Bicycle rack, single bicycle rack and bicycle rack system

Abstract

A bicycle transport packaging which is in particular suitable for shipping bicycles includes a base body. The base body having four sides arranged all around. Two mutually opposite sides, i.e. an upper side and a lower side of the base body are open. For transport purposes, they are respectively closed by a separate cover element and a separate bottom element. According to the invention, in the area of the cover element a reinforcing element extending in particular over the overall length and width of the cover opening is provided.

Claims

1. A bicycle transport packaging, in particular for shipping bicycles having an electric drive, comprising: a cubically shaped base body which is closed on four sides arranged all around by four side elements and comprises a cover opening and a bottom opening, respectively, on two opposite sides; and a separate cover element closing the cover opening and a separate bottom element closing the bottom opening, wherein a reinforcing element is provided in an area of the cover opening, and wherein the reinforcing element extends over the overall length of the cover opening such that the reinforcing element reinforces at least a portion of the cover element, and wherein the reinforcing element comprises a first receiving element and a second receiving element located on a lower side of the reinforcing element, the first and second receiving elements being located at opposite lengthwise ends of the lower side of the reinforcing element.

2. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing element abuts on opposite inner faces of the side elements of the base body.

3. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing element abuts on all inner faces of the side elements.

4. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing element has an essentially cubical cross-section.

5. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving element is designed to receive a rear wheel or an element of a fork stem of a bicycle.

6. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 1, wherein that, when the cover element is closed, an upper side of the reinforcing element abuts on an inner face of the cover element.

7. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing element comprises recesses for receiving accessories and/or accessories containers.

8. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 1, wherein the cover element and the bottom element comprise at least two mutually opposite edge elements which at least partly overlap the two mutually opposite side elements of the base body, and the edge elements are respectively connected to an associated side element via at least one releasable fixing element.

9. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 1, wherein the cover element or the bottom element each comprise four edge elements forming an all-around edge.

10. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 1, wherein inside the base body, a rear wheel holding element or a fork holding element are arranged.

11. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 10, wherein the rear wheel holding element and the fork holding element are separate elements.

12. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 10, wherein the rear wheel holding element comprises a recess for receiving the rear wheel mounted to a bicycle frame.

13. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 10, wherein the fork holding element has such a width that it is adapted to be arranged between dropout ends of a bicycle fork.

14. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 13, wherein the fork holding element comprises at least one through-going opening for receiving a quick-release axle.

15. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 13, wherein the fork holding element comprises several layers of cardboard.

16. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 10, wherein the rear wheel holding element, a rear wheel abutment element and the fork holding element as well as intermediate elements together have a length corresponding to an internal dimension of the bicycle transport packaging.

17. The bicycle transport packaging according to claim 16, further comprising a front wheel is arranged laterally next to a bicycle frame in the base body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Hereunder the bicycle transport packaging according to the invention which is in particular suitable for shipping heavy bicycles, such as e-bikes, is explained on the basis of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective side view of a closed bicycle transport packaging;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of the bicycle transport packaging with open cover element and upper holding elements already removed from the packaging;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows III-III of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic bottom view of the reinforcing element; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the reinforcing element as seen in the direction of arrow V-V of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) The bicycle transport packaging, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, preferably made of cardboard comprises a base body 10 which is closed by a cover element 12 on the upper side and a bottom element 14 on the lower side. The base body 10 comprises four side elements 16, 18, 20, 22. These are sides arranged all around the base body 10 such that an essentially cubically shaped base body 10 is formed which is closed on four sides but is open on mutually opposite sides which are adapted to be closed by the cover element 12 and the bottom element 14. The cover element 12 closes a cover opening and the bottom element 14 closes a bottom opening.

(8) For easily carrying the bicycle transport packaging, the two opposite side elements 16, 20 each comprise two grip openings 24 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. Corresponding grip openings can additionally be provided in the side elements 18 and 22.

(9) The cover element 12 configured as a separate element as well as the correspondingly configured bottom element 14 each comprise four edge elements 26, 28, wherein the two edge elements 26 extend in the longitudinal direction 30 in FIG. 2 of the bicycle cardboard box and are arranged opposite each other. The two edge elements 28 connect the two edge elements 26, extend transversely to the longitudinal direction 30 and are preferably arranged opposite each other.

(10) The bottom element 14 is configured similarly to the cover element 12 and also comprises two opposite edge elements 26 and two opposite edge elements 28.

(11) All edge elements 26, 28 overlap the side elements 16, 18, 20, 22 of the base body 10 essentially over the overall height of the edge elements 26, 28. Thus it is possible to respectively connect the cover element 12 and the bottom element 14 to the base body 10 in a simple manner by providing fixing elements 32. Here, the mutually opposite edge elements 26 of the cover element 12 and the bottom element 14, respectively, are connected to the side elements 16 and 20 of the base body 10. According to a preferred embodiment, the connection is realized by plastic elements which can be fixed and released, respectively, by being turned. By turning the fixing elements 32 by 90 degrees from the position illustrated in FIG. 1, it is possible to pull out or remove the fixing elements 32 sideways. Then there is no longer a connection between the cover element 12 and the base body 10 and between the bottom element 14 and the base body 10, respectively.

