Bilevel bicycle storage system

• US 7,472,517 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ernst Blume
• Original Assignee: Ernst Blume
• Inventors: Blume, Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner; Brian E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Darner; Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US11/001,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 52D/IG.14, 52/794, 52/791, 52/66, 522/363, 522/34, 52/64, 312/198, 312/199, 312/100, 206/315.1, 70/62, 702/33, 702/34, 702/35, 414/537, 414/538, 414/229, 211/17, 211/20, 211/23, 211/85.8, 211/1.51
• US Class Current: 52/79.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/00 Separate supports or holders for parking or storing cycles cycle supports used during maintenance B25H; building aspects E04H
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/04 involving forked supports of brackets for holding a wheel B62H3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/08 involving recesses or channelled rails for embracing the bottom part of a wheel
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/005 Garages for vehicles on two wheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 52/14 Shelter shaped to article configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5872 For cycles

Abstract

A multiple-level bicycle storing system includes a framework with a vertical support and a mounting frame defining upper and lower storing spaces. Each storing space includes a receiver to hold a bicycle. The upper receiver has a distal end, a proximal end and a U-shaped channel along the top surface. The upper receiver is pivotally attached to the mounting frame, enabling the upper receiver to tilt from horizontal to a loading and unloading position. The proximal end of the upper receiver is located near the floor when pivoted into the loading and unloading position. The upper receiver pivots up from the loading and unloading position into the horizontal storage position. The bicycles and the storing spaces are enclosed, and a floor separates the lower storing space from the upper storing space. Each storing space includes a lockable door and conceals the pivot point, upper receiver and bicycles inside the enclosure.

Claims

1. A multiple-level storing system for bicycles comprising:

A framework attached to a floor, the framework including a vertical support and a horizontal mounting frame defining a lower storing space for a lower bicycle and an upper storing space for an upper bicycle, whereby the lower storing space includes a lower receiver to hold the lower bicycle and the upper storing space includes an upper receiver to hold the upper bicycle, the upper receiver having a distal end and a proximal end and a U-shaped bicycle wheel channel or groove along the entire length of the top surface of the upper receiver, wherein the upper receiver is pivotally attached at a pivot point to the horizontal mounting frame to enable the upper receiver to tilt from a horizontal position to a loading and unloading position, whereby the proximal end of the upper receiver is located near the floor when pivoted into the loading and unloading position, the upper receiver pivots up from the loading and unloading position into a generally horizontal storage position, wherein the upper receiver is longitudinally movable along the pivot point on the horizontal mounting frame wherein the proximal end of the upper receiver is drawn toward the user and away from the mounting frame to better reach the floor for loading and unloading and the upper receiver is slid back along the mounting frame upon the conclusion of loading and unloading, wherein an enclosure surrounds the bicycles in both the lower and upper storing space, an upper floor separates the lower storing space from the upper storing space, and each storing space including a lockable door, wherein the pivot point, upper receiver and any bicycles are located inside the enclosure enabling both doors to close and conceal the bicycles.

2. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 1, further comprising a telescoping support frame attached between the mounting frame and the upper receiver, whereby the upper receiver moves along the telescoping support frame as the telescoping support frame moves along the mounting frame wherein the collapsed mounting frame, telescoping support frame and upper receiver are only as long as a bicycle, minimizing space requirements for the device.

3. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 1, further comprising A flexible wheel bail attached near the distal end of the upper receiver, the wheel bail shaped to accept a bicycle wheel, the wheel bail being flexible to absorb the energy of a bicycle rolled into it and flexible to direct the bicycle back toward the proximal end of the upper receiver and a wheel stop mounted at the proximal end, the wheel stop forming a mechanical barrier to prevent the bicycle from departing the upper receiver unintentionally.

4. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 3, further comprising a wheel bail spring mounted to the wheel bail and the upper receiver and biasing the wheel bail toward the proximal end of the upper receiver, whereby the wheel bail spring acts to force a bicycle back toward the wheel stop when the bicycle is placed so far onto the upper receiver as to displace the wheel bail.

5. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 1, further comprising a tension pulley mounted inside the upper receiver at the pivot point, a retraction cable with a coiled end and a free end, whereby the coiled end is wrapped around the tension pulley and the free end is attached to the proximal end of the upper receiver, and a coiled tension pulley spring attached between the tension pulley and the pivot point, whereby the longitudinal motion of the upper receiver away from the mounting frame tension in the tension pulley spring and creates a restoring force on the upper receiver, thus controlling the speed with which the upper receiver is lowered into the loading and unloading position, the restoring force providing a lessened effort when returning the upper receiver into the storing position.

6. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 1, further comprising a pivot link pivotally attached to the mounting frame and near the distal end of the upper receiver and a pivot spring having one end attached to the mounting frame and the other end attached to the pivot link near where the pivot link attaches to the upper receiver, where the pivot link limits the amount of tilt the upper receiver can accomplish and the pivot spring provides a restoring force to return the upper receiver to a level position.

7. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 1, further comprising

a pivot link with a pivoting end pivotally attached to the mounting frame and a free end attached near the upper receiver;

a deflection pulley rotatably attached to the free end of the pivot link, where the deflection pulley is located between the pivot link and the mounting frame;

an idler pulley rotatably attached to the mounting frame;

a support bracket comprising a flat plate attached horizontally to the mounting frame beneath the pivot link, where the pivot link bears directly on the support bracket when the upper receiver is in the horizontal storing position;

a levelling spring attached at one end to the interior of the enclosure, the other end attached to a tag line, the tag line having two ends, where one end is anchored to the support bracket and the other end is attached to the levelling spring, where the tag line is routed around the deflection pulley and the idler pulley, the pivot link limits the amount of tilt the upper receiver can accomplish in the loading and unloading position, the levelling spring provides a restoring force through the tag line to return the upper receiver to a level position and the support bracket prevents the upper receiver from tilting past horizontal when in the storing position.

8. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 7, further comprising:

a front guide roller rotatably mounted to a tension pulley axle, the tension pulley axle attached to and defining the pivot point on the mounting frame, the front guide roller having a circumferential groove for riding on a pair of guide rails inside the top and bottom walls of the upper receiver; and

a rear guide roller rotatably mounted to a guide roller axle, the guide roller axle attached near the free end of the pivot link, the rear guide roller having a circumferential groove for riding on the guide rails, whereby the interaction of the two guide rollers and guide rails permits the upper receiver to roll smoothly parallel to the mounting frame and minimizes lateral movement of the upper receiver even when the upper receiver is in the tilted loading and unloading position.

9. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 1, further comprising a motor attached between the mounting frame and the upper receiver, whereby the motor lifts the upper receiver from its tilted and lowered loading and unloading position into its horizontal storing position.

10. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 9, where the motor is electric.

11. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 1, further comprising a control terminal for controlling and monitoring an occupancy status of a plurality of bicycle storing spaces.

12. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 11, wherein the control terminal controls and monitors a lock for each individual bicycle storing space.

13. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 12, wherein the control terminal accepts payment from a user for the use of a storing space.

14. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 13, wherein the control terminal accepts payment in the form of coins, bills, tokens, credit cards and debit cards.

15. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 13, wherein the control terminal accepts cashless payments by entering account data and codes.

16. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 11, wherein the control terminal is connected to a main control center via a cabled or wireless communication system.

17. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 11, wherein the control terminal is connected to each individual bicycle storing space via a cabled or wireless communication system.

18. A multiple-level storing system for bicycles comprising:

a framework attached to a floor, the framework including a vertical support and a horizontal mounting frame defining a lower storing space for a lower bicycle and an upper storing space for an upper bicycle, whereby the lower storing space includes a lower receiver to hold the lower bicycle and the upper storing space includes an upper receiver to hold the upper bicycle, the upper receiver having a distal end and a proximal end and a U-shaped bicycle wheel channel or groove along the entire length of the top surface of the upper receiver, wherein the upper receiver is pivotally attached at a pivot point to the horizontal mounting frame to enable the upper receiver to tilt from a horizontal position to a loading and unloading position, wherein the upper receiver is longitudinally movable along the pivot point on the horizontal mounting frame wherein the proximal end of the upper receiver is drawn toward the user and away from the mounting frame to better reach the floor for loading and unloading and the upper receiver is slid back along the mounting frame upon the conclusion of loading and unloading, whereby the proximal end of the upper receiver is located near the floor when pivoted into the loading and unloading position, the upper receiver pivots up from the loading and unloading position into a generally horizontal storage position, whereby an enclosure surrounds the bicycles in both the lower and upper storing space, an upper floor separates the lower storing space from the upper storing space, and each storing space including a lockable door, whereby the pivot point, upper receiver and any bicycles are located inside the enclosure enabling both doors to close and conceal the bicycles.

19. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 18, further comprising a tension pulley mounted inside the upper receiver at the pivot point, a retraction cable with a coiled end and a free end, whereby the coiled end is wrapped around the tension pulley and the free end is attached to the proximal end of the upper receiver, and a coiled tension pulley spring attached between the tension pulley and the pivot point, whereby the longitudinal motion of the upper receiver away from the mounting frame tension in the tension pulley spring and creates a restoring force on the upper receiver, thus controlling the speed with which the upper receiver is lowered into the loading and unloading position, the restoring force providing a lessened effort when returning the upper receiver into the storing position.

20. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 18, further comprising

a pivot link with a pivoting end pivotally attached to the mounting frame and a free end attached near the upper receiver;

a deflection pulley rotatably attached to the free end of the pivot link, where the deflection pulley is located between the pivot link and the mounting frame;

an idler pulley rotatably attached to the mounting frame;

a support bracket comprising a flat plate attached horizontally to the mounting frame beneath the pivot link, where the pivot link bears directly on the support bracket when the upper receiver is in the horizontal storing position;

a levelling spring attached at one end to the interior of the enclosure, the other end attached to a tag line, the tag line having two ends, where one end is anchored to the support bracket and the other end is attached to the levelling spring, where the tag line is routed around the deflection pulley and the idler pulley, the pivot link limits the amount of tilt the upper receiver can accomplish in the loading and unloading position, the levelling spring provides a restoring force through the tag line to return the upper receiver to a level position and the support bracket prevents the upper receiver from tilting past horizontal when in the storing position.

21. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 20, further comprising:

a front guide roller rotatably mounted to a tension pulley axle, the tension pulley axle attached to and defining the pivot point on the mounting frame, the front guide roller having a circumferential groove for riding on a pair of guide rails inside the top and bottom walls of the upper receiver; and

a rear guide roller rotatably mounted to a guide roller axle, the guide roller axle attached near the free end of the pivot link, the rear guide roller having a circumferential groove for riding on the guide rails, whereby the interaction of the two guide rollers and guide rails permits the upper receiver to roll smoothly parallel to the mounting frame and minimizes lateral movement of the upper receiver even when the upper receiver is in the tilted loading and unloading position.

22. The multiple-level storing system for bicycles of claim 21, further comprising a control terminal for controlling and monitoring an occupancy status of a plurality of bicycle storing spaces.

23. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 22, wherein the control terminal controls and monitors a lock for each individual bicycle storing space.

24. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 23, wherein the control terminal accepts payment from a user for the use of a storing space.

25. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 24, wherein the control terminal accepts payment in the form of coins, bills, tokens, credit cards and debit cards.

26. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 25, wherein the control terminal accepts cashless payments by entering account data and codes.

27. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 26, wherein the control terminal is connected to a main control center via a cabled or wireless communication system.

28. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 27, wherein the control terminal is connected to each individual bicycle storing space via a cabled or wireless communication system.

29. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 18, further comprising a leaning bracket attached to the upper receiver or the lower receiver, wherein the leaning bracket comprises a rail that defines a wall against which the bicycle can be leaned, and a loop that defines a wheel-shaped enclosure, wherein the front wheel of the bicycle is placed into the loop as the bicycle is placed onto the upper receiver and leaned against the wall.

30. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 29, where the leaning rail comprises a tubular skeleton.

31. The multiple level storing system for bicycles of claim 30, where the leaning rail comprises a protective coating.