Abstract:
A ceiling-mounted bicycle storage hoist including a first elongated structural member ( 36 ) and a second elongated structural member ( 38 ). The first elongated structural member is connected to the second elongated structural member, forming a V-shaped structural assembly spanning at least 1220 mm in one direction, to enable attachment to ceilings comprising wooden joists spaced at 305 mm, 406 mm, 488 mm, or 610 mm intervals. A first, second, and third rope and pulley system are attached to the first and second elongated structural members. The first, second, and third rope and pulley systems converge at a location near the connection between the first and second elongated structural members, enabling a user to control the first, second, and third rope and pulley systems simultaneously. A bicycle may be attached to the first, second, and third rope and pulley systems and hoisted in a horizontal orientation.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable 
   SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   This invention relates to bicycle storage racks and devices, specifically to a ceiling-mounted device for hoisting a bicycle in a horizontal orientation. 
   2. Prior Art 
   There are currently about one billion bicycles worldwide. Bicycle storage is an important problem. It is desirable to relieve the garage space, living space, or storage space in a room, such as a garage or interior room of a dwelling, for the normal utility to which such structures are intended. It would be further desirable to provide storage means for one or more bicycles within a room, but without, at the same time, utilizing floor space otherwise needed for living space or the storage of automobiles, or wall space otherwise needed for placement of shelving and other items. In order to store a bicycle elevated off the ground, and in a position sufficiently distant from a wall, it is most advantageous to orient the bicycle horizontally so that persons and tall automobiles may pass freely below the bicycle. 
   A wide variety of bicycle storage devices have been designed and bicycle storage systems, or bicycle lifting systems, are common in a market. However, all of the systems available in the market maintain a bicycle in a vertical orientation. German patent 8,907,725 to Konig &amp; Meyer Gmbh (1989) discloses a rope and pulley device that lifts a bicycle in a vertical orientation. If such a device is used in a room with a ceiling height of less than approximately 3.3 m, persons and tall automobiles are unable to pass freely below a stored bicycle. 
   Several bicycle storage devices that maintain a bicycle in a horizontal orientation have been designed. Among them, the simplest are devices that allow a bicycle to hang from three hooks mounted to a ceiling. U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,274 to Kramer (1995) discloses a bicycle suspension system in which a bicycle is held by three hooks—two hooks holding the base of each wheel and one hook holding the top tube of the bicycle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,708 to Edwards (1998) discloses a similar system, but instead of engaging the top tube of the bicycle, the hook engages with a bracket installed between the handlebar and top tube of the bicycle. These designs are not convenient or safe to use. The user must first lift the bicycle above their head to engage the front and rear wheels with the hooks, then the user must scale a ladder to swing the bicycle up to a horizontal orientation. 
   Another type of device has a bicycle mounted to a frame that is hinged to the ceiling, allowing the frame to pivot from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,341 to Hebda (1978) discloses a frame to which a bike is attached, which is then manually rotated from vertical to horizontal orientation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,687 to Liatti (1997), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,344 to White (2000) disclose similar devices that utilize spring force to rotate the frame. Hebda&#39;s manually-powered design is inconvenient and difficult to use because the user must scale a ladder to lift the frame to the horizontal orientation. The spring-powered designs require large and elaborate mechanisms to allow the spring force to be applied to the frame, therefore, they are not ideal for purposes of simplicity and inexpensiveness. 
