Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE
[0001] Bicycle Mounted Weather Cover For A Cyclist
FIELD
[0002] There is described a weather cover that mounts on a bicycle to
provide a cyclist
with some shade and protection from light rain when cycling.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A downside to the use of a bicycle is a constant exposure to the
elements. When
riding through a drizzle, the cyclist is going to get wet. When riding in the
hot sun, there is no
shade. United States Design Patent DES.245,903 (Harris Jr.) entitled
"Protective Cover For
A Bicycle" proposes a solution of an enclosure which shelters the cyclist from
the elements.
The present invention provides an alternative solution to that proposed in
Harris Jr.
SUMMARY
[0004] There is provided a bicycle mounted weather cover for a cyclist.
This weather
cover is intended to be attached to a bicycle having a rear frame, a front
steering assembly
pivotally attached to the rear frame, a rear wheel rotatably mounted to the
rear frame, a front
wheel rotatably mounted to the front steering assembly, and a seat for a
cyclist supported by
the rear frame. The weather cover includes a shell-form body having a mounting
section, an
awning section and a connective section maintaining the mounting section and
the awning
section in a substantially perpendicular orientation. The body is
characterized by an open
rear and open sides to facilitate access to the seat. A mounting assembly is
provided for
mounting the mounting section of the body to the front steering assembly of
the bicycle in a
substantially upright orientation, with the awning section in a substantially
horizontal
orientation overlying the seat.
[0005] The weather cover, as described above, supports the awning section
over the seat
of the bicycle to provide some shade for the cyclist from the sun and
protection for the cyclist
from light rain. It is recognized that the weather cover will not protect the
cyclist from a
driven rain. However, it is considered that having an open rear and open
sides, is preferable to
a full enclosure as proposed by Harris Jr. A full enclosure can be stifling
for the cyclist on
hot days. A full enclosure restricts the visibility of the cyclist during
operation. A full
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enclosure is a potential safety hazard, as it restricts the ability of the
cyclist to escape the
bicycle seat in the event of an emergency.
[0006] In a first embodiment, which will be hereafter described, the body
is unitary with
the mounting section, the awning section and the connective section being made
from one
sheet of material. In this embodiment, the connective section is curved to
provide a transition
from the mounting section to the awning section. This embodiment can be
constructed either
with or without a rigid support frame, depending upon the thickness and self-
supporting
nature of the material out of which the body is fabricated.
[0007] A second embodiment was subsequently developed which incorporated
a number
of refinements. It was appreciated that the weather cover would not be
required in all weather
conditions and facility should be made for its quick deployment when required
and quick
removal when not required. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be
obtained when
the body is detachable from the mounting assembly by a quick release
engagement.
[0008] It was realized that the weather cover would be more convenient,
if it could be
folded for ease of storage. It was felt that this feature would also be
desirable to bicycle
commuters who may wish to remove the weather cover and store the weather cover
in their
offices during office hours to avoid theft. Even more beneficial results may,
therefore, be
obtained when hinges are positioned between the mounting section, the awning
section and
the connective section. The hinges provide the body with an operative position
and a stored
position. In the stored position, the mounting section, the awning section and
the connective
section are folded into face to face relation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] These and other features will become more apparent from the
following
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings
are for the
purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting,
wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a first embodiment of bicycle
mounted weather
cover.
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[0011] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the bicycle mounted weather
cover illustrated
in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of bicycle
mounted
weather cover.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the shell-form body of the
bicycle mounted
weather cover illustrated in FIG. 1 detached from the mounting assembly.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shell-form body illustrated in
FIG. 4 folded
about hinges into a stored position.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative form of quick
release engagement for
use between the shell-form body and the mounting assembly.
[0016] FIG. 7 is an end elevation view of the quick release engagement
illustrated in FIG.
6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] A first embodiment of a bicycle mounted weather cover for a cyclist
generally
identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to
FIG. 1 and FIG.
