GB2440927A

GB2440927A - Lever assisted bicycle balancer

Info

Publication number: GB2440927A
Application number: GB0616317A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kim Hoskin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-17
Filing date: 2006-08-17
Publication date: 2008-02-20
Also published as: GB0616317D0

Abstract

A lever assisted bicycle balancer includes a lever 1 fixed via a flexible cable 3 to a lever base 2 so that the lever 1 may be pulled by a cyclist's thumb and a retractable stand leg 5 is then moved to a downwards position by the flexible cable. The lever base 2 is attached to a handlebar base 7 which is attached to bicycle handlebar. A handlebar base 7 is located as close as possible to a bicycle brake lever so that a cyclist's thumb can pull a lever 1. The retractable stand leg 5 is attached to a retractable stand base unit 4 by means of a screw and nut allowing a swinging movement of the retractable stand leg 5 from a horizontal to vertical or downwards position. The base unit 4 is attached to the left hand chain stay of a bicycle.

Description

* * 1 2440927

LEVER ASSISTED BICYCLE BALANCER

The invention relates to a lever assisted bicycle balancer stand which indudes retractable stand base and leg, flexible cable, lever base, lever, handlebar base which maybe attached onto anybicycleto aid in balancing on a bicyclewhen seated and stationary.

My cyclist; when coming to a complete stop has to take at least one foot off the pedal of a bi deto remain in an upright positron and when readyto startcyding again put their feet back on the pedals and start cycling again. This often repeated procedure can take time and cause some distress when cycling on a busy road or pulling away from a stop street it is impossible to balance, in an upright position, on a stationary bicycle while seated and both feet on the pedals for a long time.

M object of this invention is to provide a means of balancing on a bicycle, while seated or standing and stationary, both feet on the pedals so that when wanting to start cycling from a standstill it is easy and quicker than resting your feet on the ground. The invention also provides a means of balancing a bicycle in an upright position while not being used by a cyclist.

Accordingly, this invention provides a retractable bicycle stand base and leg attached to a bicycle's left hand chain stay and the retractable bicycle stand leg's movement can be controlled from a lever which can be attached to a lever base and the lever base can be attached to a handlebar base. The Lever and ittrdctable bicycle stand leg are connected to each other via a flexible cable, so that the lever movement can change the position of the retractable bicycle stand leg to an upright position allowing a cyclist using a bicycle in seated position with both feet on the pedals and in a stationary position to remain in an upright position.

Preferably the retractable bicycle stand base and leg, lever base and lever are made of metal or plastics material, but it may instead be made from carbon fibre to make it lighter and stronger or a combination of these materials can be used.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a whole lever assisted bicycle balancer FIGURE 2 shows a side view of the lever base and lever FIGURE 3 shows a front view of the lever base, lever and handlebar base FIGURE 4 shows a side view of the retractable stand base and leg FIGURE 5 shows a rear view of the retractable stand base and leg FIGURE 6 shows a perspective view of a handlebar base As shown in Agure I the lever assisted bicycle balancer includes a lever I which is attathedviaaflexiblecable3toaleverbase2.TheleVelbaSe2CaflbeattaChedtoa bicycle handlebar via a handlebar base 7 as dose as possible to a brake or gear lever on the bicycle handlebar so that a cyclist's thumb can pull lever I when the cyclist using the bicycle requires to balance in an upright position with both feet on the bicycle pedals in a seated or standing position and the bicycle is stationary.

Lever I is attached to a retractable stand leg 5 via a flexible cable 3. When a cyclist pulls the lever I with their thumb the retractable stand leg 5 will then be moved to a downwards position allowing the cyclist to balance a bicycle while in a stationary position with both feet on the bicycle pedals and in an upright or standing position on the bicycle. When a cyclist starts cycling again he or she can push the lever I with their thumb so that the lever I is moved to the original or normal position and this will also move the retractable stand leg 5 back to irs original horizontal position, allowing the cyclist using the bicycle to start cycling again.

The retractable stand leg is attached to a retractable stand base 4 with a screw and nut allowing for movement from a horizontal or normal to a downwards or vertical position of the retractable stand leg 5. A rubber band 6 is wrapped around the retractable stand leg 5 and the retractable stand base 4 to aid the movement of the retractable stand leg 5 to return to a horizontal or normal position when lever I is moved back to a original or normal position by a cyclist that starts using the bicycle again after using the lever assisted bicycle balancer to balance on the bicycle with both feet on the bicycle pedals in a seated or standing position while stationary. The retractable stand base 4 may be attached to the left hand chain stay of the bicycle and can be securely attached by using cable ties at both ends of the retractable stand base 4. The cable ties can go around the left hand chain stay and the retractable stand base 4 and be tightened as much as possible. The retractable stand base 4 is positioned in a downwards position on the bottom side and in the middle of the bicycle left hand chain stay.

The lever I can be pulled, moving the flexible cable 3 into a lower position betwccn the side walls of the lever base 2 so that the lever i is prevented to move back to irs original or normal position, moving the retractable stand leg 5 to a downwards or vertical position allowing the bicycle to remain in an upright or standing position while not being used by a cyclist. When the bicyclestarts being used again by the cyclist, the lever I can be pushed by the cyclist's thumb and the lever I is moved back to the original or normal position while the bicycle was not being used by the cyclist, this in turn also moves the retractable stand leg 5 to a horizontal or original position as lever I and the retractable stand leg 5 are connected via a attached flexible cable 3, allowing the cyclist to use the bicycle normally.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A lever assisted bicycle balancer includes a lever attached to a lever base via a flexible cable so that the lever can be pulled to move a retractable stand leg to a downwards position.

2. A retractable stand leg as claimed in Claim I is attached to a retractable stand base unit via a screw and nut.

3. A retractable stand base as claimed in Claim 2 can be attached to a left hand chain stay of a bicycle.

4. A lever base as claimed in Claim I can be attached to a handlebar of a bicycle as close as possible to a brake or gear lever alkwing a person's thumb to pull a lever attached to a lever base.

5. A retractable stand leg as claimed in Claim I is connected to a flexible cable as claimed in Claim 1.

6. A lever base as daimed in Claim I is attached to a handlebar base which is attached to a handlebar of a bicycle.

7. A rubber band is wrapped around a retractable stand leg as claimed in Claim 2 and a retractable stand base as claimed in Claim 3 to aid the retractable stand leg staying in a horizontal position.

8. A lever assisted bicycle balancer in any proceeding claim which is made from metal, plastics material or carbon fibre or from a combination of these materials.

9. A lever assisted bicycle balancer substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.