WO2002000493A1

WO2002000493A1 - Adjustable front suspension pannier type utility rack

Info

Publication number: WO2002000493A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/017621
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Maxwell Fleming
Original assignee: David Maxwell Fleming
Priority date: 2000-06-26
Filing date: 2000-06-26
Publication date: 2002-01-03

Abstract

A bicycle rack apparatus (10) includes first and second laterally spaced apart frames (12, 14) connected to each other by a luggage rest (100). The apparatus further comprises a bifurcated steering fork with each pair of fork legs or struts having a movable piston rod portion within a fixed cylinder portion. Each of the frames includes an upper and a lower clamping bracket (60, 70) attached to one strut. On each side, one of the clamping brackets is adapted for sliding on an adjustable linear leg (52) of its frame so as to accommodate relative linear motion between the piston rod portion and the cylinder portion of the steering fork legs. A luggage platform (110) is mounted at the top of the two spaced apart frames and is adapted for accepting variable spacing between the frames.

Description

TITLE: ADJUSTABLE FRONT SUSPENSION PANNIER TYPE UTILITY RACK

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

This invention relates generally to bicycle carriers and storage racks, and more particularly to a pannier utility rack for use on a bicycle with shock absorbing front suspension.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART:

The following art defines the present state of this field:

Faasse, U.S. 5,667,118 describes a bicycle rack for supporting panniers includes first and second laterally spaced apart frames connected to each other by a substantially U-Shaped yoke. Each of the frames includes a clamp, which is configured to grip a bifurcation of a steering fork of a bicycle. Each frame also includes a transverse member having a flange with an upper edge of the flange defining at least one notch for engaging an axle of the front wheel of the bicycle. The rack can be quickly and easily mounted, dismounted and remounted as desired on the same or on different bicycles. The panniers rack of the invention eliminates the need for special mounting features and does not require any permanent modifications, which would alter the appearance of the bicycle.

Nutto, U.S. 5,667,117 describes a fastening device for alternatively fastening bags on a bicycle consisting of a hanging device arranged on an upper fitting, which engages a fastening device located on the bicycle frame or a reception device, forming a knapsack together with other bags. Whereas the fittings of the front wheel bas are equipped with hanging elements, the fittings of the rear wheel bags are provided with reception devices. The rear wheel bags may be linked to the bicycle frame by means of a carrier fastened only to the saddle support. Thus the bags may be in no time and in a modular manner, by insertion mounted on or dismounted from the bicycle or assembled together into a knapsack and disassembled.

Balckburn et al. U.S 4,487,344 describes a pannier carrier for bicycles including a frame arrangeable substantially centered with respect to an associated bicycle wheel for supporting carrying bags. The frame is formed by a pair of mirror-image open frameworks disposed on respective sides of a turning fork of an associated bicycle for proper distribution of weight. Attachment of these frameworks to the turning fork is accomplished for each of the frameworks by a connecting bracket securable to an apertured lug conventionally provided on each branch of a turning fork of a bicycle adjacent the point of attachment of the axle of the associated wheel and by a standoff which space the frameworks form the associated branches to offset the slant of the tuning fork branches. The frameworks can be spread apart and rigidified by a spreader bar, which can have an article support frame provided at its top portion.

Jackson, U.S. 4,460,115 describes a disclosed apparatus for carrying panniers on opposite sides of and beneath the top of the wheel of a cycle. A generally U-shaped bar has its opposite ends adapted to be held at a location in the area of the axle. The legs of the bar extend over the top of the wheel and are disposed at an outboard angle forming a generally V-shaped configuration with the fork blades of the cycle. Each pannier is connected to a point on the fork blade by a first fastener and to a point on a leg of the bar by a second fastener. The bar can be easily detached from the cycle taking with it the panniers by un-securing the bar ends from the axle and releasing the first fasteners from the fork blades.

Brown, U.S. 4,402,439 describes a pannier bag for bicycles, and the like, comprising a frame shaped to be streamlined in a forward direction of travel of an associated bicycle. A cover arranged on the frame retains same in the desired streamline shape. A three- point mounting arrangement is associated with the frame and cover for mounting them on an associated bicycle in a rigid manner, while a top front to bottom rear zipper provided with a pair of slides permits access to any part of the interior of the bag. A strip of reflective fabric preferably is provided on the outer surface of the cover of the bag so as to run from the front to the rear thereof in order to increase the visibility of the bag, and hence, an associated bicycle, during darkness.

