CA1265829A - Vibration-resistant, self-centering accessory attachment for a cycle - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE.
To provide for vibration-resistant, self-centering, and universal attachment of an accessory such as a luggage carrier (3) or a kickstand (4) to essentially parallel or slightly divergent support struts (8, 12) of a cycle, such as a bicycle, moped,and the like, an attachment element is formed with a central portion (18) and two lateral flange or wing portions (19, 21), the central portion having a bore (24) extending therethrough. The flange portions (19, 21) are similar wedge-shaped elements with upper and lower surfaces diverging from outer end portions (33, 34) towards the central portion (18) to define, in cross section in a plane parallel to the axis of the aperture and transverse to the struts, triangular elements having bases (22, 23) adjacent the central portion, which bases may be extended into ribs if the wing or flange portions and the central portion are formed with hollows. The flange portions are elastically deformable in a direction parallel to the axis of the bore, which deformability is assisted by forming the flange or wing portion as hollow triangle-prismatic structures.
Preferably, a groove is cut in the central portion, dimensioned to receive a hexagonal cut so that a bole can be threaded into the element without requiring a holding wrench. The element can be made by being cut from a long aluminum profile rail, or by pressure casting.

Description

82~

~N THE UNITRD STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
.. . .. . ~
"VIBRATION-RESISTANT, SELF-CENTERING
ACCESSORY ~TTAC~MENT FOR A CYCLE"

The p~esent invention relates to cycle , such as bicycles, mopeds, and ehe like, and more particularly to an attachment elemeat to attach an accessory, such as a luggage csrrier, a kickstand, or the like, to ~he frame of the cycle.
For ease of explanatio~9 reference will be made to "cycles" in general, to be generic boeh ro blcycles, mopeds, mo~orcycles, and ehe like, that is, in ge~eral~ to structures which have forked frame~ or frame struts.
Backgrou~d. Frequenely, acces~ory elemenes ~uch as kickqtand~, luggage carriers, baskçts, a~d the like, are attached to cycLeR. To ateach the acce~ory9 it is cu~eomary to clamp a counterelemen~ on the acces30ry,0r secured ~hereto against a clampi~g place, with parallel or essentially parallel ~truts o ~he cycle frame interposed. The counterelement a~d the clamping plate are then clamped toge~her by a scre~. Usually, Che surface or counterplace of the acce3sory is essentially flat. The clamping plate, in order to permit ce~tering of an attach~t screw or bolt passing between forked strut elemen~s o~ the cycle is frequeneLy formed with essentially parallel ~rooves or bumps, corresponding to the position or expected position o~ ~he s~ruts o~ the cycle. The clamping plates are sti~f and have little elas~icity. To properly tighten the clamping screw or bolt ~ithout deforming the usually tubular frame struts of the cycle and, on the other hand, preVeQt loosening under vibration or shock of the bolt, it is necessary to c~refully tighten the clamplng screw aRd use appropriate lock washers and the like. In spite of the use of lock washers, however, vibrations and shock ~hich are transmit~ad to the clamping attachme~c, and hence to the acce~sory, are substantial.
Overtighte~ing of the clampi~g bol~,or clamping bolts if a

