BICYCLE TRANSPORT GONDOLA WITH A CANOPY

Abstract

The invention relates to a bicycle transport platform (1), said platform comprising a base surrounded at least partially by a peripheral skirt (21) to form a loading compartment (22), said platform having two hoops (30, 31) each extending between two opposite sides (25) of the compartment (22) forming an arch over said compartment, said platform being equipped with a canopy (32) which can be arranged between the hoops (30, 31) in a configuration covering the compartment (22), the canopy (32) having two first opposite edges (33, 34) which are slidably mounted on respectively a hoop (30, 31) so as to allow the folding of said canopy from the covering configuration to a storage configuration in which at least a portion of the compartment (22) is uncovered.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bicycle transport basket, as well as to a bicycle comprising a frame which has a carrying platform on which such a transport basket is mounted.

[0002] It applies in particular to nacelles integrated into the frame of a “cargo” type bicycle, in particular by being mounted on a carrying platform formed at the front of the handlebars of such a bicycle, in order to allow, for example, the transport of goods or passengers such as young children or animals.

[0003] Such nacelles generally comprise a bottom surrounded at least partially by a peripheral skirt, so as to form a loading compartment for passengers and / or goods.

[0004] Nacelles are also known which have two hoops, each extending between two opposite sides of the compartment, in particular two front and rear sides of a compartment of substantially rectangular shape, forming above said compartment an arch on which a hood can be mounted reversibly, in particular by being arranged between the two hoops, so as to cover the compartment, for example to protect its load and / or its passengers from the sun and / or bad weather.

[0005] Document EP-4 124 550 describes a “cargo” type bicycle whose nacelle comprises: two side arches intended to be reversibly assembled in their front part to a front edge of the nacelle and in their rear part to the frame of the bicycle, each having a structure retractable in length thanks to a system of telescopic tubes; a hood which can be placed on the arches assembled above said compartment to cover it, and which, when not in use, can be completely removed from said arches, then stored in an additional compartment provided for this purpose on the front of the nacelle.

[0006] With this arrangement, when the user wishes to cover the compartment, he must first deploy and raise the hoops, then remove the hood from its storage and place it on said hoops. Similarly, when he wishes to uncover the compartment, for example in hot and / or sunny weather, he must remove the hood and store it in its compartment, then dismantle and retract the hoops.

[0007] This solution is not entirely satisfactory, as it requires several complex and tedious operations to implement. In addition, there is a risk of losing the hood, especially when it is not used for a long period.

[0008] The invention aims to improve the prior art by proposing in particular a transport basket which is equipped with a hood arranged to be reversibly arranged above its compartment in a simple, rapid and intuitive manner.

[0009] To this end, according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a bicycle transport basket, said basket comprising a bottom surrounded at least partially by a peripheral skirt to form a loading compartment, said basket having two hoops each extending between two opposite sides of the compartment forming an arch above said compartment, said basket being equipped with a hood which can be arranged between the hoops in a configuration covering the compartment, the hood having two first opposite edges which are slidably mounted on a hoop respectively so as to allow said hood to be folded from the covering configuration to a storage configuration in which at least a portion of the compartment is uncovered.

[0010] According to a second aspect, the invention provides a bicycle comprising a frame which has a carrying platform on which such a transport basket is mounted.

[0011] Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, given with reference to the attached figures, in which: [ Fig.1 ] represents, in perspective view from above, a bicycle equipped with a transport basket according to an embodiment of the invention, in which the hood is not shown; [ Fig.2 ] partially represents in side view the bicycle of the figure 1 , centered on the front arch and a complementary wall forming a windshield arranged opposite; [ Fig.3 ] represents, in perspective side view, a transport basket according to the figure 1 , in which a hood mounted on the hoops is partially folded back to reveal the compartment; [ Fig.4 ] partially represents in view from below the sliding assembly of an edge of the hood of the preceding figures on a hoop of the nacelle; [ Fig.5 ] partially represents, in perspective view from above, the nacelle of the preceding figures in which the hood in the storage position is arranged in a cover arranged for this purpose along one side of the compartment; [ Fig.6 ] partially represents, in side view, the attachment on one side of the compartment of the hood deployed on the hoops.

