Bicycle rack

Abstract

The present invention concerns a a bicycle rack comprising a structural frame (5) and at least one rail (10) supported by said frame in a frontal area, wherein said at least one rail (10) comprises at least one downward tilting movement relative to said frame (5), characterized by the fact that said at least one rail (10) includes at least one tilting movement in frontal abduction relative to said frame (5). Preferably at least the front abduction movement is independent of the downward tilting movement.

Description

[0001] Title: bicycle rack.

[0002] ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

[0003] DESCRIPTION

[0004] The present invention concerns a bicycle rack. The rack is particularly suitable for transporting bicycles hanging from a vehicle, such as on the back of an RV or car. However, other uses, such as storage of bicycles hanging on a wall, are not excluded.

[0005] PRIOR ART

[0006] In the bicycle transport sector, there has been a shift in just a few years from car rooftop transport to more practical transport systems in which bicycles are hung on the back of the vehicle by means of special racks. This, for example, has enabled the widespread use of bicycle transport in the back of RVs . Typically, bicycles are lifted off the ground manually, placed on the racks, and then locked to them.

[0007] With the advent of e-bikes, however, this operation has become inconvenient and cumbersome because of the considerable weight to be lifted.

[0008] The solution that is generally offered by the market is motorized racks that can go down to the ground, and back up again. This solution is to date a practically mandatory choice for transporting e-bikes on RVs, where the loading height to be reached is considerable. These racks , however, are very expensive , and can easily be subj ect to breakdowns that make them impossible to use , causing considerable inconvenience .

[0009] The company BR-Systems recently proposed a rack that allows bicycles to be loaded by tilting support rails .

[0010] The rack can be seen at the link : https : / / www . youtube . com / watch?v=QOCXc9tQI 5o

[0011] A European patent application EP4438414A2 has also been filed for this rack .

[0012] Although in principle the attempt is correct , in practice the idea has not been declined into a device intended to be hung on a vehicle that is actually usable , due to numerous problems .

[0013] A tilt-rail bicycle loading system must primarily be free of obstacles to bicycles climbing onto the rails .

[0014] BR-System has avoided the obstacle given by the cantilevered portion of the frame by creating a split support frame , where one part is tilting integral to the rails and is necessarily separated by sliding from a fixed frame portion . This , however, causes a dangerous structural weakening of the rack, considering the the fact that during travel the roughness of the ground induces extremely violent accelerations to the bicycles , which are cantilever-loaded and have considerable weight .

[0015] In addition, in order to switch between the loading and traveling configurations , in addition to sliding the telescoping portions of the rails , it is necessary to re-couple the two frame parts when they are burdened by the weight of the bicycles . This of course is particularly inconvenient and cumbersome .

[0016] Another problem is that all BR-System rails must tilt solidly to each other and to the tilting frame part , so it is cumbersome to li ft them, especially i f they are e-bikes , and it is even more cumbersome to re-couple the frame parts of the rack while keeping the bicycles balanced by physical force .

[0017] A further problem related to the possibility o f loading two or more bicycles is that BR-Systems makes this operation impossible , or very inconvenient . Once the first bicycle is loaded, in fact , the second one i s unable to climb as it bumps against the handlebars and pedals of the first one , so it actually has to be front- loaded by li fting it by hand as in traditional racks .

[0018] Another additional problem is the need to lock the first bicycle to allow loading of the second bicycle before li fting the rails . BR-System has made a bicycle locking arm integral with the rails , but this ends up creating an additional obstacle to the loading of the second bicycle , which must avoid not only the handlebars and pedal of the first , but also the arm of the rack . Moreover, this additionally burdens the cantilever structure , and the bicycle finds itsel f without an ef fective lateral lock .

[0019] Finally, the rack of EP4438414A2 is necessarily telescopic to split the frame and lower it along with the rails . This constrains the freedom of loading in tight places where there may not be the necessary lateral space .