   Still another type of device suspends a bicycle from a ceiling in a horizontal orientation using rope and pulley systems. U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,972 to Cummins (1975) discloses a multi-rope device comprising lengths of rectangular tubing fixed to the ceiling in a U-shape. Pulleys are attached to the tubing at various locations to allow the ropes to be connected to the bicycle seat, handlebar, and down tube. This design consumes a large amount of ceiling area, must be installed close to a wall so the ropes can be anchored to it, employs a bulky sandbag for counterweight, and lacks rope locking devices for safety. U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,035 to Helgren (1994) discloses a single-rope device in which three short ropes branch out to attach to a bicycle fork, seat stay, and top tube. The bicycle is initially lifted in a vertical orientation, then is automatically shifted to a horizontal orientation as it ascends. Because the rope branches from a single point into three points, the bicycle is held lower than if three separate ropes were used. This design stores a bicycle no higher above the floor than does a typical vertical lifting bicycle storage system. German patent 29,711,182 to Klausner (1997) discloses a device that comprising three spools of different diameters connected to a long bar that is rotated by a motorized unit. Ropes that wind around the spools are connected to a bicycle handlebar, seat, and crank. Because the spools are different diameters, the bicycle rotates automatically from vertical to horizontal orientation as it ascends. This design has several disadvantages. First, in order for the bicycle to come to rest at a perfectly horizontal orientation near the ceiling, the spool diameters must be customized to suit the ceiling height of the room. Second, when the bicycle is lifted to the maximum height, the rope angles become acute, increasing the force applied to the bicycle. Finally, because this system is motorized, it is not ideal for purposes of simplicity and inexpensiveness. 
   Therefore, there is a long felt, but unsatisfied need for the invention while the needed implementing arts and elements had long been available. When a device such as a bicycle storage system is designed for use, it must satisfy the common requirements for, first of all, simplicity; second, convenience; third, safety; fourth, easy installation; and fifth, adaptability to any size or shape of bicycle. 
   3. Objects and Advantages 
   Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my ceiling-mounted bicycle storage hoist are: 
   (a) to provide a ceiling-mounted bicycle storage hoist that lifts and maintains a bicycle in a horizontal orientation; 
   (b) to provide a ceiling-mounted bicycle storage hoist that may be installed on many common ceiling structures, such as concrete ceilings, or wooden joist ceilings with joists spacings of 305 mm, 406 mm, 488 mm or 610 mm without the need for additional structures such as wooden boards to be applied to the ceiling ( FIGS. 3A to 3H ); 
   (c) to provide a ceiling-mounted bicycle storage hoist that may be installed in any one of two possible orientations on a wooden joist ceiling with joist spacings of 305 mm, 406 mm, 488 mm or 610 mm ( FIGS. 3A to 3H ); 
   (d) to provide a ceiling-mounted bicycle storage hoist that comprises as few elongated structural members as possible; 
   (e) to provide a ceiling-mounted bicycle storage hoist that comprises elongated structural members that are as short as possible; 
   (f) to provide a ceiling-mounted bicycle storage hoist that does not require installation nearby a wall, or require components to be installed on a nearby wall; 
   (g) to provide a ceiling-mounted bicycle storage hoist that is safe and convenient to use by incorporating rope and pulley systems with rope locking devices; 
   (h) to provide a ceiling-mounted bicycle storage hoist that comprises three separate rope and pulley systems for maximum control of the attitude of a bicycle so it may be stored in close proximity to the ceiling; 
   (i) to provide a ceiling-mounted bicycle storage hoist that is able to store a wide range of bicycle shapes and sizes by incorporating pulleys that are able to accommodate acute rope angles; 
   Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
   SUMMARY 
   A ceiling-mounted bicycle storage hoist and method for lifting a bicycle above the ground in a horizontal orientation in an enclosure such as a garage, or interior room of a dwelling, comprises three rope and pulley systems connected to two elongated structural members. The two elongated structural members are arranged substantially perpendicular to each other and joined together, forming a V-shaped structural assembly. 

