BICYCLE TRANSPORT CONTAINER AND BICYCLE FIXING ELEMENT

Abstract

An outer container of a bicycle transport container is adapted to transport a pre-assembled bicycle in it. The bicycle frame is already connected to the rear wheel, the fork and the stem. The front wheel, the handlebar and the saddle are connected to the frame and respectively the fork via fixing elements. For positionally correct arrangement of such a bicycle prepared for transport, outer container is provided with rear-stay receiving portions, a stem receiving portion and a spacer element

Claims

1. A bicycle transport container, particularly a bicycle transport box made of cardboard, comprising: an outer container, particularly an outer cardboard box, for receiving a bicycle with mounted rear wheel, a lower rear wheel receiving portion, an upper rear wheel receiving portion which in the packed state is arranged opposite to the lower rear wheel receiving portion, and a stabilizing element arranged at least partially between the lower rear wheel receiving portion and the upper rear wheel receiving portion and formed as a small-parts container.

2. The bicycle transport container according to claim 1, wherein the lower and/or the upper rear wheel receiving portion comprises a lateral element which in the packed state is in abutment, preferably in face-to-face abutment, on an inner side of a side wall of the outer container and preferably has the width of the inner side.

3. The bicycle transport container according to claim 1, wherein the lower and/or the upper rear wheel receiving portion comprise an outer element which in the packed state is in abutment, preferably in face-to-face abutment, on an inner side of a bottom and respectively of a cover of the outer container and preferably has the same width as the bottom and respectively the cover.

4. The bicycle transport container according to claim 3, wherein the lateral element is arranged at a right angle relative to the outer element.

5. The bicycle transport container according to claim 3, wherein the lateral element is connected to the outer element via a connection element wherein, when seen in lateral view, the lateral element, the outer element and the connection element are preferably substantially of a triangular configuration.

6. The bicycle transport container according to claim 5, wherein the connection element comprises a slot for receiving a part of the rear wheel.

7. The bicycle transport container according to claim 3, wherein the lateral element and/or the outer element and/or the connection element are made of cardboard, particularly flat cardboard, wherein the lateral element, the outer element and the connection element are preferably made of a one-pieced cardboard element.

8. The bicycle transport container according to claim 1, wherein the lower and the upper rear wheel receiving portion are substantially formed to have identical configurations.

9. The bicycle transport container according to claim 1, wherein the lower and/or the upper rear wheel receiving portion, particularly the connection element of the rear wheel receiving portion, comprise a recess for receiving a part of the stabilizing element, particularly of the small-parts container.

10. A bicycle transport container, particularly a bicycle transport box made of cardboard, comprising: an outer container, particularly an outer cardboard box, for receiving a bicycle with mounted bicycle fork and mounted stem, and a stem receiving portion holding the stem in its position in the outer container.

11. The bicycle transport container according to claim 10, wherein the stem receiving portion comprises a holding element at least partially gripping around the stem.

12. The bicycle transport container according to claim 11, wherein the holding element comprises holding members, preferably made of cardboard, which in the packaged state are arranged laterally adjacent to the stem.

13. The bicycle transport container according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of holding members, preferably four holding members, are provided which surround the stem on all sides.

14. The bicycle transport container according to claim 10, wherein the stem receiving portion comprises a positioning element for positional definition in the outer container, said positioning element being preferably connected to the holding element.

15. The bicycle transport container according to claim 14, wherein the positioning element has a width substantially corresponding to the clear width of the outer container.

16. The bicycle transport container according to claim 10, wherein a support element for a mounted front-wheel fork is provided on the bottom of the outer box, said support element being preferably made of cardboard.

17. The bicycle transport container according to claim 16, wherein the support element comprises two recesses for respectively one fork leg end.

18. A bicycle fixing element for fixation of bicycle components for transport, comprising: a protective body for arrangement between the bicycle components which are to be fixed; and a connection element, preferably connected to the protective body, for connecting the protective body to the bicycle components which are to be fixed.

19. The bicycle fixing element according to claim 18, wherein the protective body comprises an elastomeric body.

20. The bicycle fixing element according to claim 18, wherein the connection element is band-shaped and/or comprises a hook-and-loop fastener.

21. The bicycle fixing element according to claim 18, wherein the protective body comprises a slot having the connection element extending through it.

22. The bicycle fixing element according to claim 18, wherein the protective body comprises a laterally open recess provided to define the position of the connection element during the fixing of the bicycle components.

23. A bicycle prepared for packaging in a bicycle transport container according to either claim 1 or 10, wherein a front wheel of said bicycle is fixed to a bicycle frame by means of a bicycle fixing element comprising: a protective body for arrangement between the bicycle components which are to be fixed; and a connection element, preferably connected to the protective body, for connecting the protective body to the bicycle components which are to be fixed.

