GB2159784A

GB2159784A - Adjustable vessel holder

Info

Publication number: GB2159784A
Application number: GB08508882A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Ronald Bearne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-04-14
Filing date: 1985-04-04
Publication date: 1985-12-11
Also published as: GB8409752D0; GB2159784B; GB8508882D0

Abstract

An adjustable holder, particularly for holding a bottle or flask (24) on a bicycle, comprises a pair of mounting cradles (14), a pair of coil springs (26), and connectors (32) between each end of each spring and the cradle. Each connector (32) is formed as a key with detents locatable between the turns of the spring helix so that rotation of the connectors will lengthen or shorten the springs. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable vessel holder This invention relates to an adjustable vessel holder, and more particularly to an adjustable holder for mounting a vessel, such as a bottle or a flask, on a cycle frame.

In order to enable a cyclist to carry liquid refreshment it is the conventional practice to provide a liquid-containing vessel within a cage and to mount this either on the handlebars or, more usually, on the downtube or seat tube of the cycle frame. However, the drinking vessels and their mounting arrangements which are presently known are derived from the needs of racing cyclists. For the commuter, and more especially for the touring cyclist, these conventional arrangements have a number of disadvantages. The cage arrangement into which the vessel is fitted is designed for only one specific shape of drinking vessel and will not accept a larger vessel or one which has a different shape or configuration. Secondly, the drinking vessels normally have small capacity.Thirdly, if one wishes to carry hot or very cold liquids, then one has to use special-purpose, thermally-insulated vessels which have an even smaller capacity.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages by providing means whereby a drinking vessel, such as a vacuum flask for example, of the user's choice can be fitted to the cycle frame.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable vessel holder which can readily and conveniently be fitted to a support member, such as for example a desired part of a cycle frame, and which enables the user readily to attach the vessel to the holder and to remove it therefrom.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an adjustable vessel holder comprising a pair of mounting means arranged to be secured to a support and defining a cradle for a vessel; a pair of spring members associated one with each mounting means and arranged in use to embrace the vessel; and connector means between each spring member and the respective mounting means; each connector means comprising a detachable latch, and each connector means providing for adjustment between the said connector means and the associated spring member whereby the tension force exerted by the spring member when the latch is fastened can be varied.

Preferably, the spring members are coil springs, and each connector means is provided with detent means engaging in the helix of the respective coil spring, whereby relative rotation of the connector means and the spring results in axial movement of the connector means relative to the spring, thereby to lengthen or shorten the effective length of the spring. In this way the tension force exerted by the springs can quickly and simply be adjusted in order to allow for the use of vessels of different shapes and sizes.

Preferably, connector means are provided at each end of each spring member and are positionally adjustable relative to the respective spring member.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, each mounting means comprises a plate-like member, and each of the connector means comprises a flat, plate-like member, with the sides of the mounting plates and of the connector plates being tapered at the same angles whereby all said plates can be produced side-by-side, without waste, from a single sheet of material.

One presently preferred embodiment of adjustable vessel holder in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the holder mounted on a cycle frame and supporting a flask; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view taken generally along the line ll-ll in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is an illustration of one of the two cradle mounts; and, Figure 4 shows the connector/spring mechanism used to hold the vessel on to the mounts.

The adjustable vessel holder is shown in the drawings mounted on a frame tube 10 of a bicycle. However, it should be understood that the adjustable holder of the present invention can be used not only on bicycles but more generally in any situation where one wishes to mount vessels on a support of whatever nature. The particular application of the holder to a bicycle is given by way of example only.

The holder comprises a pair of mounts indicated generally at 1 2. Each of these comprises a plate 1 4 of metal, plastics material or other suitable material shaped to define an arcuate cradle, as shown most clearly in Fig.

