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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
VERTICAL BICYCLE PARKING DEVICE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2006/018666
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention is a stand-alone device intended for bicycle parking in minimum space, consisting of the structure (1), the bike support (2), the ramp rail (3), the front wheel bracket (5), the rear wheel bracket (4) and the lock (6). The essential feature is that the bike support together with the ramp rail and the pertaining elements revolves around an internal connecting crosstube (1b) which is a constituent part of the support structure (1). The design of the device is modular, meaning that it can be easily extended, depending on the desired number of bike parking places.

Inventors:
RADOVAN MARIN (HR)
Application Number:
PCT/HR2005/000044
Publication Date:
February 23, 2006
Filing Date:
August 18, 2005
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
RADOVAN MARIN (HR)
International Classes:
B62H3/12; (IPC1-7): B62H3/12
Foreign References:
DE3611532A11986-11-27
DE4223048A11994-01-20
DE4209007A11993-08-26
EP0741071A11996-11-06
DE4119403A11992-12-17
CA2387162A12003-12-05
DE4209007A11993-08-26
Other References:
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1997, no. 10 31 October 1997 (1997-10-31)
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Inova D. O. O. (Zagreb, HR)
Download PDF:
Description:
VERTICAL BICYCLE PARKING DEVICE AREA OF APPLICATION According to the International Patent Classification (IPC), the Invention is classifiable as follows: B 62 H 3/00 - Separate supports or holders for parking or storing bicycles; B 62 H 3/08 - . involving recesses or channelled rails for embracing the bottom part of a wheel; B 62 H 3/12 - Hanging-up devices TECHNICAL PROBLEM The technical problem addressed by this Invention is how to design a device for vertical parking of bicycles which will: - reduce the parking space (50%), - protect the bicycle against theft, and - prevent damage to the bicycle. STATE-OF-THE-ART The problems of parking and securing bicycles are familiar world¬ wide, especially in cities where the use of bicycles in downtown traffic is becoming increasingly popular. All known bicycle parking solutions are impractical, unhandy, unsafe. Parking at such places almost certainly results in some damage to the bicycle, its frame or spokes, for example, and for that reason such places are largely avoided. Besides, protecting the bicycle requires a sizeable lock chain, which is rather burdensome to carry around. Furthermore, such bicycle parking occupies a lot of space, which makes it inconvenient for cities and which explains why such parking lots are rarely seen. Vertical parking designs singled out here are presented in the following documents: 1. EP 0 741 071 Al, patented and invented by Jules Sijpkens and Jeroen Alexander Sijpkens, The Netherlands, 2. DE 41 19 403 Al, patented by Institut fϋr Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH, Germany, 3. CA 2 387 162 Al, patented and invented by Joseph Morris Smith, Canada, and 4. DE 42 09 007 Al, patented and invented by Gerhard Arnold, Germany. A brief review of the above solutions: The EP0741071 document presents a device for placing the bike in the vertical position. The device consists of a base, a fork and a mechanism. The base is wall-mounted, the fork revolves around the point where it is attached to the base, and the mechanism connects the fork and the base, serving for hoisting and securing the bike. The bike is hoisted over the front wheel (rim) which leans on the fork projection. The DE4119403 document presents a device for placing the bike in a position at an angle less than 90 degrees. The device consists of a stop, a stand, a cable and a holder. Wall-mounted. The front wheel is placed on the holder and the bike is hoisted by pulling the cable. The bike is secured by binding the cable around its frame. The CA2387162 document presents a device for holding the bike in the vertical position. The device is free-standing and adjustable in height. The bike is placed manually, leaning against the handlebar and the crossbar or the front wheel rim. The DE4209007 document presents a device for hoisting the bike into the vertical position. The device consists of a base, a cap and a mechanism. The base is wall-mounted. The cap is linked to the base by means of two pairs of forks and two pairs of piston mechanisms. The cap is movable and serves for hoisting and securing the bike. The bike is hoisted by applying force on the front wheel. The whole bike is raised above the ground. Weaknesses of the above solutions: - a complicated hoisting and holding mechanism - indispensability of an upright base (wall) for fixing the device - leaning of the bike via the wheel rim (spokes exposed to damage) DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The objective of the Invention is to ensure safe and easy parking combined with minimum space requirement. The Device for Vertical Parking of Bicycles occupies a very limited space, just 1 m width and about 40 cm length per bike, including the extreme points of the stand of the structure. In other words, 10 parked bikes take one single passenger car parking place. A parking system like this can be placed: in the middle of a roadway (square), adjacent to an apartment building, on the rim of a roadway, in a public car parking lot, etc. Very convenient for placing in front of a shop, a public building, etc., which at the same time encourages the use of bikes. As this parking system can be manufactured to perfectly suit the customers' needs, ranging in capacity from one to ten or more parking places, it is also very practical for private houses, garages, entryways and