2. A second embodiment of a bicycle mounted weather cover for a cyclist
generally
identified by reference numeral 100, will be described with reference to FIG.
3 through FIG
5. A variation in quick release engagement detail for weather cover 100, will
be described
with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, in order to describe the use environment,
both weather cover
10 and weather cover 100 are intended to be attached to a bicycle 200. Bicycle
200 has a
rear frame 202, a front steering assembly 204 which is pivotally attached to
rear frame 202, a
rear wheel 206 rotatably mounted to rear frame 202, a front wheel 208
rotatably mounted to
front steering assembly 204, and a seat 210 for a cyclist (not shown)
supported by rear frame
202. Front steering assembly 204 consists at an upper end of handle bars 212
and at a lower
end of front forks 214.
Structure and Relationship of Parts of the first embodiment:
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[0019] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the primary components of weather
cover 10 are
shell-form body 12 and mounting assembly 14. Shell-form body 12 has a mounting
section
16, an awning section 18 and a connective section 20 connecting mounting
section 16 and
awning section 18. During use, connective section 20 maintains mounting
section 16 and
awning section 18 in a substantially perpendicular orientation. In contrast to
the prior art of
Harris Jr., shell-form body 12 is characterized by an open rear and open sides
to facilitate
access to and from seat 210. Mounting assembly 14 serves to mount mounting
section 16 of
body 12 to front steering assembly 204 of bicycle 200, placing mounting
section 16 in a
substantially upright orientation. Due to the relationship between mounting
section 16 and
awning section 18, this places awning section 18 in a substantially horizontal
orientation
overlying seat 210.
[0020] As illustrated, body 12 of weather cover 10 is unitary with
mounting section 16,
awning section 18 and connective section 20 being made from one sheet of
material.
Connective section 20 is curved to provide a transition from mounting section
16 to awning
section 18.
[0021] Weather cover 10 can be constructed either with or without a rigid
support frame,
depending upon the thickness and self-supporting nature of the material out of
which the body
is fabricated. Chosen for illustration is a version with a rigid support frame
22.
[0022] Mounting assembly 14 can also take a number of forms. Chosen for
illustration is
a mounting assembly 14 with a pair vertical members 24 which are secured at
their upper
ends to handle bars 212 and secured at their lower ends to front forks 214. A
pair of cross
members 26 extend between vertical members 24. In this embodiment, rigid
support frame
22 is permanently affixed to cross members 26 of mounting assembly 14.
Operation of the first embodiment:
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, mounting assembly 14 is mounted to
front
steering assembly 204 of bicycle 200. This places mounting section 16 of body
12 in a
substantially upright orientation and awning section 18 in a substantially
horizontal
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orientation overlying seat 210. The cycle is protected in the front by body
12, which serves
as a windscreen. More importantly, awning section 18 positioned over seat 210
provides
some shade for the cyclist from the sun and protection for the cyclist from
light rain. Weather
cover 10 will not protect the cyclist from a driven rain coming from either of
the sides or from
5 the rear. However, it is considered that having an open rear and open
sides, is preferable to a
full enclosure as proposed by Harris Jr. A full enclosure can be stifling for
the cyclist on hot
days. A full enclosure restricts the visibility of the cyclist during
operation. A full enclosure
is a potential safety hazard, as it restricts the ability of the cyclist to
access the seat and to
escape the seat in the event of an emergency.
