Abstract:
A fixation device for affixing a bicycle in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The fixation device includes a clamping plate for clamping between a stored item and a fastening plate. Two straps extend from the clamping plate and have a fixation port formed thereon for fixation on the fork. A fastener detachably secures the fixation port to the two straps.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 202013011014.7 filed Nov. 30, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a device for affixing a bicycle to a motor vehicle and in particular fixing a fork of the bicycle without a wheel in place inside the trunk of a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle equipped with such a fixation device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In addition to a passenger compartment for accommodating individuals, motor vehicles also exhibit a trunk for accommodating luggage, e.g., suitcases. As so-called station wagons or sport utility vehicle (SUV), motor vehicles exhibit a tailgate on the trunk, which makes them so-called three- or five-door motor vehicles. Such vehicles exhibit a large trunk, so that a bicycle with large wheels (e.g., with 28″ wheels) can also be secured inside the trunk. For this purpose, the back section of the rear seats of the motor vehicle must be folded over, thereby enlarging the trunk space available, and the front wheel must be removed from the fork at the bicycle fork for the front wheel of the bicycle, so that a fixation device can be used to fix the end region of the fork where the front wheel of the bicycle is normally mounted inside the trunk of the motor vehicle. The fixation device is a bracket that rests on the top side of the trunk floor in a normal position and is aligned in the transverse direction, thus generally causing a handlebar of the bicycle to hit the tailgate, so that accommodating the bicycle inside the trunk disadvantageously requires that the tailgate of the motor vehicle be partially opened, as a result of which the tailgate is also partially opened while driving the motor vehicle, yielding the associated disadvantages, e.g., noise generation or moisture penetration when it rains. 
         [0004]    US 2002/0000456 A1 discloses a device for transporting objects inside the trunk of a motor vehicle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present disclosure provides a fixation device for a bicycle and a motor vehicle, in which a bicycle can be securely fixed in a trunk of the motor vehicle even with the tailgate closed. In particular, the fixation device for a bicycle with which a fork of the bicycle can be fixed in place inside the trunk of a motor vehicle without a wheel on the fork. The fixation device encompasses a clamping plate for clamping between a stored item and a fastening plate, two straps, a fixation port for fixation on the fork, and a fastener for detachably securing the fixation port to the two straps. Because of its structural design, the fixation device can be used to easily affix an end region of the bicycle fork under the level of a trunk floor in a normal position of the trunk floor, i.e., in the area of a storage space under the trunk floor. As a result, the bicycle is situated inside the trunk and in the end region of the fork for the front wheel inside a storage space, thus preventing a handlebar of the bicycle from coming into contact with the closed tailgate of the motor vehicle. This makes it possible to advantageously secure and fix the bicycle completely inside the trunk using the fixation device with the tailgate closed. 
         [0006]    The clamping plate exhibits a through opening for guiding through a fastening bolt for the stored item. The through opening can be easily fabricated on the clamping plate, for example by punching, and the fastening bolt for a stored item, for example a spare wheel inside the storage space, can as a result be guided through the through opening especially easily, and thereafter be arranged therein. As a result, the clamping plate is especially easy to clamp and/or positively and/or non-positively secure between the stored item and a fastening plate. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the two straps and clamping plate are designed as a single piece, in particular as a single sheet metal part. The two straps are preferably aligned at essentially a right angle to the clamping plate. The two straps and clamping plate may be plate-shaped in design. The two straps may each exhibit an opening, in particular a borehole, for attaching the fixation port. The fastener may exert an axial force on the fixation port for securing the fork to the fixation port, with the fastener in particular encompassing a swiveling lever at a first end region of the fixation port and a retaining part detachably connected with the fixation port at a second end region. The fastener can be used to apply an axial force to the fixation port in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the latter, as a result of which the structural design of the fixation device non-positively secures the fork to the fixation device with a compressive force in the axial direction of the fixation port. The fixation port is arranged inside the slits on the arms of the fork, and the fork is clamped between the retaining part and/or at least one strap and/or at least one bushing and/or the swiveling lever and/or a fastener under a compressive force. The fastener preferably include several parts, e.g., exhibit a retaining part and/or a swiveling lever. 
