Bicycle-Carrier Device For Motor Vehicles

Abstract

A bicycle-carrier device includes a brace for connection to the frame of a vehicle, and bearing supporting elements to support one or more bicycles oriented transversely relative to the vehicle. The brace consists of a transverse bar, and the bicycles are supported by at least first and second supporting elements affixed to the bar, in positions that can be adjusted along the bar, so as to receive and support from below the two wheels of a bicycle. Mounted on the bar in an articulated manner is an arm that can be shifted between a raised operating position and a lowered non-operating position. Secured to the bar in an adjustable manner is at least one third supporting element that receives and supports from below an element of a bicycle frame. Each of the supporting elements is provided with means for locking in place the part that is received.

1 . Bicycle-carrying device for motor-vehicles, comprising:
 a support ( 3 ) provided with connecting means ( 12 , 18 ), for connecting said support ( 3 ) to the motor-vehicle structure at the rear of the motor-vehicle,   holding means ( 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ) carried by said support ( 3 ) for holding one or more bicycles at the rear of the motor-vehicle, with the bicycles oriented transversally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the motor-vehicle,   characterized in that said support comprises a bar ( 3 ) which extends transversally to the longitudinal direction (A) of the motor-vehicle in the mounted condition of the bicycle-carrying device on the motor-vehicle, and   in that said holding means comprise:   at least first and second holding members ( 4 , 5 ) connected to said bar ( 3 ) at positions which are adjustable along the bar ( 3 ), for receiving and holding from below the two wheels of a bicycle, respectively, and   an arm ( 6 ) pivotally mounted onto said bar and movable between a raised operative position, substantially orthogonal to the bar ( 3 ) and a lowered inoperative position, and   at least a third holding member ( 8 ) connected to said arm ( 6 ) at a position adjustable along the arm ( 6 ), for receiving and supporting from below a frame element of a bicycle,   said first, second and third holding members ( 4 , 5 , 8 ) each being provided with means ( 51 , 52 , 89 ) for clamping a respectively associated received part.   
     
     
         2 . Bicycle-carrying device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each of said first and second holding members ( 4 , 5 ) comprises a cradle-shaped body ( 50 ) for receiving a respective bicycle wheel, said body ( 50 ) being connected to a clamp portion ( 52 ) which is removably clamped onto the bar ( 3 ). 
     
     
         3 . Bicycle-carrying device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the bar ( 3 ) is a hollow metal bar having a quadrilateral cross-section, which in the mounted position on the motor-vehicle has an upper face ( 3   a ), a lower face, a front face ( 3   b ) and a rear face, and in that said arm ( 6 ) is constituted by an element in form of an upturned U with two parallel portions ( 60 ) having ends respectively arranged on the front face ( 3   b ) and the rear face of the bar ( 3 ) and pivotally connected thereto around a common longitudinal axis ( 7 ). 
     
     
         4 . Bicycle-carrying device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that one of the two portions of the upturned U-shaped element constituting said arm ( 6 ) has one end ( 61 ) extending beyond said articulation axis ( 7 ) of the arm and carrying a bolt ( 62 ) adapted to engage a seat ( 102 ) formed in said bar or in an element ( 10 ) connected to said bar ( 3 ), for clamping the arm ( 6 ) in its raised operative position. 
     
     
         5 . Bicycle-carrying device according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said bolt ( 62 ) is constituted by a pin slidably mounted within said extended end ( 61 ) of the arm ( 6 ), said pin been biased by a spring ( 63 ) towards a position of engagement of said seat and being connected to a knob ( 64 ) which can be gripped to pull said pin ( 62 ), against the action of said spring ( 63 ), towards a release position, disengaged from said seat ( 102 ). 
     
     
         6 . Bicycle-carrying device according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said knob ( 64 ) and/or said pin ( 62 ) are provided for engaging the upper face ( 3 a) of said bar ( 3 ) or the upper face of an element ( 10 ) connected to the bar ( 3 ) in the inoperative lowered position of the arm ( 6 ) for clamping the arm ( 6 ) in this position. 
     
     
         7 . Bicycle-carrying device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that with the two parallel portions ( 60 ) of the U-shaped element ( 6 ) constituting said arm ( 6 ) there are associated said third holding member ( 8 ) and a fourth holding member ( 8 ) respectively, each comprising a cradle-shaped body ( 80 ), for receiving respective frame elements of the two bicycles, said cradle-shaped body ( 80 ) being connected to a clamp portion ( 84 , 85 ) so that it can be oriented around an axis ( 82 ) parallel to the longitudinal direction (A) of the motor-vehicle in the mounted condition of the device, said clamp portion ( 84 , 85 ) being removably clamped onto the respective portion ( 60 ) of said U-shaped element ( 6 ) constituting said arm. 
     
     
         8 . Bicycle-carrying device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that said arm is designed with dimensions adapted for the engagement of said third holding member ( 8 ) on a frame element of the bicycle which is not the upper-most element of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . Bicycle-carrying device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that on said bar ( 3 ) there are mounted two pairs of said first and second holding members ( 4 , 5 ), with respective cradle-shaped bodies ( 50 ) arranged on the two sides of the bar ( 3 ), for supporting the wheels of two bicycles. 
     
     
         10 . Bicycle-carrying device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said connection means for connecting the bar ( 3 ) to the motor-vehicle structure comprise an auxiliary connection arm ( 12 ; 18 ) extending orthogonally from a central portion of the bar ( 3 ) and having an opposite end provided for connection to a hitch support of the motor-vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . Bicycle-carrying device according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the auxiliary arm ( 12 ) is rigidly connected to said bar ( 3 ). 
     
     
         12 . Bicycle-carrying device according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the auxiliary arm ( 18 ) is pivotally connected to the bar ( 3 ) around an axis ( 21 ) parallel to the bar ( 3 ) and is provided with stop means ( 24 ) for enabling a limited tilting movement of the bicycle-carrying device with respect to the auxiliary arm ( 18 ) between an operative upright position, and a position inclined downwardly away from the motor-vehicle, for facilitating access to the luggage compartment of the motor-vehicle in the mounted condition of the bicycle-carrying device on the motor-vehicle, with one or more bicycles mounted on the device. 
     
     
         13 . Bicycle-carrying device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said bar ( 3 ) supports an auxiliary structure ( 14 ) including a license plate carrying element ( 15 ) and rear lights ( 16 ).