AU2020102064A4 - Mounting Assembly for Bicycles and Scooters - Google Patents

Abstract

A mounting assembly for mounting and supporting a bicycle or a scooter against a supporting wall, the mounting assembly comprising: a base with a mounting surface adapted to be mounted on the supporting wall; a holder comprising a hollow body with a cavity having an opening configured to receive an end portion of a handlebar for the bicycle or the scooter; whereby during use, insertion of the end portion of the handle into the holder allows the bicycle or the scooter to be leaned and supported by the wall in a substantially vertical position. rJI\J 100 160 41 FIGURE 6

Description

rJI\J

100 160

41

FIGURE 6

Mounting Assembly for Bicycles and Scooters

TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present invention relates to a mounting assembly that is suitable for

supporting a bicycle or a scooter when it is placed against a substantially flat surface.

BACKGROUND

[002] Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to

be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of

the common general knowledge.

[003] Stands for holding bicycles upright when not in use, but these are rather heavy

and cumbersome and require a little time to set them up. Consequently, bicycles are

usually leaned against a wall or post. In such a supporting position any minimal

disturbance or vibration often causes the front wheel to turn a little and this can result

in the bicycle sliding to the ground. Some bicycles can be very expensive and any

inadvertent fall can result in damage to the frame of the bicycle. It is therefore desirable

to provide a simple and inexpensive solution for holding up a bicycle leaned against a

wall or the like which may be quickly and easily put into operation.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[004] In an aspect, the invention provides a mounting assembly for mounting and

supporting a bicycle or a scooter against a supporting wall, the mounting assembly

comprising:

a base with a mounting surface adapted to be mounted on the supporting wall;

a holder comprising a hollow body with a cavity having an opening configured

to receive an end portion of a handlebar for the bicycle or the scooter; whereby during use, insertion of the end portion of the handle into the holder allows the bicycle or the scooter to be leaned and supported by the wall in a substantially vertical position.

[005] In an embodiment, the holder comprises a substantially cylindrical cavity for

receiving the end portion of the handlebar for the bicycle or the scooter.

[006] In an embodiment, the holder and the base are configured such that upon

mounting the base on the wall, the holder is inclined in an in-use upwardly direction

relative to the wall.

[007] In an embodiment, the holder and the base are configured such that upon

mounting the base on the wall, the holder is inclined in an in-use upwardly direction

relative to a plane of the mounting surface of the base.

[008] In an embodiment, at least the holder comprises a flexible and resilient material.

[009] In an embodiment, a thickened reinforcement portion located along at an

attachment location where the holder is attached to an attachment portion of the base.

[010] In an embodiment, the mounting assembly further comprises an outwardly

extending hook member positioned in a spaced relationship relative to the holder

wherein the hook member extends in an outward orthogonal direction away from the

supporting wall during use.

[011] In an embodiment, a portion of the hook member is formed integrally with the

thickened reinforcement portion.

[012] In an embodiment, the opening for the holder is defined by inwardly directed

guiding surfaces for guiding the end portion of the handle into the hollow body of the

holder.

[013] In an embodiment, the mounting surface of the base comprises one or more

attachment formations for attachment to the supporting wall.

[014] In an embodiment, the attachment formations comprise hook and loop

fasteners for removable attachment on an attachment panel affixed on the supporting

wall.

[015] In an embodiment, the attachment panel comprises a length that is sufficiently

long to allow attachment of the base at a plurality of locations to allow positioning the

holder at a plurality of corresponding in-use heights.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[016] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be

discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information

for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to

be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any

way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

Figure 1 is a lower perspective view of a mounting assembly 100 suitable for mounting

for mounting and supporting a bicycle or a scooter against a supporting wall or a post.

Figure 2 is a first side view of the mounting assembly 100.

Figure 3 is a top view of the mounting assembly 100.

Figure 4 is a second side view of the mounting assembly 100.

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the mounting assembly 100.

Figure 6 is a frontal in-use view of the mounting assembly 100.

Figure 7 is a side perspective view of the mounting assembly 100.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[017] Figures 1 to 7 illustrate a mounting assembly 100 for mounting for mounting

and supporting a bicycle or a scooter against a supporting wall or a post. The mounting

assembly 100 comprises a base 110 that includes a planar mounting surface 112 (best shown in Figure 5) that allows the base 110 to be affixed to a mounting surface on the wall or the post. Figures 6 and 7 show in-use views of the mounting assembly 100.

The mounting assembly 100 also comprises a holder 120 that comprises a hollow

cylindrical body 124. The hollow cylindrical body 124 is shaped to receive an end

portion of a handle bar of a bicycle or a scooter. Advantageously, the hollow cylindrical

body 124 comprises an opening 122 defined by convergent surfaces that guide the

end portion of the handle bar into the hollow cylindrical body 124. In the preferred

embodiment of the mounting assembly 100, the cylindrical body 124 comprises a

length or a height that is sufficiently long to retain a substantial part of the hand

receiving portion of the handle bar. In the preferred embodiment of the mounting

assembly 100, the holder 120 and the base 110 are from flexible silicone material.

However, in other alternative embodiments, the mounting assembly 100 may be

formed from other flexible materials such as polymeric materials.