         [0008]    A motor vehicle according to the present disclosure include a drive motor, a body, a trunk, a trunk floor that can move at least partially between a normal position and a removal position, and a fixation device for a bicycle with which a bicycle fork without a wheel on the fork can be fixed inside the trunk. The fixation device is secured under the level of the trunk floor in the normal position, and the trunk floor is preferably at least partially located in the removal position. In the normal position of the trunk floor, the latter is essentially horizontally aligned, and the trunk floor separates a storage space from the trunk. The trunk floor, for example a first part of the trunk floor, can here at least partially be swiveled (i.e., is swivelable) and hence movable from the normal position into a removal position for removing stored items inside the storage space. This removal position of the trunk floor can be used to secure the fixation device under the level of the trunk floor in the normal position. In this way the end region of the bicycle fork is fixed inside the storage space and/or under the level of the trunk floor in the normal position inside the motor vehicle, thereby allowing there to be no contact between a bicycle handlebar and tailgate even with the tailgate completely closed. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, a storage space is formed under the trunk floor in the normal position for accommodating at least one stored item, in particular a spare tire of the motor vehicle. The stored item is preferably secured to the rest of the motor vehicle with a fastening device, in addition to which the fixation device is secured to the fastening device. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the bicycle fork is a fork for a front wheel of the bicycle, and an end region of the fork is fixed with the fixation device under the level of the trunk floor in the normal position. The end region of the fork exhibits a respective slit on each arm of the fork, and this slit on the fork is normally used to fasten an axis of the front bicycle wheel. This slit can be used by the fixation device to reliably positively and/or non-positively secure the end region of the fork to the fixation device. The fastening device preferably exhibits a fastening bolt and a fastening plate that can be secured to the fastening bolt, and the fixation device is clamped between the stored item and the fastening plate secured to the fastening bolt. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the fixation device is clamped onto a clamping plate between the stored item and fastening plate. The clamping plate of the fixation device is clamped between the stored item and fastening plate, i.e., positively and/or non-positively secured, so that the fixation device can be used to especially easily secure the bicycle, and in particular the fork, to the motor vehicle with the fastening device without any additional means. In particular, the motor vehicle encompasses the fixation device, and the fixation device is designed as a fixation device described in this application for a protective right. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a motor vehicle; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a trunk of the motor vehicle according to  FIG. 1  with a bicycle fixed in the trunk; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the fork of a bicycle according to  FIG. 2 , which is fixed above a spare tire with a fixation device; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the spare tire and a fastening bolt without the fixation device, and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the fixation device according to  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure or the application and uses of the present disclosure. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description. 
         [0019]    A motor vehicle  1  as a passenger car  1  exhibits a passenger compartment  23  for accommodating individuals or passengers. A drive motor  18 , in particular a combustion engine  19  and/or electric engine  20 , is used for powering the motor vehicle  1 . A body  21  included of steel borders the passenger compartment  23  as well as a trunk  24  for accommodating luggage, for example a suitcase or purchased items. Positioned within the passenger compartment  23  are two front seats as vehicle seats  22  and three rear seats as vehicle seats  22 . The vehicle seats  22  are joined together to form a seat bench. A vehicle seat  22  here exhibits a rear section  26  and a seat  27 . In order to load and unload the trunk  24 , a swivelable tailgate  25  can be used to remove luggage from and load it into the trunk  24 . Given the geometric configuration of the trunk  24  and tailgate  25 , the motor vehicle  1  may be configured as a so-called station wagon or sports utility vehicle (SUV), which has five doors. The trunk  24  is bordered at the lower end region by a trunk floor  28 . The trunk floor  28  encompasses a first part  29  and a second part  30 . The trunk floor  28  can here also be partially moved or is movable, because the first part  29  of the trunk floor  28  can be pivoted around a swiveling axis  31 . In a normal position in which the trunk floor  28  is not swiveled and is essentially horizontally aligned, a storage space  32  is formed below the trunk floor  28 , and bordered by the trunk floor  28  from above as well as by the body  11  from below and in the edge region. A spare tire  34  is kept inside the storage space  32  as a stored item  33 . A tool kit can also be arranged inside the storage space  32  (not shown). 
