Patent Publication Number: US-2007108244-A1

Title: Mount for installing accessories on a bicycle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      The present invention relates to a mount for installing accessories on a bicycle.  
      2. Related Prior Art  
      Referring to  FIG. 16 , there is shown a conventional mount for installing accessories on a bicycle. The conventional mount includes a joint  1  for compliant contact with the handlebar of the bicycle, a strap  4  for binding the joint  1  to the handlebar, a rod  2  connected to the joint  1  and a crossbar  3  connected to the rod  2 . A few problems have been encountered in using the conventional mount. Firstly, the rod  2  is secured to the joint  1  so that the former cannot rotate on the latter. The annular position of the mount on the handlebar cannot be adjusted once the strap  4 . Secondly, the crossbar  3  is secured to the rod  2  so that the former cannot rotate on the latter. When not in use, the crossbar  3  still occupies a lot of space.  
      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, there is disclosed a mount for installing accessories on a proper portion of a bicycle. The mount includes a first joint connected to the proper portion of the bicycle, a second joint connected to the first joint, a rod pivotally connected to the second joint and a bar pivotally connected to the rod in order to support the accessories.  
      An advantage of the mount of the present invention is that the rod is pivotally connected to the second joint so that the angular position of the rod on the joint can be adjusted easily.  
      Another advantage of the mount of the present invention is that the bar is pivotally connected to the rod so that former can conceal the latter, thus occupying only a small space.  
      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 two embodiments referring to the drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mount for installing accessories on a bicycle according to the first 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 taken along a line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the mount shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 6  is another cross-sectional view of the mount shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged partial view of the mount shown in  FIG. 6 .  
       FIG. 8  is a top view of the mount shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 9  is a side view of a bicycle on which accessories are installed by means of the mount shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the accessories in other positions than shown in  FIG. 9 .  
       FIG. 11  is a side view of the accessories in other positions than shown in  FIG. 10 .  
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the bicycle on which another accessory is installed other than shown in  FIG. 11 .  
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the mount in another position than shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a mount for installing accessories on a bicycle according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 15  is a perspective partial view of a bicycle on which an accessory is installed by means of the mount shown in  FIG. 14 .  
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a conventional mount for installing accessories on a bicycle. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , according to a first embodiment of the present invention, a mount is devised for installing accessories on a bicycle  90  ( FIGS. 9 through 12  and  15 ). The mount includes a first joint  10  for compliant contact with the bicycle  90 , a second joint  20  connected to the first joint  10 , a rod  30  pivotally connected to the second joint  20  and a bar  40  movably and pivotally connected to the rod  30  in order to support the accessories.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first joint  10  is hollow, i.e., it defines a space  11  for containing a strap  51 , a nut  50 , and two threaded bolts  56  and  53 . The strap  51 , the nut  50  and the threaded bolts  56  and  53  are used for binding the first joint  10  to the bicycle  90 . The first joint  10  includes an open end and a perforated end defining an aperture  14 . At the open end, the first joint  10  is formed with two concave edges  12  for compliant contact with the bicycle  90 . At the perforated end, the first joint  10  is formed with a neck  13  for insertion in the second joint  20 . The neck  13  defines a plurality of screw holes  15 .  
      The strap  51  defines an aperture  57  near a first end and a series of apertures  57  near a second end. The strap  51  is wound around a proper portion of the bicycle  90 . Based on the size of the proper portion of the bicycle  90 , the aperture  57  near the first end of the strap  51  is aligned to selective one of the apertures  57  near the second end of the strap  51 .  
      The nut  50  defines a peripheral screw hole  55  in the bottom of one of two cavities  54  and an axial screw hole  52 . The cavities  54  receive two sections of the strap  51 . The threaded bolt  56  is driven in the peripheral screw hole  55  through the aligned apertures  57  so that the strap  51  is made into a loop  51  and that the loop  51  is connected to the nut  50 . The threaded bolt  53  is driven in the axial screw hole  52  via the aperture  14  so that tension is loaded on the loop  51  for binding the first joint  10  to the proper portion of the bicycle  90 .  
      The second joint  20  includes a space  21  for receiving the neck  13 , a countersink hole  22  in communication with the space  21 , two lugs  24  formed thereon, a non-circular cavity  25  defined in one of the lugs  24 , an aperture  26  defined in the bottom of the non-circular cavity  25 , a countersink hole  27  defined in the other lug  24 . Together, the non-circular cavity  25  and the aperture  26  make a countersink hole.  
      A threaded bolt  23  is driven in one of the screw holes  15  through the countersink hole  22 , thus securing the second joint  20  to the first joint  10 .  
      The rod  30  includes two rings  31  and  32  formed at two ends. The ring  31  defines an aperture  33  and includes a plurality of teeth  35  formed on a side. The ring  32  defines an aperture  34  and includes a plurality of teeth  36  formed on a side.  
      There is provided a nut  60  consisting of a non-circular portion  61 , a circular portion formed next to the non-circular portion  61 , a plurality of teeth  62  formed on the circular portion and a screw hole defined in the circular portion.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , the ring  31  is put between the lugs  24 . The circular portion of the nut  60  is put in the aperture  26  while the non-circular portion  61  of the nut  60  is put in the non-circular cavity  26  so that the nut  60  cannot rotate on the second joint  20 . The teeth  62  engage with the teeth  35 , thus retaining the rod  30  in selective one of various angular positions on the second joint  20  such as shown in  FIG. 5 . A threaded bolt  63  is driven in the screw hole of the nut  60  through the countersink hole  27 , thus ensuring the engagement of the teeth  62  with the teeth  35 .  
      The bar  40  defines a groove  42  and two slots  43  in communication with the groove  42 . The slots  43  are like countersink holes. A tag  41  is attached to the bar  40 . Words and patterns can be printed, molded or engraved on the tag  41 .  
      There is provided a nut  70 . The nut  70  is identical to the nut  60 . That is, the nut  70  includes a non-circular portion  71 , a circular portion, a plurality of teeth  72  and a screw hole.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the ring  32  is put in the groove  42 . The nut  70  is put in one of the slots  43  so that the nut  70  cannot rotate on the bar  40 . The teeth  72  engage with the teeth  36 , thus retaining the bar  40  in selective one of various angular positions on the rod  30  such as shown in  FIG. 8 . A threaded bolt  73  is driven in the screw hole of the nut  70  through the other slot  43 , thus ensuring the engagement of the teeth  72  with the teeth  36 . A washer  74  may be provided between the head of the threaded bolt  73  and the bar  40 . The slots  43  allow the movement of the bar  40  on the rod  30 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 9 through 12 , the bicycle  90  includes a seat post  92 , a handlebar  91  and a tube  93  for connecting the handlebar  91  to a stem. A box  94  is put on the handlebar  91 . A headlight  95  is installed on the mount installed on the tube  93 . The headlight  95  can be put in various positions relative to the box  94 . Should both installed on the handlebar  91 , the box  94  and the headlight  95  would be crowded and interfere with each other.  
      Referring to  FIG. 13 , the mount is retracted.  
       FIGS. 14 and 15  show a mount according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except including two screw holes  44  in addition. Two threaded bolts  46  can be driven in the screw holes  44  through a holder  45  for holding a bottle.  
      The mount of the present invention exhibits several advantages. Firstly, the rod  30  is pivotally connected to the second joint  20 . The angular position of the rod  30  on the joint  20  can be adjusted easily. Secondly, the bar  40  is pivotally connected to the rod  30  so that former can conceal the latter, thus occupying only a small space.  
      The present invention has been described through the illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.