The present invention relates generally to a package, and more particularly, to a package for packing a bicycle.
A bicycle is a small land human powered transport that is driven by pedaling. The bicycle is usually packed in a carton during transportation.
Nevertheless, a common carton box usually only provides a plain receiving space for accommodating a bicycle, thus the structure is very primitive. After a user opens the carton box to retrieve the bicycle, the carton box loses its purpose and becomes disposable, which is very wasteful.
Furthermore, a general carton cannot completely fix the bicycle, and the carton has a limited capacity for absorbing impact and dispersing forces. During the transportation, whether by land or by ship, the transportation vehicle often experiences violent shaking or impact due to certain factors, resulting in severe shaking or impact on the cartons carried. Therefore, when the carton shakes or jumps violently, the bicycle will also shake or jump inside the carton, and the front end of the front wheel of the bicycle and the rear end of the rear wheel of the bicycle will be impacted by external forces, resulting in damage to the frame of the bicycle and deformation of the front and rear wheels of the bicycle. Although cushioning materials (such as foam) can be used to wrap the entire bicycle to reduce the chance of damage to the bicycle, the volume of cushioning packaging materials needed to wrap the entire bicycle is considerable and as wasteful.
In addition, when the bicycle is packaged in a carton, the stem of the bicycle is usually in an unlocked state so that the handlebar can be placed parallel to the frame of the bicycle, thereby reducing the volume of the package. After removing the bicycle from the carton, the user must clamp the front wheel of the bicycle by both legs, use a kickstand to hold the frame of the bicycle, or put the frame of the bicycle abutting against the wall so that the user can use a tool to loosen a fastener on the bicycle's stem. Then, the stem of the bicycle is rotated, and the user determines whether the steering assembly such as the stem and the handlebar of the bicycle are aligned with the fixed front wheel by visual inspection. When the two are aligned, the user may finally fix the fastener of the stem of the bicycle. In this way, the user can use the stem to steer the front wheel, so that the bicycle can turn smoothly.
However, the above-mentioned method of adjusting the stem of the bicycle requires using both legs of the user, which may be laborious; or, it needs another people to help to hold the bicycle. Furthermore, the user needs to visually determine whether the steering assembly such as the stem and the handlebar of the bicycle are aligned with the fixed front wheel while fastening the steering assembly such as the stem and the handlebar of the bicycle, which may be difficult and result in ill-aligned position and angle of the stem and the handlebar of the bicycle.
When a bicycle without a kickstand is in need of repair (for example, replacing the inner or outer tires of the front or rear wheels, components such as chains or brake pads), the user usually needs to turn the entire bicycle upside down (that is, the seat cushion is under, the wheels are at top) so that tools can be used for maintenance, which is also troublesome.
A repair frame can be used to support the frame of the bicycle when adjusting the stem of the bicycle and repairing the bicycle. Although the repair frame solves the problems of using the legs to clamp the front wheel of the bicycle, the problems of using a kickstand and the problems of abutting the bicycle against the wall or inverting the entire bicycle, the cost of buying a repair frame is often considered as an extra expense.
In addition, the conventional package does not provide a space to store scattered parts and tools in a collected manner.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a package that can be used to pack and transport bicycles as well as being used as a workstation, parking stand or display stand for bicycle. In addition, the package is able to provide two-wheel parking and single-wheel parking.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a package for mounting the bicycle. In addition, a sufficient working space is ensured for tools to move freely while repairing or dismounting the wheels, so as to avoid interference when operating the tools.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a package which not only completely fastens the bicycle and prevents the bicycle from shaking or jumping during transportation, but also provides a good cushioning effect with a small amount of cushioning materials to prevent the frame of the bicycle from being damaged or suffering deformation of the wheels. As compared with the conventional package, the volume of the cushioning material needed in the package of the present invention is reduced while the same cushioning effect is maintained, thereby reducing unnecessary waste.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a package that can protect the front end of the front wheel and the rear end of the rear wheel of the bicycle, so the front end of the front wheel and the rear end of the rear wheel of the bicycle are prevented from being impacted by external forces.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a package that can fix the front wheel of a bicycle to an imaginary vertical plane, so that an external force or other means is no longer required to do so. As such, the steering assembly such as stem and the handlebar of the bicycle can be easily assembled and aligned with the fixed front wheel.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a package that provides a space for accommodating scattered parts and tools.
For achieving the foregoing objectives, the present invention provides a package for packaging a bicycle, comprising a base and a cover. The base has two positioning grooves, wherein the positioning grooves are formed at two opposite ends of the base, respectively. The cover is enclosing the base to form a receiving space therewith.
Preferably, the base comprises a base portion and two support portions. The support portions respectively protrude from two opposite ends of the base portion, and each of the positioning grooves extends from one of the support portions to the base portion.
Preferably, the bicycle is disposed in the receiving space, two wheels of the bicycle are respectively disposed in the positioning grooves, and each of the wheels is abutted against one of the support portions.
