AU700679B2

AU700679B2 - Bicycle accessory

Info

Publication number: AU700679B2
Application number: AU64342/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Henry Arthur Hopgood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-08-30
Filing date: 1996-08-29
Publication date: 1999-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2016-08-29
Also published as: NZ272839A; AU6434296A

Description

This invention relates to an accessory for a bicycle.

When riding a bicycle it is not unusual for the rider to require extra pressure to be applied to the pedals of the bicycle to provide greater motive power such as when, for instance, heading into a strong wind or riding up a hill. It is apparent a rider can exert limited pressure only on the pedals without actually being lifted off the seat by the exertion and this consequently results in the rider having to stand on the pedals to obtain the extra pressure required. By adopting such a stance, a rider is able to place more weight or exert more pressure on the pedals than that which would be available when the rider is in a seated position.

It is recognised that standing on the pedals tends to render the bicycle less stable than when the rider is seated and in addition this standing stance will increase wind resistance so that part of the additional effort provided is nullified.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an accessory for use with both existing bicycles and new bicycles which will enable the rider to apply additional pressure "to the pedals of the bicycle while remaining seated.

20 Accordingly, one form of the invention may be said to comprise an accessory for °o a bicycle which includes ground wheels supported by a frame and a seat supported by the frame, the said accessory comprising an elongated strap having a first and a second end, wherein; the said first end of the strap is adapted to be permanently anchored to the bicycle, the second end of the strap is adapted to be removably attached to anchor means associated with the seat, and wherein said anchor means is adapted to retain the said second end of the strap only when a greater than predetermined minimum weight is applied to the seat.

Preferably the said first end of the strap is anchored to the frame adjacent to the bicycle seat.

Preferably the said first end of the strap is anchored to the rear of the bicycle seat.

Peferably the means for anchoring the second end of the said strap comprise a locking pin associated with the said seat and which is so constructed that when more than a predetermined weight is applied to the bicycle seat, a portion of the locking pin will protrude through the seat and be accessible to anchor the said second end of the strap.

Preferably the said locking pin is connected to a fulcrum bar which is activated by means which detect weight applied to the seat of the bicycle and is so constructed that when more than a predetermined weight is applied to the seat, the fulcrum bar will pivot 20 to move the said locking pin from a retracted to an operative position and when the weight is removed from the said seat the fulcrum bar will pivot to move the said locking pin from an operative to a retracted position.

Preferably the means to detect weight comprises spring means to spring urge the fulcrum bar when less than a predetermined weight is on the seat, to a position whereby the locking pin is moved from an operative position to a retracted position.

Preferably the said locking pin is attached adjacent one end of the fulcrum bar and wherein an actuating pin is adjustably attached adjacent the other end of said fulcrum bar, said actuating pin having one end which extends through the said seat and terminates at a cover member which covers a portion of the exposed upper surface of the said seat and having a second end which will contact said spring means and which is spring urged by the said spring means to pivot the said fulcrum bar to maintain it in a retracted position until more than a predetermined weight is placed on the said seat.

Preferred forms of the invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein; Figure 1 is a view of part of the bicycle showing a seat and a seat post which has been adapted to incorporate the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a seat of the present invention in a configuration it e 20 will occupy when the rider is seated on the seat, and Figure 3 is a similar view of the seat shown in Figure 2 in a configuration when there is little or no weight on the seat.

As shown in Figure 1, the accessory can be adapted to be attached to a standard bicycle frame 1 of which a portion only is shown in the drawings. A seat post 2 which may be of a standard tubular formation, is partly telescoped within the frame 1 in the normal manner. The upper end of the seat post 2 is attached by a suitable bracket to the underside of a seat 3. The height of the seat 3 above the frame 1 can be adjusted by telescoping the seat post 2 downwards or upwards to the desired degree and then tightening the nut 4 on the clamp 5 in the known manner. The seat includes a shaped covering member 6 of a known kind and may have the usual spring arrangement 7 as known.

