GB2310180A - Combined carrier rack and stand for a bicycle - Google Patents

Description

Title : Combined Cycle Rack, & Anti-Theft Stand This invention relates to a rack formed of various lengths of cylindrical or tubed material, that is attached to the rear of a bicycle, or possibly motor cycle, to offer a storage area for various goods. that is able to locate itself under the lower area of the rear tyre to form a seat that is lockable to prevent the rear wheel from moving and therefore the cycle from being stolen or removed.

Bicycle rear and forward storage racks or frames are already know, and provide an effective and useful method of holding and storing various items to the front or rear of a manual or motorised cycle.

A common problem faced by many owners of bicycles, in whichever form. is one of theft. lany different methods of cycle anti-theft are commonly known, these include various locking chains, and frames, that prevent or deter theft.

lany versions allow the cycle to be locked or held in place, often to permanent fixtures such a lampposts, or fencing, this is achieved by passing a length of chain or similar item through and around the frame or wheel of the cycle. and attaching it to a permanent external fixture as previously mentioned.

This method however, although being sometimes effective, involves the transportation of a separate item of security, on many occasions involving heavy and cumbersome chain and large locking devices. These being separate to other areas of the cycle in their use and having to be carried for that very purpose.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved method of providing anti-theft security to a cycle. allowing a rear storage frame, being a permanent fixture of the cycle, to be used to prevent its theft, and also providing an optional stand for the cycle, in the same instance.

According to the present invention there is provided a cycle rack, comprising various lengths of straight and angled material lengths. forming a metal or similar form that is attached to the rear of a cycle using the attachment of extending legs to areas of the frame surrounding the rear wheel. Following use as a storage rack, it may be detached in one or more areas and rotated around the circular of the wheel to provide a cycle stand, once in position underneath the rear tyre, located to the ground. This may also be locked using a provided lockable pin being inserted to a housing located to the rack.

The rack may come in the form of various assembly, which is suggested and outlined in the figures provided. this maintaining a structure of elongated metal or similar lengths being formed by attachment of welds or joins to form a structure that provides a rack or storage ares. and gives access for attachment to the cycle frame by provided location holes formed to extended bars sufficient to reach the area of the cycle frame on which they are to attach.

This itself determining the shape of the rack, and providing for the fact that the rack has long extending areas of triangular or similar shaped areas.

An embodiment and detailed description of how the invention works will now follow, with reference to the accompanying diagrams. Which show the rack in both its storage area form, and also its adjustment and its actual relocated position under the rear wheel as the stand and anti-theft device.

The cycle rack and anti-theft stand are generally designated 1 and comprise a main rack area 1 as shown ip Fig 1, that is formed of extending lengths of curved or shaped side frame 10 curving from a fixture point being the reflector panel 5.

As the two shaped side frames 10 extend as curved parallel arms from the reflector panel 5, a contoured depletion of angle brings the arms to an equal close opposite the fixture point of the reflector panel 5. At this instance the arms align into a straight outward portion forming two pin location barrels 4 at the close of each length, equally positioned.

To the area centrally positioned to the extending main rack area 1, and thus the shaped side frame 10, are horizontally, or similarly portioned dividers 6, forming the rack storage area. These pass from each parallel shaped side frame 10, providing strength and a caged loading area for storage use.

Extending from the underside of the shaped side frame 10, are two attachment frames 2, being situated opposite protruding from the underside of the main rack area 1, positioned by welds to the ends of two downwardly angled bars. The bars join centrally to the longer of the two to form a triangular bracket, having a furthering length continuing to form a looped screw insert 3, to the end of both equal attachment frames 2. In theory the frames fors a 'Y' shaped structure that performs an important role in the attachment of the whole unit.

To the complete underside of the main rack area 1, and extending from the horizontal dividing portions 6 of the rack area 1, are two formed attachments forming a 'Y' bracket to the underside, both being aligned in angled formation, these locating pin insert frames 7, as shown in (Fig 'offer a looped access for the locking pin 8, to their centre being formed as a barrel at the juncture of the 'Y'.

