GB2500268A

GB2500268A - Handlebar support pads for bicycle maintenance

Info

Publication number: GB2500268A
Application number: GB201204757A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Benjamin Thomas Smith; John William Abrahams
Original assignee: PLUS 8 IND Ltd
Current assignee: PLUS 8 IND Ltd
Priority date: 2012-03-16
Filing date: 2012-03-16
Publication date: 2013-09-18
Also published as: GB201204757D0

Abstract

A pad component 6 s attached to the handlebars 30 of a bicycle 22 such that the bicycle may be inverted and raised clear of the floor or other horizontal surface. The pad 6 may be foam, and may attach by means of a c-shaped hook, elastic strap, hook-and-loop strap or similar. The pad 6 may be supplied with a mat 4 for protecting the saddle 26 of the bicycle 22. The pad(s) 6 and mat 4 may conjoin for storage.

Description

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A BICYCLE MAINTENANCE ACCESSORY

The invention relates to an accessory intended to simplify the task of bicycle maintenance. In particular, the invention relates to a bicycle maintenance accessory that protects and stabilises a 5 bicycle when inverted for maintenance.

Many bicycle repair an maintenance tasks, such as fixing a puncture or maintaining the drivetrain (setting derailleurs etc.) require access to the wheels and/or underside of the bicycle. Many tasks additionally require that at least one wheel of the bicycle is free to turn during the 10 maintenance.

As a result, the usual way in which many cyclists perform maintenance and repairs tasks is turn the bicycle upside-down and rest it on the saddle and handle bars. This clearly provides ready access to the underside of the bicycle, and allows for the wheels to be turned freely, but it also 15 brings its own associated problems. Certain handlebar shapes, or controls such as brake and gear levers, can make the bike unstable when inverted. There is also the chance that the saddle, handlebars or controls could be scratched, torn or otherwise damaged by the surface on which they are rested, particularly if maintenance or repair work is done in the garage or outside. Conversely, when this work is performed inside, the same components of the bicycle may cause 20 damage to the floor surface.

The problems mentioned above mean that some cyclists will invest in a workshop stand. These vary fairly widely in construction, but all essentially provide a stable support for the bicycle frame while holding one or both wheels clear of the ground or floor. The bicycle is then 25 clamped or simply held in this position while work is carried out. However, for all but very keen cyclists the high cost of these workshop stands can be difficult to justify. The stands are also inconvenient to store and transport, either taking up a large amount of space or needing to be folded for storage and unfolded for use.

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There exists, therefore, a large group of casual or recreational cyclists that would welcome a device allowing them to overcome the initially stated problems without having to incur the cost or inconvenience of a full workshop stand.

5 According to the present invention there is provided a bicycle maintenance accessory according to the appended claim 1. Additional beneficial features are provided in the associated dependent claims.

The invention allows a user to continue to turn the bicycle upside-down for maintenance 10 without having to contend with the associated problems described above.

The one or more pad components attach to the bicycle handlebars and provide a flat surface to increase stability of the bicycle while work is carried out. The raising of the handlebars clear of the surface also prevents damage to, or from, the handlebars. Where maintenance is performed 15 outside, the invention will additionally prevent dirt or mud from the ground from coming into contact with the handlebars, in particular the handlebar grips. In certain circumstances it will additionally obviate the need for fixings such as cycle computers and/or lights to be removed from the handlebars before inverting the bicycle.

20 The solution proposed by the present invention is also far more compact and transportable than the available workshop stands. It also provides additional advantages over particularly the smaller stands, which are often only capable of supporting one of the bicycle wheels (typically the rear wheel). Therefore if the user wanted to remove or work on the front wheel, they would still have to turn the bike over. Furthermore, unlike the available stands; there is no difficulty in 25 transporting and/or storing the product of the present invention in a car for use during maintenance before or after a bike ride.

The one or more pad components are preferably formed from a high density foam material, which can be positioned on the handlebars of a bicycle to raise the handlebars clear of the ground.

5 The one or more pad components may have a C-shaped hook feature to allow ready attachment to the handlebars of a bicycle, and/or a flat base for stability. It is preferred that two or more pad components are provided to improve stability of the inverted bicycle, but it is possible that just a single pad component could be provided.