gardens. It can also be used for the bike's washing, lubrication, routine maintenance and small repairs. The vertical bike parking system is shown in the attached sketches as follows: Dwg. 1 - side view of the device with a bike Dwg. 2 - detail of how the position of the device is secured Dwg. 3 - detail of the bike locking lath Dwg. 4 - side view of how the bike is placed on the device Dwg. 5 - side view of how the bike is fixed in place Dwg. 6 - the parking system, front view Components: • Structure support (1), consisting of two side holders (Ia) and an internal connecting crossbar (Ib). The side holders 95 (Ia) are made of tubes whose inner diameter is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the connecting crossbar (Ib) because the latter is inserted into the side holders (Ia), whereas the connection is secured with a screw on each side. On the connecting crossbar (Ib), in addition to the boreholes 100 (Ic) for linkage to the side supports, are the boreholes (Id) serving for aligning the bike support in the vertical position. • Bike support (2), consisting of a body (2a), a bike ramp lath (3) and a locker (6). The body (2a) has the same diameter as the side supports (Ia) and contains a borehole 105 through which a snap-in pin passes. Welded on to the body (2a) is the bike support locker (6) and the bike ramp lath (3). The bike support is slipped on the connecting crossbar (Ib) before mounting the side holders (Ia). • Ramp lath (3), consisting of a lath (3a), a fixed (welded) 110 front wheel bracket, a movable rear wheel bracket (4) and a sliding locking lath (7). The U-shaped front wheel bracket (4) is welded to the lath (3a) at an angle. The rear wheel bracket (5) is linked to the lath (3a) by means of an axle welded to the lower ends of the wheel bracket and passes 115 through a sleeve transversely welded on the rear part of the ramp lath. The locking lath (7) revolves around the axle and is linked to the lath (3a). Mounted on the axle is also a rotating flectional spring connected to the locking lath (7) and the lath (3a), which directs the locking lath (7) into the 120 position of the ramp lath. The locking lath (7), in addition to padlock insertion holes, has a groove in its lower half. Upon lowering the rear wheel bracket in order to bring the bike into position, the groove will sit on the projecting pin at the lower part of the wheel bracket and thereby prevent the 125 bracket from falling to the ground and instead make it remain in a position suitable for elevating on the wheel. On the lower part of the locking lath (7) is a foot which minimises the contact of the ramp lath with the ground. • Rear wheel bracket (4) is linked to the ramp lath as 130 already described. On the part of the bracket where the locking lath (7) is sliding there is a welded pin which, if the bracket is descending, gets stuck in the groove on the locking lath and thus blocks the bracket and prevents it from falling to the ground. Above it is a borehole for inserting the 135 padlock and still above a handle for hoisting the bracket. • Front wheel bracket (5), of the same shape as the rear wheel bracket, is firmly linked (welded) to the ramp lath (3). On the front part of the bracket is a welded foot (5a) supporting the support of the vertically parked bike. 140 • Locker (6) for blocking the bike support in the vertical position, consisting of a cap (6a), a snap-in pin (6b), a spring (6c) and a lever (6d). A pressure on the lever forces the snap-in pin out of the borehole in the connecting tube and enables the bike support to revolve around the 145 connecting tube, lowering or raising the ramp lath. The moment the snap-in pin is out of the borehole, it is no longer necessary to hold the lever for hoisting the snap-in pin, because it now slides on the surface of the connecting tube. While raising the bike support into the vertical position, the 150 snap-in pin, upon encountering the borehole, enters it and locks the support in the vertical position. The lever for hoisting the snap-in pin is pressed by foot and only while the bike support is descending. • Bike locking lath (7) on the body has two rows of 155 boreholes at semi-levels for inserting the padlock. This arrangement of boreholes allows one of them to overlap with the borehole on the rear wheel bracket, irrespective of the size of the bike wheel. Fig. 4 shows bike parking with a lowered ramp lath and the rear 160 wheel bracket. It also shows how the locking lath blocks the rear wheel bracket, preventing it from falling to the ground. Fig. 5 shows a bike on the ramp lath with a raised rear bracket, in a sandwich between the front and rear brackets. In this position the bike can be padlocked in a semi-raised position (when the bike is at 165 level) or in a completely vertical position. It is important to note that the wheel brackets are in contact only with the bike tyres, which eliminates any risk of damage to the bike's metal parts. Once mounted on the support, the bike is easily raised to the vertical position secured by the locker (6). 170 After removing the bike from the device, the bike support should be manually returned to the vertical position, with the rear wheel bracket (4) descending towards the ramp lath and the locking lath (7) rises towards the ramp lath. Advantages of the described and shown solution: 175 - Easy and safe handling, - Extension possibility (increasing the number of parking places), - Small space occupied, - Theft protected, and - Low manufacturing costs. 180 The Invention offers a flexible, durable, useful and low-cost device which incorporates essential improvements compared with other products of this kind. To experts it will be obvious that single components can be provided in different versions, without departing from the scope and essence of the Invention.