(12) It is then possible to remove the cover element 12 of FIG. 1 in an upward direction from the base body 10.

(13) In the next step, holding elements arranged on the upper side or laterally can be removed from the base body 10 and from the packaged bicycle. These serve in particular for fixing the bicycle frame in the area of the rear wheel 34, the bicycle saddle, the steer tube etc. in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction.

(14) In FIG. 2 the bicycle transport packaging is illustrated from above in the open condition, i.e. with the cover element 12 being removed. The holding elements have also already been removed and are thus not illustrated.

(15) A rear wheel 34 which is connected to the rear stay of the bicycle frame 36 is preferably arranged in a rear wheel holding element 38 preferably also made of cardboard. The rear wheel holding element 38 comprises two elements 40 which in particular extend over the overall height of the base body 10 and have an essentially rectangular cross-section, which elements 40 are connected to each other via a web 42. Between the two guiding elements 40 having a rectangular cross-section a vertically extending recess 44 is provided in which the rear wheel 34 is clamped.

(16) In front of the rear wheel 34, as seen in the longitudinal direction 30, a rear wheel abutment element 46 is provided. The rear wheel abutment element 46 which has an essentially triangular cross-section (FIG. 3) serves for preventing the rear wheel 34 and thus and entire bicycle from being displaced forwards in the longitudinal direction 30 in the bicycle transport packaging. The rear wheel abutment element 46 is preferably also made of cardboard.

(17) In addition, a fork holding element 48 is provided inside the base body 10. The former has an essentially rectangular cross-section and is arranged between the two dropout ends 50 of the bicycle fork 52. The bicycle fork 52 is preferably fixed to the fork holding element 48 via a quick-release axle 54 which is inserted into the fork holding element 48 through the corresponding opening 49 of the dropout ends 50 on one hand and through a through-going opening or recess on the other hand. For different frame sizes and thus different wheelbases it is preferred that the fork holding element 48 comprises openings 49 at different positions for receiving the quick-release axle 54.

(18) In addition, an intermediate element 58 is arranged between the fork holding element 48 and the rear wheel abutment element 46. Thereby, power transmission from the rear wheel abutment element 46 to the fork holding element 48 is possible. Thereby, slipping of the bicycle frame 36 in the longitudinal direction 30 is avoided or inhibited. The rear wheel abutment element 46 need not necessarily be connected to the rear wheel holding element 38 via the intermediate element 58 in the longitudinal direction 30 since the corresponding connection is ensured by the rear wheel 34 itself. Further, the abutment element 46 can be omitted or be integrally formed with the intermediate element 58.

(19) In addition, a bicycle handlebar 62 is arranged inside the base body 10. The former is preassembled such that all brake and shifter cables are already connected to the handlebar 62. Further, a front wheel 58 is arranged laterally next to the bicycle frame 36 inside the base body 10. Here, the front wheel 58 is surrounded by a cardboard box 61 for protecting purposes, wherein additional cardboard elements can be provided for protecting a brake disk, for example.

(20) In the packaged condition, a battery 39 is connected to a down tube 37 of the bicycle frame 36. Said battery cooperates with an electric motor, not shown in detail, of the e-bike.

(21) In the upper area of the base body 10 a reinforcing element 60 is arranged. The reinforcing element 60 has a cross-section which at least in a top view is cubicle and extends over the overall length as well as the overall width of the base body 10. On a lower side 62 of the reinforcing element 60 a receiving element 64 is arranged in the area of the rear wheel 34. The receiving element 64 in particular also made of cardboard comprises a recess 66 for receiving the upper portion of the rear wheel 34 (FIG. 3). The receiving element 66 can be composed of several layers of cardboard (FIG. 5).

(22) In the area of the fork stem 51 of the front wheel stem 52 another receiving element 68 is arranged also on the lower side 62 of the reinforcing element 60. Said further receiving element 68 comprises, like the receiving element 64, a recess 70 in which an upper end of the fork stem 51 (FIG. 3) is arranged in the packaged condition. The two receiving elements 64, 68 thus fix the bicycle in the transport packaging. In the closed condition, an upper side 72 of the reinforcing element 60 abuts on an inner face of the cover element 10.

(23) For storing an already packaged e-bike in particular over a longer period of time it is possible to completely package it except for the battery 39. Immediately before the shipment, the battery 39 must be installed. This is realized by the bicycle transport packaging standing on the cover element 10. By releasing the fixing elements 32 the bottom element 14 can be removed. If an intermediate element 58 serving for the transport of individual parts is arranged inside the bicycle transport packaging, said element 58 must also be removed. Then the down tube 37 of the bicycle frame is accessible and the battery 39 can be installed. Subsequently, the possibly provided intermediate element 58 can be placed again into the bicycle transport packaging and the bottom element 14 can be closed. Then the bicycle, together with the mounted battery 39, can be shipped.