[0012] In relation to these figures, a bicycle transport basket 1 is described below.

[0013] In the embodiment shown, the bicycle comprises a frame 2 which has a carrying platform 3 on which such a transport basket 1 is mounted.

[0014] Alternatively, the transport basket may form an independent trailer, and may for this purpose be mounted on a chassis provided with at least one wheel, and in particular two side wheels, said trailer being able to be reversibly attached to the rear of the frame of a conventional bicycle, for example by means of an arm mounted at the front of said chassis.

[0015] In relation to the figure 1 , the frame 2 comprises a rear structure 4 for seating the user, as well as a front structure 5 on which the carrying platform 3 is formed, each structure 4, 5 comprising at least one wheel 6, 7 to allow the movement of said bicycle.

[0016] The rear structure 4 comprises a seat tube 8 in the upper end of which is mounted a seat saddle 9 for the user, said saddle preferably being slidably mounted to allow said user to adjust its height.

[0017] In a known manner, the rear structure 4 further comprises: two rear stays 10 which each have a triangular structure which extends longitudinally at the rear and on either side of the seat tube 8, a rear wheel 6 being rotatably mounted between the free rear ends of said stays; a crankset 11 rotatably mounted at the junction between the respective lower branches of the stays 10 and the lower end of the seat tube 8, said crankset being connected to the rear wheel 6 by means of a transmission chain (not shown), in order to allow the rotational drive of said rear wheel by actuation of said crankset, possibly being assisted by an electric motor (not shown).

[0018] Furthermore, the rear structure 4 comprises a platform 12 which extends longitudinally above the rear wheel 6, in order to allow the user to transport a small load.

[0019] In the description, the terms of positioning in space are taken with reference to the bicycle as represented in the figures. Thus: the terms "front" and "rear" are defined in relation to the direction of travel of the bicycle; the term "longitudinal" relates to a direction parallel to the maximum dimension of the bicycle, in particular measured in a sagittal plane which extends between the front and rear ends of said bicycle, the term "transverse" referring to a direction perpendicular to this sagittal plane.

[0020] The front structure 5 comprises a front edge 13 on which a fork 14 of a steering wheel 7 is mounted for rotation along a first substantially vertical axis, as well as a rear edge 15 on which a steering handlebar 16 is mounted for rotation along a second substantially vertical axis, the carrying platform 3 extending longitudinally between said front and rear edges.

[0021] On the figure 1 , the frame 2 comprises a substantially vertical steering tube 17 which is formed on the rear edge 15 of the front structure 5, and to which the seat tube 8 is connected by means of at least one longitudinal tube 18, the handlebar 16 being rotatably mounted in said steering tube. The front structure 5 further comprises means for mechanically connecting the handlebar 16 with the fork 14, in order to allow the user to pivot said fork, and thus the steering wheel 7, by rotating said handlebar.

[0022] Advantageously, the front structure 5 comprises a stand 19 which is mounted in rotation along a transverse axis under the carrying platform 3, between a deployed position of use (as shown in the figure 1 ), in which said stand rests on the ground to keep the bicycle in an upright position, in particular during parking, and a retracted storage position, in which said stand is folded under said platform to allow said bicycle to be moved.

[0023] The nacelle 1 comprises a bottom 20 surrounded at least partially by a peripheral skirt 21 to form a loading compartment 22, in particular to allow the transport of passengers, for example young children, or goods.

[0024] In the embodiment shown, the peripheral skirt 21 comprises a substantially rectangular geometry, with two front 23 and rear 24 transverse panels which rest against the front 13 and rear 15 edges respectively of the front structure 5, as well as two side panels 25 which extend longitudinally on either side of the carrying platform 3.

