AU2021106110A4

AU2021106110A4 - Bicycle wheel positioning device

Info

Publication number: AU2021106110A4
Application number: AU2021106110A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Haidong Gu
Original assignee: Cyclingdeal USA Inc
Current assignee: Cyclingdeal USA Inc
Priority date: 2021-08-20
Filing date: 2021-08-20
Publication date: 2021-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-20

Abstract

A bicycle wheel positioning device includes a case and two positioning units. The two positioning units are respectively installed to the case and each include a roller unit and at least one spring. When the two roller units are applied by a force, the two roller units are pushed away from each other. When the force is removed, the roller units move back and toward each other by the at least one spring in each roller unit. 200 12 100 II11 2 FIG. 7

Description

II11 200 12 100

2

FIG. 7

BICYCLE WHEEL POSITIONING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a positioning device, and more particularly, to a

positioning device fixed to a stationary object to position a bicycle wheel.

Description of Related Art

[0002] There are different types of wall mounts that are designed to positioning a bicycle to

save storage space in a garage. Compared with the conventional parking racks, they are smaller

in size and generally installed on the wall to save the occupancy to the utmost extent. For

example, Taiwanese Patent No. M493340 discloses a tool fixing clip structure which is originally

used to clamp rods and not specifically designed for bicycles, however, many people use this

type of products to position bicycles. After being fixed on the wall, when the wheel passes

through two clamping parts, the elastic cantilevers on both sides are pushed apart from each

other. When the wheel rim passes through the two clamping parts, the elastic cantilever on

both sides will rebound due to its own elastic feature to restrict the wheel rim from disengaging

from the clamping parts. However, the resilience of the elastic cantilever will gradually decrease

as the number of uses increases. The initial distance between the two clamps will become wider

and wider, and then gradually fails to well position the rim from detaching. Then the users can

only to purchase a new one to replace it, as this type of product is not intended to store

bicycles.

[0003] The present invention intends to provide a bicycle wheel positioning device to

eliminate shortcomings mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a bicycle wheel positioning device and comprises a

case that includes a back board, two first boards and two second boards, wherein the two first

boards respectively extend from the top and the bottom of the back board, and the two second

boards extend from two ends of the back board and are connected to the two first boards. A room

is formed between the back board, the two first boards and the two second boards. The case

includes an opening formed to the front of the case and communicates with the room. Each of

the two first boards include a recess which communicates with the opening and the room.

[0005] Two positioning units are respectively and connected to two second boards. Each

positioning unit includes a roller unit and at least one spring. The two respective roller units are

in the room. When a force is applied to the two roller units in a direction toward the two roller

units, the at least one spring of each roller unit is compressed, and the two roller units are

resiliently moved away from each other. When the force is removed, the at least one spring of

each roller unit rebounds, and the two roller units move toward each other.

[0006] The movement of the roller units are made by the two respective springs so that the

springs can be replaced instead replacement of the whole positioning units.

[0007] The two positioning units are two individual units which can be replaced individually

when needed.

[0008] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only,

a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure. 1 is a perspective view to show the positioning device of the present invention;

[00010] Figure. 2 is an exploded view of the positioning device of the present invention;

[00011] Figure. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken along lineIl-Ill in Figure. 1;

[00012] Figure. 4 shows that a bicycle wheel is to be inserted between the two roller units;

[00013] Figure. 5 shows that the bicycle wheel is inserted between the two roller units to push

the two rollers away from each other;

[00014] Figure. 6 shows that the bicycle wheel passes through the two roller units;

[00015] Figure. 7 shows a bicycle is parked with the front wheel positioned by the positioning

device;

[00016] Figure. 8 is a cross sectional view, taken along line VIII-VIII in Figure. 1;

[00017] Figure. 9 shows that the positioning units are movable along the slots of the second

boards;

[00018] Figure. 10 shows the threaded section of the locking member contacts the roller;

[00019] Figure. 11 shows the adjustment of the screw in the chamber of each frame;

[00020] Figure. 12 is a perspective view to show that two washers are located between the

second board of the case and the frame of the positioning unit;

[00021] Figure. 13 is an exploded view to show that two washers are located between the

second board of the case and the frame of the positioning unit, and

[00022] Figure. 14 is a cross sectional view, taken along line XIVI-XIV in Figure. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[00023] Referring to Figures. 1to 8, the positioning device of the present invention comprises a

case 1 including a back board 12, two first boards 13 and two second boards 14. The two first

boards 13 respectively extend from the top and the bottom of the back board 12. The two second

boards 14 respectively extend from two ends of the back board 12 and are connected to the two

first boards 13. A room 11 is formed between the back board 12, the two first boards 13 and the

two second boards 14. In addition, the case 1 includes an opening 15 formed to the front of the

case l and communicates with the room 11. Each of the twofirst boards 13 includes a recess 131

which opens to the front of the case l and communicates with the opening 15 and the room 11.

