Patent Publication Number: US-2007119888-A1

Title: Mount adjustable to various tubes

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      The present invention relates to a mount for installing an accessory on a bicycle and, more particularly, to a mount adjustable to various tubes, i.e., tubes with various diameters.  
      2. Related Prior Art  
      Disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 570002 is a quick-release mount for installing an accessory to a bicycle. The mount includes a body  20 , a quick-release element and a strap  24 . On the body  20  is formed a connecting portion  205  to which an accessory such as a mudguard can be connected. The quick-release element includes a first strip  21  pivotally connected to the body  20 , a second strip  22  pivotally connected to the first strip  21  and a third strip  23  pivotally connected to the second strip  22 . Formed on the third strip  23  is a buckle  232  for pinching the strap  24 . Connected to the strap  24  is a ring  243  for holding on to a hook  203  formed on the body  20 . The body  20 , the quick-release element and the strap  204  can be wound around a seat tube of a bicycle for example. The ring  243  can be hooked on the hook  203 . Now, the body  20 , the quick-release element and the strap  204  together make a loop around the seat tube. The quick-release element can be folded so that the loop binds the seat tube. The pinching of the strap  24  by means of the buckle  232  is however not reliable so that the mudguard often slides down the seat tube and finally interferes with the rolling of a wheel.  
      The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.  
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
      According to the present invention, a mount is disclosed for installing an accessory to a tube of a bicycle. The mount includes a first body to which the accessory is connected. The first body defines two apertures and a channel in communication with the apertures. The width of the channel is smaller than the diameter of the apertures. A second body is pivotally connected to the first body, and defines an aperture. A pin is inserted in the aperture of the second body and selective one of the apertures of the first body. The pin includes two flat sides and two convex sides. The distance between the flat sides is about the width of the channel. The distance between the convex sides is about the diameter of the apertures. The pin cannot move between the apertures through the channel in a position but can do in another position. A fastening device causes the bodies to clamp the bicycle.  
      The primary advantage of the mount of the present invention is its reliable operation because the insertion of the pin in selective one of the apertures retains the mount in selective one of a plurality of sizes.  
      Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description referring to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      The present invention will be described through illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mount adjustable to various tubes of bicycles according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the mount shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the mount taken along a line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the mount in another position than that is shown in  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the mount in another position than that is shown in  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the mount in another position than that is shown in  FIG. 5   
       FIG. 7  is a side view of a bicycle on which a mudguard is installed by means of the mount shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 8  is a side view of a bicycle on which a rack is installed by means of the mount shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 9  is a side view of a bicycle on which a bag is installed by means of the mount shown in  FIG. 1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a mount  1  for installing an accessory to a bicycle such as those shown in  FIGS. 7 through 9  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The mount  1  is adjustable to various tubes of bicycles, i.e., tubes with various diameters.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , the mount  1  includes a first body  10 , a second body  20  pivotally connected to the first body  10  in selective one of a plurality of positions and a fastening device  30  for causing the bodies  10  and  20  to clamp a seat tube for example.  
      Two lugs  101  and  102  are formed on a convex (or “external”) side of the first body  10 . Two jaws  11  and  12  are non-rotationally installed on the lugs  101  and  102 . A lug formed on an accessory can be put between the jaws  11  and  12 . A fastener  13  can be driven in the jaws  11  and  12  in order to cause the jaws  11  and  12  to clamp the lug formed on the accessory. The jaws  11  and  12  both include a plurality of teeth (not numbered). The lug formed on the accessory includes two sides both formed with a plurality of teeth for engagement with the teeth of the jaws  11  and  12 , thus keeping the accessory in selective one of a corresponding number of positions relative to the mount  1 .  
      A lug  17  and two lugs  18  are formed on a concave (or “internal”) side of the first body  10 . The lug  17  and the lugs  18  are located at opposite ends of the first body  10 . The lug  17  defines a first aperture  15 , a second aperture  16  and a channel  151  through which the first aperture  15  is in communication with the second aperture  16 . The width of the channel  151  is smaller than the diameter of the apertures  15  and  16 . Each of the lugs  18  defines an aperture  19 .  
      The second body  20  includes two lugs  23  and two lugs  24  located opposite to the lugs  23 . Each of the lugs  23  defines an aperture  22 .  
      The fastening device  30  is preferably a quick-release device including a threaded bolt  31 .  
      A column-shaped nut  14  defines a screw hole  141  for receiving the threaded bolt  31 .  
      In assembly, the lug  17  is put between the lugs  23 . A pin  21  is inserted in the apertures  22  and the aperture  15  referring to  FIG. 3  or the aperture  16  referring to  FIG. 6 . The threaded bolt  31  is driven in the screw hole  141  between the lugs  18 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , the pin  21  is inserted in the aperture  15  so that the bodies  10  and  20  can clamp a tube with a diameter L 1 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 , the pin  21  is inserted in the aperture  16  so that the bodies  10  and  20  can clamp a tube with a smaller diameter L 2 .  
      To allow the movement of the pin  21  between the apertures  15  and  16  without having to pull the pin  21  from them, the channel  151  is defined and the pin  21  is made with a special form. The pin  21  includes an oblong cross-sectional profile. The pin  21  includes two flat sides  211  and two convex sides  212  between the flat sides  211 . The distance between the flat sides  211  is marginally smaller than the width of the channel  151 . The distance between the convex sides  212  is marginally smaller than the diameter of the apertures  15  and  16 . That is, the distance between the flat sides  211  is smaller than the distance between the convex sides  212 . The apertures  22  are made in compliance with the pin  21  so that the second body  20  and the pin  21  rotate together as the second body  20  receives the pin  21 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , the fastening device  30  is pivoted from the second body  20  and, more particularly, the lugs  24 . The pin  21  cannot move between the apertures  15  and  16  through the channel  151 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , the second body  20  is pivoted on the first body  10  so that the pin  21  is pivoted in the aperture  15 . The pin  21  can move between the apertures  15  and  16  through the channel  151 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , a mudguard  50  is connected to a seat tube of a bicycle by means of the mount  1 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , a rack  60  is connected to a seat tube of another bicycle by means of the mount  1 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 9 , a bag  70  is connected to a seat post of still another bicycle by means of the mount  1 .  
      The diameter of the seat post of a bicycle varies from 26.0 mm to 34.9 mm. The use of the apertures  15  and  16  and the threaded bolt  31  ensure adequate adjustment of the mount  1 .  
      The primary advantage of the mount  1  of the present invention is its reliable operation because the dimensions of the pin  21  and that of the apertures  15  and  16  and of the channel  151  retain the mount  1  in selective one of a plurality of sizes.  
      The present invention has been described through the illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.