Preferably, the wheels of the bicycle and a frame of the bicycle are assembled together.
Preferably, a height position of a top surface of each of the support portions is higher than a height position of a wheel axle of each of the wheels of the bicycle.
Preferably, a reinforcing portion is formed between each of the support portions and the base portion, and each of the positioning grooves extends from one of the support portions through one of the reinforcing portions adjacent to each of the support portions to the base portion.
Preferably, each of the reinforcing portions has an arc surface, and the arc surface of each of the reinforcing portions and at least one of the wheels of the bicycle are concentrically disposed.
Preferably, a distance between the arc surface of each of the reinforcing portions and a wheel axle of an adjacent wheel is equal to a radius of the wheel.
Preferably, the package further comprises a cushioning material disposed on a bottom surface of a top plate of the cover, wherein the cushioning material is abutted against and located between the bicycle and the cover.
Preferably, each of the positioning grooves is L-shaped or arc-shaped.
Preferably, the base has a storage portion.
Preferably, the storage portion is disposed between the positioning grooves.
Preferably, the storage portion comprises a storage slot and a storage box, the storage slot is formed on the base, and the storage box is disposed in the storage slot.
Preferably, the positioning grooves are aligned with each other along a longitudinal direction of the base.
Preferably, longitudinal directions of the positioning grooves are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the base, and center lines of the longitudinal directions of the positioning grooves are located on one side of a center line of the longitudinal direction of the base.
Preferably, at least one retaining member is disposed in each of the positioning grooves.
Preferably, a first socket and a second socket are respectively provided on two side walls of each of the positioning grooves, and each of the retaining members is inserted into the first socket and the second socket of each of the positioning grooves.
Preferably, the cover comprises two side plates, each of the side plates is provided with at least one cover fixing hole, the base comprises two side walls, each of the side walls is provided with at least one base fixing hole, and the package further comprises at least two fixing members, and the fixing members are respectively fixed in the cover fixing holes and the base fixing holes.
Preferably, the cover comprises two end plates, and each of the end plates is provided with a hole.
The present invention is advantageous in that the package of the present invention can be used to pack and transport a bicycle in such a way that after the user receives the bicycle transported in the package, a nearly assembled bicycle is presented to the user upon the opening of the cover. In addition, the base of the package can also serve as a workstation, parking stand or display stand for the bicycle. Thus, the package does not become a waste, which is novel and practical. The base can provide two-wheel positioning as well as single-wheel positioning when used as a workstation, parking stand or display stand for the bicycle, which increases the purpose and practicality of the package. Therefore, the package of the present invention is particularly suitable for fixing a bicycle without a kickstand.
Furthermore, in addition to the function of fixing the bicycle, because the arc surfaces of the reinforcing portions and the wheels of the bicycle are concentrically arranged, a sufficient working space is ensured to avoid interference of the tools during the repair and installation process of the wheels.
In addition, the package of the present invention not only allows the frame of the bicycle to be completely fastened to prevent the bicycle from shaking or jumping during transportation, but also can provide a good cushioning effect with a small amount of cushioning materials to prevent the frame of the bicycle from being damaged or to prevent the wheels from deforming. As compared to the conventional package, the package of the present invention can reduce the volume of the cushioning material used while providing the same cushioning effect, thereby reducing unnecessary waste.
In addition, the package of the present invention can protect the front end of the front wheel and the rear end of the rear wheel of the bicycle and prevent the front end of the front wheel and the rear end of the rear wheel of the bicycle from being impacted by external forces.
Furthermore, with the package of the present invention, the front wheel of the bicycle can be fixed in the positioning groove of the base, so that an external force or other means is no longer required. As such, the steering assembly such as stem and the handlebar of the bicycle can be easily assembled and aligned with the fixed front wheel.
In addition, the storage portion of the package of the present invention can be used as a space for accommodating scattered parts and tools in a collected manner.
The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The present invention provides a package for packaging a bicycle, which comprises a cover 10, a base 20 and a bicycle 100.
The base 20 has two positioning grooves 201, 202, which are formed at opposite ends of the base 20, respectively. More specifically, the base 20 comprises a base portion 21 and two support portions 22, 23. The support portions 22, 23 protrude from two opposite ends of the base portion 21 respectively, and each of the positioning grooves 201, 202 extends from one of the support portions 22, 23 to the base portion 21.
The cover 10 encloses the base 20, and a receiving space 16 is formed by the cover 10 together with the base 20. More specifically, the cover 10 is a hollow and rectangular structure which comprises two side plates 11, 12, two end plates 13, 14 and a top plate 15. The side plates 11, 12 are located on two sides of a width direction of the cover 10. The end plates 13, 14 are located on two ends of a longitudinal direction of the cover 10. The top plate 15 is provided above the side plates 11, 12 and the end plates 13, 14. The bottom of the cover 10 is not closed and an opening is formed on the bottom of the cover 10.
