DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING FOLDABLE BICYCLES

The present invention relates to devices that may be releasably attached to bicycles and which are suitable for transporting bicycles by wheeling. In particular, the devices are suitable for transporting foldable bicycles.

Bicycle use is increasing, both for leisure and business purposes, and many people often wish to transport their bicycles from place to place by other means; for example, in cars or on public transport for long journeys, or by carrying the bicycle in areas where it may not be ridden. Foldable bicycles are particularly suitable for transporting in this way, but may be too heavy to be conveniently carried by some riders. In addition, public transport restrictions sometimes require foldable bicycles to be contained in bags or boxes, which may themselves be difficult to transport whilst riding the bicycle.

Electrically assisted bicycles are particularly useful for the elderly or infirm, and foldable versions of such vehicles are known. However, the additional weight caused by the inclusion of a battery pack and electric motor makes such bicycles less convenient to transport, and therefore restricts their use. It may also be difficult for users to fold electrically assisted foldable bicycles because of the additional weight of such bicycles.

Whilst bicycles may conveniently be used to transport relatively heavy articles over considerable distances, difficulties may arise in subsequently transporting the articles into areas where bicycles are not permitted, as the bicycles must be secured and the articles carried by hand. This is also particularly difficult in trie case of foidable bicycles, which must be folded and transported together with the articles that were formerly attached to them.

One means for transporting heavy or bulky articles is to support them on a wheeled device, for example a trolley having two or more wheels. Known trolleys, however, are either too small to conveniently transport large articles, such as folded bicycles, particularly folded electrically assisted bicycles, or are too large to be conveniently transported on bicycles. Thus, known trolleys may be used to transport large articles to or from a bicycle, or to transport a folded bicycle from one place to another, but must then be left behind when the bicycle is ridden.

The present invention provides a device for releasable attachment to, and transport on, a bicycle, and also for transporting the bicycle by wheeling.

Particularly preferred devices according to the present invention are suitable for attachment to a foldable bicycle when the bicycle is unfolded, and also for transporting the foldable bicycle by wheeling when the bicycle is folded.

Devices according to the present invention are particularly useful for transporting electrically assisted bicycles, more particularly foldable electrically assisted bicycles .

Devices according to the present invention are preferably suitable to assist in the transport of additional articles when the devices are attached to a bicycle. For example, devices according to the present invention may provide a carrying surface on a bicycle to which articles may be attached directIv, or may provide attacnment points for panniers for transporting additional articles .

Devices according to the present invention are preferably suitable for transporting additional articles when not attached to a bicycle, and may be particularly useful in transporting heavy loads. For example, devices according to the present invention may be attached to a bicycle together with one or more heavy articles whilst the bicycle is being ridden, and may then be removed from the bicycle and used to transport the articles into areas into which the bicycle may not be taken.

Devices according to the present invention preferably comprise a trolley that can be attached to the bicycle for transport thereon, and to which the bicycle can be attached for transporting the bicycle.

In devices according to the present invention comprising a trolley, the trolley is preferably movable between a collapsed and an extended form, the trolley being suitable to be attached to, and transported on, the bicycle in the collapsed form, and to transport a bicycle when the trolley is in the extended form.

In embodiments of devices according to the present invention comprising a trolley, the trolley preferably comprises two legs, each leg having a first end and a second end, the legs being linked at their first ends and being provided with wheeling means at their second ends . The wheeling means allow the trolley to be easily transported across a range of surfaces, even when objects of considerable weight are attached thereto.

Whβelincf means for use in devices accordinα to the present invention include wheels, castors and rollers, and these may be attached in any conventional way to the devices .

Preferably, the legs of the trolleys of preferred

5 embodiments of devices according to the present invention are extendable, so that when a trolley is attached to a bicycle the legs may be relatively short (preferably between 400mm and

600mm, for example 500mm) , and so that the legs may be extended when the trolley is removed from the bicycle for

10 transporting the bicycle and/or additional articles

(preferably to lengths of between 800mm and 1200mm, for example 1000mm) .