Two positioning units 2 are respectively connected to two second boards 14. Each positioning

unit 2 includes a roller unit 21and two springs 24. The two respective roller units 21 are located

in the room 11. When a force is applied to the two roller units 21in the direction toward the two

roller units 21, for example, a bicycle wheel 100 is inserted between the two roller units 21, the

two springs 24 of each roller unit 21 are compressed and the two roller units 21 are resiliently

moved away from each other. When the force is removed, force example, the bicycle wheel 100

pass the two roller units 21, the two springs 24 of each roller unit 21 rebound and the two roller

units 21 move toward each other and to their initial positions.

[00024] As shown in Figure. 4, the back board 12 of case 1 is fixed to a wall 200, and the bicycle

wheel 100 is moved into the recesses 131 and pushed to move the two roller units 21away from

each other as shown in Figure. 5. When the bicycle wheel 100 pass the two roller units 21 as

shown in Figure. 6, thetwo roller units 21move backtotheir initial positionsto restrictthe bicycle

wheel 100 from disengaging from the case 1.

[00025] As shown in Figures. 2, 3, 8 and 9, each of the positioning units 2 includes a frame 25,

a plate 3, a locking unit 31and the roller unit 21. Each second board 14 includes a slot 141 which

opens to the front of the case 1 and communicates with the opening 15 and the room 11. Each

frame 25 is connected to the roller unit 21 and includes a protrusion 251 extending in the

direction away from the roller unit 21. The protrusion 251 is located corresponding to the slot

141 of the second board 14 corresponding thereto. The plate 3 is located at the outside of the

second board 14 corresponding thereto. Each of the locking units 31 secures the plate 3 and the

protrusion 25 to the second board 14 which is clamped between the plate 3 and the frame 25 so

that the positioning unit 2 cannot move relative to the second board 14. When the locking unit

31 is released, the positioning unit 2 is movable along the slot 141 of the second board 14 as

shown in Figure. 9. It is noted that the protrusion 251 is movable in the slot 141 corresponding

thereto to ensure that the frame 25 is smoothly and steadily movable along the slot 141. The

adjustment of the frame 25 of each of the roller units 2 is easy by operating the locking unit 31.

[00026] Each of the locking units 31 includes a nut 32 and a threaded section 332. When

operating the lock unit 31, the threaded section 332 extends through the nut 32, the plate 3 and

the slot 141, and is connected to the frame 25. The nut 32 contacts against the outside of the plate 3 to clamp the second board 14 between the plate 3 and the frame 25. The locking units 31 includes a toothed face 321 that faces the plate 3 corresponding thereto to prevent the nut 32 from being loosened due to vibration.

[00027] Specifically, as shown in Figures. 2, 3 and 10, each of the locking units 31 includes a

locking member 33 which includes a knob 331 and the threaded section 332 extends from the

knob 331. As described before, after the threaded section 332 extends through the frame 25, the

threaded section 332 is movable relative to the roller unit 21 corresponding thereto by rotating

the knob 331. When the distal end of the threaded section 332 contacts the roller unit 21

corresponding thereto, the roller unit 231 cannot move so that even when the bicycle is hit

unintentionally, the bicycle does not separate from the positioning device of the present

invention.

[00028] As shown in Figures. 2 to 6, each of the positioning units 2 includes the frame 25 and

the roller unit 21, and the roller unit 21 includes a pivot 22 and a roller 23. The pivot 22 extends

through the roller 23 which is rotatable about the pivot 22. The frame 25 includes a base 252 and

two wings 253 respectively formed to two ends of the base 252. Two ends of the pivot 22 are

respectively and rotatably connected to the twowings 253. At least one of the wings 253 includes

a chamber 2531, in this embodiment, each of the two wings 253 has a chamber 2531. Each

chamber 2531 has one of the two springs 24 located therein and contacts the pivot 22. As shown

in Figures. 2, 3 and 11, the chamber 2531includes threads formed to the inner periphery thereof.

A screw 2532 is in the chamber 2531 and threadedly engaged with the threads in the chamber

2531. The spring 24 is biased between the pivot 22 and the screw 2532, so that the spring 24 does not drop from the chamber 2531, and the force that the spring 24 applies to the pivot 22 can be adjusted by rotating the screw 2532.

[00029] It is noted that, the roller 23 can also be secured to the pivot 22, and the pivot 22 is

rotated relative to the wings 253.

[00030] As shown in Figure. 3, the pivot 22 includes a body section 221 and two heads 222

which are respectively formed to two ends of the body section 221. The diameter of each of the

two heads 222 is larger than that of the body section 221. The two heads 222 are respectively

located on outside of the two wings 253 so that the pivot 22 does not separated from the two

wings 253.

