Abstract:
Bikes typically include a seat that has a seat member that extends along a bottom portion of the seat. A rack for such a bike includes a platform, a bracket, and a rotatable member. The bracket is configured for at least temporary immovable connection to the seat member. The rotatable member is between the bracket and the platform. The rotatable member is configured for adjusting angle of the platform around a horizontal axis.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/236,523 entitled “Cantilever Bike Rack,” filed 24 Aug., 2009, incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This patent application generally relates to bicycle racks. More particularly, it relates to a bicycle rack that is quickly mounted and dismounted from a bicycle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A number of accessories have been developed to allow carrying loads while riding on a bicycle, and various types of bicycle racks are very common. Bicycle racks generally include a platform over which various types of bags or containers will be attached. Several methods have been used to attach the rack to the bike. 
         [0004]    One popular bike rack configuration that has high load capacity has side legs supporting the platform. The lower sections of the legs are bolted to threaded eyelets in the bike frame in the area of the wheel axle. The weight carried by the platform is borne by these legs. In addition, the platform may have top stays that connect to a higher section of the bicycle to prevent the platform from moving forward or rearward. 
         [0005]    Another type of bike rack has a cantilever configuration and is often referred to as a “seat post” rack or a “beam” rack. These types do not have legs connected to the bike frame. They have a single point of attachment to the seat post, and the seat post bears all the cantilevered weight. The attachment is made by way of a somewhat heavy bracket that clamps around the seat post. Seat post racks have advantage in that they can be installed and removed quickly. Some models do not require the use of any tools to install or remove. Also, seat post racks can be installed on bikes in which the bike frame is not equipped with the threaded eyelets to which rack legs would otherwise be attached. Seat post racks can also be installed on bikes that have disc brakes or suspension equipped bikes where the rack legs or its connections may interfere with other components of the bike. 
         [0006]    However seat post racks have limited carrying capacity because the cantilever configuration induces a torque that generates high localized stress on the seat post and that tends to bend the seat post. Therefore, the carrying capacity of seat post racks has been lower then that of regular legged bike racks. Platforms of seat post racks have also tended to rotate about the seat post axis. This rotation could only be countered by providing greater friction of the seat post rack bracket against the seat post. The seat post rack bracket needed to be very tight against the seat post to generate sufficient friction to prevent the platform from so rotating. Fairly heavy brackets were therefore needed and the large clamping force of the bracket to the seat post damaged the seat post finish and tended to crush the seat post material. Thus, seat post racks were not suitable for thin aluminum tubing seat posts or the newer carbon fiber seat posts. 
         [0007]    A carrier rack described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,017 to Naughton describes a rack for easy attachment and removal from a standard bicycle seat that includes a seat post abutment fork and a rail hanger. The seat post abutment fork is configured to at least partially encircle and abut the seat post. The rail hanger has arms that extend over the saddle rails of a standard bicycle seat at a pivot position near the knees of the rails so as to support the weight of the rack and its burden in a hanging fashion. While the pivoting rail hanger allows quick connection and disconnection to the seat rails it does not provide a sufficiently secure connection. Therefore further improvement in bicycle racks was needed and these improvements are provided by the present patent application. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Bikes typically include a seat that has a seat member that extends along a bottom portion of the seat. One aspect of the present patent application is a rack for such a bike. The rack includes a bracket, a platform, a clamp, and a hand operated quick connector. The bracket includes a platform side for connection to the platform. The bracket also includes a clamp side that has the clamp configured for providing a clamped connection to the seat member. The hand operated quick connector is located on the platform side and/or on the clamp side. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the present patent application is a bike rack for such a bike that includes a platform, a bracket, and a rotatable member. The bracket is configured for at least temporary immovable connection to the seat member. The rotatable member is between the bracket and the platform. The rotatable member is configured for adjusting angle of the platform around a horizontal axis. 
