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Patent 1169031 Summary

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(12) Patent: (11) CA 1169031
(21) Application Number: 1169031
(54) English Title: BICYCLE STAND
(54) French Title: PIED DE STATIONNEMENT POUR BICYCLETTE
Status: Term Expired - Post Grant
Bibliographic Data
Abstracts

English Abstract


24743 Canada K 03 UV-48P
BICYCLE STAND
ABSTRACT
A bicycle stand or rack is of either open
framework or solid construction and has a vertically inclined
hub support surface for supporting a bicycle by leaning a
projecting hub portion of one wheel against such surface.
Portions of the stand provide stops to prevent the wheel
from rolling forward and backward from the stall space,
from sliding from the hub-supporting surface and from
twisting with respect to the bicycle frame. The stand may
be made in modular sections for use singly to support one
bicycle or in multiples to support several bicycles. The
stand may also be provided with a flattened top portion to
provide a seat for pedestrians.


Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


JSL:RHD (Livingston) 11-16-81
The embodiments of the invention in which an
exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined
as follows:
1. A stand for supporting a bicycle in a
generally upright position comprising:
structural means defining a generally planar
continuous inclined sidewall portion of said stand
providing a hub support surface, said hub support surface
being directed upwardly and outwardly at an angle of no
greater than about 30° to a vertical plane,
said structural means defining a ground-
supported base for said stand and supporting and posi-
tioning said sidewall portion providing said hub support
surface above said base at hub height to a bicycle wheel,
said structural means being so disposed to pro-
vide sufficient clearance outwardly of said hub support
surface and access forwardly and rearwardly of said sur-
face so that one wheel of a bicycle can be positioned
alongside said surface,
said inclined hub support surface being operable
to support a bicycle in a near upright position by leaning
one end only of a hub end portion only of one wheel only
of said bicycle against said inclined hub support surface
when both wheels are also ground-supported at their lower
ends,
said hub support surface being of sufficient
area such that said surface is at hub height to bicycle
wheels of different diameters,
said structural means defining a set of front
and rear roll stop means extending in a direction transverse
- 22 -

to the plane of said hub support surface and being posi-
tioned fore and aft respectively of a vertical plane
normal to the plane of said support surface and bisecting
a wheel supported on said hub support surface along the
rotational axis of the wheel to restrain the supported
hub portion of the wheel from moving forwardly and rear-
wardly beyond the limits of said hub support surface
through rolling movement of the supported wheel.
2. A stand according to claim 1 wherein said
base defines a side stop means engageable with a lower
sidewall portion of the tire of a wheel supported by
leaning against said hub support surface for preventing
side slipping movement of the lower portion of said wheel
and thereby preventing slippage of the hub portion of a
supported wheel downwardly beyond the limits of said
hub support surface.
3. A stand according to claim 1 wherein said
structural means supports plural said inclined hub sup-
port surfaces arranged in parallel side-by-side spaced-
apart relationship with sufficient clearance space be-
tween adjacent said hub support surfaces to support a
plurality of bicycles by leaning a hub portion of one
wheel of each bicycle against a different one of said
plural hub support surfaces, said base means defining a
corresponding plural number of sets of front and rear
roll stop means for restraining the supported hub portions
of multiple supported bicycle wheels from moving forwardly
and rearwardly beyond said hub support surfaces.
4. A stand according to claim 1 wherein said
structural means defines a stall space between opposite
- 23 -

sides of said structural means with said sidewall portion
including said hub support surface lying along an upper
portion of one side of said stall space, said stall space
providing sufficient clearance from side to side thereof
and front and rear access thereto such that when a pro-
jecting hub end portion on one side of a supported wheel
is leaned against said support surface, the projecting
hub end portion on the opposite side of said supported
wheel clears the opposite side of said stall space to
enable a wheel of a bicycle to be rolled into and out of
said stall space and to be supported by leaning therein.
5. A stand according to claim 4 wherein one
side of said stall space, including said inclined hub
support surface, extends at a greater angle of inclina-
tion to the vertical than the opposite side of said
stall space to induce a lean-supported bicycle to lean
in a predetermined direction within said stall space.
6. A stand according to claim 4 wherein said
base means at the lower fore and aft limits of said
stall space defines said set of front and rear roll stop
means, said roll stop means being engageable with the
tire of a supported wheel fore and aft of said bisecting
plane.
7. A stand according to claim 1 including
a series of side-by-side stand modules forming multiple
spaced-apart stall spaces, each said stand module being
of generally inverted vee form, at least one side of
the inverted vee of each said module including a said
inclined hub support surface.
- 24 -

8. A stand according to claim 7 in which each
said module is generally pyramidal in shape with the
upper portion of one side of the pyramid defining one
said inclined hub support surface.
9. A stand according to claim 1 including
means adjacent to said hub support surface defining a
lock loop means for chaining a supported wheel to said
stand.
10. A stand according to claim 1 of open
metal framework construction, said framework defining
a series of alternating generally vee-shaped stall spaces
and generally inverted vee-shaped support portions be-
tween said spaces, a hub support plate positioned at one
side of each said vee-shaped stall space at an upper
portion thereof and extending in a direction fore and
aft of said stall space to define said hub support sur-
face, each inverted vee-shaped support portion of said
series including a front inverted vee-shaped support
portion and an aligned rear inverted vee-shaped support
portion, the front support portions of said series lying
in a first common plane and the rear support portions
of said series lying in a second common plane and being
spaced equidistant from said front support portions
throughout the length of said series.
11. A stand according to claim 10 wherein
adjacent said vee-shaped stall spaces defined by said
open metal framework are offset alternately in a fore
and aft direction from one another so that adjacent said
stall spaces readily accommodate bicycles inserted into
- 25 -