2~ plurslity are provided, whlch might involve complece compresgio~
o~ lock washers, or the like, may resul~ i~ deformat~on of ~he clamping plate a~d/or of th~ ~truts of che cycle to whlch i~
attached, Deforming ~he strutY a~d/or rhe clamping plate causes lo~s of strength of the re~pectively deformed elemen~ and, usually, additio~ally scars the pai~ed surfaces of the struts of the cycle. The clamping plates usually have sharp edges and, upon cutti~g ~hrough the pai~t on the fra~e of the cycle or the strut~ thereof, the harp edges damage the paint or e~amel ccvering so that the strut may be subjec~ed to rus~iug a~ the point of attachment. The cla~pi~g plates may be made of sheet steel or, ln some instances, may be made of aluminum, for example as aluminum castings. The clamping plates made of steel are comparatively heavy and require s~lrface ~reatment to prevent corrosion.
Clamping plates made as aluminum castings, usually pressure castings, are also comparatively heavy since the ma~erlal utilization factor i3 poor. In order to permit inexpensive manufacture, the aluminum elements are solid. It is not possible ~o use recessed screws or Allen-head screws with such elements s~nce the recess of the screw head ~70uld decrease the strength of alumlnum blocks sufficlently to provide for effective holding.
The aluminum pressure plates or pressure blocks canno~ be used with all types o~ cycles, particularly racing and ~por~ing bicycles, since the spacing between the main pedal bearing and the outer circumference o~ the wheel or ~lre is insufficient ~o permit placement of an aluminum cast block or plate.
The Invention. It is an object to improve the attachment arrangements for accessories to cycles, particularly for attachments which can be applied by a user or purchaser of the 20 cycle. Preferably such arrangements utillze material ef~ectively and efficienkly, are self-centering, can be used wlth cycles of various ~ypes and dimensions, and avoid any difficulties with respect to damage ko the frame or self-loosening of an attachmenk screw or bolt.
Briefly, the invention provides, for use with a cycle having spaced es~entially parallel or sllghtly dlverging support B

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struts, a vibxation-resistant, self-centering a~aeh~ent element for attachment of an accessory, particularly of a luggage carrier or a kickstand to the cycle, wherein the accessory includes counter holding means forming a bearing surface for engayemant wi~h the suppor~ struts, said attachment element having a cross piece ~ormed with a central portion and two lateral ~lange portlons spanning the space between the spaced support struts, an aperture formed in the lo central portion of the cross pie~e having an aperture axis extending perpendicularly to the theoretical plane connecting said flange portions and a clamping screw passing through the aperture and into the counter holding means, and wherein, in accordance with the inven~ion, the element is formed with facing end surfaces located in essentially parallel planes, which essentially parallel planes are parallel with respect to the axis of the apertur~, the flange portions form similar wed~e elements with upper and lower surfaces diverying from outer end por~ions of the wed~e ~0 elements towards the central portion, which de~ine, in cross section in a plane parallel to the axis of ~he aperture and transverse to the struts, triangles which have bases adjacent ~he central portion;
the flan~e portions are elastically deformable in a dlrection parallel to the axis o~ the aperture;

~2~i5~

the similar wedge elements of the flange portions are formed with hollow spaces ~hich, in cross section, correspond essentially to the cross section of the respective flange portion, ancl extend from one faclng end surface of the respective flange portion to the other faclng end surface thereof; and wherein the cen~ral portion is formed with an essent.tally rectangular prismatic hollow 3pace extendlng rom one facing end surface to another facing end surface of the attachment element.
The essentlally triangular shape of the flanges havln~
diverging surfaces results in self-centering of the element between spaced struts of the cycle; the element, thus, will assume a preferred positlon centered between the struts. Even if a counter or attachment plate or element of the accessory is flat and plane, centering of the accessory with respect to the struts o~ the cycle is readily obtained. It iæ not necessary to fi~ ~he attachment element or the surface of the accessory which engages the struts specifically to specific cycles or struts thereof.
The feature of elastic deformation of the flanges in the direc~ion parallel to the axis of the aperture or crossbore to ~0 receive the clamplng board results in the substantial spaclng between the polnts at which torque is applied against the s~ruts of the cycle. This reduces any possibility of dama~e to the struts and, effectively, provides ~or cla~ping of the accessory to 4a ~S

3L~6~i~32~

the struts since the application torque can be reduced. The seating i3 tight and snug, so that loosening of the clamping bolt is readily avoided. The elasticity of th~ flange portions also per~its tight seating on divergent struts, since the flange portions can, elastically, adapt to non-parallel struts.

