GB2529818A

GB2529818A - Bicycle parking stands

Info

Publication number: GB2529818A
Application number: GB1415487.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Denis Matthew Quilligan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-09-02
Filing date: 2014-09-02
Publication date: 2016-03-09
Also published as: GB201415487D0

Abstract

A bicycle parking stand comprises a vertically extending framework 2 comprising a projection 5 fixed to said vertically extending framework 2, the projection 5 in use being generally horizontal, and extending through the rear wheel of a bicycle when the bicycle is locked on to the framework 2. This configuration is such that the projection 5 prevents the removal of the rear wheel from the stand when the bicycle frame is locked to the stand. The projection 5 may be swivellably mounted on the framework 2 such that it may be moved from a position in which it lies within the framework to a position where it may project through the rear wheel of a bicycle.

Description

BICYCLE PARKING STANDS

This invention relates to bicycle parking stands, particularly those for use in an urban environment where the user wishes to park their bicycle securely by attaching it to some form of stand via an appropriate locking arrangement, for example a padlock and chain or a "D-lock".

Bicycle stands are a common article of street furniture and are customarily installed by public authorities with a view to providing dedicated fixed stands to which bicycles may be attached rather than have the person who wishes to park a bicycle chain it to railings or street furniture such as lampposts or bollards.

Many designs are already available on the market, often consisting of a simple hoop or arch securely set into the pavement. Such stands do not always work effectively because the bicycle itself can easily be lifted and twisted or manoeuvred in some other way to break the attachment between the bicycle and the stand which was effected by the user when parking the bicycle.

I have now found that more secure bicycle parking may be provided by configuring a stand in such a way that a bicycle can be inserted into it and locked to it in a way which then substantially restricts the ease with which the bicycle can be moved save when properly unlocked by its owner.

According to the present invention, a bicycle stand consists of a generally vertically extending framework against one side of which the frame of a bicycle may be locked to the framework, and a projection fixed to the frame which, when the bicycle is locked on to the framework, extends through the rear wheel of the bicycle sufficiently to prevent the rear wheel being moved past the end of the projection without the frame of the bicycle being unlocked from the framework.

Such a projection is generally horizontal in use, but it may be configured such that when no bicycle is parked against the frame, the projection lies within the framework and can be moved out by the bicycle user when parking their bicycle. One way of effecting that is to provide a curved projection swivellably mounted on the framework between a position in which it lies in the plane of a generally planar framework to one in which it projects outwards therefrom.

In a parUcularly preferred design, a bicycle stand includes a generally vertically extending framework and associated with the framework a space, defined by a horizontal or inclined hoop, sized and shaped to receive the rear wheel portion of a bicycle and wherein projecting from the framework from one side of that space into which the rear wheel of the bicycle is to be inserted, there is a generally horizontal projection extending more than halfway across the space, but stopping short (when viewed from vertically above) of the other side of the space by a distance sufficient to enable the rear wheel of a bicycle to be inserted between the end of the projection and the side of the space opposite the side from which the projection projects.

With such a construction, a bicycle may be easily parked by inserting its rear wheel portion into the space at an angle such that the rear wheel can enter between the end of the projection and the opposite side of the space, and the bicycle is then moved bodily to one side to bring the frame of the bicycle to lie adjacent the frame portion of the stand from which the projection projects. The projection then passes through the bicycle wheel between the spokes and, because the frame of the bicycle is now adjacent the frame of the stand, they can be easily locked together at a point remote from the space using a conventional padlock and chain, 0-lock, or the like. Because of the engagement of the bicycle with the stand to usually substantially spaced locations, it is very much more difficult to manoeuvre the bicycle and use it to fracture or destroy the locking means.

The invention can be applied to a wide variety of designs, and, purely by way of illustration, the attached drawings show bicycle stands in accordance with the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stand according to the invention; Figure 2 shows two bicycles locked to such a stand; Figure 3 shows an alternative design of stand; and Figure 4 shows a further alternative.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the stand basically consists of two arches 1 and 2, the feet of which are set firmly into the ground. For example, the feet of the arches may include a suitable plate (not shown in the drawings) which lies underground surrounded by cement or concrete or overlain by paving slabs so that the entire stand is fixed firmly in place.

