Abstract:
A motorized bicycle storage and retrieval assembly for loading, storing and unloading bikes. The storage assembly is mountable within or to the top of existing bicycle storage racks. The storage assembly has a frame, a lower track, an upper track and a motor assembly and windable cable interconnects the lower and upper trolley track. The upper track has front and rear bike wheel securement structures which secure a bike to the upper track. A plate assembly is provided to pivot the upper trolley track with respect to the lower trolley track to load and unload bikes. The motorized assembly includes a gear reduction device, a brake device, a wound cable and a switch mechanism to operate the bicycle storage assembly. Further, a safety mechanism is provided to lock the upper track to the lower track.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/902,478, filed on Feb. 21, 2007. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a bicycle storage and retrieval assembly and particularly to a motorized storage assembly for loading, storing and unloading bicycles and which is mountable to a bicycle storage rack. More particularly, the invention relates to an automated, motorized storage assembly for loading and unloading bicycles to and from an elevated storage position. 
     As disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/329,441, filed on Jan. 11, 2006, entitled Bicycle Storage and Retrieval Assembly, Applicant provides several embodiments for a manually operated storage assembly for bicycles. One such embodiment relates to a manually operated bicycle storage assembly which uses a tool member to aid in the loading and unloading of bikes from high storage positions, i.e., a third bike storage level. 
     The disclosure of the Ser. No. 11/329,441 is fully incorporated by reference into this application. The motorized bicycle storage and retrieval assembly of the present invention utilizes common components to the embodiments disclosed in the &#39;441 Application, however, several components have been eliminated and other components have been added to provide an automated, motorized bicycle storage assembly which is activated by a power switch to load and unload bikes from an elevated position. 
     The motorized bicycle storage assembly of the invention provides a quick and easy manner to store and retrieve bicycles from elevated storage locations and permits relatively short personnel to utilize a bike storage system without requiring extraordinary strength. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The motorized bicycle storage and retrieval assembly of the invention comprises a frame structure holding a lower track and an upper track on which a bicycle may be secured. The upper track moves with respect to and may pivot with respect to the lower track. The present invention utilizes a motor assembly, with a rotatable shaft and a wound cable thereon which is mounted at the upper end of the lower track and connected to and operative on the upper track. The motor assembly is activated by a remote switch, accessible to the user in either a forward or reverse position to thereby wind or unwind the cable to thereby load or to unload a bike. 
     A cable is wound on the rotatable shaft and is connected to the end of the upper track to thereby move and control the movement of the upper track with respect to the lower track. The upper track has a front wheel holder structure and a movable or slidable rear wheel holder structure to secure a bicycle to the upper track. These structures are shown and described in the &#39;441 Application. 
     A movable and pivotable plate device is provided for movement in the lower track to guide the cable and to provide the secure pivoting motion of the upper track with respect to the lower track. The pivotable plate has a pair of dogs which engage apertures in the bottom of the lower track so that the release of the upper track rear wheel rollers from the lower track side openings allows the controlled pivoting of the bicycle on the upper track for removal. 
     Upper and lower limit stop switches are also provided to control the motor assembly. The motor assembly is preferably a small AC or DC operated motor with an attached gear reduction device so that the cable can be wound on and unwound from the rotatable shaft. For example, a small DC motor capable of generating approximately 40 pounds of torque has been found suitable for the present application. An AC/DC converter is provided to power the DC motor. 
     The motor assembly is further provided with a brake device to limit shaft rotation and a safety mechanism comprising a plurality of apertures in the lower track with a cooperating pivotable pawl connected to the upper track. These devices are provided as safeguards to secure the upper track to the lower track. 
