Abstract:
A bike transport handle is described for improving a person&#39;s ability to lift a bike for transporting. The bike transport handle comprises an attachment plate, a grasping plate, a stabilizing portion, and a grip. The bike transport handle may be attached to a bike&#39;s down tube or seat tube through apertures on the attachment plate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIORITY/PROVISIONAL APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/041,207, filed Aug. 25, 2014, which is expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Bicycles (i.e., bikes) are a common form of transportation, whether a person wants to travel just a short distance around the neighborhood, or whether a person wants to use the bike for more rigorous activity, such as when traveling longer distances or when riding off road (e.g., on bike trails, hills, etc.). Thus, bikes must be designed to be sufficiently sturdy, so as to properly support the rider of the bike and to be able to withstand the wear and tear of such activities. 
         [0003]    Bicyclists encounter a variety of obstacles in transporting their bikes from point to point. For instance, a bicyclist may encounter terrain that requires him or her to stop riding and to carry his or her bike because walking over the terrain is safer than attempting to ride over it (e.g., navigating up a rocky path on a trail). As another example, a bicyclist may need to move his or her bike at his or her residence and carrying the bike may be necessary to accomplish that necessary movement (e.g., walking down stairs at an apartment complex). When encountering such obstacles, picking up one&#39;s bike can be difficult and/or awkward due to the shape and weight of the bike&#39;s frame. Grabbing the frame of the bike may be less than optimal for lifting the bike from the ground because a natural grabbing place on the frame is its top tube. The lack of optimality results from the top tube being further away from the center of gravity than other parts on or areas of the bike. Another possible detriment is that lifting from the top tube may not create sufficient ground clearance for the bicyclist to walk with the bike, where ground clearance is affected by the height of the bicycle in relation to the height of the bicyclist and the height where the bicyclist lifts the bike. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A bike transport handle in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is disclosed. The bike transport handle provides a bicyclist or another person carrying a bike with an improved ability to lift the bike for transporting. The bike transport handle is configured to work in conjunction with a bottle cage on or attached to the bike&#39;s seat tube or down tube of the bike&#39;s frame. 
         [0005]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The Detailed Description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 1-4  are diagrams depicting a bike transport handle in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the bike transport handle when connected to a bike in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-4  ( FIGS. 1-4 ), a bike transport handle in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure is described herein. 
         [0010]    In embodiments, the bike transport handle  100  includes an attachment plate  102 . For example, the attachment plate  102  may be a metal plate, such as a cold-rolled steel plate, for promoting sturdiness characteristics of the attachment plate  102  (e.g., without processing such as high temperatures and/or hammering, the material is non-bendable, non-brittle). Further, the attachment plate  102  may be configured for being connected to a frame  202  of a bicycle  200 , as shown in  FIG. 5  ( FIG. 5 ). For instance, the attachment plate  102  may have one or more apertures  104  formed through it. The location of the apertures  104  of the attachment plate  102  may be established such that they may be aligned with corresponding receptacles formed in the bike frame  202 . For example, the apertures  104  may be spaced about 2 to 3 inches apart from each other. Further, the apertures  104  of the attachment plate  102  and the receptacles of the bike frame  202  may be correspondingly sized, shaped and structured, such that when they are aligned, fasteners (e.g., bolts or screws) may be positioned through each aperture  104  and received at least partially within the receptacles for allowing the attachment plate  102  (and thus, the bike transport handle  100 ) to be secured against (e.g., securely connected to) the bike frame  202  via the fasteners. For example, the receptacles of a bike frame  202  may be threaded for allowing the fasteners to be securely engaged within the receptacles. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the receptacles formed in the bike frame  202  may be located on the bike frame  202 , where fasteners for securing a bottle cage (or bottle holder)  208  to the frame  202  would typically be placed. For instance, the receptacles of the bike frame  202  may be located on and/or formed in the down tube  204  of the bicycle frame  202 , in a generally central position between the ends of the down tube  204 . As another example, the receptacles of the bike frame  202  may be located on and/or formed in the seat tube  206  of a bike frame  202 , in a generally central position between the ends of the seat tube  206 . Similar to the down tube  204 , the seat tube  206  may also have receptacles formed where fasteners may secure a bottle cage  208  to the frame  202 . In this manner, the bike transport handle  100  may be configured for being easily attached to numerous bicycles, where each bicycle already has the receptacles in its frame  202  for receiving fasteners for connecting a bottle cage  208  to the frame  202 . For example, a user may simply remove the fasteners that connect the bottle cage  208  to the bike frame  202 , align the apertures  104  of the attachment plate  102  with the receptacles of the bike frame  202 , align apertures of the bottle cage  208  with the apertures  104  of the attachment plate  102  and the receptacles of the frame  202 , re-install the fasteners, by placing them through the apertures of the bottle cage  208 , through the apertures  104  of the attachment plate  102 , and into the receptacles of the frame  202 , and tighten the fasteners within the receptacles for securing the handle  100  and bottle cage  208  to the frame  202 . 
