Bicycle transport bag

Abstract

A bicycle transport bag (1) comprising a bicycle supporting frame structure (10) and a covering (6), wherein the supporting frame structure (10) comprises frame elements which are arranged to be assembled in a first bicycle supporting configuration inside the covering (6). The frame elements are removable from the covering (6) and are arranged to be reassembled into a second different bicycle supporting configuration outside of the covering (6). In the second bicycle supporting configuration, the bicycle supporting frame structure (10) may take the form of a bicycle work stand.

Claims

1. A bicycle transport bag comprising: a covering; a bicycle supporting frame structure comprising a frame element; a tripod head; a plurality of hollow elongated frame elements; wherein the bicycle supporting frame structure is operable to be provided in a first bicycle supporting configuration inside the bicycle transport bag, and is operable to be provided in a second bicycle supporting configuration outside of the bicycle transport bag; wherein the second bicycle supporting configuration comprises a work stand; wherein the hollow elongated frame elements are provided within the covering in the first bicycle supporting configuration and are inserted into the tripod head to form tripod legs in the second bicycle supporting configuration.

2. The bicycle transport bag of claim 1, wherein the covering comprises a collapsible covering.

3. The bicycle transport bag of claim 1, wherein the covering comprises at least one of straps, claps, buttons and zippers.

4. The bicycle transport bag of claim 1, wherein the tripod head comprises a clamp that allows horizontal adjustment of the position of the center of gravity of a bicycle mounted on the work stand.

5. The bicycle transport bag of claim 1, further comprising wheels provided at one end of the transport bag.

6. The bicycle transport bag of claim 5, further comprising at least one pull handle.

7. A bicycle transport bag comprising: a covering; a bicycle supporting frame structure comprising a first elongate frame element with a first bicycle holder provided at one end and a second bicycle holder provided at a second end; a tripod head; a plurality of hollow elongated frame elements that are selectively removable from the bag; wherein the bicycle supporting frame structure is operable to be provided in a first bicycle supporting configuration inside the covering, and is operable to be provided in a second bicycle supporting configuration outside of the covering; wherein the second bicycle supporting configuration comprises a work stand; wherein the hollow elongated frame elements are inserted into the tripod head to form tripod legs in the second bicycle supporting configuration; and wherein the tripod head comprises a clamp that allows horizontal adjustment of the position of the center of gravity of a bicycle mounted on the work stand.

8. The bicycle transport bag of claim 7, wherein the covering comprises a collapsible covering.

9. The bicycle transport bag of claim 7, wherein the covering comprises at least one of straps, claps, buttons and zippers.

10. The bicycle transport bag of claim 7, further comprising wheels provided at one end of the transport bag.

11. The bicycle transport bag of claim 7, further comprising at least one pull handle.

12. A bicycle transport bag comprising: a covering; a bicycle supporting frame structure comprising a first elongate frame element with a first bicycle holder provided at one end and a second bicycle holder provided at a second end; a tripod head; a plurality of hollow elongated frame elements that are selectively removable from the bag; wherein the bicycle supporting frame structure is operable to be provided in a first bicycle supporting and transport configuration, and is operable to be provided in a second bicycle supporting and service configuration outside of the covering; wherein the transport bag comprises wheels and a pull-handle; wherein the second bicycle supporting configuration comprises a work stand wherein the hollow elongated frame elements are inserted into the tripod head to form tripod legs.

13. The bicycle transport bag of claim 12, wherein the covering comprises a collapsible covering.

14. The bicycle transport bag of claim 12, wherein the covering comprises at least one of straps, claps, buttons and zippers.

15. The bicycle transport bag of claim 12, wherein the tripod head comprises a clamp that allows horizontal adjustment of the position of the center of gravity of a bicycle mounted on the work stand.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the appended drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a bicycle transport bag being pulled by a person;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a bicycle frame mounted on a bicycle supporting frame inside a bicycle transport bag;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a base plate and a bicycle supporting frame of the bicycle transport bag in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a detail of the bicycle supporting frame in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the bicycle supporting frame in FIG. 4 with further added components;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a pin for fixing of a bicycle holder on a dock; and

(8) FIG. 7 shows the bicycle supporting frame in FIG. 3 taken out of the bicycle transport bag and reassembled into a bicycle work stand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) The bicycle transport bag 1 that is shown in FIG. 1 while being pulled by a person comprises two wheels 2 placed at the rear end 3 of the bicycle transport bag 1 and a pull-handle 4 placed at the front end 5 of the bicycle transport bag 1. The arrangement of the wheels and the handle which is shown in FIG. 1 should not be considered limiting to the invention. As set out herein, arrangements with three or more wheels may be used as well as one or more additional pull-handle, one or more lift-handle, etc.