said adjacent stall spaces from opposite directions.
12. A stand according to claim 10 including
a cap means capping the inverted vee-shaped support por-
tions of said open framework and including said hub
support plate along one side portion of said cap.
13. A stand according to claim 10 wherein
said open metal framework comprises a single continuous
metal rod-like member including in sequence a ground
level frame portion extending generally horizontally
lengthwise of a stall space, an upwardly and simultaneous-
ly rearwardly and inwardly extending frame portion
defining one side of one stall space, a downwardly and
simultaneously rearwardly and outwardly extending frame
portion defining the opposite side of an adjacent said
stall space, and a cap member capping the upper end
portion of each inverted vee-shaped support portion formed
by intersections of each said upwardly and rearwardly
extending frame portion with its adjoining downwardly
and rearwardly extending frame portion, each said cap
member having a side plate portion defining one said
inclined hub support surface.
14. A stand according to claim 7 wherein each
said module of generally inverted vee form is horizontally
flattened at its upper end to define a pedestrian seat
spanning the distance between each adjacent stall space.
15. A stand according to claim 1 wherein said
structural means comprises a pair of upwardly converging
continuous sidewall portions spaced apart at their lower
ends and joined together at their upper ends by a top
- 26 -

portion, at least one of said sidewall portions being
inclined to a vertical plane and defining adjacent an
upper end thereof said inclined hub support surface, the
lower end of at least said inclined sidewall extending
horizontally outwardly from said inclined sidewall por-
tion and defining a base portion with an upwardly opening
wheel well for receiving a lower wheel portion of a sup-
ported bicycle wheel, a hub end portion of which is
adapted to lean against said hub support surface, fore
and aft end portions of said wheel well defining said
front and rear roll stop means, a sidewall portion of
said wheel well spaced from said inclined sidewall por-
tion defining a side stop means for the-supported wheel.
16. A stand according to claim 15 formed of a
molded synthetic plastic material.
17. A stand according to claim 15 wherein said
stand is formed of a cast concrete material.
18. A stand according to claim 15 wherein
said top wall portion joining said converging sidewall
portions is generally flat and horizontal to define a
pedestrian seat.
19. A stand according to claim 17 wherein
said inclined sidewall providing said hub support sur-
face is inclined to a vertical plane and the opposite
sidewall portion extends in a generally vertical plane,
and means for interconnecting a series of said stands
in side-by-side relationship to define a series of side-
by-side stall spaces for supporting a multiplicity of
bicycles.
- 27 -

20. A stand according to claim 17 including
means defining a lock loop passage extending from an
upper opening in said top wall portion through a corner
between said top wall portion and said inclined sidewall
portion to an opening in said inclined sidewall portion
for receiving a chain-type locking means for locking a
supported wheel of a bicycle to said stand.
21. A stand according to claim 16 wherein both
said upwardly converging opposite sidewall portions are
inclined to a vertical plane but in opposite directions
and are joined at their upper ends by a generally flat
horizontal top wall portion, the lower ends of both said
sidewall portions flaring horizontally outwardly to de-
fine base portions with wheel wells whereby each said
stand is capable of supporting by leaning two bicycles
by leaning a projecting hub end portion of one wheel of
each against each of said opposite upwardly converging
sidewall portions, each of said opposite sidewall por-
tions defining one of said inclined hub support surfaces.
22. A bicycle stand comprising:
structural means including a sidewall portion
defining at least one generally planar vertically inclined
and upwardly directed wheel hub support surface of suf-
ficient area to be at hub height to the wheels of bicycles
having different hub heights,
said structural means providing an end of a
hub portion of said wheels with access to said hub support
surface,
a single said hub support surface being operable
with a ground support surface for the wheels of the
- 28 -

bicycle to support a bicycle by leaning one end only of
a hub end portion of one wheel only of said bicycle
against said vertically inclined hub support surface to
support said one wheel in a vertically inclined position
such that said vertically inclined hub support surface
applies an inwardly directed compressive supporting force
to said end of said hub portion in a direction generally
along the rotational axis of said one wheel and at a
slight angle to the ground support surface for said wheel,
said structural means including roll stop means
engageable with said one wheel when leaning against said
hub support surface for restraining forward and rearward
rolling movement of said one wheel to prevent sliding
movement of said end of said hub portion beyond the fore-
and-aft limits of said support surface.
23. A rack according to claim 22 wherein a
side portion of said structural means including said
vertically inclined hub support surface together with an
opposing side portion of said structural means define an
upwardly diverging generally vee-shaped stall space open
at both ends for receiving said one bicycle wheel.
24. A rack according to claim 23 wherein said
side portions defining said vee-shaped stall space are
formed by an open structural framework, said frame work
comprising a front framework portion and a rear framework
portion, both said frame work portions forming a series
of continuous generally vee-shaped undulations to define
a series of said stall spaces with said vee-shaped undula-
tions alternating with inverted generally vee-shaped
undulations and with said vee-shaped undulations of said
- 29 -

front and rear framework portions being aligned
fore and aft, said front and rear framework portions
being joined together by said wheel support surfaces
bounding adjacent said stall spaces, said vee-shaped
undulations of said front framework portions of said
series being aligned with one another lengthwise of said
rack, and said vee-shaped undulations of said rear frame-
work portions of said series being aligned with one another
lengthwise of said rack.
25. A rack according to claim 23 wherein said
side portions define continuous opposed sidewall surfaces
forming the side boundaries of said stall space.
26. A method supporting a bicycle in a gen-
erally upright position comprising:
leaning one projecting end of a hub portion of
one wheel of the bicycle on one side of said wheel at an
angle to the vertical of no greater than about 30° against
one only vertically inclined hub support surface so as to
apply a compressive supporting force against said hub
end portion along the rotational axis of said wheel and
at a slight angle to a ground support surface for the
bicycle while (1) restraining a lower sidewall portion of
the tire of said wheel on the opposite side of said wheel
at or near ground level against sidewise slipping movement,
(2) restraining a sidewall portion of the tire of said
wheel at a point below and forwardly or rearwardly of
the supported end of said wheel hub portion to prevent
twisting movement of said wheel relative to the frame of
said bicycle, and (3) restraining said wheel against
forward and backward rolling movement.
- 30 -

