Patent Publication Number: US-2016244246-A1

Title: Bicycle storage system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The field to which the disclosure generally relates is folding bicycles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Bicycles may be folded for compact storage. The folding bicycle may include a rechargeable battery. 
     SUMMARY OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS 
     A number of variations may include storage of a folded bike in a storage box. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Select examples of variations within the scope of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the bicycle according to a number of variations. 
         FIG. 2  shows the bicycle of  FIG. 1  folded to a position for easy rolling by the user according to a number of variations. 
         FIG. 3  shows the bicycle of  FIG. 1  fully folded for compact storage according to a number of variations. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a storage box for the bicycle according to a number of variations. 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the storage box being slid into a vehicle according to a number of variations. 
         FIG. 6  shows the folded bicycle of  FIG. 3  rolled into the storage box for storage according to a number of variations. 
         FIG. 7  shows a user towing the storage box along the ground according to a number of variations. 
         FIG. 8  shows an electrical schematic for connecting the electrical system of the vehicle to the battery of the bicycle for recharging the battery from the vehicle according to a number of variations. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS 
     The following description of the variations is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application, or uses. 
     A number of variations are illustrated in  FIG. 1 , which may include a bicycle  10  including a frame, generally indicated at  12 , which may include a front frame  14 , a middle frame  16  and a rear frame  18 . The front frame  14  may have a fork assembly  20  with front axle  22  that supports front wheel  24 , and a handle bar assembly  25  by which a user will turn the front wheel  24  to turn the bicycle. The rear frame  18  may have a rear axle  26  that supports rear wheel  28  and a seat support  32  that supports a seat  34 . 
     The front frame  14  may be connected to the middle frame  16  by a front hinge assembly, generally indicated at  36 , that will be described further hereinafter. The rear frame  18  may be connected to the middle frame  16  by a rear hinge assembly, generally indicated at  38 , that will be described hereinafter. 
     The seat support  32  may be pivotally connected to the rear frame  18  by a pivot  42 , which may be located just above the rear axle  26 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , a support rod  44  extends between the middle frame  16  and the seat support  32  to support the seat support  32  at its position of  FIG. 1  so that the seat support  32  will not pivot about its pivot  42  during use of the bicycle  10 . 
     The bicycle  10  may have an electrical propulsion system, as well as a traditional pedal system, so that the user can choose between electric powered riding and pedal powered riding. A chain sprocket  48  may be pivoted on sprocket axle  52  provided on the rear frame  18 . A pedal assembly  54  including a right pedal  56  and left pedal  58  may be attached to the chain sprocket  48  by a one-way clutch, not shown. The electrical propulsion system may include a battery  62  suitably mounted on the seat support  32  and a motor  64  that is connected to the chain sprocket  48  by a one-way clutch, not shown. The chain sprocket  48  may be connected to the rear wheel  28  by a chain  66  and a rear sprocket  68 . 
     The middle frame  16  may have a lever arm  192  that is attached to the top of the middle frame  16 . As best seen in  FIG. 6 , this lever arm  192  may project sideways from the middle frame  16  and may be attached to the support rod  44  by a ball swivel joint  200 . Referring again to  FIG. 1 , it is seen that the rear end of the support rod  44  may be attached to the seat support  32  by a similar ball swivel joint  208 . It will be understood that upon a pivoting of the middle frame  16  about the rear hinge assembly  38 , the lever arm  192  may rotate, thereby pulling or pushing support rod  44  which in turn may result in a pivoting of the seat support  32  about its pivot  42  to thereby move the seat support  32  either closer to or further away from the rear frame  18 . 
     During such folding action, the middle frame  16  may swing about the rear hinge assembly  38  and the front frame  14  may swing about the front hinge assembly  36  so that the bicycle  10  obtains its folded position of  FIG. 2  in which the front wheel  24  may have assumed a position that is side-by-side and parallel with the rear wheel  28 , with a space of a few inches between the front and rear wheels. Both the front wheel  24  and the rear wheel  28  may be engaging the ground. 