(10) The bicycle transport bag 1 includes a light-weight flexible covering 6. The covering 6 is provided with a zipper 7 for opening and closing the covering 6. The zipper 7 extends in a longitudinal direction, L, of the bicycle transport bag 1, allowing the covering 6 to be opened up in two halves that fold out at the sides of the bicycle transport bag 1. The zipper 7 on the bicycle transport bag 1 in FIG. 1 extends generally diagonally across the covering 6 between the front end 4 and the rear end 3 of the bicycle transport bag 1. As set out herein, other opening configurations and opening means may be used in place of the shown zipper. For the sake of illustration, in FIG. 2, the zipper 7 is shown to extend in the longitudinal direction L in an arch from one side of the lower part of the bicycle transport bag 1, across the upper part of the covering 6 and down again to the lower part on the same side of the bicycle transport bag 1.

(11) Except for the different arrangement of the zipper 7, the bicycle transport bag shown in FIG. 2 is identical to that in FIG. 1.

(12) As seen in FIG. 2 the bicycle transport bag 1 comprises a bicycle supporting frame structure 10 which is made up from multiple frame elements arranged on a tray-shaped generally rectangular base plate 11 having a peripheral rim 12.

(13) The base plate 11 has an elongated shape in the longitudinal direction L of the bicycle transport bag 1 with a rear end edge 13 at the rear end 3 of the bicycle transport bag 1, and a front end edge 15 at the front end 5 of the bicycle transport bag 1 and two opposing side edges 16, 17 between the end edges 13, 15. The arrangement of the bicycle supporting frame structure 10 on the base plate 11 is shown in FIG. 3. FIGS. 4 shows only the bicycle supporting frame structure 10 and FIG. 5 shows a part of the bicycle supporting frame structure 10. The bicycle supporting frame structure 10 comprises a first group of elongated frame elements consisting of three elongated hollow frame elements 18, 19, 20 which are arranged on the base plate 11 with one frame element 18 along one side edge 16 of the base plate 11 and two frame elements 19, 20 along the other side edge 17 of the base plate 11.

(14) As is best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 two of the first group of frame elements 18, 19 are inserted with a rearward end into frame element holders 21, 22 arranged on a rear cross bar 23 which is placed at the rear end of the bicycle transport bag 1. The rear cross bar 23 also carries the wheels 2 of the bicycle transport bag 1.

(15) The bicycle supporting frame structure 10 further comprises a second group of elongated frame elements consisting of two elongated rod-shaped frame elements 24, 25. The elongated rod-shaped frame elements 24, 25 are inserted into the forward ends of the elongated frame elements 18, 19 which are attached to the rear cross bar 23.

(16) The combined elongated frame elements 18, 19, 24, 25 from the first and second groups of elongated frame elements form longitudinal support elements along the side edges 16, 17 of the base plate 11. The longitudinal support elements are connected in the transverse direction T by a first dock 26 placed at the front end 5 of the bicycle transport bag 1 and a second dock 27 placed between the first dock 26 and the rear cross bar 23. The first and second docks 26, 27 are releasably affixed to the combined elongated frame elements 18, 19, 24, 25 by means of clamping members 28. The combined elongated frame elements 18, 19, 24, 25, the rear cross bar 23 and the first and second docks 26, 27 form a base grid 29 as shown in FIG. 5. The base grid 29 constitutes a support structure for further elements of the bicycle supporting frame structure 10 in the bicycle transport bag 1.

(17) With particular reference to FIG. 4, a first bicycle holder 30 is affixed to the first dock 26 at the front end 5 of the bicycle transport bag 1 and a second bicycle holder 31 is affixed to the second dock 27 in the central portion of the bicycle transport bag 1. The first and second bicycle holders 30, 31 are affixed to the first and second docks 26, 27 by means of fixing pins 32. A fixing pin is shown in FIG. 6 and has two legs 33, two spring-loaded clamping members 34 and a head portion 35. When affixing a bicycle holder on a dock, the legs 33 of the fixing pin 32 are inserted into aligned holes in the holder and the dock. The fixing pin 32 is locked in position by the clamping members 34 being brought into engagement with a locking protrusion arranged on the bicycle holder.

(18) In FIG. 2, the bicycle transport bag 1 is shown with a bicycle frame 35 mounted on the bicycle supporting frame structure 10 inside the bicycle transport bag 1. The bicycle frame 35 is mounted in an upright position with the bicycle fork 36 held by the first bicycle holder 30 constituting a bicycle fork mount and with the crank-case portion 37 held by the second bicycle holder 31 constituting a bicycle crank-case mount.