Michaud, U.S. 4,328,914 describes a carrier assembly comprising a supporting rack and carrier means disengageably mounted thereon. The supporting rack has a freestanding frame portion, and the carrier means has a sleeve portion which is closed at the top and the sides and open at the bottom, to provide a generally rectangular recess which is dimension and configured to correspond to the frame portion of the rack, an to slidingly and snugly receive it. The resultant assembly provides good support and stability, coupled with facility of use and manufacture, and relatively low cost.

McNeill, U.S. 4,301,952 describes an article carrying bag and a structure affording removable mounting of the bag to a bicycle or like vehicle. The bag is formed of two separate compartments, which are joined at their upper edges by a relatively narrow web so that when the bag is carried it resemble a briefcase. The mounting structure includes a rigid, relatively small diameter tube; the web of the carrying bag includes a resilient member forming a channel having walls which frictionally engage the tube. The support structure for the tube includes a guard member which supports the tube and keeps the inner surfaces of the compartments of the carrying bag outward of the vehicle wheel.

The prior art teaches luggage racks for bicycles wherein such racks teach a wide diversity of design. However, the prior art does not teach that such a rack may be fastened to a moving section of a front fork of a bicycle so as to provide lateral stability to the rack without the rack itself moving with the fork. The prior art fails also to teach a means for width adjustment between left and right side frames. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

The present invention provides a bicycle rack and includes left and right side laterally spaced apart frames connected to each other by a luggage platform. Each of the frames includes a clamping bracket, which is configured to grip and move with a shock absorbing strut of the steering fork. The rack can be quickly and easily mounted, dismounted and remounted as desired on the same or on different bicycles having significantly different mounting widths.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a pannier's rack for a bicycle having advantages not taught by the prior art.

A further objective is to provide such a rack that is mountable onto the front of a bicycle attached to the front fork while accommodating bicycles of various widths.

A still further objective is to provide such a rack that is mountable onto a shock absorbing fork of a bicycle with a clamping means able to slide on the rack and to therefore provide lateral stability to the rack while still accommodating movement of the fork without causing the rack to move with the front wheel.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view thereof with a bicycle strut in an extended position; FIGURE 4 is similar to Fig. 2 but showing the strut in a compressed position; FIGURE 5 is a section view taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 2; and FIGURE 6 is a section view taken along line 5-5 in Fig. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a bicycle utility rack 10 for use on a bicycle 20 where the bicycle has a bifurcated steering fork 30 as is well known in bicycle construction. The fork 30 is of the type for absorbing road shocks for providing a smoother ride and to accomplish this it provides a pair of steering fork struts 42 comprising a moveable portion 48 within a fixed portion 44, i.e., a piston rod linearly movable within a cylinder respectively, as described below. The fixed and movable portions 44, 48 may be comprised of a pneumatic cylinder, gas cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, a spring engaged cylinder or a combination of these as such devices are very well known in the art.

The bicycle rack 10 further comprises a right 12 and left 14 generally planar frames of rigid tubular construction as is shown in the figures. A baggage supporting means 50 comprises a planar rectangular frame 90 and a planar plate 100 having an upwardly- directed surface 110 for resting baggage thereon when the rack 10 is attached to the bicycle 20.

The generally planar frames 12 and 14 are positioned on opposite sides of a front wheel 22 of the bicycle 20 and are mutually joined to, and depending downwardly from the baggage supporting means 50, the baggage supporting means being adapted by its size and shape for being positioned above the front wheel 22 when the bicycle 20 is in use. Each of the generally planar frames 12, 14 includes a pair of clamping means 60, 70 comprising a stanchion clamp plate 62, 72. The lower clamp plate 72 provides an integral stanchion bushing tube 74 encasing a bushing material 76 such as nylon. The clamping means 60, 70 each further comprises a U-shaped strap 66 attached to the stanchion clamp plate with screws 68 for tightening the clamp plates 62, 72 to the stationary and movable portions of the struts 42. To accomplish this a clamp receiver 64 is mounted between the strut 42 and the stanchion plates 62 and 72 as best seen in Figs. 5 and 4 respectively.

It should be noted that such a front wheel bicycle suspension could alternately be constructed with the fixed portion 44 below the movable portion 48, in which case the clamping brackets 60 and 70 would trade positions.

Each of the lower clamping brackets 70, is further adapted for sliding on the linear leg 52 of one of the frames 12 and 14 so as to enable the lower clamping bracket 70 to accommodate relative linear motion between the movable portion 48 and the fixed portion 44 of the strut 42. Inventively, the linear legs 52 are adapted for attitude adjustment within the linear planar frames 12 and 14 so as to enable setting them in parallel with the struts 42. Thus when the movable portions 48 flex linearly as the bicycle 20 encounters rough terrain, lower clamping brackets 70 are able to slide along linear legs 52 to accommodate such motion. To accomplish this, each of the linear planar frames 12, 14 provides an upper and a lower linear mounting slot 13 which are spaced apart and correspond with a pair of slot mounting hardware 16 positioned at terminal ends of the linear legs 52. Legs 52 are terminated at both ends by a slotted cap capable of receiving a mounting screw shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This allows the legs 52 to be fixed at any angle over a range suitable for setting the leg 52 exactly in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the strut 42.