[00031] Each of the recess 131includes two first sections 1311and a second section 1312 which

extends between the two first sections 1311. The two first sections 1311 communicate with the

opening 15. The width between the two first sections 1311 is wider than that of the second

section 1312. The two positioning units 2 are partially located in the two first sections 1311, and

the bicycle wheel 100 is first entered into the area between the two first sections 1311 via the

opening 15 of the case 1 and pushes the two roller units 21.

[00032] Figures 12 to 14 show another embodiment, wherein each positioning unit 2 further

includes two washers 4, and the two washers 4 are removably located between the second board

14 of the case 1 and the frame 25 of the positioning unit 2. The two washers 14 make the two

frames 25 be close to each other so increase the force for restricting the bicycle wheel 100. The

number of the washers4 may vary according to needs.

[00033] The movement of the roller units 21 that are movable along the slots 141 of the second

boards 14 allows the bicycle wheels 100 of different sizes to be positioned by the positioning

device of the present invention.

[00034] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present

invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made

without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bicycle wheel positioning device comprising:

a case (1) including a back board (12), two first boards (13) and two second boards (14), the two

first boards (13) respectively extending from a top and a bottom of the back board (12), the two

second boards (14) respectively extending from two ends of the back board (12) and connected

tothe twofirst boards (13), a room (11) formed between the back board (12), the two first boards

(13) and the two second boards (14), the case (1) including an opening (15) formed to a front of

the case (1) and communicating with the room (11), each of the two first boards (13) including a

recess (131) which communicates with the opening (15) and the room (11), and

two positioning units (2) respectively connected to two second boards (14), each positioning unit

(2) including a roller unit (21) and at least one spring (24), the two respective roller units (21)

located in the room (11), when a force is applied to the two roller units (21) in a direction toward

the two roller units (21), the at least one spring (24) of each roller unit (21) is compressed and

the two roller units (21) are resiliently moved away from each other, when the force is removed,

the at least one spring (24) of each roller unit (21) rebounds and the two roller units (21) move

toward each other.

2. The bicycle wheel positioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the positioning

units (2) includes a frame (25), a plate (3), a locking unit (31) and the roller unit (21), each second

board (14) includes a slot (141) which opens to the opening (15) and the room (11), each frame

(25) is connected to the roller unit (21) and includes a protrusion (251) extending in a direction

away from the roller unit (21), the protrusion (251) is located corresponding to the slot (141) of the second board (14) corresponding thereto, the plate (3) is located at an outside of the second board (14) corresponding thereto, each of the locking units (31) secures the plate (3) and the protrusion (25) to the second board (14) which is clamped between the plate (3) and the frame

(25) so that the positioning unit (2) cannot move relative to the second board (14), when the

locking unit (31) is released, the positioning unit (2) is movable along the slot (141) of the second

board (14), each of the locking units (31) includes a nut (32) and a threaded section (332) which

extends through the nut (32), the threaded section (332) extends through the plate (3) and the

slot (141), and is connected to the frame (25), the nut (32) contacts against an outside of the plate

(3).

3. The bicycle wheel positioning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the locking units

(31) includes a locking member (33) which has a knob (331) and a threaded section (332)

connected to the knob (331), the threaded section (332) is movable relative to the roller unit (21)

corresponding thereto, when a distal end of the threaded section (332) contacts the roller unit

(21) corresponding thereto, the roller unit (231) cannot move.

4. The bicycle wheel positioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the positioning

units (2) includes a frame (25) and the roller unit (21), the roller unit (21) includes a pivot (22) and

a roller (23), the pivot (22) extends through the roller (23), the frame (25) includes a base (252)

and two wings (253) respectively formed to two ends of the base (252), two ends of the pivot (22)

respectively and rotatably connected to the two wings (253), at least one of the wings (253)

includes a chamber (2531), the at least one spring (24) is located in the chamber (2531) and

contacts the pivot (22), the chamber (2531) includes threads formed to an inner periphery thereof, a screw (2532) is located in the chamber (2531) and threadedly engaged with the threads in the chamber (2531), the at least one spring (24) is biased between the pivot (22) and the screw (2532), each positioning unit (2) includes a locking unit (31) and at least one washer (4), the frame (25) is connected to the second board (14) of the case (1) bythe locking unit (31), the at least one washer

(4) is removably located between the second board(14) of the case (1) and the frame (25) of the

positioning unit (2).

5. The bicycle wheel positioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the recess (131)

includes two first sections (1311) and a second section (1312) which extends between the two

first sections (1311), the two first sections (1311) communicate with the opening (15), the two

positioning units (2) are partially located in the two first sections (1311).