10 Preferably, the invention additionally provides some form of protection for the saddle.

It is also possible for the one or more pad components to be supplied contained within a bag or held together by a band or strap. This would provide a very compact kit which could readily be taken out on rides. In use, the one or more pad components could be used as previously

15 described, while the bag or band/strap could be put over the saddle to provide protection from damage and/or soiling. The bag may, for example, be a simple drawstring bag of any material suitable to provide protection to the saddle. The strap may be elasticated and/or compise a hook-and-loop fastening.

20 The protection for the saddle may additionally, or alternatively, comprise a further mat, preferably of high density foam, which may comprise a rubberised base and/or a strap to allow attachment to the bicycle saddle. The strap may be elasticated and/or comprise a hook-and-loop fastening and may be removable from the mat.

25 The mat may comprise voids in which the pad components can be stored when not in use. It is possible that the one or more pad components can be cut from a piece of foam that forms the mat during manufacture, and subsequently re-inserted into the resulting voids to provide a single package for easy handling and storage. The mat may additionally comprise further voids for the storage of tools or similar which may be supplied along with the mat.

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Removal of the pad components for use also allows voids in the mat to be used as pockets or tubs for the storage of nuts, bolts and other small components that can easily be lost when working on a bicycle.

5 Preferably, the mat is also provided with a hole or some other feature to allow it to be hung on a wall. It is also possible that the reinsertion of the pad components into the mat in a different orientation could provide a storage rack for the bicycle. For example, the mat could be removably fixed to a wall and the one or more pad components could be designed to lock into the holes from which they are taken to provide a horizontal supporting hook for the bicycle 10 frame or handlebars.

A better understanding of the present invention will be obtained from the following detailed description. The description is given by way of example only and makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

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Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view from the direction of arrow 'A' in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a further plan view of the first embodiment with components removed;

Figure 4 is a side view showing components of the present invention on a flat surface;

20 Figure 5 is a side view showing a further component of the present invention on a flat surface;

Figure 6 is a view showing the embodiment of Figure 1 in use;

Figure 7 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention showing further, optional, features;

25 Figures 8a and 8b show a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 9 shows an embodiment of the invention in use;

Figure 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in use; and

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Figure 11 shows the embodiment of Figure 8b in use.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention where the maintenance accessory product 2 is provided as a generally rectangular high density foam mat 4 within which is housed 5 two smaller, generally triangular, foam parts 6. It is envisaged that various differed sized mats could be provided. However, in the illustrated embodiment the mat is measures approximately 250mm x 300mm x 50mm. The smaller foam parts 6 are simply die-cut from the larger piece of foam during manufacture, and returned into the resulting voids for storage when the product is not in use.

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Each of the two smaller foam parts 6 incorporates into its design a 'C-clip' feature, comprising a generally circular cut-out 8 and a further linear cut-out 10 leading from the circular cut-out 8 to a straight edge portion of each smaller foam part 6.

15 The C-clip feature allows the two smaller foam parts 6 to be clipped on to the handlebars of a bicycle. The circular cut-out 8 in each smaller foam part 6 has a diameter sufficient to accommodate the handlebars of a bicycle, and the width of each linear cut-out 10 is slightly less than this diameter. The resilience in the foam material means that the smaller foam parts 6 can deform as the handlebars of a bicycle pass though the linear cut-out 10 and into the circular cut-

20 out 8, and also allows the circular cut-out 8 of the C-clip to accommodate handlebars of different diameters. The C-clip can thus retain the smaller foam parts 6 to the handlebars of a bicycle where they can act as pads to support the handlebars clear of the floor or ground when the bicycle is inverted.

25 The remaining larger foam part 4 forms a further larger pad, or mat, for the saddle of the bicycle. The mat 4 as shown in Figure 1 is simply laid on the floor for the saddle to rest on, but it is also possible that some form of attachment means could be provided to secure the mat 4 to the bicycle saddle before the bicycle is inverted. The mat 4 of the illustrated embodiment

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additionally comprises a rubberised base 12 (see Figure 2) which, in use, is placed in contact with the floor or ground.

When the bicycle is inverted, with the pads 6 attached to the handlebars and the saddle aligned 5 with the foam mat 4, it is advantageous that no part of the bicycle is in direct contact with the floor/ground. Instead, the entire but is instead supported by three pieces of high density foam material and can be worked on in a stable manner, and without risk of damage being done to either the bicycle or the surface on which it is resting. The rubberised base 12 prevents the mat 4 from sliding around during use.