[018] Turning to Figures 2 and 3, it is clear that the holder 120 and the base 110 are

configured such that upon mounting the base 110 on the wall, the holder 120 is inclined

in an in-use upwardly direction or orientation relative to the wall. In the preferred

embodiment, upon mounting the base 110 on the wall, the holder 120 is inclined in an

in-use upwardly direction relative to a plane of the mounting surface of the base. The

slight upwardly inclined orientation of the holder 120 plays an important role in

compensating for any downward force acting on the walls of the holder's cylindrical

body 124 when the end portion of the handle bar is inserted into holder 120. A

thickened reinforcement portion 140 is located at an attachment location where the

holder 120 is attached to an attachment portion of the base 110. The reinforcement

portion 140 is position to resist downward flexing of the holder body 124 particularly at

the point of attachment on the base 110. In an alternative embodiment, the base 110 may be provided in the form of a wedge shaped body for providing the holder 120 at an angled orientation relative to the surface of the supporting wall whilst maintaining a perpendicular orientation relate to a top exposed surface of the base 110.

[019] The mounting assembly 100 also includes an outwardly extending hook

member 132 that is integrally formed with the reinforcement portion 140. The hook

member 132 is structured to allow smaller objects such as helmets to be hung on the

hook member 132 and provides a convenient secondary mounting location for

mounting the smaller objects. The reinforcement portion 140 and the hook member

132 are mutually perpendicular to each other and any weight (acting in a downward

direction under gravity) on the hook member 132 result is translated towards the

reinforcement member 140 to resist downwardly movement of the wall portion 126 of

the cylindrical body 124 of the holder that is attached to the reinforcement portion 140.

[020] Turning to Figures 5, 6 and 7 the mounting surface 112 may be provided with

a panel comprising a fastening mechanism (preferably hook and loop fasteners

commonly known as Velcro). An attachment panel 160 may be affixed to the

supporting wall and the attachment panel 160 may be provided with a complementary

configuration to allow the mounting surface 112 to be readily attached or detached

from the exposed surface of the attachment panel 160. The length of height of the

attachment panel 160 is substantially longer than the length or height of the base 110.

As a result, the base 110 can be readily attached to, or, detached from, a plurality of

mounting locations on the attachment panel 160. As a result, the mounting assembly

100 can readily used for supporting bicycles or scooters of varying sizes and heights.

[021] The presently described mounting assembly 100 functions as a bicycle

supporting device and is very simple to use and does not require any extra effort or

time to put it into operation when the bicycle is leaned against an object, such as a wall or post. The holder 120 of the mounting assembly 100 in conjunction with the base 110 and the attachment panel 160 can engage with the end portion of a handlebar of a bicycle or a scooter and the flexible and hollow configuration of the holder 120 prevents the end portion of the bicycle from becoming disengaged from the holder 120 and allows the bicycle to securely lean against a flat surface in a substantially upright position.

[022] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language

more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term "comprises" and

its variations, such as "comprising" and "comprised of' is used throughout in an

inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features.

[023] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown

or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting

the invention into effect.

[024] The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within

the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in

the art.

Claims (12)

1. A mounting assembly for mounting and supporting a bicycle or a scooter

against a supporting wall, the mounting assembly comprising:

a base with a mounting surface adapted to be mounted on the supporting wall;

a holder comprising a hollow body with a cavity having an opening configured

to receive an end portion of a handlebar for the bicycle or the scooter;

whereby during use, insertion of the end portion of the handle into the holder allows

the bicycle or the scooter to be leaned and supported by the wall in a substantially

vertical position.

2. A mounting assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the holder comprises

a substantially cylindrical cavity for receiving the end portion of the handlebar for the

bicycle or the scooter.

3. A mounting assembly in accordance with any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the

holder and the base are configured such that upon mounting the base on the wall, the

holder is inclined in an in-use upwardly direction relative to the wall.

4. A mounting assembly in accordance with claim 3 wherein the holder and the

base are configured such that upon mounting the base on the wall, the holder is

inclined in an in-use upwardly direction relative to a plane of the mounting surface of

the base.

5. A mounting assembly in accordance with any one of the preceding claims

wherein at least the holder comprises a flexible and resilient material.

6. A mounting assembly in accordance with any one of the preceding claims

further comprising a thickened reinforcement portion located along at an attachment

location where the holder is attached to an attachment portion of the base.

7. A mounting assembly in accordance with any one of the preceding claims

further comprising an outwardly extending hook member positioned in a spaced

relationship relative to the holder wherein the hook member extends in an outward

orthogonal direction away from the supporting wall during use.

8. A mounting assembly in accordance with claim 7 when dependent on claim 6

wherein a portion of the hook member is formed integrally with the thickened

reinforcement portion.

9. A mounting assembly in accordance with any one of the preceding claims

wherein the opening for the holder is defined by inwardly directed guiding surfaces for

guiding the end portion of the handle into the hollow body of the holder.

10. A mounting assembly in accordance with any one of the preceding claims

wherein the mounting surface of the base comprises one or more attachment

formations for attachment to the supporting wall.

11. A mounting assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein the attachment

formations comprise hook and loop fasteners for removable attachment on an

attachment panel affixed on the supporting wall.

12. A mounting assembly in accordance with claim 11 wherein the attachment

panel comprises a length that is sufficiently long to allow attachment of the base at a

plurality of locations to allow positioning the holder at a plurality of corresponding in

use heights.

/6

122 2020102064

100 110 124

110 126

140

120

112

132

FIGURE 1

/6

122 31 Aug 2020

100

132 120 2020102064

126 140 110

FIGURE 2 112 110

100 132

FIGURE 3

/6

122 2020102064

100

120

110

FIGURE 4

2020102064 /6

110 112 120

100

FIGURE 5

/6

100 160 2020102064

100

160

FIGURE 6

2020102064 /6

100

100

160 160

FIGURE 7