Abstract:
A ceiling mount bicycle rack provides for easy loading through the use of downwardly transversely opening wheel hooks that may receive the tires of a bicycle when flipped about the bicycle&#39;s upper structure by a user through a gentle arc. After installation on the rack, the bicycle may be slid along longitudinal tracks for storage in a more compact configuration in a less accessible location.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/467,080 filed May 1, 2003 hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to racks for the storage of bicycles, and in particular, to a simple rack design providing high-density storage for multiple bicycles of differing sizes.  
           [0003]    A wide variety of bicycle racks have been developed to provide storage for bicycles. Many of these racks are quite complicated and difficult to manufacture or use. Some racks can store only a single bicycle or otherwise offer little savings in storage space.  
           [0004]    What is needed is a space-saving, mechanically simple bicycle rack that works with multiple bicycles of different styles and shapes. Ideally, such a rack would be easily installed and used in a pre-existing structure, such as a garage.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In a principle embodiment, the present invention provides a bicycle rack using an overhead sliding track. The bicycles are inverted for storage, held by their wheels on hooks hanging from the track. The wheel hooks open from the side to allow the bicycles to be installed and removed by lifting and rotating the bicycle from the side of the bicycle, avoiding contact between the rider and the bicycle wheels. The sliding track allows the bicycles to be loaded and unloaded from a convenient location with ample space for rotation, and then to be slid out of the way to a compact configuration. Supporting the bicycles by the wheels allows the rack to work with many different bicycle frame styles.  
           [0006]    Specifically, a first embodiment of the invention provides a bicycle rack, having at least two longitudinal tracks, each providing multiple captive supports mounted to slide along the longitudinal track, the longitudinal tracks providing an upper surface mountable to an overhead horizontal support surface in a parallel spaced-apart configuration. A set of transverse members attaches to the captive supports to span a separation between the two longitudinal tracks, the transverse members provide wheel grips engaging front and rear wheels, respectively, of an inverted bicycle.  
           [0007]    Thus, it is one object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a rack that is substantially universal for all bicycle designs. While the frames of bicycles may vary considerably, all bicycles provide contact of their wheels with a horizontal plane, which when inverted, may be mimicked by the wheel grips. The wheel grips may be hooks.  
           [0008]    Thus, it is one object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a simple supporting structure, that by engaging relatively standard wheel rims, rather than frames, handlebars, seats or other structures, is relatively indifferent to variations in frame design or in differences in seat or handlebar heights. Because the hooks engage the wheels at their edge of the bike, the hooks may be very short, eliminating low-hanging pendant structures. Substantially equal length hooks of short size may be used, avoiding the need for multiple hook adjustments, sizes, and manufacturing expense.  
           [0009]    The hooks may be arranged to receive the front and rear wheels in a transverse direction.  
           [0010]    Thus, it is one object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide improved loading of the bike rack. The transverse opening of the wheel hooks and the track structure combine to promote a comfortable loading posture in which the bicycle is swung from one side onto the hooks keeping the wheels away from the user&#39;s clothing and avoiding the need to awkwardly straddle the bicycle to lift it into position. The sliding tracks provide sufficient separation between the bicycle being loaded or unloaded and previously stored bicycles, while later allowing the bicycle to be moved into a compact storage configuration against the other bicycles.  
           [0011]    The longitudinal tracks may provide an upper surface mountable flush against a support surface in parallel spaced-apart configuration.  
           [0012]    Thus, it is one object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a track structure that allows the rack to be mounted flush to a ceiling out of the way without the need for intervening hangers.  
           [0013]    The sliding captive supports may be wheels held within downwardly facing C-channels of the longitudinal tracks.  
           [0014]    Thus it is another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a track that may be readily formed by extrusion or rolling, and a low friction rolling mechanism which may be covered by the track protecting the wheels from dirt and interference.  
           [0015]    The wheel hooks may be adjustable in separation.  
           [0016]    Another object of at least one embodiment of the invention is, therefore, to accommodate bicycles of different wheelbases.  
           [0017]    The longitudinal channel may have end stops preventing wheels from being removed from the channels.  
           [0018]    Thus it is another object of at least one embodiment of the invention to allow simple use of the device without concern about the dislodgement of the wheels.  
           [0019]    The transverse members attach pivotally to the captive supports.  
           [0020]    Thus it is another object of the invention to allow movement of the transverse members from one end without camming of the transverse member or the need to have outrigger structure to hold the transverse member perfectly at right angles to the longitudinal tracks.  
           [0021]    These particular objects and advantages may apply to only some embodiments falling within the claims and thus do not define the scope of the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a perspective view in cut away of the present invention as mounted to a ceiling showing two different orientations of joists in the ceiling and showing several bicycles inverted beneath the rack as supported by wheel hooks;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a simplified elevational view of a garage showing the loading of a bicycle at a convenient location removed from previously loaded bicycles positioned in a previously unused space over other stored materials on the floor;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a cross-section along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1 showing the support of the transverse bar on a trolley held in a longitudinal track, the latter which may be attached to ceiling joists or the like; and  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a plan view of two transverse bars supported on longitudinal tracks showing camming forces generating when the transverse bar is moved from one end. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a bicycle rack  10  of the present invention may include two longitudinal tracks  12  having upper surfaces  14  which may be mounted adjacent to a ceiling  16 .  