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Figure 3 shows the mat 4 with the smaller foam pads removed. The voids 14 provided by the removal of the smaller foam parts 6 together with the underlying rubberised base 12 of the device, and can be used as storage for small components such as alien bolts, preventing them from getting lost on the ground or rolling away while work is carried out on the bicycle.

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Figure 3 also shows a hole 16 provided though the mat 4, including through the rubberised base 12, for hanging the device on a wall when it is not in use.

Figures 4 and 5 show the foam pads 6 and mat 4 positioned on a flat surface. Each foam pad 6 20 has at least straight edge to provide a flat base 20 to ensure that the handlebars of a bicycle are in a horizontal, stable, position at all times while work is carried out. This is important in preventing the bicycle from falling over. The rubberised base 12 provides a flat base to the mat 4, but the mat 4 would nonetheless provide a similar flat base were no rubberised base part 12 provided.

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Figure 6 shows the previously described embodiment of the invention in use. A bicycle 22 is partly shown in an inverted position. A foam pad 6 is attached via a C-clip to each end of the handlebars 24, while the saddle 26 is resting on the foam mat 4.

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It should be clear from Figure 6 that the handlebar 24 and controls such as the brake levers 28 are raised up by the pads 6 so they do not make contact with the floor/ground. This prevents damage being done to or by the floor surface when the bicycle is inverted. The handlebar grips 30 are also clear of the ground, so will not become dirty or damaged even where the bicycle has 5 to be inverted outside. The handlebar 24 is in a horizontal, stable, position. The stability is further enhanced by the flat base 20 of each foam pad 6.

The larger foam mat 4 likewise prevents the saddle 26 from coming into contact with the ground, and so avoids the possibly that dirt, oil or similar will be transferred from ground, and 10 also prevents the saddle 26 from becoming scratched or otherwise damaged. The voids 14 of Figure 3 are not shown in Figure 6, but it should be clear that they will be readily accessible to either side of the saddle when a bicycle 22 is positioned as shown. Of course, the voids 14 need not be located exactly as shown in Figure 3.

15 It should be noted that the bicycle maintenance accessory 2 may simply comprise one or more pads 6, for example as shown in Figure 4. Where only a single pad is provided, it should preferably be long enough to still provide a stable base when a bicycle is inverted. The or each pad 6 could simply be 'clipped' to the frame tubes, seatpost or handlebars 24 etc. of the bicycle 22 when the bicycle 22 is in use, or could be contained within a bag or held together by a band 20 or strap for transportation and storage. Figures 8a and 8b show a drawstring bag 40 being used to contain two pads 6 similar to those shown in Figure 4.

The bag or band/strap would preferably also be suitable for covering and protecting at least a part of the saddle 26 in place of the mat 4. For example, a wide band could be stretched around 25 the saddle 26, as shown schematically in Figure 9, to provide some degree of protection. Similarly a storage bag, such as a drawstring bag as shown in Figures 8a and 8b, could serve a similar purpose if large enough to cover some or all of the saddle 26, for example as shown in Figure 11. Alternatively, three foam pads 6 could be provided, the third of which could clip to a saddle 26. Any of these options would provide a compact version of the product 2 which 30 could be easily carried when out for a ride.

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Figure 7 shows an alternative product 102 according to the present invention, and illustrates a number of preferred additional features that may be incorporated. For the avoidance of doubt, the features shown in Figure 7 may be incorporated into the product either individually or in 5 combination.

One or more further voids 32 may be provided in the mat 4 to provide one or more spaces for holding or storing tools. As shown in Figure 7, the void 32 is shaped to hold a standard alien key. However, voids specific to other tools, or even larger plain-shaped voids, could 10 alternatively or additionally be provided to allow for the storage of a wide variety of tools. It is envisaged that the product 102 could be provided along with one or more tools located in one or more voids 32 if desired.

A strap 34 is also shown for attaching the mat 4 to the saddle of a bicycle, as shown 15 schematically in Figure 10. The strap 34, which is preferably elasticated and/or incorporates a hook-and-loop fastening, advantageously also helps to retain the smaller foam pads 6 in place when the product 102 is not being used.