The seat mechanism includes a fulcrum bar 8 which can be suitably formed from metal stock or the like and which is supported at a fulcrum point 9 to have a rocking motion about the fulcrum point 9. The fulcrum bar 8 extends under the seat and the o1"-forward end 10 terminates adjacent the forward end 6a of the seat. A locking pin 11 is attached to the fulcrum bar 8 adjacent to the forward end 10 of the bar and extends 15 upwardly as shown through a hole 6b formed in the seat cover. The pin 11 is suitably attached to the fulcrum bar 8 so that as the bar rocks about the fulcrum point 9 between the positions shown in Figures 2 and Figure 3 the pin will reciprocate upwardly and downwardly and in the operative position protrude through the seat cover as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and in the retracted position will retract through the hole 6b so the tip of 20 the locking pin 11 will lie below the seat cover.

.i The rocking motion of the fulcrum bar is controlled by a spring means such as the compression spring 15 which is housed within the seat post 2. Suitable means such as the stop plate 16 is provided to limit the depth of penetration of the spring 15 within the post 2 while the spring 15 is of a length that its upper end will bear against a plate 17 which is of a size that it can have reciprocal movement within the bore of the seat post.

Preferably but not necessarily the upper end of the spring 15 will terminate within the seat post 2 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The plate 17 is formed to contact the foot of an actuating pin 18, the shank of which passes through and is fixed to the fulcrum bar 8 as indicated in the drawings so that the height of the dome 18a of the pin 18 in relation to the fulcrum bar 8 can be adjusted for the purpose to be hereinafter described. The shank of the actuating pin 18 also passes through a hole 6c in the seat cover.

The dome 18a of the pin 18 is affixed to a cover member 20 which is shaped so that it will lie over the outside of the seat covering 6 as indicated particularly in Figure 1.

The cover member 20 can be a moulded from a plastics material or it can be formed from a suitable lightweight metal.

15 A strap support 22 is suitably attached to the rear of the seat frame and is formed so that one end of a strap 23 can be attached to the strap support 22 as shown. The other end of the strap 23 is looped under the cross bar l a of the bicycle frame as is shown more -particularly in Figure 1. The free end of the strap is then passed over the forward end 6a of the seat and as can be seen for instance in Figure 1, the strap is provided with a series 20 of holes 25 which may be reinforced by suitable eyelets or the like.

a.

The seat depicted in Figure 3 in a configuration where there is no weight or little weight on the seat and in this position the compression spring 15 will have acted to have moved the actuating pin 18 and the cover member 20 upwardly above the seat covering 6 as indicated in the Figure. Because the shank of the actuating pin 18 is attached to the fulcrum bar 8, this movement will rock the fulcrum bar 8 about the fulcrum point 9 so the pin 11 will be retracted through the hole 6b.

Figures 1 and 2 depict the configuration when a rider is seated on the seat. In this configuration, the weight of the rider seated on the cover member 20 will compress the spring 15 so the fulcrum bar 8 will rock to move the pin 18 and the cover member downwardly until the mechanism occupies the position as shown in Figures 1 and 2. When in this position, the upper end of the pin 11 will protrude through the hole 6b and an appropriate hole 25 of the strap 23 can be engaged over the protruding end of the pin 11 to lock the strap to the pin.

.g The adjustment means on the pin 18 will be manipulated so that when the rider is seated and the cover member 20 occupies the configuration shown in Figures 1 and 2, the 15 tip of the pin 11 will project through the seat cover 6 a sufficient amount that a selected eyelet 25 of the strap 23 can be engaged on the pin and be retained thereon. Similarly, the height of the pin 18 in relation to the fulcrum bar 8 is adjusted so that when there is no weight on the seat and under the influence of the spring 15, the cover member 20 adopts the configuration shown in Figure 3, the tip of the pin 11 will have retracted through the 20 hole 6b to a position similar to that shown in the Figure.

