| US 7,481,344 B2 | ||
| Load carrier for transporting a bicycle | ||
| Henrik Näslund, Jönköping (Sweden); Andreas Arvidsson, Värnamo (Sweden); and Anders Nilsson, Värnamo (Sweden) | ||
| Assigned to Thule Sweden AB, Hillerstorp (Sweden) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 14, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/905,079. | ||
| Application 10/905079 is a continuation of application No. PCT/SE03/00888, filed on May 30, 2003, abandoned. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 0201832 (SE), filed on Jun. 14, 2002. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0284905 A1, Dec. 29, 2005 | ||
| Int. Cl. B60R 9/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 224—319 [224/321; 224/324] | 9 Claims |
| 1. A load carrier mountable to a roof of a vehicle, said load carrier comprising:
a longitudinal rail comprising first and second planar rail sections for receiving and securing first and second wheels of
a bicycle, said first planar rail section extending along said longitudinal rail in a direction along a first longitudinal
axis (A-A) proximate an area wherein a first wheel of the bicycle is received and secured, said second planar rail section
extending along said longitudinal rail in a direction along a second longitudinal axis (B-B) proximate an area wherein a second
wheel of the bicycle is received and secured, said first planar rail section having a free end and an opposite end joined
to said second planar rail section by a connecting rail section; said second planar rail section having a free end and an
opposite end joined to said connecting rail section; wherein the free end of the second planar rail section slopes downwardly
and is horizontally lower than the rest of said second planar rail section; said first longitudinal axis (A-A) arranged at
an angle of inclination/declination (α) relative to said second longitudinal axis (B-B) such that one of said first and second
planar rail sections form an inclined/declined rail section relative to the other,
a retaining arm comprises a first end and a second end, said retaining arm pivotable relative to the longitudinal rail proximate
said first end, said first end comprising a tightening device and said second end comprising a claw grip for receiving a downtube
of a bicycle frame therein, said claw grip having first and second jaws laterally disposed relative to the longitudinal rail
and forming a gap having an opening to a side (S) of the longitudinal rail, said tightening device communicating with said
claw grip to open and close said gap,
wherein the retaining arm is pivotally disposable by an operator to a position wherein the claw grip receives the downtube
of a bicycle loaded upon the longitudinal rail, the angle of inclination/declination (α) of said second planar rail section
causes the bicycle to move along the longitudinal rail until the downtube enters into active engagement with at least one
of the jaws of the claw grip thereby maintaining the bicycle in an upright position even if the claw grip is not tightened,
and wherein said second planar rail section extends along the second longitudinal axis beyond a wheel of said bicycle installed
therein when said bicycle is maintained in said upright position so that the force of gravity maintains the downtube in said
active engagement with the at least one of the jaws of the claw grip.
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