AU2013100841A4

AU2013100841A4 - Bike Rack

Info

Publication number: AU2013100841A4
Application number: AU2013100841A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Geoffrey Francis Revill
Original assignee: DESIGN SHEET METAL Pty Ltd
Current assignee: DESIGN SHEET METAL Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-09-10
Filing date: 2013-06-11
Publication date: 2013-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-10
Also published as: AU2012101400A4

Abstract

Abstract A method of storing a bicycle on a cabinet to overhang the bonnet of a parked car, 5 said method comprising supporting said cabinet from a wall or floor such that it overhangs portion of a parking space of said car, attaching a rack to a door of said cabinet, and attaching said bicycle to the rack. so

Description

61 3 95432711 1 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 CO LETE SPECIFICATION OVATION PATENT "Bike Rack" The following statement is a description of this invention, including the best method fpprforming it known to me: V I J / J IJLI I I 2 BIKE RACK 5 Background and Summary of the Invention This invention concerns racks by which bicycles may be supported from a vertical surface. It is particularly concerned with racks attached to the side or front of a cabinet or locker which is made of sheet metal. The invention is more particularly 10 concerned with attaching a bicycle rack to a door on the front of a raised cabinet. It is known to provide in a car park or garage a cabinet or locker which overhangs the bonnet (hood) at the front of a parked vehicle. The cabinet may be freestanding or may be hung from a wall. In this way additional storage is provided in what would 15 otherwise be unused space. Storage of a bicycle in such a situation has problems. A bicycle can be too big or heavy or awkward to load into the cabinet. It would also use excessive space in the cabinet. In many situations the cabinet is made from sheet metal so the door panel is relatively 20 easily bent, scratched and otherwise damaged, so making it generally unsuitable for attachment of a bicycle rack. It would be convenient if the cabinet had a full length door opening upwards on its front face but a bicycle rack on such a front door would normally be impractical because the rack would restrict/prevent opening of the door. 25 The present invention is directed to providing a bicycle rack which is suitable for attachment to the front of a cabinet of the type described above while also being suitable for alternative attachment directly to other vertical surfaces such as a wall or post. The invention is also directed to a storage system comprising a cabinet and a bicycle storage rack which can survive the rigours of a having a bicycle frame 30 attached to the cabinet door and for which the door can be readily opened.

3 Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides a method of storing a bicycle on a cabinet to overhang the bonnet of a parked car, said method comprising supporting said cabinet from a wall or floor such that it overhangs portion of a parking space of said car, attaching a rack to a door of said cabinet, and attaching said bicycle to the s rack. The door may be a sheet metal door having a sheet metal skin and a central vertically extending batten fastened to the skin inside the cabinet, and the rack is fastened to the batten by fasteners passing through the skin. 10 The rack may comprise - attachment means by which the rack is fastened to the door, - a first horizontally extending portion extending from the attachment means, - a vertically extending portion extending downwards from said first 15 horizontally extending portion, - a second horizontally extending portion extending from said vertically extending portion to said vertical surface substantially, - a third horizontally extending portion extending from the vertically extending portion, 20 - attached to said first horizontally extending portion a means for locking a frame member of said bicycle to said rack, wherein said first horizontally extending portion, said vertically extending portion and said second horizontally extending portion form a generally U-shaped configuration and said third horizontally extending portion extends at least substantially parallel to 25 said vertical surface. The second horizontally extending portion may bear against said panel in a location where said skin overlies said batten. When said door is lifted upwards with the bicycle clamped to the rack a frame member of the bicycle may rest upon said third 30 horizontally extending portion and thereby prevent the bicycle from hitting the door.

