GB2180513A

GB2180513A - Bicycle luggage rack

Info

Publication number: GB2180513A
Application number: GB08623982A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Felix Schmid
Original assignee: MANCHESTER COLD ROLLERS Ltd
Current assignee: MANCHESTER COLD ROLLERS Ltd
Priority date: 1985-08-31
Filing date: 1986-08-28
Publication date: 1987-04-01
Also published as: GB8623982D0; GB8521715D0

Abstract

A luggage rack 6 for fitting over and around the rear wheel of a bicycle has a top luggage support 12 and side frames 7 for supporting pannier bags. An additional frame member 13, used in conjunction with an integral sub-frame 14, 15 provides a convenient storage facility for a high security bicycle lock 16. Other additional frame members may be provided for storage of small containers within the framework of the luggage rack. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bicycle rack There are many known carriers for supporting bags, panniers and the like, above and to each side of a bicycle wheel. High security shackle locks specially designed for securing bicycles against theft are also well known.

Such locks are relatively heavy and large and present an inconvenient item for a cyclist to carry, since previously racks have not been known which are specially adapted for carrying such a lock.

When viewed from behind a conventional rack will be seen to comprise a horizontal carrying surface above the rear wheel/mudguard and two vertical side frames extending from the carrying surface to mountings on the bicycle frame adjacent to the rear wheel axle mountings.

It will further be seen that, because the width of the wheel at the hub is considerably greater than the width of the wheel rim/mudguard, there is a space of triangular cross section between the wheel and the vertical plane of each side frame. Also, because the height of the luggage platform is higher than the top surface of the mudguard, there is a space of rectangular cross section between the mudguard and the horizontal plane of the luggage platform. These spaces have not been previously used for adding to the carrying capacity of a bicycle rack.

Note that although the present invention is described in detail herein in its juxtaposition to the rear wheel of a bicycle, the invention is readily applicable to racks for mounting in juxtaposition to the front wheel of a bicycle.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a bicycle rack suitable for mounting around the wheel of a bicycle, said rack comprising a platform portion which, in use, would be disposed above the bicycle wheel in a substantially horizontal plane, and two mounting portions, each being integral with the platform portion and which, in use, would extend in a substantially vertical plane one to each side of the bicycle wheel, characterised in that there is provided integrally of said rack support means for an additional load. The additional ioad may be a high security shackle block.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, said support means is mounted inwardly of said mounting portions and comprises, when viewed in its mounted configuration, two substantially horizontal support members so positioned as to provide support for a high security shackle lock, and two substantially vertical restraining members so spaced as to resiliently engage the cross bar of the high security shackle lock.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, said support means is alternatively mounted beneath the platform portion such as to provide support for additional load between the underside of the platform and the top of the wheel/mudguard. The additional load may be either a high security shackle lock or a rectangular container. The support means may comprise two members integral with the mounting portions and extending transversly between said mounting portions so as to define, in conjunction with the underside of the platform, a storage space.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided, in one of the two triangular cross section spaces already referred to, a container of substantially triangular cross section. Clearly, a rack in accordance with the present invention may include support provision for a high security lock, a rectangular container and a container of triangular cross section.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the rack fitted to a bicycle.

Fig. 2 is a 3-dimensional drawing of the rack showing a lock in a vertical stored position.

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the rack mounted on a bicycle.

Fig. 4 is a 3-dimensional drawing of a container.

Fig. 5 is a 3-dimensional drawing of a further container.

Fig. 6 is a 3-dimensional drawing of an alternative rack showing a lock in a stored position.

Referring to figure 1, the rack 6 surrounds the rear wheel 4 and is supported on the bicycle frame 1,2 by means of lugs secured by screws at points adjacent to the seat pillar 1 and rear wheel hub 3.

Referring now to figure 2, the rack 6 may be constructed of steel or aluminium alloy rod welded at its joints and suitably plated, painted or coated. The rack comprises two side frames 7 having attachment lugs 5, and one side frame also incorporating a rear light mounting lug 8. The platform 12 comprises the top portions of side frames 7, two transverse members welded to the side frames 7 and two longditudinal members 9, 10 welded to the transverse members. The two longditudinal members 9, 10 extend to lugs 11 at their foremost ends fitted for attachment to the bicycle adjacent to the saddle.

The support means for the high security shackle lock comprises members 14, 15 welded to side frame 7, and so shaped as to define a rectilinear pocket in which the cross bar of the lock fits with slight interference so as to safely retain the lock and yet be moved in and out of the pocket relatively easily. A small plate 1 7 acting in conjunction with the transverse portion. 15 serve as stops to define the depth in the pocket of the lock cross bar.