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Preferably, longitudinal directions of the positioning grooves 201, 202 are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the base 20. Center lines L1 and L2 of the longitudinal directions of the positioning grooves 201, 202 are located on one side of a center line L3 of the longitudinal direction of the base 20. In other words, the base 21 comprises two side walls 211, 212, the positions of the positioning grooves 201, 202 are located closer to the side wall 211 of the base 21, and the positions of the positioning grooves 201, 202 are located farther to the other side wall 212 of the base 21. As shown in
Preferably, the height position of the top surface of each of the support portions 22, 23 is lower than the height position of the top end of each of the wheels 101, 102 of the bicycle 100. In other words, the top surface of the support portion 22 is between the wheel axle 1011 and the top end of the wheel 101 of the bicycle 100, and the top surface of the support portion 23 is between the wheel axle 1021 and the top end of the wheel 102 of the bicycle 100. As such, in addition to the effects described in earlier, manufacturing costs can be reduced.
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Preferably, the material of the retaining members 40, 41 is a cushioning material (for example, foam) or a common carton material such as cardboard. As such, when the package of the present invention is subjected to severe upward and downward force during transportation, the retaining members 40, 41 can effectively limit the movement of the bicycle 100 in the vertical direction of the package. In addition, the retaining members 40, 41 can also effectively absorb and disperse impact forces to prevent the wheels 101, 102 of the bicycle 100 from being damaged by external forces during transportation.
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After obtaining the package of the present invention, first, the user must remove the fixing members 60 from the cover fixing holes 111, 121 and the base fixing holes 2111, 2121 so as to disengage the cover 10 from the base 20. Then, the cover 10 may be moved upward, so that the cover 10 is separated from the base 20 to achieve opening the package. At this point, the base 20 can at least serve the following three purposes: a) the base 20 can be used as a workstation, and the bicycle 100 can be mounted thereon to facilitate assembly or maintenance of the bicycle 100; b) the base 20 can be used as a park stand for the bicycle 100 when the bicycle 100 is not in use; and, c) the base 20 can be used as a display stand for users to display the bicycle 100.
Preferably, as shown in
In the following, the use of the base 20 as a workstation will be described with reference to the drawings. After the cover 10 is detached from the base 20, the base 20 can be used to position the wheels 101, 102 of the bicycle 100 to facilitate the maintenance of the bicycle 100.
Since the positioning grooves 201, 202 are aligned with each other along the longitudinal direction of the base 20, the frame 103 and the wheels 101, 102 of the bicycle 100 are kept on the same imaginary vertical plane. In such a way, the user can easily adjust the stem 104 and the handlebar 105 of the bicycle 100 to the correct position and angle.
The user can also replace the inner or outer tube of the wheel 101, a chain 110 or two brake pads (not shown) of the bicycle 100, according to the above-described operation.
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In summary, the package of the present invention can be used to pack and transport a bicycle 100 in such a way that once the user receives the bicycle 100 transported in the package, a nearly assembled bicycle 100 can be presented to the user upon the opening of the cover 10. In addition, the base 20 of the package can also be used as a workstation, parking stand or display stand for the bicycle 100. Thus, the package does not become a waste, which is novel and practical. The base 20 can provide two-wheel positioning as well as single-wheel positioning when used as a workstation, parking stand or display stand for the bicycle 100, which increases the purpose and practicality of the package. Therefore, the package of the present invention is particularly suitable for fixing a bicycle 100 without a kickstand.
Furthermore, in addition to the function of fixing the bicycle 100, because the arc surfaces 2211, 2311 of the reinforcing portions 221, 231 and the wheels 101, 102 of the bicycle 100 are concentrically arranged, a sufficient working space is ensured to avoid interference of the tools during the repair and installation process of the wheels.
In addition, the package of the present invention not only allows the frame 103 of the bicycle 100 to be completely fasten to prevent the bicycle 100 from shaking or jumping during transportation, but also can provide a good cushioning effect with a small amount of cushioning materials 30 to prevent the frame 103 of the bicycle 100 from being damaged or to prevent the wheels 101, 102 from deforming. As compared to the conventional package, the package of the present invention can reduce the volume of the cushioning material 30 used while providing the same cushioning effect, thereby reducing unnecessary waste.
In addition, the package of the present invention can protect the front end of the wheel 101, i.e., the front wheel and the rear end of the wheel 102, i.e., the rear wheel of the bicycle 100 and prevent the front end of the wheel 101, i.e., the front wheel and the rear end of the wheel 102, i.e., the rear wheel of the bicycle from being impacted by external forces.
Furthermore, with the package of the present invention, the wheel 101 i.e., the front wheel of the bicycle 100 can be fixed in the positioning groove of the base, so that an external force or other means is no longer required. As such, the steering assembly such as stem 104 and the handlebar 105 of the bicycle 100 can be easily assembled and aligned with the fixed wheel 101, i.e., the front wheel.
In addition, the storage portion 24 of the package of the present invention can be used as a space for accommodating scattered parts and tools in a collected manner.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.