Closure device for connecting a container e.g. to a bicycle

Abstract

A closure device for connecting a container to a frame of a vehicle, in particular of a two-wheeler or a three-wheeler, includes a first closure part which is to be arranged on the frame and comprises a first magnet element and a second closure part which is assigned to the container and comprises a second magnet element. The second closure part is positionable on the first closure part in a closing direction and is latched mechanically with the first closure part in a closed position. The second closure part is releasably connectable to the container.

Claims

1. A closure device for connecting a container to a frame of a vehicle, comprising: a first closure part which is to be arranged on the frame and comprises a first magnet element and a second closure part which is assigned to the container and comprises a second magnet element, wherein the second closure part is positionable on the first closure part in a closing direction and is latched mechanically with the first closure part in a closed position, wherein the second closure part is releasably connectable to the container, and wherein the second closure part comprises a body and a fastening element which is arranged so as to be adjustable on the body and is realized to connect the second closure part to the container in a first position, and is transferrable from the first position into a second position in order to release the connection between the container and the second closure part.

2. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second closure part is connectable in a positive locking manner to an adaptor part of the container.

3. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the closure parts comprises at least one blocking piece and the other of the closure parts at least one locking element, wherein the at least one blocking piece engages in the locking element in the closed position in such a manner that the second closure part is held on the first closure part in opposition to the closing direction.

4. The closure device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one locking element is realized in an elastically resilient manner transversely to the closing direction.

5. The closure device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one blocking piece comprises a first latching projection and the at least one locking element comprises a second latching projection, wherein the first latching projection and the second latching projection engage one another in a positive locking manner in the closed position.

6. The closure device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one blocking piece comprises a first latching projection and the at least one locking element comprises a second latching projection, wherein the first latching projection and the second latching projection engage one another in a positive locking manner in the closed position.

7. The closure device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one locking element extends in a ring-shaped manner about the closing direction, wherein the at least one locking element, viewed along a circumferential direction about the closing direction, is opened by an opening, through which the at least one blocking piece is movable for opening the closure device.

8. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second closure part is releasable from the first closure part as a result of moving in an opening direction which is different to the closing direction.

9. The closure device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the opening direction corresponds to a rotational direction directed about the closing direction.

10. The closure device as claimed in claim 9, wherein one of the closure parts comprises a pivot which engages with a rotational opening of the other closure part in the closed position and mounts the closure parts together so as to be rotational along the opening direction.

11. The closure device as claimed in claim 8, wherein one of the closure parts comprises a pivot which engages with a rotational opening of the other closure part in the closed position and mounts the closure parts together so as to be rotational along the opening direction.

12. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first closure part comprises two first magnet elements which are spaced apart from one another transversely to the closing direction and the second closure part comprises two magnet elements which are spaced apart from one another transversely to the closing direction.

13. The closure device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the magnet elements of each closure part point toward the other closure part with opposite magnetic poles.

14. A bicycle, comprising a closure device as claimed in claim 1 for fastening a container to a frame of the bicycle.

15. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a two or three wheel vehicle.

16. The closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening element is arranged so as to be rotatable on the body.

17. A container for using on a bicycle, comprising a closure device comprising: a closure device for connecting a container to a frame of a vehicle, comprising: a first closure part which is to be arranged on the frame and comprises a first magnet element and a second closure part which is assigned to the container and comprises a second magnet element, wherein the second closure part is positionable on the first closure part in a closing direction and is latched mechanically with the first closure part in a closed position, wherein the second closure part is releasably connectable to the container, wherein one of the closure parts comprises at least one blocking piece and the other of the closure parts at least one locking element, wherein the at least one blocking piece engages in the locking element in the closed position in such a manner that the second closure part is held on the first closure part in opposition to the closing direction, and wherein the at least one locking element is realized in an elastically resilient manner transversely to the closing direction.

18. The container as claimed in claim 17, wherein the container is a drinking bottle, a tool container or a container for a battery.