Any conventional means may be used to cause the legs of 15 the trolleys to be extendable; for example, the legs may comprise two or more, for example three, interlocking telescopic sections.

In devices according to the present invention comprising

20 a trolley, the legs may be linked at their first ends by a pivot means, so that the distance between the first ends of the legs is fixed but the distance between the second ends of the legs may be varied. More preferably however, the legs of the trolley are linked via a connecting handle, and each

25 of the legs are pivotally connected to the connecting handle, so that the distance between the first ends of the legs is fixed but the distance between the second ends of the legs may be varied, In this particularly preferred embodiment, the handle linking the legs may have a length of between 100mm and

30 200mm, for example 150mm, and when the trolley is attached to a bicycle the legs of the trolley will preferably be parallel along their entire length, but when the trolley is not attached to a bicycle the second ends cf the legs of the trolley mav be separated to a, ma.xinvu.in distance of 600mn\, or preferably a maximum distance of 500mm, for example 400mm.

In devices according to the present invention in which the legs of the trolley are linked pivotally, any form of pivot attachment may be used.

In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the devices will also comprise means to lock the second ends of the legs of the trolley at a chosen distance apart. Suitable means for locking the legs of the trolley at a chosen distance apart include a hinge linking the second ends of the legs of the trolley, which may flex to alter the distance between the second ends of the legs, and which may be locked in at least one position.

Devices according to the present invention comprising a trolley also preferably comprise means to attach the trolley to the handlebar stem or, more preferably, the saddle stem of a bicycle to which the trolley is attached. The means for attaching the trolley to the handlebar stem or saddle stem of a bicycle most preferably comprises a quick release clamp, which is permanently attached to the trolley, and which is suitable to clamp around the saddle stem or handlebar stem of a bicycle.

Devices according to the present invention comprising a trolley also preferably comprise a support frame for permanent attachment to a bicycle, and which when attached to a bicycle is capable of supporting the bicycle in a stable position with one wheel of the bicycle above the other wheel. Most preferably the support frame supports the bicycle to which it is attached in a position m which the rear wheel touches, or n€sstrxv ^" coiiCiiβs _; tJriΘ cjrourid ciiici IIJΠΘ LIΓOΓIU WIIΘΘJ_ of UIIG JDXCVCXΘ is above, preferably directly above, the rear wheel, and the bicycle will remain in this position without additional support. Being able to support bicycles in this position assists in storage of the bicycles, and is also particularly useful for foldable bicycles, more particularly electrically assisted foldable bicycles, because the bicycle may be folded whilst supported by the support frame, allowing both hands to be used when folding the bicycle, and avoiding the need for the user to support the full weight of the bicycle themselves. Supporting the bicycle in this stable position may also assist in attaching the bicycle, either in folded or unfolded form, to a trolley for transport by wheeling.

In devices according to the present invention comprising a trolley and a support frame, the trolley and the support frame preferably comprise mutually engaging parts so that the trolley may be releasably attached to the support frame for transport on a bicycle to which the support frame is attached. Such mutually engaging means may comprise one or more releasable spring clips positioned on the trolley and which engage the support frame to releasably attach the trolley to the support frame .

Devices according to the present invention comprising a trolley and a support frame may preferably also comprise mutually engaging parts so that when a bicycle is supported in a stable position with one wheel above the other by the support frame, the support frame can be attached to the trolley for transportation of the bicycle. The mutually engaging parts preferably comprise one or more releasable spring clips located on the trolley and which engage the support frame in such a manner that the bicycle to which the support frame is attached becomes releasably attached to the trolley in so as to permit transportaticn of the bicycle. The mutually engaging means for attaching the trolley to the support frame and the support frame to the trolley may incorporate the same or different parts.

Support frames for use in devices according to the present invention may be permanently attached to bicycles during manufacture, or may be purchased by a consumer for attachment to the consumer's own bicycle. The support frames may be attached to bicycles by any suitable means, for example holes may be provided in the support frame so that the support frame may be rivetted or bolted to a bicycle frame, or an attachment plate may be provided so that the support frame may be permanently welded to a bicycle frame . Support frames of devices according to the present invention may optionally also be provided with additional means of attachment to a bicycle frame or axle, to reduce to a minimum any movement of the support frame when attached to a bicycle frame.

In devices according to the present invention comprising a support frame, the support frame is preferably permanently attached to the bicycle above the rear wheel and behind the saddle of the bicycle. The support frames may be of any size suitable to support a trolley, preferably a trolley in a collapsed form, but should not be so large as to cause inconvenience to the user of the bicycle when peddling.

Particularly preferred support frames of devices according to the present invention include a support plate which engages the ground when the support frame is supporting a bicycle in a stable position with one wheel of the bicycle above the other wheel . The support plate may be provided with one or more feet to assist engagement of the ground and to partially elevate parts of the support frame above the ground. Most preferably, the support plate is wider than the main body of the support frame to improve stability of the support frame when supporting a bicycle. It is also preferred that the support plate provides at least one point of attachment to the trolley when the support frame is attached to a trolley to permit bicycles to be wheeled on the trolley.

Devices according to the present invention may be constructed from any suitable materials, including plastics, carbon fibre and metals. In particular, the support frames and trolleys of particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention are preferably constructed principally from tubular steel, aluminium, carbon fibre or plastics. Various components of the trolleys of the preferred embodiments of the invention, for example the connecting handles or wheels, may be made from conventional plastic materials or rubber.

Devices according to the present invention preferably also comprise a bag suitable to contain the device and a bicycle plus any articles attached thereto. Such bags may be composed of any suitable material, for example nylon or recycled rubber or plastic materials.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which;

Figure 1 shows a support frame of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of a trolley of an embodiment of a device according to che present invention, the trolley being in collapsed form suitable for attachment to a bicycle;

Figure 3 is a side view of the trolley shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front view of the trolley shown in Figures 2 and 3 in extended form, suitable for transporting a folded bicycle; and

Figure 5 Is a side view of the support frame shown in Figure 1 and the trolley shown in Figure 2 attached to a bicycle .

Figure 1 shows a support frame 1 for use in attaching a trolley 3 (shown in figures 2 to 4} to a bicycle 5 (as shown in Figure 5) . The support frame 1 and trolley 3 together comprise a preferred embodiment of a device according to the present invention,

The support frame 1 comprises two forward vertical struts 6 and two rearward vertical struts 7 , The two forward vertical struts 6 and two rearward vertical struts 7 are linked at their upper ends by an elongated U shaped frame 3, and at their lower ends by two horizontal struts 11. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the two forward vertical struts

6 and two rearward vertical struts 7 are all parallel, although it will be understood that minor changes could be made to the orientation of the struts 6, 7, for instance to allow the frame to fit on any individually shaped bicycle, or to accommodate variations In the centre of gravity of various bicycles 5. The two forward vertical struts 6 and two rearward vertical struts 7 are of equal length In the support frame 1 shown in Figure 1, but variations could be made to their lengths in alternative embodiments , The two forward vertical struts 6 and two rearward vertical struts 7 are all made from tubular steel, and all have the same external diameter, The U shaped frame 9 Is made from tubular steel, preferably from a single tube, and has a smaller external diameter than the external diameter of the forward and rearward vertical struts 6, 7; preferably being of a suitable diameter to comfortably slide within one of the forward or rearward vertical struts 6, 7. The U shaped frame 9 is linked by a forward cross strut 13 , and a rearward cross strut 14. 5 The forward and rearward cross struts 13, 14 are each made from tubular steel and the forward cross strut 13 has the same external diameter as the forward and rearward vertical struts 6,7, whilst the rearward cross strut 14 has the same external diameter as the U shaped frame 9. The horizontal struts 11 10 are also made from tubular steel, and have the same external diameter as the U shaped frame 9 and the rearward cross strut 14. Forward cross strut 13 is V shaped in the plane of the U shaped frame 9, the interior angle being approximately 170°.

15 The support frame 1 is provided with bicycle frame attachment means 73 to permanently attach the support frame 1 to the frame of a bicycle 5. The bicycle frame attachment means 73 may include bolts 73 for direct connection to a bicycle frame, or attachment points on the lower ends of the

20 forward vertical struts 6 of the support frame 1 to allow these to be connected to a bicycle frame by bolts or rivets or by welding.