4b R

In accordance wi~h a preerred feature of the invention, the block is sy~macrical wieh respect to a plane transverse to the axis o~ the aperture. This will re~ult in the outer ~urfaces of the flange forming engagemene surface~ which are symmetricaL
wi~h reqpect to this median plane. This arrangement has the advantage that a specific placement of the attachment element ~ith respect to the cycle is not necessary and it can be placed aither side against the ~tru~ of ~he cycle. It ls, however, also possible to make the engagement surface9 somewhat lQ diffarent, for example to form one of ~he surfaces at the central portion of the at~achment element with a relief or countersunk bore to permit use of a recessed bolt, for example an Allen hPad bolc for the atta hment ~crew or bolt ~o provide for neat, flush placement of the attachment scre~ or bolt. Alternatively, or addieionally, one side of the element in the region of the central aper~ure can be cut ~ith a groove ~o dimensioned that 8 standard hexagonal nut is retained therein and restrainad from rotation, to provide for threading of a bolt therethrough without requiring additional ~old~ng tools for the nut when st~aching the acces~ory element. Rithout ehang~n8 the st~uc~ure, and merely by ~ur~ing the structure over, ~lectively, elther a nut csn be ~3erted in an open groove or, from the other side, a reset screw or bole can be inserted in a cou~tersunk hol&.
Without chsnge of the structure itself, thus, various attachment ~5 arrangements present themselves.
In accordance with a preferred feature of the invention, the outer surfaces of each one of tha flange or wing portions are flat and diverge from ~he outer tips towards the center at angles wh~ich are symmetrical ~ith respect to a median plane 3Q through ehe attaehment element, and hene will be inclined at the z~

same angle with respect to the axis of the bore or aperture eo receive the attachment bolt.
The attachmene~ elemants may be a solid block;
ln accordance with a feature of the invention, however, and higher elas~icity is obtained with less mat~rial9 if the respective flange or wlng portions are ~ormed wirh a hollow - space therethrough which, in cross section, is similar to ~he shape or projeceed outLine of the flange. Such hollow spaces preferably are generally prisma~ic and pass entirely through Che l~ respdceive flan~e.
The a~tachmen~ ele~ent is easily made by cutting selected lengths off a rolled or extruded rail of the appropria~e shape, preferably formed with the ~ore or opening therein.
Use of material and o~ the raw material for the element is lS particularly efficient in such an arrangement. The aecachme~
elemene preferably, in a projection on a plane exeending at rlght a~gles to ehe ` ax~s of the aperture or through-bore5, is a~sentially rectangular.
~ke central portion of t~e at~achment element pre~erably, i~ cross sectlon, is essentially recta~gular so that the overall structure will be a flattened hexagon. The central portion of ~he element may alqo be formed with a hollow spaca to reduce the weight and material requirements of the element.
A suitable material or the ele~ent i9 any light-metaL
~S alloy, 3uch as an aluminum alloy, which can be made either as an i~ection molding or a~ an extru~ion or rolled rail, from ~hich the elements themselves are then cut off. Other ma~erials are plastics which, l~kewise, may be made as in~ected elements or cut Çrom long rails.
-~2~ 2~3 Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a bicycle having, as accessories, a Luggage carrier and a kickstand, in ~hich the luggage carrier and the kick~tand are attached to strut~ of the S bicycle;
Flg. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged viaw of the region of the main crankshaft beari~g of ehe bicycle and illustrating attachment of a kickstand and using the presene inveneion; and Fig. 3 is an exploded view of ehe a~tachment element of the present invention.
D~tailed Description.
By ~ay of example of a cycle, Pig. 1 shows a 3ide view of a bicycle 1 having a ~rame 2 which has struts 8, 12 which are forkedl and extend ta the rear axle of the bicycle. The bicycle has accessory elements such as a luggage carrier 3 and a klck~tand 4 attached thereto~ The ~icycle frame has a ~addle tube 5, attached at its lower e~d Co the crank bearing housing 6.
A saddle 7 is supported, as is customary~ on the saddle tube 5.
The struts 8, ex~ending from the saddle tube 5 to~ards the rear axle 9 of the bicycle, are es~entially parallel, although they may diverge sl~gh~ly~ depe~di~g on bicycle construc~iou. Even if they diverge, ~he angle of diverge~ce i9 s~all, 50 that they can be c~nsidared to be "essentially parallel". A rear wheel 11, rotatable about the rear axis 9, ls secured in well known and standard manner to the termlnal ends of the rear forks 8. Two esRentially parallel ~eruts ex~e~d from the crankshaf~ bearing housing 6 toward~ the axle 9 of the rear wheel, to be attached there to ~he struts 8 so that the axle 9 can be suitably attached to the ~unction region of the struts 8 and 12 in accordance with any ~ell known and custo~ary arra~gement.

