Abstract:
A stand for supporting at least one bicycle may include a plurality of tubular frame members including a plurality of generally linear portions, a plurality of angled portions and a plurality of U-shaped portions. The stand also may include a foot having a generally planar bottom surface and an upper surface adapted for operatively engaging one of the U-shaped portions, a wall attachment for coupling a top of the stand to a wall, and a plurality of holders slidably coupled to the generally linear portions. Each of the holders may comprise a band surrounding a portion of the generally linear portions, a hook extending downward and outward from the band, and compressible portions that hold the hook at a desired position along the generally linear portion. In addition, the frame members may include swaged ends and spring-loaded pin assemblies for easy assembly and disassembly of the stand.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to a stand for storing equipment such as a bicycle. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Bicycle stands come in several varieties. For example, some stands consist of bases that rest on the floor. One of the tires is inserted into and held by the stand, maintaining the bicycle or bicycles in an upright position. In order to store multiple bicycles, either multiple stands are required or else the bicycles are placed side-by-side, requiring substantially more floor space and, therefore, minimizing the floor space available for other purposes. 
         [0005]    Other stands include a frame placed close to a wall with generally parallel bars or arms extending outward therefrom. Oftentimes the bars are placed in predetermined locations or require disassembling a portion of the stand in order to move them. As such, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to adjust the stand to store various-sized bicycles or accommodate users of varying heights. In another instance, a stand may have this frame but with more easily adjustable bars or arms. These stands may require that both supports and bars or arms protrude a substantial distance into the room, providing tripping and/or snagging possibilities. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a stand that avoids the drawbacks of traditional bicycle stands. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In one aspect, a stand for supporting at least one bicycle, comprising a plurality of tubular frame members including a plurality of generally linear portions, a plurality of angled portions and a plurality of U-shaped portions; a foot having a generally planar bottom surface and an upper surface adapted for operatively engaging one of the U-shaped portions; and a plurality of holders slidably coupled to the generally linear portions. The stand further may include a wall attachment for coupling a top of the stand to a wall. Each of the holders may comprise a band surrounding a portion of the generally linear portions, a hook extending downward and outward from the band, a generally planar portion extending from one end of the band, and a second generally planar portion extending from a second end of the band, where the hook may be held at a desired position along the generally linear portion by compressing the generally planar portions. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, a stand for holding an object may include a plurality of releasably engaged frame members, including a first plurality of generally linear members, a second plurality of generally linear members, a plurality of angled members and a plurality of U-shaped members, wherein the first plurality of generally linear members are substantially coplanar with the second plurality of generally linear members; a surface-mounting attachment configured to engage one of the U-shaped members and to engage a mounting surface; a first holder slidably coupled to the first plurality of generally linear members; and a second holder slidably coupled to the second plurality of generally linear members. At least one frame member may include a swaged end for engaging the interior of an adjacent frame member, and, preferably, each member in the first plurality of generally linear members and the second plurality of generally linear members may include a swaged end. 
         [0009]    The stand also may include a foot having a generally planar bottom surface and an upper surface adapted for operatively engaging a second one of the U-shaped members. In addition, a plurality of spring loaded pins may extend from a plurality of frame members, and a plurality of adjacent frame members may have a plurality of respective openings, where the plurality of frame members are coupled to the plurality of adjacent frame members by releasably engaging the spring loaded pins with the respective openings. 
         [0010]    In still another aspect, a stand for holding an object may comprise a plurality of releasably engaged frame members, including a first portion comprising a first plurality of generally linear members having an upper end and a lower end, a second portion comprising a second plurality of generally linear members having an upper end and a lower end, a third portion comprising a member coupling the lower ends of the first and second pluralities of generally linear members, and a fourth portion coupling the upper ends of the first and second pluralities of generally linear members. The frame members may form a frame having a continuous perimeter, and the fourth portion may extend away from a mounting surface such that the first and second portions are spaced from the mounting surface. 