As noted previously, a hole 16 is provided in the mat 4 such that the product 102 is wall-20 mountable. It is possible that the one or more of the pads 6 could be made to lock into the voids 14 in such a way that a bicycle could be supported on the C-clips and hung on, or held against, a wall. For example, Figure 7 shows an extension 36 of the flat base 20 of one of the pads 6, and an enclosed channel 38 (shown in broken lines) within the mat 4. The width of the channel 38 is approximately equal to the depth of the mat 4, which defines the width of the pad 6 and its 25 associated extension 38. With the product 102 hung on a wall in the orientation shown in Figure 7, inserting the extension 36 into the channel 38 will lock the pad 6 into place with the linear cut-out 10 of the C-clip facing upwards to receive a part of the bicycle frame or handlebars.

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It is likely that the at least one pad 6, or at least the extension 36, will have to be stronger than in other embodiments in order to cope with the forces involved in hanging or supporting a bicycle frame, but several appropriate materials will be know to a skilled person. The extension 36, or simply the flat base 20 of the or each pad 6, may comprise a rubberised base similar to 5 that of the mat 4.

Finally, it is also possible that the strap/band 34 shown in Figure 7 could be made wider and be detachable from the mat 4. In this way, a user could take their bicycle out leaving the mat 4 at home, and still use the strap/band 34 to retain the pads 6 together and protect a saddle as 10 previously described. This would provide all the benefits of the product 2,102 like the one shown in the Figures 1 or 7 for home use, while also providing a smaller package for use on the road, such as shown in Figure 9. A similar benefit could be achieved by providing the product 2,102 as shown in Figures 1 to 7 within a storage bag similar to the drawstring bag 40 shown in Figure 8a.

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The invention is not considered to be limited to the configurations and materials described above. The configuration of the structure as well as the dimensions and, to a certain extent, the material of the component parts would be dependent on a specific application.

20 For example, the one or more pads need not comprise a C-shaped clip, but may instead attach to the handlebars of a bicycle by alternative means, such as by an elasticated band or strap and/or by hook-and-loop style fastening. Using alternative fastening means would allow for the one or more pads to have simpler shapes.

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Claims

1. A bicycle maintenance accessory comprising a pad component with attachment means 5 for attaching the pad component to the handlebars of a bicycle such that the handlebars of said bicycle can be raised clear of a surface on which a bicycle is rested and supported in a substantially vertical position by the pad component when the bicycle is inverted.

2. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to claim 1, wherein pad component is 10 formed from a foam material.

3. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the attachment means comprise a C-shaped hook.

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4. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pad component comprises a flat base.

5. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to any of the preceding claims, wherein two or more pad components are provided.

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6. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to claim 5, further comprising a strap or band for securing the pad components together.

7. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to claim 6, wherein the strap or band is 25 elasticated.

8.

A bicycle maintenance accessory according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the strap or band comprises a hook-and-loop fastening.

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9. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the strap or band is attachable to a bicycle saddle to at least partly cover the saddle.

10. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to any of the preceding claims, further 5 comprising a bag for storing one or more pad components.

11. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to claim 10, wherein the bag is attachable to a bicycle saddle to cover the saddle.

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12. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to any of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a mat for supporting the saddle of a bicycle.

13. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to claim 12, wherein the mat is formed from a foam material.

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14. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the mat comprises a rubberised base.

15. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to any of claims 12 to 13, wherein the mat

20 comprises a strap or band for attaching the mat to a bicycle saddle.

16. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to claim 15, wherein the strap or band is elasticated.

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17. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the strap or band comprises a hook-and-loop fastening.

18. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to any of claims 15 to 17, wherein the strap or band is detachable from the mat.

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19. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to claim 18, wherein the strap or band is attachable to a bicycle saddle to at least partly cover the saddle.

20. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to any of claims 12 to 19, wherein the mat 5 comprises a void in which the pad component is stored when not in use.

21. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to claim 20, wherein the pad component is securely retained within the void when not in use.

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22. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the pad component can be locked into the mat to provide a storage rack for a bicycle.

23. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to any of claims 12 to 22, wherein the mat further comprises means for securing the mat to a wall.

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24. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to any of claims 12 to 23, wherein the mat further comprises one or more additional voids for the storage of tools.

25. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to any of claims 12 to 24, further

20 comprising a storage bag.

26. A bicycle maintenance accessory according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pad component comprises a rubberised base.

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27. A bicycle maintenance accessory substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.