Patent Application
20200385076
The present invention generally relates to bicycles. More specifically, it relates to devices that holds the front wheel assembly of a bicycle in place. Maintaining the wheel and fork assembly within the same plane as the bicycle, thus prevent tipping when parked and stationary.
The first documented “kickstand” invention was developed by Albert Berruyer in the late 1800s as bicycles became popular. In the decades to follow, many varieties of such stands were developed: some were mounted below the handlebars and were much longer than more recent designs. In the early 1900s, Pardon Tillinghast developed a stand mounted on a pedal and folded up flat under the pedal when not in use. Between the 1930s and 1970s, kickstands were comprised of a single leg that simply flipped out to one side (usually the left side) and the bike then leaned against it. These side stands were mounted to the chain stays behind the bottom bracket or to a chain and seat stay near the rear hub. Today, kickstands on bicycles are not as popular because bicycles are lighter and many riders are concerned about extra weight; however, inventors have come up with alternative methods to support a bike when not in use. U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,35A granted to Krusghke disclosed a two-part kickstand in which one portion was affixed to the down tube and another portion was affixed to the bottom bracket, however did not accommodate wheels of different diameters and widths. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,603,875A and 5,544,54A granted to Matthew S. BoughtonMark T. La Plante (later assigned to the Cannondale Corporation) and McKanna respectively, developed front wheel braces that affix to the shift levers on the down tube and uses compression to stabilize the wheel—they do not support a wheel by the tire's sidewalls. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,185,850A and 4,595,214A granted to Edward Levine & Dixon Newbold and the Raleigh Cycle Co. of America respectively also developed a front wheel braces that affix to the down tube and uses compression to stabilize the wheel but does not support a wheel by the tire's sidewalls and does not accommodate different shape and size bicycles. International Patent Number WO2011134309S discloses a device attached to the fork of the bicycle and has a u-shaped bracket that engages with the top tube to lock the handlebar assembly in a plane. This invention does not prevent the front wheel from rotating and cannot accommodate different sized down tubes on bicycles.
The device herein disclosed and described provides a solution to the shortcomings in the prior art, through the disclosure of an automatic release, variably adjustable bicycle stabilizer. The object of the invention is to prevent a bicycle from tipping over when parked and leaning (against a wall etc.). When bicycles are leaned when parked, the front wheel assembly tends to turn causing the bicycle to roll and subsequently fall over potentially damaging the bicycle. The invention locks the front wheel and fork assembly in line with the rear wheel axis thereby preventing the bicycle from rolling and falling. The invention prevents the front wheel from moving laterally. Such movement can create a tipping point for the bicycle and the momentum can override the stand and the bike will fall over. The enlarged tips of the fork prevent the invention from disengaging when parked on a slight incline. These issues are critically important when there is added weight on the bicycle and can tip the bicycle if the front tire is not properly secured.
Another object of the invention is to provide a means to lock the front wheel by gripping the sidewalls of the tire. The invention has a swinging, wheel stabilizer with a slightly flexible, u-shaped fork that grips the tire at each side. This gripping may cause less stress on the tire than other inventions that apply compression directly to the base of the tire along a single point.
Another object of this invention is to allow a user to secure wheels of varying diameters and tire thicknesses. The swinging, wheel stabilizer has rails that are slightly flexible u-shaped fork and are wider at the base than at the top. As a user swings the wheel stabilizer onto the tire, they can swing it until it engages the tires of varying thicknesses. The fork-shaped rails are designed to flex to accommodate and secure different sized wheels. Wheels can include but are not limited to those with road bike tires, cruiser tires, gravel and off-road tires.
Another object of the aforementioned invention is to allow the swinging, wheel stabilizer to be released quickly and automatically. Once ready to ride, the user can simply push on the bike's handle bars which will roll the front wheel forward allowing it to roll out of the stabilizer's grip. The stabilizer will snap back secured against the down tube. Many other inventions that require manual disengagement before riding create a potential for damaging the bicycle when it is ridden before manually-releasing the stand.
Another object of the aforementioned invention is to provide a means to allow the invention to be affixed to a varietal of down tube diameters and shapes (such as large-diameter, small-diameter and aerodynamic-shaped bicycle frames etc.). The invention's anchor base (that holds the swinging, wheel stabilizer onto the bicycle frame) is flexible and can accommodate different tube diameters and shapes. In addition, the base attachment system comes with a wraparound band and double-sided removable tape. This combination of elements prevents the fork from twisting when torsion force is applied. The application of tape and/or band to create a unique combination that holds the bracket in place without twisting the slightly flexible u-shaped fork around the axis of the down tube when the fork is under load of the stationary front wheel.
Another object of the aforementioned invention is to provide additional safety lighting the front and sides of the bicycle. When a user is required to secure the device at night. A small LED is located proximally on the swinging; wheel stabilizer allowing a user to be sure it grips the front wheel properly.
Another object of the invention is to allow the invention to be easily stowed when not in service. The swinging, wheel stabilizer pivots up onto the anchor base and the down tube and is out of the way during bicycle operations. A torsion spring wound around the axle and held in with indents locks the rigid, yet slightly flexible u-shaped fork in place and prevents it from moving around when riding.
Another object of the aforementioned invention is to allow to users to install the invention without the use of tools. The combination of special adhesives and strategic installation makes it very simple and effective to operate.
Another object of the aforementioned invention is to minimize weight. The complete invention weighs less than one ounce (28.35 grams). The ratio of weight-to-price is critical with bicycles. The lighter the bicycle weight—the better the performance and the more expensive the bike. This invention conforms to this principal.
It is briefly noted that upon a reading this disclosure, those skilled in the art will recognize various means for carrying out these intended features of the invention. As such it is to be understood that other methods, applications and systems adapted to the task may be configured to carry out these features and are therefore considered to be within the scope and intent of the present invention, and are anticipated. With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention herein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. As used in the claims to describe the various inventive aspects and embodiments, “comprising” means including, but not limited to, whatever follows the word “comprising”. Thus, use of the term “comprising” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present. By “consisting of” is meant including, and limited to, whatever follows the phrase “consisting of”. Thus, the phrase “consisting of” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, and that no other elements may be present. By “consisting essentially of” is meant including any elements listed after the phrase, and limited to other elements that do not interfere with or contribute to the activity or action specified in the disclosure for the listed elements. Thus, the phrase “consisting essentially of” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present depending upon whether or not they affect the activity or action of the listed elements. The objects features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements described in this specification and hereinafter described in the following detailed description which fully discloses the invention, but should not be considered as placing limitations thereon.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive, examples of embodiments and/or features.
In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only; they are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation. Conventional components of the invention are elements that are well known in the prior art and will not be discussed in detail for this disclosure.
It is additionally noted and anticipated that although the device is shown in its most simple form, various components and aspects of the device may be differently shaped or slightly modified when forming the invention herein. As such those skilled in the art will appreciate the descriptions and depictions set forth in this disclosure or merely meant to portray examples of preferred modes within the overall scope and intent of the invention, and are not to be considered limiting in any manner. While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62853201 | May 2019 | US |