         [0012]    In implementations, the bike transport handle  100  includes a grasping plate  106 . For example, the grasping plate  106  may be a metal plate, such as a cold-rolled steel plate. The grasping plate  106  may be sized and shaped for being grasped by a human hand. The grasping plate  106  may be of similar dimensions as the attachment plate  102 . Further, the grasping plate  106  and attachment plate  102  may be formed together or joined such as to form a unitary construction (e.g., a single piece of bent steel). Still further, the grasping plate  106  and attachment plate  102  may form an angle of greater than ninety degrees (e.g., between about 120 and 150 degrees) at the junction area of the grasping plate  106  and attachment plate  102  when the handle  100  connects to the frame  202  along the down tube  204 . In the alternative, the grasping plate  106  and attachment plate  102  may form an angle of ninety degrees or greater (e.g., between 90 and 150 degrees) at the junction area of the grasping plate  106  and attachment plate  102  when the handle  100  connects to the frame  202  along the seat tube  206 . The angled structures described above allow for compatibility with the angled structure formed by the relative positions of the down tube  204  and seat tube  206  of the bicycle  200 , such that when the handle  100  is connected to the frame  202 , the grasping plate  106  is oriented in a generally horizontal direction (e.g., parallel to the ground), thereby promoting ease of access and grasping of the grasping plate  106  by a user. Further, the horizontal positioning of the grasping plate  106  of the handle allows for the user&#39;s wrist to be at an angle which promotes stable and comfortable transport of the bicycle  200  by a user via the handle  100  when using one hand. As mentioned above, when the receptacles are formed in a generally central location in the down tube  204  (e.g., between the ends of the down tube  204 ), the handle  100 , when connected to the frame  202  via the receptacles, may be established in a proximally central position (e.g., at a balance point, at a center of gravity) of the bike frame  202 , such that the bike  200  resists tipping forward or backward when a user grabs the grasping plate  106  of the handle  100  with one hand. Similarly, when the receptacles are formed in a generally central location in the seat tube  206  (e.g., between the ends of the seat tube  206 ), the handle  100 , when connected to the frame  202  via the receptacles, may be established in a proximally central position (e.g., at a balance point, at a center of gravity) of the bike frame  202 , such that the bike  200  resists tipping forward or backward when a user grabs the grasping plate  106  of the handle  100  with one hand. Either of these implementations allow a user to more easily transport (e.g., carry) the bike, such as up or down stairs, even when packages or equipment are loaded on the bike. 
         [0013]    In embodiments, the bike transport handle  100  may include a grip  108 . The grip  108  may be configured to at least substantially encompass (e.g., may be configured for being placed over, against and/or around) the grasping plate  106 . For example, the grip  108  may be an elastomeric (e.g., rubber) grip. The grip  108  may be comprised of one or more materials such as rubber, solid foam, leather, wood, metal, acrylic glass, etc. In implementations, the dimensions, material and thickness of the grip may be selected for providing an ergonomic (e.g., padded) gripping surface over the grasping plate  106 . In further embodiments, the grip  108  may include a textured surface or textured surface features (e.g., ridges, bumps) for promoting slip-resistant gripping of the grip  108  (and grasping plate  106 ). In examples, the grip  108  may be configured for being directly engaged against (e.g., adhered to) at least a portion of the grasping plate  106 , such as via an adhesive (e.g., glue). 