The support frame 1 also comprises an attachment strut 25 21 which is fixedly connected to the forward cross strut 13 at one end, and comprises attachment means 27 at its second end to allow the attachment strut 21 to be permanently attached to the frame of the bicycle 5. The attachment means 27 may comprise any means suitable to connect the attachment 30 strut 21 to the frame of a bicycle 5, for example by screwing or rivetting. The attachment strut 21 may be replaced by, or supplemented by, additional attachment means (not. shown) , for example one or more attachment struts permanently connected to one or both of the forward vertical struts 6. The support frame 1 further comprises a rear support plate 15, which is connected to the rearward vertical struts 7, and links the open ends of the U shaped frame 9. The rear support plate 15 is made from tubular steel and comprises two vertical arms 61, a lower horizontal arm 63, and an upper horizontal arm 65. The lower horizontal arm 63 links the lower ends of the rearward vertical struts 7, and extends beyond them. The upper horizontal arm 65 links the ends of the U shaped frame 9, and extends beyond each arm thereof, and is also connected to the upper ends of the rearward vertical struts 7. The lower horizontal arm 63 and upper horizontal arm 65 of the rear support plate 15 are connected by the two vertical arms 61, which are generally of equal length to the rearward vertical struts 7. The external diameter of the vertical arm 61, lower horizonal arm 63 and upper horizontal arm 65 of the rear support plate 15, is equal to the external diameter of the U shaped frame 9, horizontal struts 11 and the rearward cross strut 14 of the support frame 1.

When the support frame 1 shown in Figure 1 is attached to a bicycle 5, and the front wheel of the bicycle 5 is elevated, the rear support plate 15 will rest on the ground and will support the bicycle 5 stably with the front wheel of the bicycle 5 above the rear wheel of the bicycle 5 , This will allow the bicycle to be stored in a smaller space than would conventionally be possible, and if the bicycle 5 is a folding bicycle, it will make folding of the bicycle easier because the weight of the bicycle 5 will not need to be supported during the folding process .

The rear support plate 15 of the support frame 1 may be provided with one or more feet 67 to assist in engaging the ground, and optionally to partly elevate one ox both of the vertical arms 61 of the rear support plate when the rear support plate 15 is resting on the ground.

One of the forward vertical struts 6 of the support frame

1 encloses an internal strut 69, which may be extended out from the forward vertical strut 6 to extend the length thereof. The forward vertical strut 6 and the associated internal strut 69 include a mechanism (not shown) to allow the internal strut 69 to be releasably locked in place inside the forward vertical strut 6 and also locked in at least one extended position.

Figure 2 is a front view of a trolley 3 of a preferred embodiment of a device according to the present invention, and which is suitable for use in conjunction with the support frame 1 shown in Figure 1. The trolley 3 comprises two legs 17, each having first ends 31 and second ends 33. The first ends 31 of each of the legs 17 are linked by a handle 35, which is attached to each of the legs 17 via pivots 36. The second ends 33 of the legs 17 of the trolley 3 are connected by a hinge 37, which comprises a first section 39, a second section 40 and a third section 41. The first section 39 of the hinge 37 is attached at one end to the second end 33 of one of the legs 17 of the trolley 3, and the third section 41 of the hinge 37 is attached at one end to the second end 33 of che other leg 17 of the trolley 3. The first and third sections 39, 41 of the hinge 37 are linked by the second section 40. The connections between the first and third sections 39. 41 of the hinge 37 and the legs 17 of the trolley 3, and between the first section 39, the second section 40 and the third section 41 of the hinge 37 all pivot in the plane of the trolley legs 17, so that the distance between the second ends 33 of the legs 17 may be varied by changing the angles between the first, second and third sections 39, 40, 41 of the hinge 37. The hinge 37 is also provided with means (not shown) to lock the first, second and third sections 39, 40, 41 rigidly in line in the plane of the trolley legs 17, to maximise the distance between the second ends 33 of the legs 17. The first second and third sections 39, 40, 41 of the hinge 37 may be made from any suitable material, for example they may be in the form of square section aluminium tubes ,

