Bicycle rack components

Abstract

A bicycle rack for mounting bicycles on a vehicle has one or more bicycle attachment assemblies installed on the support members for the bicycles. Some or all of the components of the bicycle attachment assemblies may be disposed substantially within the support member. The bicycle attachment assemblies secure the frame of the bicycle on the support member by attachment of a releasable retention strap. An end of the retention strap may be inserted in an aperture in the assembly to hold the bicycle in place. A retention device, such as a pawl, may be provided in the aperture to engage the retention strap and hold it in place until a user releases the strap.

1 . A bicycle attachment mechanism for a bicycle rack having a support member for holding a bicycle, the bicycle attachment mechanism comprising:
 a pawl pivotally mounted within an aperture in the support member, and   a strap having teeth on a side thereof, and a first end and a second end;   wherein the second end of the strap is attached to the support member and the first end of the strap is inserted into the aperture;   wherein the pawl is configured to engage the teeth on the strap to retain the strap in the aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The bicycle attachment mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the pawl further comprises an angled tooth configured to engage the teeth on the strap. 
     
     
         3 . The bicycle attachment mechanism of  claim 2  wherein the pawl secures the strap between the angled tooth of the pawl and a surface of the aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The bicycle attachment mechanism of  claim 2  wherein the pawl further comprises a pawl release lever configured to disengage the angled tooth of the pawl from the teeth of the strap to release the strap from the aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The bicycle attachment mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising a bicycle cradle disposed between the second end of the strap and the aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The bicycle attachment mechanism of  claim 5  wherein a frame member of the bicycle is captured between the strap and the cradle when the second end of the strap is inserted into the aperture. 
     
     
         7 . A bicycle attachment assembly for a bicycle rack having a support member for holding a bicycle, the bicycle attachment assembly comprising:
 a component installed into an aperture extending through the support member;   the component having an upper surface for receiving a frame of a bicycle;   an aperture through the component having a latch mechanism configured to receive and retain a strap to hold the frame of the bicycle on the upper surface of the component.   
     
     
         8 . The bicycle attachment assembly of  claim 7  wherein the component is disposed substantially inside the support member. 
     
     
         9 . The bicycle attachment assembly of  claim 7  wherein the latch mechanism comprises a pawl disposed at least partially within the aperture through the component. 
     
     
         10 . The bicycle attachment assembly of  claim 9  wherein the strap further comprises a rack of teeth for engaging the pawl. 
     
     
         11 . The bicycle attachment assembly of  claim 10  wherein the pawl further comprises a release lever for disengaging the pawl from the rack of teeth. 
     
     
         12 . The bicycle attachment assembly of  claim 10  wherein the strap is secured between the pawl and an inside surface of the aperture in the component. 
     
     
         13 . The bicycle attachment assembly of  claim 8  wherein the strap is attached to the component at a strap attachment point disposed apart from the aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The bicycle attachment assembly of  claim 13  wherein the upper surface for receiving the bicycle frame is between the aperture in the component and the strap attachment point. 
     
     
         15 . The bicycle attachment assembly wherein an anti-sway device is disposed below the support member and is attached to the component through the support member. 
     
     
         16 . A bicycle attachment assembly for a bicycle rack having a support member for holding a bicycle, the bicycle attachment assembly comprising:
 a strap having a rack of teeth disposed on a side thereof;   a ratchet pawl disposed in an aperture extending though the support member, the ratchet pawl configured to engage the rack of teeth on the strap when an end of the strap is inserted into the aperture.   
     
     
         17 . The bicycle attachment assembly of  claim 16  wherein the aperture extends from an upper surface of the support member to a lower surface of the support member, and the strap extends through the aperture and below the support member to secure a bicycle frame member on the upper surface of the support member. 
     
     
         18 . The bicycle attachment assembly of  claim 17  wherein a second end of the strap is attached to the support member at an attachment point on the upper surface thereof, and a bicycle cradle is disposed on the upper surface of the support member between the attachment point and the aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The bicycle attachment assembly of  claim 18  wherein the ratchet pawl further comprises a release lever to disengage the ratchet pawl from the teeth on the strap to release the strap from the aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The bicycle attachment assembly of  claim 17  wherein an anti-sway device is attached to a lower surface of the support member adjacent to the aperture.