Abstract:
A sail system for a velocipede uses a swinging gate that pivots between a closed position, flush against the velocipede and an open position for sailing. A spring cord pulls the gate toward the open position while a control cord pulls the gate toward the closed position. A slide slidably disposed on a top tube controls positioning of the control cord and locks this cord in a particular position. A shield is also attached to the velocipede.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a board holding implement that attaches to a velocipede so that the board acts as a sail in order to allow wind to help provide locomotive power to the velocipede. 
         [0002]    2. Background of the Prior Art 
         [0003]    The use of wind power to propel velocipedes is well known. A sail is attached to the velocipede, typically at the front or at the rear of the velocipede, so that the sail can harness the wind and help propel the velocipede, relieving the rider of some or even all of the pedaling effort needed for locomotion. Many varieties of such systems exist, however, they come with drawbacks. 
         [0004]    Many velocipede based sail systems are unduly complex in design, attachment to the velocipede, and use, making such sail systems not only expensive to purchase and maintain, but also difficult to use and control, potentially sacrificing the ability to safely control the velocipede. Other systems, being front attached, prevent the rider from having a good view of the road ahead making driving tricky. Some front-based sails are attached to the handle bars of the velocipede making steering of the handle bars difficult especially in high wind load conditions. 
         [0005]    A large portion of velocipede attached sails, especially rear mounted sails, take up an inordinate amount of real estate on the velocipede crowding the rider and making the rider uncomfortable during use. Additionally, the ability to store other items on the velocipede is compromised. 
         [0006]    Numerous sails that are attached to a velocipede are essentially fixedly attached thereto. The sail is always present on the velocipede and cannot be removed without substantial effort. Replacement of such sails back onto the velocipede after being removed also entails a substantial effort. Accordingly, the rider has the sail present on the velocipede whether or not sail power is desired. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a sail system that attaches to a velocipede in order to provide wind assisted locomotive power to the rider, wherein the sail system overcomes the above stated shortcomings currently found in the art. Specifically, such a sail system should be relatively simple in design and construction so that it is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, is easy to install, and is easy to maintain. Such a sail system should be easy to control while allowing the rider to have good vision of the road. Such a system should not compromise the velocipede&#39;s ability to haul cargo. Such a sail system should allow the sail to be readily demountable so that the rider can ride the velocipede without sail power as desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The wind sail system for a velocipede of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art by providing a relatively simple and effective sail system that quickly attaches a sail to and detaches the sail from a velocipede. The wind sail system for a velocipede is easy to control so that the rider has full control of the device as well as the velocipede to which the present invention is attached. The wind sail system for a velocipede not only provides cargo carrying capacity, but cargo storage is an inherent feature of the overall system. The wind sail system for a velocipede is of relatively simple design and construction being produced using standard manufacturing techniques. 
         [0009]    The wind sail system for a velocipede of the present invention is comprised of a swinging frame member having an attachment board (can act as a minor sail or alternately may be the sport board (described below) which attaches directly to the swinging frame member) attached thereto. The swinging frame member is hingedly attached to the velocipede at an attachment point and is capable of swinging between a closed position with the front surface of the attachment board (and/or sport board) essentially flush against the velocipede and an open position with the front surface of the attachment board (and/or sport board) oriented essentially normal to the velocipede. A first pulley is attached to the velocipede rearward of the attachment point. A control cord has a first end attached to the swinging frame member or attachment board and also has a second end. The control cord passes over the first pulley such that pulling on the second end of the control cord pulls the swinging frame member toward and ultimately into the closed position. A resilient spring cord has a third end that is attached to the swinging frame member or to the attachment board and has a fourth end attached to the velocipede (directly or to a portion of the invention) forward of the attachment point such that the spring cord biases the swinging frame member toward the open position and actually swings the swinging frame member to the open position whenever the swinging frame member is not impeded from so swinging by the control cord. An optional second pulley is impaled by the head tube of the velocipede such that the control cord also passes over the second pulley. A lock slide is slidably disposed on a top tube of the velocipede and can be frictionally held stationary (locked) on the top tube such that the second end of the control cord is attached to the slide. The swinging frame member has an attachment strap thereon such that the sport board (major sail, mentioned previously and may be attached directly to swinging frame member thereby dispensing of the need for the attachment board) is attached to the swinging frame member and secured thereto via the attachment strap. A frame has a pair of attachment frame members, each attachment frame member attached to a respective one of the chains stays of the velocipede. The swinging frame member is attached to the velocipede via one of the attachment frame members. The frame also having a top plate onto which the first pulley is attached (the fourth end of the spring cord may be attached to the velocipede via the top plate). A shield is attached to the handle bar. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the wind sail system for a velocipede of the present invention with the sail mechanism in a deployed configuration. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the wind sail system for a velocipede with the sail mechanism in a stowed configuration. 
