The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 03, 2017
Filed:
Oct. 16, 2014
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
Venkatesh Krishnan, Canton, MI (US);
Scott Cutler, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Eswar Timmavajjala, Dearborn, MI (US);
Benjamin Lee, Dearborn, MI (US);
Vikas Bhatt, Canton, MI (US);
Ravikumar Ranganthan, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Brandon Buckhalt, Belleville, MI (US);
Pete Christ Korovesis, Livonia, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A mechanism for attaching a bike rack to a vehicle including a support member located behind an exterior wall of the vehicle. An attachment assembly, including a receiver operative to move between the first, stowed position any second, use position is connected to the support member. The exterior wall includes a removable portion wherein upon removal provides access to the attachment assembly. Once the removable portion is removed, the attachment assembly, including the receiver is moved from the first, stowed position to the second, use position wherein the bike rack then connects to the receiver. Additionally, the removable portion may include a detachable license plate bracket, which upon being detached from the vehicle, can be mounted to the rear of a bike rack. Sensors are mounted on the license plate bracket to allow for a functional back-up or park assist when the bike rack is attached to rear of the vehicle.