Patent Publication Number: US-2016244115-A1

Title: Bicycle Cargo Container Support

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to a bicycle front basket support. More specifically, this invention relates to a support that is attached to the front of the frame of an existing traditional bicycle, without any modification to the existing bicycle, and upon which a basket or generic cargo container can be mounted. Typical bicycles are designed around the rider and do not easily facilitate the carrying of large or heavy cargo. There are a few bicycles that are designed specifically to carry cargo, and these are loosely referred to as cargo bicycles. 
     A standard way to carry items on a bicycle is by using a front basket. Most front bicycle baskets are attached to the handlebars and fork (steering mechanism). This causes instability and difficulty in steering if a moderate or large load is carried. One solution to this problem is to use a special cargo bicycle referred to as a cycle truck. The cycle truck has a special frame that is designed with a cargo platform at the front that is an integral part of the frame, and that uses a smaller front wheel to make room for the platform. The usefulness of cycle trucks has been proven over many years. Another solution is a bicycle with a special frame that contains permanent mounting points for a front basket. These options are not usually appealing to a rider because they require purchasing an additional bicycle and they are often awkward to handle and odd looking. What is needed is a support for a front cargo container, or basket, that takes advantage of the benefits of a cycle-truck-type frame-mounted support but that can be attached to an existing bicycle without modification of the bicycle. 
     SUMMARY 
     The principal object of this invention is to provide a support for a basket or other container at the front of a bicycle with such support attached to, and supported by, the frame of the bicycle so that it does not move with the steering. It also is an object of this invention to provide such a support that can be attached to a traditional bicycle without modification of the bicycle. And finally, another object is to provide such a support that is adjustable to fit different sizes and configurations of bicycle frames. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1 : For reference and orientation; a typical bicycle with the cargo support of this invention and a wire basket attached. 
         FIG. 2 : Overall view of the cargo support showing the attachment to a typical bicycle. 
         FIG. 3 : Overall view of the cargo support assembly. 
         FIG. 4 : Top view of the cargo support assembly 
         FIG. 5 : Detail exploded view of the main components. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Preferred Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of a conventional bicycle  10  having mounted thereon the preferred embodiment of the cargo container support of this invention (indicated generally at  12 ). Mounted upon the support  12  is a typical wire basket  13  (generic cargo container). Bicycle  10  includes a frame; the forward portion of which is conventionally made up of a head tube  14 , a top tube  16 , and a down tube  18 . 
     The cargo container support is comprised of five major parts.  FIGS. 2 &amp; 3  show these parts to be a left support  21 , a right support  22 , a frame clamp  24  positioned on the top tube  16  of the bicycle, a head tube plate  26 , and a head tube washer  28 . The left and right supports  21  &amp;  22  are mounted and connected at their upper end at the frame camp  24 . The head tube plate  26  and washer  28  together connect the left and right supports  21  &amp;  22  at the front of the head tube  14  of the bicycle. 
       FIG. 2  shows the cargo container support components in their assembled positions on a bicycle. The left and right supports  21  &amp;  22  are bent from metal tubing of about ⅝″ diameter to form a fork shape when viewed together from above. The spreading apart of the supports as they extend horizontally forward of the frame and above the front wheel provides a stable platform for mounting a cargo container. The rear portion of each support is bent up at approximately 70 deg. from horizontal to form uprights  31  &amp;  32  that are generally parallel to the axis of the head tube  14  of the bicycle frame. The left and right supports  21  &amp;  22  contain horizontal mounting holes in the uprights  31  &amp;  32  to facilitate assembly to the frame clamp  24  and vertical mounting holes near the front of the head tube  14  to facilitate assembly to the head tube plate  26  and washer  28 . The forward “forked” portion of the supports contain vertical mounting holes to facilitate the mounting of a cargo container. These mounting holes can be seen best in  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the frame clamp  24  is bent from a rectangular piece of sheet metal. It forms a horseshoe shape with projecting ends that have two sets of holes to receive a bolt to tighten the clamp on the top tube  16  and a bolt to attach, connect, and support the left and right supports  21  &amp;  22 . The frame clamp  24  is made from sheet metal that is just flexible enough so that it can snap over and fit different size frame tubes. The frame clamp  24  is proportioned so that it is at least as wide (along the length of the frame) as the diameter of the frame tube it is clamping. This design, along with the stiffness of the sheet metal, helps to resist any twisting motion of the whole assembly. The details of the frame clamp  24  can be seen best in  FIG. 5 . 