       
    
    
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the wind sail system for a velocipede with the sail mechanism in the stowed configuration with an aerodynamic front shield attached to the velocipede. 
         [0013]    Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0014]    Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the wind sail system for a velocipede of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral  10 , is comprised of a frame  12  that has a pair of generally triangular-shaped frame members  14 , each frame member  14  having a vertical stay  16  and a horizontal stay  18 , joined by a diagonal brace  20 . Each frame member  14  is made from generally flat metal (or plastic) stock and each is attached to the chain stay  22  of a velocipede  24 , one frame member  14  on each side of the velocipede  24  so that the two frame members  14  are parallel with one another. Each frame member  14  is attached to its respective chain stay  22  via the illustrated bolts  26  that pass through the vertical stay  16  of the frame member  14  and through the chain stay  22  of the velocipede  24  in the usual way, although the frame members  14  can be welded onto the velocipede  22  (if the frame members  14  are made from the appropriate material) for a more permanent attachment of the device  10  to the velocipede  24 . A top plate  28  is attached to the horizontal stays  18  of the two frame members  14  in appropriate fashion. For added stability of the frame&#39;s attachment to the velocipede  24 , the top plate  28  has an opening  30  through which the seat tube  32  of the velocipede  24  passes. Located on an upper surface of the top plate  28  can be various desired equipment such as the illustrated storage basket  34 , lights  36 , reflectors (not illustrated), etc. 
         [0015]    A swinging frame member  38 , which is substantially similar to the other two frame members  14  and also has a vertical stay  40  and a horizontal stay  42  joined by a diagonal brace  44 , is hingedly attached to one of the first two frame members  14 . Attachment is accomplished by first attaching an angle iron  46  to the vertical stay  16  of the frame member  14  to which the swinging frame member  38  is to be attached. The angle iron  46  is attached to the vertical stay  16  via the bolts  26  that attach the frame member  14  to the chain stay  22  with additional bolts  26  used at the upper end of the angle iron  36  and the vertical stay  16  of the frame member  14 . Of course, the angle iron  46  can be welded to the frame member  14  or even formed integrally as the vertical stay  16  of the frame member  14 , if desired. Hinges  48  are attached to angle iron  46  and to the vertical stay  40  of the swinging frame member  38 . When hingedly attached to the angle iron  46 , the swinging frame member  38  is located sufficiently close to the angle iron  46  so as to help prevent hinged rotation of the swinging frame member  38  much beyond 90 degrees with respect to the frame member  14  to which it is attached. Alternately, or in addition, appropriate stops (not illustrated) can be used to help prevent the beyond 90 degree rotation of the swinging frame member  38 . 
         [0016]    An attachment board  50  that has a first surface  52  and an opposing second surface  54  is provided such that the first surface  52  is attached to the swinging frame member  38  in any appropriate fashion. The attachment board  50  can be made from any appropriate material, however, use of a lightweight sturdy material, such as plastic, etc., is preferred. A kick stand  56  may be attached to a lower outer corner of the first surface  52  of the attachment board  50  (or to the swinging frame member  38  is the attachment board  50  is not used). 
         [0017]    At least one, preferably two or more attachment straps  58  are attached to the attachment board  50  (or swinging frame member  38 ) in appropriate fashion, each strap  58  having an appropriate attachment mechanism  60  located on the ends thereof. The attachment mechanism  60  can be of any appropriate design known in the art including the illustrated cooperating hooks, a buckle system, cooperating hook and loop portions on the respective ends of the straps  58 , etc., and can also include sizing means  62  to change the overall length of the straps  58 . 
         [0018]    A lock slide  64  is slidably disposed on the top tube  66  of the velocipede  24  such that a lock (not illustrated) frictionally holds the lock slide  64  securely in position on the top tube  66 . Depression of a lock release  68  on the lock slide  64  releases the lock and allows the lock slide  64  to be able to slide up and down the top tube  66 . Release of the lock release  68  once again locks the lock slide  64  and prevents further sliding along the top tube  66 . 