To attach the unit as a whole to the cycle frame, a main point of anchor must be provided. as although other areas of attachment exist they singly only serve to offer a vertical stability as with the attachment frame 2 and its rear wheel location centrally. Therefore to the rear of the cycle as shown. located at the area of the frame which divides below the seat to form a paired fork formation, a cycle frame bracket 12, is provided.

This is a combination of a bolted plate that has two or more holes passing through its surface, this is placed to one side of the forked frame area below the seat, and is drawn into a tightened and secure fixture by inserted bolts, or other various methods of clamping through the holes, therefore securing the frame or whole unit to the cycle.

This in itself would not be sufficient attachment, and would offer little or no support to the cycle rack. Once in place over the rear tyre, with the wheel itself passing between the two attachment frames 2, and with the previously described cycle frame bracket 12 successfully in place, the frame requires added fixture.

This is gained by Insertion of a screw to holes provided in the screw insert barrels, or loops 3 at the ends of the attachment frame 2 as shown in all figures. To the area of the cycle frame that centres the wheel is an area of frame that offers attachment of the wheel centre and the wheel as a whole. This area of cycle frame wheel attachment 11 as shown 1E Fig 1, provides holes on all cycles for general, and optio al fittings.

To this area, and to the correct location hole that will provide a stable and level rack are aligned the screw inserts, these are to be located at each side of the wheel to the centre. A small screw is applied and tightened to hold the lower extending attachment frames 2 in place and to provide a final and secure fixture of the combined cycle rack, & anti-theft stand.

In this position, fully applied to the cycle as shown in wig the the cycle rack is ready for the loading of storable or transportable items. To the reflector panel 5, positioned to the rear of the cycle when in place, are light reflectors, these are installed to the rack to replace ones possibly removed to allow its installation.

On arrival at their destination, or on the general storage of their bicycle internally or externally the user may now pull the locating pin 8 from its housing in the cycle frame bracket 12, allowing the release of the rack as a whole in a naturally downward motion.

The releasable action and the rotation of the rack in a circular downward position, as is now required, would rely on the tightening of the screws in the screw inserts being only slightly restrictive to the movement of the rack on its rotation. Therefore, over tightening may prevent an easily adjusted rack.

Once the rack has been lowered to a point where it almost comes in direct contact with the ground the rear wheel would need to be lifted, or may be so prior to the rotation of the rack to the lower area of the wheel itself.

At this stage the Bicycle as a whole does not necessarily require lifting, as only the rear wheel area is the restrictive party at this stage. The rear wheel and frame would require elevation to allow the now almost reversed frame to pass to the underside of the wheel and therefore to seat the wheel itself onto the bed of frame provided. as part of the reversed usage. and positioning of the rack.

Once fully positioned to the ground. with the wheel seated on the area provided by the underside of the rack, the locating pin 8, may be inserted into the holes provided in each side of the two locating pin insert frames 7. When the locating pin 8 has passed between both the first and second hole, it may be secured by a number of ways. that may provide a locking action. These include a separate lock, or also an integral method of locking, possibly passing through the pin at the ezit side preventing its removal, as shown.

As the locating pin 8 passes through the spoked opening of the wheel, and is locked into position, and as there is no way of removing the lock, the whole unit becomes attached as one to the wheel, and theft prevention is administered.

The frame or rack itself becomes a form of clamp from which it is also possible to extend further lockable items, for added protection. Without the pin being in a locked state, the rack when in this reversed position acts as a stand, on which the bicycle may be leaned or stood for periods when the bicycle is not in use. Therefore the added use of the locking pin is simply an addition to the rack becoming a cycle stand only, and although it would be almost always advised to possibly lock the pin into place the option is available to the user.

The stand itself would prove mosts effective alone, when being used in inner town areas, or the like, where very little space is provided for the standing of cycles.

