Holding Device For Bicycles, Bicycle Holding Device, And Method For Parking A Bicycle In A Held Position

Abstract

A brush-based holding device for bicycles (2) of different sizes and tire thicknesses, wherein brushes (12, 14) are fastened opposite each other on a mounting (10) to accommodate different tire thicknesses and permanently hold a bicycle in a compact manner in an upright position on the rear wheel against the wall (4).

Claims

1. A brush-based holding device for bicycles (2), wherein the holding device (1) comprises: a mounting (10), and a plurality of bristles (42, 46) and/or blades that are supported by means of the mounting (10); wherein the mounting (10) has two facing holder sections (16, 18), between which a space (24) is formed for the accommodation of a wheel of a bicycle (2) and wherein at least a portion of the bristles (42, 46) and/or blades project, each with at least one free end, into this space (24); wherein first bristles (42) and/or blades of the plurality of bristles (42, 46) and/or blades project from the direction of and/or from the one of the two facing holding sections (16, 18) with their free ends into this space (24), which is formed for the accommodation of a wheel of a bicycle (2) between two facing holder sections (16, 18), and that second bristles (46) and/or blades of the plurality of bristles (42, 46) and/or blades project from the direction of or from the other of the two facing holder sections (16, 18) with their free ends into this space (24), which is formed for the accommodation of a wheel of a bicycle (2) between two facing holder sections (16, 18); characterized in that a plurality of first bristles (42) and/or blades project farther into this space (24) which is designed to accommodate a wheel of a bicycle (2) between two facing holder sections (16, 18), than a plurality of other first bristles (42) and/or blades, and/or that a plurality of second bristles (46) and/or blades project father into this space (24), which is designed to accommodate a wheel of a bicycle (2) between two facing holding sections (16, 18) than a plurality of other second bristles (46) and/or blades; wherein the mounting (10) is formed by means of a U-shaped part (28), wherein this U-shaped part (28) has two facing legs (20, 22) and a connecting leg (26) that is oriented transversely with respect to the two facing legs (20, 22) and connects the two facing legs (20, 22).

2. A holding device as recited in claim 1, characterized in that between the free ends of the first bristles (42) and/or blades and the free ends of the second bristles (46) and/or blades, there is an intervening space free of bristles and/or blades, and namely viewed in the direction of the longitudinal extension of these bristles (42, 46) and/or blades in the state in which no external load is being applied to them.

3. A holding device as recited in in claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of first bristles (42) and/or blades overlap with a plurality of second bristles (46) and/or blades, and specifically viewed in the direction of the longitudinal extension of these first bristles (42) and/or blades and/or in the direction of the longitudinal extension of these second bristles (46) and/or blades in the state in which no external load is being applied to the bristles (42, 46) and/or blades.

4. A holding device as recited in claim 1, characterized in that the holding device (1) also has a first supporting structure (44) as well as a second supporting structure (48), wherein the first bristles (42) and/or blades are fastened on or in the first supporting structure (44), and wherein the second bristles (46) and/or blades are fastened on or in the second supporting structure (48).

5. A holding device as recited in claim 4, characterized in that the first supporting structure (44) is supported by a first of the two facing holder sections (16, 18) of the mounting (10), and that the second supporting structure (48) is supported by a second of the two facing holder sections (16, 18) of the mounting (10).

6. A holding device as recited in claim 1, characterized in that the mounting (10) is elastic so that the two facing holder sections (16, 18) of the mounting (10) and/or the two facing legs (20, 22) of the U-shaped part (28) can move at least partly toward each other and/or away from each other.

7. A bicycle holding device comprising: at least one floor covering section (5); and a holding device for bicycles (2); wherein this holding device is fastened to the at least one floor covering section (5) by means of at least one fastening element (32), characterized in that the holding device (1) is realized as recited in claim 1.

8. A bicycle holding device comprising: at least one upright wall (4) and a holding device for bicycles (2); wherein the holding device (1) is fastened by means of at least one fastening element (32) to the upright wall (4), characterized in that the holding device is realized as recited in claim 1.

9. A method for parking a bicycle in a held position, in which the bicycle (2) is supported with one or both wheels of the bicycle (2) on the bottom and/or on a foundation and in an essentially upright position, with the following steps: providing at least one holding device for bicycles (2) as recited in claim 1.

