MODULAR SYSTEM OF A BICYCLE CARRIER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a modular system of a bicycle carrier for holding bicycles at the rear of a vehicle.

[0002] Such a bicycle carrier is known, for example, from DE 10 2007 035135 B3 and DE 44 27 450 A1. It comprises a carrier assembly that has a mounting bracket oriented approximately parallel to the rear of the vehicle and a support bracket that is usually oriented approximately perpendicular to the rear. The mounting bracket is intended for attaching the carrier assembly to the rear of the vehicle.

[0003] Compact motorhomes, particularly those based on a panel van (also known as a "van"), typically feature a body with two door leaves hinged to opposite sides of the vehicle's body. It is known to provide a rail assembly for mounting the support structure, which can be securely attached to one of the vehicle's doors, for example, by gluing, screwing, and / or riveting. Fasteners suitable for attachment to the rail assembly are provided on the mounting bracket.

[0004] By attaching the support assembly to the vehicle door using the rail arrangement, the support assembly pivots together with the door, so that opening the door is usually possible even with a bicycle carrier mounted, even if it is carrying bicycles.

[0005] A bicycle carrier mounted in this manner on one of a vehicle's rear doors is typically only suitable for transporting two conventional bicycles, which usually weigh between 10 and 16 kg. The load-bearing capacity of this carrier is specifically limited to this transport, as the load must be absorbed by the door hinges. Furthermore, the off-center mounting of the bicycle carrier relative to the vehicle's centerline, due to its attachment to only one door, regularly results in the support rails being carried asymmetrically along their longitudinal axis. This leads to asymmetrical bending stresses on the rails and the support assembly with all its components. Due to its limited load-bearing capacity, a bicycle carrier with such a support assembly mounted on a rear door is only suitable for transporting two conventional bicycles.

[0006] Compact motorhomes are based on a variety of different vans, which differ, among other things, in the design of their rear doors and their hinge arrangements. A disadvantage is that optimal installation requires the bicycle carrier to be adapted to the specific van, and the manufacturer or supplier must stock correspondingly adapted carriers. This entails considerable production and storage costs.

[0007] Furthermore, bicycles with electric motor assistance, also known as "electric bicycles" or "e-bikes" for short, have become increasingly popular in recent years. The advantage of these e-bikes is that the electric motor assistance allows even less physically fit individuals to cover longer distances, such as 50 km or more, with electric support. The electric motor assistance also significantly eases uphill cycling.

[0008] However, a disadvantage of these e-bikes is their considerably larger mass compared to conventional bicycles, which is regularly in the range of 20 kg or even significantly more.

[0009] Since conventional bicycle carriers attached to a vehicle's rear door in the manner described typically lack the necessary load-bearing capacity to transport two e-bikes, bicycle carriers specifically designed for e-bike transport with sufficient load-bearing capacity have become available. These are often designed for mounting on a vehicle's towbar.

[0010] However, a disadvantage of these bicycle carriers is that the rear doors of a vehicle can no longer be opened when the bicycle carrier is mounted.

[0011] Therefore, bicycle carriers for attachment to a vehicle's towbar have become known that allow the support beam carrying the bicycles to swivel downwards.

[0012] However, one disadvantage is the associated design effort. Another is that, even with the assembly folded downwards, the doors often cannot be opened when bicycles are supported by the frame, as the doors or parts thereof collide with the bicycles.

[0013] Finally, it is a disadvantage that a different bike rack must be installed regularly for transporting e-bikes, which means additional assembly effort and costs for the customer. Furthermore, the manufacturer's production and maintenance costs increase due to the need to produce and stock a different bike rack specifically for transporting e-bikes.

[0014] The invention is therefore based on the objective of creating a modular system of a bicycle carrier for holding bicycles at the rear of a vehicle, which allows universal use on various vans and optionally for conventional bicycles or e-bikes.

[0015] This task is solved by a modular system of a bicycle carrier for mounting bicycles on the rear of a vehicle having a body, which includes a mounting rail arrangement for attachment to a rear door of a vehicle which pivots about a hinge axis, a carrier assembly comprising a mounting bracket and a support bracket articulated to the mounting bracket, and a mounting frame arrangement for attachment to the body of a vehicle which pivots about a pivot axis (S) parallel to a hinge axis.According to the invention, the modular system comprises a plurality of mounting rail arrangements and a plurality of mounting frame arrangements adapted for mounting on different vehicles, wherein, if the bicycle carrier is intended for transporting conventional bicycles, the carrier assembly is designed for attachment to a mounting rail arrangement or, if the bicycle carrier is intended for transporting e-bikes, for attachment to a mounting frame arrangement.