[0020] Deeply rooted in the patent literature concerning the limiting field of motorcycles is the use of tilting the rails according to a single inclined axis , so as to act as a cam that aids in li fting . See in this regard AU2022206754 , US3760965 . Even this solution, however , does not allow for adaptation to the available spaces for loading and unloading and to any obstacles such as parts of the vehicle , the rack frame , or the handlebars and pedals of any other bicycles already loaded .

[0021] The general purpose of the present invention is to overcome some or all of the problems of the prior art . A preferred purpose of the present invention i s to provide a bicycle rack that makes it easy to load bicycles .

[0022] Another preferred purpose is to provide a bicycle rack that can be attached to a vehicle , where the rack i s very resistant to stresses from the roughness of the ground during travel .

[0023] Another preferred purpose of the present invention is to provide a bicycle rack that allows convenient locking during loading and safe locking during travel .

[0024] Another further purpose of the present invention is to provide a bicycle rack that is easy and inexpensive to implement .

[0025] GENERAL INTRODUCTION

[0026] The purposes are solved by a bicycle rack according to the attached claims . DETAILED DESCRI PT ION

[0027] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will best result from the following detailed description of its preferred forms o f implementation, made with reference to the attached drawings and given for illustrative and non-limiting purposes . figure 1 schematically shows a bicycle rack according to the present invention;

[0028] - figure 2 shows the rack of figure 1 in exploded view,

[0029] - figure 3 shows a tilting motion of a rail of the rack of the previous figures , figure 4 shows an abduction movement of the rail of figure 3 combined with said tilting movement ;

[0030] - figure 5 shows the stage of loading a bicycle onto said inclined and abducted rail ; figure 6 depicts the rack o f the previous figures in a configuration loaded with two bicycles ; figure 7 shows a swivel and quick release device interposed between at least one rail and a support frame of said rail , both of which are included in the rack of the previous figures ;

[0031] - figure 8 shows the swivel device from figure 7 in an uncoupled configuration;

[0032] - figure 9 shows in perspective view one of the rails from the previous figures ; - figure 10 shows the detail of the adj ustment mechanism of a vertical bicycle wheel support fork associated with the rails in the previous figures ; figures 11 and 12 are sections of the articulated j oint device placed to j oin a rail and a prong of the rack from the previous figures , where the two sections represent an engaged and a disengaged configuration, respectively;

[0033] - figure 13 schematically shows a variant based on the known BS-SYSTEMS rack modi fied according to the present invention .

[0034] Referring to figures 1 and 2 , a rack particularly suitable for bicycle transport i s shown, denoted as a whole by reference number 1 , and hereafter called rack for brevity .

[0035] Rack 1 comprises a structural frame 5 and at least one rail 10 supported by said frame . The example shown includes two rails ; however, their number may be bigger or smaller . Each rail is configured to support a bicycle in an upright position .

[0036] Preferably, the rack 1 also includes at least one locking arm 15 , with one end 16 constrained to the frame and the other end equipped with a gripping organ 18 configured to clamp a bicycle supported on a rail and hold it upright . Preferably, the rack includes as many clamping arms 15 as there are rails 10 .

[0037] The frame 5 includes at least one attachment point 20 configured to secure it to a vehicle and / or a vertical wall, such as by screws or by a hook. For example, the frame includes a plurality of attachment points 20 by means of screws, or a grab jaw (not shown) configured to tighten a rear tow hook of a vehicle. Said at least one attachment point 20 may be a conventional type, for example, so it is not further described.

[0038] The configuration in which the rack is attached to a wall and / or vehicle is the configuration in which in use it supports bicycles by holding them hanging and oriented vertically with respect to said wall or vehicle, so it is the configuration with respect to which the horizontal and vertical reference planes and directions used in the following are identified.

[0039] The frame 5 includes a substantially vertically developed back portion 24, and a support portion 25 of the rails, projecting frontally from the back portion 14. The support portion 25 is, for example, in the form of a front fork, open frontally, comprising at least two prongs 26 projecting frontally from said back portion 24, preferably at a lower area thereof. The two prongs 26 preferably are projecting in a horizontal plane.

[0040] The prongs 26 preferably run along respective longitudinal horizontal axes XI parallel to each other.