27. In combination, a bicycle and a stand
for supporting the bicycle in a generally upright posi-
tion in a manner to minimize the possibility of damaging
the bicycle,
said bicycle including a wheel having a hub
including hub end portions projecting outwardly from
opposite sides of said wheel,
said stand having a generally planar upwardly
directed hub support surface extending at an inclination
of no greater than about 30° to a vertical plane, said
stand including structural means supporting said surface
at the height of said hub portions of said wheel,
the outer end of one of said hub portions engaging
said hub support surface to support said bicycle by lean-
ing said hub portion against said surface such that said
surface applies a supporting force to said bicycle along
the rotational axis of said wheel,
said stand including roll stop means engageable
with said wheel to restrain said wheel against forward
and rearward rolling movement to retain said hub portion
against said hub support surface.
28. A stand according to claim 7 wherein
said series of side-by-side stand modules are separate
one from the other but positionable in side-by-side
relationship to define said multiple stall spaces.
29. A stand according to claim 1 wherein said
base defines said set of front and rear roll stop means,
said roll stop means being engageable with the tire of a
supported bicycle wheel fore and aft of said bisecting
plane, said base extending outwardly from a lower end of
- 31 -

said sidewall portion and terminating at a free end,
whereby said structural means comprises only said base
and said sidewall portion including said hub support
surface.
30. A stand according to claim 1 wherein said
base defines said set of front and rear roll stop means,
said roll stop means being engageable with the tire of
a supported wheel fore and aft of said bisecting plane.
31. A bicycle stand comprising:
a pair of horizontally spaced-apart continuous
generally vertically extending sidewall portions joined
together at their upper ends by an integral top wall
portion,
at least one of said sidewall portions being
inclined toward the other said sidewall portion at an
angle to the vertical of no greater than about 30°,
said one inclined sidewall portion terminating
at its lower end in a horizontally extending, ground-
supported foot,
said other sidewall portion terminating at a
ground-supported lower end,
said foot defining an upwardly open wheel well
for supporting the lowermost tire portion of a bicycle
wheel,
said wheel well being bounded at opposite ends
and at a side opposite said one inclined sidewall portion
by rim portions defining fore and aft roll stops and a
side stop for restraining a bicycle wheel against rolling
and side-slipping movement from said well,
said one inclined sidewall portion extending
to a height above said wheel well such that a bicycle
- 32 -

wheel supported at its lowermost end within said well
will also be supported laterally by engagement of a hub
end portion of said wheel by leaning against said one
inclined sidewall portion so as to provide a two-point
support for a bicycle in a near-upright position.
32. A bicycle stand comprising:
a pair of horizontally spaced-apart continuous
generally vertically extending sidewall portions joined
together at their upper ends by an integral top wall
portion,
at least one of said sidewall portions being
inclined toward the other said sidewall portion at an
angle to the vertical of no greater than about 30°,
said one inclined sidewall portion terminating
at its lower end in a horizontally extending, ground-
supported foot,
said other sidewall portion terminating at a
ground-supported lower end,
said foot defining an upwardly open wheel well
for supporting the lower most tire portion of a bicycle
wheel,
said wheel well being bounded at opposite ends
and at a side opposite said one inclined sidewall portion
by rim portions defining fore and aft roll stops and a
side stop for restraining a bicycle wheel against rolling
and side-slipping movement from said well,
said one inclined sidewall portion extending
to a height above said wheel well such that a bicycle
wheel supported at its lowermost end within said well
will also be supported laterally by engagement of a hub
- 33 -

end portion of said wheel by leaning against said one
inclined sidewall portion so as to provide a two-point
support for a bicycle in a near-upright position,
said foot and lower portion of said other side-
wall portion including means for interconnecting similar
bicycle stands in side-by-side relationship with the foot
of one stand adjoining the other leg portion of an adjacent
stand.
- 34 -

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


3~L
BICYCLE STAND
The present invention relates to a bicyele
stand for supporting a bicycle in a generally upright
position.
Many different types of bicycle racks have been
suggested. However, several defects are common to most.
First, most prior racks occupy an excessive amount of
space for their capacity. Second, most prior racks are
expensive to manufacture because of their complex designs.
Third, many prior racks are unattractive and therefore
potential eustomers are reluctant to purchase them for
use by cyclists. Fourth, many prior raeks can damage
the bicycle and therefore cyclists are reluctant to use
them. For example, many prior raclcs support a wheel
of the bicycle in such a way, as by wedging, that if
someone or something should fall against the bieyele
while in the raek, the raek-supported wheel ean be bent
out of shape. Fifth, some prior raeks re~uire that the
bieyele be lifted into and out of the rack, and thus
are difficult and inconvenient to use. Sixth, many
prior racks will not aeeommodate bieyeles of greatly
varying wheel diameters or tire widths. Seventh, most
prior raeks do not provide means whereby all three major
parts of a bieyele, namely, the two wheels and the frame,
ean be ehained to the rack to prevent theft of one or >
more of sueh parts. Finally, many prior raeks are also
diffieult to maintain and keep elean because of their
eomplex designs.
Examples of prior art inelude the following:
Duteh Patent 31,266 diseloses a bieyele raek
of open frame eonstruetion whieh supports a bieyele in
a vertieal position by supporting the spokes and rim
_~ _
- .' , . : , .
.