[0025] Advantageously, one of the side panels 25 is equipped with a door 26 to facilitate access to the compartment 22 by a small passenger, in particular a young child. In relation to the figures 1 And 3 , the door 26 is formed in the thickness of the corresponding side panel 25, to which it is connected at a vertical edge by a hinge 27, said door being further equipped with an upper locking lever 28 in the closed position, which the user and / or the passenger can deactivate by lifting said lever.

[0026] Furthermore, as shown in the figures, the compartment 22 comprises two front and rear benches 29 which each extend transversely along the front 23 and rear 24 panel respectively of the peripheral skirt 21, in order to allow passengers to sit in said compartment.

[0027] The nacelle 1 further comprises two arches 30, 31 which each extend between two opposite sides of the compartment 22, each forming an arch above said compartment. In the figures, the nacelle 1 comprises two front 30 and rear 31 arches which each extend between the side panels 25 and near the front 23 and rear 24 panels respectively of the peripheral skirt 21.

[0028] In order to be able to protect the compartment 22, and in particular its passengers, from exposure to the sun and / or bad weather, the nacelle 1 is equipped with a hood 32 which can be arranged between the hoops 30, 31 in a configuration covering said compartment.

[0029] As shown in the figure 3 , the hood 32 has two first opposite edges 33, 34, respectively front and rear, which are each slidably mounted on the arch respectively front 30 and rear 31, so as to allow the folding of said hood from the covering configuration to a storage configuration, in which at least a portion of the compartment 22 is uncovered.

[0030] This arrangement makes it possible to deploy and fold the hood 32 of the hoops 30, 31 quickly and intuitively, without having to carry out tedious operations to mount / dismount the hoops 30, 31 and / or to mount / remove the hood 32 from said hoops. Thus, the user can quickly cover - uncover - the compartment 22 when needed, for example in the event of a sudden onset - or stop - of a downpour.

[0031] Advantageously, the front 33 and rear 34 edges of the hood 32 each comprise means 35 for sliding on the corresponding hoop 30, 31, said means being mounted around said hoop without the possibility of manual disassembly. Thus, the hood 32 is permanently associated with the hoops 30, 31, which makes it possible to prevent it from being lost by the user when it is not in use.

[0032] The sliding means each comprise at least one loop 35 which is slidably mounted around the corresponding hoop 30, 31. As shown in the figure 4 , the front 33 and rear 34 edges of the hood 32 each comprise a row of loops 35 spaced along said edge, each loop 35 comprising a textile loop which is associated by sewing on an inner wall of the hood 32.

[0033] In the figures, the hood 32 also has two second opposite edges 36 - here lateral - which extend longitudinally on either side of the front 33 and rear 34 edges. These lateral edges 36 are arranged opposite a respective lateral side of the compartment 22 when the hood 32 is in the covering position, and at least one of said lateral edges is arranged at a distance from the corresponding lateral side when the hood 32 is in the storage configuration.

[0034] To do this, at least one of the two lateral edges 36 is equipped with reversible fixing means 37 on the corresponding side of the compartment 22. This lateral edge 36 may in particular have two front and rear ends for connection with the front 33 and rear 34 edges respectively of the hood 32, each of these ends being equipped with a reversible fixing means 37 on a complementary means 38 provided on the corresponding side of the compartment 22, in particular in the vicinity of the adjacent hoop 30, 31.

[0035] In relation to the figure 6 , these connecting means each comprise a self-gripping strip 37 associated with respectively one end of the lateral edge 36, and the complementary means each comprise a loop 38 for fixing said strip which is associated on an external face of the corresponding lateral panel 25.

[0036] Advantageously, each of the side edges 36 is equipped with such means 37 to allow the reversible fixing of their ends on a complementary means 38 formed on the corresponding side panel 25, so as to maintain the overlapping configuration from one side to the other.

