Abstract:
A combination container and support assembly allows a cyclist to maintain an advantageous aerodynamic position using aerobars while also permitting access to liquid within the container. The support assembly has a body from which pivoting legs extend. Clips at the ends of the legs attach the assembly to the aerobars. A bracket is attached to the body, the bracket holding the container. The container has a streamlined form and has a drinking tube extending therefrom toward the cyclist. A collar is positioned on the container and allows additional accessories to be mounted on the combination.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to containers and support assemblies for mounting containers on structures such as aerobars of bicycles. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The use of aerobars on high performance racing bicycles allows the rider to assume and maintain an advantageous aerodynamic position which reduces drag significantly. However, using conventional frame mounted water bottles to replenish lost fluids while riding forces the rider to break the aerodynamic position periodically, resulting in an increase in drag and a consequent loss in performance. There is clearly a need for a liquid container and a support assembly which allow ready access to the liquid by the rider using aerobars while also allowing the rider to maintain the advantageous aerodynamic position. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The invention is directed to a support assembly for mounting an item, such as a water bottle, on a structure, such as the aerobars of a bicycle. In one example embodiment, the support assembly comprises a body having a plurality of legs attached to the body and extending outwardly therefrom. A least one of the legs is pivotable relatively to the body. A plurality of clips, are each attached to a respective one of the legs. The clips are adapted to contact the structure and mount the body thereon. A bracket is mounted on the body, the bracket is adapted to receive the item. 
         [0004]    In one example, the body has a tapered forward section and a tapered aft section. In another example, at least a first and a second of the legs have respective first and second ends oppositely disposed. The first ends of each of the first and second legs are pivotably attached to the body. The clips are respectively attached to each of the second ends of each of the first and second legs. In one example of the invention, the first and second legs pivot about respective first and second pivot axes. The first and second pivot axes may be oriented parallel to and positioned adjacent to one another. In this example embodiment each of the first and second legs may comprise a plurality of gear teeth respectively positioned on the first ends thereof. The gear teeth on the first leg are in meshing engagement with the gear teeth on the second leg thereby coordinating pivoting motion of the first and second legs about the first and second pivot axes. 
         [0005]    In an example embodiment of the invention at least one of the clips comprises an arcuate band. The example invention may further comprise a ball joint positioned between at least one of the legs and one of the clips, the ball joint effecting attachment of the at least one clip to the at least one leg. 
         [0006]    In an example embodiment, the bracket comprises a plurality of fingers projecting from the body. The bracket may further comprise, for example, a first and a second finger positioned in spaced relation along a first side of the body and projecting therefrom; a first rail extending between the first and second fingers; a third and a fourth finger positioned in spaced relation along a second side of the body opposite to the first side thereof, the third and fourth fingers projecting from the body; and a second rail extending between the third and fourth fingers. 
         [0007]    In another example embodiment, the bracket may comprise a first and a second finger positioned in spaced relation on opposite sides of the body and projecting therefrom. In this example embodiment, the first and second fingers may be attached to the forward section. The bracket may further comprise a third and a fourth finger positioned in spaced relation on opposite sides of the aft section of the body and projecting therefrom. This example embodiment may also include a first rail extending between the first and the third fingers and a second rail extending between the second and fourth fingers. 
         [0008]    The invention further encompasses a container for holding a liquid wherein an item is mountable on the container. In one example embodiment, the container comprises a sidewall surrounding and defining an internal volume. The sidewall has an outer surface. A filling port positioned in the sidewall provides access to the internal volume. A tab is mounted on the sidewall and overlies the outer surface. The item is positionable between the tab and the outer surface, and the tab retains the item to the outer surface for mounting the item thereto. 
         [0009]    In a particular embodiment, the sidewall comprises a first vessel having a first opening and a second vessel having a second opening. The first and second vessels are joined to one another at the first and second openings and define the internal volume. The container further comprises a collar positioned between the first and second vessels. In one example embodiment, the collar comprises a ring surrounding at least one of the first and second openings of the first and second vessels. The tab is attached to the collar. 
         [0010]    In another example embodiment, the first vessel is removably joined to the second vessel. The collar may comprise a ring removably mounted surrounding the opening in one of the first and second vessels, the tab being attached to the collar. In a particular example embodiment, the collar comprises a ring removably mounted surrounding the opening in the second vessel, the tab being attached to the collar. 
         [0011]    The container may further comprise a tube mounted on one of the first and second vessels and extending into the internal volume. A sleeve may surround a portion of the tube. In a particular example embodiment, the tube and the sleeve are mounted on the first vessel. In an example embodiment, the filling port is positioned within one of the first and second vessels and a cap is positioned overlying the filling port. In a particular example embodiment, the filling port is positioned within the first vessel and a cap is positioned overlying the filling port. By way of example, the cap may comprise a plurality of flexible leaves which deflect to permit filling of the internal volume through the filling port. The first and second vessels may have an elongate streamlined shape. 