[0016] To allow at least one of the vehicle's rear doors to be opened even when a bicycle carrier suitable for transporting e-bikes is fitted, the mounting arrangement according to the invention is designed for pivotable attachment about the pivot axis to a hinge part of a hinge assembly attached to the vehicle body, which pivots the rear door to the body. The holding forces are thus introduced into the body at points that, due to their design, possess a sufficiently high load-bearing capacity.

[0017] Due to this design, the modular system according to the invention has, among other things, the following advantages: Only a single carrier assembly suitable for transporting conventional bicycles needs to be kept in stock, which can be mounted on different vans using adapted mounting rail arrangements. This saves on production and storage costs. The carrier assembly can also be reused if the vehicle is changed. Similarly, only a single carrier assembly suitable for transporting e-bikes needs to be kept in stock, which can be mounted on different vans using adapted mounting frame arrangements. This again saves on production and storage costs. The carrier assembly can also be reused if the vehicle is changed.

[0018] The carrier assemblies suitable for transporting conventional bicycles and those suitable for transporting e-bikes can be designed for the respective required load capacities. For example, the mounting brackets and / or support beams suitable for transporting conventional bicycles can be made of less expensive and lighter aluminum alloys, whereas the mounting brackets and / or support beams suitable for transporting e-bikes can be made of more expensive and heavier stainless steel alloys. However, the invention also encompasses a modular system comprising a single (compatible) carrier assembly that can be mounted on both the mounting rail assembly and the mounting frame assembly and has a load-bearing capacity sufficient for transporting e-bikes. Since only a single type of mounting assembly needs to be kept in stock, inventory costs can be further reduced.

[0019] To prevent unwanted pivoting of the mounting frame around the pivot axis, locking means are preferably provided which - particularly preferably - are arranged at a distance from the pivot axis.

[0020] To ensure that the bicycle carrier protrudes as little as possible from the rear door of the vehicle when no bicycles are being transported, the support bracket is preferably hinged to the mounting bracket in such a way that it can pivot between a folded-down, out-of-function position and an unfolded transport position.

[0021] Another preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention comprises a ladder assembly that can be attached to the rail arrangement and / or the mounting frame arrangement. This is particularly useful when the support assembly is not attached to the rail arrangement but to the mounting frame arrangement. The ladder assembly can be used, in particular, to access the roof area of ​​the vehicle, for example, to attach objects to a roof rack, or to reach devices mounted on the roof, such as photovoltaic panels or antenna systems.

[0022] It can be provided that the bicycle carrier can be attached to a first rear door of the vehicle, in particular to a right-hand rear door, and a ladder assembly can be attached to a second rear door of the vehicle, in particular to a left-hand rear door. For this purpose, the bicycle carrier is preferably designed such that it can be attached to the first rear door of the vehicle, in particular to the right-hand rear door, and the ladder assembly to the second rear door of the vehicle, in particular to the left-hand rear door. Particularly preferably, the bicycle carrier can be attached to the rear door of a vehicle in both the folded-down, out-of-function position and the unfolded transport position in such a way that a ladder or ladder assembly can also be provided next to the bicycle carrier.This is preferably possible both when the bicycle carrier is mounted using the mounting rail arrangement and when the bicycle carrier is mounted using the mounting frame arrangement.

[0023] The drawing shows an embodiment of a modular system according to the invention. It shows: Fig. 1 a mounting rail assembly of the modular system in a position intended for mounting on a vehicle's rear door; Fig. 2 a carrier assembly of the modular system intended for transporting conventional bicycles; Fig. 3 a mounting frame assembly of the modular system; Fig. 4 a carrier assembly of the modular system intended for transporting e-bikes; Fig. 5 the carrier assembly intended for transporting conventional bicycles in the state mounted to the mounting rail assembly; Fig. 6 the carrier assembly intended for transporting e-bikes in the state mounted to the mounting frame assembly; Fig. 7 a ladder assembly of the modular system; and Fig. 8 the ladder assembly in the state mounted to the mounting rail assembly.

[0024] The embodiment of the modular bicycle carrier system 100 shown in the drawing comprises a plurality of mounting rail assemblies 1, which are intended for permanent mounting on a rear door of various vehicles (not shown in the drawing), e.g., different vans. The drawing shows only one mounting rail assembly intended for a specific van as an example. Each mounting rail assembly has two mounting rails 2. They can be attached to the rear door, in particular by gluing, screwing, and / or riveting. Fig. 1 Figure 2 shows the mounting rails 2 in a parallel, spaced-apart position, in which they are usually attached to the rear door.