   
     DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a storage hoist maintaining a bicycle in a raised position in a garage setting above an automobile; 
       FIG. 2  shows a storage hoist installed on a wooden joist ceiling with a joist spacing of 610 mm, maintaining a bicycle in a raised position in a garage setting above an automobile; 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  show storage hoists installed on wooden joist ceilings with joist spacings of 305 mm; 
       FIGS. 3C and 3D  show storage hoists installed on wooden joist ceilings with joist spacings of 406 mm; 
       FIGS. 3E and 3F  show storage hoists installed on wooden joist ceilings with joist spacings of 488 mm; 
       FIGS. 3G and 3H  show storage hoists installed on wooden joist ceilings with joist spacings of 610 mm; 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show a storage hoist with cleat rope locking devices, a redirect pulley, and three pulley systems incorporating one moveable pulley each; 
       FIG. 5  shows three clearance holes in elongated structural members of a storage hoist; 
       FIG. 6  shows ropes elevated to a position in which they are disengaged from the cleat rope locking devices; 
       FIG. 7  shows a storage hoist with movable pulleys in a lowered position, and a bicycle laying on a floor in an orientation suitable for attachment of the bicycle to the rope and pulley systems; 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  show the process of attaching a bicycle to the rope and pulley systems using slings; 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  show a storage hoist with rope and pulley systems having mechanical advantages of 1; 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  show a storage hoist with elongated structural members consisting of dimensional lumber; 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  show storage hoists with elongated structural members joined at an acute angle and an obtuse angle; 
       FIGS. 12A to 12C  show a storage hoist with elongated structural members consisting of tubular aluminum, to which a plurality of molded plastic components are mounted; 
       FIGS. 13A and 13B  show partial views of a storage hoist with cleat rope locking devices and a redirect pulley; 
       FIGS. 14A and 14B  show partial views of a storage hoist with a triple-rope linkage rope locking device and a redirect pulley; 
       FIGS. 15A and 15B  show partial views of a storage hoist with single-rope linkage rope locking devices and a redirect pulley; 
       FIGS. 16A and 16B  show partial views of a storage hoist with cleat rope locking devices comprising pins and pulley wheels; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   FIGS.  4 A AND  4 B—Preferred Embodiment 
   A preferred embodiment of the storage hoist of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The storage hoist has two elongated structural members  36  and  38 , on which all other components are attached. Elongated structural member  36  is typically 860 mm long. Elongated structural member  38  is typically 980 mm long. Elongated structural members  36  and  38  are typically 30 mm thick, consisting of LVB (laminated veneer board) or LVL (laminated veneer lumber). Rope lock assembly  34  is connected to the side of elongated structural member  36  with four wood screws and to the side of elongated structural member  38  with four wood screws, resulting in elongated structural member  36  arranged substantially perpendicular to elongated structural member  38 , forming a V-shaped structural assembly. The redirect pulley  35  is connected to the top of elongated structural member  36  with two wood screws and to the top of elongated structural member  38  with two wood screws. 
   An eye strap  58  is attached to elongated structural member  36  with two wood screws. Fixed pulley  64  is engaged with eye strap  58 , and therefore pivotably connected to elongated structural member  36 . Plate  52  is attached to elongated structural member  36  with two wood screws. In a similar fashion, an eye strap  60  is attached to elongated structural member  38  with two wood screws. Fixed pulley  66  is engaged with eye strap  60 , and therefore pivotably connected to elongated structural member  38 . Plate  54  is attached to elongated structural member  38  with two wood screws. Likewise, an eye strap  62  is attached to elongated structural member  38  with two wood screws. Fixed pulley  68  is engaged with eye strap  62 , and therefore pivotably connected to elongated structural member  38 . Plate  56  is attached to elongated structural member  38  with two wood screws. 
   A pin  32  passes through the rope lock assembly  34 , on which pulley wheels  26 ,  28 , and  30  are rotatably mounted. Three cleat rope locking devices  70 ,  72 , and  74  are attached to the rope lock assembly  34  with tapping screws. The cleat rope locking devices used in the preferred embodiment are the CL203 available from Clamcleats Limited of Welwyn Garden City, England. 