z~

The accessory alemanc 3, forming ~he luggage carrier, i5 attached to the rear fork i~ruts 8 by a~tachment element 13.
~he attachmen~ elemen~ 13 is located bet~een the upper side of a fender 14 and the saddle 7. The attachmenC el~me~c 13 is clamped in position by a clamping screw lS. Similarly, a kickstand 4 and f~rmi~g another accessory e1ement, is ~ecured eo ehe lower fork struts 12 between the crankshaft bearing 6 and ~he lower end of the fender or mudguard 14 by a fureher attachme~t elemene 16 and a clampi~g screw 17.
The aetachment elements 13 and 16 can be identical.
They have the structure shown i~ detail in Fig. 3.
The respective attachment elemen~ 13, 16 is a unitary ~cruc~ure ~hich has a generally block-shaped centraL portion 18 and two laterally unitary fla~ge or wing portions 19, 21.
The theoretical transition æo~e between ~he central portion 18 and the Cwo wi~gs or fla~ges 19, 21 are shown by broken lines 22, 23.
~he central portion 18 has a cross bore or aperture 24, of essentially cylindrical cross qectio~, to receive a~ attachment bolc or screw 17. In addition, the central portion 18 is formed with a hollow space 25, extending at right a~gle~ to the sxis of the cross bore 25. The hollow space 25 exte~ds fro~ one facisg side 26 towards the other faci~g slde 27. The two facing or end sides 26, 27 are parallel to each other and parallel to the axis of ~he bore or aperture 24.
The two flange or wlsg portio~s 19, 21 have, generally, the ~hape of an acute-angle three-corner pris~ which has la~eral surfaces 22, 23, unitary with the central portion 18, a~d second 18taral surfaces 28, 29 and 31, 32, forming the engag~me~t surfaces of the respective eleme~ts 13, 16 o~ the cycte frame struts 8, 12, respectively. The-respectlve end surfaces or facing surfaces 26, 27 of ~he element 16 form ~he base iurfaces of ~he prisms ~hich de~i~e the flange~ 19, 21. The cross section of the elemen~ 16, thu~, has the shape of a fl~ttened hexagon.
The respective flat surfaces 28, 29 and 31, 32 converge, starting from the central portion 18, a~d ter~inate in rounded ends 33, 34, to merge into each other. The surfaces 28, 31 converge in the direc~ion o the central or cro~s bore or aperture 24; likewise, suraces 29 and 32 of the flanges 19, 21 converge towards the center porcion 18 and the aperture 24.
1~ Flanges 19, 21 are formed with openings or hollow zones or spaces 35, 36. This insures better utilization of material, reduces che weight, and increases the elasticity of the flanges 19, 21 in a direction parallel to ehe axis of the bore or aperture 24. The cross secCion of the respective hollow spaces or aper~ures 35, 36 corresponds, esse~tially, to the shape of the flanges 19,21, as best seen in Flg. 3. The hollow spaces or-~pertures extend clear through the respective ele~e~t, that is, from one facing surface 26 over to the other facing surface 27.
In other words, the spaces 35, 36, just l~e the ~pace 25, are open at both e~ds. The result will be two parallel ribs 37, 38 positioned in the range of the center poreion 18, through which the cross bore 35 extends.
The element 16 can be ~electively attached either by a rece~q 'nead s~rew or bolt, ~uch as an ~llen bolt,or by means of a nut with a seandard ~crew 17. One side of the element 16 has an enlarged countersink 24a, 3urrounding the cro3s bore or openin~ 24, for example to receive a flu~h head of a flat head screw.
The upper ~ide - as ~hown in Fig. 3 - i3 formed with 8 groove 41 exte~ding from one acing side 26 ~o the facing side 27. The groove 41 is defined by parallel flanks 42, 43, loca~ed i~ the ra~lon of the riba 37, 38. The spaci~g of th~ two flanks 42, 43 corresponds to the width of a standard nut 3~, which can be slipped bet~een ehe flanks 42, 43 and is rellably held i~