         [0010]    Another aspect of the present patent application is a bike rack for a bike having a seat and a seat post, in which the seat is mounted on the seat post. The bike rack includes a platform, a first connecting device, and a second connecting device. The first connecting device includes a first clamp for clamp mounting the platform to the seat and the second connecting device includes a second clamp for clamp mounting the platform to the seat post. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The foregoing will be apparent from the following detailed description as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, for clarity not drawn to scale, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view showing one embodiment of a bike rack and its mounting to seat rails and to seat post; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2   a  is a three dimensional view of a portion of the bike rack of  FIG. 1  showing how it is mounted to the seat rails and to the seat post; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2   b  is a three dimensional view showing quick disconnection of the rack platform of  FIG. 1  from the bike; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3   a  is a side view showing quick connection or disconnection of the tilted rack platform of  FIG. 1  from the bike; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3   b  is a cross sectional view showing quick connection or disconnection of the tilted rack platform of  FIG. 1  from the bike; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3   c  is a cross sectional view showing how rotation of the rack platform secures connection of the rack platform of  FIG. 1  to the bike; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4   a  is a side view showing the embodiment of the bike rack and its mounting to the seat rails and to the seat post of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4   b  and  4   c  are side views showing steps in the removal of the bike rack of  FIGS. 1 and 4   a  from the seat post and the seat rails; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5   a  is a three dimensional view of the bike rack of  FIG. 1  showing details of a length varying connector of the rack platform to the seat post; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5   b  is a three dimensional view of the bike rack of  FIG. 1  showing details of the clamp connector of the rack platform to the seat post; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5   c  and  5   d  are three dimensional views of the bike rack of  FIG. 1  showing a tubular rack frame connected to the rack platform; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a three dimensional view of the bike rack of  FIG. 1  showing details of the clamp connector of the rack platform to the seat post; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7   a  is a three dimensional view of the bike rack of  FIG. 1  showing a tubular rack frame connected to the rack platform; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7   b  is a three dimensional view of the bike rack of  FIGS. 1 and 7   a  showing additional tubular members connected to the tubular rack frame to support and limit movement of bags that may be attached alongside the wheel of the bike; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a three dimensional view of an embodiment of the bike rack with a quick release mounting of the rack platform to the seat rails and a fully enclosed rotatable member between the quick release mounting and the rack platform; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a three dimensional view of an embodiment of the bike rack of  FIG. 8  with the forward end of the rack platform having a lip that permits replacing one pivot support member with another pivot support member having a different length side section; 
           [0028]      FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  are three dimensional views of embodiments of the bike rack of  FIG. 8  with variable length pivot support member side sections; and 
           [0029]      FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  are three dimensional views of an embodiment of the bike rack of  FIG. 8  with a quick release clamp for clamping the rack platform to the seat post. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    In one embodiment, cantilever bike rack  20  includes rack platform  22  and its pivotal mounting  24  to bracket  26 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Bracket  26  clamps to a seat member extending along a bottom portion of the seat, such as seat rails  28  of bike seat  29 . The seat member can also be one or more crossbars. Any other structural element extending along a bottom portion of the seat can be used. Bike rack  20  also includes pivotal and adjustable mounting  30  to seat post  32 . Seat rails  28 , bracket  26 , and pivotal mounting  24  bear the weight of rack platform  22  and any load it carries. Position of rack platform  22  over the rear wheel of the bike is provided by bracket  26  and pivotal mounting  24  and is stabilized through pivotal and adjustable mounting  30  to seat post  32 . While pivotal and adjustable mounting  30  to seat post  32  prevents longitudinal motion of platform  22 , pivotal and adjustable mounting  30  to seat post  32  allows angle of rack platform  22  over the rear wheel of the bike to be set parallel to the ground. 
         [0031]    Pivotal mounting  24  to bracket  26  includes separable pivoting connector pin  40  and bearing  42 . Pivoting connector pin  40  is separable from bearing  42 , enabling quick hand operated separation of most portions of bike rack  20  from the bike while bracket  26  remains clamped to seat rails  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b . Removal of pivoting connector pin  40  from bearing portion  42  of bracket  26  is accomplished by lifting end  44  of rack platform  22  by hand, so pivoting connector pin  40  rotates to a position at which pin  40  can be removed from bearing  42 , as shown in  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   c.  Pivoting connector pin  40  has flat  48 . Removal is prevented when rack platform  22  is parallel to the ground and flat  48  is in the position shown in  FIG. 3   c . Removal is enabled only when flat  48  has rotated sufficiently. 
         [0032]    In this embodiment, pivoting connector pin  40  is supported at each end by side sections  60  of pivot support member  61 . Pivot support member  61  also includes bottom section  62  that is mounted to rack platform  22  with connector pin support bolt  64 . 
         [0033]    Connector pin support bolt  64  extends through holes in bottom section  62  of pivot support member  61  and rack platform  22 . Connector pin support bolt  64  also extends through slot  66  in top section  68  of U-shaped seat post clamp support  70 , as shown in  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b . Seat post clamp support  70  fits within sidewalls  72  of U-shaped rack platform  22 . Slot  66  permits adjustment of location of rack platform  22  and pivot support member  61  relative to U-shaped seat post clamp support  70  so rack platform  22  can be rotated so it is parallel to the ground, as shown in  FIGS. 5   c ,  5   d . Bolt  64  is then tightened to nut  65  to keep rack platform  22  parallel to the ground. Slot  66  allows adjustment to provide platform  22  parallel to the ground. 