   Rope  20  passes through cleat rope locking device  70  and through a hole in the rope lock assembly  34  typically 28 mm tall and 12 mm wide. Rope  20  then passes over pulley wheel  26 , then through redirect pulley  35  so that rope  20  is redirected from substantially perpendicular to substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of elongated structural member  36 . Rope  20  then passes through fixed pulley  64 , then through moveable pulley  46 , then through the central hole in plate  52 . A knot is tied in the end of rope  20  to connect it to the plate  52 . Rope  22  passes through cleat rope locking device  72  and through a hole in the rope lock assembly  34  typically 28 mm tall and 12 mm wide. Rope  22  then passes over pulley wheel  28 , then through fixed pulley  66 , then through moveable pulley  48 , then through the central hole in plate  54 . A knot is tied in the end of rope  22  to connect it to the plate  54 . Rope  24  passes through rope locking device  74  and through a hole in the rope lock assembly  34  typically 28 mm tall and 12 mm wide. Rope  24  then passes over pulley wheel  30 , then through fixed pulley  68 , then through moveable pulley  50 , then through the central hole in plate  56 . A knot is tied in the end of rope  24  to connect it to the plate  56 . 
   To provide clearance for the knots tied in the end of ropes  20 ,  22 , and  24 , clearance holes  76 ,  78 , and  80 , typically 22 mm in diameter and 25 mm deep, are located concentric to the central holes in plates  52 ,  54 , and  56  ( FIG. 5 ). 
   As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , moveable pulleys  46 ,  48 , and  50  comprise flanges on which a hook is welded. To prevent a moveable pulley from inverting, the hook typically must weigh at least 120 grams, and therefore, in the preferred embodiment, comprises of 14 mm steel round bar. The diameter of a pulley wheel contained in a movable pulley is typically 65 mm. This diameter is large enough to sufficiently resist the tendency for the ropes to twist around each other. Slings  40 ,  42 , and  44  are placed on the moveable pulleys  46 ,  48 , and  50  to allow attachment to the bicycle frame. The slings are typically 200 mm long to allow attachment to bicycle frame diameters as large as 50 mm. The mechanical advantage of each rope and pulley system is 2. 
   Operation— FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 A,  8 B 
   To use the storage hoist, one first lays a bicycle down on the floor directly below the storage hoist in an orientation similar to the one depicted in  FIG. 7 . Next one raises ropes  20 ,  22 , and  24  to an elevated position ( FIG. 6 ) in order to release the ropes from the cleat rope locking devices  70 ,  72 , and  74 . Next, one allows moveable pulleys  46 ,  48 , and  50  to descend until they come in close proximity to a bicycle ( FIG. 7 ). Next, one attaches the bicycle to the pulley systems using slings  40 ,  42 , and  44  ( FIGS. 8A and 8B ). Next, one pulls down on ropes  20 ,  22  and  24  simultaneously to raise the bicycle to a stored position, as close to the ceiling as possible. Next, one gathers the ropes into a single bundle and places it on the front or rear tire of the bicycle ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
   To lower the bicycle, one first retrieves the bundle of rope from the front or rear tire of the bicycle. Next, one raises ropes  20 ,  22  and  24  to an elevated position ( FIG. 6 ) in order to release the ropes from the cleat rope locking devices  70 ,  72 , and  74 . Next, one allows the bicycle to slowly descend to the floor by allowing ropes  20 ,  22  and  24  to pass through one&#39;s hands in a controlled manner. Next one disconnects the bicycle from slings  40 ,  42  and  44 . Next one raises movable pulleys  46 ,  48 , and  50  close to the ceiling so that they will not interfere with persons and objects passing below the storage hoist. 
   FIGS.  9 A and  9 B—Additional Embodiment 
   An additional embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B ; in this case, the moveable pulleys and plates are absent. Instead of passing through moveable pulleys, the ropes are attached directly to rubber coated steel S-hooks  82 ,  84 , and  86 . S-hooks weighing more than 120 grams are desirable to increase the ease of their downward movement when no load is attached. The mechanical advantage of each rope and pulley system is 1. This embodiment is more cost effective to manufacture than the preferred embodiment, however, only relatively light bicycles weighing less than about 13 kg can be comfortably lifted by most persons. 