~L69~3~
of one wheel on both sides of the wheel below the hub
against the open frame.
United States Patent 2,805,605 discloses a
bicycle rack of open frame construction which supports a
bicycle in a vertical position by suspending one wheel in
an elevated position from its hub bolt projections on both
sides of the wheel.
United States Patent 369,494 discloses a bicycle
rack which supports an obsolete type of bicycle in an
upstanding position by hooking the crank on one wheel
about an upright post while placing the lower end of the
wheel in a wheel well of a base stand.
Swiss Patent 220,387 discloses a bicycle rack
which supports a bicycle in an upright but slightly tilted
position by inserting a forward rim portion of the wheel
in an inclined slot having parallel sides.
British Patent 24,052 discloses a bicycle rack
which supports a bicycle in an elevated vertical position
by suspending both wheels of the bicycle by their hub bolt
projections on opposite sides of the wheel in longitudi-
nally aligned and interconnected stalls.
United States Patent 557,470 discloses a bicycle
rack of open frame construction which supports a bicycle
in a vertical position by wedging the top and bottom of
the rim of one wheel withln generally diamond-shaped slots.
Swiss Patent 212,317 discloses a bicycle rack
whlch suppoxts a bicycle in a generally upright position
by insertion of the rim and spoke portions of one wheel
below and forwardly of its hub into an inclined narrow
slot with parallel sidewalls formed in a solid block.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved
bicycle rack that eliminates or minimizes the foregoing
~ .
--2--
: ::

~9~3~
disadvantages of most prior racks.
In accordance with the present invention, a
bicycle stand provides a ver-tically inclined wheel hub
support surface at hu~b height to the wheel so that a hub
portion of the wheel oE a bicycle can be leanecl against
such surface to support the entire bicycle in a nearly
upright position.
In one preferred form, the stand defines an open-
ended generally vee-shaped stall space with the support
surface forming a portion of one side of the vee. Proper
support for the wheel is achieved by providing stop means,
usually near ground level, which prevent the wheel from
slipping sideways or falling over on its side, from rolling
forward or backward from the stall space, and in case of a
steerable front wheel, from twisting out of a preset relation-
ship with respect to the frame.
In another preferred form the stand is formed in
separate modular sections, each includinq at least one
inclined hub support surface and one set of wheel stops. The
sections can thus be used either by themselves to support
a bicycle or in~multiples side by-side to support several
bicycles.
Primary features of the invention include:
(1) The vertical angle of one side o~ the vee
sta~ may be greater than that of the other so that multiple
bicycles lean in the stand in one predetermined direction,
thereby minimizing space requirements and enhancing the
appearance of the rack when in use.
(2) The stand provides a non-damaging support by
supporting the front wheel of the bicycle at hub height
without touching the wheel spokes, any painted portion of -
the bicycle or any other portion which may be harmed.
-3-

1 ~i9(~3~
(3) The stand provides a positive support for
bicycles with a minimal use of structural support members
by supporting the wheel at hub level and by using the hub
axle bolt and tire to support the load.
(4~ The stand porvides easy parking with a mini-
mal effort by simply rolling one wheel of the bicycle intoa stall and leaning it against one inclined side surface o-f
the stall.
(5) The stand is designed to occupy minimal space
by beiny relatively short in height and narrow in width.
Its modular design enables it to be made or assembled in any
desired length depending on the desired capacity of the rack.
(6) The stand can be designed to hold all sizes
of bicycles by extending the inclined supporting side sur-
faces of the stalls to within a short distance of ground
level and by making the narrow lower portions of the stalls
wide enough to accommodate the widest balloon-type tires.
(7) The stand has a great design versatility in
that it can be designed to accommodate benches, street lights,
~0 or even plantings, thereby optimizing the use of available
ground space and enhancing the attractiveness of the rack.
The stand can also be designed as a two-way rack to accom-
modate bikes inserted into closely spaced-apart stalls from
opposite directions for maximum capacity per length of rack
or as a one-way rack with greater spacing between stalls, --
enabling the use of benches between stalls and the arrange-
ment of the rack along curves, at angles or in a circle.
(8) The stand may be provided with a locking
means at an optimum position for securing by chain or cable
the three major parts of the bicycle.
(9) The stand minimizes the amount of paved
space requir~d because the front edge of the stand extends

~6~3~L
just slightly forward of the point at which the supported
wheel touches the ground.
(lO) Stand maintenance, especially the jarring
loose of the stand from its anchor bolts, is minimi~ed by
the placement of both wheel stops at ground level.
(ll) Cleaning of the grounds about the stand is
facilitated because of the few structural members actually
resting on the ground.
(12) The stand is provided with exceptional
strength for its weight thrOugh its basic pyramidal or
inverted vee design form, and in the open framework form,
because of the short lengths of unsupported rod or tubular
framework and the absence of bolted and movable parts.
(13) The stand intrudes to a minimum extent into
pedestrian and other spaces when the stand is empty because
it supports bicycles by only one wheel.
(14) All variations of the stand can be made
in an economical modular design which simplifies manufacture
in a wide range of lengths and thus capacities.
(15) The stand has a generally pleasing appearance
in all forms hecause of its regular, geometr~c shape. Even
in use the stand is pleasing visually because all bicycles
are caused to lean in the same direction.
(16) The stand is designed for economical manu-
facture using a wide variety of inexpensive materials
including metal rod or tubing, sheet metal, concrete, fiber-
glass and other plastics.
(17) The stand is designed for manufacturing
versatility in that it can be produced by any stamping,
casting, welding or forming process depending on the
material selected for use.- The basic design is versatile
enough to be incorporated into various architectural schemes,

1~69~3~
using different materials and configurations.
The Eoregoing objects, features and advantages
of the present invention will become more apparent from the
following detailed description which proceeds with reference
to the accompanying drawing.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a
bicycle stand formed of metal rod in accordance with the
invention;
Fig. 2 is a front view of the stand of Fig. 1 on
a small scale;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the stand of Fig. 2
occupied by three bicycles instead of one;
Fig. 4 is a front view of a modified form of
stand made of sheet metal in accordance with the invention
for use in conjunction with a vertical wall;
Fig. 5 is a perspective schematic diagram of
another modified form of stand incorporating bike-locking
loops;
Fig. 6 is an end view of the stand of Fig. 5 on
an enlarged scale showing a method of locking bicycles in
the stand;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another modified
form of the invention using concrete blocks;
Fig. 8 is a perspective schematic diagram of
another more simplified form of the invention using metal
xods;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one module and
part of another of a modular molded plastic form of the
stand;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of several modules
- of a modular form of the stand made of cast concrete;

