Abstract:
An apparatus is provided to reduce the aerodynamic drag of bicycle frame mounted water bottle and cage systems. Furthermore, the apparatus also improves the safety of bicycle water bottle and cage systems. In an exemplary embodiment, a cage and bottle are provided. The cage is formed with a plurality of hemispheres which can spread apart in order to receive bottles of various diameters. The bottle is longer and thinner than bottles in use today and is formed with dimples on the entirety of its surface. The cap provided with the bottle has minimal threading and is formed with breaks in the threading to allow for the top to be ejected when dropped.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/024,464 tiled Jul. 14, 2014. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The technical field pertains to apparatuses and methods for use in cycling, and more particularly pertains to apparatuses and methods for mounting water bottles and water bottle cage systems to the frame of a bicycle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cycling as both a competitive and a recreational endeavor continues to increase in popularity. Both competitive and recreational cyclists continuously seek ways to improve their performance. In addition to seeking this competitive edge, cyclists also continuously seek ways to improve the safety of the sport. 
     One way in which cyclists increase performance is to carefully study the aerodynamics of their equipment. This is generally accomplished in one of two ways: either improving the aerodynamics of (1) the bicycle and any apparatus attached thereto or (2) the equipment worn by the cyclist. 
     In the last few decades, nearly every aspect of modern bicycle design has undergone significant changes. Significantly, one area that has not undergone significant design changes has been the frame mounted water bottle and cage system. Interestingly, this system is a source of significant aerodynamic drag because of: (1) the discrepancy between the diameter of the bicycle frame tube and the water bottles and cages and (2) air eddies and turbulence that form at the juncture between the frame tube of a bicycle and the cage assembly as currently configured. Current designs of water bottles and cage systems are designed such that the diameter of the system (either just the bottle or the bottle engaged with the cage) extends beyond the width of the frame. This is true because of a nearly industry-wide standardization of diameters for frame-mounted water bottles. In addition, most water bottles sits at least 1.5 centimeters away from the frame tubes, referred to herein as a stack height, on which the bottle is placed because of the use of bolts that secure the cage body to the frame. Distances greater than 1.5 centimeters can also result if some type of battery is also placed between the frame and the cage body. A 1.5 centimeter distance is enough to cause air eddies and turbulence, and the larger this distance, the greater the aerodynamic drag. 
     Safety is another reason for improvements in the equipment used by both competitive and recreational cyclists. One particular area of concern for riders that demands more attention in the realm of safety is when water bottles are inadvertently dropped. This can be a common occurrence because cyclists are usually attempting to insert a water bottle into an aperture with a nearly identical diameter as the bottle. This is also done when a rider is moving at a high rate of speed and is done without the benefit of being able to see the cage into which the bottle needs to be inserted. Current designs allow for very limited adjustments of the cage along the downtube or the seat tube, which leads to increased difficulty for inserting the water bottle into its cage for riders who have an above average or below average reach. Another issue with the current designs of water bottles is that the diameter and smooth surface of the bottle are difficult to handle. The standard diameter of the bottle simply does not fit comfortably with the human hand, and the smooth plastic used in the construction of most bottles can easily slip from a rider&#39;s grasp. All of these factors increase the probability of a bottle being dropped inadvertently. 
     Whether a group of riders is riding competitively or for recreation, riders usually ride in tight formations. In this configuration, when a water battle is dropped, it becomes extremely dangerous to other riders who are unable to see the bottle until the rider is right on top of it. A dropped water bottle will also likely ricochet or bounce through the formation causing riders to fall or to collide with one another. 
     Groups of riders will often use one rider to carry water to the rest of the team. This is accomplished by having a designated rider break away from the group and secure several water bottles for his teammates. Using current water bottle designs, this designated rider can generally carry three extra bottles at a time safely in the designated rider&#39;s jersey. This means that the designated rider must make multiple trips back and forth between a support vehicle and his teammates. Thinner, longer bottles are also easier to hand of between riders and support personnel, who are either in vehicles or standing on the road. Between the designated rider having to ride back and forth and having to hand water bottles to his teammates who are moving, it is easy to see why minimizing this risk-filled activity would increase safety. 
