Bike rack

A knockdown bike rack assembly is formed of both metal and plastic. The bike rack assembly is readily and easily assembled and disassembled. The bike rack is maintenance free and requires no paint or other upkeep. The assembly of the present invention can be used in many applications both indoor and out. The bike rack assembly can readily be assembled anywhere. The assembly can also readily be disassembled to form a different bike rack structure configuration or to add more rails to the structure. Further, the bike rack assembly can be readily disassembled to change the plastic for the purpose of changing colors of the rail or adding/subtracting signage provided on the structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention is directed to a knock down bike rack assembly. More 
particularly, the present invention relates to a unique knock down bike 
rack assembly having protective coverage for use outdoors. 
2. Description of the Relevant Art 
The typical bike rack is formed of metal and susceptible to effects of 
weather or other environmental conditions causing the rack to rust and 
deteriorate. A disadvantage of these metal bike racks is that such racks 
require regular upkeep such as painting to prevent rust or complete 
replacement when the metal rusts away. 
To overcome this, galvanized steel has been used to avoid rust and 
hopefully, eliminate regular upkeep. However, a disadvantage of both metal 
and galvanized steel bike racks is that their assembly is of a permanent 
nature. That is, once the bike rack is assembled, the bike rack is 
permanently fixed at that location in that configuration. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a knock down bike rack assembly that is 
formed of both metal and plastic. The bike rack is readily and easily 
assembled and disassembled. The bike rack is maintenance free and requires 
no paint or other upkeep. 
The bike rack of the present invention can be used in many applications. 
The bike rack assembly can be assembled anywhere. The assembly can also be 
readily disassembled to form a different bike rack structure configuration 
or to make additions to the original structure. Further, the bike rack can 
be readily disassembled to change the plastic for the purpose of changing 
colors of the bike rack or adding/subtracting signage provided on the bike 
rack. This is advantageous when using the invention in a public setting. 
The knock down bike rack assembly of the present invention includes two 
spaced apart vertical rails and a base support for supporting the vertical 
rails in an upright position. Alternatively, the vertical rails may be 
supported by the ground using standard coring procedures. 
Two spaced apart horizontal rails are provided and removably engage with 
the vertical rails. These horizontal rails are preferably positioned above 
the base supports. Each vertical and horizontal rail is surrounded by 
removable and replaceable polymerized sheathing. The polymerized sheathing 
has an interior diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of 
each rail. Slip-on structural fittings are provided to removably engage 
the horizontal rails to the vertical rails. 
Between the spaced apart horizontal rails are a series of vertical rails 
spaced intermittently for supporting the width of a bicycle tire. Each of 
these intermittent rails is also surrounded by removable and replaceable 
polymerized sheathing. 
In addition, a separate horizontal rail is engaged to the base a distance 
from the two spaced apart horizontal rails and extending between the 
upright vertical rails. The span between this horizontal rail and the two 
spaced apart horizontal rails is provided to support a portion of the 
outer radius of a bike tire. The purpose of the additional horizontal rail 
and the series of vertical rails is to provide support for a front or back 
tire of a bike within the bike rack assembly. Further, the bike may be 
locked to any portion of the assembly that is provided herewith. The third 
horizontal rail, like all other rails of the invention, is surrounded by 
removable and replaceable polymerized sheathing. 
Each rail of the knockdown bike rack assembly of the present invention is 
removable, replaceable, and interchangeable with other rails within the 
assembly or additional rails provided for amending the bike rack assembly. 
Further, each rail is surrounded by a removable and replaceable 
polymerized sheathing. The sheathing may be provided in any color and may 
support advertising, warning signs or other important information as 
required. These and other objects, advantages and features of this 
invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification 
in conjunction with the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a knock down bike rack assembly 10 is 
there shown. In this first preferred embodiment, two spaced apart vertical 
rails 12, 14 are provided and supported in an upright position by a base 
16, 18. Base 16, 18 provides removable and replaceable support 20 to the 
ground 22. Alternatively, the knock down bike rack assembly 10 can be 
cored to the ground 22 for support. 
Knock down bike rack assembly 10 of the present invention also includes two 
spaced apart horizontal rails 24, 26 extending between spaced apart 
vertical rails 12, 14. Horizontal rail 24 is preferably located above base 
16, 18 and is removably and replaceably secured to vertical rails 12, 14 
by releasable supports 28. A second set of releasable supports 30 support 
horizontal rail 26 to vertical rails 12, 14 and base 16, 18. 
With reference to FIG. 1, base 16 is preferably identical in structure to 
base 18 and is described below. Base 16 is generally comprised of a 
horizontal rail 32 extending perpendicular to horizontal rail 26. 
Horizontal rail 32 is removably and replaceably attached to horizontal 
rail 26 and vertical rails 12, 14 by releasable supports 30. Base 16, 18 
further includes a set of spaced apart vertical rails 34, 36 that are 
preferably releasably secured at opposite ends of horizontal rail 32 for 
supporting horizontal rail 32 to the ground 22 by removable and 
replaceable supports 38 via removable and replaceable support 20. 