         [0027]    The longitudinal tracks  12  may be attached, for example, to joists  18  or  18 ′ within the ceiling  16  or exposed without intervening material such as drywall. When the joists  18  are running longitudinally, the individual longitudinal tracks  12  may be aligned with a joist  18  and attached thereto or to stringers inserted between the joists  18 . When the joists  18 ′ are running transversely, the longitudinal tracks  12  may be attached spanning the joists  18 ′. A plurality of holes  20  on the upper surfaces  14  of the longitudinal tracks  12  are spaced to accommodate many joist spacings.  
         [0028]    The longitudinal tracks  12 , when attached to the ceiling, are spaced apart and parallel. Together, the longitudinal tracks  12  support a number of transverse bars  22  extending beneath and generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal tracks  12  to span longitudinal tracks  12 . The transverse bars  22  may have a length greater than the separation of the longitudinal tracks  12  to accommodate the trade off between bicycle length and joist separation.  
         [0029]    Hanging from each of the transverse bars  22  are wheel hooks  24  that open transversely to engage rims of bicycle wheels  26  of inverted bicycles  25  aligned with the transverse bars  22 . While the bicycles  25  are shown with their front wheels all positioned in one direction, either orientation is acceptable and an alternating orientation may be adopted if convenient for closer storage.  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the longitudinal tracks  12  may be placed to extend into an unused and possibly otherwise inaccessible storage area  27 , for example, over materials  23  stored on the ground, and over an accessible area  15  where a user may stand. In using the rack  10 , the user dismounts from the bicycle  25  with the bicycle aligned generally with one transverse bar  22  pulled into the accessible area  29  and the user standing to one side. The user may then lift the bicycle  25  in a flattened arc  31  to engage the wheels  26  with the transversely opening hooks  24  of the displaced transverse bar  22 . Interference with the other bicycles  25  is avoided because the other bicycles are removed from the transverse bar  22  being loaded. Once the bicycle  25  is engaged with the wheel hooks  24 , the transverse bar  22  may be rolled back toward the other bicycles  25 .  
         [0031]    Referring now to FIG. 3, each of the wheel hooks  24  may have a lower bent portion  28  opening on one transverse side for supporting the bicycle wheel  26  with the bent portion  28  passing inside of the rim of the wheel  26  between spokes  33 . The wheel hook  24  may also have an upper threaded shank  19  that may be received within a threaded hole  32  in a lower wall  17  of the transverse bar  22 .  
         [0032]    The transverse bar  22  is attached at its upper wall  36  slidably attached to the longitudinal track  12  as will be described.  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIG. 4, the longitudinal track  12  is preferably a C-channel having an upper wall  36  flanked by two vertical sidewalls  38   a  and  38   b  extending downward from the upper wall  36  to terminate in horizontal lips  40 . A trolley  35  is held in the C-channel and has three side-by-side wheels  42  flanking a trolley body  34  and rotating in a vertical plane as supported by the two horizontal lips  40 . The horizontal lips  40  extend toward each other to define a gap therebetween through which a pivoting support  30  attached to the trolley body  34  passes. In this way, the trolley  35  may roll transversely within the transverse bar  22  with the pivoting support  30  passing downward without interference.  
         [0034]    The pivoting support  30 , pivots about a vertical axis, and is pivotally attached to the upper wall  36  of the transverse bar  22  by a bolt or the like. A spacer  44  provides a gap between the lower lips  40  of the longitudinal track  12  and the upper wall  36  of the transverse bar  22  providing sufficient clearance for easy motion. At least two wheels  42  flank the pivoting support  30 .  
         [0035]    The wheels  42  may be a resilient plastic material for smooth and quiet operation and may have central ball-bearings.  
         [0036]    In an alternative embodiment, the transverse bars  22  may be simplified as solid beams with the hooks  24  received within threaded holes drilled on regular periodic locations along the transverse bars  22  to provide for adjustment.  
         [0037]    In an alternative embodiment, the longitudinal track  12  may incorporate a sliding block without wheels.  
         [0038]    As will be understood from this description, the weight of the bicycles  25  on the wheel hooks  24  will be transmitted through the transverse bars  22  to the trolleys  35  within the longitudinal tracks  12  which may freely roll along the lips  40  of the longitudinal track  12  as supported by the ceiling structure.  
         [0039]    Referring momentarily to FIG. 7, low friction wheels  42  on the trolleys  35  within the longitudinal bars  22  and the pivoting support  30  operate to allow the transverse bars  22  to be guided from ends of the transverse bars by a force  52  on one end of a transverse bar  22 . Slight amounts of frictional resistance in the longitudinal motion of the transverse bar  22  can cause a canting of the transverse bars  22  shown in exaggerated form in FIG. 7 allowed by the pivoting support  30 . That in turn can cause a tension  54  along the transverse bar  22  that resolves itself into a longitudinal force  56  allowing the transverse bar  22  to move because of the low friction trolley  35 . The result is that off-center forces on the transverse bars  22  are acceptable, making it easy to move the transverse bars  22  apart from one side of the rack  10  without the need for braces or the like to prevent canting of the transverse bars  22 .  
         [0040]    It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims.