Abstract:
A mounting device to attach peripheral equipment while operating a bicycle, said mounting device having a base and an aperture in the base to permit a mounting bolt to be inserted, a peripheral wall projecting above the base and defining a receptacle to permit the peripheral equipment to be mounted to the base.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/787,629 filed on Mar. 31, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/801,414 filed on May 19, 2006 which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to an equipment mounting device suitable for cycles.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Bicycles and tricycles are used in a variety of applications ranging from basic transportation to recreation and professional sports activities. Bicycles have been utilized as a means of transportation for over a hundred years and continue to grow in popularity. The mountain bike is one type of bike that has become more and more popular in recent years. These types of bikes are often used in rough terrain. The user of the vehicle frequently requires to monitor a device relating to or peripheral to the bicycling activity. For example, it is possible to monitor progress or physical performance through a trip computer or the like, a global positioning system (“GPS”) device, an entertainment device such as an MP3 player, or access to a cell phone or pager may be desirable. In each of these examples, the device being monitored or accessed is independent of the vehicle and therefore must be mounted in some way on the vehicle in a position that facilitates its use.  
         [0004]     Typically, devices of this nature may be mounted on the bicycle through the use of a specialized clip that is bolted to a convenient component of the vehicle, such as a handlebar. The mounting devices however tend to be relatively flimsy, add unnecessary weight to the bicycle, can readily be removed thereby increasing the possibility of theft or loss of the equipment, and can unacceptably impede the wind-drag performance of the bicycle. Moreover, the mounting bracket cannot readily be positioned in the most convenient location and may interfere with the operation of other devices such as the brakes or gear operating mechanism.  
         [0005]     There is therefore a requirement for a mounting device in which the above disadvantages may be obviated or mitigated.  
         [0006]     In general terms, the present invention provides a mounting device that serves as an integrated receptacle or base to hold or attach peripheral equipment while operating a bicycle. The mounting device has a base and an aperture in the base to permit a mounting bolt to be inserted. A peripheral wall projects above the base and defines a receptacle for receiving either an ancillary equipment to be carried or a support to permit the ancillary equipment to be mounted to the base.  
         [0007]     In one aspect, the mounting device may also serve as an integral structural retainer which receives a fastener, such as a bolt, which engages the bicycle forks to the bicycle frame and/or handlebar stem, the end of the mounting device being substantially integrated with the bicycle frame. Preferably, the bolt is the stem bolt associated with the handle bar stem and the base includes a recess to accommodate the bolt and the washer typically associated with the bolt.  
         [0008]     The mounting device may be manufactured from a variety of materials, including metals such as steel, stainless steel, aluminium, or alloys thereof; ceramics; and polymers. The mounting device may be manufactured from a number of processes, including machining, casting, injection molding, and co-injection molding.  
         [0009]     As a further preference, the mounting device includes a clevis to receive a complementary tong on the equipment to be carried. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a portion of a bicycle.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a view on the line II-II of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a enlarged view of a portion of the device shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the device shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  of an alternative embodiment.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  of a further embodiment.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  of a further embodiment.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  of a further embodiment.  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  of a further embodiment.  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  of a further embodiment.  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  of a further embodiment.  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  of a further embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a bicycle generally indicated at  10  has a frame  12  including a top tube  14 , a bottom tube  16  and a head tube  18 . The head tube  18  provides rotational support for a pair of forks  20  that support a front wheel  22 . The head tube  18  accommodates a bearing assembly (not shown) that supports an upper end of the fork which, in turn, is connected to a stem  26  of the handlebars assembly  24 . The front wheel  22  thus is steered by a handle bar assembly  24  that includes a handle bar stem  26  and handle bars  28 .  
         [0025]     As can best be seen in  FIG. 2 , the stem  26  is secured to the forks  20  by a bolt  30  that extends from an upper end face  34  and is threaded in a wedge nut  32 . The lower end of the stem  26  and the upper face of the nut  32  are inclined such that tightening of the bolt  30  causes a radial displacement and wedging of the stem within the upper end of the forks  20 . It will be appreciated that variations on the locking mechanism may be adopted as is common practice within the bicycle field and that the mechanism shown in exemplary only.  