     The head tube plate  26  is a flat metal plate which is generally rectangular with rounded corners but with one of the longer sides being concave with a radius of curvature slightly larger than the curvature of the head tube  14 . This concave edge rests and braces against the front of the head tube  14 . As seen more clearly in  FIG. 5 , the head tube plate  26  contains angled slots  34  to receive bolts to connect the left and right supports  21  &amp;  22 . These slots  34  allow for adjustment of the distance between the left and right supports  21  &amp;  22  so that they fit tightly to the sides of the head tube  14  when assembled to frames of various sizes. The slots  34  are angled so that slipping and widening of the connection is resisted by the bolts against the side of the slots. The thickness of the head tube plate is such that it is stiff enough to resist twisting or turning of the left and right supports  21  &amp;  22 . The stiffness of this assembly is further enhanced by the head tube washer  28  which is assembled under the heads of the bolts connecting the left and right supports  21  &amp;  22  through the head tube plate  26 , but on the opposite side of the supports. This results in the left and right supports  21  &amp;  22  being sandwiched and clamped between the head tube plate  26  and head tube washer  28  and held tight with the two bolt and nut assemblies as shown most clearly in  FIG. 3 . The head tube washer  28  is flat sheet metal with an elongated oval shape and slotted holes at each end to accommodate the width adjustment of the head tube plate  26 . 
     To assemble and attach the cargo container support  12  onto bicycle  10 , frame clamp  24  is slipped over the top tube  12  and loosely secured with a bolt and nut through one of the pairs of holes. The left and right supports  21  &amp;  22  are then assembled with the head tube plate  26  and head tube washer  28  by fastening two bolt and nut assemblies through the washer slots, then through the corresponding vertical mounting holes in the mid-section of the supports, and finally through the plate slots. The head tube plate  26  is oriented in this assembly with the curved side facing, resting upon, and braced against the front of the head tube  14 . The bolts are moved along the slots until the supports fit tight against the sides of the head tube, and then they are tightened to hold this position. The nuts used are of a ridged, locking, non-slip type to prevent movement. This whole assembly is placed around the front and sides of the lower section of the head tube  14  with the mid-section and “forked” forward section of the left and right supports  21  &amp;  22  approximately horizontal. Next, frame clamp  24  is moved along top tube  16  to line up with the mounting holes in support uprights  31  &amp;  32  , and it is secured by tightening the already assembled bolt and nut. Finally, a long bolt is passed through the mounting holes in both support uprights  31  &amp;  32  and, in the middle, through the open mounting holes in frame clamp  24  and secured with a nut. The bolts securing the head tube plate are tightened to final torque to prevent slipping, and then the long bolt through the supports and frame clamp is tightened. When this final tightening is done, the left and right supports  21  &amp;  22  are brought into firm contact with the surfaces of the head tube  14  and down tube  18  of the bicycle frame and the outer surface of the frame clamp  24 . This tightening effectively clamps the bicycle frame between the left and right supports. This procedure does not require any modification of the existing bicycle and will work with different frame configurations (i.e. male and female styles) and sizes. 
     Any basket, box, or container with a rigid bottom (not part of this patent) is mounted on top of the forward, approximately horizontal, and “forked” portion of the left and right supports  21  &amp;  22  using the vertical mounting holes (as seen in  FIG. 1 ). The load of this container, and any cargo carried in it, is supported mostly by the connection at the frame clamp with a smaller portion supported by the interface of the head tube plate with the front of the head tube. The sideways and twisting movement of any cargo is resisted by the clamping of the bicycle frame between the left and right supports at the head, down, and top tubes. 
     The following details are not discussed in the above description for the purpose of clarity, but they can be seen clearly in the figures. These details are of a protective and/or cosmetic nature: At all points where the invention contacts the existing bicycle frame, protective, non-marring, padding is used to protect the frame. This padding is usually made from some type of plastic or rubber material. These pads include a thin sheet at the inner diameter of the frame clamp  24 , round tubes or sheets at points where the supports  21  &amp;  22  contact the down tube  18  and the head tube  14 , and edging where the head tube plate  26  rests against the head tube  14 . Also, an acorn nut, or other cap, is used on the end of the long bolt that fastens the left and right supports  21  &amp;  22  to the frame clamp  24  to prevent injury to the rider. Finally, end plugs or caps are installed at the four ends of the left and right supports  21  &amp;  22  to prevent injury, seal from water and debris, and give a finished appearance. 
     Alternate Embodiments 
     Various alternate embodiments of this invention could be made. The length of the left and right supports could be varied and additional mounting holes could be added to enhance the fit adjustability for different sizes and configurations of bicycle frames. The left and right supports could be made from various shapes and sizes of tubing including round, square, rectangular, and oval. This tubing could also be made from non-metallic materials such as reinforced plastics. The left and right supports could also be made as stamped and formed metal plates. 
     In addition, the attachment of the invention to the bicycle frame could be varied. The frame clamp could be placed on the down tube, or multiple clamps could be utilized. Also the head tube plate and washer could be made in a different shape or of a different material. 
     CONCLUSION 
     In view of the above description the reader can see that the invention provides a support for a basket or other cargo container at the front of the bicycle. It is seen that the invention is attached to, and supported by, the frame of the bicycle so that it does not move with the steering of the bicycle. It is also seen that the invention is attached to a traditional bicycle without modification of the bicycle. And finally, it is seen that the invention is adjustable to fit different sizes and configurations of bicycle frames. 
     The forgoing description of the preferred embodiment and various alternate embodiments of the invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.