24. The bicycle prepared for packaging according to claim 23, wherein a bicycle handlebar is fixed to the bicycle frame by means of the bicycle fixing element.

25. The bicycle prepared for packaging according to claim 23, wherein a rear wheel is arranged in its mounted state.

26. The bicycle prepared for packaging according to claim 23, wherein a fork or a stem is arranged in its mounted state.

27. The bicycle prepared for packaging according to claim 23, wherein a saddle is fixed to a fork and/or to the bicycle frame by means of said bicycle fixing element.

28. The bicycle transport container according to either claim 1 or 10, together with a bicycle prepared for packaging, wherein a front wheel of said bicycle is fixed to a bicycle frame by means of a bicycle fixing element comprising: a protective body for arrangement between the bicycle components which are to be fixed; and a connection element, preferably connected to the protective body, for connecting the protective body to the bicycle components which are to be fixed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] A full and enabling disclosure of the present disclosure, including the best mode thereof, enabling one of ordinary skill in the art to carry out the disclosure, is set forth in greater detail in the following description, including reference to the accompanying drawing in which

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic lateral view of the bicycle transport container with a packaged bicycle wherein, for clear representation of the details, the lateral wall of the outer container is not illustrated,

[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic lateral view of a rear wheel receiving portion.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a rear wheel receiving portion as seen in the direction of arrow III in FIG. 2,

[0040] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a rear wheel receiving portion in the non-folded state,

[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a stem receiving portion from below,

[0042] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a fixing element,

[0043] FIG. 7 is a schematic lateral view of a fixing element, and

[0044] FIG. 8 is a view of an example of the fixation of a front wheel to a frame tube with the aid of the fixing element shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0045] In FIG. 1, there is schematically illustrated a bicycle arranged in a bicycle transport container such as bicycle transport box 10 made of cardboard. The front side of the box is not illustrated herein so as to offer an unobstructed view onto the arrangement of the bicycle within the bicycle transport box 10. Within box 10, a bicycle frame 12 is arranged with a rear wheel 14 in its mounted state, i.e. with a hub 16 of rear wheel 14 mounted on dropout ends of a rear stay 18. Further, a bicycle fork 20 and a stem 22 are already fully mounted. Not mounted are a handlebar 24, a saddle 26 and a front wheel 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the saddle 26 is connected, via a fixing element 30, to the fork 20, particularly at a fork bridge. The saddle 26 can also be connected e.g. to a saddle support tube 32. This is the case particularly if, with a saddle that is mechanically adjustable in height, a wire rope is guided from a saddle tube 34 into the saddle support tube 32. The handlebar 24 is likewise fixed via a fixing element 30 to an upper tube 36 of the frame. A further fixation can be provided e.g. at a lower tube 38.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the front wheel is arranged in front of frame 12. The front wheel is fixedly connected to the frame via two fixing elements 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixation is provided at the upper tube 36 and at a seat stay 40 of the rear sub-frame 12. An additional or alternative fixation can also be provided at a chain stay 42 of rear stay 18 and/or at a down tube. According to a preferred embodiment, the fixation of the front wheel 28 to the frame is performed in such a manner that, in the fixed state, a lower point 46 of the front wheel is arranged below a chain ring 48. Thereby, it is safeguarded that the lower point 46 of the front wheel will form a support point on an inner side of a bottom 50 of the bicycle box 10 and, due to the fixation of front wheel 28 to frame 12, the chain ring 48 is held at a distance from the bottom. In this manner, damage to the chain ring is avoided. In this regard, it is an independent disclosure that a fixation of the front wheel 28 to the frame is provided to the effect that, for transport, the lower point 46 of the front wheel is arranged lower than an underside of the chain ring. Thus, a distance exists between the lowermost point 46 of the front wheel 46 of the front wheel and an underside of the chain ring 48.

[0047] A further fixation of the bicycle in transport box 10 is realized via rear wheel 14 mounted on rear stay 18. For this purpose, there are arranged, within the bicycle box and respectively the outer box 10 enclosing the partially pre-assembled bicycle, a lower rear wheel receiving portion 52 and an upper rear wheel receiving portion 54. According to a preferred embodiment, the two rear wheel receiving portions 52,54 are of identical configurations. At least partially between the two rear wheel receiving portions 52,54, a small-parts box 55 is arranged as a stabilizing element. This box is a preferably parallelepipedic cardboard box having a height slightly less than the height of outer box 10. Together with the outer elements 56 of the two rear wheel receiving portions 52,54 which also have a certain thickness, this corresponds to the overall height of the inner height of box 10. Realized thereby is a stable, fixed and secure accommodation of the rear wheel in the outer box 10.