     In comparing  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it is seen that during the pivoting of the rear hinge assembly  38 , the lever arm  192  may have effectively pushed the seat support rod  44  rearwardly which may cause the seat support  32  to assume a more vertical position. Furthermore, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bicycle  10  may have a third wheel  230  that may be attached to the middle frame  18  by a wheel support bar  232 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , the upward rotation of the rear frame  18  about the rear axle pivot  26  may have caused the third wheel  230  to be lowered into contact with the ground surface. Thus, as seen in  FIG. 2 , the bicycle  10  may now stand on its own and the user may be free to remove his hands from the seat  34  and the handlebar  25 . All three wheels, including front wheel  24 , rear wheel  28  and third wheel  230  may be engaging the ground. The contact of the third wheel  230  with the ground may allow the upright folded bicycle of  FIG. 2  to be easily rolled along the ground surface, thus facilitating transport of the folded bicycle by the user. 
       FIG. 3  is another view of the bicycle  10  in which the folded bicycle of  FIG. 2  may be further compacted by lowering the seat  34  and folding the handle bars  25 . The seat support  32  may include telescoping rods including an upper tube  234  attached to the seat and a lower tube  236 . A releasable clamp mechanism  238 , shown in  FIG. 1 , may permit the seat  34  to be raised and lowered. The handlebar assembly  25  may include hinges for the left handlebar and right handlebar (not shown in the drawings) so that the handlebars may be folded downwardly. In addition, if desired, the right pedal  56  and the left pedal  58  may be of the pivoting type to permit folding to the collapsed position of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , further reducing the size of the folded bicycle  10 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a storage box  250  for storing the bicycle  10  according to a number of variations. The storage box  250  may have a bottom wall  252 , a left side wall  254 , a right side wall  256 , a top wall  258 , a front wall  260 , and an open end  262 . The storage box  250  may be constructed of a lightweight material such as fiberglass or aluminum or other sheet metal. The walls may have integral stiffening ribs formed therein to strengthen the walls. The storage box may have a lift handle  264  at the top wall  258 . A pair of tracks  266  and  268  may be provided on the bottom wall  252 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the storage box  250  resting on the floor  270  of a vehicle. A guide pin  272  may be mounted on the storage box  250  on front wall  260  and projects forwardly. A guide pin receptacle  274  may be mounted on the floor  270  and have a socket  276  that opens rearwardly. When the storage box  250  is slid into the vehicle, the guide pin  272  will insert into the socket  276  of the guide pin receptacle  274  to provide a mechanical connection between the storage box  250  and the vehicle floor  270 . The mechanical connection provided by engaging the guide pin  272  with the guide pin receptacle  274  will limit the forward sliding movement of the storage box  250  into vehicle and will retain the storage box  250  on the vehicle floor  270  during travel of the vehicle. One or more of these guide pin receptacles  274  and guide pins  272  may be utilized as desired and the guide pin  272  may be mounted on the vehicle as an alternative to mounting the guide pin  272  on the storage box  250 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , a manual latch  278  may be provided on the bottom wall  252  adjacent the open end  262  of the storage box  250  for manual operation by the user to provide an additional attachment of the storage box  250  to the vehicle. The manual latch  278  may, for example, be a quick-turn locking connector  279  that may lock into a mating cavity  280  provided in the floor  270  of the vehicle. One or more of these quick-turn locking connectors  279  may be utilized. Such quick-turn connectors, or other suitable manual latches, are commercially available and may be selected from manufacturer&#39;s catalogs. When the storage box  250  has been slid onto the vehicle, the mechanical connection provided by the guide pin  272  and the guide pin receptacle  274  will stop the forward sliding movement of the storage box  250  into the vehicle and bring the quick-turn locking connector  279  into alignment with the cavity  280 , so that the quick-turn locking connector  279  will lock into the cavity  80 . For removing the storage box  250  from the vehicle, the user may manually operate the quick-turn locking connector  279  a quarter turn and then lift the rear end of the storage box  250 , so that the storage box  250  can be slid rearwardly and lifted out the vehicle. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , a removable lid  282  may be provided to close off the open end  262  of the storage box  250 .  FIG. 5  shows a tow handle  284  that may be mounted on the top wall  258  of the storage box  250 . Tow handle  284  may be a telescoping handle and include an outer tube  286  mounted on the top wall  258  and an inner tube  288  that slides within the outer tube  286 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the storage box  250  with the bicycle  10  rolled into the storage box  250 . The front wheel  24  and the rear wheel  28  have rolled respectively along the tracks  266  and  268 . The front wall  260  may have a slot  290  through which the rear wheel  28  may extend so at to extend outside of the storage box  250 . The front wall  260  may also have a slot  292  through which the third wheel  230  may extend outside of the storage box  250 . The front wall  260  may have an additional slot, not shown, through which the front wheel  24  may extend. The storage box  250  may have tie-down straps, cord, latches or other devices to hold the bicycle tightly in position within the storage box  250 . 
