Patent Publication Number: US-2013228535-A1

Title: Bicycle rack

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present patent document claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/606,391, filed Mar. 3, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Bicycle transportation has been popular for over 200 hundred years. Bicycles are used for transportation in many environments, including but not limited to urban and rural areas for practical transportation and also in urban, rural and recreational areas for entertainment, healthy exercise, and competitive sport. 
     Bicycles, bicycle parts, and accessories are subject to theft. For example, entire bicycles, bicycle frames, bicycle seats, bicycle tires, and other components and accessories of bicycles. To prevent theft, several variations of bicycle locks have been developed. These range from U-shaped metal locks to chains, and cables, among others. 
     Bicycle locks are typically used in conjunction with bicycle parking systems to secure the various vulnerable bicycle components in an arrangement that deters theft. However, properly securing a bicycle using traditional bicycle parking systems is a continuous challenge. Often, bicycle owners simply remove and carry with the them various items vulnerable to theft, such as their helmet, their seat, and sometimes even wheels. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A bicycle parking system has a frame defining a space for receiving at least one bicycle. A compartment is integrated with the frame. The compartment is dimensioned to hold bicycle accessories, for example, but not limited to bicycle helmets, bicycle seats, bicycle gloves, or otherwise. The compartment includes an opening for receiving such accessories and items. The compartment and the bicycle-receiving frame are oriented such that when a bicycle is received within the frame, the compartment opening is blocked by a component of the bicycle. 
     Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Figures depict various variations of the claimed system. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a bicycle rack assembled with bicycles. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a second perspective view of a rack. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a third view of a rack illustrating use. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of a rack. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cut out view of a rack assembled with a bike. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a second variation of the system. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a close up of a portion of the system. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a third variation of the system. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a bicycle rack in an environment assembled with a bike. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first variation of a bicycle parking system  100 . The bicycle parking system includes a frame  102  defining an opening  104  for receiving a bicycle  106  therein. The bicycle parking system  100  also includes a compartment  110 . The opening  104  of the frame  102  may be wedge shaped. The wedge shape of the opening  104  may receive a wheel  112  and/or wheel  112  and wheel  112  and front forks  114 . The installation of the wheel  112  and or wheel  112  and front forks  114  into the opening  104  may stabilize the bicycle  106 . The opening  104  may be dimensioned such that the opening  104  approximates the assembly of a wheel  112  with the front forks  114  of a bicycle  106  frame. 
     The compartment  110  may have an opened end  116  and a closed end  118 . The compartment  110  may be associated with the frame  102  such that the open end  116  opens into the opening  104  for receiving a bicycle. The compartment  110  may be dimensioned to receive items therein, such as a hat or helmet, a bicycle seat, a back pack, a purse, a lunch bag, a small pet, or other items. While a helmet is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the compartment is not limited to the storage of helmets. The compartment  110  and the frames  102  may be arranged such that the open end  116  of the compartment  110  is securely obstructed by the entry into the opening  104  of a bicycle  106 . 
     The exemplary system  100  may include a series of compartments  110  and frames  102  such that it is capable of retaining multiple bicycles  106  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 1 ). Additionally or alternatively, the exemplary system  100  may be dimensioned such that the compartments  110  may serve as seating for pedestrians or bikers. The variation is dimensioned to accommodate a bike  106 . The following example provides exemplary dimensions for one variation, but these dimensions are merely for purposes of illustration and are not limiting. 
     Exemplary dimensions for the present variation may include but are not limited to—a dimension  122  representing the height of the frame  102  from the ground and which may be approximately two feet. Dimension  120  of the opening  104  for receiving a bicycle may be approximately 9″. These dimensions are merely illustrative of dimensions that might be appropriate for one style and size of bicycle and are not meant to be limiting. An exemplary length  124  of the system according to one non-limiting variation of this system may be approximately 4′-6′. This dimension would of course be modified by changing the size of the compartments  110 , the dimensions of the opening  104  and/or adding or subtracting a number of units of frames  102  and/or compartments  110 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a second variation and view of this system. In this figure, the method of using the compartment  110 , the bike  106  and the frame  102  to secure items such as but not limited to helmets  200  and bike seats  202 . The items such as but not limited to helmets  200  and bike seats  202  may be inserted into the compartment  110  through the open end  116  of the compartment  110  which may be accessible through the opening  104  in the frame  102 . After the items are deposited into the compartment  110  the bicycle  106  may be inserted into the opening  104  in the frame  102  thereby securing the items into the compartment  110  by blocking open end  116  of the compartment  110 . 
