Protective roof for bicycles or the like

• US 6,227,557 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Claus-Michael Mayr
• Original Assignee: Claus-Michael Mayr
• Inventors: Perret, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US09/194,951
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 296/213, 296/210, 296/100.15, 296/100.16, 296/107.02, 296/78.1, 280/288.4, 135/88
• US Class Current: 280/288.4
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/08 Hoods protecting the rider
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 17/083 Frame mounted hoods specially adapted for rider propelled cycles

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective roof (1) for bicycles comprising a frame (2) and a covering (3) impermeable to rainwater and/or UV-radiation. The frame (2) comprises an elastic tube (4) bent into the form of a spoon-shaped loop, the two tube ends (5a, 5b) being held in the region of the back wheel hub (6) and the end of the frame (2) being adjusted to a predetermined inclination and/or height via a tensioning cable (9) fixed in the region of the handlebar (8).

Claims

1. A bicycle protective roof (1) comprising:

a frame (2) and a covering (3) impermeable to rainwater and/or UV radiation, wherein the frame (2) comprises an elastic tube (4) which is bent into the form of a spoon-shaped loop having two tube ends (5a, 5b) being adapted to be mounted to a bicycle in a region of a back wheel hub (6), and an end of the frame (2) being adjusted to a predetermined inclination and/or height by means of a tensioning cable (9) which is adapted to be fixed near a handlebar (8) of the bicycle.

2. A protective roof according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting (14) connected to the tube ends for counting the tube ends (5a, 5b) to the bicycle and for guiding the tube ends towards a rear end of a luggage rack (10), and a stiffening clip (12) disposed on the frame so that when the frame is mounted to the bicycle, the stiffening clip is located above a back wheel (11) of the bicycle, the clip connecting the two tubes (5a, 5b) together rigidly.

3. A protective roof according to claim 1, characterised in that the covering (3) is made of plastic or textile, and comprises a continuous hollow hem (13) through which the tube (4) passes, the tube tautening the covering by its elasticity.

4. A protective roof according to claim 1, characterised in that a mounting (14) comprises mounting tubes (18) capable of being fixed on a bicycle frame, on which mounting tubes locking screws (15) are disposed to lock the frame tube ends to the mounting tubes.

5. An assembly comprising a bicycle, and a protective roof according to claim 1, the protective roof being mounted on the bicycle such that a straight line passing through a front end edge (7) of the frame (2) and a pedal bearing (16) of the bicycle includes an angle (α

) of about 45°

to 60°

with the horizontal.

6. A protective roof according to claim 1, characterised in that the height of a front roof zone (17) of the covering is adjustable by varying the length of the attached tensioning cable (9).

7. A protective roof according to claim 1, characterised in that the elastic tube (4), the covering (3), and the tensioning cable (9) are plastic.

8. A protective roof according to claim 6, characterised in that the roof has a maximum width of between 60 and 70 cm in the front zone.

9. A protective roof according to claim 1, characterised in that the covering extends rearwardly to a distance such that the water raining onto the roof is discharged with guidance as far as a back end of the roof.

10. A protective roof according to claim 1, characterised in that the frame (2) and/or the covering (3) are made from material having a highly light-scattering and/or reflecting effect.

11. A protective roof according to claim 2, characterised in that the stiffening clip (12) comprises reflectors, a back light, or a bag.

12. A protective roof according to claim 1, characterised in that the elastic tube (4) comprises a plurality of tube parts adapted to be fitted together.