19. A closure device for connecting a container to a frame of a vehicle, comprising: a first closure part which is to be arranged on the frame and comprises a first magnet element and a second closure part which is assigned to the container and comprises a second magnet element, wherein the second closure part is positionable on the first closure part in a closing direction and is latched mechanically with the first closure part in a closed position, wherein the second closure part is releasably connectable to the container, wherein the second closure part is connectable in a positive locking manner to an adaptor part of the container, and wherein the second closure part comprises a body and a fastening element which is arranged so as to be adjustable on the body and is realized to connect the second closure part to the container in a first position, and is transferrable from the first position into a second position in order to release the connection between the container and the second closure part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The concept on which the solution is based is to be explained in more detail below by way of the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle in the form of a bicycle;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a closure device for fastening a container to a frame of the vehicle;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side representation of the exploded view;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view of the closure parts of the closure device;

(6) FIG. 5A shows a front view of the container with a second closure part arranged thereon;

(7) FIG. 5B shows a sectional view along the line A-A according to FIG. 5A;

(8) FIG. 6A shows the front view according to FIG. 5A, with a fastening element rotated to release the second closure part from the container; and

(9) FIG. 6B shows a sectional view along the line A-A according to FIG. 6A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle 1 in the form of a bicycle which comprises a frame 10 with a frame bar 100, on which a container 3, for example in the form of a drinking bottle or a different container, for example a bag, is positioned by means of a closure device 2.

(11) FIGS. 2 to 6A, 6B show an exemplary embodiment of a closure device 2 which serves for connecting a container 3 to the frame 10 of a vehicle 1. The closure device 2 comprises a first closure part 4, which is to be connected, for example is to be screw-connected, fixedly to a frame bar 100 of the frame 10 of the vehicle 1. A second closure part 5, which is to be fixedly connected to the container 3 (but in this case is releasable, as is to be explained again below), can be positioned on the first closure part 4. By positioning the container 3 with the second closure part 5 fastened thereon on the first closure part 4 arranged on the frame 10, the container 3 can consequently be fixed to the frame 10 of the vehicle 1.

(12) The first closure part 4 comprises a body 40 from which two blocking pieces 41A, 41B protrude. The blocking pieces 41A, 41B each comprise a shank 411, on the end of which remote from the body 40 is realized a latching projection 410 which extends around the shank 411 and, in this case, protrudes radially outward from the shank 411.

(13) On the side remote from the blocking pieces 41A, 41B, the body 40 comprises receiving openings 400A, 400B at the site of the blocking pieces 41A, 41B into which magnet elements 43A, 43B are inserted and connected fixedly to the body 40.

(14) The second closure part 5 comprises a body 50 in which are formed two closure openings 500A, 500B, in each of which a locking element 51A, 51B is received by means of a fastening plate 52A, 52B. The locking elements 51A, 51B are received in fastening grooves 520 of the fastening plates 52A, 52B and are fastened therein and encompass magnet receiving means 521 which are realized as raised portions and in each of which one magnet element 53A, 53B is arranged.

(15) The locking elements 51A, 51B are realized in a ring-shaped manner, but in this case are open on the circumference by one opening 511 each so that the locking elements 51A, 51B provide C-rings. Each locking element 51A, 51B is fixed in such a manner on the assigned fastening plate 52A, 52B that the locking element 51A, 51B is elastically resilient and in particular is able to be spread radially in order to make it possible for the blocking pieces 41A, 41B of the first closure part 4 to engage in the locking elements 51A, 51B of the second closure part 5.

(16) Each locking element 51A, 51B comprises a latching projection 510 which is circumferential on the inside (where applicable interrupted in portions) and protrudes radially inward from an annular body 512 of the locking element 51A, 51B. With the closure device 2 in the closed position, the latching projections 510 of the locking elements 51A, 51B are in latching engagement with the latching projections 410 of the blocking pieces 41A, 41B of the first closure part 4 so that the closure parts 4, 5 are held together in a positive locking manner.

(17) In the mounted position, the locking elements 51A, 51B, held by means of the fastening plates 52A, 52B, lie in the closure openings 500A, 500B of the body 50 of the second closure part 5.