The arch 2 lies within the arch 1 which is essentially oriented at right angles to it, and the two arches are joined by a stay 3.

Fixed to the underside of arch 2 between the sides of arch 1 is a depending loop 4 which is substantially in the plane of arch 2. Projecting from each side of depending loop 4 are horizontal bars 5 and 6.

A further set of loops 7 are fixed to the underside of arch 2 in the middle.

As can be seen, between the arch 2 and each side of arch 1 there is defined a space of sufficient width to insert a bicycle wheel, and to do so in such a way that the tyre and rim of the wheel go past the ends of projection 5 or 6.

The frame of the bicycle may then be swivelled to lie adjacent arch 2 and connected to that arch itself or to one of the depending loops 7 by means of a suitable locking device.

Figure 2 shows diagrammatically the stand shown in Figure 1 with two bicycles parked in it. It can be seen that, in this case, the owners have secured the bicycles via D-locks denoted 8, each of which has been inserted so that it fixes both the frame of the bicycle, denoted 9, and the front wheel of the bicycle, denoted 10, to one of the depending loops 7. This is a particularly preferred approach, since the D-lock 8 then serves to secure the front wheel 10 of the bicycle against theft, as well as the whole of the bicycle itself.

Numerous variations in design may be made within the scope of the present invention, for example as shown in Figure 3, where, instead of the two bicycles the stand in Figure 3 is meant to secure being similarly oriented when parked, one of them when parked is pointing to the left as shown in the drawing and the other to the right.

A further stand according to the invention is shown in Figure 4. This consists of a circular hoop 20 set into the ground and having at its upper part a set of apertures defined by an arcuate member 21 welded at both ends to hoop 20 and three vertical welded bars 22 between member 21 and hoop 20. The D-lock or padlock and chain pass through one of these apertures when the bicycle frame is attached to the hoop 20.

Swivellably fixed to hoop 20 in sleeves 24 are two arcuate members 25.

These are shown on the left-hand part of Figure 4 in the position they adopt when no bicycle is attached to the stand. By pulling the member 25 out when parking a bicycle, the free end of member 25 may be inserted through the rear wheel of the bicycle. Once the frame of the bicycle is locked to hoop 20, member 25, because of its curved shape, prevents the bicycle being swung away from hoop 20.

The stand is preferably made of stout steel of the type used in existing types of bicycle parking stand, and by customary manufacturing methods. The finish may be natural if e.g. stainless steel is used, or a mild steel frame may be painted or coated with a suitable protective material.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Bicycle stand comprising a generally vertically extending framework against one side of which the frame of the bicycle may be locked to the framework and having a projection fixed to the framework which, when the bicycle is locked on to the framework, it extends through the rear wheel of the bicycle sufficiently prevent the rear wheel being moved past the end of the projection without the frame of the bicycle being unlocked from the framework.
2. A bicycle stand according to Claim 1 wherein the projection is generally horizontal.IC) 15
3. A bicycle stand according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the projection may be cf moved from a position in which it lies within the framework to a position where it projects through the rear wheel of the bicycle.

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4. A bicycle stand according to Claim 3 wherein the projection is cued and is swivellably mounted on the framework between a position in which it lies in the plane of a generally planar framework to one in which it projects outwardly therefrom.
5. A bicycle stand according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the framework is a generally vertically extending framework and which provides] associated with the framework, a space defined by a horizontal or inclined hoop sized and shaped to receive the rear wheel portion of a bicycle and wherein the projection is generally horizontal and projects from the framework from one side of that space into which the rear wheel of the bicycle is to be inserted, the generally horizontal projection extending more than halfway across the space but stopping short when viewed from vertically above of the other side of the space by a distance sufficient to enable the rear wheel of the bicycle to be inserted between the end of the projection and the side of the space opposite the side from which the projection projects. IC)N