         [0014]    In implementations, the bike transport handle  100  may include a stabilizing portion  110 . The stabilizing portion  100  may be positioned between the grip  108  and the grasping plate  106  for promoting stable and/or ergonomic grasping of the bike transport handle  100 . For example, as seen in  FIG. 2  ( FIG. 2 ), the grip  108  may substantially encompass the grasping plate  106  and the stabilizing portion  110  in a sheath-like manner, such that an inner surface of the grip  108  is engaged against (e.g., adhered to) the top surface of the grasping plate  106 , while the stabilizing portion is engaged against (e.g., adhered to) the bottom surface of the grasping plate  106  and an interior surface of the grip  108 . Such a configuration provides support for the grasping plate  106 , which is supported upon the stabilizing portion  110 . Further, if the grip  108  is formed of a deformable material (e.g., solid foam or rubber), such that it forms a deformable sheath around the grasping plate  106 , the stabilizing portion  110  may be sized and shaped to substantially fill space formed between the bottom surface of the grasping plate  106  and the grip  108  (e.g., the stabilizing portion  110  has a volume that is enough to create a tight fit between grip  108  and the encompassed combination of the grasping plate  106  and stabilizing portion  110 ). If the grip  108  is formed of a non-deformable material (e.g., wood, metal, or acrylic glass), the grip  108  may still form a sheath around the grasping plate  106  and the stabilizing portion  110 , which is sized and shaped for substantially filling the space formed between the bottom surface of the grasping plate  106  and the grip  108 , but a filler, adhesive and/or other binding agent may be used to improve the tightness of the fit. 
         [0015]    In implementations, the grasping plate  106  may comprise the stabilizing portion  110  as a unitary structure. In such implementations, the stabilizing portion  110  may be formed (or shaped) out of additional material comprising the grasping plate  106 , where the grasping plate  106  is steel or another sturdy material. The stabilizing portion  110  would be positioned between the grip  108  and surface of the grasping plate  106  to or from which the stabilizing portion  110  derives. For example, the grip  108  may substantially encompass the grasping plate  106 , including the stabilizing portion  110 , in a sheath-like manner, such that an inner surface of the grip  108  is engaged against (e.g., adhered to) the top surface of the grasping plate  106 , while the stabilizing portion  110  forms the bottom surface of the grasping plate  106  and engages against (or adheres to) an interior surface of the grip  108 . Further, if the grip  108  is formed of a deformable material, such that it forms a deformable sheath around the grasping plate  106 , the stabilizing portion  110  may be sized and shaped to substantially fill space formed by the shaping of the grip  108  that acts as a sheath for the grasping plate  106  with its stabilizing portion  110 . If the grip  108  is formed of a non-deformable material, the grip  108  may still form a sheath around the grasping plate  106  and stabilizing portion  110 . 
         [0016]    Thus, as described above, the stabilizing portion  110  may prevent substantial deformation (e.g., sagging) of the grip  108 . Further, the stabilizing portion  110  may provide a more padded structure when the handle  100  is grasped by a user, thereby promoting more stable gripping of the handle  100 . For instance, the stabilizing portion  110  promotes the prevention of destabilizing (e.g., side-to-side, up-down) movement of the bike  200  when the user grips the grasping plate  106  through the grip  108  to carry the bike  200  via the handle  100 . In embodiments, the stabilizing portion  110  may be a multi-piece structure or a unitary structure. For example, the stabilizing portion  110  may be a unitary shaped structure formed of a single half cylinder. As another example, the stabilizing portion  110  may be a multi-piece shaped structure of two quarter cylinders. Further, the stabilizing portion  110  may be formed of any of a number of various materials, such as wood, plastic, fiberglass, acrylic glass, metal, etc. 
         [0017]    Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features described above. Rather, the specific features described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.