       FIG. 3  is an additional view of a variation of the system illustrating a possible use of the system  100 . In this figure, an individual  310  uses the compartment  110  as a seating location. A bicycle  106  is installed into a frame  102  securing the open end  116  of a compartment  110 . It also illustrates that, where the system includes multiple frames  102  and compartments  110 , the orientation of the frames  102  may be alternated such that the bicycles held therein are held in a staggered formation. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of one variation of a bicycle parking system  100 . This view illustrates again how the bicycle receiving frames  102  may have alternating orientations. Additionally or alternatively, the bicycle receiving frames may have identical orientations. From a top view, the figure illustrates the inside of a compartment  110  showing a item, which may be a helmet  200 , stored therein. 
       FIG. 5  is a cut out view of a variation of a bicycle parking system  100 . This view illustrates how when a bicycle part, such as a bicycle tire  112  is received within the opening  104  of a frame  102  an opening  116  of a compartment  110  may be blocked such that any materials that are deposited in the compartment  110  may be secured from retrieval by thieves.  FIG. 5  also illustrates the association of a bicycle lock  510 , which in this case is a U-lock. The frame  102  is adapted to receive the bicycle lock  510 . The frame  102  may have a means for receiving a locking device such as a U-lock, chain, cord, or otherwise. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a second variation of a bicycle parking system. 
     The bicycle parking system includes a frame  602  defining to which a bicycle may be secured. The frame  602  includes openings  604  which may receive one of various types of bike locks known. The bicycle parking system  600  also includes a compartment  610 . 
     The compartment  610  may have an opened end  616  and a closed end  618 . The compartment  610  may be associated with the frame  602  such that the open end  616  opens into space for receiving a bicycle. The compartment  610  may be dimensioned to receive items therein, such as a hat or helmet, a bicycle seat, a back pack, a purse, a lunch bag, a small plant, or other items. The compartment  610  and the frames  602  may be arranged such that the open end  616  of the compartment  610  is securely obstructed by the securing of a bicycle to the frame  602 . 
     In all variations, the compartment  110 ,  610 , etc., may me made of materials such as steel, composite, rubber, plastic, or any other material, for example a material that resists easy penetration by thieves. The compartment  110 ,  610 , etc. may include slots for draining out, e.g. rainwater or spills, or may be solid. 
       FIG. 7  demonstrates how an opening  FIG. 6 ,  616  of the compartment  610  may be secured when a bicycle  106  is secured to the bicycle parking system  600 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a third variation of a bicycle parking system  800 . In this example there is a frame  802  and a compartment  810 , the compartment  810  having an opening  816  for receiving articles such as helmets, bags, bike seats, tea kettles, etc. This variation of the system also illustrates how upon receiving a bicycle into a bicycle receiving slot  804  the compartment opening  816  may be closed, securing the objects therein. 
       FIG. 9  is a simple illustration of a bike  106  assembled with the system  800 . 
     The disclosed bicycle parking system may have increased functionality over existing systems. The present disclosure demonstrates a system that improves both the flexibility of the parking system, adds storage capacity in a manner that utilizes the function of the system. And in some variations adds seating. In some variations, the system allows the user to store items such as but not limited to helmets, seats, and other items, therefore freeing their hands so that they do not have to carry them around. 
     In some variations, the system employs what may be referred to as “funneling entry” which may refer to the dimensioning of the bicycle receiving spaces which may guide the user to properly align the bike with the system. Each variation may include various means for securing a bicycle to the system, including cut outs, dimensioning of frames to accommodate locking systems, and otherwise. 
     Each variation demonstrated herein may be stacked, duplicated, multiplied, or otherwise added on to or decreased in size to accommodate fewer or more bicycles. While most variations are shown attached to the ground, they may also be attached to a vertical surface, such as a wall. 
     In some variations of the system, the system may act as bicycle storage as well as functional seating and/or storage. For example, the user merely puts its items into the storage compartments and then inserts and locks their bike to secure the belongings therein. The size of variations involving benches may be adjusted to increase or decrease maximum seating space depending on the needs of the particular area in which the system is employed. 
     In one variation, the frame may be built out of for example but not limited to ½″ formed steel pate rails. The frame may be, for example but not limited to, anchor bolted to the ground. The frame in any variation may be powder coated or painted to eliminate rust. The compartments may be fabricated out of, for example but not limited to, structural materials such as metal sheet or metal plating (e.g., stainless, aluminum, steel). The outside layer of the compartment may be perforated for breathability. Alternating the upright components of the system may increase rigidity and strength. 
     In other variations may be fabricated from, for example but not limited to, ½″ plate steel, CORTEN Steel, or other materials. Any system may be power coated or painted. Each system may have multiple locking points, as illustrated in the drawings. 
     The method of using the system may include at least the steps of placing an item into the compartment, sliding a portion of a bicycle, such as the wheel, through or into a receiving slot, and using various means to lock the bicycle to the system. 
     While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the invention.