         [0034]    Seat post clamp bolt  80  extends through holes (not visible) that extend through sidewalls  82  of U-shaped seat post clamp support  70 , as also shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b . Seat post clamp bolt  80  also extends through holes (not visible) that extend through seat post clamp extensions  84 , pivotally connecting seat post clamp  86  to sidewalls  82  of U-shaped seat post clamp support  70 . 
         [0035]    Pivotal and adjustable mounting  30  to seat post  32  includes seat post clamp  86  which has seat post clamp arms  88   a,    88   b,  velcro strap  90 , and velcro pad (not visible), as shown in  FIG. 5   b . Seat post clamp  86  and its seat post clamp arms  88   a,    88   b  are made of a rubber or plastic material, such as thermoplastic urethane (TPU). The TPU is formulated to have a hardness that allows seat post clamp arms  88   a,    88   b  to bend open easily, so they can extend around seat post  32 , but stiff enough to spring back and hold seat post  32 . 
         [0036]    Velcro strap  90  includes Velcro  90   a,    90   b  sewn onto front and back surfaces of a nylon strap, as shown in  FIG. 6 . Velcro strap  90  is inserted through slot  92  extending through the back portion  94  of seat post clamp  86 . One end of Velcro strap  90  is sewn for attachment to rectangular plastic loop  96 , such as a nylon loop. The other end of Velcro strap  90  extends around seat post clamp arms  88   a,    88   b,  is inserted through the nylon loop and is then pulled back, tightened, and Velcro  90   a  is connected to mating portion Velcro  90   b  of Velcro strap  90 . When first installed, tightening Velcro strap  90  aligns seat post clamp  86  with seat post  32 , rotating seat post clamp  86  around a pivot provided by seat post clamp bolt  80 . When tightened, Velcro strap  90  prevents further rotation of rack platform  22  around either pivoting connector pin  40  or seat post clamp bolt  80 . Other seat post clamp tightening schemes can be used, such as an elastic or rubber strap that wraps around seat post clamp  86 . The elastic or rubber strap is held in position with a connector, such as a hook. Alternatively a rachet type band can be used. In yet another alternative, a bolt with a hand operated lever is used. Such hand operated lever devices are commonly found for tightening wheels onto bikes. 
         [0037]    Before removal of cantilever rack  20 , Velcro strap  90  is released from connection to the Velcro pad allowing platform  22  to rotate around pivoting connector pin  40  and also allowing seat post clamp arms  88   a,    88   b  to slip off connection to seat post  32  when end  44  of platform  22  is raised, as shown in  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b.    
         [0038]    Bracket  26  includes seat rail bracket clamp members  100   a,    100   b,  connected with seat rail bracket connector bolts  102 , as shown in  FIGS. 2   a - 2   b.  For mounting, seat rail bracket clamp member  100   a  is positioned over seat rails  28  while seat rail bracket clamp member  100   b  is positioned under seat rail  24 . Seat rail bracket connector bolts  102  are then tightened. Seat rail bracket clamp member  100   b  is formed in one integral piece with bearing  42 . Seat rail bracket connector screws  102  may be tightened with an Allen wrench, as shown in  FIG. 3   a - 3   c  to leave bracket  26  in place connected to seat rails  28  when remaining portions of cantilever bike rack  20  are removed. 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, tubular rack frame  110  is connected to rack platform  22 , providing additional width to cantilever bike rack  20  for supporting cargo, as shown in  FIG. 5   a  and  FIG. 7   a . In one embodiment, additional tubular members  112  are connected to tubular rack frame  110  to support and limit movement of bags that may be attached along side the wheel of the bike, as shown in  FIG. 7   b.    