     Current water bottles that are designed to eject their cap when hit by a bicycle tire are extremely unreliable. The current designs have been unsuccessful in accomplishing the task of having a lid fall off under pressure, while at the same time not allowing water to leak or escape when the cap is engaged with the bottle. 
     In light of the above, it is desirable to provide a water bottle and cage mounting system that minimizes the aerodynamic drag on the bicycle. It is also desirable to provide a water bottle and cage mounting system that increases safety in the sport of cycling by minimizing the number of accidents caused by dropped water bottles, and reducing the danger of bottles once they are dropped. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a water bottle and cage mounting system that is easy to use, is simple to manufacture and is comparatively cost effective. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for securing a water bottle to the frame of a bicycle is provided as is a water bottle designed to fit snugly into the apparatus. A cage is provided that includes several essential components. First, the main cage body is provided and is constructed of some type of carbon fiber, plastic, or metal, but the cage may also be constructed of plastic or any other material commonly used in the pertinent art. As the name suggests, the cage is a boxlike series of wires that run parallel to each other and extend away from the base plate of the cage. Although a cage is contemplated here, other embodiments can also be used, such as interlocking wires or a solid piece of plastic or carbon fibers. No matter which material is chosen, a reflective coating, reflective stickers, or other reflective material can be incorporated into the material or added separately. In any case, the cage will be a split hemisphere type design, with two distinct hemispheres being utilized in most cases. The split hemisphere design will allow the cage to expand to receive bottles of different diameters through an opening or aperture. To accomplish the split hemisphere design, the cage is formed with a lengthwise opening that can extend for the length of the cage or for a portion of the length of the cage. The cage is split and the two hemispheres may be in contact with one another when no bottle is in the cage. When a bottle is inserted, the cage stretches to receive a bottle. This feature allows for the insertion of bottles of varying diameters. Different designs can be used to accommodate multiple size and diameter bottles. For instance, a particular split hemisphere design may accommodate battles as small as 64 millimeters and as large as 73 millimeters. To accommodate various size bottles, it is necessary that the cage have an angled entry to the aperture that is sufficiently wide enough along that angle to allow a 73 millimeter bottle to be placed into the cage without significantly greater force than a smaller bottle. 
     The base plate of the cage extends in either direction away from the main cage body. Further, the base plate of the cage is formed with two oval-shaped apertures to allow for the insertion of screws that serve to join the cage to the frame of a bicycle. It should be noted that any number of oval-shaped apertures may be formed into the base plate of the cage. In order to improve the joining of the water bottle and the cage, the base plate of the cage can be formed with any number of retaining or centering ridges that extend from one end of the base to the other. These ridges project along the base of the body of the cage and flair outwards at various angles in order to prevent water bottles from slipping out or being improperly aligned in the cage. These ridges assist in securing the water bottle in place and also assist in guiding the bottle into place when a rider is placing the bottle back into the cage, which is especially important when the rider cannot see what he or she is trying to accomplish. In an alternate embodiment, a channel for accommodating battery packs, or other equipment, can be formed on the underside of the base plate between the base plate and the bicycle frame. 
     The other two essential components of the cage are the lip and the heel. Structurally, the heel is formed as an extension off of the body and is made of the same material as the body. At its distal end the heel is formed with a toe that extends in the direction of the base plate. This toe is configured to catch the water bottle, or to create contact between the base plate of the water bottle and the toe to secure it in place and prevent its movement past the toe. The lip of the cage is formed as a narrow extension that extends from the base plate in a direction away from the base plate. This lip is designed to engage the neck of the water bottle to secure the water bottle in place. In alternate embodiments, the lip can be formed in a way to allow either the lip or the heel to be adjusted in a direction parallel to the bike frame. The purpose of doing so would allow the cage to receive bottles of varying lengths if necessary and to possibly adjust the location of the cage and the water bottle so that neither the cage nor the water bottle interfere with other parts of the bicycle. Both the Hp and the heel can also be constructed in a split hemisphere manner in order to allow for the apparatus to receive water bottles of various diameters. 