     These and other benefits of this invention will become clear from the following description by reference to the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the motorized bicycle storage and retrieval assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a bicycle secured to the upper track in a pivoted relationship to the lower track; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the motor assembly mounted to the upper end of the lower track; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the upper track pivotably held by a cable with respect to the lower track; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the pivotable plate assembly used in the lower track; 
         FIG. 6  is another perspective view of the pivotable plate assembly; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the upper track and the lower track; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the dogs of the pivotable plate assembly engaging cooperating apertures released from the lower track; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing the rear wheel rollers of the upper track released from the lower track; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the upper track in a pivotable relationship to the lower track and showing the pawl member; 
         FIG. 11  shows the activation switch of the motorized assembly; 
         FIG. 12  shows the upper stop switch of the motorized assembly; 
         FIG. 13  shows the lower stop switch of the motorized assembly; and 
         FIG. 14  shows a tool member for activating the switch of the motorized assembly of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The motorized bicycle storage and retrieval assembly of the invention may be used within a storage rack or on top of an existing storage rack, the latter being a third or elevated storage level, for example. The assembly comprises a frame structure, a lower track, an upper track with front wheel securement means and with a cooperating movable trolley having rear wheel securement means. Although using common components of the assemblies disclosed in the pending &#39;441 Application, the biasing means provided to interconnect the lower and upper tracks has been eliminated and other components have been added to the motorized storage assembly of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the motorized bicycle storage and retrieval assembly  10  is shown having a stationary lower track  14  mounted with legs  15  and  16  onto frame structures  12  and  13  of a bicycle rack  11 . An upper track  17  is shown in sliding communication with stationary track  14 . A rolling trolley structure  18  and front wheel holder  19  with front wheel safety release  21  is shown holding bicycle  50  on upper track  17  of the assembly  10 . Front wheel capture  33  is shown disposed on the front end of upper track  17  and which holds front wheel  51  in place. Front and rear wheel retention structures  42  and  45  are shown extending from body  41  of rolling trolley  18  to hold rear wheel  52  in place. Rear wheel lock  24  further secures rear wheel  52  in trolley  18  and may be constructed and arranged to prevent fingers or other articles from being pinched when utilized. Rolling trolley  18  is constructed and arranged having rollers (not shown) which are constructed and arranged to roll within channels  35  and  36  of upper track  17  to permit movement of rolling trolley  18  with respect to upper track  17 . 
       FIG. 2  shows upper track  17  in a pivoting relationship with respect to lower track  14  whereby bicycle  50  is readily available for removal from the storage assembly  10 . Guide members  26  are shown in  FIGS. 10 ,  13  and  14  and which guide upper track  17  into place centered on front guide structure  20  when in a fully tilted position. Referring further to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a motor assembly  23  is shown mounted to the upper end of lower track  14 . The motor assembly  23  is shown having a motor  54 , a gear reduction device  55 , a rotatable shaft  56  and opposing mounting plates  57  and  58 . Cable  53  is shown attached at one end for winding about shaft  56  and secured to the bottom of the upper track  17 . Although this embodiment  10  shows the pivoting relationship between upper track  17  and lower track  14 , it is within the purview of the present invention to provide a motorized system whereby the upper track  17  only slides with respect to lower track  14  and is powered by motor assembly  23 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 10 , the lower track  14  is shown having a plurality of aligned apertures  31  which cooperate with the pivotable pawl member  75  attached to the upper track  17  via plate member  48  of upper track roller assembly  40 . The plate member  48  is shown to have rollers  49 . The pawl member  75  pivots with or about shaft  74 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , as the pawl member moves through and over apertures  31  as the upper track  17  moves up or down. This arrangement provides a safety feature for the assembly  10  whereby a motor, brake or cable failure results in the pawl member  75  to engage and lock into one of the aligned apertures  31  of the bottom surface  22  of the lower track  14  to thereby prevent the further downward movement of the upper track  17  with respect to the lower track  14 . During normal movement of the upper track the terminal portion of the pawl body rides over each aperture, however, when movement is accelerated due to a cable failure, for example, the pawl moves up and down rapidly to thereby engage in an aperture to lock or fix the upper track with respect to the lower track. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , the motor assembly  23  is shown having a cover or housing  72  to contain the motor  54 , gear reduction device  55 , brake  59  and rotatable shaft  56 . The cable  53  is shown extending through the opening of the housing  72 . 
     The motor assembly  23  preferably has brake means  59  which prevents the turning of the rotatable shaft  56  unless powered by the motor. Brake devices for electric motors known in the art may be utilized. 
