BICYCLE STORAGE PLACE

Abstract: The invention relates to a bicycle storage place in which within a wall (1) with a lockable doorway (3) a plurality of bicycles with their rear wheels directed towards the central axis (59) are lined up in bicycle holders (9) in two concentric rows (5, 7) on a frame (23) rotatable around a central axis (59). The handlebars of the bicycles in one row (5) extend into the space taken up by the adjacent bicycles of the other row (7). For radially removing a bicycle fastened to its holder (9) through the doorway (3), holders (51, 53) on either one of the two sides of a particular holder (49) are temporarily moved apart by their ends axially directed outwards and counteracting the working of the leaf springs (43 and 45), so that the holder (49) with the bicycle fastened thereon can be moved freely through the doorway (3).

Description: Bicycle storage place The invention relates to a bicycle storage place, comprising a rotatable frame which includes a plurality of holders extending radially relative to a central axis, in which the bicycles with their front wheels directed outwards can be fastened, the frame being surrounded by a wall which comprises a lockable doorway for radially inserting and removing a bicycle. A storage place of this type is known from DE-OS 105.950. With such a storage place it is possible by means of a protective lockable doorway to prevent bicycles being stolen which are temporarily left behind by users. This storage place can be found at places where there is a large supply of bicycles. In prior-art radially arranged bicycle holders a bicycle is inserted with the rear wheel directed towards the central axis, so that the narrower rear part of the bicycle is located near to the central axis and the handlebars having the largest cross dimension of the bicycle are located near a position radially extending outwards. The prior-art storage place is utilized more efficiently, because storing a specific number of bicycles requires a smaller surface than prior-art bicycle lock-ups in which the bicycles are stored parallel with each other in concatenated lock-up sections. In the prior-art bicycle storage place the width of the handlebars of the bicycles arranged in a circle around a central axis determines the maximum number of bicycles to be stored per unit area; for that matter, the handlebars of the bicycles are not to catch or touch one another and are to remain apart, so that a selected bicycle can be removed radially from the holders. It is an object of the invention to provide a bicycle storage place, in which the number of bicycles to be stored per unit area may be considerably increased. For this purpose, the bicycle storage place is characterized, in that the holders are arranged for comprising the bicycles in two concentric rows, the bicycles being alternately located in one and in the other row, in that the holders arranged on either one of the two sides of the holder located opposite to the doorway at their ends remote from the frame centre are capable of moving to and fro counteracting a spring force, so that a bicycle can be moved unimpededly to or from a more inwardly located row of bicycles between the bicycles standing on either one of the two sides of the bicycle. By arranging the bicycles in two concentric rows, a highly compact storage is possible, while the handlebars of adjacent bicycles cannot touch one another. Further embodiments of the means for removing a selected bicycle are described in the dependent claims. According to a preferred embodiment the frame is rotatable around a central axis and, furthermore, a drive arrangement is present for causing the bicycle holders to rotate around this axis, the drive arrangement being coupled to a control arrangement which, upon receiving the commands to move, switches the drive arrangement so that this drive arrangement rotates the desired bicycle holder as far as the doorway and unlocks the door. It should further be observed that when the invention is applied, more storage places, for example, six rotating frames, can be accommodated in one common space which is accessible through a single well-secured door. In addition, these storage places comprising each a rotatable frame can be used in two parallel rows of contiguous units, between which rows there is a common corridor. When a top-view square surrounding wall is applied, one side of which bordering on the corridor, the entrance door is positioned in the middle of this side. If a plurality of such units are arranged side by side, the partition walls perpendicular to the corridor between the adjacent units may be omitted and the pairs of walls running parallel with the corridor be arranged as two walls extending along the units. In this case a unit is obtained, constituted by a plurality of groups of radial bicycle holders which are rotatable per group around a central axis, the plurality of groups being