     When the split hemisphere design is used, the cage has split left and right hemispheres that only connect to one another along the base plate of a single piece construction. When split toe tabs are used to form the heel, the heel can project off of either the upper portion of the cage or the lower portion of the cage. With either split hemispheres or split toe tabs, two hemispheres or tabs are used in a preferred embodiment. In other embodiments, more hemispheres or toe tabs can be constructed. Split toe tabs will overlap when no water bottle is in the cage, and each hemisphere will have its own toe tab. This will allow the cage to flex outward to accommodate various sizes of water bottles up to 73 millimeters, and possibly even diameters larger than 73 millimeters. 
     The cage can also be formed in such a manner that will minimize frontal surface area. This is accomplished by angling the upper receiver or hemispheres of the cage so that the leading edge interaction with air is minimized. Another way to describe this would be to have the aperture angled in such as manner so the leading edge of the aperture of the upper receiver lies as close to level and parallel to the ground as possible. 
     In order to secure the cage to the frame of a bicycle, two or more screws are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the base plate of the cage matches the shape of the bicycle frame to produce a snug fit between the base plate and the cage. In an alternate embodiment, an adapter plate can be used to join the base to the frame. It is noted that the cage can be secured to the frame of a bicycle with or without an adapter plate. In either the case of the base plate of the cage being attached directly to the frame or the base plate of the cage being attached to the frame using an adapter plate, a snug fit between the cage and the frame of the bicycle will result. When the adapter plate is used, the adapter plate is positioned between the base plate and the frame to create for a snug fit between the base and the frame by compensating for the difference in shape between the base plate and the bicycle frame. The snug fit would also minimize the distance between the frame and the cage, which then minimizes the possibility of eddies and turbulence caused when space exists between the bottle and the frame tube to which the cage is attached. In either case, the cage is attached to the frame of the bicycle using several lie flat or flat head type screws that would be flush with the surface of the base to improve the aerodynamics of the apparatus. The oval shape of the apertures of the base allow for customization of the location of the cage on the frame of the bicycle. This customization is based on the characteristics of the individual rider who will secure the cage at a location that optimally matches up with the rider&#39;s reach. In order to dissipate some of the friction caused by tightening the screws, a friction strip can be utilized. Frame protection adhesive stickers can also be used to protect the frame from damage caused by tightening the screws. 
     An improved water bottle is also provided as part of the exemplary embodiment. This water bottle is narrower than the standard 73 mm diameter water bottles commonly used in the pertinent art. Ideally, in order to accommodate the same volume of water without lengthening the bottle too significantly, the diameter of the water bottle would be 65 mm or 66 mm. By narrowing the water bottle, the water bottle will be longer than the standard bottle in order to carry the same volume of water. Additional improvements to the water bottle will be the addition of some type of structural modification that will improve the grip of the rider and allow for easier manipulation and movement of the bottle from the cage and into the rider&#39;s hand. As contemplated, this structural modification will take the form of a series of indented dimples that cover a significant amount of surface area on the bottle. 
     A further structural feature of the improved water bottle is to provide a minimal amount of threading than is commonly found in current versions of pop-off top type water bottles. In addition to using less threading, an exemplary embodiment would also modify the traditional threading design by providing breaks in the threading at an angle of approximately 120 degrees to also increase the likelihood of the top of the water bottle popping off when it is run over by a bicycle. 