~6~1~31
Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of one module
of the stand of Fig. 10; and
Fig. 12 is an end elevational view of the module
of Fig. 11.
Referring to the form of the stand or rack shown
in Figs. 1-3, the rack of the invention comprises a series
of generally vee-shaped stall spaces 10 open at both ends
and defined by a stall structural means of open frame
construction comprising a series of generally inverted
vee- or pyramidal-shaped stall sections 12 joined together
at intersecting rounded base portions 14 to define the narrow
portion of the vee stall. Each stall section includes a
front frame portion 12a and a rear frame portion 12b, each
formed by a pair of upwardly converging legs formed of
metal rod and joined at their upper ends at a rounded apex
15. The front and rear legs 12a, 12b of each stall section
are joined together at their upper ends by a metal or plastic
cap or plate 16 to form the rigid pyramidal section. The
~ ~ Eront leqs and the rear legs of successive stall sectlons
20~ can be formed from continuous strips, rods or tubing. The
` ~ front and rear-end legs at each end of the rack are joined
together by a base member 18 which may be anchored as by
anchor bolts 19 to a paved ground surface.
~: ; As will be apparent from Fig. 2, one corresponding
side portion 21 of each of the vee stalls 10 formed by the
adjolning front and rear legs of adjacent stall sections
extends upwardly and outwardly from the base of the stall
space at~a greater vertical angle than th e other side
portion 20 re}ative to a vertical plane 17 within the stall
~ space. In Fig. 2 the vertical angle x between side portion
; ~ 21 and vertical plane 17 is about 13 degrees whereas the
- verticaI angle ~ between opposite side portion 20 and the
:: ~
~ ~ -7-

~6~31
same vertical plane is about 7 degrees. ~Iowever, it will
be appreciated that these angles can be varied within sub-
stantial limits. For example, as shown in Fig. 4 where a
modified form of the rack of the invention cooperates with
a vertical wall of a building to form a vee stall, the
smallest angle of the vee is actually 0 degrees. The
greater vertical angle of the vee stall for practical pur-
poses, however, should preferably be no greater than about
30 degrees and will usually be considerably less than this
in order to maintain the bicycles as nearly vertical as
possible while ensuring that they will lean in one predeter-
mined direction.
The cap 16 of each stall section extends down-
wardly along each side portion 20 r 21 of the stall space
at the same angle of inclination as the associated stall
side portions so as to form sidewall plate portions of the
stall with continuous upwardly and outwardly directed side
surfaces. The plate portion 23 extending along the side
~ portion 21 of greater angular inclination provides a wheel
hub support surface for one wheel 24 of a bicycle 22 occupy-
ing the stall space. More specifically, the hub support
surface 23 extends downwardly from apex 15 below the height
of hub portion 26 of wheel 24 above the base of the rack
so that when the wheel within a stall is caused to lean
toward the side portion 21 of greatest inclination, the
- projecting hub bolt and portion 25 of hub portion 26 engages
and becomes supported by hub support surface 23. In this
manner, the entire bicycle becomes supported in an upright
position by the rack, and the support surface maintains the
spokes and other vulnerable portions of the front wheel
out of engagement with the stall frame members.
; ;~

~9031
As shown in Fig. 2, the corresponding inclined
side portions 21 of all stalls are at the same angle of
inclination with respect to the vertical so that bicycles
placed within such stalls will all lean in the same
direction and all be engaged by the corresponding parallel
and spaced-apart hub support surfaces 23 of the several
stalls.
T~lith one side of front wheel 24 of the bicycle
22 leaning in the indicated direction in Fig. 2 against
hub support surface 23 of the stall, a lower opposite side
portion of the tire of wheel 24 engages lower side portion
or base 20 of the stall at or nèar ground level, as for
example at points 20a, 20b in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus such
points provide a side stop means which prevents the wheel
hub portion from sliding sideways off hub-supporting surface
23.
As will be clear form Fig. 1, the rack framework
also provides other stop functions. Front wheel 24 is
prevented from rolling forward or backward by front and
'
back roll stop means formed by the lower curved base portions
14 of the rack at the narrowest portion of the vee stall
where the rod portions of adjacent stall sections 12 con-
verge. Raised portions 23a, 23b at the front and rear
edges, respectively, of hub-supporting surface 23 also
contribute to this forward and backward roll stop function
of the rack. In any case, the roll stops are positioned
forwardly and rearwardly of a vertical plane normal to
the hub support surface and bisecting a supported wheel
through its rotational axis and extend to some extent in
a direc*ion transverse to the hub support surface.
- _9 _

3:1
Front wheel 24 is prevented from twisting out
of a preset relationship to the bicycle frame, usually
parallel to the frame as shown in Fig. 3, by another stop
means which presses against a lower side portion of the
front tire. This twist stop means is provided by the
lower side portion 20 of the rack at point 20b forwardly
of and b~low the wheel hub near ground level on the side
of the stall opposite that of the direction of lean of
the wheel. Alternatively a twist stop means is provided
at a point 21b behind and below the midpoint of the wheel
on the side of the vee stall in the direction of lean.
In fact, both points 20b and 21b may coact to prevent
twisting of the wheel from its preset relationship with
the bicycle frame.
The rack described thus far is a so~called two-
directional rack in that a bicycle can be placed in each
adjacent stall 10, by pushing one wheel of one bicycle into
one stall from one side of the rack and bypushing one wheel
of another bicycle into the ne~t adjacent stall from the
opposite side of the rack in the manner shown in Fig. 3
with respect to bicyoles 22a, 22b, 22c having front wheels
24a, 24b, 2~c within adjacent stalls lOa, lOb, lOc, respec-
tively. Thls type of rack enables close packing of bicyclesinto a small space without danger of damaging the bicycles.
It also provides a neat appearance when the xack is full
; because all bicycles lean in the same direction.
~ he two-directional open-frame rack of
Fig. 1, can through a slight modification, be converted
to a one-directional rack with a pedestrian bench provided
between adjacent one-directional stalls. Referring to
'
'
--10--