position against roeation upon ~ightening of bolt 17, see Fig. 2. The bo~tom of the nut 39 engages the surface of the groove 41, by fla~ engagement, or by interposition of a washer.
The speci~ic ~hape of the attachment element 16 can readily be made by cutting a suitable length, corresponding ~o the width of the element, from a rail having the cross-seceional sh3pe oE the element; other than forming the cross bore 24 and, i~ desired, the countersink 24a, no further machining or working ls nacessary. A suitable material is a light-metal alloy, for example made of a metal whlch does not corrode or is highly corrosion-resistant. If such metals are used, no further lS Rurface treacment, painti~g,o~ the like,is needed.
Fig. 2 illu-~rates, in detail, the use of the attachment element 16 to attach a kickstand 4. The kickstand 4 has a support pl~te ~orming a~ engagement surface 46, which carries the kickscand besring 45, and such other structural eleme~ts as msy be u3ed, 3uch as springs, and ~he like9 not sho~n.
The surface 46 is e~ga8ed against the bottom of ~he fork struts 12a, 12b. The attachme~t element 16 is then placed, fitted with its opening or bore 24 about the bolt 17, e~tending, in well known and suitabLe manner, from ~he kickstand 4.
Due to the convergence of the surfaces 29, 32 or 28, 31, re~pecti~ely, the sur~ace 46 as weLl as the attachment element 16 ~111 be automaticaLly centered. Screw 17, extending through the 3urface 46, csn then be tightened and the at~achment element 16 is clamped with respect to the struts 12a~ 12b. Nut 39 is seated in groove 41, restrai~ed from rotatlon by ~he dimensioning 9~g of the nue aad ~he groove. I~ ls not necessary eo tighten the ~u~ with a separate wrench; revolueion of the nut is reliably prevented sinc~ the element 16 cannot rota~e due ~o iCs preferred posie~on between ~he struts 12a,12b and ths nut 39 is fitted in the groove 41. Upon tightening of the nut 17~ flangea 19, 21 can daflect slightly in a direction parallel to the axes of ~he bore 24, upwardly, so ~ha~ ~he elaseic deformation of the wing portions or flange portions will be accepced thereby, and, even unde~r eætremeC of vibrations and shock, ~he screw 17 will 10 not loosen from the nut 39. The screw 17 is he~d under appropriate tension at all times, preventi~g self-loosening thereo f .
The placement of the element 16, longitudinaLly of the stsuts 12a, 12b can be as selected; even if the struts 12a, 12~
resilient 15 have different widths from each other, or diverge slighely, ~he/
sel~-ce~tering effect is retained, and no change in the element 16 is necessary. The clamping arrangement thus is universally applicable to cycle~, of variou~ manufac~urer~, with differ2n~
~trut conflguratio~, spacings and angles o divergence.
The inve~tio~ ha5 bee~ de~cribed, so far, specifically with re~pect ~o a~tachme~t of a kickstand. Attachment o~ the luggage csrrier 3 is similar.
The c}amping elemant 16, ~ith the flange or ~ing portion~
19, 21,automatically in9ures ~elf-centering betwee~ the frame 25 alement~, and resista~ce to rotation of the eleme~ 16. The plane,tapering outer qurfaces 28, 29 and 31, 32 provide, in a pro~oction to a plane parallel to the axis of the cros~ bore 24 and parallel to an e~d or facing surface 26, 27 similar triangular ~ape The ba~e of the triangle iQ formed by the ceneer portio~9 r-~L2~ 9 the outer qurfac~s 28, 29, 31, 32 of ~he flange portions 19.
21, defining similar angles ~l~h respect to ~he cross bore 24.
This insures seLf-centering under all condieion~. A suitable angle of any one of the surface~ 28, 29, 31, 32 with re~pect co che S axis of the crog~ bore 24 is about 15, so that the angles of the eriangles defined, for example, by rhe su~faces 28, 29 will be about 3~. This ls a suitable value, al~hough ic i~ not crit i cal .
Various changes and modif icatlons may be made ~ithin the ~cope of the inven~lve co~cept.