(18) For closing the closure device 2, the second closure part 5 can be positioned on the first closure part 4 in a closing direction X, as shown in FIG. 4, as a result of which the blocking pieces 41A, 41B of the first closure part 4 enter into the closure openings 500A, 500B and consequently into the locking elements 51A, 51B of the second closure part 5 and at the same time widen the locking elements 51A, 51B by the latching projections 410, 510 running onto one another until the blocking pieces 41A, 41B snap into engagement in a positive locking manner with the locking elements 51A, 51B and as a result the second closure part 5 is fixed to the first closure part 4.

(19) The closing operation is supported magnetically by the magnet elements 43A, 43B, 53A, 53B, which are situated opposite one another in a magnetically attracting manner, so that the closing of the closure device 2 can be effected in a largely automatic manner by moving the second closure part 5 closer to the first closure part 4.

(20) Whilst the closing of the closure device 2 is effected by positioning the second closure part 5 on the first closure part 4 in the closing direction X, the closure device 2 can be opened again by rotating the second closure part 5, which is connected to the container 3, with respect to the first closure part 4 in an opening direction Y (FIG. 4) which is directed about the closing direction X. When rotating the second closure part 5 in the opening direction Y with respect to the first closure part 4, the blocking pieces 41A, 41B are moved through the openings 511 of the locking elements 51A, 51B and pass through the laterally opening side openings 502A, 502B of the closure openings 500A, 500B out of the region of the closure openings 500A, 500B. The positive locking engagement between the closure parts 4, 5 is consequently eliminated so that the second closure part 5 is able to be removed from the first closure part 4.

(21) When positioning the closure parts 4, 5 together, a pivot 42, which protrudes from the body 40 of the first closure part 4 (see FIG. 4 for example), moves into engagement with a rotational opening 542 on a fastening element 54 on the body 50 of the second closure part 5, as a result of which the second closure part 5 is mounted on the first closure part 4 so as to be rotatable in the opening direction Y. The opening movement of the second closure part 5 relative to the first closure part 4 is guided in this way, which simplifies the handling and in particular avoids the closure parts 4, 5 tilting when opening.

(22) As shown in FIG. 3, the magnet elements 43A, 43B, 53A, 53B of each closure part 4, 5 point with different poles N, S to the respectively other closure part 5, 4. Thus, the magnet elements 43A, 43B of the first closure part 4 point toward the second closure part 5 on the one end with a north pole N (magnet element 43A) and on the other end with a south pole S (magnet element 43B). Conversely, the magnet elements 53A, 53B of the second closure part 5 point toward the first closure part 4 on the one end with a south pole S (magnet element 43A) and on the other end with a north pole N (magnet element 53B). The achievement of said opposite polarization is that the closure parts 4, 5 are only able to be positioned together in precisely one position, thus ensuring that the closing of the closure device is able to be effected reliably with the blocking pieces 41A, 41B latching completely with the locking elements 51A, 51B.

(23) When opening the closure device 2, the magnet elements 53A, 53B of the second closure part 5 are also moved relative to the magnet elements 43A, 43B of the first closure part 4 so that the magnetic attraction between the magnet elements 43A, 43B, 53A, 53B is weakened and the closure parts 4, 5 are consequently able to be removed from one another in an easy manner.

(24) The second closure part 5 is fixed to the container 3, for example a drinking bottle, so that the container 3 can be fastened to the first closure part 4 and consequently to the frame 10 of the vehicle 1 by way of the second closure part 5. The connection between the second closure part 5 and the container 3, in this connection (with the closure device 2 open), is releasable by the second closure part 5 being inserted with its body 50 into a receiving indentation 31 on a body 30 of the container 3 and being connected by means of the fastening element 54 to an adaptor part 6 of the container 3.

(25) The fastening element 54 is received so as to be rotatable in an opening 501 of the body 50 of the second closure part 5. The fastening element 54, in this connection, comprises a head 540 from which protrudes a shank 543 with a locking web 544 arranged thereon. A tool engagement in the form of a slot 541 is molded into the head 540 so that the fastening element 54 is able to be rotated, for example by using a coin in the opening 501 of the body 50 of the second closure part 5.