surrounded by a top-view rectangular wall. Needless to observe that different configurations are likewise possible, such as four groups whose central axes are located at the angular points of a square. The invention will be briefly described with reference to the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a quarter section of a top view of an octagonal storage place, the bicycles being arranged in two concentric circles; Fig. 2 shows a section of a top view of the bicycle holders with a diagrammatic representation therein of rollers for moving the ends of the holders on either one of the two sides of a holder apart; Fig. 3 shows a front view of a tubular bicycle holder carrying a bicycle; Fig. 4 shows a top view of the holder as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view along A-A of the holder as shown in Figs. 3 and 4; Fig. 6 shows a bicycle holder with a diagrammatically shown mechanism for moving the holder to and fro in longitudinal direction; and Fig. 7 shows the guide along which the holder may be moved in axial direction. The storage place represented in Fig. 1 and octagonal in this example comprises a wall 1 in which two concentric rows of bicycles are placed. This wall shows a doorway 3 to be shut off by way of a lockable door. The first row is formed by bicycles referenced 5; the second row located outside the first row, viewed radially, comprises bicycles referenced 7. All the bicycles are directed with their front wheels towards the wall 1. In this manner adjacent bicycles can be stored away in a highly compact manner, the handlebars of the bicycles stored next to one another not being able to touch one another. The holders are formed as rectangularly profiled tubes 9 (Fig. 5) to which two wheel gutters 11 and 13 are welded. A bicycle 15 with its tyres placed in the wheel gutters can be locked by means of a clamp 17 of known construction, this clamp engaging with a rod 19 of the bicycle frame. The holders are all identical, except for the locations of the gutters 11, 13 and of the clamp 17. At a central position in the storage place a frame 23 is disposed which is rotatable around a central axis 59 by means of a drive (not shown) . This frame 23 comprises radially protruding pins 25 rigidly attached to vertical leaf springs 27 which themselves are attached to the frame 23. These pins 25 fit in the tubes 9 and are capable of rotating the bicycle holders along when the frame 23 rotates. The frame 23 comprises electromotors with a reduction gearbox for driving the rotatable frame and for performing the further mechanical operations. In addition, an operating panel is available for inputting commands which provide that the correct holder is turned towards the entrance, the entrance door is opened or closed and the bicycle is moved in radial direction through the doorway 3. For this purpose, a computer may be used which stores the necessary information in its memory. Various constructions for the drive arrangement and the operating panel may be used which are known per εe from control and automation technology and are beyond the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the drive arrangement and the operating panel are not represented in the drawing Figures. Furthermore, a chain mechanism 31 is available for moving the tube 9 in longitudinal direction of the tube to and fro through the doorway. The chain 33 thereto comprises a coupling element 35 cooperating with the tube 9. Figure 7 shows a sectional view of the mechanism for supporting the tube to be moved. The mechanism comprises a plastic guide bracket 36 supported at two positions of its length dimension by eccentrics 37 of which only one is shown in the drawing. These eccentrics are driven by a common chain and are employed for vertically moving the guide track. Figure 2 shows the mechanism for moving two tubes 9 apart by their ends, between which the tube to be moved through the doorway 3 is disposed. When the bicycle holder is moved from the inside out through the doorway, the rollers 39 and 40 represented in Fig. 2 on either one of the two sides of the holder are moved to the positions 41 indicated by means of dotted lines, counteracting the working of the leaf springs 43 and 45. In this position the intermediate holder 49 moved away from the pin 47 can be moved freely between the holders 51 and 53, the handlebars of a bicycle placed in the holder 49 not being impeded by the handlebars of the bicycles placed in holders 51 and 53. After the retractive movement the rollers 39 and 40 are returned to their initial positions, so that the holders 51 and 53 regain their original radial positions. While the holder 49 is being moved through the doorway 3, the holder is supported by a slide 36 which is raised and lowered by means of eccentrics 37, until the holder has reached the same horizontal plane as the pin 47 and the holder is automatically moved onto the pin 47 and