[0025] The mounting rails 2 each have a C-shaped groove 3 which is open on the mounting side 5 opposite a mounting side 4.

[0026] The modular system further comprises a support assembly 6 with a mounting bracket 7 and a support beam 9 articulated to the mounting bracket 7 via hinges 8, which is intended for the transport of two conventional bicycles and for mounting on a mounting rail arrangement 1 and in Fig. 2 The mounting bracket 7 comprises a tube arrangement 10 in the shape of a rectangle with rounded corners, wherein opposing end regions 11 are angled in the same direction from a plane spanned by side regions 12. The tube arrangement is made of an aluminum material.

[0027] The side sections 12 can be designed in two parts and each comprise telescopically movable tube sections 13, 14, so that the height H of the mounting bracket 7 can be varied and adapted to a distance A at which the mounting rails 2 are mounted on the rear door.

[0028] Fastening devices 15 are provided at the end regions 11, which serve to fasten the mounting bracket 7 to the mounting rail arrangement 1. Each fastening device 15 may include a screw (not shown in the drawing) which is used to screw into a rectangular nut (also not shown in the drawing) inserted into the C-slot.

[0029] A transverse tube arrangement 16 is provided at the upper end region 11 of the mounting bracket 7, which serves to attach spacers 17. These include fastening straps 18, which serve to fix a frame part of a bicycle (not shown in the drawing).

[0030] The support bracket 9 comprises a U-shaped tube 19, at both ends of which the hinges 8 are arranged. The U-shaped tube carries two guide grooves 20, each serving to support the two wheels of a bicycle. Fastening straps 18 are provided for securing these.

[0031] Fig. 5 Figure 6 shows the support assembly 6 in its mounted state on the mounting rails 2. Since the mounting rails 2 are regularly attached to one of the two rear doors of the vehicle and thus off-center, the guide channels 20 are not arranged symmetrically from the U-shaped tube 19, but are offset so that bicycles supported by the guide channels 20 are transported offset towards the center of the vehicle. Fig. 5 Figure 2 shows the conditions for mounting rails attached to the right rear door of a vehicle. This bicycle carrier 100 is designed for transporting conventional bicycles.

[0032] The modular system of the bicycle carrier also includes a mounting frame arrangement 21, which is in Fig. 3 is shown. It comprises a frame tube 22 with two parallel cross tube sections 23. The cross tube sections 23 are attached to a, in Fig. 3 The ends shown on the left are connected to each other via a connecting pipe section 24. The two other ends of the transverse pipe sections 23 are each connected according to Fig. 3 angled downwards. The angled areas 25, 26 form mounting legs, and for this purpose, fastening devices 27 are provided at their free ends, which are designed for pivotable attachment about a pivot axis S to a hinge part attached to the body of the vehicle of a hinge arrangement that pivots the rear door to the body.

[0033] The connecting pipe section 24 is provided with means 28 for locking the mounting frame assembly 21 against pivoting about the pivot axis S. The fastening means 28 are designed such that they can be brought into positive engagement with countermeasures attached to the vehicle, e.g. by means of an insertable locking pin, which is not shown in the drawing.

[0034] The modular system can comprise a plurality of different mounting frame arrangements 21, which differ from one another in the distance B of the mounting device 27, the arrangement of the means 28, the lengths of the transverse sections 23, the length of the connecting pipe section 24 and / or the design of the mounting devices 27, such that the mounting frame arrangement 21 is adapted to the requirements specified by a particular vehicle type.

[0035] The modular system also includes a Fig. 4The illustrated support assembly 6' comprises a mounting bracket 7' and a support beam 9' hinged to the mounting bracket 7' via hinges 8', designed for transporting two e-bikes and for mounting on a mounting frame assembly 21. The mounting bracket 7' includes a tube assembly 10' in the shape of a rectangle with rounded corners, wherein opposing end regions 11' are angled in the same direction from a plane spanned by side regions 12'. The tube assembly is made of stainless steel.

[0036] The side sections 12' can be formed in two parts and each comprise telescopically movable pipe sections 13', 14', so that the height H of the mounting bracket 7' can be varied and adapted to different distances of the transverse sections 23.

