OVERLAPPING BICYCLE VERTICAL INDEPENDENT AMASSING SYSTEM

SYSTEME D'ENTASSEMENT INDEPENDANT VERTICAL DE BICYCLETTE EN CHEVAUCHEMENT

English Abstract

The "OBVIAS" (full name: Overlapping Bicycle Vertical Independent
Amassing System) is described as a racking system utilizing the front wheel of
two bicycles to store them in a vertical manner. The bicycles are hung on
separated opposing sides of a unit in an overlapping fashion with the bottom
(read pedals) of the bikes facing towards each other and tops (read seats)
facing
away. This is a single unit. Multiple units may be placed side by side at
varying
heights to expand the number of storage spaces.

Claims

Claims
1. A storage system for bicycles utilizing an overlapping racking method to
decrease the footprint of said bicycles comprised of a single or a grouping
of an unspecified number of repeated support structures (herein called
unit(s)) placed equal distance along a single plane.
2. Equal distance as defined in claim 1 is comprised of the average width of
modern bicycles wherein the average measurement from the outer end of
the left pedal to the outer end of the right pedal of a bicycle being the
minimum distance verses the available space provided by the installation
location; With regards to the desired number of units.
3. Equal distance along a single plane acknowledged in claim 1 is comprised
of said average measurement described in claim 2 being applied to each
unit(s) along the centerline of each parallel unit along a single plane.
4. An unspecified number of units acknowledged in claim 1 are specified by
the available measurement of distance along said single plane within the
installation location comprised of a maximum desired distance within the
installation location divided by the average measurement defined in claim
2 and rounded to the nearest full number.
5. Repeated support structures as mentioned in claim 1 are labeled as unit(s)
and are comprised of components consisting of;
- Two vertical support members
- A top and bottom plate
- Plates placed laterally to brace said vertical members
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- Two pegs or hooks
- Two wheel catches
6. A top plate acknowledge in claim 5 is defined as a plate affixed to two
vertical members at the top of the vertical members; containing a hole in
the exact center of said plate located for the purpose of affixing one unit to
another by means of a horizontal support member.
7. In claim 6, a horizontally placed support member is defined as a support
member containing an unspecified amount of holes evenly placed at said
spacing defined in claim 2 and 3. Affixed to individual units by means of
the top plate defined in claim 6 via the hole located in the center of said
top
plate.
8. In claim 7, said holes are placed for the purpose of affixing the support
member to individual units in order to create a grouping.
9. In claim 5, the bottom plate is defined as a plate affixed to the bottom of
said vertical members, containing multiple holes.
10. In claim 9, multiple holes are defined as voids through the plate
material in which a fastener is utilized to affix each unit to the floor.
11. In claim 5, plates placed laterally to brace vertical support members
are comprised of evenly spaced plates across the measurement of length of
said vertical members. Each plate is placed perpendicular to the vertical
members and rests in between the parallel vertical members of a single
unit.
12. In claim 5, A Peg is defined as a cylindrical post extending out
perpendicular to the side of a vertical member at a predetermined height
along the vertical member length. The peg is comprised of a bend or stop
at the end of the cylindrical post.
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13. A bend, as mentioned in claim 12, is defined as a shift in the shape of
said peg comprised of a 90-degree angle toward the top of the vertical
support structure.
14. In claim 5 a catch is defined as a means to grab the rear wheel of a
bicycle.
15. In claim 14, said catch is located at a predetermined height from the
aforementioned peg comprised of a bar extending out from the side of a
vertical member in a perpendicular manner, bending 90-degrees at the
outer distance back towards the top of the loaded bicycle; then bent down
90-degrees toward the bottom plate a certain distance, and finally bent at
90-degrees to travel away from the loaded bicycle before bending at 90
degrees towards the same side of the same vertical support member that
the catch originated.
16. In claim 15, the distance travelled down is defined as an averaged
measurement taken from modern bicycle wheel sizes (29" diameter
wheels to 20" diameter wheels circa 2015 to present).
17. In claim 1, an overlapping method is defined as hanging two bicycles
in a vertical fashion in which the front wheel hangs both bicycles on
opposite sides of a unit with the bottoms of each bicycle pointing towards
the bottom of the opposing bicycle.
18. In claim 5, all components of the OBVIAS are comprised of steel
19. In claim 5, all components of the OBVIAS are affixed to their specified
locations via an arc or gas welding process.
20. In claim 5, the peg and catch are located on the vertical members by
means comprised of pre drilled hole(s) through said vertical support
members at the predetermined heights in which said peg or catch is slid
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into a vertical support member via said hole and affixed in place on both
sides of a single vertical support member.
21. A grouping of units defined in claim 1 is comprised of multiple units
spaced at equal intervals in a parallel fashion affixed together by a
horizontal support member as defined in claim 7.
22. A predetermined height in claim 20, 12, and 15 is defined as the
height at which the peg is located along the side of the respective vertical
member and the measurement down from said peg to the middle of the
respective catch.
23. In claim 22, the downward measurement is confined to the averaged
measurement of wheelbases of the majority of road worthy bicycles
comprised from the furthest point forward on the front wheel of a bicycle
to the mid point of the rear axle.
24. A vertical support member as mentioned in claim 5 is defined as a
length of material affixed to the top and bottom plates at the respective
ends and is comprising of three holes bored through the entire width of the
material as define in claim 20.
25. In claim 18, steel is comprised of structural grade steel.
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Description