[0037] In particular, this arrangement makes it possible to separate each lateral edge 36 from the nacelle 1, and to free each lateral space extending on either side of the hoops 30, 31, by rolling up the hood 32 in the upper part of said hoops. Thus, in this configuration, the hood 32 can provide protection for the compartment 22 and its passengers against the sun's rays and / or bad weather, while allowing air to circulate in the compartment 22, in order to avoid an increase in the temperature in said compartment in the event of high heat.

[0038] Advantageously, the dimension of the hood 32 between its front 33 and rear 34 edges is defined relative to the longitudinal spacing of the hoops 30, 31, so as to stretch said hood between said hoops in the overlapping configuration. Similarly, the dimension of the hood 32 between its lateral edges 36 is defined relative to the length of the hoops 30, 31 between the lateral sides of the compartment 22, so as to stretch said hood between said lateral sides in the overlapping configuration.

[0039] This prevents the hood 32 in the covering configuration from hanging from the hoops 30, 31 under the effect of gravity, which could hinder the passengers occupying the compartment 22.

[0040] The hood 32 may comprise at least one panel 39 made of transparent material, which extends in particular between its front 33 and rear 34 edges, but also between its side edges 36, in order to allow passengers occupying the compartment 22 to see through said panel when the hood 32 is in the configuration covering said compartment, but also to allow ambient light to penetrate through said panel into said compartment. For reasons of robustness of the assembly, the transparent panel 39 may be welded onto a textile contour, itself sewn onto the edges 33, 34, 36 of the hood 32.

[0041] The first 33, 34 and / or the second 36 edges of the hood 32 may also be equipped with a textile wall 40, 41 covering the hoops 30, 31 and / or the sides of the corresponding compartment 22 when said hood is in the covering configuration, in order to conceal said hoops and / or said sides, and thus to improve the aesthetics of the nacelle 1 in said covering configuration.

[0042] In particular, the front 33 and rear 34 edges each comprise such a textile wall 40 under which the loops 35 for sliding said edge onto the corresponding hoop 30, 31 are sewn.

[0043] In the embodiment shown, at least a portion of a first edge 33, 34 of the hood 32, in particular the rear edge 34, is equipped with a flap 42, in particular made of waterproof textile material, which can be deployed beyond the hoop 31, in order to cover the handlebar 16, and more particularly the user's hands, and thus protect them against bad weather when the hood 32 is in the configuration covering the compartment 22.

[0044] In relation to the figure 5 , the hood 32 further comprises a cover 43 for receiving said hood in storage configuration.

[0045] To do this, one of the lateral edges 36 of the hood 32 is equipped with a wall 44, in particular made of textile material, into which the hood 32 can be folded, said wall being able to be rolled around said folded hood and comprising closing means 45 to form the receiving cover 43.

[0046] In particular, the wall 44 comprises a first longitudinal edge which is permanently secured, in particular by sewing, to a lateral edge 36 of the hood 32, as well as a second free longitudinal edge which is equipped with reversible fixing means 45 on complementary means 45 formed at the level of said lateral edge, in order to allow the closing of the cover 43 by cooperation between said fixing and complementary means.

[0047] In the embodiment shown, the fixing and complementary means are formed by a zipper-type zipper strip 45.

[0048] In relation to the figures 1 à 3 , the nacelle 1 is equipped with a complementary wall 46, in particular transparent and rigid to form a windshield, said wall being fixed to the front panel 23 of the peripheral skirt 21 while being arranged laterally opposite the arch of the front roll bar 30.

[0049] In particular, in the embodiment shown, the windshield wall 46 extends transversely in the upper part of the front panel 23, and is arranged longitudinally opposite the front lateral face of the front arch 30. Advantageously, the windshield wall 46 is arranged opposite the front arch 30 so as to form between them a clearance 47 whose longitudinal dimension is sufficient to allow the sliding in said clearance of the front edge 33 of the hood 32.