The rack itself is formed as aforementioned, by differing lengths of either metal or a similar toughened material, connecting in various angles, with the purpose of some of the extending areas dictating their position on the frame or rack. The outcome is a shaped frame forming the rack that is of acceptable appearance, in its close relation to known shapes of cycle storage racks.

As to add a more interesting and possibly adaptable rack it may be possible to include designs to the now 'open' bar areas of the frame.

These may include colourful and attractive designs aimed at the interests and gender of the purchaser. or possibly displaying the name of the manufacturer of the cycle.

It may also be possible to adapt this very design consciousness to the pin and other areas of the rack.

Familiar or popular names and/or characters may appear as part of the display. The design may be encorporated onto fitted panels that cover the bar area of the frame to the upper and side areas shown.

It may also be possible to replace the mudguard to the rear wheel clips my also be provided to the underside of the rack, to allow its location. These would mainly be of a simple clip together method of fixture commonly available with adaption to suit the differences applied by the very nature of the rack itself.

Claims (16)

1) s combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand has a main rack area that is supported by various extending lengths attached to areas of the bicycle frame. Neans to secure the rack to the cycle frame being provided by a combined cycle frame pin attachment and removable pin, and further securing attachment frames. Xeans to release and rotate the rack to provide an under wheel brace, being provided by the withdrawal of the pin from its housing. and rotation of the rack on a pivot of semi permanent screwed fixture to the wheel centre. Vith means to lock the rack, once under the rear or front wheel, provided by said pin upon its relocation into a pin insert frame. Further security being provided by a lock being added or supplied to or with the pin following insertion.

2 > A combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand as claimed in claim 1 wherein, a rack area formed from various combined lengths of material, provides a storage area for goods, for transportation.

3) s combined cycle rack a anti-theft stand as claimed in claim 2 wherein, various extending lengths of solid material are attached to areas of the bicycle including the wheel centre.

4) A combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand as claimed in claim 3 wherein, the wheel centre provides a screw fixture for an attachment frame, being a semi permanent fixture, which extends as part of the above rack.

5) A combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand as claimed in claim 1 wherein, a pin and housing provide a second form of attachment to the bicycle frame.

CLAIMS 6) A combined cycle rack & anti-tbeft stand as claimed in claim 5 wherein. a housing attached to the cycle frame has an insertable pin that holds the rack in a secured position.

7) A combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand as claimed in claim 6 wherein. the inserted pin may be removed allowing the entire rack to rotate.

8) A combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand as claimed in clam 7 wherein, the rack may be rotated around the perimeter of the rear or front wheel following release of the pin, using a semi permanent screwed fixture to the wheel centre as a pivot.

9) A combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand as claimed in claim 8 wherein, the rack may be rotated to an upside down position beneath the rear or front wheel.

10) A combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand as claimed in claim 9 wherein, once positioned under either of the wheels, the rack may form a bicycle stand.

11) A combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand as claimed in claim 10 wherein, the said pin may be inserted into an insert frame situated on the upturned rack.

12) A combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand as claimed in claim 11 wherein, following insertion of the said pin, it may be secured by an additional or internal locking method.

13) A combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand as claimed in claim 12 wherein. the rack seats the wheel and a pin prevents it from being rotated due to its locked passage CLAIMS through the spokes situated to the inner wheel.

14) A combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand as claimed in claim 13 wherein, the pin passes through the spoked area of the inner wheel preventing the wheel from being moved and therefore preventing simple theft of the bicycle.

15) A combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand as claimed in all previous claims is a rear or frontal bicycle rack used for stored transportation of goods, that may be unlocked using a pin or similar method, and rotated to the underside of either wheel. where being locked in place using said pin and other locking methods to prevent theft of a bicycle. or motor cycle. This may be reversed for the reuse of the rack for storage and goods transportation.

16) A combined cycle rack & anti-theft stand as claimed in claim 9 wherein, prior to being locked the rack may be used as a bicycle stand or support only, once located beneath a wheel.