A collapsible rack or stand for supporting a bicycle or the like in an upright
position includes a pair of supports that are pivotably interconnected together
for movement between an open, operative position and a closed, inoperative position.
Each support defines one or more vertically extending spaces, each of which is
configured to receive one of the bicycle wheels for supporting the bicycle in an
upright position when the supports are in the open, operative position. Each support
includes a lower member and an upper member, between which the wheel-receiving
spaces are located, and the upper members of the supports are pivotably interconnected
via a hinge arrangement for enabling movement of the supports between the open,
operative position and the closed, inoperative position. The hinge arrangement
is in the form of a hinge barrel secured to the upper member of each support, and
the hinge barrels define aligned passages through which a hinge pin extends. The
hinge barrels are configured and arranged such that the upper members of the supports
are moved into engagement with each other when the supports are moved away from
the closed, inoperative position so as to place the supports in the open, operative
position, thus providing a stop for consistently positioning the supports in a
predetermined angular relationship when the supports are moved to the open, operative
position. The supports may be identically constructed, and are preferably connected
together so that the spaces of the supports are offset from each other to enable
bicycle wheels to be engaged with the supports in a staggered manner from opposite
sides of the stand.