     When the cage is positioned onto the tube of the bicycle frame, it is important for aerodynamic purposes that the upper edge of the cage is positioned parallel to the ground. In doing so, aerodynamic advantages are realized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a top view of the cage; 
         FIG. 1B  shows a side-view of the cage; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a top view of the base plate attached to a bicycle frame; 
         FIG. 2B  shows various embodiments of adapter plates and how the adapter plate can be used to secure the base to the frame of a bicycle; 
         FIG. 2C  shows a view of the cage secured to a bicycle frame; 
         FIG. 3  shows details of the cage with a bottle inserted into the cage.  FIG. 3  also shows novel characteristics of the water bottle for the improved water bottle; and 
         FIG. 4  shows various details for using the flat-head type screws to connect the cage to a bicycle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1A , a plan view of the cage  10  is shown. The cage  10  is formed with a base plate  12  having an upper end  12   a  and a lower end  12   b  that is used to secure the cage  10  to the frame  14  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) of a bicycle. Structurally, the cage  10  is formed with an upper receiver  16  split into two hemispheres  18   a ,  18   b  and a cage heel  20 . By using two hemispheres  18   a ,  18   b , the cage  10  can expand to receive objects of various diameters. In further detail, the cage heel  20  is formed with two heel tabs  22   a ,  22   b . As shown in  FIG. 1A , the two toe tabs  22   a ,  22   b  overlap with one another when in a first position where no bottle  24  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) is in the cage  10 . When a bottle  24  is placed into the cage  10 , the bottle  24  extends through the upper receiver  16  and contacts the toe tabs  22   a ,  22   b . Based on the diameter of the bottle  24 , the toe tabs  22   a ,  22   b  move into a second position where the toe tabs  22   a ,  22   b  are no longer overlapping. In either the first or second position, the toe tabs  22   a ,  22   b  are in contact with the bottle  24  to secure the bottle  24  into the cage  10 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1A , it can be seen that the cage  10  is formed with a plurality of bolt hole channels  26   a ,  26   b , in this case two bolt hole channels  26   a ,  26   b . These bolt hole channels  26   a ,  26   b  are oval in shape in a preferred embodiment as shown. The bolt hole channels  26   a ,  26   b  extend from the cage  10  in the direction of the bicycle frame  14  through the cage  10  and the base plate  12 . Bolts  28   a ,  28   b  pass through the bolt hole channels  26   a ,  26   b  and through the base plate  12  and into the bicycle frame  14 . These bolts  28   a ,  28   b  are lie-flat type bolts  28   a ,  28   b  that are flush with the surface of the cage  10  in order to cut down on aerodynamic drag. The shape of the bolt hole channels  26   a ,  26   b  allow the cage  10  to move in an upward or downward direction as indicated by directional arrows  30   a ,  30   b  prior to tightening the bolts  25   a ,  28   b.  Alternatively, the bolts  28   a ,  28   b  can be loosened at any time to adjust the location of the cage  10  on the bicycle frame  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1B , a side view of the cage  10  is shown. The base plate  12  is shown connected to the frame  14  of a bicycle, in other embodiments, the base plate  12  can be formed in a “v” or foil type shape to be secured to a bicycle frame  14  with a complementary shape. The other structural components of the cage  10  that are shown are one hemisphere  18   a  of the upper receiver  16  and the cage heel  20  with a toe tab  22   a . It can be seen in  FIG. 1B  that the upper receiver  16 , cage heel  20 , and toe tab  22   a  are formed as a solid piece of the same material to form the cage  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the material used to form the cage  10  is a lightweight carbon fiber. Other options for materials can be metal or plastic. Whichever material is used can be formed with a reflective coating to promote greater visibility of the bicycle. An additional structural feature shown in  FIG. 1B  is the lip  32 . This lip  32  is formed at the upper end of the cage  10 . The purpose of the lip  32  is to interact with an indentation in the bottle  24  in order to further secure the bottle  24  in the cage  10 . The lip  32  extends away from the base plate  12  at an angle. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2A , a view of the base plate  12  is shown secured to the bicycle frame  14 . As shown, the base plate  12  is secured to the frame  14  by inserting the two bolts  28   a ,  28   b  into the bolt hole channels  26   a ,  26   b . Again, these bolt hole channels  26   a ,  26   b  are formed to allow movement of the cage  10  in the direction shown by the directional arrows  30   a ,  30   b.    