         [0026]     A mounting device  40  is secured to the stem  26  by the bolt  30 . The mounting device  40  includes a base  42  having a planar end face  44  and shoulder  45 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the end face  44  is in abutment with the upper face  34  of the stem  26 . Alternatively as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 12 , the end face may be recessed within the stem  26  such that the shoulder face  45  is in abutment with the upper face  34  of the stem  26 . The shoulder face  45  may be contiguous with the wall of the stem  26  as shown in  FIG. 12 , or may extend past the wall of the stem  26  as shown in  FIG. 3  to receive a peripheral device that is larger than the diameter of the stem  26 . In either embodiment, the mounting device has a central aperture  46  to receive the bolt  30 . The base  42  has a counter bore  48  to accommodate the head  36  of the bolt  30 .  
         [0027]     A wall  50  extends from the periphery of the base  42  and projects upwardly to define a recess  52  above the base  42 . The recess  52  may be any appropriate shape and has an inner surface  54  that may taper slightly or may have a stepped internal face to present different elevations of the recess  52 . The mounting device  40  may be readily secured to the bicycle  10  by removal of the bolt  30  and reinsertion with the bolt through the aperture  46 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , tightening of the bolt  30  brings the end face  44  into abutment with the top face  34  of the stem and thereby securely holds the mounting device  40  in situ. When in situ, the mounting device  40  is centrally located on the handlebars and rotates with the forks  20 . Removal of the mounting device  40  requires a socket or driver of the correct size and shape due to the location of the head  36  in the counter bore  48  and thereby provides for a secure engagement of the mounting device  40  to the forks  20  of the bicycle  10 .  
         [0028]     The device in  FIG. 3  may be made from a single material type or, alternatively, the wall  50  may be made from a polymer material that is different than the polymer material used for the base  42 , such as produced from co-injection apparatuses and methods for injecting different materials into a single or multi-cavity mold cavity.  
         [0029]     The recess  52  is dimensioned to receive an ancillary piece of equipment such as a trip computer indicated as TC in  FIG. 3 . The trip computer can be cylindrical with an outside diameter similar to that of the recess  52  so that it is securely received within the recess  52  and located against inadvertent displacement. A friction fit is provided between the outer surface of the computer and the inner surface  54  of the recess  52  to inhibit inadvertent removal of the trip computer.  
         [0030]     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 5 , in which like reference numerals will be used to denote like components, the recess  52   a  may be used to receive a complimentary plug  60 . The plug  60  has a base conforming to the inner configuration of the recess  52 . A clevis  66  is preferably integrally formed with or fixedly coupled to the plug  60 . The clevis and plug assembly are also designed to be relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. The clevis  66  is configured and arranged with a mating receiver  72  integrally formed with or fixedly coupled to the trip computer or ancillary equipment to prevent inadvertent release of said trip computer or ancillary equipment from the clevis  66  due to relative movement of the clevis relative to the receiver  72 . The clevis may have a slot  68  communicating with a re-entrant channel  70 . As can been seen from  FIG. 6 , the slot  68  and channel  70  are open at one end and closed at the opposite end. The slot  68  and channel  70  are dimensioned to receive a tongue  72 A secured to the ancillary component TC. The component TC may be integrally formed with the tongue  72 A or the tongue  72 A may be secured to the component by adhesive or tape. The tongue  72 A is received within the slot  68  and channel  70  so as to be securely located on the plug  60 . The tongue may be secured by a friction fit or, as shown in  FIG. 5 , may have spring loaded balls  90  that engage detents  92  in the slot  68  to inhibit relative movement. The base  62  of the plug in turn is a friction fit within the recess  52   a  of the bracket  40   a  and therefore a secure retention of the ancillary equipment TC is obtained.  
         [0031]     A further embodiment similar to  FIG. 5  is shown in  FIG. 7  and like components will be identified with like reference numerals with a suffix “b” added for clarity.  
         [0032]     In the arrangement of  FIG. 7 , the plug  60   b  has an upstanding pivot block  80 . The clevis  66   b  has a pair of flanges  82  that extend to either side of the block  80 . A pivot pin  84  extends through the flanges  80  and block  80  to provide pivotal movement about the axis defined by the pin  84 . In this way, the orientation of the clevis  66   b  may be adjusted to suit the individual needs of the user.  
