INTEGRATED BICYCLE RACK ATTACHMENT FEATURE FOR REAR SPOILER

Abstract

A bicycle carrier attachment for a vehicle includes at least one bracket held within an interior of a vehicle spoiler. The at least one bracket is attached to a portion of the vehicle and held within the spoiler interior. Optionally, a cover is included that defines a flush surface with the spoiler body when in a closed configuration.

Claims

1. A bicycle carrier attachment for a vehicle, comprising at least one bracket held within an interior of a vehicle spoiler, wherein the at least one bracket is attached to a portion of the vehicle and held within the spoiler interior.

2. (canceled)

3. The attachment of claim 1, further including a cover defining a flush surface with the spoiler body when in a closed configuration.

4. The attachment of claim 3, wherein the cover pivots to an open configuration.

5. The attachment of claim 3, wherein the cover slidably translates to an open configuration.

6. The attachment of claim 5, wherein the cover slidably translates vehicle-inwardly.

7. The attachment of claim 5, wherein the cover slidably translates vehicle-outwardly.

8. A motor vehicle including the attachment of claim 1.

9. A vehicle, comprising: a cargo area having a rear closure; a spoiler adjacent to the rear closure; and a bicycle carrier attachment including at least one bracket held within an interior of the spoiler.

10. The attachment of claim 9, wherein the at least one bracket is attached to a portion of the vehicle and held within the spoiler interior.

11. The attachment of claim 10, further including a cover defining a flush surface with the spoiler body when in a closed configuration.

12. The attachment of claim 11, wherein the cover pivots to an open configuration.

13. The attachment of claim 11, wherein the cover slidably translates to an open configuration.

14. The attachment of claim 13, wherein the cover slidably translates vehicle-inwardly.

15. The attachment of claim 13, wherein the cover slidably translates vehicle-outwardly.

16. A vehicle spoiler, comprising at least one recess allowing access to an interior of a spoiler body.

17. The spoiler of claim 16, further including a translatable cover defining a flush surface with the spoiler body when in a closed configuration.

18. The spoiler of claim 17, wherein the cover pivots to an open configuration.

19. The spoiler of claim 17, wherein the cover slidably translates vehicle-inwardly or vehicle-outwardly to an open configuration.

20. A motor vehicle including the spoiler of claim 16.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the disclosed bicycle carrier attachment system, and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing:

[0011] FIG. 1 depicts a vehicle including a prior art bicycle carrier;

[0012] FIG. 2 depicts a vehicle equipped with a bicycle carrier attachment system according to the present disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 3A shows a rear perspective view of the system of FIG. 2;

[0014] FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional side view of the system shown in FIG. 3A;

[0015] FIG. 4A depicts an embodiment of a cover for a recess defined in a rear spoiler according to the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 4B depicts an alternative embodiment of the cover of FIG. 4A;

[0017] FIG. 4C depicts an alternative embodiment of the cover of FIG. 4B;

[0018] FIG. 4D depicts a sliding track for the cover embodiments of FIGS. 4B and 4C;

[0019] FIG. 5A depicts an alternative embodiment of the cover of FIG. 4A; and

[0020] FIG. 5B depicts an alternative embodiment of the covers of FIGS. 4B and 4C.

[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosed bicycle carrier attachment system, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Preliminarily, the present disclosure primarily describes a bicycle carrier attachment system used in association with vehicle including a rear liftgate closure. However, the skilled artisan will appreciate that the described system is readily adaptable to any vehicle having a rear spoiler adjacent a rear closure for a cargo area, such as an SUV, a CUV, a van, a pickup truck, or even a vehicle having a trunk equipped with a spoiler. Accordingly, the descriptions and drawings that follow will not be taken as limiting in regard to the above-described features.

[0023] FIG. 2 depicts a vehicle 200 including a rear closure 202 for a cargo area and a rear spoiler 204. A bicycle carrier 106 substantially as described in FIG. 1 is attached to the vehicle by one or more straps 112 (only one strap 112 is visible in the drawing view). At a high level, the disclosed bicycle carrier attachment system allows routing the strap 112 below the rear spoiler 204, thus eliminating the disadvantages summarized above. Because the present bicycle carrier attachment system allows routing the straps 112 below the spoiler 204 rather than above it, the straps 112 may be tightened sufficiently to reduce or eliminate the vehicle fore-and-aft movement of the carrier 106 attendant to the system shown in FIG. 1.

[0024] In more detail and with reference to FIG. 3A, to provide the described advantages a bicycle carrier attachment system 300 is provided, comprising a rear spoiler 204 including at least one recess 302 defined in the spoiler body, the at least one recess allowing access to a portion of an interior of the spoiler body. Bicycle carrier attachment points defined by one or more brackets 304 are attached to a portion of the vehicle 200 whereby the brackets are held at least partially within the spoiler 204 interior (see FIG. 3B). The brackets 304 may be simple b-rings, hooks, or may be more complex bracket structures. As shown in FIG. 3B, the brackets 304 are secured directly to a portion of the vehicle 200, for example to a portion of a roof panel or an upper portion of the rear closure 202, such that any need for routing straps 112 (not shown) over a top portion of the spoiler 204 is obviated.

[0025] An optional cover 400 (see FIGS. 4A-4C) may be included to cover recesses 302 when a bicycle carrier is not attached to the vehicle 200. The cover 400 may be configured to hingedly pivot (FIG. 4A) between an open and a closed configuration (arrow C). Any suitable hinge structure 402 is contemplated. Likewise any suitable latching mechanism 404 is contemplated for holding the cover 400 in the closed configuration, including without intending any limitation snap-fit, friction-fit, or interference-fit latches. In the closed configuration, the cover 400 defines a substantially flush surface to the body of the spoiler 204, thus providing an attractive exterior appearance favorably received by a consumer when the bicycle carrier attachment system is not in use.

[0026] In alternative embodiments (FIGS. 4B and 4C), the cover 400 may be configured to slidingly translate in a vehicle outward/vehicle inward direction between an open and a closed configuration. The covers 400 may be configured to slidingly translate by any suitable mechanism, for example by providing cooperating tracks 403 adjacent to recess 302 (see FIG. 4D) in which the edges of covers 400 are received and can slide. Again, any suitable latching mechanisms 404, 406 are contemplated for respectively retaining the cover 400 in the open or closed configuration, including without intending any limitation snap-fit, friction-fit, or interference-fit latches.

[0027] Accordingly, the foregoing description provides an efficient and effective attachment system for attaching a bicycle carrier to a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with a rear spoiler by way of one or more tensionable straps. Advantageously, the described system allows applying a suitable tensioning force to such straps, without causing flexing/displacement of the rear spoiler and attendant loose fit and potential damage to the vehicle.

[0028] Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, larger covers 500 configured for pivoting or sliding translation between an open and a closed configuration (arrows F and G, respectively) may be provided. As shown in these figures, the covers 500 may define larger sections of the spoiler 204 body. The covers 500 may be kept associated with the spoiler 204 structure, or may be fully removed for attachment of a bicycle carrier and re-attached after the carrier is removed. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.