2. These mounts 12 can conveniently be formed from steel plate, having a degree of resilience. The horizontal broken line shown in Fig. 2 shows the steel plate 1 4 before it has been bent into its arcuate shape. Each mounting plate 14 is provided at each end with a hook 1 6. These hooks can be formed by forming two tongues from the material of the plate 1 4. Each of the mounting cradles 1 2 can be secured in place on the supporting shaft 10 by means of part-circular fastening lugs 18, the free ends of which are connected together by a securing nut and bolt coupling 20.Although the lugs 1 8 may be produced separately from the mounting plates 14 and secured thereto by welding, brazing, rivetting or some other secondary operation, they are preferably formed as an integral part of the mounting plate, for convenience and economy of manufacture. For example, the lugs 1 8 can be formed by performing a stamping operation on the mounting plate 14, the cut portion shown in Fig. 3 at 22 being folded down to form a resilient lug 18 engageable with the support shaft 10.

In Fig. 1, the vessel mounted in the holder is indicated at 24. Associated with each mount 12, and extending partially around the vessel 24, is a tension coil spring 26. The two ends of each tension spring 26 are connected to the opposite ends of the mounting cradle by respective connectors. One connector 28 at one end of each spring comprises a flat plate-like key which is provided with a central hole 30 so that this connector can be fitted over one of the hooks 16 of the mount. This hook is then closed, for example by the use of a pair of pliers, so that this connector is then semi-permanently connected to the mount.

The other connector 32 is formed similarly, but is provided with a gripping flange 34. It too has a hole 36 which enables it to be latched over the other hook 16 on the mounting plate.

Each of the connectors 28 and 32 is provided with a projecting tongue 38, these tongues being dimensioned so as to be insertable into the bore of the spring 26. Each tongue 38 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed lugs 40 of generally triangular shape. These lugs 40 are positioned and dimensioned so that they will locate between the turns of the spring helix. Not only are the connectors 28 and 32 thereby held in the spring 26, but by rotating the connectors relative to the spring they will move relative to the spring inwardly or outwardly. By this means the effective length of the spring can be varied and the holder adjusted to cater for different sizes and shapes of vessel 24. A wide range of tension adjustment can thus be provided, with ease of adjustment.

As is shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the mounting plates 14 and the connectors 28 and 32 are each provided with tapering sides. The taper on the respective elements is made the same, so that these components of the holder can be produced by a stamping operation from a single sheet of material. In other words, a pair of the connectors 28 and 32 are produced by the stamping operation between every pair of mounting plates 14.

This minimises wastage of material.

In order to hold the vessel 24 more firmly in place on the supporting shaft 10 it may be necessary to provide one or more stays 42 located between one or each of the mounts 1 2 and the supporting shaft 1 0. These serve to restrict longitudinal movement of the vessel 24 along the support shaft 10. Two such stays 42 would normally only be necessary if the vessel is to be mounted horizontally, for example on the crossbar of a bicycle.

Although the connectors 28 and 32 are shown with just one hole 30,36 therethrough, one could alternatively provide one or both connectors with a number of holes spaced axially along the connector. This would increase the range of spring adjustment and enable vessels of a greater range of sizes to be accommodated.

Additionally, although only two mounting cradles are shown in the illustrated embodiment, one could provide one or more further such cradles, axially spaced on the same support.

Claims

1. An adjustable vessel holder comprising a pair of mounting means arranged to be secured to a support and defining a cradle for a vessel; a pair of spring members associated one with each mounting means and arranged in use to embrace the vessel; and connector means between each spring member and the respective mounting means; each connector means comprising a detachable latch, and each connector means providing for adjustment between the said connector means and the associated spring member whereby the tension force exerted by the spring member when the latch is fastened can be varied.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, in which the spring members are coil springs, and each connector means is provided with detent means engaging in the helix of the respective coil spring, whereby relative rotation of the connector means and the spring results in axial movement of the connector means relative to the spring, thereby to lengthen or shorten the effective length of the spring.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2 which has connector means at each end of each spring member positionally adjustable relative to the respective spring member.

4. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each connector means comprises a flat, plate like key provided with a hole for latching engagement with a hook of the mounting means and provided with a projecting tongue or tongues insertable into and engageable with the spring members.

5. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each mounting means comprises a plate-like member, with the sides of the mounting plates and of the connector plates being tapered at the same angles whereby all said plates can be produced, sideby-side, from a sheet of material.

6. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim, adapted to be mounted on a bicycle.

7. An adjustable vessel holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.