         [0033]     A further embodiment is shown in  FIG. 8 , in which like numerals with a suffix c will be used to identify like components. In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , the stem  26   c  has a recess  90  formed in its upper surface. The mounting device  40   c  is located within the recess  90  and secured by the bolt  30   c  so that the surface  44   c  is into abutment with the base of the recess  90 . By providing a recess  90 , the device is integrated in to the overall silhouette of the bicycle and the aerodynamics are preserved.  
         [0034]     A further embodiment is shown in  FIG. 9  in which like reference numerals will be used to identify like components with a suffix “d” added for clarity. In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the mounting device  40   d  is integrated with the stem  26   d  and clevis  66   d  formed to receive the TC. A central aperture  46   d  is formed in the integrated stem and mounting to receive the clamping bolt  30   d . Preferably, the bolt  30   d  is a socket drive to minimize the clearance required for the hexagonal wrench key to access the bolt. Although this arrangement requires replacement of the stem  26 , it is particularly suitable where long term use of the TC is envisaged.  
         [0035]     The arrangements in FIGS.  2  to  8  show the accommodation of the mounting device  40  in an internal cavity. It is also possible, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  to mount the device  40  on external surfaces. Thus, in the embodiment of  FIG. 10 , the device  40   e  has an internal female thread  54   e  that engages an external thread  92  provided on a disc  94 . The disc is secured by the clamping bolt  30   e  and provides a rigid mounting point for the device  40   e . A locking screw can be provided to prevent unintentional removal.  
         [0036]     In the embodiment of  FIG. 11 , an external rib  96  is provided on the disc  94  to engage a complimentary groove  54   f  on the device  40   f  to secure the device. The interference fit is chosen to inhibit accidental removal.  
         [0037]     The arrangements shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  could of course be integrated in to the trip computer TC in place of the clevis if required, in which case locking of the thread is not required.  
         [0038]     It will be seen therefore that the provision of the mounting device  40  provides a simple yet effective mounting location for ancillary equipment. This may be either directly mounted into the mounting device  40  or may be secured through the use of the mounting plug  60 . It will be appreciated that the ancillary component TC may be a trip computer or a cell phone or other device that may be required during use of the vehicle. Where the mounting plug  60  is utilized, the provision of the clevis allows the device to be readily removed and taken with the operator, as may be convenient with a cell phone or pager.  
         [0039]     The mounting device may be secured with minimal encumbrance of the normal components of the cycle and does not interfere with its normal operation.  
         [0040]     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 13 , in which like reference numerals will be used to denote like components with a suffix g added for clarity, a mounting device  40   g  is secured to the stem  26   g  by the bolt  30   g , with or without a metal washer  32   g . The mounting device  40   g  includes a base  42   g  having a planar end face  44   g  and shoulder face  45   g . The end face  44   g  is in abutment with the upper face  34   g  of the stem  26   g , or as shown, may be recessed within the stem  26   g  such that the shoulder face  45   g  is in abutment with the upper face  34   g  of the stem  26   g . The mounting device has a central aperture  46   g  to receive the bolt  30   g . The base  42   g  has a counter bore  48   g  to accommodate the head  36   g  of the bolt  30   g . A clevis  66   g  is preferably integrally formed with or fixedly coupled to the mounting device  40   g . The clevis is designed to be relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. The clevis  66   g  is configured and arranged with a mating receiver  72   g  integrally formed with or fixedly coupled to the trip computer or ancillary equipment to prevent inadvertent release of said trip computer or ancillary equipment from the clevis  66   g  due to relative movement of the clevis relative to the receiver  72   g . The receiver  72   g  may have a slot  68   g  communicating with a re-entrant channel  70   g  with a friction locking aperture.  
         [0041]     The receiver  72   g  may be secured to the ancillary component as described above, or may be attached to a sleeve or housing configured to receive and hold the ancillary component TC.  
         [0042]     It will also be appreciated that in each of the above embodiments the recess may be tilted relative to the axis of the stem  26  to vary the orientation of the ancillary component TC.