         [0020]    The spare tire  34  as the stored object  33  is secured inside the storage space  32  with a fastening device  35 , so as to prevent the spare tire  34  from sliding inside the storage space  32 . The fastening device  35  exhibits an essentially vertically aligned steel fastening bolt  36 , which is secured to the body  21 , for example welded on. In order to secure the spare tire  34  to the motor vehicle  1 , the fastening bolt  36  is guided through the spare tire on a central region while placing the spare tire  34  in the storage space  32 , thereby causing an upper end region of the fastening bolt  36  to protrude over the rest of the spare tire  34  ( FIG. 4 ). A fastening plate  37  is then applied to the spare tire  34 , and pressed onto the upper end region of the spare tire  34  with a fastening wing bolt  38 , which is connected with the fastening bolt  36 , in this way securing the spare tire  34  to the motor vehicle ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0021]    The motor vehicle  1  is further provided with a fixation device  2  for fixing a bicycle  39  inside the trunk  24 . The bicycle  39  exhibits a fork  40  as a front fork, and the longitudinal axis of the front bicycle wheel  39  is secured to two slits in the fork  40  during normal use of the bicycle  39 . The fixation device  2  encompasses a clamping plate  3  as well as a first strap  5  and second strap  6 . The clamping plate  3  in addition to the two straps  5 ,  6  are fabricated as a single part out of a sheet metal part  7  through forming, in particular bending, and punching. The two straps  5 ,  6  are aligned perpendicular to the clamping plate  3 , and the clamping plate  3  further exhibits a through opening  4  for guiding through the fastening bolt  36 . A respective opening  11  is punched out as a borehole  12  on the two straps  5 ,  6 . On a rod-shaped, steel fixation port  8  of the fixation device  2  having an essentially constant diameter, a swiveling lever  14  is permanently secured on a first end region  9  of the fixation port  8  as one fastener  13 , and a retaining part  15  can be detachably secured to a second end region  10  of the fixation port  8  as an attachment part  16 . The attachment part  16  can here also exhibit a thread, with which the attachment part  16  can be screwed onto a thread at the second end region  10  of the fixation port  8 . Two bushings  17  are also attached to the fixation ports  8 . 
         [0022]    In order to fix the bicycle  39  inside the trunk  24 , the front wheel of the bicycle  39  must first be disassembled from the fork  40 . The fastening device  35  can then be detached, i.e., the fastening wing bolt  38  unscrewed from the fastening bolt  36 , and the fastening plate  37  then removed. The clamping plate  3  is then placed onto the spare tire  34 , and the fastening plate  37  is placed onto the clamping plate  3  of the fixation device  2 . Fastening wing bolt  38  is screwed onto the fastening bolt, thereby non-positively clamping and securing the clamping plate  3  between the spare tire  34  and the fastening plate  37 . In this way, the fastening device  35  can be easily used without any additional means for securing the fixation device  2  inside the motor vehicle  1 . This is possible, since the first part  29  of the trunk floor  28  was to this end pivoted in advance around the swiveling axis  31  into a removal position as depicted on  FIG. 2 . In addition, the rear sections  26  of the back seats  22  can be swiveled, thereby enlarging the trunk  24  toward a front end of the motor vehicle  1 . 
         [0023]    In order to secure the fixation bolt  8  at the two openings  11  of the two straps  5 ,  6 , only the first, shorter right bushing  17  depicted on  FIG. 5  is initially to be slipped onto the fixation port  8 . Thereafter, the fixation port  8  is slipped through the borehole  12  on the first strap  5 , whereupon the second, longer left bushing  17  is positioned in the space between the two straps  5 ,  6  as depicted on  FIG. 5 . While continuing to insert the fixation port  8  into the borehole  12  on the first strap  5 , the fixation port  8  is pushed into the second bushing  17  until a second end region  10  of the fixation port  8  is inserted and guided through the borehole  12  on the second strap  6 . The attachment part  16  is then secured on the second end region  10  of the fixation port  8 . On the two regions of the fixation port  8  visible on  FIG. 5 , the two slits can be slipped onto or into the arms of the fork  40 , after which the swiveling lever  14  can be used to reduce the distance between the attachment part  16  and first bushing  17  shown on the right hand side of  FIG. 5 , which rests on the swiveling arm  14 . In this manner the fork  40  is detachably secured to one arm of the fork between the two bushings  17  and to another arm of the fork  40  between the attachment part  16  and second strap  6  under exposure to a compressive force. In order to disassemble the fork  40  from the fixation device  2 , the two processes described above must be correspondingly performed in reverse order. 
         [0024]    Viewed as a whole, the fixation device  2  according to the present disclosure and the motor vehicle  1  according to the present disclosure are associated with significant advantages. The fixation device  2  can be used to fix the end region of the fork  40  under the level of the trunk floor  28  in the normal position in the storage space  32 . As a result, even given bicycles  39  with larger wheels, e.g., 28″ wheels, the bicycle  39  can be fixed completely inside the trunk  24 , and the tailgate  25  can nonetheless be completely closed without a handlebar of the bicycle  39  coming into contact with the tailgate  25 . The fixation device  2  can be easily secured to the fastening device  35  for the bicycle  34 , thus eliminating the need for any additional means for securing the fixation device  2  inside the motor vehicle  1 . 
         [0025]    While at least one exemplary embodiment was described, let it be noted that a larger number of variants thereto exist. It must also be kept in mind that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments only represent examples, and thus are not intended to in any way limit the protective scope, applicability or implementation or the structural design. The above specification provides the expert with suitable instructions for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment. Let it be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of the described components in an exemplary embodiment without deviating from the protective scope of the following claims and the equivalents to the following claims.