C*

S In operation the strap will have first been disconnected from around the cross bar la and from the seat 3. When the rider is seated the strap 23 is placed over the shoulder of the rider and the free end of the strap passed under and around the cross bar 1 a and an appropriate hole 25 of the strap is then engaged over the pin 11 which will project through the hole 6b. The strap is adjusted so it will lie comfortably over the rider's shoulder when the rider is for instance in an upright seated position on the seat. If the rider requires to exert additional pressure on the pedals of the bicycle, then the reaction force will be taken by the strap 23 which passes over the rider's shoulder and this will allow the rider to exert considerably more pressure on the pedals while seated than would otherwise be able.

To dismount from the bicycle the rider will disengage the strap from the pin 11 by holding the free end of the strap and lifting the eyelet off the pin. The rider may then dismount in the usual manner. In the event of an accident which results in the rider being unseated, there will be no weight or little weight on the seat 3. in this situation, the seat mechanism will under the influence of the spring 15 adopt the position shown in Figure 3 so that the pin 11 will be retracted and the free end of the strap 23 will become disengaged and will fall free of the seat.

The foregoing description refers to a preferred form of the invention. Having read 9e° and understood the precepts and principles of the invention it will be apparent to those °skilled in the particular art to which this invention relates that improvements or modifications can be made to the particular constructional features while still falling within 20 the broad scope of the concept. All such improvements and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

The claims deining the invoenton are as follows: 1. An accessory for a bicycle which includes ground wheels supported by a frame and a seat supported by the frame, the said accessory comprising an elongated strap having a first and a second end, wherein; the said first end of the strap is adapted to be permanently anchored to the bicycle, the second end of the strap is adapted to be removably attached to anchor means associated with the seat, and wherein said anchor means is adapted to retain the said second end of the strap only when a greater than predetermined minimum weight is applied to the seat.

S: 2. The accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said first end of the strap is 15 anchored to the frame adjacent to the bicycle seat.

3. The accessory as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said first end of the strap is 15* anchored to the rear of the bicycle seat.

3 4. The accessory as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the means for anchoring the second end of the said strap comprise a locking pin associated with the said seat and which is so constructed that when more than a predetermined weight is applied to the bicycle seat, a portion of the locking pin will protrude through the seat and be accessible to anchor the said second end of the strap.

Claims

6. The accessory as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means to detect weight comprises spring means to spring urge the fulcrum bar when less than a predetermined weight is on the seat, to a position whereby the locking pin is moved from an operative position to a retracted position. 4. 4 S
7. The accessory as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said locking pin is attached ,4 S. adjacent one end of the fulcrum bar and wherein an actuating pin is adjustably attached *.44 15 adjacent the other end of said fulcrum bar, said actuating pin having one end which extends through the said seat and terminates at a cover member 4444 which covers a portion of the exposed upper surface of the said seat and having a second end which will contact said spring means and which is spring urged by the 4444 said spring means to pivot the said fulcrum bar to maintain it in a retracted position until 20 more than a predetermined weight is placed on the said seat.
8. The accessory for a bicycle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. mm 10
9. Apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated 28 August, 1996 Henry Arthur Hopgood Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON *see ABSTRACT Bicycle Accessory The invention relates to a means to assist a person when riding a bicycle and consists of a strap (23) one end of which is preferably anchored to the rear of the seat of the bicycle. The seat includes a weight sensitive means which comprises a cover member that overlies the seat and which is connected by an actuating pin (18) to one end of a fulcrum bar supported at a fulcrum point A pin (11) projects from the other end of the fulcrum bar in a manner that when the fulcrum bar has pivoted as a result of weight being placed on the cover member the pin (11) will protrude through the seat to provide an anchor point for the other end of the strap Spring means are employed so that when no weight is placed on the cover member the fulcrum bar will pivot under the action of the sping means (15) to withdraw the pin (11) through the seat and thereby free that end of the strap (23).