[0048] Hereunder, the upper and the lower rear wheel receiving portion 52 and respectively 54 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2-4 wherein, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the two rear wheel receiving portions 52,54 are of an identical configuration.

[0049] The rear wheel receiving portion comprises a lateral element 58, an outer element 60 and a connection element 62. The receiving portion is made of a flat cardboard sheet which has been cut to size, as shown in FIG. 4. For packaging the bicycle (FIG. 1), the lateral element 58 of the two rear wheel receiving portions 52,54 is in abutment on an inner side 64 of a side wall 66 of the outer box 10. In this arrangement, a width A (FIG. 3) corresponds to the inner width of box 10, resulting in a lateral guidance and respectively fixation.

[0050] In the packaged state, the outer element 60 of the lower rear wheel receiving portion 52 is in abutment on an inner side of bottom 50. In a corresponding manner, the outer element 60 of the upper rear wheel receiving portion 54 is in abutment on an inner side of a cover 68. When seen in frontal view (FIG. 3), the rear wheel receiving portions 52,54 are formed with a slot 70. In the packaged state, said slot has the rear wheel 14 arranged in it. In addition to slot 70, a recess 72 is provided in the connection element 62. In the packaged state, said recess has the small-parts container 55 arranged in it. The dimensions of recess 72 are selected to be somewhat smaller than the width of the small-parts container 55. For stabilization of the position of the small-parts container 55, a flap 74 is provided which is pivotable around a kinking edge 76 and thus exerts a certain force onto the small-parts container towards the right-hand side in FIG. 2. Thereby, the position of the small-parts container 55 is defined.

[0051] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the slots 70 for receiving the rear wheel 14 are produced by first punching out two semicircular openings 78 (FIG. 4). The two openings are connected to each other by a cut 80 in the flat cardboard sheet. Thereby, it is possible to fold out flaps 84 along the kinking edges 82. At the same time, said flaps 84 will fix the wheel 14 in both slots 70.

[0052] For producing the rear wheel receiving portion 52,54 which in lateral view is substantially triangular (FIG. 2), a plane cardboard piece will be cut into shape as shown in FIG. 4. Apart from the above described recesses, cuts and kinking edges, the cardboard element comprises three further kinking edges 86, 87, 88. Further, at a front side, flaps 90 are arranged which are adapted to be inserted into recesses 91. By a corresponding kinking deformation on the edges 86, 87, 88 and insertion of the flaps 90 into the recesses 91, the two rear wheel receiving portions, which in the illustrated exemplary embodiment are identical, will be produced.

[0053] An independent disclosure, which however is preferably combined with the disclosure described with reference to FIGS. 1-4, resides in the provision of a stem receiving portion 92. For packaging the bicycle, the stem receiving portion 92 is mounted on the stem 22 preferably from above, as shown in FIG. 1. The stem receiving portion comprises a positioning element 94 and a holding element 96 which in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is connected to the positioning element 94. The positioning element 94 is preferably made of cardboard, and with preference is made of one or a plurality of layers of rectangular flat cardboard. On an underside 98 of the positioning element 94, the holding element 96 is arranged. Fixation herein is preferably realized by bonding, and the holding element 96 is preferably again an element made of cardboard. Preferably, the holding element is a box-like structure which is open at its underside so that it can be pushed over the stem 22 as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the box-shaped holding element comprises four side walls 100 which, with the stem receiving portion 92 arranged internally of outer box 10, are arranged laterally next to the stem 22 and surround the latter. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the box-shaped holding element comprises a cover element 102, likewise made of cardboard. The latter is connected to the underside 98 of positioning element 94 e.g. by bonding. Thus, the holding element 96 is configured according to the bottom view shown in FIG. 5 while having a free opening 104.

[0054] In case of a positioning element 94 of a rectangular shape, the holding element 96, as shown in FIG. 5, is arranged in oblique orientation. This oblique arrangement corresponds to the position of the stem which, for packaging, has been turned rearwards relative to the conventional moving direction of the bicycle (FIG. 1).

[0055] In the packaged state, a support element 106 is arranged opposite to the stem receiving portion 92. In the illustrated embodiment, support element 106 consists of a plurality of cardboard layers and rests on the inner side of bottom 50 of outer box 10. In the upper layers of support element 106, two recesses 108 are provided. In said recesses 108, respectively one end of a fork leg 110 is arranged.

[0056] It is particularly preferred that the stem receiving portion 92 has a width A corresponding to the clear width of the outer container, thereby ensuring a lateral guidance. In correspondence thereto, it is preferred that the support element 106 has a corresponding width A.