CA 02896034 2015-07-06
The OBVIAS
Overlapping Bicycle Vertical Independent Amassing System
Description
The OBVIAS is a storage system for the express purpose of increasing the
density and organization of bicycles stored in any given area. The OBVIAS
system
does this by hanging multiple bicycles in a vertical fashion by means of a
hook
through the front wheel. Bicycles are held side by side at varying heights to
decrease the floor footprint along this direction. This is repeated on the
opposite
side of the rack structure. Both sides of the rack overlap the bicycles within
the
structure to further reduce the footprint. This system is best used in the
middle
of a room or where storage on a wall would only slightly increase density.
Previous inventions have endeavored to increase density and organization
by placing bicycles in a vertical fashion at differing heights along walls, or
in
stand alone units that either house bicycles on both sides of a rack or around
a
vertical support member in a circular pattern without the overlap. As well as
in a
horizontal fashion either by placing pushing a bicycle into a stall (at the
expense
of increased organization), or at varying heights on the front wheel to allow
more organization. Most of these systems are either prohibitively expensive
(an
example would be some two story systems) or do not sufficiently compress the
density/ footprint of multiple bicycles. Other systems are designed for quick
loading and unloading storage and forgo most organization (a perfect example
is
the majority of racks in use out front of public venues. Designed to hold many
bicycles but in a fast manner rather then an organized manner). Many racking
systems on the market will store every "normal" shape of bicycle, but there
are
quite a few shapes that do not fit the description of "normal". Many others
will
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CA 02896034 2015-07-06
create interference with the wheels or the frame of certain bicycles. This
becomes a problem when trying to lock the frame of particular styles of
bicycle
frames. Storage density, organization, damage prevention, cost, ease of use,
utility, and theft deterrence. These are the major considerations when a
storage
racking system is designed.
For the purposes of this description, the front wheel of a bicycle shall be
called the front and vice versa the rear wheel the rear of the bicycle. The
seat/
handle bar shall be considered the top of the bike, and the pedals/ where the
wheels contact the ground shall be considered the bottom.
Bicycles use a smaller footprint on the floor when their front wheel holds
them in a vertical fashion. Front wheel up, rear wheel down. The OBVIAS system
overlaps two bicycles hung on a "peg" (fig. B2). The front wheels are up, and
the
bottom of each bicycle faces the bottom of the other bicycle. The tops of each
bicycle rest in an opposite direction then their units mate (see "OBVIAS photo
03"). Two bicycles now use about 20% less floor space then before. Multiple
units can be placed side by side to increase density of any given area (see
"OBVIAS photo 02" or "OBVIAS Drawing multi"). The OBVIAS holds each bicycle
at varying heights (per unit, see "OBVIAS photo 02") and allows unencumbered
hanging of said bicycle. Each bicycle can be placed or removed from the rack
with minimal entanglement of pedals, handlebars, and shifter/ brake cables.
This
allows each bicycle to avoid most damage sustained by over racking and
multiple
levels of user care. Because of the overlapping nature of The OBVIAS, almost
all
bicycle styles, shapes, and sizes will come close enough to the racking frame
to
allow a locking system to be utilized (see "OBVIAS photo 03). The racking
frame
is a closed system, which prevents easy theft from occurring (see fig. B6).
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CA 02896034 2015-07-06
The OBVIAS photos.
- OBVIAS photo 01: This photo is of the prototype version already in use
within "The Picasso" at 711 E 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 1L7.
This photo is to show the varying heights and the side-by-side nature of
the system.
- OBVIAS photo 02: This photo demonstrates the varying heights mentioned.
- OBVIAS photo 03: This photo demonstrates the overlapping method used
to increase density and decrease floor space used. This photo also
demonstrates the how the' frame of most bicycles comes into locking
distance with the racking frame.
- OBVIAS photo 04: This photo demonstrates the overlapping method used
to increase density and decrease floor space used.
The OBVIAS drawings.
- OBVIAS Drawing multi: This drawing demonstrates how multiple units can
be placed side-by-side to allow for greater storage capacity. Fig. Al
acknowledges a support member laid across the top of the units to allow
for greater strength by tying all of the units of a group together. Fig. Al
may be attached to a wall/pillar (as seen in the "OBVIAS photos") or left
free standing. Each unit is distanced from center of the previous unit a
standard repeated distance equaled to the preferred spacing allowed by
the area said grouping of units is installed. Bicycles have a minimum
distance they will comfortably sit next to the one beside. Do not space less
then 16" centers. This is defined by the average width of modern (circa
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CA 02896034 2015-07-06
2015) pedals, from the outer edge of the pedal to the centerline of a
bicycle.
- OBVIAS Drawing Tech:
- Fig. B1-1 and B1-2: This figure demonstrates the varying heights at
which the "pegs" and rear wheel catch are located.
- Fig. B2: This figure demonstrates the catch or bend in the "peg".
The "Peg" is where the front wheel of a bicycle is hung, and the stop
or bend is placed to prevent the bicycle slipping off the rack by
mistake. The "peg" extends perpendicular from the support member
and the bend/ stop is best placed in an up fashion. This will allow for
easy loading and unloading of the bicycle. The "peg" is placed at a
height that is high enough to hold a bicycle completely off the ground
for the OBVIAS Low, and low enough that an average height human
can lift the front wheel onto the "peg" for the OBVIAS High. "Pegs" in
multi unit groupings should be set at different heights to provide
sufficient clearance for handle bars and pedals to prevent
interference during the loading and unload process. Steel is
recommended for this part but any material with sufficient strength
may be used. It is important to note that this part will carry all of the
weight of the stored bicycle, therefore should be made out of a
material that will maintain it's shape under heavy stress for an
extended period of time. It should also be attached to the structural
member (fig. B6) in a manner that will support the same weight for
an extended period of time.
- Fig. B3: This figure demonstrates the plate and the bolt hole
located on the top of the racking system. This plate and hole are
utilized by the support member in fig. Al to stabilize multiple units
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CA 02896034 2015-07-06
into a grouping. Steel is recommended for this part but any material
with sufficient strength may be used. This hole is located in the exact
center of the plate and should be the same size as the matching hole
located on fig. Al.
- Fig. B4: Figure B4 is the bottom plate. This plate sits on the ground
and is bolted down with Lag bolts or concrete anchors via bolt holes
through the plate. The actual style of fastener is unimportant but
should be taken into consideration based on installation location. I.e.
concrete floor verses plywood subfloor. The number of holes
required depends on how many units are in a grouping. A single unit
will require more holes, and multiple units less holes. Steel is
recommended for this part but any material with sufficient strength
may be used.
-Fig. B3 and B4: The vertical members of the OBVIAS are attached to
these plates in a manner proper to the material used in the
construction.
-Fig. B5: This figure represents the "catch" of the rear wheel catch.
The catch extends out from the side of the vertical support member
(same side and direction as the matching "peg") at a predetermined
height. This height is dependent on whether the specific rack is the
OBVIAS LOW or HIGH and is based on the average wheel base length
of modern bicycles. The size of the catch is based on the standard
bicycle wheel averaged between a 26" and a 29" wheel. The outer
edge of the catch bends back towards the top of the hung bicycle in
an attempt to stop the rear wheel from falling off the catch (only
seen in the "OBVIAS drawings"). Do not make the catch wider then 8"
as it will interfere with the 16" minimum spacing. Steel is