         [0040]    In another embodiment quick release mechanism  120  provides for quickly mounting and dismounting all portions of the cantilever bike rack from the bike, as shown in  FIG. 8 . In this embodiment, one side of bracket  122  includes hand operated clamp  124  that provides the quick mounting to and dismounting from seat rails  28 . Once single screw  128  is loosely tightened, turning handle  126  of hand operated clamp  124  tightens clamp  124 . Hand operated clamp  124  has an eccentric part. As handle  126  is rotated, the eccentric part pushes against the head of the bolt inside the end of the handle, and this tightens the bolt altogether. In this embodiment, seat rail bracket clamp member  130   a  alone is rotated about 90 degrees so it can first slide between seat rails  28 . Seat rail bracket clamp member  130   a  is then rotated 90 degrees in either direction so it is positioned above seat rails  28  while seat rail bracket clamp member  130   b  is positioned facing seat rail bracket clamp member  130   a  below seat rails  28 . Handle  126  is then turned drawing seat rail bracket clamp members  130   a,    130   b  together, tightening clamp  124 . Velcro strap  90  is then inserted in the nylon loop, tightened, and connected to its Velcro mate. Alternatively, with hand operated clamp  124  loosened, platform  22  is twisted so one side of bracket clamp member  130   a  straddles over one of seat rails  28 . Then platform  22  is twisted back so bracket clamp member  130   a  extends over the other seat rail  28 . Abutment  132 , extending from bracket clamp member  130   b  prevents rotation of bracket clamp member  130   a  during this operation, as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0041]    In this embodiment, the platform side of bracket  122  includes bearing  142  that extends around pin  136  of hinge  138 . Hinge  138  can be completely cylindrical, as shown by end  140  of pin  136  in  FIG. 8 . Hinge  138  can have one or more bearings  142  that completely enclose corresponding sections of pin  136 . 
         [0042]    While if bolt  64  is sufficiently tightened with nut  65 , rotation of rack around the axis of bolt  64  is avoided. However, applicants provided even greater resistance to such rotation by welding side sections  60  and front and back edges of bottom section  62  of pivot support member  61  to rack platform  22 . Alternatively, rack platform  22  is modified to include lip  146  extending toward the front of the bike, as shown in  FIG. 9 . Lip  146  is bent upward when side portions of rack platform  22  are bent down. Front edge  148  of pivot support member  61  is mounted against lip  146  and this contact prevents rotation of rack  22  around the axis of bolt  64 . 
         [0043]    Eliminating welding, such as by providing lip  146 , allows for replacement of pivot support member  61  with a different one having a different length side section  60 . Thus, for a rider who raises the height of bike seat  29  a pivot support member  61  with longer side section  60  can be selected, allowing platform  22  to be lower and lowering the center of gravity of platform  22  and the load it is carrying, improving stability. Thus, for example pivot support member  61  can come with side section  60  having a length of 2 inches between platform  22  and pin  40 ,  136 . Different pivot support members  61  can also be available with different side section lengths. For example pivot support members may be available with side section length of 3 inches, 4 inches, and 5 inches between platform  22  and pin  40 . Thus, regardless of the height of seat post  32  and seat  29 , rack  22  can remain low above the rear wheel of the bike. 
         [0044]    In other embodiments, pivot support member  150   a,    150   b  with variable side section  152   a,  as shown in  FIG. 10   a  or variable side section  152   b,  as shown in  FIG. 10   b  can be used. In both the embodiments of  FIG. 10   a  and that of  FIG. 10   b , variable length is achieved with two plates, with plate  154   a,    154   b  connected to bracket  122  and plate  156   a,    156   b  part of pivot support member  150   a,    150   b.  Two bolts  160  are used to connect plates,  154   a,    156   a  in  FIG. 10   a  and a sufficient number of holes  162  is included in each plate  154   a,    156   a  to provide a sufficient number of heights. Alternatively a slot can be provided in one of plates  154   a,    156   a,  as shown with slot  170  in plate  154   b  in  FIG. 10   b . In addition, in the embodiment of  FIG. 10   b  plate  154   b  wraps around top and sides of plate  156   b  providing additional stability during height adjustment. 
         [0045]    Illustrating another seat post clamp tightening scheme with a hand operated lever device is seat post bracket quick release clamp  180  shown in closed and open positions in  FIGS. 11   a ,  11   b.  Seat post bracket quick release clamp  180  includes hinged half round front collar  182  and fixed rear collar  184  connected with front collar hinge  186 . Seat post bracket quick release clamp  180  also includes hinged seat post bracket quick release lever  188  with cam controlled pressure device  190  for tightening. Seat post bracket quick release lever  188  is connected to fixed rear collar  184  with quick release lever pin  192  and hinge  194 . When closed, quick release lever pin  192  extends through slots  195   a,    195   b  in front portions  196   a,    196   b  of front and rear collars  182 ,  184 . Pushing down on seat post bracket quick release lever  188  adds pressure tightening connection. Pulling up on seat post bracket quick release lever  188  relieves pressure allowing quick release lever pin  192  to be removed from slots  195   a,    195   b  and for front collar  182  to open, rotating around front collar hinge  186 . 
         [0046]    While illustrated and described in view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , lip  146  of  FIG. 9 , and the use of different side sections it allows, adjustable side sections  152   a,    152   b  of  FIGS. 10   a ,  10   b , and quick release clamp  180  of  FIGS. 11   a ,  11   b  can all be used with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0047]    While the disclosed methods and systems have been shown and described in connection with illustrated embodiments, various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.