HOLDING DEVICE WITH AN L-SHAPED STAND AND A CLAMP Technical Field of the Invention This invention relates to a holding device including a stand, which, at one end, has a means for detachably holding an object in a accessible state and, at an opposite end, a faste- ner for fastening the stand, the stand comprising three sepa- rate, partable members, viz. an inner member which comprises a first box profile to which the fastener is united; an interme- diate member which is composed of two second and third box pro- files extending at an angle to each other; and an outer member which comprises a fourth box profile to which said means is attached, said box profiles being rigidly connectable to each other in pairs in a number of angle positions, corresponding to the number of walls in the respective box profiles. The holding device in question is especially-although not solely-inten- ded for temporary mounting of bicycles in connection with repair and/or service.

Background of the Invention and Prior Art In individual households, needs arise on recurrent occasions of mounting bicycles in a stable, fixed state to enable service of different types, e. g. repair of punctured tyres, cleaning and re-greasing chains, tightening screws, etc.

Such needs arise especially frequent in larger families where the majority of the family members own a bicycle. A particular difficulty for households with limited ancillary space is to find room for the bicycle, more precisely in an upside down state in which the vital parts of the bicycle, such as the wheels and the chain, is easily accessible. In narrow ancillary spaces, the efficient floor area is commonly limited, and therefore, putting up the bicycle in an upside down state on the floor is difficult or impossible. In addition, putting up the bicycle on a floor means that the same will be low-levelled in its entirety whereby work in a standing posture normally is obstructed.

Objects and Features of the Invention The present invention aims at obviating the above-men- tioned difficulties and at providing a holding device by means of which the temporary holding of, for instance, a bicycle may be carried out in a simple and smooth way. Therefore, a primary object of the invention is to provide a holding device, the stand of which may be smoothly mounted on miscellaneous details positioned above a floor or a ground, such as a table, a wall or the like, at the same time as the gripping means of the device may, in a flexible way, be positioned at a point in the room where the object held is easily accessible. Another object is to create a holding device, which is structurally simple and cheap to manufacture.

According to the invention, at least the primary object is attained by the features defined in the characteriz- ing clause of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are furthermore defined in the dependent claim 2.

Brief Elucidation of Prior Art By EP 625 409, GB 2 280 653 and DE 4 427 343 bicycle- holding devices are previously known, the stands of which are united to chassis intended to be put on a floor and which, for stability reasons, require a large putting up area. For the above-mentioned reasons, these devices are not suitable for use in narrow spaces.

A bicycle-holding stand is furthermore known by WO 94/27857 which, per se, is rather compact and which may be mounted on level above a floor or the like, for instance on a wall. However, in this case the possibilities of locating the gripping means at different desired points in the room are extraordinarily limited. Thus, the gripping means consists of an arm (for the receipt of a plurality of bicycles) which, per se, is turnably movable, viz. between a folded-in and an exten- ded position, but this turnable arm is permanently articulated- ly connected to a post possible to fix on a wall. This means that the arm is always located in the immediate vicinity of the wall in an in-use position projecting perpendicularly there- from.

A holding device of the kind generally described in the preamble is previously known by US 5 082 037. However, in this case the holding component of the means consists of a plate on which tools may be mounted. In other words, this device is inappropriate for use in connection with bicycles and the like.

Brief Description of the Appended Drawings In the drawings: Fig 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention in a composed state, Fig 2 is an exploded view seen from the side and showing three different main members included in the device, in a separated state, Fig 3 is a partly exploded side view illustrating the device attached to a wall, Fig 4 is a partly exploded side view showing the device app- lied on a table and assembled according to two differ- ent alternatives, Fig 5 is an enlarged cross-section through two co-operating box profiles included in the device, Fig 6 is a partial side view showing a bicycle which is fixed in a first position in the device according to the invention, and Fig 7 is a partial side view illustrating an alternative position of the bicycle.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention In fig 1 and 2, numeral 1 generally designates a hold- ing device according to the invention. This is composed of three separate, partable members, viz. an inner member 2, an intermediate member 3 as well as an outer member 4. In the inner member, a fastener 5 is included, while the outer member 4 includes a gripping means 6.

In the example shown, the fastener 5 consists of a plate having holes 7 for fixing screws. In addition to the fas- tening plate 5, the inner member 2 includes a first box profile 8, which is fixed on the plate by welding and extends perpen-

dicularly to the plane of the plate. Advantageously, the box profile 8 is centrally placed on the preferably square plate.

The intermediate member 3 is composed of two second and third box profiles 9 and 10, respectively, extending at an angle to each other. More precisely, the box profiles 9,10 extend perpendicularly to each other. In practice, the box pro- files 9,10 may be approximately equally long, e. g. about 0,5 m.

The outer member 4 of the stand comprises a fourth box profile 11 to which the gripping means 6 is attached.

In the preferred embodiment, the stand also includes a fifth box profile 12. This box profile is permanently united to the first box profile 8 and extends perpendicularly thereto. As may be clearly seen in fig 2, the box profile 12 is arranged near the fastening plate 5 and extends parallel thereto.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the second and third box profiles 9,10, which are included in the intermediate member 3, are thicker than each one of the box profiles 8,11,12. All profiles have a quadrangular cross-sec- tion shape. More precisely, the cross-section shape is square.