10-15. (canceled)

Description

[0061] One advantageous configuration of the invention is illustrated and explained in further detail with reference to the accompanying FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, in which:

[0062] FIG. 1 shows the holding device in a plan view;

[0063] FIG. 2 shows the holding device in a front view (2);

[0064] FIG. 3 shows the position of the bicycle in the holder or holding device in a vertical position (3);

[0065] FIG. 4 shows the position of the bicycle in the holder or holding device in a horizontal position (4), and

[0066] FIG. 5 is an overhead view of two bicycles 2, each of which is held on a wall 4 by means of a holding device 1 according to the invention shown by way of example.

[0067] On the holding device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 there are facing brushes, which depending on the design can also be of different lengths and can partly overlap on account of their facing position. The flexibility of the brushes and a certain flexibility of the mounting allows the introduction of bicycle tires of different sizes with the application of a relatively small amount of force. The combination of the number and different lengths of the brushes generates sufficient friction to hold a bicycle wheel stably on the wall or on the floor. With the application of only a small amount of force, which therefore makes the holder suitable for use by children, the bicycle can be removed from the holder by pulling it toward the user. In addition to bicycles, other everyday items such as garden tools, skateboards and similar items can also be held.

[0068] FIG. 1 shows in particular a holding device 1 for bicycles 2. The item 3 shown in FIG. 1as is also apparent from a joint consideration of FIGS. 3 and 4,can, for example, optionally be a wall 4 (see also FIG. 3) or a floor or floor covering element 5 (see also FIG. 4). In the first case, FIG. 1 shows an overhead view of the holding device 1, and in the second case FIG. 1 shows an overhead side view of the holding device 1.

[0069] The holding device 1 has a mounting 10, a first brush 12 and a second brush 14.

[0070] The mounting 10 is made of metal, although it can also be made of plastic, for example. In this case the mounting 10 is U-shaped and has two facing holder sections 16, 18, each of which is formed by a leg 20, 22, i.e. a first leg and a second leg 22. The legs 20, 22 extend essentially parallel to each other and are at a distance from each other so that between them they form a space 24 to accommodate a wheel of a bicycle.

[0071] The two facing legs 20, 22 are connected with each other on one of their respective ends by means of a connecting leg 26. Therefore the mounting 10 has a U-shaped part 28 formed by means of the legs 20, 22 and by means of the connecting leg 26 or is a U-shaped part.

[0072] The connecting leg is provided with one or more mounting holes 30 which are in the form of through holes, so that the holding device 1 can be fastened to the object 3 by means of (respective) mounting elements that extend through them, such as screws 32.

[0073] A first brush can be fastened to one of the facing legs 3 and the second brush can be fastened to the other of the facing legs, and specifically to the side facing the space between the legs. Screws 34, 36, 38, 40 can be provided for this purpose.

[0074] A first brush 12 has a plurality of first bristles 42 and a first supporting structure 44 to which or in which the first bristles 42 are fastened.

[0075] The second brush 14 has a plurality of second bristles 46 and a second supporting structure 48 to which or in which the second bristles 46 are fastened.

[0076] Here, the first bristles 42 and the second bristles 46 are each configured and grouped respectively into a first bristle bundle 50 and a second bristle bundle 52.

[0077] As FIGS. 1 and 2 clearly show, there are first bristles 42 of a first length 54 and first bristles 42 of a second length 56 which is different from the first length 54. There are also second bristles 46 of a third length 58 and second bristles 46 of a fourth length 60 which is different from the third length 58. The first length 54 is approximately equal to the third length 58 and the second length 56 is approximately equal to the fourth length 60. The second length 56 is here approximately half as long as the first length 54, with reference to the length of the bristles 42, 46 outside the first of the supporting structures 44.

[0078] The bristles 42, 46 are elastic. The mounting 10 is also elastic, and is designed so that the legs 20, 22 can be pressed elastically outward or away from each other (whereby the greatest distance is traveled in the vicinity of the free ends of the legs 20, 22).

[0079] FIG. 2 is a head-on view of FIG. 1 viewed from line A-A.

[0080] FIG. 3 shows a bicycle 2 in an upright position in which the bicycle 2 is supported on the floor 5 only with its rear wheel 62, while the front wheel 64 is accommodated in the space 24 of the holding device 1. The holding device 1 is here mounted on the floor 5.