[0041] The frame preferably is configured in such a way that, in the use of loading unloading and transporting bicycles, all its parts are fixed to each other so that they behave as a single body. This means that the frame 5 is devoid of parts that in use are movable to each other, such as parts that are telescopic, removable, or rotatable to each other. Rack 1 has a support configuration in which each rail 10 is supported by both prongs 26 , for example , in a substantially hori zontal arrangement . Speci fically, each rail 10 has a main development in a longitudinal direction of suf ficient length to pierce both said prongs 26 .

[0042] Said length is also suf ficient to support in support both wheels of a bicycle of at least one standard si ze .

[0043] In some preferred forms of implementation said main development in said longitudinal direction follows a curved line , as known in the industry, in this case substantially hori zontal rail arrangement means a position in which a bicycle supported by it is substantially hori zontal .

[0044] Rack 1 also has at least one loading and unloading configuration in which at least one rail 10 , more preferably each of them, are inclined from said substantially hori zontal position, where said inclination is both downward and in frontal abduction relative to the frame 5 .

[0045] In the loading and unloading configuration at least one rail 10 , more preferably each of them, i s constrained to the frame 5 and possesses with respect to it at least one degree of freedom of downward tilt rotation .

[0046] In addition, as best seen in figure 4 , said at least one rail 10 , more preferably each of them, also includes a degree of freedom of tilt rotation in abduction in the frontal direction relative to frame 5 . This , for example , is made possible by the fact that in the loading and unloading configuration said rail 10 possesses at least two free rotations with respect to frame 5 , around two axes of rotation X and Y, where preferably one of the axes is hori zontal (X ) , e . g . , parallel to an axis XI of longitudinal development of the prongs , and one is vertical (Y) .

[0047] For example , said at least one rail 10 is releasable from at least one of the prongs 26 in such a way that it transitions from the support configuration in which it is in a substantially hori zontal position and constrained to both prongs 26 , to the loading and unloading position in which it is both substantially inclined with respect to the hori zontal and abducted with respect to the back portion 24 .

[0048] Preferably said rail in the loading and unloading configuration is released from only one of the prongs 26 and movably constrained to the other .

[0049] An abducted position is generally defined as a position rotated with respect to the vertical axis Y, in which therefore one end of rail 10 is further from the back 24 than in the support configuration . The abduction is of such extent that rail 10 frontally passes over at least one prong 26 .

[0050] Preferably the rack comprises a plurality of rails 10 , where at least one has said degrees of freedom to rotate independently of the others , and where preferably all have said degrees of freedom . This makes abduction also applicable to racks with frames that can be split into at least one fixed part and one movable part , such as that of BS-SYSTEMS , generating possible variations of which a schematic example 101 is given in figure 13 , and still advantageous in that they allow bicycles to climb each rail . In the case of modi fying BS-SYSTEMS in fact , one could make , for example , a rack with a plurality of rails , where at least one part of the frame , e . g . , one of the prongs 26 , can be separated from the remaining part and comprises at least one movable portion integral to a first rail 10 , and where at least one second rail is movable in downward inclination and in front abduction inclination relative to the first rail . This would allow, i f nothing else , one rail to move away from the other and allow bicycles to move up or down without bumping pedals or handlebars .

[0051] In general , preferably the at least one rail 10 , tiltable downward and in abduction in the frontal direction, is selectively releasable from either prong 26 , and rotatable constrained with respect to the other . This advantageously makes it possible to choose which side of the vehicle to load the bicycles on, depending on the space in the parking area .

[0052] As best seen in figures 11 and 12 , in the illustrated example , rack 1 includes a respective articulated j oint device 60 interposed between said rail 10 and each of the respective prongs 26 .

[0053] Each articulated j oint device 60 comprises two separable portions 61 and 62 , one integral to a prong 26 and one integral to a rail 10 . One of said portions includes a coupling pin 63 and the other a retractable trigger 64 configured to selectively engage and disengage said coupling pin 63 . When the trigger is disengaged said two portions are separable from each other .

[0054] Said coupling pin 63 is configured to also serve as a pivot pin between said two separable portions .