     FIGS. 10A ,  10 B,  11 A,  11 B,  12 A,  12 B,  12 C,  14 A,  14 B,  15 A,  15 B,  16 A,  16 B—Alternative Embodiments 
   An alternative embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B, and  12 C. This embodiment comprises elongated structural members  90  and  92  consisting of tubular aluminum, to which a plurality of molded plastic components are mounted. Elongated structural member  90  is pivotably connected to elongated structural member  92  to allow the fully assembled storage hoist to be collapsed and efficiently packaged ( FIG. 12A ). A single molded component  93  provides similar functionality to rope lock assembly  34  and redirect pulley  35  of the preferred embodiment. The pin  91  on which the pulley wheel  88  is mounted also serves as an axis on which elongated structural member  90  pivots with respect to elongated member  92 . 
   There are various possibilities with regard to the rope lock assembly and rope locking devices.  FIGS. 14A and 14B  show a sheet metal linkage that accepts all three ropes into a single linkage rope locking mechanism.  FIGS. 15A and 15B  show three independent sheet metal linkage type rope locks, each accepting a single rope into each linkage rope locking mechanism. There also exists a possibility to eliminate the redirect pulley;  FIGS. 16A and 16B  show a storage hoist in which one cleat rope locking device  100  is installed on a surface of rope lock assembly  94  substantially perpendicular to the surface on which the two remaining cleat rope locking devices  96  and  98  are installed. Instead of incorporating two perpendicular pins within the rope lock assembly  94 , pins and small pulley wheels are incorporated into each cleat rope locking device. The cleat rope locking devices  96 ,  98  and  100  used in this embodiment are the CL203W/S2 available from Clamcleats Limited of Welwyn Garden City, England. 
   There also exists a possibility for elongated structural members  87  and  89  to consist of dimensional lumber, whereby the storage hoist may be marketed in incomplete form, comprising all necessary components except elongated structural members ( FIGS. 10A and 10B ). 
   Advantages 
   From the description above, a number of advantages of my ceiling-mounted bicycle storage hoist become evident: 
   (a) The storage of a bicycle in a horizontal position in close proximity to the ceiling makes use of space in a room that would otherwise remain underutilized. 
   (b) The ability to install the storage hoist on a variety of ceiling structures such as concrete ceilings, or wooden joist ceilings with joist spacings of 305 mm, 406 mm, 488 mm or 610 mm without the need for additional materials such as wooden boards to be applied to the ceiling, increases the marketability of this device to customers who demand simplicity of installation and a clean overall aesthetic. 
   (c) The ability to install the storage hoist in any one of two possible orientations ( FIGS. 3A to 3H ) on a wooden joist ceiling with joist spacings of 305 mm, 406 mm, 488 mm or 610 mm, expands the range of installation of this device. 
   (d) The elongated structural members of the storage hoist are arranged substantially perpendicular to each other in a V-like shape, allowing the storage hoist to satisfy (b) and (c), while employing relatively short elongated structural members. 
   (e) The ability to install the storage hoist anywhere in a room that a ceiling structure allows because no component must be installed on or nearby a wall. 
   (f) The use of rope and pulley systems with mechanical advantage of 2 and cleat rope locking devices provides for a safe, easy to operate storage system. 
   (g) The storage hoist comprises three separate rope and pulley systems for maximum control of the attitude of a bicycle so it may be stored in close proximity to the ceiling; 
   (h) The storage hoist is able to store a wide range of bicycle shapes and sizes by incorporating pulleys that are able to accommodate acute rope angles; 
   Accordingly, the reader will see the storage device of this invention may be installed easily on many common ceiling structures without the use of additional structures such as wooden boards. In addition, the user may choose one of two possible orientations to install the storage hoist with respect to a wooden joist ceiling. Furthermore, the storage hoist is easy to operate and safe due to rope and pulley mechanisms with cleat rope locking devices. Furthermore, the storage hoist is able to store many different sizes and shapes of bicycle in close proximity to a ceiling due to independent rope and pulley mechanisms and pulleys designed to accommodate acute rope angles. 
   Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the elongated structural members of the storage hoist may be joined together with brackets or a hinge; the elongated structural members of the storage hoist may be joined at an acute or obtuse angle ( FIGS. 11A and 11B ); etc. 
   Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.