Bike racks including adjustable hooks

Abstract

Bike racks configured to mount to a hitch of a vehicle and to support a bike. The bike racks include a frame, a rack, and an adjustable hook. The frame is configured to selectively couple to the hitch of the vehicle. The rack is supported on the frame in a horizontal orientation and at an elevated position on the frame. The adjustable hook includes is coupled to the rack and configured to support the bike. The adjustable hook includes a first plate, a second plate, a first hook, and a second hook. The adjustable hook is complementarily configured with the handlebar and the fork to support the bike hanging vertically by the handlebar or the fork from the adjustable hook with the handlebar tilted. The spacing between the first hook and the second hook is adjustable by translating the second plate relative to the first plate.

1 . A bike rack configured to mount to a hitch of a vehicle and to support a bike with a handlebar and a fork, the bike rack comprising:
 a frame configured to selectively couple to the hitch of the vehicle;   a rack supported on the frame in a horizontal orientation and at an elevated position on the frame; and   an adjustable hook coupled to the rack and complementarily configured with the handlebar and the fork to support the bike hanging vertically by the handlebar or the fork from the adjustable hook, the adjustable hook including:
 a first plate defining a first elongate slot; 
 a second plate that:
 abuts the first plate; 
 defines a third elongate slot longitudinally aligned with the first elongate slot and at least partially overlapping the first elongate slot; 
 is configured to selectively translate relative to the first plate to adjust the spacing between first plate and the second plate and to adjust the extent to which the first elongate slot and the third elongate slot overlap; 
 
 a first hook extending from the first plate; and 
 a second hook that:
 extends from the second plate; 
 is longitudinally spaced from the first hook; and 
 is disposed below the first hook such that the handlebar is tilted relative to the horizontal orientation of the rack when the handlebar or the fork is supported by the adjustable hook to allow tighter lateral packing of adjacent bikes; 
 
   wherein the spacing between the first hook and the second hook is adjustable by translating the second plate relative to the first plate.   
     
     
         2 . The bike rack of  claim 1 , wherein the first slot and the third slot extend in the direction that the second plate translates relative to the first plate. 
     
     
         3 . The bike rack of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustable hook further comprises a first bolt extending through the third slot and the first slot to couple the first plate to the second plate and to restrict the second plate from translating relative to the first plate. 
     
     
         4 . The bike rack of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the rack defines a first port;   the first bolt extends through the first port in addition to extending through the third slot and the first slot to couple the adjustable hook to the rack.   
     
     
         5 . The bike rack of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first plate defines a second elongate slot; and   the second plate defines a fourth longitudinal slot at least partially longitudinally aligned with the second longitudinal slot.   
     
     
         6 . The bike rack of  claim 5 , wherein the second plate selectively translating relative to the first plate adjusts the extent to which the fourth elongate slot and the second elongate slot overlap. 
     
     
         7 . The bike rack of  claim 5 , wherein the adjustable hook further comprises a second bolt extending through the fourth slot and the second slot to couple the first plate to the second plate and to restrict the second plate from translating relative to the first plate. 
     
     
         8 . The bike rack of  claim 7 , wherein the first elongate slot and the third elongate slot extend in the direction that the second plate translates relative to the first plate. 
     
     
         9 . The bike rack of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the rack defines a second port;   the second bolt extends through the second port in addition to extending through the fourth elongate slot and the second elongate slot to couple the adjustable hook to the rack.   
     
     
         10 . The bike rack of  claim 1 , further comprising a fixed hook coupled to the rack adjacent to the adjustable hook and configured to support the bike. 
     
     
         11 . The bike rack of  claim 10 , wherein the fixed hook includes:
 a third hook member, and   a fourth hook member spaced a fixed distance from the third hook member.   
     
     
         12 . The bike rack of  claim 11 , wherein the fixed hook further comprises:
 a body linking the third hook member and the fourth hook member; and   a retention member supported on the body and configured to restrict the bike from moving away from the fixed hook.   
     
     
         13 . The bike rack of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the body defines a first mounting point defining a bounded opening;   the body defines a second mounting point defining an open slot with a slot window defined in a major face of the body and a slot entrance providing access to the slot window.   
     
     
         14 . The bike rack of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the retention member includes:
 an elongate tension bearing member with a first end and a second end opposite the first end; 
 a first boss disposed on the first end; and 
 a second boss disposed on the second end; 
   the elongate tension bearing member extends through the first mounting point and is restricted from exiting the first mounting point by the first boss and the second boss being larger than the first mounting point.   
     
     
         15 . The bike rack of  claim 14 , wherein the elongate tension bearing member selectively extends through the slot entrance into the slot window and is restricted from passing through the slot window by the second boss being larger than the slot window. 
     
     
         16 . The bike rack of  claim 15 , wherein the retention member is configured to extend over the handlebar of the bike prior to selectively extending through the slot entrance of the second mounting point to bind the handlebar to the fixed hook. 
     
     
         17 . The bike rack of  claim 11 , wherein the fourth hook member is disposed below the third hook member such that the handlebar is tilted relative to the horizontal orientation of the rack when supported by the fixed hook to allow tighter lateral packing of adjacent bikes. 
     
     
         18 . A bike rack configured to mount to a hitch of a vehicle and to support a bike with a handlebar and a fork, the bike rack comprising:
 a frame configured to selectively couple to the hitch of the vehicle;   a rack supported on the frame in a horizontal orientation and at an elevated position on the frame; and   a hook coupled to the rack and configured to support the bike, the hook including:
 a body defining:
 a first mounting point defining a bounded opening, and 
 a second mounting point defining an open slot with a slot window defined in a major face of the body and a slot entrance providing access to the slot window; 
 
 a first hook member operatively supported on a first end of the body; and 
 a second hook member operatively supported on a second end of the body spaced from the first end; and 
 a retention member supported on the body and configured to restrict the bike from moving away from the hook. 
   
     
     
         19 . The bike rack of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the retention member extends through the first mounting point and is restricted from exiting the first mounting point; and   the retention member selectively extends through the slot entrance into the slot window and is selectively restricted from passing through the slot window.   
     
     
         20 . The bike rack of  claim 18 , wherein the hook is adjustable to selectively change the distance between the first hook member and the second hook member.