METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONSTRAINING A BICYCLE

[0001] REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/906,953 to Kelsen with a filing date of 03/14/2007.

[0003] BACKGROUND

[0004] Field of the Invention

[0005] This invention relates to bicycles, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for braking a bicycle while parked.

[0006] Description of Related Art

[0007] Traditionally, a kickstand has been used to allow a bicycle to stand in an upright position when the bicycle is not in use. A typical kickstand is mounted to a bicycle and is adapted to swing down to contact the ground on which the bicycle rests. Certain bicycles, however, are currently used without kickstands. Such bicycles include, for example, mountain bikes and high-end road bikes. The reasons for excluding kickstands from certain bicycles include reducing the weight of road and mountain bikes and promoting safety in the use of mountain bikes, as kickstands may be hazardous in the off-road conditions over which a mountain bike traverses. Due to the exclusion of a kickstand, such bicycles lack the ability to stand in an upright position when not in use. A bicycle without a

kickstand, therefore, often must be propped against a vertical surface, such as a wall or tree, or placed on the ground in order to support the bicycle when not in use. However, propping a bicycle against a vertical surface or placing the bicycle on the ground for storage of the bicycle, or to perform a maintenance activity such as cleaning the bicycle, can be unstable, inconvenient, and unsafe.

[0008] Thus, some users have a separate stand at home for use with their bicycle, in order to park it when not in use. An example of such a stand is seen in U.S. Patent No. 6,976,593 to Fierstein. A distinct limitation of this approach is that a user may also want to park the bicycle when not at home or near the stand.

[0009] When a person rides a bicycle that is not equipped with a kickstand and takes a break from riding, the bicycle is often leaned against an object or placed on the ground. Placing the bicycle on the ground is often undesirable as damage can occur. When a bicycle is stood upright against an object the bicycle has a high potential to fall over if not positioned properly or if bumped, especially where the terrain on which the bicycle is stood has a slope. While standing, the wheels can turn, causing the bicycle to roll away from the support upon which it had been leaning.

[0010] What is called for is a device and apparatus which allows for stable parking of a bicycle that has not been equipped with a traditional kickstand.

[001 1] SUMMARY

[0012] A device and method adapted to keep a bicycle upright and stable while not in use that engages one or more brake levers and the brakes of the bicycle, while the bicycle is leaned against an object. A device and method which is

lightweight, easy to keep with the bicycle, and which is adapted to be used with a large variety of types of bicycles. A device and method adapted to keep a bicycle upright and stable while leaned against an object while on a slope. [0013] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a parking brake device according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0015] Figure 2 is a top view of a parking brake device according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0016] Figure 3 is a view of a parking brake device stowed on the handlebar of a road style bicycle. [0017] Figure 4 is a view of a parking brake device in use on the handlebar of a road style bicycle. [0018] Figure 5 is a view of a parking brake device stowed on the handlebar of a mountain bike style bicycle. [0019] Figure 6 is a view of a parking brake device in use on the handlebar of a mountain bike style bicycle. [0020] Figure 7 is a view of a bicycle with a parking brake device in use as propped against an object. [0021 ] DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0022] In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, a parking brake device 10 for a bicycle is seen as an annular band of material. In some embodiments, the material is a relatively stiff elastic material. In some embodiments, the device 10 may have a diameter of approximately 1.1 inches n

its relaxed state, with a depth of 3/8 of an inch, and a thickness of 1/16 of an inch. The parking brake device is adapted to reside snugly over the outside diameter of a bicycle handlebar, which is typically just larger than the relaxed diameter of the device. The parking brake device is also adapted to stretch to approximately twice this diameter, in order to allow for the grabbing of a brake lever as described below.

[0023] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the use of a parking brake device 10 on the handlebar 20 of an exemplary road bicycle. The handlebar 20 curves to a hand rest area 23 indicative of a road bicycle handlebar. A brake lever 21 typically pivots around a pivot 22 at a first end and may have a slight outgoing curve at a second end 24. The parking brake device 10 is adapted to reside on the handlebar in an unintrusive fashion, ideally not interfering with the normal use of the bicycle while being ridden.

[0024] However, once the rider had stopped, and desires to park the bicycle by leaning it upright against an object, the rider runs the distinct risk that the front wheel will begin to roll a bit, perhaps even turning, and then the bicycle rolls away from its upright stance against the object and crashes to the ground. As seen if Figure 4, the parking brake device 10 is stretched over the brake lever 21, which will engage the brake of the bicycle. A preferred use is on the front brake, as the front tire is the tire most vulnerable to rolling off in practice. Thus, with the use of a device that is provides almost no weight burden to the rider, a safe parking of the bicycle can be managed.

[0025] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the use of a parking brake device 10 on the handlebar 30 of an exemplary mountain bike. The handlebar 30 typically goes out straight to a hand rest area 33 indicative of a mountain bike handlebar. A brake lever 31 typically pivots around a pivot 32 at a first end and may have a slight outgoing curve at a second end 34. The parking brake device 10 is adapted to reside on the handlebar in an unintrusive fashion, ideally not interfering with the normal use of the bicycle while being ridden. As seen if Figure 6, the parking brake device 10 is stretched over the brake lever 31 , which will engage the brake of the bicycle.

[0026] Although described here in terms of a removable band that resides on the handlebar, in other embodiments the device may be more permanently a part of the handlebar, and may be a solid clip adapted to grab the braked lever in its compressed position. In other embodiments, the device may be of a fastened type wherein a flexible piece, such as cloth or rubber or other soft material, is wrapped around the brake lever and fastened, such as with loop fasteners or other means.

[0027] Figure 7 illustrates a bicycle parking system 40 wherein a bicycle 41 is parked against an object, here a fence 47, utilizing a parking brake device 43. The handlebar 48 of the bicycle has been placed against the fence 47 at a contact point 46. The front brake lever 42 has been compressed by the device 43, which also resides around the handlebar 48. The front brake lever 42 engages the front brake 44, which in turn prevents rotation of the front tire 45. In this constrained condition, the bicycle is prevented from rolling away from the fence 47, and the bicycle may be parked in a relatively secure fashion.

8] As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general invention.