[0037] A transverse tube arrangement 16 is provided at the upper end region 11 of the mounting bracket 7, which serves to attach spacers 17. These include fastening straps 18, which serve to fix a frame part of a bicycle (not shown in the drawing).

[0038] The support beam 9' comprises a U-shaped tube 19', at the ends of which the hinges 8' are arranged. The U-shaped tube carries two guide grooves 20', each serving to support the two wheels of a bicycle. Fastening straps 18' are provided for securing these.

[0039] Fig. 6 Figure 1 shows the mounting frame arrangement 21 with the support assembly 6' attached thereto. The support assembly 6' is positioned such that it extends laterally approximately symmetrically to the vehicle's central axis, so that the guide channels 20' project beyond the U-shaped tube 19' on both sides by approximately the same amounts.

[0040] The fastening devices 15' are adapted for attachment to the cross tube sections 23 of the frame tube 22. To increase the load-bearing capacity of the support assembly 6', the U-shaped tube 19 can be made of a material providing a higher load-bearing capacity, e.g., stainless steel.

[0041] The modular system also includes, as shown in Fig. 7 The figure shows a ladder arrangement 29, which has fastening devices 30 designed for attachment to the mounting rail arrangement 1. In order to adapt the vertical distance of the fastening devices 30 to the distance A of the two mounting rails 2 of the mounting rail arrangement 1, the fastening devices 30 are designed such that they Fig. 7 They can be moved vertically and fixed in a desired position relative to each other.

[0042] The ladder arrangement comprises a fixed ladder section 31 and a hinged folding section 32 attached to it. It is extended from its in Fig. 7 The ladder arrangement is unfolded downwards in the shown folded position.

[0043] Fig. 8 The ladder arrangement 29 is shown in the state attached to mounting rails 2. Reference symbol list:

[0044] 100 Bicycle carrier 1 Mounting rail assembly 2 Mounting rails 3 C-slot 4 Mounting side 5 Mounting side 6 Carrier assembly 7 Mounting bracket 8 Hinges 9 Support bracket 10 Tube assembly 11 End sections 12 Side sections 13 Tube section 14 Tube section 15 Mounting device 16 Cross tube assembly 17 Spacer 18 Mounting strap 19 Tube 20 Guide channels 21 Mounting frame assembly 22 Frame tube 23 Cross tube section 24 Connecting tube section 25 Angled section 26 Angled section 27 Mounting devices 28 Center 29 Ladder assembly 30 Mounting device 31 Ladder section 32 Folding section ADistance BDistance HHHeight SSwing axis

Claims

1. Modular system of a bicycle carrier (100) for holding bicycles at the rear of a vehicle that has a body, having - a fastening-rail arrangement (1) for being fastened to a rear door of a vehicle that is pivotable about a hinge axis; - a carrier assembly (6) which comprises a fastening carrier (7) and a support carrier (9) articulated on the fastening carrier (7); and - a fastening-frame arrangement (21) for being fastened to the body of a vehicle so as to be pivotable about a hinge-axis-parallel pivot axis (S), wherein the modular system comprises a plurality of fastening-rail arrangements (1) and a plurality of fastening-frame arrangements (21) that are mountable on different vehicles, wherein the carrier assembly (6) is configured in such a way that the carrier assembly (6) can be fastened selectively to a fastening-rail arrangement (1) or to a fastening-frame arrangement (21), wherein the fastening-frame arrangement (21) is intended to be fastened to a hinge part, attached to the body, of a hinge arrangement, by which the rear door is articulated on the body, so as to be pivotable about the pivot axis (S).

2. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that the fastening-frame arrangement (21) is configured, and a carrier assembly (6) is provided, in such a way that a bicycle carrier (100) comprising said fastening-frame arrangement (1) and said carrier assembly (6) has a load-bearing capacity which is designed for transporting two e-bikes.

3. System according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that provision is made of means (28) for locking the fastening-frame arrangement (21) against pivoting about the pivot axis (S).

4. System according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support carrier (9) is articulated on the fastening carrier (7) in such a way as to be pivotable between a folded-in non-functional position and a folded-out transport position.

5. System according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that provision is made of a ladder arrangement (29) which is attachable to the rail arrangement (1) and / or to the fastening-frame arrangement (21) .

6. System according one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bicycle carrier (100) is configured in such a way that the bicycle carrier (100) is arrangeable on a first vehicle rear door, in particular a right-hand vehicle rear door, and a ladder arrangement is arrangeable on a second vehicle rear door, in particular a left-hand vehicle rear door.