         [0011]    The holder may include a plurality of feet coupled to the third portion, the feet including a generally planar lower end and an upper end having an indentation sized for receiving the third portion. In addition, the stand may include a mounting surface attachment having a rear surface with an opening for maintaining the fourth portion between the mounting surface and the mounting surface attachment. Moreover, the stand may include a plurality of holders for slidably engaging the first and second portions, such that the holders may be positionable at any position along the first and second portions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of a stand for storing a plurality of objects such as bikes in vertical spaced relationship to one another. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the stand of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side, detail view of a holder used with the stand of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a front, detail view of the holder of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side, detail view of a wall attachment used with the stand of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a side, detail view of a foot used with the stand of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a front, perspective view of the stand of  FIG. 1  with a bicycle supported by a plurality of holders. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the stand and bicycle of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a bottom portion of the stand of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the holder of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    In one embodiment, a stand  10  for storing a plurality of bikes  2  comprising a series of interlocking tubular portions  12 , a plurality of slidably adjustable arms  60 , a wall attachment  40  and a plurality of feet  80 . As seen in  FIGS. 1-2  and  10 , the tubular portions  12  may include a plurality of generally linear portions  14 , a plurality of angled portions  16  and a plurality of U-shaped portions  18 . Half of the generally linear portions  14  may be coupled to form an extended portion or a side  20 , and the second half may be coupled to form a second extended portion or a second side  22 . Each side  20 ,  22  may be made of a plurality of extended portions  14 , preferably about 3 portions each. One U-shaped portion  18  may couple the extended portions  20 ,  22  at their bottoms  24 . The angled portions  16  may couple at their tops  26  to a second U-shaped portion  17 , and that assembly may couple to the tops of the extended portions. As such, the tubular portions  12  may form a generally continuous frame  11 . 
         [0022]    Bike stand may benefit from easy assembly requiring fewer parts and fewer tools. For example, tubular portions  12  may be hollow, saving material, manufacture and shipping costs, and each tubular portion  12  may have a substantially equal diameter as that of the other tubular portions  12 . Where connections are to be made, the end  28  of one portion may be swaged to fit within the adjacent portion and to frictionally engage the interior surface of the adjacent portion, as seen in  FIG. 10 . In addition, turning to  FIG. 9 , tubular portions  12  may couple via a spring-loaded pin  30  in the swaged end  28  and a suitably-sized hole  32  in an adjacent portion. When the swaged end  28  is inserted into the adjacent portion, the pin  30  may retract, and when the pin  30  is aligned with its mating hole  32 , it may expand outward, coupling the tubular portions  12 . 
         [0023]    Upper end  34  of stand  10  simply may lean against wall for support, but preferably stand  10  may include a wall attachment  40  to secure frame to wall, e.g., to secure top of upper U-shaped portion  18  to mounting surface. As seen in  FIG. 5 , wall attachment  40  may have a rear surface  42  having an opening  44  into which the frame  11  will fit. For example, for a frame element  12  comprising a generally cylindrical tube, the wall attachment  40  may have an arched opening  44  with straight sides  46  and a semicircular top arched portion  48 . Both the diameter of the arched portion  48  and the distance between the straight sides  46  may be approximately equal to the outer diameter of the frame element  12 . In this way, frame element  12  may fit within the arched portion  48  completely so that the rear surface  42  of the wall attachment  40  may seat substantially flat against the mounting surface. Wall attachment  40  also may include at least one opening  50  for receiving a fastener, such as a #10×3″ sheet metal screw for engagement with the mounting surface and, preferably, with a support underlying the mounting surface. Wall attachment  50  may be made of any of a variety of materials, including, e.g., acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (abs) or polypropylene. 
         [0024]    By providing lateral connections between generally vertical portions  14  via the U-shaped frame portions  18 , stand  10  may have increased rigidity and stability, particularly when bikes are loaded or unloaded onto holders  60 . For example, if complementary holders  60  are unloaded at different times, one side of stand  10  may experience a load while the other side does not, and the crossbar of U-shaped frame portion  18  may inhibit one of the generally vertical portions  14  from moving relative to the other generally vertical portion  14  due to that load differential. 
         [0025]    Additionally, stand  10  may include at least one foot  80  engaged with bottom  19  of lower U-shaped frame portion  18 , preferably at least two feet  80  spaced apart from one another. Turning to  FIG. 6 , each foot  80  may have an upper surface  82  including a curved indentation  86  spanning its length, the indentation  86  having a diameter substantially similar to, or slightly larger than, the outside diameter of the lower U-shaped frame portion  18 . Conversely, the indentation  86  may be sized slightly smaller than the diameter of the lower U-shaped frame portion  18  to provide an interference fit between foot  80  and frame  11 . Preferably, however, indentation  86  may be approximately or slightly more than semicircular so that the width of the opening of the indentation  86  may be less than the diameter of the lower U-shaped portion  18 . In the latter case, foot  80  may elastically deform as the frame  11  compresses against it until about half of the frame  11  passes the opening. At that point, the frame  11  may snap into place and be partially enveloped by the indentation  86 , preventing the foot  80  from accidentally dislodging. 
         [0026]    In addition, each foot  80  may have a generally planar lower surface  84  for engagement with the ground or other surface. As such, feet  80  may be rotatable about lower U-shaped frame portion  18  so as to level feet  80  if ground is inclined. Feet  80  may be made of any of a variety of materials, including, e.g., a thermoplastic elastomer such as thermoplastic rubber or a polypropylene. In one embodiment, foot or feet  80  each may include at least one opening  90  for accepting a fastener to mount foot or feet  80  to the floor. 
