Automobile mounted multiple bike and ski racks

Claim 1

A new and improved automobile mounted multiple bike and ski rack comprising, in combination: a main support column formed as a generally rectangular shaped block and configured into an L-shaped orientation, the column having a long vertically positioned member formed contiguously with a short horizontally positioned member, the long member having a front face, a rear face, and two side faces, the short member extending rearwardly with respect to the long member and including an upper face, a lower face and two side faces, a lock pin hole extending through the side faces of the short member near its rearwardmost extent, the rearwardmost extent of the short member adapted to be positioned inside a standard one and one-quarter to two inch tow hitch, the lock pin hole receiving a coupling pin to securely couple the column within the hitch in an operative orientation; a cross bar formed as a generally rectangular shaped block and welded on top of the vertically positioned long member of the main support column at the approximate center point of the bar, the cross bar having an upper face and a lower face and positioned horizontally in the operative orientation; two side bars each consisting of upper and lower mounting brackets, each said lower mounting bracket being formed as generally rectangular shaped blocks with an upper face, a lower face, an inboard end and an outboard end, each lower mounting bracket including centrally positioned apertures near each end, the inboard end of the lower mounting bracket being welded to the lower face of the cross bar, the upper face of each lower mounting bracket including a generally rectangular shaped rubber strip positioned between the apertures, bolts with a plurality of external screw threads being positioned in an inverted orientation through each said aperture, the bolt heads of said bolts being welded to the lower surface of the respective lower mounting brackets, each upper mounting bracket formed as a generally rectangular shaped block with an upper face, a lower face, an inboard end and an outboard end, each upper mounting bracket including centrally positioned apertures near each end, the lower face of each upper mounting bracket including a generally rectangular shaped rubber strip positioned between the apertures, the upper mounting brackets being respectively positioned on top of the lower mounting brackets with their respective apertures positioned in vertical alignment, the bolts being positioned through the aligned apertures in the mounting brackets, wing nuts being cooperatively coupled with the bolts to retain the upper mounting brackets in place, the mounting brackets sized and adapted to secure up to three pairs of skis and poles or up to three bicycles in the operative orientation; and three bicycle frame brackets being comprised of an inboard segment and an outboard segment, each inboard segment formed as a generally rectangular shaped block with two ends, a first end of each inboard segment being welded to the lower face of one of said lower mounting brackets with each being equidistantly spaced between the apertures of said one lower mounting bracket, the inboard segments being positioned in an angled orientation forming between about a thirty and sixty degree angle with respect to said one lower mounting bracket, each outboard segment being formed in a generally semi-circular shaped configuration having a concave surface for conformly engaging a frame portion of a bicycle, each outboard segment being respectively welded to the second end of each inboard segment, the concave surface of each outboard segment including foam rubber padding affixed thereto, the bicycle frame brackets adapted to aid in the support of the frame portion of bicycles secured within the mounting brackets of the apparatus.