The second ends 33 of the legs 17 of the trolley 3 are each provided with wheeling means in the form of castors 44 (shown in Figure 3), however it will be understood that any other conventional wheeling means could be used in trolleys according to the present invention, for example rollers or wheels. The castors 44 allow the trolley 3 to be wheeled on a range of surfaces, and to conveniently transport articles attached to the trolley 3. The castors 44 are fixed at such an angle to the trolley legs 17 so as to be in line with the direction of pull of the trolley 3 when the legs 17 are extended and the hinge 37 is locked in the widest position.

The trolley 3 shown in Figure 2 is also provided with a quick release clamp 43, which is rotatably attached towards the first ends 31 of each of the legs 17 of the trolley 3. In use, the quick release clamp 43 may be attached to the saddle stem 59 of a bicycle 5 (see Figure 5) , and acts to lock the trolley 3 rigidly in position on the support frame 1 and bicycle 5. The quick release clamp 43 may be rotated so as to allow the trolley 3 to be attached to a bicycle 5 with the handle 35 of the trolley 3 positioned either behind or in front of the saddle stem 59 of the bicycle 5,

As shown in Figure 4, the legs 17 of the trolley 3 each comprise first, second and third telescopic sections 49, 51, 53; the third section 53 fitting within and slidingiy engaging the second section 51, and the second section 51 fitting within and slidingly engaging the first section 49, so that the lengths of the leg 17 may be varied. Each of the first, second and third sections 49, 51, 53 of the legs 17 are 5 provided with means (not shown) to lock the sections in position with respect to each other and to prevent the lengths of the legs 17 changing during use. The quick release clamp 43 is pivotally attached to the third section 53 of each of the legs 17 of the trolley 3.

10

The length of the first section 49 of each of the legs 17 is 450mm, and the length of each of the legs 17 when the first, second and third sections, 49, 51, 53 are fully extended is 950mm. Each of the first, second and third

15 sections 49, 51, 53 of the legs 17 are made of tubular steel and the first section 49 of the leg 17 is 20mm in cross section, the second 51 and third 53 sections being sized to fit within and engage each other and the first section 49.

20 The length of the handle 35 of the trolley 2 is 150mm, and therefore the width of the trolley in the collapsed form, as shown in Figure 3, is also 150mm. However, when the legs 17 are extended to their full length and the hinge 37 is locked in its widest position, the first ends 33 of the legs

25 17 will be positioned 400mm apart.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the trolley 3 of the preferred embodiment of a device according to the present invention also comprises two clips 47, one clip 47 being

30 attached co each of the legs 17 of the trolley 3. The clips

47 engage the forward cross strut 13 of the support frame i shown in Figure 1 when the trolley 3 is attached to a bicycle

5 via the support frame 1 (see Figure 5) . In addition, the clips 47 engage one of the forward struts 6 of the support frame 1 when the support frame 1 is used to attach a folded bicycle 5 to the trolley 3. The clips 47 may be made from any suitable material, for example sprung steel, flexible plastic or rubber, and may be attached to the legs 17 of the trolley 3 by any suitable means. The clips 47 are attached to the legs 17 at fixed points, but in certain embodiments their position along the lengths of the legs 17 may be variable.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the trolley 3 also comprises first elongated clip 71 and second elongated clip 72 positioned on the hinge 37. The second elongated clip 72 engages the rearward cross strut 14 when the trolley 3 is in the collapsed form and attached to the support frame 1 for transport on a bicycle 5. When the trolley 3 is extended and used to transport a folded bicycle, the first and second elongated clips 71, 72 will engage one of the vertical arms 61 of the rear support plate 15. The first and second elongated clips 71, 72 may be made from any suitable material, such as sprung steel, flexible plastic or rubber, and may be attached to the hinge 37 by any suitable means.