(19) The base plate 11 is foldable and is provided with hinge means 38 in the form of a portion of the base plate which is made from a flexible material and which extends as a band in a transverse direction T across the base plate 11 and comprises wedge-shaped portions in the peripheral rim 12 on the base plate 11. The hinge means 38 allow the front end 5 of the base plate 11 to be folded in a direction towards the rear end 13 of the base plate to create a more compact and space-saving configuration suitable for storage of the bicycle transport bag 1 when it is not being used for containing a bicycle.

(20) While the base plate 11 preferably is made from a rigid material, the hinge means 38 is formed from a more flexible material and forms a connection between the two rigid parts of the base plate. As set out herein, suitable flexible materials may be textiles, plastic, leather, rubber, etc. which allow the base plate to be folded.

(21) FIG. 3 shows the base plate 11 and the bicycle supporting frame structure 10 without the covering. Apart from the frame elements constituting the base grid 29 and the bicycle holders 30, 31, further frame elements are shown to be arranged on the base plate 11. A frame element in the form of a tripod stand head 40 is arranged between the second bicycle holder 31 and the rear cross bar 23. The previously mentioned elongated frame element 20 which does not form part of the base grid 29 carries a bicycle stand foot 41 at one end of the elongated frame element 20. Two further bicycle stand feet 42, 43 are arranged at the rear end of the base plate 11. A leg stabilizing spindle 44 is placed on the base plate 11 in a folded configuration beneath the base grid 29.

(22) As set out herein, the bicycle transport bag covering 6 may have pockets and other types of holders for bicycle parts and accessories. The bicycle transport bag 1 may also contain separate covers for the bicycle wheels and/or other bicycle parts and accessories. The covering is preferably at least partially made from a flexible sheet material such as a textile material, a plastic film material or combinations of such materials allowing the covering to be collapsed for convenient storage of the bicycle transport bag 1 when it is not being used.

(23) The collapsible covering may be provided with removable reinforcing stiffening members such as sheets, plates, rods, etc. in order to provide the covering with improved shape stability and crush resistance when the bicycle transport bag is in use. The stiffening members may be arranged to be inserted into retaining pockets provided in the covering or may be attached to the covering by other means such as buttons, push-buttons, snap-fasteners, straps, etc. The reinforcing stiffening member may also provide a cushioning effect in order to further protect bicycle parts inside the bicycle transport bag. Cushioning material such as foam or wadding may be provided separate from any stiffening members. The bicycle transport bag is shown in the figures without any stiffening members or cushioning material.

(24) Taking the bicycle out of the bicycle transport bag 1 and rearranging the bicycle supporting frame structure 10 into a second bicycle supporting configuration outside of the bicycle transport bag 1 may be performed in the following way:

(25) First the bicycle transport bag 1 is opened by un-zipping the zipper 7 and folding out the two parts of the covering 6 to the sides of the bicycle transport bag 1. The fixing pins 32 are then removed in order to release the bicycle holders 30, 31 from the first and second docks 26, 27, whereafter the bicycle frame 35 can be lifted out of the bicycle transport bag 1 while still being attached to the holders 30, 31.

(26) The base grid 29 is pulled out from the frame element holders 21, 22 on the rear cross bar 23 and the base grid 29 and other elements of the bicycle supporting frame structure 10 are then taken out of the bicycle transport bag 1.

(27) The two elongated rod-shaped frame elements 24, 25 are separated from the hollow elongated frame elements 18, 19 and the first and second docks 26, 27 are removed from the elongated frame elements 18, 19, 24, 25.

(28) A tripod bicycle work stand 45 as shown in FIG. 7 is subsequently assembled from the bicycle supporting frame structure 10 elements which have been taken out of the bicycle transport bag 1. The frame elements 18-20 of the first group of elongated frame elements are inserted into leg holders 46 on the tripod head 40, thus forming tripod legs. The tripod feet 41, 42, 43 are attached at the free ends of the elongated frame elements 18, 19, 20 and the leg stabilizing spindle 44 is unfolded and attached between the tripod legs formed by the first group of elongated frame elements.

(29) Subsequently, the two elongated rod-shaped frame elements 24, 25 are inserted into two corresponding tubular channels 50 arranged in the first and second bicycle holders 31 and the bicycle frame with the supporting members formed by the elongated rod-shaped frame elements 24, 25 is then lifted up and mounted on the tripod work stand 45 by fastening the elongated rod-shaped frame elements 24, 25 in a clamp 47 on the tripod head 40.

(30) The bicycle supporting members formed by the elongated rod-shaped frame elements 24, 25 provide horizontal support to the bicycle frame 35 when the supporting frame structure 10 is in the second configuration which may also be referred to as the active configuration. The bicycle supporting members support and stabilize the bicycle in an elevated position on top of the bicycle work stand.

(31) The clamp 47 on the tripod head 40 allows horizontal adjustment of the position and the centre of gravity of the bicycle when mounted on the tripod work stand.