       FIG. 7  shows the storage box  250  being towed along the ground by a user who is gripping the tow handle  284 . The rear wheel  28  is extending through the slot  290  in the front wall  260  and is rolling on the ground. The user may also tip the storage box  250  vertically, so that the third wheel  230  and the rear wheel  28  are rolling on the ground. 
       FIG. 8  is an electrical schematic for the storage box  250 , and for making electrical connections between the vehicle, the storage box  250  and the bicycle  10  so that the vehicle electrical system may be used to recharge the battery  62  of the bicycle  10 . The vehicle may have a charging source  296 . A first electrical connector  298  may be fixedly mounted on the storage box  250 . A mating electrical connector  300  may be fixedly mounted on the vehicle, for example on the vehicle floor  270 , or on the guide pin receptacle  274 . The mating connector  300  may be connected to the charging source  296  by a cable  301 . Upon the sliding of the storage box  250  into the vehicle, and upon the guide pin  272  inserting into the guide pin receptacle  274  to stop the forward sliding movement of the storage box  250  relative the vehicle floor, the first electrical connector  298  may simultaneously engage with the mating electrical connector  300  to automatically make an electrical connection between the vehicle and the storage box  250  without additional effort by the user. 
       FIG. 8  also shows a second electrical connector  302  that may be fixedly mounted on the inside of the storage box  250  and connected to the first electrical connector  298  by cable  304 . The bicycle  10  is also shown in  FIG. 8  and is ready to be rolled into the storage box  250 . The bicycle  10  may have a fixedly mounted mating electrical connector  306  that is electrically connected to the battery  62  of the bicycle  10 . When the bicycle  10  is rolled into the storage box  250 , the mating electrical connector  306  may be simultaneously engaged with the second electrical connector  302  without additional effort by the user as the bicycle us rolled into the storage box  250 . The mating electrical connector  306  may be located at any convenient location on the bicycle  10 , including directly on the battery  62 . Alternatively, the second electrical connector  302  and the cable  304  may be loose and flexible within the storage box  250 , rather than fixedly mounted on the box, and the user may manually connect the second electrical connector  302  to the mating electrical connector  306  provided on the bicycle  10 . 
     It will be understood that the foregoing examples of variations are merely illustrative and many variations can be practiced. For example, more than one of the storage boxes can be stored in a vehicle, with two or more storage boxes mounted side-by-side or stacked one atop another. The storage box can easily be used as luggage to transport the bicycle on an airplane, train or bus. The transport vehicle, whether a highway vehicle, airplane, train, or bus can be equipped with the described electrical connection so that the bicycle may be recharged during transport. The particular charging controller electronics for controlling the recharge of the battery  62  can be mounted on the vehicle, or on the bicycle  10 , or on the storage box  250 . 
     Variation 1 may include a storage system for storing a folded bicycle in a vehicle comprising a box having an open end for receiving a folded bicycle; at least one track mounted within the box for guiding a wheel of the folded bicycle as the folded bicycle is rolled into the box; a mechanical connection having a first part carried by the box and a second part mounted on the vehicle, the first part carried by the box connecting with the second part mounted on the vehicle when the box is installed into the vehicle to connect the box to the vehicle. 
     Variation 2 may include a storage system as set forth in Variation 1 and further comprising the mechanical connection having a guide pin projecting forwardly from the box and the vehicle having a guide pin receptacle receiving the guide pin when the box is slid into the vehicle. 
     Variation 3 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 1-2 and further comprising the box having a manually operable latch for engaging with the vehicle to attach the box to the vehicle. 
     Variation 4 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 1-3 and further comprising the box having a lift handle for lifting the box into the vehicle. 
     Variation 5 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 1-4 and further comprising the box having a slot through which a wheel of the bicycle extends outside of the box to engage a road surface. 
     Variation 6 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 1-5 and further comprising a telescoping tow handle mounted on the storage box so that a user can tow the storage box along a road surface. 