     As shown particularly in  FIGS. 5-8 , a movable pivotable plate  60  is provided for movement by means of wheels  67  and  68  in channels  27  and  28  of lower track  14 . The plate  60  has a roller  62  with a centrally disposed groove for cable  53 . The roller  62  and wheels  67  and  68  are supported by an axle or shaft  61  about which the plate  60  pivots. As shown in  FIG. 8  the plate  60  has a pair of dogs  65  and  66  which extend into openings  63  and  64  in the bottom of lower track  14  to thereby lock the plate  60  in place with respect to lower track  14  to thereby allow the upper track  17  to pivot with respect to the lower track  14 . The plate  60  is shown having a slot  70  through which cable  53  extends during the pivoting motion of upper track  17 . The front end  69  of plate  60  abuts the rear wheel roller  38  structure for movement along the lower track  14 . Bottom wire housing  73  is shown disposed along the bottom of lower track  14  and which houses wires for limit switches and upper track movement switches, etc. 
       FIG. 9  shows the movement of the upper track  17  with respect to the lower track  14 . The rear wheel rollers  38  of upper track  17  are shown positioned above the channel openings  29  and  30  of lower track  14 . The rear wheel rollers  38  are shown released through channel openings  29  and  30  as cable  53  allows the upper track  17  to pivot with respect to lower track  14 . When motor assembly  23  is rewound, the cable  53  pulls and pivots the end of upper track  17  downward to bring the rear wheel rollers  38  through the channel openings  29  and  30 . When the upper track  17  abuts and is parallel to the lower track  14 , the end of rear wheel roller  38  assembly abuts front end  69  of the plate  60  and the upper track  17  along with plate  60  moves upward to return the upper track to its original position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11-14 , the motor assembly  23  is shown to be activated by a switch structure  77  mounted to the front guide structure  20  of the lower track  14 . The switch structure  77  is shown being a toggle switch with a cover member  76  having two apertures  78  and  79 . Thereby the secured toggle switch may be activated by means of a tool member  81  having a terminal end  82  with a diameter capable of extending through the cover apertures  78  and  79  to engage the toggle switch as shown and to cause the motor to wind or unwind the cable  53  thereby moving the upper track  17  up or down. The cover plate is preferable marked up or down or having a like designation. Other switch mechanisms may be utilized as known in the art. The switch may also be positioned in other locations. An upper limit switch  71  positioned at the top end of the assembly  10  stops the motor assembly  23  when that position is reached. A lower limit switch  80 , shown particularly in  FIG. 13 , is positioned on front guide structure  20  such that upper track  17  will engage the switch  80  when in fully tilted position to therein stop the motor. 
     The motor assembly is preferably a small DC motor having a gear reduction assembly attached thereto and which generates approximately 40 lbs of torque. The motor is preferably operated by 110 AC/DC converter and is activated by an up/down switch. An upper limit switch and a lower switch positioned with respect to the lower track are also provided to stop the motor when the upper track moves up and down the lower track. The up/down switch may also be mounted in an elevated position so that a wand is utilized to activate the switch. The elevated position for the switch is to prevent accidental activation. 
     As shown particularly in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the rear trolley  18  which rides in upper track  17  and which holds the rear wheel of a bicycle, is similar to the rear trolley disclosed in the &#39;441 Application. Namely, the wheel retention structures and rear wheel lock are generally similar structures. Further, the front wheel holder  19  is generally the same structure as is the lower track nose assembly having a guide and securement means for receiving and securing the upper track in a tilted position with respect to the lower track. 
     The primary elements provided and utilized in the motorized assembly of the present invention are the motor assembly having the attached gear reduction device and windable cable structure. Importantly, the pivotable plate structure  60  allows the cable  53  to control the movement of the upper track with respect to the lower track. The channel openings  29  and  30  in the channels  28  and  27  in combination with the pivotable plate allow the rear wheel rollers  38  to release the upper track from the lower track to thereby provide a user to remove or place a bicycle from the downwardly extending upper track. 
     As many changes are possible to the motorized bicycle storage and retrieval assembly of this invention, utilizing the teachings thereof, the description above and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not the limited sense.