         [0027]    Turning now to  FIGS. 3-4 , stand  10  further may include a plurality of adjustable holders  60  on which bicycles may be mounted. Preferably, e.g., stand  10  may include four holders  60 , two on each generally vertical portion  14 , where complementary holders  60 , i.e., one on each portion  14 , may cooperate to support an object such as a bicycle. 
         [0028]    Holders  60  may comprise a band  62  having an inner surface  64  sized and shaped approximately equally to the outer surface of the generally linear portions  14  of the frame  11 . For example, in the case of a tubular frame  11 , the band  62  may be semicircular, with an inner diameter approximately equal to the frame outer diameter, although band  62  may be slightly larger than frame  11  to allow for movement along frame  11 . Holders  60  also may include a plurality of reardwardly extending portions  66  at opposite ends of band  62 , the rearwardly extending portions  66  including hardware  68  for compressing the portions  66  toward each other, securing the holders  60  to the frame  11  in a desired location. In one embodiment, the hardware  68  may include a fastener  69 , a washer and a nut, such as a wing nut or a rotatable handle  70  having a threaded interior surface. Tightening the nut draws the rearwardly extending portions  66  toward one another, compressing the holder  60  against the frame  11  and holding the holder  60  in place at a desired position on the frame  11 . Similarly, loosening the nut relaxes the compressive force on the portions  66 , allowing the holder  60  to slide along frame to a new position. Holders  60  may be able to move along the length of substantially vertical portions  14  of frame  11  to provide a user with infinite adjustability to locate holder  60  at any desired point along those portions  14 . In addition, complementary holders  60  may be located at similar heights to support a generally horizontal bicycle frame crossbar member or may be offset to support an angled bicycle crossbar. 
         [0029]    As seen in  FIGS. 7-8 , angled portions  16  may cause generally vertical portions  14  to be spaced from mounting surface, providing a gap  92  in which handlebar of bicycle may fit, allowing bicycle to be stored close to wall and minimizing the amount of floor space the stand  10  takes up. Similarly, inside pedal of bicycle may extend inward beyond the generally vertical portions  14  and be located inside the gap  92  when bicycle is mounted. Moreover, because the generally vertical portions  14  extend substantially to the floor and the holders  60  have minimal outward protrusion beyond those portions, the outward extent of the stand  10  is conspicuous and presents a user with a lower possibility of walking into the stand  10  or tripping over the stand  10  when no objects are loaded onto it. 
         [0030]    Holders  60  additionally may include a hook  72  protruding from a lower end  65  of the band  64 . Hook  72  may be substantially semicircular, having a diameter sized to accept a variety of different diameter bicycle frames. In addition, as seen in  FIG. 4 , hooks  72  may have a width, w 2 , approximately equal to the width or diameter of frame elements  12  in order to provide increased surface area on which the bicycle may bear, thereby decreasing pressure exerted on the bicycle, and vice versa, at the contact area. Moreover, by retaining hooks  72  closer to frame  11 , loading on hooks  72  primarily may have a shear component as opposed to being predominantly in the form of a larger bending moment, which may be advantageous since many mounting substrates have a higher shear loading limit than a bending limit. 
         [0031]    Holders  60  may be a metal material to provide enough strength and rigidity to support weight of objects mounted on holders. In addition, holders  60  may be dipped in a rubberized or plasticized coating to provide cushioning and scratch resistance. 
         [0032]    In one embodiment, frame  11  may comprise a plurality of tubular steel elements  12 . Tubes may have a diameter, t, between about ½″ and about 2″, preferably about 1″. Tubes also may be powder coated to provide a tough, durable outer surface. In addition, as seen in  FIG. 2 , generally linear portions  14  of frame  11  may comprise a series of smaller elements, each of which may have a length or height, h 1 , h 2  or h 3 , between about 12″ and about 24″, preferably between about 16″ and about 20″, and in one embodiment about 18″. Angled portion  16  may be bent an amount, a, between about 135 degrees and about 170 degrees, preferably between about 145 degrees and about 165 degrees. 
         [0033]    Stand  10  may have an overall height, h, between about 60″ and about 84″, preferably between about 66″ and about 78″, and in one embodiment about 72″. Stand  10  also may have a width, w, between about 12″ wide and about 30″ wide, preferably between about 12″ wide and about 24″ wide, and in one embodiment about 18″ wide. In addition, stand  10  may be spaced a distance, d, between about 6″ from wall and about 18″ from wall, preferably about 12″ from wall. 
         [0034]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific exemplary embodiment and method herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment and method, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.