(26) The adaptor part 6 is connected fixedly to the body 30 of the container 3. To this end, the adaptor part 6 is received by means of a plate element 60 on a fastening surface 310 in the receiving indentation 31 and, for example, is welded or bonded to the body 30. Locking elements 61, which are spaced apart from one another by means of an engagement slot 62 and each comprise a recess 610 formed therein, protrude from the plate element 60.

(27) For connecting the second closure part 2 to the container 3, the fastening element 54 is moved into the position shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B with respect to the body 50 of the second closure part 5 so that the locking web 544 on the shank 543 of the fastening element 54, when the second closure part 5 is inserted into the receiving indentation 31, is able to enter into the engagement slot 62 between the locking elements 61 of the adaptor part 6. When inserted, the fastening element 54, in this connection, moves via a pivot 545 to rest on a portion of the adaptor part 6, as can be seen from FIG. 6B.

(28) As a result of rotating the fastening element 54 (for example by using a coin which engages in the slot 541 on the head 540 of the fastening element 50), the fastening element 54 is then rotated in the opening 501 of the body 50 of the second closure part 5 so that the locking web 544 moves into positive locking engagement with the recesses 610 inside the locking elements 61 of the adaptor part 6, as can be seen from FIGS. 5A and 5B. The second closure part 5 is consequently fixed securely but releasably on the adaptor part 6 of the container 3.

(29) Once the second closure part 5 is positioned on the first closure part 4, this also results in the container 3 being fixed to the frame 10.

(30) The container 3 can be realized as a drinking bottle, as a storage container for a tool or other objects, for example for a battery. The container 3 can also be realized, however, as a bag or the like.

(31) The closure device 2 can be used for connecting a container 3 to a frame 10 of a vehicle 1, in particular of a two-wheeler or a three-wheeler, the vehicle 1 being able to be driven by human power or also electrically.

(32) By the second closure part 5 being fixed releasably on the container 3, the container 3 is able to be replaced, which makes it possible to use a closure device 2 with completely different containers 3. Thus, when the container 3 is to be replaced by another container, the second closure part 5 can be released in a simple manner from the previous container 3 in order to connect the second closure part 5 to another container and consequently to re-use the closure device 2.

(33) By, in the case of the exemplary embodiment shown, the container 3 being closed as a result of directly positioning the closure parts 4, 5 together and being opened again as a result of rotating the container 3, comparatively little space is necessary on the vehicle 1 for the handling of the container 3 (compared to known containers, for example in the form of drinking bottles, which have to be moved tangentially along the frame bar 100 for positioning or releasing). In addition, the closure device 2 holds the container 3 reliably on the frame 10 and is in particular also resistant to mechanical impacts when the vehicle 1 is in use.

(34) The concept underlying the solution is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted above but can also be realized in a completely different manner in completely different embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(35) 1 Vehicle (bicycle)

(36) 10 Frame

(37) 100 Frame bar

(38) 2 Closure device

(39) 3 Container (bottle)

(40) 30 Body

(41) 31 Receiving indentation

(42) 310 Fastening surface

(43) 4 Closure part

(44) 40 Body

(45) 400A, 400B Receiving opening

(46) 41A, 41B Blocking piece

(47) 410 Latching projection

(48) 411 Shank

(49) 42 Pivot

(50) 43A, 43B Magnet element

(51) 5 Closure part

(52) 50 Body

(53) 500A, 500B Closure opening

(54) 501 Opening

(55) 502A, 502B Side opening

(56) 51A, 51B Locking element

(57) 510 Latching projection

(58) 511 Opening

(59) 512 Annular body

(60) 52A, 52B Fastening plate

(61) 520 Fastening groove

(62) 521 Magnet receiving means

(63) 53A, 53B Magnet element

(64) 54 Fastening element

(65) 540 Head

(66) 541 Slot

(67) 542 Rotational opening

(68) 543 Shank

(69) 544 Locking web

(70) 545 Pivot point

(71) 6 Adaptor part

(72) 60 Plate element

(73) 61 Locking elements

(74) 610 Recess

(75) 62 Engagement slot

(76) N North pole

(77) S South pole

(78) X Closing direction

(79) Y Opening direction