     In  FIG. 2B , adapter plates  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  are shown. These adapter plates  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c , can be customized to any shape in order to fit a particular bicycle frame  14 . The purpose of the adapter plates  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  is to secure a flat base plate  12  of the cage  10  to a bicycle frame  14  that is not flat-shaped. These adapter plates  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  can be a standard shape  34   a , a round shape  34   b , or a foil shape  34   c  depending on the type of bicycle frame  14  to which the cage  10  is secured. Furthermore, an adapter plate  34  can be constructed to match any bicycle frame  14  shape. Another important aspect of connecting the cage  10  to the frame  14  is the interaction of the base plate  12  and the adapter plate  34   a . It can be seen that the cage  10  is secured to the frame  14  by securing the base plate  12  to the adapter plate  34   a . Adapter plates  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  are not required if the cage  10  is formed with a base plate  12  that is formed in a “v” shape or a foil shape that can be secured directly to the frame  14  of the bicycle. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2C , a view of the cage  10  is shown secured to the frame  14  of the bicycle. Here, the adapter plate  34  can be seen interacting with the base plate  12  to secure the cage  10  to the frame  14  through the bolts  28   a ,  28   b  that are tightened in the bolt hole channels  26   a ,  26   b . Both hemispheres  18   a ,  18   b  of the upper receiver  16  can be seen as can the toe tabs  22   a ,  22   b  and the cage heel  20 . It should be noted that no bottle  24  is in the cage  10 , so the toe tabs  22   a ,  22   b  are in the overlapping position described previously. 
     in  FIG. 3 , details of a bottle  24  are shown. The bottle  24  has a first end  36  and a second end  38 . The first end  36  of the bottle  24  is inserted into the upper receiver  16  of the cage  10 , and the second end  38  is the upper part of the bottle  24  that extends away from the cage heel  20  and towards the rider of a bicycle. The bottle  24  is formed with a diameter “D” that is 73 millimeters or less. This is a narrower diameter than bottles currently in use in cycling today. In order to close the bottle  24 , a cap  40  is formed and is mated with the bottle  24 . An important characteristic of the cap  40  is the use of a single thread  42  that fits into a corresponding groove  44  on the bottle  24 . A further structural characteristic of the bottle  24  is a neck  46 , which is formed on the bottle  24  on the second end  38 . This neck  46  is formed as an indentation, meaning a part of the bottle  24  with a diameter narrower than the other parts of the bottle  24 , which makes the bottle  24  easier to grasp when a rider is on the bicycle and reaches for the bottle  24 . An additional reason for the neck  46  being indented is that the lip  32  of the cage  10  contacts the neck  46  in order to further secure the bottle  24  in the cage  10 . One other feature of the bottle  24  shown in  FIG. 3  is a plurality of dimples  48 . These dimples  48  are envisioned to cover the entire surface of the bottle  24  in order to improve tactile feedback when a rider reaches for a bottle  24 , and the dimples  48  also mitigate turbulence on the bottle  24 . A depth of approximately 0.1 millimeters would be used in a preferred embodiment of the dimples  48 . A final feature illustrated in  FIG. 3  is a break  50  in the thread  42 . With the thread  42  and the break  50 , an overlap  52  may be present and is illustrated in  FIG. 3  as well. 
       FIG. 4  shows further detail of the interaction of the cage  10 , the bolts  28   a ,  28   b , the base plate  12 , and the adapter plate  34 . The structural cooperation of these components allow the cage  10  to be secured to a variety of different styles of bike frames  14 . 
     While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claimed subject matter in any way. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope set forth in the appended claims.