A second horizontal rail 40 may be provided above horizontal rail 32 for 
additional support by base 16, 18 to upright vertical rails 12, 14. 
Horizontal rail 40 preferably extends parallel to horizontal rail 32 a 
distance above horizontal rail 32 and is removably attached to vertical 
rails 12, 14 by removable and replaceable supports 42. Additionally, 
second horizontal rail 40 is removably attached to vertical rails 34, 36 
by removable and replaceable supports 44. 
Horizontal rail 46 is releasably engaged to base 16, 18 by removable and 
replaceable supports 48. Horizontal rail 46 is provided for supporting a 
bike within the bike rack assembly 10. Horizontal rail 46 is spaced apart 
from vertical rails 12, 14 a distance to support a portion of the outer 
radius of a bike tire. 
A series of vertical rails, referred by way of example as 50, 52, 54 are 
provided between horizontal rails 24, 26. These series of vertical rails 
50, 52, 54 are supported by horizontal rails 24, 26 at each end and are 
spaced apart a distance to support the width of a bike tire. 
An additional horizontal rail 56 may be provided for structural support of 
the knockdown bike rack assembly 10 by extending vertical rails 12, 14 
above releasable supports 28 using additional vertical rails 58 and 60. 
Horizontal rail 56 is removably and releasably supported to additional 
vertical rails 58, 60 by releasable supports 62. 
With reference to FIG. 3, a typical rail 64 is there shown surrounded by 
polymerized sheathing 66 and removable replaceable support 68. Typically, 
each horizontal and vertical rail of the knock down bike rack assembly 10, 
as represented by rail 64 in FIG. 3, is surrounded by protective 
polymerized sheathing 66. Polymerized sheathing 66 is removable and 
replaceable and preferably slip fits about each rail 64. Sheathing 66 
preferably has an interior diameter 70 equal to or greater than the 
exterior diameter of rail 64. Polymerized sheathing 66 may be provided in 
any color and also include signage such as advertisement or warnings. 
Since polymerized sheathing 66 is slip fit about rail 64, sheathing 66 may 
be removed and replaced if damaged or if a color change or verbiage change 
is required. 
Additionally as shown in FIG. 3 by way of example, releasable and removable 
support 68 slip fits about polymerized sheathing 66. In a preferred 
embodiment, interior diameter 72 of releasable and removable support 68 is 
equal to or greater than the exterior diameter of polymerized sheathing 
66. This typical structure shown and described with reference to FIG. 3 
applies to all horizontal and vertical rails of the present invention 
including the series of vertical rails represented by rails 50, 52, 54. 
Removable and replaceable supports 20, 28, 30, 38, 42, 44, 48 and 62 are 
provided to removably engage horizontal rails to vertical rails of the 
present invention. These supports are preferably Hollaender structural 
fittings manufactured by the Hollaender Manufacturing Company, Cincinnati, 
Ohio. T-shaped structural fittings 28, 38, 48 may be provided as removable 
supports to join corresponding horizontal and vertical rails. These 
T-shaped structural fittings removably engage horizontal rails to vertical 
rails through polymerized sheathing by set screw 74 as shown in FIG. 3. 
L-shaped Hollaender slip-on structural fittings 44, 62 also removably 
engage horizontal rails to vertical rails through polymerized sheathing by 
set screw 74 as typically shown in FIG. 3. Additionally, slip-on 
structural fittings may be provided in an X shape as shown at 42 or a 
multi-armed shape as shown at 30. Each of these slip-on structural 
fittings is secured by set screw 74 to typical rail 64 through polymerized 
sheathing 66. 
In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, an additional 
horizontal rail may be provided parallel to horizontal rail 46 and 
horizontal rail 26 along opposite sides of vertical rails 12, 14 and 
removably supported by base 16, 18. 
This additional rail (not shown) allows support for a bike tire along both 
sides of the bike rack assembly 10. 
Alternative embodiments of the present invention may involve the use of 
additional horizontal and vertical rails to create an extended bike rack 
assembly 10. It is envisioned that each vertical rail will be removably 
supported to additional horizontal rails by removable and replaceable 
supports. Further, each rail will be surrounded by polymerized sheathing 
typically shown at 66 in FIG. 3. Moreover, each additional horizontal rail 
and vertical rail will be preferably supported to each other by Hollaender 
slip-on structural fittings conforming to any shape necessary to create 
the overall structural shape of the knock down bike rack assembly of the 
present invention. That is, the bike rail assembly of the present 
invention may extend linearly, triangularly, circularly, or any other 
shape that may be reasonably configured. Moreover, each rail, vertical and 
horizontal, shall preferably be surrounded by polymerized sheathing having 
an interior diameter that is equal to or greater than the exterior 
diameter of the corresponding rail. 
The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiment only. 
Modifications of the invention may occur to those of ordinary skill in the 
art. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawing 
and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and are not 
intended to limit the scope of the invention.