[0081] FIG. 4 shows a bicycle 2 in an upright position in which the bicycle is supported on the floor 5 only with its front wheel 64 and with its rear wheel 62, while the front wheel 62 is accommodated and held in the space 24 of the holding device 1. Here the holding device 1 is mounted on the wall 4.

[0082] The bicycle also has a top tube 66, a bottom tube 68, a head tube 70 and a seat tube 72.

[0083] It should be noted that in FIG. 4 the front wheel 62 of the bicycle 2 is accommodated and held in the space 24 of the holding device 1 although alternatively and obviously the rear wheel 62 of the bicycle 2 can also be accommodated and held in the space 24 of the holding device 1, which in many cases forms an even more stable variant. The holding device 1 which is in the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, can also be configured, for example, in the manner illustrated and explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0084] FIG. 5 shows an overhead view of two bicycles 2, each of which is held on a wall 4 by means of a holding device 1 according to the invention and illustrated purely by way of example.

[0085] In contrast to FIG. 4, by way of example the rear wheel 62 of the respective bicycle 2 is held in the space 24 of the holding device 1.

[0086] The two holding devices 1 illustrated by way of example in FIG. 5 differ from the holding devices 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2for exampleessentially in that there is an additional holding element 74 or 76 respectively. This holding element 74 or 76 is connected with the holding device 1, which is here shown, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, with a U-shape by way of example. This connection can be non-detachable. Alternatively, however, it can also be detachable, for example to make it possible to attach a holding element 74 or 76 with a different design to the holding device 1 in question and thereby make possible a different configuration of the bicycle or bicycles 2. To use the detachable holding elements mentioned above, for example, the mounting hole 30 can remain in place, although otherwise it can also be omitted.

[0087] Here the holding element 74 is designed by way of example as a right-angled element, as a result of which, for example, an arrangement of the bicycle 2 with its plane defined by the top tube 66 and/or bottom tube 68, head tube 70 and seat tube 72 parallel to the wall 4 becomes possible. This bracket can be detachable (e.g. bolted on) or non-detachable (e.g. welded to the holding device 1, and specifically to the connecting leg 26 of the holding device 1).

[0088] Here, the holding element 76 is designed by way of example in the form of an acute-angle bracket element or as a plate molded or attached (e.g. welded) at an acute angle (for example, on the connecting leg 26 or the transition from the connecting leg 26 to the second leg 22, as a result of which, for example, an orientation of the bicycle 2 with its plane defined by the top tube 66 and/or bottom tube 68, head tube 70 and seat tube 72 at an angle to the wall 4 becomes possible. This holding element 76 bracket can be detachably (e.g. by means of screws) or non-detachably (e.g. welded) to the holding device 1, and specifically in particular to the connecting leg 26 of the holding device 1 or to the above-mentioned transition. The angle at which the bicycle 2 is placed with reference to the wall is thereby a function of the angle of the acute-angle bracket element or the angle at which the plate is molded on.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0089] 1 Holding device [0090] 2 Bicycle [0091] 3 Object [0092] 45 Wall [0093] 5 Floor, floor covering section [0094] 10 Mounting of 1 [0095] 12 First brush of 1 [0096] 14 Second brush of 1 [0097] 16 Holder section of 1 [0098] 18 Holder section of 1 [0099] 20 First leg [0100] 22 Second leg [0101] 24 Space [0102] 26 Connecting leg [0103] 28 U-shaped part [0104] 30 Mounting hold [0105] 32 Fastening element, screw [0106] 34 Screw [0107] 36 Screw [0108] 38 Screw [0109] 40 Screw [0110] 42 First bristle of 12 [0111] 44 First support structure of 12 [0112] 46 Second bristle of 14 [0113] 48 Second support structure of 14 [0114] 50 First bristle bundle of 12 [0115] 52 Second bristle bundle of 14 [0116] 54 First length of 42 [0117] 56 Second length of 42 [0118] 58 First length of 46 [0119] 60 Second length of 46 [0120] 62 Rear wheel of 2 [0121] 64 Front wheel of 2 [0122] 66 Top tube [0123] 68 Bottom tube [0124] 70 Head tube [0125] 72 Seat tube [0126] 74 Holding element [0127] 76 Holding element