[0057] Further, it is preferred that fixing elements 30 are provided on the frame for fastening e.g. the front wheel 28. These fixing elements comprise a protective body 112 (FIG. 6) having an e.g. substantially parallelepipedic shape. Protective body 112 is again made of foamed material. In the illustrated embodiment, protective body 112 has a band-shaped connection element 114 connected to it. For this purpose, protective body 112 comprises a slot 116. Through this slot, as evident particularly from FIG. 7, one end of the connection element 114 is passed. Since, according to a preferred embodiment, the outer sides of connection element 114 comprise a hook-and-loop fastener or the like, the connection element 114 can be formed as a strap as shown in FIG. 7 and thus can be connected to protective body 112 in a simple manner.

[0058] In the illustrated embodiment, protective body 112 comprises a recess 118. The recess 118 is arranged opposite to slot 116 and respectively is arranged in the winding or fastening direction of the band-shaped connection element 114. Thus, when fastening the connection element 114, the latter can be inserted into recess 118, and then the free end of connection element 114 will be connected to the end 120 attached to protective body 112 or will be connected in this area of band 114.

[0059] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a connection of the front wheel to a frame with the aid of the fixing element shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Herein, this can be e.g. the fixation of the front wheel 28 to the upper tube 36. For fixation, protective body 112 will be arranged between front wheel 28 and top tube 36. Then, the band-shaped connection element 114 will be guided both over front wheel 28 and top tube 36 wherein, for fixation, the free end of connection element 114 will be connected to the end 120 arranged on the protective body. Particularly because of the connection of the connection element to protective body 112 and because of the provision of hook-and-loop fasteners, fixation and release can be carried out in a simple manner.

[0060] For packaging the bicycle, there will first be performed a pre-assembly process so that the rear wheel 14, the fork 110 and the stem 22 will have been mounted. Also all of the components provided on handlebar 24 inclusive of switching levers, handles etc. have been mounted, inclusive of connection elements such as Bowden cables, the hydraulic conduit and the like. The bicycle handlebar 24 is merely not connected to the stem 22. For packaging, in the illustrated embodiment, the bicycle fork will be rotated so that the stem 22 is caused to face toward the rear. Then, the bicycle saddle 34 will be fixed, e.g. in the area of a fork bridge of fork 20, by provision of a fixing element 30. The bicycle saddle could also be fixed to the saddle tube 32 or to other parts of the frame 12.

[0061] The bicycle handlebar 24 will be fixed, again with the aid of fixing elements 30, e.g. to the top tube 36 or, optionally, additionally to one of the two fork legs.

[0062] Further, the front wheel 28 will be fixed, in the illustrated embodiment with the aid of two fixing elements 30, to the top tube 36 on the one hand and to the seat stay 40 on the other hand. Fixation will again be carried out with the aid of fixing elements 30. Fixation will be performed in such a manner that a support point 46 of front wheel 28 by which the front wheel is supported on the bottom 50 of outer box 10, is arranged lower than a bottom side of chain ring 48. Thereby, damage to chain ring 48 during transport will be avoided.

[0063] After fixation of front wheel 28, handlebar 24 and saddle 34, the bicycle together with these components will constitute one unit. This will allow for easy handling. The bicycle pre-packaged in this manner can be placed into the outer box e.g. from above. Rotational displacement, jamming and the like will be avoided. Further, it will not be necessary to install individual bicycle components after the bicycle frame has already been arranged within outer box 10. Consequently, for instance, it is avoided that the bicycle frame could happen to be scratched by subsequent placement of a wheel in the outer box. For placement of the pre-packaged bicycle in outer box 10, the latter has been provided with the rear wheel receiving portion 52 and the support element 106. The rear wheel 14 will be inserted into the slot 70 of the lower rear wheel receiving portion 52. The ends 110 of the bicycle fork 120 will be plugged into the recesses 108 of support element 106. Then, the small-parts container 55 will be placed in the recess 72 of the lower rear wheel receiving portion 52 and, subsequently, the upper rear wheel receiving portion 54 will be arranged in such a manner that the rear wheel 14 will again be placed in slot 70 and the small-parts container 55 will again be placed in recess 72.

[0064] Further, the stem receiving portion 92 will be arranged in a manner causing the stem 22 to be placed within holding element 96. Since the widths A of the two rear wheel receiving portions 52,54 as well as of the stem receiving portion 92 and of the support element 106 correspond to the inner clear width of outer box 10, the bicycle is secured against sliding out of position laterally. Further, the arrangement of the rear wheel 14 in the slots 70 and the arrangement of the support ends 110 in the recesses 108 is realized in such a manner preventing the bicycle from sliding out of position in the longitudinal direction of outer box 10. Thus, the outer box 10 merely has to be closed and can be shipped via parcel delivery services.

[0065] Although the disclosure has been described and illustrated with reference to specific illustrative embodiments thereof, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited to those illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the true scope of the disclosure as defined by the claims that follow. It is therefore intended to include within the disclosure all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.