[0055] The portion 62 integral with the rail 10 i s j oined to the latter rotatable about a pin 65 inclined with respect to the coupling pin 63 , preferably crooked with respect to it . Additionally, or alternatively is the portion 61 integral to the frame that is j oined to the latter by said pin 65 .

[0056] The axis of rotation defined by the coupling pin 63 coincides with the axis Y, and is also called the abduction axis , while the axis of rotation of the inclined pin 65 coincides with the axis X, and is also called the tilt axis .

[0057] In this way, the articulated j oint 60 makes a modular gimbal j oint .

[0058] In the preferred forms of implementation, the rail 10 has a bottom 51 configured to receive in support a bicycle wheels , e . g . , the bottom 51 is concave in cross-section, and at least one pair of sides 52 lateral to the bottom 51 and proj ecting vertically configured to provide lateral support for a bicycle wheel housed between them . Preferably said sides 52 are proj ecting to a height H that equals or exceeds the overall height of a tire and bicycle rim of at least one standard si ze . For example , the height H, calculated from the center of the bottom 51 , is greater than or equal to 5 cm, more preferably greater than or equal to 10 cm .

[0059] Preferably, the Z-spacing between said sides 52 is adjustable.

[0060] It is not excluded that the sides 52 are an extension of the bottom 51, and therefore are in one piece with it, and / or made substantially along the entire length of the rail, as would be easy to achieve with a profiled bar; however, the following forms of implementation are also contemplated in which said sides 52 form at least a localized vertical fork 50. The term localized indicates that, with reference to the direction of longitudinal extension of the rail, said vertical fork 50 has an extension limited to a predetermined area of rail 10. Figure 10 shows an example of a localized vertical fork 50.

[0061] The localized vertical fork 50 preferably is in the form of a device comprising at least one side 52 that can be approached and moved away from each other, for example by means of an adjustment knob 53, an example of which can be seen in figure 10.

[0062] Additionally, or alternatively, it is preferred that the position of the localized vertical fork 50 is adjustable along the direction of longitudinal development of the rail 10, for example by means of an adjustment knob 54, an example of which can be seen in figure 9.

[0063] Preferably the rack includes two at least vertical forks 50 located for each rail 10, spaced so as to provide support for at least two wheels of a bicycle of at least one standard size. More preferably, the spacing between them is adjustable to match the distance between the wheels of a bicycle. Each rail 10 preferably is coupled to at least one locking device 55 . First examples of locking devices may be of the traditional belt type , e . g . , independent o f the presence of sides 52 or locali zed vertical forks 50 . They are not further described . Preferred examples , however, are those in which at least one locking device 55 comprises a respective locali zed vertical fork 50 , an example of which can be seen in figure 9 . In this case said locking device 55 comprises a locking element 56 selectively placed to j oin the sides 52 together, preferably at their tops . For example , the locking element 56 is a pin, which can be locked and unlocked by means of the knob 57 . Preferably, the locking element 56 has a transition movement between a locking configuration and an unlocking configuration, such as by sliding or rotation .

[0064] The locking device 55 in use has a consensus or override function to allow or prevent the extraction of the bicycle wheel from the locali zed vertical 50 fork .

[0065] In use , at least one rail 10 is tilted downward and in frontal abduction to pass over one of the prongs 26 or at least to tilt frontally to an adj acent rail . In such a configuration, a bicycle 70 is made to climb on the inclined rail 10 as visible in figure 5 . Advantageously, the bicycle can ride the rail without di f ficulty since it is not obstructed by any prongs or parts of other bicycles that might already be present on near rails .

[0066] When the bicycle is on the rai l it is locked relative to it by drawing the two sides 52 of at least one vertical fork 50 located by means of pin 56 . The latter is arranged in such a way that the rim of the bicycle wheel is interposed between said pin 56 and the bottom 51 of the rail 10 .

