Rooftop Bike Rack System

Abstract

An apparatus has a slide rail along a first edge of an automobile roof, a first and a second wheel tray engaged in the slide rail, the wheel trays adjustable along the slide rail, a pivot structure secured to the roof proximate a second edge of the roof, a telescoping support arm pivoted at a first end around the pivot structure, and a locking mechanism to constrain, when locked, the length of the telescoping support arm, and a capture mechanism at a second end of the support arm, opposite the first end, adapted to capture a rail of the bicycle.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an elongate slide rail fixed along a first edge of a roof of an automobile, the elongate slide rail having a first end and a second end, and a length oriented in a forward direction of travel of the automobile;   a first and a second wheel tray engaged in the slide rail, each adapted to engage one wheel of a bicycle, the wheel trays adjustable along the slide rail to establish a center distance between the wheel trays;   a pivot structure secured to the roof proximate a second edge of the roof parallel to the first edge, the pivot structure having a pivot axis parallel to the slide rail, and positioned along a length of the roof between the first end and the second end of the slide rail;   a telescoping support arm pivoted at a first end around the pivot axis of the pivot structure, such that the support arm is rotatable to lie on the roof directed at a right angle to the pivot axis and the slide rail, the support arm having a maximum extension length to extend over the slide rail between the wheel trays, for a length away from the first edge of the roof, and a locking mechanism to constrain, when locked, the length of the telescoping support arm; and   a capture mechanism at a second end of the support arm, opposite the first end, adapted to capture a rail of the bicycle.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the wheel trays are adapted to lock to and unlock from the slide rail. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one or both of the first and second wheel trays comprise a fastener element operable to hold the bicycle wheel in the wheel tray, stabilizing the mounted bicycle for support. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second slide rail mounted along the second edge of the roof parallel to the elongate slide rail along the first edge of the roof, with the pivot structure mounted to be adjustable along the second slide rail. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support arm further comprises a counterbalance extension deployable from the support arm at the first end to a side of the pivot mechanism opposite the extension of the support arm, to counterbalance weight of the support arm and partially the weight of a bicycle in use of the apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a spring mechanism engaged between the support arm and the pivot mechanism, providing force to raise the support arm, counterbalancing the weight of the support arm and a bicycle in use of the system. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the spring mechanism comprises one or more leaf springs. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the spring mechanism comprises one or more coil springs. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  comprising a clamp mechanism at or near roof level at the first edge of the roof, whereby, with the support arm pivoted down to the roof level, the support arm is clamped to the clamp mechanism, preventing the support arm from moving upward away from the roof until the clamp mechanism is released. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the capture mechanism is engaged with a rail of a bicycle having a central plane of symmetry, front and rear wheels of the bicycle are engaged in the wheel trays, and the telescoping support arm is retracted and locked at a length such that the bicycle is tilted with the plane of symmetry inclined at angle of at least fifteen degrees with the roof of the automobile. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 extending a telescoping support arm pivoted at a first end around a pivot axis of a pivot structure positioned proximate a first side edge of a roof of an automobile with the pivot axis parallel to the side edge of the roof, to lie on the roof with a second end opposite the first end extended beyond a second side edge of the roof opposite the first side edge;   engaging a capture mechanism at the second end of the telescoping support arm to a rail of bicycle;   lifting the bicycle, causing the telescoping support arm to pivot upward from the roof, and placing front and rear wheels of the bicycle in wheel trays engaged in a slide rail proximate the second side edge of the roof and parallel the second side edge;   tilting the bicycle toward the roof around the wheel trays; and   locking the telescoping support arm at a length wherein the bicycle is tilted at an angle with the roof of no more than fifteen degrees.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising locking the wheel trays to the slide rail. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising fastening the bicycle wheels to the wheel trays with a fastening element at each wheel tray. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising mounting the pivot mechanism to a second slide rail mounted proximate and parallel the first side edge of the roof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising extending a counterbalance extension from the support arm in a direction away from the pivot mechanism opposite the extension direction of the support arm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising employing a spring mechanism engaged between the support arm and the pivot mechanism, providing force to raise the support arm, counterbalancing the weight of the support arm and a bicycle in use of the system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  comprising clamping the suppo0rt arm to the roof by a clamp mechanism.