US 12,409,787 B2
Load carrier, such as a bike carrier
Anders Nilvius, Värnamo (SE); Magnus Ferman, Värnamo (SE); Jesper Lindberg, Jönköping (SE); Hannes Ulvegard, Jönköping (SE); David Klasson, Huskvarna (SE); Rainer Mascarenhas, Gothenburg (SE); Jonas Ringdahl, Vaggeryd (SE); Fredrik Larsson, Vaggeryd (SE); Tobias Jönsson, Värnamo (SE); Henrik Eriksson, Jönköping (SE); Klara Rosenqvist, Jönköping (SE); Simon Nordström, Hillerstorp (SE); Simon Helmersson, Värnamo (SE); Johan Larsson, Jönköping (SE); Arvid Gransmark, Jönköping (SE); Hannes Olaison, Falun (SE); Alicia Nordberg, Värnamo (SE); Ulrik Gejervall, Forserum (SE); Simon Jansson, Jönköping (SE); Fredrik Nedstedt, Forsheda (SE); and Gustav Bergström, Jönköping (SE)
Assigned to Thule Sweden AB, Hillerstorp (SE)
Appl. No. 18/577,083
Filed by Thule Sweden AB, Hillerstorp (SE)
PCT Filed Jun. 23, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/067222
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 5, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/280585, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 12, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 21184014 (EP), filed on Jul. 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0253575 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. B60R 9/10 (2006.01); B60R 9/06 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 9/10 (2013.01) [B60R 9/06 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bicycle carrier configured to be mounted to a vehicle, wherein the bicycle carrier extends in a length extension, a width extension and a height extension, the bicycle carrier comprising:
a base frame:
a platform support arrangement coupled to and extending away from the base frame, the platform support arrangement configured to support at least one bicycle, the platform support arrangement comprising at least one wheel receiving member configured to receive one or more wheels of the at least one bicycle for supporting the bicycle; and
a plurality of bicycle support arm members, wherein at least one bicycle support arm member which is configured to hold and secure the at least one bicycle when being received in the at least one wheel receiving member, wherein the at least one bicycle support arm member is reconfigurable between a bicycle support state and a bicycle loading state,
wherein the plurality of bicycle support arm members which are attachable to the platform support arrangement at respective fixation points which are distributed and provided offset from each other along the length extension of the bicycle carrier,
wherein each one of at least two bicycle support arm members is arranged such that a bicycle to be held and secured by the at least one bicycle support arm member can be loaded on to the bicycle carrier in a loading direction which is substantially parallel to the length extension of the bicycle carrier when the at least one bicycle support arm member is provided in the bicycle support state, such as provided in a substantially upright position extending from the platform support arrangement in the height extension or at least provided in a position in which the bicycle support arm member is extending from the platform support arrangement in a direction which is 45 degrees or less from the upright position, and
wherein the loading direction is the same loading direction for each bicycle for each one of the at least two bicycle support arm members, such as corresponding to a forward direction with respect to the vehicle when the bike carrier is mounted thereto.