Each frame 12, 14 is made up of a triangular lower portion 5 supporting a medial bar 80, the lower portion 5 depending downwardly from the medial bar 80. Extending upwardly from the medial bar 80 are two arms 82, 84 for engaging the baggage supporting means 50 and these arms terminate upwardly with forward and a rearward laterally extending legs which function as baggage supporting bars 86 as shown in Fig. 2. The forward legs of the left and right planar frames are aligned colinearly as are the rearward legs. A joining means for attaching the forward and the rearward laterally extending legs to the baggage supporting means 50 comprises supporting bar clamping fasteners 88' and 88" which are used to fasten the baggage supporting means to the baggage supporting bars 86. Clamping means 88", 88" are preferably elongate clamps adapted for receiving the baggage supporting bars 86 at a selected depth of penetration so that the frames 12 and 14 may be set a necessary distance apart to accommodate various bicycle designs respective of width. Fastening hardware 120' and 120" are used to complete the assembly of the baggage supporting means 50 to the clamping means 88', 88" and at the same time clamp onto bars 86.

In use, the rack 10 is mounted to a bicycle 20 using clamping means 60 and 70 on either side of the front fork 30 of the bicycle. Linear legs 52 are adjusted for parallelism to the fork struts 42 on either side and the baggage supporting means is then attached to arms 82 and 84 at the terminal ends (baggage supporting bars 86) with clamping fasteners 88" and 88" using hardware 120' and 120" preferably the screws and nuts shown.

While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A bicycle rack apparatus adapted for use on a bicycle having a bifurcated steering fork, each of a pair of fork legs of the steering fork having a linear movable portion within a stationary portion, the bicycle rack apparatus comprising: a baggage supporting means positioned above a front wheel of the bicycle with left side and right side generally planar frames depending downwardly from the baggage supporting means on opposing sides of the front wheel; each of the planar frames including a pair of clamping means for clamping the planar frame to one of the fork legs of the steering fork, one of the clamping means of each pair of the clamping means adapted for slidingly engaging one of the movable portions of the steering fork, the other one of the clamping means of each pair of the clamping means adapted for fixedly engaging one of the stationary portions of the steering fork.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a linear leg of each one of the planar frames is adapted for positional attitude adjustment to enable setting the linear leg in parallel with a corresponding one of the steering fork legs.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the baggage supporting means comprises a planar rectangular frame and a planar plate having an upwardly directed surface for resting baggage thereon.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the planar frames each further comprise a forward and a rearward laterally extending legs, the forward legs of the left and right planar frames aligned colinearly and the rearward legs of the left and right planar frames aligned colinearly.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further providing a joining means for attaching the forward and the rearward laterally extending legs to the baggage supporting means, the joining means enabled for linear adjustment of a space between the planar frames for accommodation of bicycles of varying widths.

6. A combination bicycle and bicycle rack apparatus the combination comprising: a bifurcated steering fork of the bicycle providing a pair of fork legs, each of the fork legs having a linear movable portion within a stationary portion; the bicycle rack apparatus comprising: a baggage supporting means positioned above a front wheel of the bicycle with left side and right side generally planar frames depending downwardly from the baggage supporting means on opposing sides of the front wheel; each of the planar frames including a pair of clamping means clamping the planar frame to one of the fork legs of the steering fork, one of the clamping means of each pair of the clamping means slidingly engaging one of the movable portions of the steering fork, the other one of the clamping means of each pair of the clamping means fixedly engaging one of the stationary portions of the steering fork.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a linear leg of each one of the planar frames is adapted for positional attitude adjustment to enable setting the linear leg in parallel with a corresponding one of the steering fork legs.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the baggage supporting means comprises a planar rectangular frame and a planar plate having an upwardly directed surface for resting baggage thereon.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the planar frames, each further comprises a forward and a rearward laterally extending legs, the forward legs of the left and right planar frames aligned colinearly and the rearward legs of the left and right planar frames aligned colinearly.

0. The apparatus of claim 9 further providing a joining means for attaching the forward and the rearward laterally extending legs to the baggage supporting means, the joining means enabled for linear adjustment of a space between the planar frames for accommodation of bicycles of varying widths.