Dual level bicycle parking system

• US 7,946,432 B1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saris Equipment LLC
• Original Assignee: Saris Cycling Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Stephens, William B., Swanson, Neil, Fossen, Heath A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jayne; Darnell M
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODDEN, JOSHUA E
• Application Number:
  US11/619,940
• Time in Patent Office: 1,601 Days
• Field of Search: 211/5, 211/17, 211/20, 211/24, 211/85.7, 211/19, 211/22, 211/85.3, 414/462, 224/310, 224/509, 224/924
• US Class Current: 211/20
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/08 involving recesses or channelled rails for embracing the bottom part of a wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/12 Hanging-up devices

Abstract

A bicycle parking system includes a frame having a number of lower supports and a number of upper supports, each support being constructed to receive a bicycle. The frame includes a slide bar operatively engaged with each of the upper supports. Each slide bar includes a curved end to allow the attached upper support to rotate relative to the slide bar for loading and unloading of the upper support. A spring assembly biases each upper support toward a stored position.

Claims

1. A bicycle parking system comprising:

a frame;

a first, lower support attached to the frame for engaging and supporting a first bicycle;

a slide member attached to the frame above the first, lower support, wherein the slide member extends along a longitudinal axis outwardly from the frame and defines an inner end secured to the frame and an outer end spaced from the inner end, wherein the slide member has a downward curvature at the outer end such that the outer end of the slide member extends downwardly relative to the inner end; and

a second, upper support having a bicycle receiving area for receiving and supporting a second bicycle, wherein the second, upper support is engaged with and movable along the slide member between a first position in which the second, upper support is engaged with the slide member toward its inner end and a second position in which the second, upper support is engaged with the outer end of the slide member wherein, when the second, upper support is in the first position the bicycle receiving area faces generally upwardly to support a bicycle in a generally upright position, and wherein, when the second, upper support is in the second position the bicycle receiving area is positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the slide member due to the downward curvature at the outer end of the slide member for facilitating loading a bicycle in the bicycle receiving area and unloading a bicycle from the bicycle receiving area.

2. The bicycle parking system of claim 1 wherein the second, upper support further includes a wheel engagement arrangement that maintains the second bicycle on the second, upper support during movement between the first and second positions.

3. The bicycle parking system of claim 2 wherein the wheel engagement arrangement of the second, upper support includes a pair of members constructed to engage a wheel of the second bicycle to retain the second bicycle in a generally vertical orientation on the second, upper support.

4. The bicycle parking system of claim 1 further comprising a roller arrangement carried by the second, upper support and constructed to engage the slide member to provide movement of the second, upper support relative to the slide member.

5. The bicycle parking system of claim 1 further comprising a securing member connected to each of the first, lower support and the second, upper support for use in locking the first and second bicycles to the first, upper support and the second, lower support, respectively.

6. The bicycle parking system of claim 1 including a plurality of said first, lower support and a plurality of said second, upper support, wherein each first, lower support and each second, upper support is vertically offset from adjacent first, lower and second, upper supports, respectively.

7. The bicycle parking system of claim 1 further comprising a biasing member connected between the second, upper support and the slide member and configured to bias the second, upper support toward the first position.

8. A bicycle rack comprising:

a frame having a lower frame member and an upper frame member;

at least one lower bicycle support connected to the lower frame member and constructed to engage and support a first bicycle;

at least one upper bicycle support movably connected to the upper frame member, wherein the upper bicycle support includes a bicycle receiving area for receiving and supporting a second bicycle, wherein the upper bicycle support is movable between a first position in which the upper bicycle support is located above the lower bicycle support and a second position in which the upper bicycle support is located outwardly of the lower bicycle support wherein, when the upper bicycle support is in the first position the bicycle receiving area faces generally upwardly to support a bicycle in a generally upright position, and wherein, when the upper bicycle support is in the second position the bicycle receiving area is positioned at an angle relative to a support surface on which the bicycle rack is positioned for facilitating loading a bicycle in the bicycle receiving area and unloading a bicycle from the bicycle receiving area;

a spring assembly that engages the upper bicycle support as the upper bicycle support is moved from the first position toward the second position and that becomes disengaged from the upper bicycle support as the upper bicycle support is moved from the second position toward the first position, wherein the spring arrangement biases the upper bicycle support toward the first position when the upper bicycle support is in the second position; and

a wheel engagement arrangement associated with the upper bicycle support and configured to engage a wheel of the second bicycle to maintain the second bicycle in engagement with the upper bicycle support throughout movement of the upper bicycle support between the first and second positions.

9. The bicycle rack of claim 8 wherein the upper bicycle support is movably engaged with an upper guide member extending from the upper frame member, the upper guide member having a downwardly curved outer end that engages the upper bicycle support as the upper bicycle support is moved toward the second position to rotate the upper bicycle support relative to the upper guide member.

10. The bicycle rack of claim 9 wherein the upper bicycle support includes a roller arrangement constructed to movably engage the upper guide member for providing movement of the upper bicycle support relative to the upper guide member between the first and second positions.

11. The bicycle rack of claim 9 further comprising a handle associated with the upper bicycle support for facilitating movement of the upper bicycle support relative to the upper frame member between the first and second positions.

12. The bicycle rack of claim 8 wherein the wheel engagement arrangement includes a pair of members constructed to engage opposite sides of the wheel of the bicycle positioned on the upper bicycle support.

13. The bicycle rack of claim 8 including a plurality of said lower bicycle supports and a plurality of said upper bicycle supports, each of the plurality of upper bicycle supports being offset vertically from adjacent upper bicycle supports.

14. The bicycle rack of claim 8 wherein the frame includes a mounting member to which a plurality of said upper supports are secured, wherein the mounting member defines upper and lower surfaces, and wherein the upper bicycle supports are alternately secured adjacent the upper and lower surfaces defined by the mounting member to vertically offset adjacent upper supports from one another.