US 12,115,943 B2
Bike rack frame clamps, systems and methods
Charles L. Casagrande, Bradenton, FL (US); and Brad Kapper, Bradenton, FL (US)
Assigned to Seasucker, LLC, Bradenton, FL (US)
Appl. No. 17/761,964
Filed by SEASUCKER, LLC, Bradenton, FL (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 21, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/051810
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 18, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/055949, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 25, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/903,488, filed on Sep. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0340087 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B60R 9/10 (2006.01); B25B 5/00 (2006.01); B25B 5/04 (2006.01); B25B 11/00 (2006.01); B60R 9/048 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 9/048 (2013.01) [B25B 5/006 (2013.01); B25B 5/04 (2013.01); B25B 11/007 (2013.01); B60R 9/10 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A quick-release clamp for a vehicular bicycle mount, said clamp comprising:
a. a substantially rigid stationary first jaw, said first jaw having a clamping surface;
b. a substantially rigid second jaw opposite said first jaw, said second jaw having a clamping surface oriented to face at least in part said first jaw clamping surface, said second jaw selectively movable between a first position in which the second jaw is sufficiently proximate the first jaw to retain an elongated object to be clamped transversely between said jaws and a second position in which the second jaw is sufficiently distanced from the first jaw to allow said object to enter or exit from between said jaws;
c. a lever, said lever being operatively associated with said first and second jaws to urge said second jaw relative to said first jaw, said lever being movable between a closed position in which the lever positions said second jaw sufficiently proximate said first jaw to secure said elongated object to be clamped between said jaws and an open position in which the lever positions said second jaw sufficiently apart from said first jaw so as to release said elongated object from between said jaws; and
d. a tensioning system comprising a biasing member, said tensioning system being operatively associated with said second jaw and said lever, said biasing member applying a bias between said second jaw and said lever to urge said lever toward said closed position; wherein said tensioning system releases the bias from the lever when the lever is in said open position; and,
e. further comprising a pivot between said first and second jaws, and wherein said tensioning system further comprises a jaw tab having a proximal end attached to the first jaw and a distal end opposite the proximal end, said distal end being pivotally attached to said lever at a position separated from said first and second jaw pivot.