     Variation 7 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 1-6 and further comprising the box having a first electrical connector mounted thereon and engaging with a mating electrical connector mounted on the vehicle when the storage box is installed into the vehicle. 
     Variation 8 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 1-7 and further comprising the box having a second electrical connector mounted thereon and engaging with a mating electrical connector mounted on the bicycle when the bicycle is rolled into the box for storage. 
     Variation 9 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 1-8 and further comprising the box having a first track for guiding a front wheel of the bicycle and a second track for guiding a second wheel of the bicycle when the bicycle is rolled into the box. 
     Variation 10 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 1-9 and further comprising the box having a removable lid for closing the open end of the box. 
     Variation 11 may include a storage system for storing a folded bicycle in a vehicle comprising: a box having an open end for receiving a folded bicycle having side-by-side front and rear wheels; a first track for guiding the front wheel of the bicycle and a second track for guiding the rear wheel of the bicycle when the bicycle is rolled into the box for storage; a mechanical connection having a first connecting part carried by the box and a second connecting part mounted on the vehicle, the first connecting part carried by the box sliding into and connecting with the second connecting part mounted on the vehicle when the box is installed into the vehicle to stop the sliding movement of the storage box into the vehicle, said mechanical connection being located at a front end of the box; and a manually operable latch carried by the box for engaging with the vehicle to attach the box to the vehicle, said manually operable latch aligning with a cavity on a vehicle floor for engagement therewith when the mechanical connection stops the sliding movement of the storage box on the floor. 
     Variation 12 may include a storage system as set forth in Variation 11 further comprising the box having a first electrical connector mounted thereon and engaging with a mating electrical connector mounted on the vehicle when the storage box is installed into the vehicle. 
     Variation 13 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 11-12 and further comprising the box having a second electrical connector mounted thereon and engaging with a mating electrical connector mounted on the bicycle when the bicycle is rolled into the box for storage. 
     Variation 14 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 11-13 and further comprising the box having a first electrical connector mounted thereon and engaging with a mating electrical connector mounted on the vehicle when the storage box is installed into the vehicle, and the box having a second electrical connector mounted thereon and engaging with a mating electrical connector mounted on the bicycle when the bicycle is rolled into the box for storage, whereby an electrical connection is made between the vehicle and the bicycle for recharging a battery carried by the bicycle. 
     Variation 15 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 11-14 and further comprising the box having a lift handle for lifting the box into the vehicle, a slot through which a wheel of the bicycle extends outside of the box to engage a road surface, and a telescoping tow handle mounted on the storage box so that a user can tow the storage box along a road surface. 
     Variation 16 may include a storage system for storing a folded bicycle in a vehicle comprising a box having an open end for receiving a folded bicycle; at least one track mounted within the box for guiding a wheel of the folded bicycle as the folded bicycle is rolled into the box; a mechanical connection having a first connecting part carried by the box and a second connecting part mounted on the vehicle, the first connecting part carried by the box sliding into and connecting with the second connecting part mounted on the vehicle when the box is installed into the vehicle to stop the sliding movement of the storage box into the vehicle; the box having a first electrical connector mounted thereon and engaging with a mating electrical connector mounted on the vehicle when the storage box is installed into the vehicle. 
     Variation 17 may include a storage system as set forth in Variation 16 and further comprising the box having a second electrical connector mounted thereon and engaging with a mating electrical connector mounted on the bicycle when the bicycle is rolled into the box for storage whereby an electrical connection is made between the vehicle and the bicycle for recharging a battery carried by the bicycle. 
     Variation 18 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 16-17 and further comprising the box having a manually operable latch for engaging with the vehicle to attach the box to the vehicle. 
     Variation 19 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 16-18 and further comprising the box having a slot through which a wheel of the bicycle extends outside of the box to engage a road surface. 
     Variation 20 may include a storage system as set forth in any of Variations 16-19 further comprising the box having a slot through which one of the wheels of the bicycle extends outside of the box to engage a road surface, and a telescoping tow handle mounted on the storage box so that a user can tow the storage box along a road surface. 
     The following description of variants is only illustrative of components, elements, acts, product and methods considered to be within the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth. The components, elements, acts, product and methods as described herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expressly described herein and still are considered to be within the scope of the invention.