Bicycle body support apparatus

• US 5,383,677 A
• Filed: 03/14/1994
• Issued: 01/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert P. Schladetzky, Timothy N. Thomas
• Original Assignee: Robert P. Schladetzky, Timothy N. Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, Timothy N., Schladetzky, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEENDER, FLORIAN M
• Application Number:
  US08/209,272
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 280/288.4, 280/288.1, 280/220, 280/290, 280/304.4, 297/243, 248/240, 248/286, 224/35, 224/282, 224/42.45 R
• US Class Current: 280/288.4
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/28 Other additional equipment, e.g. back-rests for children
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 11/20 Harnesses; Arms, e.g. for dog leads

Abstract

A body support mounted to a cross tube portion of an associated bicycle includes a mounting bracket pivotally mounting a seat assembly thereto, such that the seat assembly is pivoted to a displaced position during periods of non-use relative to the mounting bracket structure, with a lock sleeve cooperatively associated with the mounting bracket and support assembly and magnetically adhered to an abutment ring relative to the seat assembly to maintain latching of the seat assembly in an operative position relative to a rider of the bicycle.

Claims

1. A bicycle body support apparatus arranged for securement to a bicycle cross tube, the apparatus comprising:

a cross tube mounting bracket having a lowermost plate arranged in facing adjacency to an uppermost plate;

with the lowermost plate including a first semi-cylindrical recess to receive the cross tube therewithin, and the uppermost plate including a second semi-cylindrical recess to receive the cross tube therewithin, wherein the first semi-cylindrical recess and the second semi-cylindrical recess are symmetrically oriented about a predetermined axis;

a support shaft fixedly mounted to the uppermost plate and projecting therefrom canted relative to the predetermined axis at an acute angle, the support shaft having a mount portion at a free distal end of the support shaft;

a torso support assembly arranged for mounting to the mount portion, wherein the torso support assembly includes a seat mounting tube having a split cylindrical configuration with a gap extending longitudinally therethrough;

a first clamp flange and second clamp flange mounted on opposed sides of the gap;

a clamping member threadably engaged to said first flange and slidably positioned through said second flange;

a seat shaft received within the seat mounting tube and secured within the seat mounting tube by the clamping member, the seat mounting tube having a seat mounting tube lowermost portion coaxially aligned therewith;

a ferrous metallic abutment ring oriented between the seat mounting tube and the seat mounting tube lowermost portion, with the seat lowermost portion including a securement flange arranged for reception within the mount portion of the support shaft; and

,

a shaft fastener securing the mount portion to the securement flange, with the securement flange, the shaft fastener, and the mount portion defining a pivot connection between the torso support assembly and the cross tube mounting bracket.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including a lock sleeve, the lock sleeve slidably directed about the support shaft and the seat mounting tube lowermost portion, with the lock sleeve having a magnetic ring arranged for magnetic adherence to the ferrous metallic abutment ring, with the lock sleeve being positional in a first position between the pivot connection and the uppermost plate spaced from the pivot connection, and a second position with the magnetic ring magnetically adhered to the abutment ring, with the lock sleeve receiving the pivot connection therewithin.