The shackle support means comprises an additional member 13, which may be an extension, suitably bent, of longditudinal member 10. A horizontal transverse portion 19 supports the weight of the shackle, and the vertical portion of member 13, in conjunction with the adjacent portion of side frame 7, provide lateral restraint of the shackle.

Referring now to figure 3, note that although at the lowermost point the gap between the member 13 and side frame corresponds to the shackle diameter (which is smaller than the width of the lock cross bar), at the uppermost point the gap has widened to a distance greater than the width of the lock cross bar. Thus it is possible to manoevre the lock from its housing in a backward and rotary fashion without having to remove either luggage on the platform or the pannier.

Referring now to figure 4, a container 21 for mounting in the triangular space 40 (fig. 3) may be constructed of moulded plastic or thin sheet steel or aluminium alloy, folded and welded and suitably plated, painted or coated.

The container comprises a lid 22, having a carrying handle 23 which is stored flat when the container is mounted in the rack. A locating groove 24 provides means for engagement with a clip on the rack, described hereinafter with reference to figure 6. The location groove 24 in conjunction with the clip prevents inadvertant rearwards movement when the container is mounted in the rack.

Referring now to figure 5, there is shown a container 25 for mounting in the horizontal space 41 (fig. 1) which may be constructed of moulded plastic or thin sheet steel or aluminium alioy, folded and welded and suitably plated, painted or coated. The container comprises a lid 26 which can be removed when the container is withdrawn from the rack space. Locating grooves 27 which suitably engage horizontal rack members 20, described hereinafter with reference to figure 6, keep the container secure when mounted in the rack.

Referring now to figure 6, the rack 6 may be constructed similarly to the description given for figure 2. Unlike that described in figure 2, the two longditudinal members 9,10 butt against a transverse member 30, at their rearmost ends.

The support means for either the high security shackle lock or the horizontal container comprises members 20 welded to the side frames 7, beneath the platform 12, and so shaped as to define a rectangular pocket in which either article fits with slight interference so as to safely retain either and yet be moved in and out of the pocket relatively easily. The cross bar of the lock 16 serves as a stop to define the depth to which it may be slid in. In the case of the container illustrated in figure 5, the locating grooves 27 serve to define the position in which the container sits in the pocket by mating with transverse members 20. The support means comprises members 20 which are suitably bent to provide substantially horizontal beams which support the weight of either shackle or container with smaller, upturned, vertical legs which provide lateral restraint of the container or block.

The support means for the trianguiar section container 21, shown in figure 4, comprises members 27, 28 and 29 welded to side frame 7 and so shaped as to define a rectilinear pocket in which the container fits with slight interference so as to safely retain the container and yet be moved in and out of the pocket relatively easily. The member 29, is bent to provide substantially horizontal beams which support the weight of the container and upturned ends and a longditudinal portion which laterally restrain the base of the container. The member 28 is bent similarly to that of 29 and it serves as a stop to define the depth in the pocket of the container. The member 27, is a formed clip which provides lateral restraint of the top of the container and together with the locating groove 24, shown in figure 4, prevents rearward movement of the container when not being deiiberately removed. Lateral restraint in an outwards direction is provided by the side frame 7. Although the pocket for the vertical container has been shown on one side of the rack it can, of course, be mounted on either or both of side frames 7.

Claims

1. A bicycle rack suitable for mounting around the wheel of a bicycle, said rack comprising a platform portion which, in use, wouid be disposed above the bicycle wheel in a substantially horizontal plane, and two mounting portions, each being integral with the platform portion and which, in use, would extend in a substantially vertical plane one to each side of the bicycle wheel, characterised in that there is provided, integrally of said rack, support means for additional load.

2. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the additional load is a high security shackle lock.

3. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said support means is mounted inwardly of said mounting portions.

4. A bicycle rack as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that said support means comprises, when viewed in its mounted configuration, two substantially horizontal support members so positioned as to provide support for a high security shackle block, and two substantially vertical restraining members so spaced as to resiliently engage the cross bar of the high security shackle block.

5. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said support means is adapted to support a container of substantially triangular cross sektion.

6. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 1, characteriased in that support means are provided to support both a high security shackle lock and a container of substantially triangular cross section.

7. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the support means comprises a rectilinear pocket integral with the rack and so sized laterally as to lightly and resiliently constrain the cross bar portion of a high security shackle lock.

8. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said support means is mounted beneath the platform such as to provide support for additional load between the underside of the platform and the top of the bicycle wheel/mudguard.

9. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the additional load is a high security shackle lock.

10. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the additional load is a rectangular container.

11. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said support means comprises two members integral with the mounting portions and extending transversley between said mounting portions so as to define, in conjunction with the underside of the platform, a storage space.

12. A bicycle rack as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that support means are also provided to support a rectangular container beneath the platform.

13. A bicycle rack in accordance with claim 1 and substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.