         [0012]    Another example embodiment of a container according to the invention comprises a first vessel having a first opening and a second vessel having a second opening. The first and second vessels are joined to one another at the first and second openings and define a fluid holding internal volume. A tube is mounted on one of the first and second vessels. The tube extends into the internal volume. A collar is positioned between the first and second vessels. In a particular example, the collar comprises a ring surrounding the first and second openings of the first and second vessels. A filling port may be positioned within one of the first and second vessels, and a cap is positioned overlying the filling port. In a particular example embodiment, the tube is mounted on the first vessel and the filling port is also positioned within the first vessel. The cap may comprise, for example, a plurality of flexible leaves which deflect to permit filling of the internal volume through the filling port. The example embodiment may also include a sleeve surrounding a portion of the tube, the sleeve being mounted on one of the first and second vessels. The vessels may have an elongate streamlined shape. 
         [0013]    In an example embodiment, a tab is attached to the collar and projects therefrom in overlying relation with an outer surface of the container sidewall. The tab is adapted to hold an item against the outer surface of the container. 
         [0014]    The first vessel may be removably joined to the second vessel. By way of example, the collar may comprise a ring removably mounted surrounding the opening on one of the first and second vessels. In a particular example, the collar comprises a ring removably mounted surrounding the opening on the second vessel, a tab being attached to the collar and projecting therefrom in overlying relation with an outer surface of the second vessel, the tab adapted to hold an item against the outer surface. 
         [0015]    The invention also encompasses the combination comprising a container for holding a liquid and a support assembly for mounting the container on an aerobar of a bicycle. In this example the support assembly may comprise a body with a plurality of legs attached to the body and extending outwardly therefrom. At least one of the legs is pivotable relatively to the body. A plurality of clips is also included, each one of the clips being attached to a respective one of the legs, the clips being adapted to contact the aerobar and mount the body thereon. In this example a bracket is mounted on the body. The bracket is adapted to receive the container. An example container may comprise a first vessel having a first opening and a second vessel having a second opening. The first and second vessels are joined to one another at the first and second openings to defining a fluid holding internal volume. A tube is mounted on one of the first and second vessels. The tube extends into the internal volume. A collar is positioned between the first and second vessels. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an example embodiment of a combination container and support assembly according to the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the support assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2A  is a bottom view of the support assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an exploded isometric view of the support assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an exploded isometric view of the example container shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is an isometric longitudinal sectional view of the container shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view showing the support assembly mounted on the aerobars of a bicycle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  shows an example combination container and support assembly  10  according to the invention. The combination  10  includes a support assembly  12  adapted to mount on a structure, such as the aerobars of a bicycle (see  FIG. 6 ) and a container  14  which is received and held by the support assembly. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , support assembly  12  comprises a body  16  on which a plurality of legs  18  are mounted. In this example, body  16  is elongated and has a tapered forward section  20  and a tapered aft section  22  which provides a streamlined shape to the body. Legs  18  extend outwardly from body  16 , two being attached to the forward section  20  and two being attached to the aft section  22  in this example. As shown in phantom line in  FIG. 2A , at least one of the legs  18  is pivotable relatively to the body. In this example, the pivoting motion is about a pivot axis  24  (see  FIG. 2 ) oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis  26  of the body  16 , thereby affording pivoting motion in the fore and aft directions as indicated by double headed arrow  28 . In the example embodiment shown, all of the legs  18  are similarly pivotable about respective pivot axes  24 , the pivot axes being oriented parallel to one another as shown in  FIG. 3 . As further shown in  FIG. 3 , pivoting motion of the legs  18  is afforded by mounting the ends  30  of the legs  18  on axles  32  fixedly mounted within body  16 . In this example embodiment, the ends  30  of legs  18  comprise a plurality of gear teeth  34 . The legs  18  mounted on the forward section  20  of body  16  have pivot axes  24  adjacent to one another, and the gear teeth  34  on the ends  30  of legs  18  are in meshing engagement with one another, thereby coordinating the pivoting motion of the legs  18  on the forward section with one another. Similarly, the legs  18  mounted on the aft section  22  of body  16  have pivot axes  24  adjacent to one another, and the gear teeth  34  on the ends  30  of legs  18  are in meshing engagement with one another, thereby coordinating the pivoting motion of the legs  18  on the aft section with one another. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a clip  36  is mounted on the end  38  of each leg  18 . In this example, each clip  36  comprises an arcuate band  40  adapted to contact the structure on which the support assembly is to be mounted. Arcuate bands  40  are advantageously formed of a flexible, resilient material and are sized so that they will deform and resiliently grip the structure on which they are mounted. In a practical example, with reference to  FIG. 6 , the arcuate bands  40  are sized so that their radius of curvature is slightly smaller than the radius of the aerobars  42 , shown in phantom line. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , it is advantageous to mount the clips  36  to the ends  38  of legs  18  using ball joints  44 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , each ball joint  44  comprises a ball  46  attached to a respective clip  36 , and a spherical housing  48  attached to the end  38  of a respective leg  18 . As shown in phantom line in  FIG. 2A , ball joints  44  permit the clips  36  to pivot relatively to the legs  18 . The clips may also rotate about the shaft attaching the ball  46  to the clip  36 . The use of pivoting legs  18  and ball joints  44  mounting clips  36  thereto allows the support assembly to be readily adjusted to a variety of aerobars having different bar separation widths and angular orientations. The use of flexible, resilient arcuate bands  40  also improves the versatility of the support assembly, as aerobars having a range of diameters maybe readily accommodated. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a bracket  50  is mounted on body  16 . Bracket  50  comprises a plurality of fingers  52  which project from the body  16 . In the particular example shown, two fingers  52  are attached to the forward section  20  of body  16  on opposite sides thereof, and two fingers  52  are attached to the aft section  22  on opposite sides of the body  16 . Rails  54  extend longitudinally between the fingers  52  on each side of the body  16 . The fingers  52  and rails  54  comprising the bracket  50  are sized and shaped to receive and retain an item, such as the container  14  as shown in  FIG. 1 . To this end the fingers  52  may be formed from a flexible, resilient material and the rails  54  spaced apart at a distance slightly less than the width of the container  14 . This configuration permits the rails to engage and retain the container  14  when it is received within the bracket  50 . It is further advantageous to position a surface feature on opposite sides of the container to facilitate positive mechanical engagement between the bracket and the container. In this example, longitudinal grooves  56  are positioned on opposite sides of the container. The grooves  56  cooperate with the rails  54 , which are spring biased into engagement with the grooves by the action of the flexible, resilient fingers  52 , to retain the container  14  within the bracket  50 . 
         [0028]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show an example container  14  according to the invention. Container  14  comprises a first vessel  58  having a sidewall  59  with a first opening  60 , and a second vessel  62  having a side wall  63  with a second opening  64 . The first and second vessels  58  and  62  are joined to one another at their first and second openings  60  and  64  and the sidewalls  59  and  63  thereby define an internal volume  66  as shown in longitudinal section in  FIG. 5 . In this example the vessels  58  and  62  have an elongate, streamlined shape. A tube  68  is mounted on the container  14 , in this example, on the first vessel  58 , the tube extending into the internal volume  66  and providing fluid communication thereto. A sleeve  70  is also mounted on the container  14  (in this example on the first vessel  58 ) and surrounds a portion of the tube  68 . Sleeve  70  helps support the tube  68  in an upright configuration, the tube being preferably flexible and thus generally incapable of supporting itself. 
         [0029]    A filling port  72  is provided in the container  14 . In this example the filling port is positioned within the first vessel  58 . A cap  74  is positioned overlying and providing a closure for the filling port. In this example, cap  74  comprises a plurality of flexible leaves  76  which cover the filling port  72  but deflect out of the way when, for example, a nozzle is inserted into the filling port  72  to fill the internal volume  66  with liquid. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a collar  78  is positioned between the first and second vessels  58  and  62 . In this example, the collar  78  comprises a ring  80  which is initially mounted on the second vessel  62  surrounding the second opening  64 . When the first and second vessels  58  and  62  are joined at their first and second openings  60  and  64 , the ring  80  surrounds both openings  60  and  64 . It is advantageous for the collar  78  to be removably mounted on either the first or second vessel, and also that the first and second vessels be removably joined to one another. Removably joining the vessels  58  and  62  to one another may be accomplished in a variety of ways, for example, using mating screw threads, or, as shown by way of example in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , by a friction fit between an annular extension  82  projecting from the second vessel  62  and surrounding the second opening  64 , and a mating fitting  84  positioned on the first vessel  58  and surrounding the first opening  60 . 
         [0031]    The collar  78  permits additional components to be mounted on the container  14 , and making the collar removable allows one to interchange components as desired. In the example embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a tab  86  is attached to the collar. Tab  86  projects from the collar  78  in overlying relation with an outer surface  88  of the container  14 , in this example, the outer surface  88  being on the second vessel  62 . Tab  86  may be used to hold a map or a route cue sheet conveniently atop the container  14  for ready, hands free use by the rider of a bicycle on which the combination  10  is mounted. Alternately, a bracket could be attached to the collar  78 . The bracket could be adapted, for example, to hold a cellular telephone or a GPS navigation device for use by the rider. 
         [0032]    The combination container and support assembly according to the invention provides a versatile accessory for cyclists using aerobars, the combination having streamlined features for enhanced riding performance.