[0067] The sides 52 support the bicycle against falling sideways , so the operator is facilitated in operations , e . g . , he is able to use both hands to lock the possible pin 56 of a second locali zed vertical fork 50 , to adj ust the position of the locali zed vertical forks 50 , to adj ust the distance between the sides 52 , to li ft the rails with the bicycles on top to bring them to the hori zontal support configuration in figure 6 . We observe that thanks to the sides 52 all these operations are done without locking the bicycles with the arms 15 , so there is no need for movable locking arms with the rails as in BR-SYSTEMS , which create hindrances to bicycle climbing, weighting and poor lateral restraint .

[0068] According to the present invention, bicycles 70 can be locked against lateral movement by securing them to the frame by means of the arms 15 when they are already in the hori zontal support configuration of figure 6 . This operation can also be performed by the operator with both hands , as the bicycles are advantageously already supported laterally by the sides 52 .

[0069] All rails 10 preferably are tiltable downward and in abduction so as to pass over one of the prongs 26 . However, implementation forms where only one or part of the rails have a frontal abduction tilt movement are not excluded, this for example could be provided in implementation forms where there is no need to pass over the prongs , for example because at least one is separable from the rest of the frame .

[0070] In general , it can be seen that at least the frontal abduction movement is independent of the downward tilt movement , more preferably the two movements are independent of each other at least in a transition from the support configuration to the loading and unloading configuration . The axes of rotation X and Y are thus separate axes from each other to allow two distinct rotations of the rail , one around each axis .

[0071] This advantageously allows total freedom in positioning the rail in space to accommodate any narrow loading spaces , or to avoid obstacles , such as any handlebars or bicycle pedals already loaded on a second rail .

[0072] In the example shown in figures 1 to 12 in an initial step of transition from the support configuration to the loading and unloading configuration, the only frontal abduction movement is independent of the downward tilt movement because it is necessary to perform the former first in order to step over at least one prong of the frame and be able to tilt downward . After such passing over, the frontal abduction and downward tilt movements are independent of each other where preferably the abduction can be of additional extent to the passing over movement .

[0073] Independent movements are exploited, in the case of two or more rails , to raise and lower only one of them at a time , limiting the weight to be moved .

[0074] This di f fers from the diversion teaching particularly rooted in AU2022206754 and US3760965, which requires a unique rotation around a single tilted axis.

[0075] In some cases, the downward tilt movement can occur both before and after the frontal abduction movement, such as in the implementation form of figure 13. In the latter this is made possible, for example, by the fact that at least of the prongs are detachable to be movable in solidarity with at least one rail.

[0076] Ultimately it will be noted that in all examples in the loading and unloading configuration the degrees of freedom of rotation about the axes X and Y are free and independent of each other.

[0077] GENERAL MEANING OF TERMS

[0078] In understanding the purpose of the present invention, the term "comprising" and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended as open-ended terms specifying the presence of the declared characteristics, elements, components, groups, integers and / or phases, but not excluding the presence of other undeclared characteristics, elements, components, groups, integers and / or phases. The above also applies to words with similar meanings such as the terms "including", "having" and their derivatives. In addition, the terms "part", "section", "portion", "member" or "element" when used in the singular may have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. As used herein to describe the form(s) of implementation mentioned above, the following directional terms "forward", "backward", "above", "below" , "vertical" , "horizontal" , "underneath" and " transverse" , as well as any other similar directional terms refer to the form of implementation described in the operative position . Finally, grade terms such as " substantially" , " about" and " approximately" as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modi fied term such that the end result is not signi ficantly changed .

[0079] While only selected implementation forms have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, from this description it will be clear to those expert in the field that various modi fications and variations may be made without departing from the purpose of the invention as defined in the attached claims . For example , the si ze , shape , position or orientation of the various components may be modi fied as needed and / or desired . Components shown directly connected or in contact with each other may have intermediate structures interposed between them . The functions of one element can be performed by two and vice versa . The structures and functions of one form o f implementation can be adopted in another one . It is not necessary that all advantages are present in a particular form of implementation at the same time . Each characteristic that is original compared to the prior art , alone or in combination with other characteristics , should also be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant , including structural and / or functional concepts incorporated by those characteristics . Therefore , the previous descriptions o f implementation forms according to the present invention are provided for illustrative purposes only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the attached claims and their equivalents .