         [0019]    A control cord  70  (rope, cable, etc.,) is attached to the lock slide  64  and to the swinging frame member  38  proximate the joinder point of the vertical stay  40  and the horizontal stay  42  or to the attachment board  50 . The cord control  70  passes over a first pulley  72  that is rotatably attached to the lower surface of the top plate  28  and optionally over a second pulley  74  that is impaled on the head tube  76 , the use of the second pulley  74  giving a rider additional mechanical advantage when closing the swinging frame member  38  into its stowed position as more fully explained below. 
         [0020]    A spring cord  78  (elastic, bungee, etc.,) has a first end attached to an appropriate point on the velocipede  24 , such as to the top tube  66 , the seat tube  32 , etc., or to the top plate  28 , and has an opposing second end that has an attachment hook  80  thereon which hooks onto one of the straps  58  or its attachment mechanism  60 . 
         [0021]    In order to use the wind sail system for a velocipede  10  of the present invention a sport board  82  (illustrates surf board, body board, wake board, etc.,) is positioned onto the second surface  54  of the attachment board  50  (or directly to the swinging frame member  38  if the attachment board  50  is not used) and is secured thereto via the attachment straps  58 . The attachment hook  80  of the spring cord  78  is hooked onto one of the straps  58  or their attachment mechanism  60  as appropriate. The swinging frame member  38  is placed into the closed position wherein the swinging frame member and its attached sport board  82  are essentially flush against the velocipede  24 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . In order to assure that the swinging frame member  38  is maintained in this closed position, the control cord  70  pulls onto the swinging frame member  38  and the cord  70  is made taut via the lock slide  64 . In the configuration illustrated (with two pulleys  72  and  74 ), the lock slide  64  is pulled rearward toward the seat tube  32  away from the head tube  76 . If a single pulley  72  configuration is used, that is the second pulley  74  is not used and the control cord  70  goes from the first pulley  72  directly to the lock slide  64 , then the lock slide  64  is pulled forward toward the head tube  76  and away from the seat tube  32 . The lock slide  64  is locked as described previously. When the rider desires to harness wind power, the swinging frame member  38  is released into an open position away from being flush with the velocipede  24  up to and including being essentially normal with the velocipede  24  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The wind loads onto the attachment board  50  (if used) and the attached sport board  82 . To release the swinging frame member  38  from its closed position, the control cord  70  is positioned so as to be loose by the reverse process of making the control cord  70  taut as described above. Accordingly, in a two pulley  72  and  74  configuration, the lock slide  64  is pulled forward toward the head tube  76  and in a one pulley  72  configuration, the lock slide  64  is pulled toward the seat tube  32 . With the control cord  70  loose and not holding the swinging frame member  38  in its closed position, the swinging frame member  38  is acted upon by the spring action of the spring cord  78 , the spring cord  78  biasing the swinging frame member  38  into its open position. The use of the angle iron  46  assures there is sufficient clearance to allow the swinging frame member  38  and its attached attachment board  50  and sport board  82  to be able to swing back and forth without interference from the velocipede  24 . The specific spring constant of the spring cord  78  is dependent on many factors including the size of the attachment board  50  and its anticipated sport board cargo  82 , the overall length of the spring cord  78  and the location of the cord&#39;s attachment points. The rider controls the relative angle of the “sail” via the control cord  70  by either pulling the control cord  70  to make the cord  70  more taut thereby swinging the swinging frame member  38  toward (less sail) and ultimately into the closed position (no sail), or opening up the sail by making the control cord  70  more loose and letting the spring cord  78  swing the swinging frame member  38  toward and into its full open position. The spring cord  78  gives the sail, in its open position, some spring and resilience in changing wind loads. Of course the wind sail system for a velocipede  10  can be used without an attached sport board  82  with only the attachment board  50  acting as the main sail body. In such a configuration, the device  10  works as previously described with the wind acting on the attachment board  50  only. This still gives the velocipede  24  wind assisted locomotive power albeit less than with the sport board  82  attached under similar conditions. Furthermore, the wind sail system for a velocipede  10  can be used without the attachment board  50  so that the sport board  82  is attached directly to the swinging frame member  38 . 
         [0022]    In order to allow the velocipede  24  to travel even faster under a given set of conditions, an aerodynamic shield  84  is attached to the front of the velocipede  24  such as by attaching the shield  84  to the handle bars  86  via the illustrated attachment rods  88 . As seen, the shield  84  has a pair of opposing detents  90  which each hold headlights  92 . 
         [0023]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.