may be rotated along with the frame as required. While the rollers are keeping the adjacent bicycle holders apart, an additional set of rollers 55 and 57 is used for pressing against the intermediate bicycle holder with a mechanism (not shown) , so that the bicycle holder positioned opposite to the doorway remains positioned in the heart of the doorway. Storing a bicycle is effected as follows: One or more codes are bought at a local selling point, which codes give right of access to the bicycle storage place. There are codes for different time durations, e.g. a day-ticket, a weekly ticket, a monthly ticket or a six-monthly ticket. Furthermore, there is a surcharge code for those who wish to fetch their bicycles once the validity of their storage code has elapsed. Upon arrival, the user keys in on a keyboard the code known only to him. The door is opened automatically, after which a vacant bicycle holder is moved out. The bicycle is clamped in the bicycle holder after which the user leaves and the bicycle holder is retracted. Subsequently, a vacant bicycle holder is automatically moved to behind the door. For removing the bicycle, the user again keys in the code known to him. Once this has been done, the bicycle holder is rotated to behind the door within 10 seconds and stopped, after which the door opens and the bicycle holder with bicycle is moved out and the bicycle can be removed from the holder. Once the bicycle has been removed, the vacant bicycle holder is retracted and the door is closed, thus terminating the storage cycle. In the case of expired validity, the bicycle can be regained by means of a surcharge code. Needless to observe that also different methods are conceivable, such as the use of a machine producing a ticket after payment, which ticket states the number of a vacant bicycle holder, to be scanned by a scanner, after which above operations are carried out.

Claims: Claims : 1. Bicycle storage place, comprising a rotatable frame (23) which includes a plurality of holders extending radially relative to a central axis (59) , in which the bicycles with their front wheels directed outwards can be fastened, the frame being surrounded by a wall (1) which comprises a lockable doorway (3) for radially inserting or removing a bicycle, characterized in that the holders (9) are arranged for comprising the bicycles in two concentric rows (5) and (7) , the bicycles being alternately located in one and in the other row, in that the holders (51) and (53) arranged on either one of the two sides of the holder (49) located opposite to the doorway (3) at their ends remote from the frame centre are capable of moving to and fro counteracting a spring force, so that a bicycle can be moved unimpededly to or from a more inwardly located row of bicycles between the bicycles standing on either one of the two sides of the bicycle. 2. Bicycle storage place as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the relevant bicycle holder (49) positioned opposite to the doorway can be moved through this doorway. 3. Bicycle storage place as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the gutter-shaped holder in which a bicycle can be inserted with its tyres, is installed on the top side of a radial tube (9) and in that, furthermore, attached to this tube there are elements for clamping a bicycle by one of its bars. 4. Bicycle storage place as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the radially disposed tubes (9) with their openings positioned nearest to the central axis (59) are moved on pins (25) which are connected to the rotatable frame (23) by means of vertical leaf springs (27) and protrude radially, while the tube positioned right opposite to the doorway (3) can be moved away from the associated pin onto a slide track and in that the tube sliding over this slide track can be moved outward through the doorway. 5. Bicycle storage place as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that right opposite to the doorway (3) the holders (51 and 53) on either one of the two sides of the holder (49) that is to be moved out can be moved apart by means of a set of rollers (39 and 40) counteracting the working of the leaf springs (43 and 45) so as to leave free passage to the intermediate holder. 6. Bicycle storage place as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (23) is rotatable around a central axis (59) and a drive arrangement is present for causing the bicycle holders (9) to rotate around this axis, the drive arrangement being coupled to a control arrangement which, upon receiving the commands to move, switches the drive arrangement so that this drive arrangement rotates the desired bicycle holder as far as the doorway and unlocks the door.

Inventors: BEUKEVELD PETRUS JOHANNES, BEUKEVELD, PETRUS, JOHANNES
Applicants: BEUKEVELD PETRUS JOHANNES, BEUKEVELD, PETRUS, JOHANNES
Application year: 1992
Main classification: E04H6
IPC codes: E04H6