Bicycle carrier

Abstract

A bicycle rack for carrying a bicycle adjacent the rear of a vehicle. The bicycle rack includes an adjustable frame assembly having a first frame member attached to a housing and a second frame member attached to a connecting member. The connecting member is rotationally coupled to the housing to allow relative pivotal movement between the first and second frame members. A locking member is disposed within the housing and selectively movable between a first position, in which the locking member engages the connecting member to impede relative rotational movement between the connecting member and the housing, and a second position, in which the locking member is disengaged from the connecting member to allow relative rotational movement between the connecting member and the housing. At least one support arm is coupled to the housing and configured for sliding and pivotal movement between a stowed position and an extended position in which the arm engages the housing to support a bicycle adjacent the vehicle. A mounting assembly is positionable on the support arm to hold the bicycle in place during travel.

1 . A bicycle rack for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle wherein the bicycle has a top tube, a down tube and a seat tube, comprising
 a frame attachable to the rear of the vehicle and configured to support the bicycle adjacent the vehicle,   first and second parallel arms extending from the frame,   a first saddle mount mounted on the first arm and a second saddle mount mounted on the second arm, the saddle mounts being positioned on the respective arms at points defining a line generally perpendicular to the arms for cooperatively holding a top tube of a bicycle, each of the saddle mounts having a collar for receiving the arm and a trough for supporting the top tube of the bicycle, the trough having first and second opposing sides, and an inner surface, the inner surface having a first curve in a plane perpendicular to the arm, and a second curve in a plane parallel to the arm, the first curve of the inner surface of the saddle mount having a radius of curvature corresponding to a circle having a center below the center of the arm,   a stabilizer pivotally mounted on an arm adjacent at least one of the saddle mounts, the stabilizer being permitted to rotate independently around the arm relative to the saddle mount to accommodate different angles between a top tube and a down tube or a seat tube, the stabilizer including a strap for securing the stabilizer to a down tube or a seat tube of a bicycle.   
   
   
       2 . The rack of  claim 1 , further comprising
 at least one strap anchored to the first side of the trough, the strap being configured for selective attachment to the second side of the trough, wherein the trough and the strap together are configured to bind and encircle the circumference of a top tube of the bicycle.   
   
   
       3 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer has two cylindrical collars configured to engage the arm on opposite sides of the collar of the saddle mount. 
   
   
       4 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the trough on the saddle mount is elongate. 
   
   
       5 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the trough has an elongate parabolic shape. 
   
   
       6 . The rack of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one strap on the saddle mount has an end that is permanently connected to the first side of the trough, a fastener being provided on the second side of the trough so that the strap can be selectively coupled to the fastener to retain securely the top tube of the bicycle in the trough. 
   
   
       7 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein only one of the first and second saddle mounts has an adjacent stabilizer. 
   
   
       8 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the trough of each saddle mount does not extend around the circumference of the collar. 
   
   
       9 . A bicycle rack for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle wherein the bicycle has a top tube, a down tube and a seat tube, comprising
 a frame attachable to the rear of the vehicle and configured to support the bicycle adjacent the vehicle,   at least one arm extending from the frame,   a collar for receiving the arm, the collar having a top side and a bottom side, a saddle portion fixed on the top side of the collar, and not extending around the bottom side of the collar,   a stabilizer having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the stabilizer being pivotally mounted adjacent the bottom side of the collar, the distal end of the stabilizer having a channel for engaging a down tube or a seat tube of the bicycle, the stabilizer being permitted to pivot in a plane perpendicular to the arm while the saddle portion is maintained in a fixed position relative to the arm, the stabilizer including a strap for securing the stabilizer around the down tube or a seat tube of a bicycle.   
   
   
       10 . The rack of  claim 9 , wherein each of the saddle portion and the stabilizer pivot around the arm. 
   
   
       11 . A bicycle rack for carrying a bicycle on a vehicle wherein the bicycle has a top tube, a down tube and a seat tube, comprising
 a frame attachable to the rear of the vehicle and configured to support the bicycle adjacent the vehicle,   at least one arm extending from the frame,   a collar for receiving a first arm, the collar having a top side and a bottom side,   a saddle mount fixed on the top side of the collar, and not extending around the bottom side of the collar,   a stabilizer pivotally mounted adjacent the bottom side of the collar, the stabilizer having a strap for securing the stabilizer to a down tube or a seat tube, wherein the stabilizer is free to pivot while the saddle mount is maintained in a fixed position on the arm supporting a top tube of a bicycle.   
   
   
       12 . The rack of  claim 11 , wherein the saddle mount and the stabilizer are integrated so they slide together along the arm. 
   
   
       13 . The rack of  claim 11 , wherein the stabilizer has a channel for engaging a down tube or a seat tube of a bicycle. 
   
   
       14 . The rack of  claim 1 , wherein the trough on the saddle mount does not extend around the entire circumference of the saddle mount.