Claims (18)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. For use with a cycle having spaced essentially parallel or slightly diverging support struts, a vibration-resistant, self-centering attachment element for attachment of an accessory, particularly of a luggage carrier or a kickstand to the cycle, wherein the accessory includes counter holding means forming a bearing surface for engagement with the support struts, said attachment element having a cross piece formed with a central portion and two lateral flange portions spanning the space between the spaced support struts, an aperture formed in the central portion of the cross piece having an aperture axis extending perpendicularly to the theoretical plane connecting said flange portions and a clamping screw passing through the aperture and into the counter holding means, and wherein, in accordance with the invention, the element is formed with facing end surfaces located in essentially parallel planes, which essentially parallel planes are parallel with respect to the axis of the aperture, the flange portions form similar wedge elements with upper and lower surfaces diverging from outer end portions of the wedge elements towards the central portion, which define, in cross section in a plane parallel to the axis of the aperture and transverse to the struts, triangles which have bases adjacent the central portion;

the flange portions are elastically deformable in a direction parallel to the axis of the aperture;
the similar wedge elements of the flange portions are formed with hollow spaces which, in cross section, correspond essentially to the cross section of the respective flange portion, and extend from one facing end surface of the respective flange portion to the other facing end surface thereof; and wherein the central portion is formed with an essentially rectangular prismatic hollow space extending from one facing end surface to another facing end surface of the attachment element.

2. The attachment element of claim 1, wherein the flange portions have outer surfaces which define engagement surfaces for engagement with said struts.

3. The attachment element of claim 1, wherein the flange portions are formed with outer surfaces which are essentially flat, and which are inclined by similar angles with respect to the axis of said aperture.

4. The attachment element of claim 3, wherein the angle of inclination of any one of the outer surfaces of the flange portions with respect to the axis of the aperture is in the order of about 15°.

5. The attachment element of claim 4, wherein the accessory comprises a kickstand.

6. The attachment element of claim 4, wherein the central portion is formed with a surface groove located between the flange portions, said groove having a width dimension matching the minimum cross section of a polygonal screw nut to hold said polygonal screw nut against rotation within the groove;
and wherein the accessory comprises a kickstand.

7. The attachment element of claim 4, wherein the central portion is formed with a surface groove located between the flange portions, said groove having a width dimension matching the minimum cross section of a polygonal screw nut to hold said polygonal screw nut against rotation within the groove;
and wherein the accessory comprises a luggage carrier.

8. The attachment element of claim 1, wherein the central portion, in cross section, is essentially rectangular and unitary with the flange portions forming said similar wedge elements, whereby, in projection parallel to one of the facing end surfaces, the clamping element will have the shape of a flattened hexagon.

9. The attachment element of claim 1, wherein the hollow space of the central portion has an axis extending parallel to the hollow spaces formed in the flange portions;
and wherein the central portion is formed with cross ribs separating the hollow spaces within the flange portions from the hollow space within the central portion.

10. The attachment element of claim 1, wherein the central portion is formed with a surface groove located between the flange portions, said groove having a width dimension matching the minimum cross section of a polygonal screw nut to hold said polygonal screw nut against rotation within the groove.

11. The attachment element of claim 10, wherein the groove has essentially parallel, flat walls, and extends from one facing end surface of the element to another facing end surface, said groove having a flat surface which is perpendicular to the axis of said aperture.

12. The attachment element of claim 10, wherein the accessory comprises a luggage carrier.

13. The attachment element of claim 10, wherein the accessory comprises a kickstand.

14. The attachment element of claim 1, wherein the element comprises a cut-off portion of a shaped rail.

15. The attachment element of claim 1, wherein the element comprises an aluminum alloy.

16. The attachment element of claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises a luggage carrier.

17. The attachment element of claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises a kickstand.

18. A cycle in combination with an accessory comprising a kickstand or a luggage carrier that is connected to the cycle by means of an attachment as claimed in claim 1.