GB2361171A

GB2361171A - Means for carrying a cycle

Info

Publication number: GB2361171A
Application number: GB0011623A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Andrew Shipley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-12
Filing date: 2000-05-16
Publication date: 2001-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-16
Also published as: GB0011623D0; GB0008861D0; GB2361171B

Abstract

Means for carrying a cycle comprises an element 1 adapted to engage the cycle in the region of the bottom bracket and a belt or strap received in a passage 8 of the element for passing round a person's body. The element may include a strap 2 which supports it in use but allows it to collapse. The element may be made of wire.

Description

2361171 i 1 CYCLE HOLSTER The current method of carrying a bicycle is to

hold the cross bar over one's shoulder, but this is both uncomfortable and tiring, also some modem Mountain bikes no longer have a cross bar so carrying these now presents a new dilemma.

According to the present invention a Cycle Holster is used to carry a bicycle by supporting the bottom bracket region of the bicycle in a Holster fastened to the cyclist's waist. This method distributes the weight of the bicycle over the cyclists waist and hips, where it is less noticeable, making it more comfortable and less tiring to carry. The Holster can be used on any strong belt or strap but ideally have its own strap, which can include a shoulder strap.

The use of the Cycle Holster on a single shoulder strap alone would be more beneficial than the current method, as the bicycle load would be distributed over a larger area of the cyclist's body. The shoulder strap could be used in conjunction with a belt or strap that the cyclist may be wearing at the same time, for further comfort.

The Holster can incorporate a support strap enabling the Holster to be made flexible enough so that it would collapse should the rider accidentally fall on it. A support strap adds support and strength to the Holster when carrying the bicycle. This support strap can also be threaded into the belt/strap access passage/slot to stop it opening up when the Holster is under load from the bicycle.

The catches are curved inwards to hold the bicycle in the Holster, and to allow the Holster to collapse should the rider accidentally fall on it.

The illustrations show the mudguard rail behind the bottom bracket of the bicycle being supported by the Holster, but the Holster could equally be made to support the bicycle by the bottom bracket, chain-stay (tube adjacent to the bottom bracket) or the crank spindle (between the bottom bracket and the pedal arm).

If the Holster is made to support the bicycle by the crank spindle (between the bottom bracket and the pedal arm) it will not require the inwardly curved catches, as they would make it difficult to locate the bicycle in the Holster. In some instances the gap between the pedal arm and bottom bracket may be to small to locate on the spindle itself, but the location slot in the Holster has angular sides so it still sits in the same region. In this instance to prevent the Holster jamming in the gap a small sleeve may be added to the Holster's location region.

The Holster may be moulded, fabricated or made from coated wire. If it is made from wire it will not require the integral support strap but it could incorporate a hip protector to avoid injury should the cyclist accidental fall on it.

J 1 1 A description of this invention by way of the accompanying drawings now follows in which: -

Figure 1 Shown in perspective, the Holster with the support strap.

Figure 2 Shown in perspective, the bicycle frame located in the Holster.

Figure 3 Shown in perspective, the wire Holster.

Figure 4 Shown in perspective, the wire Holster and the Hip Protector.

Figure 5 Shown in perspective, the Holster with no catch mechanism.

Figure 6 Shown in perspective, the bicycle located on the crank spindle.

Referring to the drawings a belt or strap passes through the belt/strap access passage (8) in the Holster (1) and fastens around the cyclist's waist. The mudguard rail (5) behind the bottom bracket (4) of the bicycle fl-ame (7) is positioned in the slot (9) of the Holster (1). The Holster (1) gets support from the strap (2) when carrying the bicycle but this does not prevent the Holster ftom collapsing when it is not in use. The support strap (2) is threaded into the belt/strap access passage (8) and under the Holster to stop the access passage (8) opening up when the Holster is under load from the bicycle.

The catch mechanism (3) holds the bicycle in situ when carrying the bicycle. These catches (3) are curved inwards to allow the Holster (1) to collapse should the cyclist accidentally fall on it.

The Holster (1) illustrated in figures 1 and 2 is moulded or fabricated but an alternative method, illustrated in figures 3 and 4, is to make the Holster (10) from coated wire that is optionally combined with a Hip Protector (11), to prevent injury to the cyclist should the cyclist accidentally fall on it.

Figures 5 and 6 shows the Holster (12) that locates on the crank spindle (13), between the pedal arm (14) and the bottom bracket (15). This style Holster (12) has not got the inwardly curved catch mechanism to hold the bicycle in place. Holster (12) fastens to the cyclist's waist by passing a belt or strap through the access slot (16) in the same way as for the preceding Holster's.

Figures 5 and 6 shows the Holster (12) made from coated wire but it could be moulded or fabricated, similar to the Holster (1) in figures 1 and 2. This Holster (12) may also be combined with a Hip Protector like the one in figures 3 and 4.

Holster (12) has angular sides in the location slot (17) to help locate near the spindle should the gap between the pedal arm (14) and bottom bracket (15) be too narrow to locate on the spindle (13) itself 3

Claims

1) A Cycle Holster comprising of a carrying implement which attaches to a belt or strap and incorporates a location feature for the bottom bracket region of the bicycle frame or between the bottom bracket and the pedal arm of the bicycle, in order that it can hold and sustain the weight of the bicycle for the purpose of carrying it.

2) A Cycle Holster as Claimed in Claim 1 may be collapsible.

3) A Cycle Holster as Claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 utilising an integral strap that is designed to give support to a Cycle Holster when carrying a bicycle, but to remain flexible so the Cycle Holster can collapse when not in use.

4) A Cycle Holster as Claimed in Claim 1 made from wire may incorporate a detachable hip protector to prevent injury to the cyclist should the cyclist accidentally fall on it..

PC Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1) A Holster For Carrying a Cycle comprising of a bracket arrangement with a locatIon to support a Cycle from the Bottom Bracket/Pedal A= region.

2) A Holster For Carrying a Cycle as Claimed in Claim 1, which is a carrying implement that will attach to any belt or strap via an access passage.

3) A Holster For Carrying a Cycle as Clairned in Claim 1 of moulded or fabricated construction using an integral strap within a canying implement that gives support to a Holster when carrying a bicycle.

4) A Holster For Carrying a Cycle as Claimed in Claim 3, which is collapsible 5) A Holster For Carrying a Cycle as Claimed in Claim 1 which is made from wire 6) A Holster For Carrying a Cycle as Claimed in Claim 5 which incorporates a detachable hip protector.

7) A Holster For Carrying a Cycle as Claimed in Claim 5 which is fitted with a sleeve over the location region.