Claims

CLAIMS1. Bicycle rack comprising a structural frame (5) and at least one rail (10) supported by said frame in a frontal area, wherein said at least one rail (10) comprises at least one downward tilting movement relative to said frame (5) , characterized by the fact that said at least one rail (10) includes at least one tilt movement in frontal abduction relative to said frame (5) .

2. Rack according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the at least one front abduction movement is independent of the downward tilt movement.

3. Rack according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the two movements are independent of each other at least in one stage of transition from a support configuration to a loading and unloading configuration.

4. Rack according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the two movements are independent of each other at least after a step of passing over a portion of a structural frame by a front abduction movement.

5. Rack according to any claim from 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that said at least one rail (10) comprises at least one bicycle support configuration, in which the rail (10) is fixed relativeto the frame (5) , and a loading and unloading configuration in which the rail (10) comprises at least one degree of freedom of downward tilt rotation (X) and one degree of freedom of frontal abduction tilt rotation (Y) relative to the frame (5) independent of each other.

6. Rack according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that in the loading and unloading configuration said rail (10) , possesses at least two free and mutually independent rotations with respect to the frame (5) , around two axis of rotation X and Y.

7. Rack according to any claim 5 or 6, characterized by the fact that said frame includes at least two prongs (26) projecting into said front area and configured to support said at least one rail in the support configuration.

8. Rack according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that said at least one rail (10) is releasable from at least one of the prongs (26) in such a way that it transitions from the support configuration in which it is in a substantially horizontal position and constrained to both prongs (26) , to the loading and unloading position in which it is both substantially inclined from the horizontal position and abducted frontally from the frame .

9. Rack according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that in the loading and unloading configurationsaid rail (10) is released from one of the prongs (26) and movably constrained to the other.

10. Rack according to any claim from 7 to 9, characterized by the facy that the at least one rail (10) , tiltable downwardly and in abduction in the frontal direction, is selectively releasable from one or the other of the prongs (26) , and rotatably constrained relative to the other.

11. Rack according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that it comprises a respective articulated joint device (60) interposed between said rail (10) and each of the respective prongs (26) , wherein said joint accomplishes said two tilt movements.

12. Rack according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that each articulating joint device (60) comprises two separable portions (61, 62) , one integral to a prong (26) and one integral to a rail (10) , wherein one of said portions comprises an coupling pin (63) and the other a retractable trigger (64) configured to selectively engage and disengage said coupling pin (63) , wherein said coupling pin (63) is configured to also act as a pivot pin between said two separable portions (61, 62) , and wherein one of said two separable portions (61, 62) is movably joined to the frame or rail by means of a pin (65) inclined with respect to said coupling pin (63) .

13. Rack according to claim 8 or a dependentthereof, characterized by the fact that said abduction is of such an extent as to allow at least one of the prongs to be frontally passed over (26) .

14. Rack according to any of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the frame is configured in such a way that, in the loading and unloading configuration, all its parts are fixed to each other in such a way as to behave structurally essentially as a single body.

15. Rack according to any of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that said at least one the rail (10) has :- a bottom (51) configured to receive in support at least one bicycle wheel,- at least one pair of side rails (52) lateral to the bottom (51) and projecting vertically.

16. Rack according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that the distance (Z) between said sides (52) is adj ustable .

17. Rack according to claim 15 or 16, characterized by the fact that said sides (52) form at least one vertical fork (50) located along said at least one rail (10) .

18. Rack according to any claim from 15 to 17, characterized by the fact that it comprises a selectivelyenable and desable locking element (56) for locking a bicycle wheel relative to the at least one rail (10) , wherein in a locked configuration it is placed to transverse said two sides (52) .

19. Rack according to any of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises a plurality of rails (10) and at least one is tiltable in frontal abduction relative to an adjacent rail.

20. Rack according to any of the previous claims except 14, characterized by the fact that it comprises a plurality of rails (10) , wherein the frame is modular and comprises at least one portion (26m) movable integral with at least one rail (10) , and wherein at least one first rail (10) is movable in downward inclination and in frontal abduction inclination relative to a second rail.

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