CA 02896034 2015-07-06
recommended for this part, but any material with sufficient strength
will suffice. It is recommended to leave the middle of this part a void
to allow the bicycle wheel to sit inside thus increasing the stability of
the stored bicycle.
- Fig. B6: This figure presents the structural frame of the OBVIAS.
The frame is comprised of two vertical members attached at
respective ends to the plates represented in fig. B3 and B4. Spaced
evenly across the length of these members is three cross member
plates. These cross members are installed to provide lateral support
and should be affixed in a manner consistent with the material used
in construction. Steel is recommended for these parts but any
material with sufficient strength may be used.
The OBVIAS is best used in an area where space is limited and organized
storage is desired. An area such as the middle of a small room where the walls
have already been fitted with a racking system and the user wants to increase
density of the room is the ideal location. The OBVIAS will work well in
parking
stalls in above or underground parkades. The overlap maintains the total width
of the floor space within that of most modern cars (circa 2000-2015). The
OBVIAS is designed to be used anywhere that access from both sides of the unit
is possible. It is worth noting that the OBVIAS, despite the acronym, is not
obvious to new users with regards to the proper loading of bicycles. Steps
should
be taken to assist users on how to place the bicycles so that the density
increase
benefited by the overlap is utilized. It is suggested stickers, posters, or
signs be
placed in view describing the proper use. The prototype has shown that after a
"break in" period the OBVIAS works as intended as veteran users demonstrate
the proper use, giving novice users an example to follow.
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