Rotatable strap assembly for a load carrier

Abstract

A rotatable strap arrangement for a load carrier of a transporting vehicle, the load carrier including an elongate tray, including a rotation mechanism coupled to the elongate tray, the rotation mechanism permitting rotation relative to the elongate tray. The rotatable strap arrangement also including a strap coupled to the rotation mechanism, the strap operable for securing an object to the elongate tray. The rotatable strap arrangement further including a strap receiving mechanism coupled to the rotation mechanism, the strap receiving mechanism operable for receiving the strap.

1 . A rotatable strap arrangement of a load carrier for a transporting vehicle in which the load carrier includes an elongate structural member, the rotatable strap arrangement comprising: 
 a rotation mechanism couplable to an elongate structural member of a load carrier, the rotation mechanism permitting rotation relative to the structural member;    a strap coupled to the rotation mechanism, the strap operable for securing an object to the elongate structural member; and    a strap receiving mechanism coupled to the rotation mechanism, the strap receiving mechanism operable for securably receiving the strap.    
     
     
         2 . The rotatable strap arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the elongate structural member being a bicycle wheel tray.    
     
     
         3 . The rotatable strap arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the rotation mechanism permits about 180 degrees of rotation relative to the bicycle wheel tray.  
     
     
         4 . The rotatable strap arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the rotation mechanism permits about 360 degrees of rotation relative to the bicycle wheel tray.  
     
     
         5 . The rotatable strap arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the rotation mechanism comprises a round insert operable for engaging the bicycle wheel tray.  
     
     
         6 . The rotatable strap arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the rotatable strap arrangement is translatable along an elongate direction of the elongate tray.  
     
     
         7 . The rotatable strap arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the strap receiving mechanism comprises a base plate operable for receiving the strap.  
     
     
         8 . The rotatable strap arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the strap receiving mechanism further comprises a roller operable for smoothly receiving the strap.  
     
     
         9 . The rotatable strap arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the strap receiving mechanism further comprises a push button attachment.  
     
     
         10 . The rotatable strap arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the strap receiving mechanism further comprises a strap button.  
     
     
         11 . The rotatable strap arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the strap receiving mechanism further comprises a strap handle operable for actuating the strap receiving mechanism to engage and release the strap.  
     
     
         12 . The rotatable strap arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the strap receiving mechanism further comprises at least one rivet operable for coupling the base plate to the push button attachment, the strap button, and the strap handle.  
     
     
         13 . The rotatable strap arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the strap receiving mechanism further comprises a spring operable for biasing the base plate, the push button attachment, the strap button, and the strap handle toward a latching configuration.  
     
     
         14 . A load carrier of a transporting vehicle, the load carrier comprising: 
 an elongate wheel tray operable for carrying a wheel of a bicycle;    a rotation mechanism coupled to the elongate wheel tray, the rotation mechanism permitting rotation relative to the elongate wheel tray;    a wheel strap coupled to the rotation mechanism, the wheel strap operable for securing the wheel of the bicycle to the elongate wheel tray; and    a wheel strap receiving mechanism coupled to the rotation mechanism, the wheel strap receiving mechanism operable for receiving the wheel strap.    
     
     
         15 . The load carrier of  claim 14 , wherein the rotation mechanism comprises a round insert operable for engaging the elongate wheel tray.  
     
     
         16 . The load carrier of  claim 14 , wherein the wheel strap receiving mechanism comprises a base plate operable for receiving the wheel strap.  
     
     
         17 . The load carrier of  claim 16 , wherein the wheel strap receiving mechanism further comprises a roller operable for smoothly receiving the wheel strap.  
     
     
         18 . The load carrier of  claim 17 , wherein the wheel strap receiving mechanism further comprises a push button attachment.  
     
     
         19 . The load carrier of  claim 18 , wherein the wheel strap receiving mechanism further comprises a wheel strap button.  
     
     
         20 . The load carrier of  claim 19 , wherein the wheel strap receiving mechanism further comprises a wheel strap handle operable for actuating the wheel strap receiving mechanism to engage and release the wheel strap.  
     
     
         21 . The load carrier of  claim 20 , wherein the wheel strap receiving mechanism further comprises at least one rivet operable for coupling the base plate to the push button attachment, the wheel strap button, and the wheel strap handle.  
     
     
         22 . The load carrier of  claim 20 , wherein the wheel strap receiving mechanism further comprises a spring operable for biasing the base plate, the push button attachment, the wheel strap button, and the wheel strap handle toward a latching configuration.  
     
     
         23 . A wheel strap arrangement for a bicycle carrier of a transporting vehicle, the bicycle carrier comprising an elongate wheel tray, the wheel strap arrangement comprising: 
 a positioning mechanism coupled to the elongate wheel tray, the positioning mechanism permitting movement relative to the elongate wheel tray;    a wheel strap coupled to the positioning mechanism, the wheel strap operable for securing a wheel of the bicycle to the elongate wheel tray; and    a wheel strap receiving mechanism coupled to the positioning mechanism, the wheel strap receiving mechanism operable for receiving the wheel strap.    
     
     
         24 . The wheel strap arrangement of  claim 23 , wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a rotation mechanism, the rotation mechanism permitting rotation relative to the elongate wheel tray.  
     
     
         25 . The wheel strap arrangement of  claim 23 , wherein the positioning mechanism permits the wheel strap receiving mechanism to be positioned outwardly toward a driver-side of the transporting vehicle when the elongate wheel tray is positioned on the driver-side of the transporting vehicle, providing an operator with access to the wheel strap receiving mechanism.  
     
     
         26 . The wheel strap arrangement of  claim 23 , wherein the positioning mechanism permits the wheel strap receiving mechanism to be positioned outwardly toward a passenger-side of the transporting vehicle when the elongate wheel tray is positioned on the passenger-side of the transporting vehicle, providing an operator with access to the wheel strap receiving mechanism.