4 In another aspect the invention provides a storage system comprising: - a cabinet comprising a sheet metal door said door having a sheet metal skin and a central vertically extending batten fastened to the skin inside the cupboard, and 5 - a rack for supporting a bicycle, said rack comprising: - attachment means by which the rack is fastened to the batten by fasteners passing through the skin, - a first horizontally extending portion extending from the attachment means, - a vertically extending portion extending downwards from said first 10 horizontally extending portion, - a second horizontally extending portion extending from said vertically extending portion to said vertical surface substantially, - a third horizontally extending portion extending from the vertically extending portion, 15 - attached to said first horizontally extending portion a means for locking a frame member of said bicycle to said rack, wherein said first horizontally extending portion, said vertically extending portion and said second horizontally extending portion form a generally U-shaped configuration and said third horizontally extending portion extends at least substantially parallel to 20 said vertical surface. Preferably said second horizontally extending portion bears against said panel in a location where said skin overlies said batten. Preferably when said door is lifted upwards with the bicycle clamped to the rack a frame member of the bicycle rests 25 upon said third horizontally extending portion and thereby prevents the bicycle from hitting the door. In another aspect the invention provides a rack for storing a bicycle, said rack comprising: 30 - attachment means for attaching the rack to a vertical surface, - a first horizontally extending portion extending from the attachment means, 5 - a vertically extending portion extending downwards from said first horizontally extending portion, - a second horizontally extending portion extending from said vertically extending portion to said vertical surface substantially, 5 - a third horizontally extending portion extending from the vertically extending portion, - attached to said first horizontally extending portion a means for locking a frame member of said bicycle to said rack, wherein said first horizontally extending portion, said vertically extending portion and 10 said second horizontally extending portion form a generally U-shaped configuration and said third horizontally extending portion extends at least substantially parallel to said vertical surface. Preferably said second horizontally extending portion bears against said vertical 1s surface at a position directly below said attachment means. Preferably said vertical surface is a front door panel of a cabinet. Preferably said second horizontally extending portion is not fastened to said vertical surface except through- said first horizontally extending portion and said vertically extending portion. Preferably said means for locking comprises a clamping means and a padlock preventing removal of 20 said clamping means. Preferably said attachment means comprises a plurality of vertically aligned apertures. Preferably said third horizontally extending portion has a face carrying a soft covering upon which said bicycle may rest while locked by said locking means. 25 Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more fully understood there will now be described, by way of example only, preferred embodiments and other elements of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings where: 30 Figure 1 is a view of a storage system comprising a cabinet and bicycle rack in use according to a first embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a view of the bicycle rack shown in Figure 1.

6 Description of Examples of the Invention and the Preferred Embodiment The storage system 4 shown in Figure 1 has a cabinet 12 mounted on a stand 14 such s that a motor car (not shown) can be driven up to the cabinet until its bonnet is positioned under the cabinet. The cabinet 12 has a full-length door 20 on its front. A bicycle 16 without its front wheel is supported on a rack 18 which is attached to the door 20 of the cabinet. The bracket is a welded steel construction with the portions 34, 50, 54 and 56 cut from 25mm square hollow section steel and welded to the 10 desired configuration. The door 20 has a central lifting handle 26 and hinges upwards to be supported by gas struts (not shown) mounted inside the cabinet. The bottom edge 21 of the cabinet door 20 has a pair of forwardly extending plates 22 while the front of the cabinet floor 23 has a pair of forwardly extending plates 24 which correspond to the plates 22. The plates 22 and 24 are drilled with aligned respective 15 holes to accept a suitable padlock or locks so the door 20 can be securely locked shut. The skin 32 of the cabinet door 20 is formed from a single panel of sheet metal which is bent at its edges to provide strength to the edges of the door. For additional strength, a batten is affixed to the inside of the door panel and runs vertically down 20 the centre of the panel. The batten is therefore hidden from view when the door is closed but is indicated by dashed lines in Figure 1. The rack 18 is attached to the door by two coach bolts which are fastened through the skin of the door and through the batten 28. 25 The rack has a first horizontally extending portion 34, which acts as an attachment arm, the rear end of which is attached to a vertically aligned short flat strip 36 which has two holes 46 drilled therein and which provides the means for bolting the rack 18 to the cupboard door 20. 30 The holes 46 are aligned vertically one beneath the other in order that the associated threaded fasteners passing therethrough then also pass through the central axis of the 7 batten. In this way the weight of the rack and any bicycle thereon is not carried entirely by the sheet metal forming the skin 32 of the door but is instead transferred through to the underlying batten 28 which in turn can transmit the load downwards to the front rail 9 of the stand 14. 5 The attachment arm 34 extends directly forwards from the cupboard door 20 for approximately 300mm. At the forward end of the arm 34, and attached to its upper face, is a clamp assembly 39 comprising a lower clamp plate 40, an upper clamp plate 42, and a pair of upstanding bolts 44. The bolts carry wing nuts 45 and the upper 10 ends of the bolts are drilled to accept a padlock 48 to prevent removal of the respective wing nut. Directly beneath the clamp, a vertically extending portion of the rack extends downwards for approximately 17cm. From the lower end of the vertically extending 15 portion 50, a second horizontally extending portion 54 extends from the vertically extending portion 50 back until it rests against the door 20. The second horizontally extending portion forms a strut which bears against the cabinet door to prevent the attachment arm 34 from sagging down under the weight of a bicycle. The strut 54 is not attached at its rear end to the cupboard door but merely rests against it. 20 From the lower end 50 of the vertical extending portion 50 a third horizontally extending portion 56 extends parallel to the cupboard door for approximately 17cm. The front face of portion 56 is a rubber strip 57 which provides a cushion between the bicycle frame and the rack. 25 The attachment arm 34, vertically extending portion 50 and strut 54 accordingly form a U-shaped configuration. The third horizontal extending portion lies at right angles to all of the first horizontal extending portion, vertical extending portion and second horizontal extending portion and is parallel to the cupboard door front surface. 30 The clamp comprises the lower portion 40 and upper portion 42 each bent from strip metal such that each carries a V-shaped channel which when positioned appropriately V I J /JTJ Lf I I provides a means for clamp to the cross-bar of the bicycle in a more or less conventional manner. The seat tube 60 of the bicycle frame rests back against the front face of the third horizontally extending portion so the third horizontally extending portion acts as a rest. 5 For convenience the front wheel of the bicycle may be removed (as shown in Figure 1) by use of a quick release mechanism and the wheel stored inside the cabinet. The cupboard door may be lifted with the bicycle still attached to the rack as the 10 support rail prevents the bicycle resting back against the door. Whilst the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously 15 described without departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the invention. It will be understood that where the word "central" or "centrally" is used in this specification in relation to the positioning of the batten, it is intended to mean that the 20 batten is spaced well away from the edges of the door panel and not necessarily positioned exactly in the centre of the door panel. Also the term "horizontally extending" is intended to mean having a horizontal component to an extension and not necessarily having a generally horizontal orientation. Also the term "vertically extending" is intended to mean having a vertical component to an extension and not 25 necessarily having a vertical orientation. The word bicycle when used in this specification to describe an item being stored on the rack is intended to cover a bicycle either with or without its front wheel. 30 It will be also understood that where the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", are used in this specification, unless the context 9 requires otherwise such use is intended to imply the inclusion of a stated feature or features but is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other feature or features. The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, 5 an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims

1. A method of storing a bicycle on a cabinet to overhang the bonnet of a parked car, said method comprising supporting said cabinet from a wall or floor such that it 5 overhangs portion of a parking space of said car, attaching a rack to a door of said cabinet, and attaching said bicycle to the rack.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the door is a sheet metal door having a sheet metal skin and a central vertically extending batten fastened to the skin inside 1o the cabinet, and the rack is fastened to the batten by fasteners passing through the skin.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the rack comprises: - attachment means by which the rack is fastened to the door, 15 - a first horizontally extending portion extending from the attachment means, - a vertically extending portion extending downwards from said first horizontally extending portion, - a second horizontally extending portion extending from said vertically extending portion to said vertical surface substantially, 20 - a third horizontally extending portion extending from the vertically extending portion, - attached to said first horizontally extending portion a means for locking a frame member of said bicycle to said rack, wherein said first horizontally extending portion, said vertically extending portion and 25 said second horizontally extending portion form a generally U-shaped configuration and said third horizontally extending portion extends at least substantially parallel to said vertical surface.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said second horizontally extending 30 portion bears against said panel in a location where said skin overlies said batten. 11

5. A method according to claim 3 or 4 wherein when said door is lifted upwards with the bicycle clamped to the rack a frame member of the bicycle rests upon said third horizontally extending portion and thereby prevents the bicycle from hitting the door. 5

6. A rack for storing a bicycle, said rack comprising: - attachment means for attaching the rack to a vertical surface, - a first horizontally extending portion extending from the attachment means, - a vertically extending portion extending downwards from said first 10 horizontally extending portion, - a second horizontally extending portion extending from said vertically extending portion to said vertical surface substantially , - a third horizontally extending portion extending from the vertically extending portion, 15 - attached to said first horizontally extending portion a means for locking a frame member of said bicycle to said rack, wherein said first horizontally extending portion, said vertically extending portion and said second horizontally extending portion form a generally U-shaped configuration and said third horizontally extending portion extends at least substantially parallel to 20 said vertical surface.

7. A rack according to claim 6 wherein said second horizontally extending portion bears against said vertical surface at a position directly below said attachment means. 25

8. A rack according to claim 6 or 7 wherein said vertical surface is a front door panel of a cabinet.

9. A rack according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein said second horizontally 30 extending portion is not fastened to said vertical surface except through said first horizontally extending portion and said vertically extending portion. 12

10. A rack according to any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein said means for locking comprises a clamping means and a padlock preventing removal of said clamping ineans. 5

11. A rack according to any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein said attachment means comprises a plurality of vertically aligned apertures.

12. A rack according to any one of claims 6 to 11 wherein said third horizontally extending portion has a face carrying a soft covering upon which said bicycle may rest 10 while locked by said locking means.