~696~3~
Fig. 2, the one-directional rack would have the same
basic form as the two-directional rack shown, except that
every other stall would be eliminated, and tubular or rod
frame members would extend across every other stall as
shown in phantom lines at 28. A wooden or other suitable
bench would be mounted on the horizontally extending frame
members 28 for use by pedestrians when the rack is not
being used for bicycles.
Fig. 4 shows a so-called wall rack 30. The rack
includes a horizontally extending base portion 32, an
outer vertical sidewall portion 33, and an inclined inner
sidewall portion 34 extending upwardly from base 32 to
converge with sidewall portion 33. Base 32 extends inwardly
beyond inclined sidewall 34 toward a vertical building wall
35. The base is placed against the building so that
inclined sidewall 34 of the rack and the vertical building
wall 35 define a stall space 36, with one side of the
stall formed by the building wall being vertical and the
: other side being inclined to provide a hub support surface
34-
: The front wheel 24 of a ~icycle 22 is placed.
within stall space 36 and the wheel's hub bolt 25 is
leaned against the inclined stall surface 34. The lower
ground-engaging end of the tire of wheel 24 engages the
corner of the building wall 35 where it meets the ground
surface or base 32. The frame of the bicycle is angled
away from the wall, preferably at an angle of approximately
4n degrees. r~ith this arrangement the building wall
itself prevents the wheel hub from slipping from the
inclined support surface 34. The vertical wall also
.
--11--

~69~31
provides a stop means for resisting twisting movement of
the front wheel out of preset angular relationship with
respect to the bicycle frame. The forces involved in
parking a bicycle in this manner make the forward and-
backward roll stops previously described with respect to
the Fig. 1 form of rack optional because the bicycle
wedges itself between the wall and the rack when the frame
is set at the optimum angle with respect to the wall as
described. As the frame angle increases beyond 40 degrees,
the bicycle becomes more nearly upright, the front wheel
exerts less pressure against the wall, and the bicycle
tends to roll forward or fall over.
WalI 35 should be at least about 3 inches high,
although a 3-inch wall will not prevent the bicycle from
falling in the direction of the wall. The ideal minimum
height of the wall would be hub height to prevent the
bicycle from falling in the direction oE the wall.
; The wall rack like the others described can be
manufactured from sheet metal, plate or rod. It may also
20~ be made of concrete, plastic or other materials.
The wall rack provides for storage of bicycles
in closely spaced relationship along a walI and in a
manner so as to minimize the bicycles' intrusion into
pedestrian space. In its simplest form, the wall rack
~j is simply an inclined hub support surface supported by
structural means at hub height and disposed about 7 inches,
more or less, from a vertical wall. It illustrates the
fact that in the simplest forms of the rack, a vee-shaped
stall space is not necessary to support the bicycle.
Fig. 5 shows a two-directional open frame rack
having a conEiguration similar to that of the rack of Fig.
-12-

~69~3~
1 when viewed from the front or rear as shown in Fig. 2.
However, the Fig. 5 form has a series of vee stalls 40
with adjacent stalls 40a, 40b offset forwardly and rear-
wardly from one another. All of stalls 40a are intended
to receive bicycles inserted from the direction indicated
by arrow 42 whereas all of vee stalls 40b are designed
to receive bicycles inserted from the direction indicated
by arrow 43. Vee stalls 40a have rear bases 44 which lie
along a straight base line 45. However, the adjacent vee
stalls 40b have rear bases 44a which lie along a straight
base line 46 parallel to base line 45 but offset inwardly
therefrom. A similar relationship exists between the
front bases of the alternating vee stalls 40a and 40b
on the opposite side of the rack. The bases of stalls 40a
on the opposite side lie along a straight base line 47
parallel to the previously mentioned base lines, while the
corresponding bases of vee stalls 40b lie along an outer
base line 48 parallel to base line 47. he offset relation-
ship of the adjacent vee stalls will also ~e apparent from
FigO 6.
Each stall section of inverted vee shape includes
a cap 50 at its apex. The caps of adjacent stall sections
~;~ include lock extensions 5~2, 53 projecting in opposite direc-
~ tions. Each lock extension 52, 53 has a vertical opening
;~ 54 therethrough so that each extension defines a lock loop
through which a chain 55 can be passed, in the manner shown
in Fig. 6. The lock extensions 52 projecting to the left
in Fig. 6 are intended to be used with vee s-talls 40a
which are offset to the right in the same figure for use
with bicycles inserted intc stalls 40a from direction 42.

3~
Similarly, lock extensions 53 are designed to be used in
con3unction with vee stalls 40b for use in locking bicycles
inserted from direction 43. Thus front wheel 24d of the
bicycle 22d is inserted from direction 42 into one of the
vee stalls 40a. The bicycle chain 55a is threaded through
the rear wheel, frame and front wheel o~ bicycle 22d and
through the lock extension 52 and then padlocked to lock
all three of the principal parts of such bicycle to the
rack. In a similar manner, the bicycle 22e having front
wheel 24e is inserted in one of the vee stalls 40b and
chained to lock extension 53 by the chain 55b.
With the Fig. 5 type of rack, the bicycle is
supported in the same manner as in the Fig. 1 form of rack.
That is, each of the caps 50 for the stall sections has
a portion which extends down one side of the stall section
to define a wheel-supporting surface 56 at hub height to
a bicycle wheel and against which the hub bolts of a bicycle
wheel is leaned. As in the Fig. 1 form, the rack of Fig. 5
defines vee stalls wherein one side of the vee is at a
~20 greater angle of inclination to the vertical than the oppo-
- site s de of the same vee stall, so that all bicycles placed
within the vee stalls will lean in the same predetermined
direction.
Fig. 7 shows a modified form of bike rack of the
invetnion having an overall configuration substantially
identical to that of the Fig. 1 form of rack. However,
the Fig. 7 rack is composed of a series of precast concrete
blocks 62 of generally pyramidal shape placed side by side
to define a series of vee stalls 60. As in previous forms,
one side of each vee stall is provided with a ~reater
vertical angle of inclination than the other side of the
-14-
; ~ ;
::: . ' . :'