In fig 5 is shown how, for instance, the thicker box profile 10 in the intermediate member 3 includes four equally wide walls 13, while a thinner box profile, e. g. the box profile 11, includes four equally wide walls 14. Each one of these walls 14 is at least somewhat slender than the walls 13, so that the thinner box profile may be inserted in the thicker one, more precisely with a relatively narrow fit.

Near the free end of the third box profile 10, a lock- ing mechanism 15 is arranged, by means of which the fourth box profile 11 can be fixed in positions projecting differently far out from the third box profile. In the example shown, the lock- ing mechanism consists of a simple screw provided with a knob, which screw is fastened in an internally threaded socket adja- cent to a hole through a side wall to the box profile 10.

In the example the gripping means 6 consists of a con- ventional so called self-grip wrench, which includes two clamp- ing jaws 16,17, one of which is fixedly applied to the free end of the box profile 11, while the other one is arranged on a turnable arm 18. The arm 18 is loaded by a spring which in an

active state holds the clamping jaws braced against each other.

By means of an operating arm 19, the jaw 17 may be distanced from the jaw 16 in order to widen the gap between the jaws.

When the operating arm 19 is turned inwards, the jaw 17 is again brought towards the jaw 16 so as to clamp an object which should be gripped. By means of a particular adjustment device 20, the distance between the jaws 16,17 in the clamping state may be adjusted. The jaws 16,17 may advantageously consist of long narrow angle pieces which, on the inside thereof, are lined with a soft material, e. g. rubber.

The Function and Advantages of the Invention The holding device according to the invention may be mounted on carriers of miscellaneous types, e. g. a table, a work bench, a wall, a stand-alone post, etc. More precisely, the fastener 2 is fixed in a selected position on the appurte- nant carrier by means of screws, which are fastened in the holes 7. When the fastener has been fixed, the gripping means 6 may be located in a plurality of different positions in the room. Fig 3 exemplifies how the fastener 5 has been fastened on a wall, the first box profile 8 protruding perpendicularly from the wall, while the fifth box profile 12 extends parallel to the wall at a certain distance therefrom. In doing so, the sec- ond box profile 9 included in the intermediate member 3 may be applied either on the vertical fifth box profile 12 or on the horizontal first box profile 8.

In fig 4, the inner member 2 is shown attached to a horizontal table, the first box profile 8 protruding vertically from the table, while the fifth box profile 12 extends horizon- tally. Also here, the intermediate member 3 may be applied to either one of the two box profiles 8,12.

When the box profile 9 of the intermediate member is applied to a selected box profile 8 and 12, respectively, the same may assume either one of four different angle positions since the box profiles in question have a square cross-section shape, i. e. include four side walls. This means that the third box profile 10 may protrude in four different turning positions at a mutual 90° angle. In addition, the fourth box profile 11 may be applied in four different positions in relation to the

third box profile 10. Suppose that the second box profile 9 is applied to the vertical first box profile 8, the box profile 10 extending horizontally. In this case, the pair of clamping jaws 16,17 may be oriented either horizontally (turned upwards or downwards in relation to the geometrical axis of the box pro- file 10) or vertically (on either side in relation to the box profile 10). When the box profile 9 is applied to the horizon- tal fifth box profile 12, the pair of clamping jaws will always be oriented horizontally, but in this case the box profile 11 may be readjusted between four angle positions separated 90°.

Another possibility to vary the position of the grip- ping means in the room is offered by the fact that the box pro- file 11 is telescopically displaceable in relation to the box profile 10 and can be fixed in relation thereto by means of the locking screw 15. By protruding the box profile 11 differently far out from the box profile 10, the distance between the clamping jaws of the gripping means and the second box profile 9 may be varied within a considerable linear range.

In fig 6 is illustrated how the clamping jaws 16,17 of the gripping means 6 are horizontally oriented and clamp the frame of a bicycle turned upside down. In this case, the second box profile 9 extends vertically upwards from the fixed inner member 2, while the third box profile 10 extends horizontally, the fourth box profile 11 being so adjusted that the clamping jaws assume horizontal positions. By pulling the fourth box profile 11 out of the third box profile 10 and turn the same 90° as well as again stick in and fix the same in the third box profile 10, the clamping jaws may be readjusted to the vertical position illustrated in fig 7. In this case, the bicycle may be held with the appurtenant frame in a vertical position.

The concept"box profile", as used in this description and the subsequent claims, should be interpreted in the widest sense. In the shown, preferred embodiment, all box profiles have a square cross-section shape. However, it is also feasible to use profiles with another cross-section shape, e. g. triangu- lar, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc. In doing so, the possibilities to set pairs of co-operating box profiles in different angle positions are depending on the number of walls in the box pro-

files. If a box profile having a pentagonal cross-section shape is used, five different angle positions may thus be achieved.

Although the holding device according to the invention primarily is intended for the holding of bicycles, the same may also be used for the holding of other objects. In this connec- tion, other types of gripping means than the type exemplified in the drawings may come in question. It is also feasible to use other holders, e. g. screw clamps, clamping devices or the like, instead of a plate provided with holes.