Structure and Relationship of Parts of the second embodiment:
[0024] Referring to FIG. 3, the primary components of weather cover 100
are shell-form
body 112 and mounting assembly 114. Shell-form body 112 has a mounting section
116, an
awning section 118 and a connective section 120 connecting mounting section
116 and
awning section 118. During use, connective section 120 maintains mounting
section 116 and
awning section 118 in a substantially perpendicular orientation. As with the
first
embodiment, shell-form body 112 is characterized by an open rear and open
sides to facilitate
access to and from seat 210. Mounting assembly 114 serves to mount mounting
section 116
of body 112 to front steering assembly 204 of bicycle 200, placing mounting
section 116 in a
substantially upright orientation. As with the first embodiment, due to the
relationship
between mounting section 116 and awning section 118, this places awning
section 118 in a
substantially horizontal orientation overlying seat 210. As with the first
embodiment,
mounting assembly 114 has a pair vertical members 124 and a pair of cross
members 126 that
extend between vertical members 124. The differences between the first
embodiment
(weather cover 10) and the second embodiment (weather cover 100) will now be
described.
[0025] In the first embodiment, mounting assembly 14 was rigid. In
contrast, mounting
assembly 114 has hinges 130 that enable mounting assembly 14 to be folded
about hinges
130. It is envisaged that mounting assembly 114 will still be permanently
affixed to bicycle
200. However, this folding feature is useful for shipment or off season
storage.
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[0026] In the first embodiment, shell-form body 12 was permanently affixed
to cross
members 26 of mounting assembly 14. Referring to FIG. 4, quick release
engagement is
provided between shell-form body 112 and mounting assembly 114. As
illustrated, quick
release engagement is in the form of a "C" shaped members 132 which clamp
around cross-
members 126 of mounting assembly 114.
[0027] In the first embodiment, shell-form body 12 was a unitary body
formed of one
sheet of material and had a rigid support frame 22. Referring to FIG. 4 and
FIG. 5, shell-
form body has a hinges 134 and 136. Hinge 134 is positioned between mounting
section 116
and connective section 120. Hinge 136 is positioned between connective section
120 and
awning section 118. Hinges 134 and 136 are of the type that can be locked in a
selected
position. This enables shell-form body to be placed into an operative position
as illustrated in
FIG. 4 or folded to assume a stored position, as illustrated in FIG. 5. In the
stored position,
mounting section 116, awning section 118 and connective section 120 are folded
into face to
face relation.
Operation of the second embodiment:
[0028] Referring to FIG. 3 through FIG. 5, weather cover 100 functions
exactly the same
as weather cover 10 to protect the cyclist from the sun or the rain. Where
weather cover 100
has superior features is when the cyclist arrives at his or her destination.
Referring to FIG. 4,
the use of "C" shaped members 132 of as a quick release engagement, enables
shell-form
body 112 to be rapidly removed from mounting assembly 114. Referring to FIG.
5, the
provisions of hinges 134 and 136 enables the cyclist to fold shell-form body
112 into a stored
position. An example of where these features are useful is for a bicycle
commuter. The
bicycle commuter who has ridden from his home to his office, simply detaches
shell-form
body 112 from mounting assembly 114, folds shell-form body 112 to assume the
stored
position, and carried shell-form body 112 away to store in his or her office.
This enables the
cyclist to avoid theft of shell-form body.
Variations:
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[0029] There are a number of alternative quick release engagements which
could be used
to secure shell-form body 112 to mounting assembly 114. Referring to FIG. 6
and FIG. 7,
there is illustrated an alternative form of quick release engagement. The
advantage of this
alternative engagement is that it is more stable in high winds than would be
"C" shaped
clamps 132. With this alternative engagement, cross-member 126 of mounting
assembly 114
is provided with an engagement channel 140 and shell-form body 112 is provided
with
members 142 that carry a bulbous insert 144. Bulbous insert 144 is slide into
engagement
channel 140. In order to prevent accidental separation, both cross-member 126
and members
142 can be provided with one or more apertures 146. One or more locking pins
148 inserted
through selected aligned apertures 146 prevent lateral movement of bulbous
insert 144 along
channel 140 and thereby prevent accidental separation.
[0030] In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-
limiting sense to
mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically
mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the
possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context
clearly requires that
there be one and only one of the elements.
[0031] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the illustrated
embodiments set
forth as examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent
with a purposive
construction of the claims in view of the description as a whole.
