said bracket.

Claim 22

The bicycle carrier of claim 18 wherein said (a), (b), (c) and (d) lie in substantially the same plane.

Claim 23

The bicycle carrier of claim 18 wherein said (a), (b), and (c) lie in substantially the same plane, and said (d) is disposed at an angle thereto.

Claim 24

The bicycle carrier of claim 20 wherein said angle of said (d) to said plane of said (a), (b) and (c) is about 90 degrees.

Claim 25

The bicycle carrier of claim 20 wherein said bracket comprises a housing defining said longitudinal bore and mounting means attached to said housing for mounting said bracket to said closure, and wherein said housing defines a T-shaped slot in communication with said bore and comprising a lontitudinal leg extending longitudinally centrally of said housing from an inner end thereof adjacent to said foot section and a transverse leg extending transversely of said housing intermediate the ends thereof, said foot section being slidably received therethrough for travel along said longitudinal leg into said transverse leg when said bicycle-supporting member is moved to said extended position and for travel along said transverse leg when said bicycle-supporting member is rotated about said longitudinal axis of said leg section, said (a), (b), and (c) being co-planar and said (d) being at about 90 degrees to the plane defined by said (a), (b) and (c).

Claim 26

The bicycle carrier of claim 18 wherein each said carrier assembly is positioned on said closure for rotational movement, when in said extended position for supporting bicycles thereon, in a direction opposite to the other of said carrier assemblies and wherein said bicycle carrier further includes: restraining means demountably attached to each of said carrier assemblies when in said extended position for preventing rotational movement of said carrier assemblies in said direction.

Claim 27

The bicycle carrier of claim 18 wherein said bracket comprises a housing defining said longitudinal bore and mounting means attached to said housing for mounting said bracket to said closure, and wherein said housing defines an L-shaped slot in communication with said bore and having a longitudinal leg extending longitudinaly of said housing adjacent to said mounting means from an inner end thereof adjacent to said foot section and terminating transversely of said housing in a transverse leg intermediate the ends thereof, said foot section being slidably received therethrough for travel along said longitudinal leg and into said transverse leg when said bicycle-supporting member is moved to said extended position from said stowed position and for travel along said transverse leg when said bicycle-supporting member is rotated about said longitudinal axis of said leg section, said (a), (b), (c) and (d) being co-planar.

Claim 28

The bicycle carrier of claim 15 wherein said bicycle carrier further includes, when intended for use with closures pivotable about a forward axis: rigid support means extendable between each said bracket and a base therebelow for urging said brackets against said closure when bicycles are suspended from said bicycle carrier.

Claim 29

The bicycle carrier of claim 25 wherein said rigid support means comprises a pair of rods, each said rod having a first end pivotally connected to one of said brackets.