As shown in Figure 5, the trolley 3 shown in Figures 2 to 4 may be attached to a bicycle 5 via the support frame 1, which is permanently attached to the frame of the bicycle 5 by connection means (not shown) at the lower ends of each of the forward vertical struts 6, and by the attachment strut 21. The support frame 1 may be attached to the bicycle 5 either during the manufacturer thereof, or afterwards by a wholesaler or by an individual purchaser. The support frame 1 is rigidly attached tc the frame of the bicycle 5.

The trolley 3 may be attached to the bicycle 5 in the collaDsed form shown in Figure 2 by enqaqinq the clips 47 of the trolley 3 with the forward cross strut 13 of the support frame 1, and also engaging the second elongated clip 72 on the hinge 37 with the rearward cross strut 14 of the support frame 1. The quick release clamp 43 of the trolley 3 is attached to the saddle stem 59 of the bicycle 5, and the trolley 3 will therefore be held rigidly on the bicycle 5. Additional articles (not shown) may be transported on the bicycle 5 using the trolley 3 as a support, for example luggage may be attached to the trolley 3 by means of one or more securing straps. In addition, panniers (not shown) may be attached to the support frame 1, for example by connection to the U shaped frame 9 and the horizontal struts 11, or to a support (not shown) which may be inserted into the tops of the vertical struts 6, 7.

In order to remove the trolley 3 from the bicycle 5, the quick release clamp 43 is released and the saddle stem 59 is lifted out of the bicycle 5 and through the clamp 43. The trolley 3 is then disconnected from the support frame 1 by releasing the clips 47 and the second elongated clip 72. At any stage during this operation the bicycle 5 may be up-ended and supported in a vertical position by resting the rear support plate 15 on the ground. The support plate 15 will hold the bicycle 5 stably in an upright position with the front wheel of the bicycle 5 above the rear wheel, meaning that the user will not need to support the weight of the bicycle 5. With the bicycle supported in this stable position, the trolley 3 may then be extended by extending each of the legs 17 and by moving the second ends 33 of the legs 17 apart by extending the hinge 37. In this form, the trolley may be used to transport large or bulky items , for example any luggage that had previously been carried on the bicycle 5. In addition, the bicycle 5 may be folded in a conventional manner and attached to the trolley 3 for transport by wheeling. To attach the bicycle 5 to the trolley 3, the bicycle is maintained in a stable position resting on the rear support plate 15, and the length of one of the forward vertical struts 6 is increased by extending the internal strut 69 and locking this in an extended position. The clips 47 located on the trolley legs 17 are then connected to the extended forward vertical strut 6, and the first and second elongated clips 71, 72 located on the hinge 37 are connected to the nearer of the vertical arms 61 of the rear support plate 15. The bicycle 5 may then be wheeled on the trolley 3 using the castors 44. The trolley may also be rested by allowing the weight of the bicycle 5 to be supported by the rear support plate 15. Additional luggage could also be transported on the trolley 3 whilst the bicycle 5 is attached thereto, for example by attaching the luggage to the side of the trolley to which the bicycle 5 is not attached, either by use of specific attachment means, or by the use of adjustable or elasticated straps (not shown) .

To assist storage, the trolley 3 with the bicycle 5 attached thereto may be covered by a bag or other storage means (not shown) .

Conversion back to the cycle mode comprises the reversal of the above operation. Thus, any cover is removed from the trolley 3 and then any securing straps and additional items are also removed. The bicycle 5 is rested on the rear support plate 15, and the trolley 3 is disengaged from the support frame 1, the trolley then being returned to the compact form. The bicycle 5 is unfolded and at some point in this operation, the collapsed trolley 3 is connected to the support frame 1 by engaging the clips 47 with the forward cross strut 13, and the second elongated clip 12 with the rearward cross strut 14. The σuick release clamp 43 is then connected to the saddle stem 59 of the bicycle 5, and the saddle stem adjusted to the preferred position. The bicycle may then be returned to the riding position by lowering the front wheel.

The support frame 1 and trolley 3 shown in Figures 1 to 5 are intended for use with a folding bicycle folding in a particular direction, and it will be understood that various features of the support frame 1 and trolley 3 may be changed in support frames and trolleys intended for use with bicycles folding in a different direction.

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