rL3L~ 3~L
vee stall. In the Fig. 7 form this is achieved by providing
one side surface 62a of each block 62 with a greater
vertical angle of inclination than the opposite side sur-
face 62b. Each block 62 has a base 62c which extends out-
wardly at its four corners 63 in a manner such -that when
the blocks are placed together side by side, a gap 6~ is
formed between abutting corners 63 of adjacent blocks for
receiving the front wheel of a bicycle. The abutting
corners 63 of adjacent blocks provide the desired roll
stops for preventing the bicycle wheel from rolling forward
and backward from the stall space. The sidewalls of the
blocks also provide the other desired stop features which
prevent the wheel from twisting and from slipping sideways.
Of course, each block 62 extends slightly above hub height
to a bicycle wheel so that the surface 62a defines the
necessary wheel support or leaning surface against which
the wheel hub bolt is supported.
; Blocks 62 are also provided with embedded lock
loops 66 with the lock loops of adjacent blocks being on
opposite faces of the blocks. Thus it will be apparent
that the block-formed rack of Fig. 7 is a two-directional
rack in that bicycles are inserted from opposite directions
into adjacent vee stalls. The separate modular rack sec-
tions adapt the rack for expansion or contraction simply
' by adding or taking away blocks to meet the varying demands.
The Fig. 7 rack, like that of Fig. 1, can be
adapted for use as a combination one-directional rack and
bench with bench-type seating provided between adjacent
vee stalls. This is done by eliminating every other vee
stall and by casting the concrete blocks so that their
bases are twice the length of each block shown in Fig. 7.
'
~ -15-

~69~33L
In other words two adjacent blocks 62', 62'' are cast
as one with the vee space in between filled in as shown
at 60a. The resulting block has a flat top 67 on which
a bench 68 shown in phantom lines is installed.
Flg. 8 illustrates just how simple andlightweight
a rack can be constructed using the same basic vee stall
configuration as described with respect to the previously
discussed embodiments. In Fig. 8 a single continuous length
of metal rod or tubing includes a base frame por-tion 71
extending from a rear base line 72 to a parallel front base
~ line 73 and then curves upwardly and inwardly to form a
; leg 74 at the desired angle of inclination of the vee stall
side portion to an apex 75. At the apex the rod or tubing
then curves back downwardly and o~rdly along a rear leg
76 defining a side portion of the next vee stall 70 to
the rear base line 72 and then curves to extend forwardly
and form a second base portion 71a parallel to base portion
71. From front base line 73 the frame extends upwardly
again along a second forward inclined leg 74a which is
paralle] to the first-mentioned leg 74 and forms the
~opposite side portion of vee stall 70. From here, the
previously described sequence is repeated continuously until
the~desired number of vee stalls are formed. In the;
f~ ; illustrated form of rack, the rear leg 76, base portion
71a and front leg 74a define a single vee stall 70. The
apex 75 of the frame between vee stalls is capped by a
suitable molded plastic cap member 78 designed to fit snugly
over the apex of the metal frame. The cap has a side
;~ :
surface 79 extending at an inclination down the legs 74,
~' 30 74a to define the desired wheel leaning or support surface
, . .
of each vee stall at hub height to a bicycle wheel,
indicated in phantom at 24.
.~ " .
"' '' ''

~3L69~
The simple frame shown in Fig. 8 defines all of
the necessary elements of a rack in accordance with the
invention including a forward roll stop at 80 and another
forward roll stop at the raised portion 79a of the wheel
support surface 79. The base portion 71a of the framework
provides a wheel stop against side slipping. A backward
roll stop is provided by the raised portion 79b of wheel
support surEace 79. For a bicycle inserted into the stall
space 70 from the direction indicated by arrow ~4, the rack
portions at 81, 82, in conjunction with that portion of
leg 71a forward of the point at which the wheel 24 touches
the ground, provide the desired stops against twisting of
the wheel relative to the bicycle frame.
For a bicycle inserted from the direction indicated
by arrow ~5, the twist stop function is provided by that
- portion of leg 71a forward of the point at which the wheel
24 touches the ground.
Referring to Fig. 9 there is shown a modular
form of the rack particularly adapted to be made from a
molded synthetic plastic or other moldable material. The
rack is made in a series of modular sections 90, each of
which may be used singly to support one or two bicycles or
in multiples placed side by side to form a series of
: .
stalls as indicated, for example, at 92 to support several
bicycles. Each module 90 is of generally pyramidal or
inverted vee form, including a pair of opposite spaced-
apart, upwardly converging' flanged sidewall portions 94,
96 joined at their upper ends by a flat, generally
horizontal flanged top wall portion 98 which can serve as
3Q a pedestrian seat wh~n the rack lS not supporting a
bicycle. The lower ends of the sidewalls 9~, 96 flare
;' '
~ .
-17-
`:

~6~3~L
outwardly horizontally to define base portions 100, 102.
Each base portion forms an upwardly opening tray or wheel
well 104 for receiving the lower end of a bicycle wheel
when a hub end portion is leaning against the hub support
surface of the module.
Module 90 may be either symmetrical about a
vertical center plane or formed with one sidewall 96 as
shown at a greater angle of inclination to a vertical plane
; than the opposite sidewall 94. In the latter case when
the modules are placed together in side-by-side relation-
ship to form stalls and support several bicycles~ all
bicycles will lean in the same direction.
When sidewall 96 is at a greater inclination than
sidewall 94, the upper portion of the upwardly and outwardly
, `
facing surface of such sidewall in the area 96a defines the
hub support surface of the module. However, nevertheless
both inclined sidewalls of a single module could be used
to support a bicycle, in which case each module is capable
of supporting a maximum of two bicycles.
-
20 ; As shown in phantom lines, the front wheel 106
of a bicycle has a hub portion 108 with opposite outwardly
projecting hub ~olt end portions 110 projecting outwardly
~`~ beyond the opposite sides of the wheel. One of these
,; :
projecting bolt portions on one side of the wheel is leaned
against the hub support portion 96a of sidewall 96 while the
lower end o the wheel is inserted within wheel well 104.
:' :
Thu~s the opposite end walls 104a, 104b of wheel well 104
define the front and rear roll stops for the stand, and
sidewall 104c of the well defines the side stop for the
,,
~stand. Sidewall 104c also serves as a twist stop when the
front wheel of the~bicycle is~u~ported by the stand. Each
.~
~ -18-
.

-
~L~69q:~3~
well 104 can be provided with appropriate drain holes (not
shown) if desired to drain rainwater therefrom. ~eans
(not shown) could also be provided to bolt adjacent modules
togehter at their wheel wells if desired and also to anchor
the trays to a pavement. Molded plastic modules as dis-
closed have the advantage of being lightweight and highly
portable unless anchored as described.
Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show a modular form of the
rack or stand made of cast concrete. The stand is formed
in modular ections 112 which may be placed in side-by-side
relationship as shown in Fig. 10 to define a series of stalls
114. Such concrete racks have the advantage of being rugged
and heavy and therefore not easily moved about even when
not anchored in place.
Each module 112 includes a vertical sidewall
portion 116 and an opposed laterally spaced vertically
inclined sidewall portion 118 joined together by a flat
horizontal top wall portion 120, all of considerable thick-
ness. Inclined sidewall portion 118 includeisan outwardly
` 20 flaring base flange 122 provided with a recess defining a
wheel well 124. Wheel well 124 includes downwardly and
inwardly tapering opposite sidewalls 124a and a concave
bottom wall 124b sloping upwardly at its opposite ends to
intersect the top surface of flange 122 whereby the wheel
well~defines both front and rear roll stops, a side stop
and a twist stop. A drain hole 126 extends from the
lowermost portion of concave bottom wall 124b through the
bottom of the flange to drain water from the well. An
internally threaded bolt hole 128 extends inwardly from
the center of the endwall of flange 122, and an aligned
through hole 130 is provided in the lower vertical side-
' ~
-19-

3~L
wall 116 so that several of the modules can be bolted
together in side-by-side relationship with a lag bolt
extending through hole 130 of one module and threaded into
the threaded hole 128 in the flange endwall of an adjacent
module.
Each concrete module also has means providing
a lock loop passage 132 extending from a top opening 134
in top wall 120 through a built-up corner at the inter-
section between top wall 120 and inclined sidewall 118 to
a side opening 136 in inclined sidewall118. Such passage
enables a chain-type bicycle lock to be inserted there-
' through and about a bicycle wheel supported by leaning
against the inclined sidewall 118 in the manner shown in
Fig. 10.
; Inclined sidewall 118 provides an outwardly and
upwardly facing hub support surface in the area 138. A
module as described is capable of supporting only one
` bicycle by leaning a hub end portion of one of its wheels
~.
~ against the inclined surface 138 because the outer surface
, :
of the opposite sidewall is vertical.
In use one wheel of a bicycle is inserted in
wheel well 124 so that the~bottom portion of the wheeI
, :
rests within the well while a projecting hub bolt end
portion 110 on one side of the wheel is leaned against the
hub support surface 138 of inclined sidewall 118 to support
``1
the bicycle in a generally upright position. The flat top
wall 120 of each module provides a pedestiran seat between
each stall 114.
:, '
In Fig. 10 a bicycle 140 is shown with its front
:
wheel 142 within a stall 114 between a pair of side-by-side
modules 112. Its hub end portion leans against the outer
.
~ -20-

~9~3~L
surface 138 of inclined sidewall 118 while the bicycle
is locked to one module by passing a chain-type lock through
the lock loop of such module and securing the chain about
the spokes and fork of the bicycle's front wheel.
From the foregoing it will be apparent that all
of the described rack forms provide an inclined hub-leaning
surface at hub height to a bicycle wheel. Some of the rack
forms also provide, either alone or in conjunction with !
a vertical wall surface, a generally vee-shaped wheel stall
open at both ends, with one side of the vee stall being at
a greater vertical angle than the other side thereof and
~ including the hub support surface. However, others of the
; rack forms are individual modules which may be used either
singly so as not to define a stall but so as to nevertheless
provide an inclined hub support surface or in multiples
to define stalls for several bicycles. Preferably the racks
are also provided with stops against forward and backward
rolling of the wheel, twisting of a steerable wheel relative
to the frame and side slipping of the wheel from its hub-
leaning or support surface. Optionally the racks may be
provided with additional embellishments such as benches,
or instead of benches, planters or ~en lightposts. The
racks may also be provided with various locking loop means.
;l
Having illustrated and described the basic rack
configuration of my invention and several embodiments and
variations thereof, it should be apparent to those skilled
in the art that the same permits of many modifications in
arrangements, detail, materials and form. I claim as my
invention all such modifications as come within the true
spirit and scope of the following claims.
.
,
,
-21-

Representative Drawing

Sorry, the representative drawing for patent document number 1169031 was not found.

Administrative Status

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Event History

Description Date
Inactive: Expired (old Act Patent) latest possible expiry date 2001-06-12
Grant by Issuance 1984-06-12

Abandonment History

There is no abandonment history.

Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
None
Past Owners on Record
DAVID E. LIVINGSTON
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Claims 1993-12-07 13 496
Drawings 1993-12-07 3 144
Cover Page 1993-12-07 1 14
Abstract 1993-12-07 1 23
Descriptions 1993-12-07 21 878