Bicycle Storage Compartment

Abstract

A bicycle storage compartment includes a storage compartment arranged inside a bicycle frame tube, in particular a down tube of a bicycle frame. The storage compartment is closed by a cover element. With the aid of a fixing element, the cover element is releasably fixed to the bicycle frame tube. For simple and reliable operation and fixation, the fixing element includes a lever element fastened to the bicycle frame tube or the cover element and cooperating with a lug provided on the cover element or the bicycle frame tube.

Claims

1. A bicycle storage compartment comprising: a storage compartment arranged inside a bicycle frame tube, in particular a down tube, a cover element closing the storage compartment, and a fixing element for releasably fixing the cover element to the bicycle frame tube, wherein, the fixing element comprises a lever element fastened to the bicycle frame tube or the cover element and cooperating with a lug provided on the cover element or the bicycle frame tube.

2. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 1, wherein the lever element is fastened via a base element firmly fastened to the bicycle frame tube or the cover element.

3. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 1, wherein the lever element is fastened via a deflection lever to the bicycle frame tube or to the cover element, preferably to the base element.

4. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 1, wherein the lever element is pivotable about a main axis.

5. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 3, wherein the deflection lever is pivotable about the main axis.

6. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 3, wherein the deflection lever is pivotably connected to the base element via an additional axis.

7. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 6, wherein the additional axis is parallel to the main axis.

8. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 6, wherein the additional axis and the main axis are arranged in such a way that the fixing element remains closed by self-locking in the closed state.

9. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element, in particular the base element of the fixing element, is arranged on a side wall of the bicycle frame tube.

10. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 4, wherein the main axis and/or the additional axis extend substantially in the longitudinal direction of the bicycle frame tube.

11. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 1, wherein the lug extends parallel to the main axis.

12. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 1, wherein the cover element comprises a retaining element on a side opposite the fixing element.

13. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 12, wherein the retaining element comprises a groove which a projection engages, wherein the groove preferably disposed in the cover element and the projection is formed by the bicycle frame tube.

14. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 1, wherein an in particular circumferential seal is provided on an inner side of the cover element facing toward the bicycle frame tube.

15. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 1, wherein the cover element comprises at least one thickening for receiving at least one holder.

16. The bicycle storage compartment according to claim 15, wherein the thickening is formed on the inner side of the cover element, in particular in the form of a bead.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In the following, the invention is described in more detail by means of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] In the drawings:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the bicycle storage compartment in a closed state,

[0020] FIGS. 2 to 4 are a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, wherein the lever element is shown in different opening states, and

[0021] FIG. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 with an opened fixing element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] A bicycle frame tube 10, which is in particular a down tube of a bicycle frame, has an interior 12 which is configured as a storage compartment. For this purpose, an additional element forming the storage compartment can be provided in the interior 12, the additional element having, for example, additional pockets, fixing elements, retaining straps and the like. The storage compartment 12 is accessible through an opening 14 disposed in the bicycle frame tube 10, wherein the opening 14 is provided on an upper side of the bicycle frame tube in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. The opening 14 can be closed by a cover element 16. Closing is effected by means of a fixing element 18 cooperating with the cover element 16 and the bicycle frame tube 10. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, said fixing element is arranged on the right-hand side of the bicycle frame tube 10 in FIG. 1, wherein a corresponding fixing element can also be provided on the left-hand side in a mirror-inverted manner.

[0023] The fixing element 18 comprises a lever element 20, which in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is indirectly connected to the bicycle frame tube 10, in particular to a side wall 23 of the bicycle frame tube 10, via a base element 22 and a deflection lever 24.

[0024] The base element 22 is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the bicycle frame tube. The deflection lever 24 is connected to the base element 22 via an additional axis 26. The deflection lever 24 is in turn pivotably connected to the lever element 20 via a main axis 28. The lever element 20 can thus be pivoted as shown in particular in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

[0025] A head portion 30 of the lever element 20 cooperates with a lug 32 provided on the cover element 16. Here, the head portion 30 may have a concavely curved inner side that cooperates with a convexly curved outer side of the lug 32. Several lugs 32 may be provided on the cover element 16 in the longitudinal direction of the bicycle frame tube, i.e. perpendicular to the drawing plane, or one lug 32 may be provided extending substantially over the entire side length of the cover element 16. Similarly, several fixing elements 18 may be provided one behind the other perpendicular to the drawing plane in the longitudinal direction of the bicycle frame tube 10, or a lever element may be provided extending substantially over the entire length of the cover element 16. In the longitudinal direction of the bicycle frame tube 10, the cover element preferably extends over a length of 10 cm to 20 cm.

[0026] A retaining element 34 is arranged on the side of the cover element 16 opposite the fixing element 18. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the retaining element 34 has a groove 36 disposed in the cover element and extending in longitudinal direction perpendicular to the drawing plane. For example, the groove 36 is formed by an L-shaped lug 38 in cross-section formed on an inner side 40 of the cover element 16. To fix the cover element 16 on the left-hand side in FIG. 1, the cover element is arranged in such a way that a projection 42 formed by the bicycle frame tube 10 engages in the groove 36.

[0027] A guiding lug 44 is provided on the inner side 40 of the cover element 16 on the side opposite the L-shaped lug 38. A corresponding guiding lug 44 may also be arranged on the front and rear sides of the cover element 16 provided in longitudinal direction, so that a circumferential guiding element is implemented for adjusting the cover element 16 in the opening 14 of the bicycle frame tube 10.

[0028] From the closed position shown in FIG. 1, to open the cover element 16, the lever 20 is pivoted about the main axis 28 and the deflection lever 24 is pivoted about the additional axis 26, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The cover element 16 can then be removed to expose the opening 14, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0029] For closing, the cover element 16 is inserted into the opening 14 and then the lever element 10 is pivoted into the position shown in FIG. 2 so that the head portion 30 of the lever element 20 rests against the lug 32. Then, a free end 46 of the lever element 20 is moved toward the base element 22. In doing so, a seal 48 disposed between the cover element 16 and the bicycle frame tube is compressed until the lever 20 reaches a bottom dead center. The bottom dead center is reached shortly before the lever element 20 pivots completely toward the base element 22. Further pivoting causes the dead center to be passed in accordance with a toggle lever mechanism, wherein the compressed seal 48 is again slightly decompressed. Due to the remaining residual compressions of the seal 48, a counterforce is generated that ensures secure closing and fixing of the lever element 20 in the closed position.

[0030] A bead-shaped thickening 50 is provided on the inner side 40 of the cover element 16 in the illustrated preferred embodiment. In particular, the thickening 50 extends partially in the longitudinal direction of the cover element 16 or substantially along the entire longitudinal direction of the cover element 16. By providing the thickening it is possible to provide a retaining element such as a threaded sleeve open at an outer side 52 of the cover element 16 in this area of the cover element. In particular, by providing two threaded sleeves at a distance, it is possible to arrange a bottle holder or the like on the outer side 52 of the cover element 16.