[0050] The nacelle 1 can also be equipped with an additional wall, in particular a screening wall, said wall comprising means of reversible association on a hoop, in particular the rear hoop 31, in a configuration where it is arranged laterally opposite the arch of said hoop.

[0051] In particular, this concealing wall can be arranged reversibly facing longitudinally the rear lateral face of the rear arch 31, and can comprise at least one central portion formed from a transparent material, in order to allow the user of the bicycle and / or the passengers occupying the compartment 22 to see through it.

[0052] Advantageously, the reversible association means of this occulting wall comprise magnets which are arranged in at least a part of the peripheral edge of said wall, and in particular in a hem formed in said edge, in order to allow the fixing of said wall by magnetization on the rear hoop 31 made of metallic material.

[0053] Furthermore, the nacelle 1 may include a storage cover in which this additional screening wall can be folded when not in use.

[0054] The hood 32 and / or a possible additional wall 40, 41, 42, 44 may comprise at least one portion having photo-reflective properties, in order to improve the visibility of the nacelle 1 in the event of low ambient light, and thus to improve the safety of the user of the bicycle and / or of the passengers occupying the compartment 22.

[0055] Advantageously, the textile walls 40, 41 of the front 33, rear 34 and side 36 edges of the hood 32, as well as the rear flap 42, the wall 44 forming the cover 43 and the peripheral edge of the rear concealing wall have such photo-reflective properties.

[0056] When the user wishes to deploy the hood 32 in the covering configuration, he opens the cover 43, fixes the self-gripping strips 36 of the side edge 36 carrying said cover on the corresponding loops 38 formed on the adjacent side panel 25 of the nacelle 1, then slides the front 33 and rear 34 edges of the hood 32 on their respective hoops 30, 31, until the opposite side edge 36 comes opposite the opposite side panel 25 of the nacelle 1.

[0057] Then, the user stretches the hood 32 over the hoops 30, 31 by fixing the self-gripping strips 37 of the other side edge 36 on their respective loops 38 formed on the other side panel 25 of the nacelle 1, then deploys the textile walls 40 of the front 33 and rear 34 edges to cover each of the hoops 30, 31, as well as the rear flap 42 to cover the handlebar 16.

[0058] Similarly, when the user wishes to store the hood 32, he detaches the self-gripping strips 37 from each side edge 36, then folds the walls 40 covering the hoops 30, 31 and the rear flap 42 onto the transparent central panel 39 of the hood 32, then slides its front 33 and rear 34 edges onto their respective hoops 30, 31, as shown in FIG. figure 3 , until the two side edges 36 of the hood 32 are brought towards the wall 44 forming the cover 43.

[0059] Finally, the user wraps the wall 44 around the hood 32 thus rolled up, then closes the cover 43 by means of the zipper strip 45, as shown in the figure 5 .

Claims

1. A basket (1) for transporting a bicycle, said basket comprising a base (20) surrounded at least partially by a peripheral skirt (21) to form a loading compartment (22), said basket having two arches (30, 31) each extending between two opposite sides (25) of the compartment (22) forming an arch above said compartment, said basket being equipped with a hood (32) which can be arranged between the arches (30, 31) in a configuration covering the compartment (22), said basket being characterized in that the hood (32) has two first opposite edges (33, 34) which are slidably mounted on a respective hoop (30, 31) so as to allow the said hood to be folded from the covering configuration to a storage configuration in which at least a portion of the compartment (22) is uncovered.

2. Transport basket (1) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe hood (32) has two second opposite edges (36) which extend on either side of the first edges (33, 34), said second edges being arranged opposite respectively one side (25) of the compartment (22) when the hood (32) is in the covering configuration, at least one of said second edges being arranged at a distance from the corresponding side (25) when the hood (32) is in the storage configuration.

3. Transport basket (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the second edges (36) is equipped with means (37) for reversible fixing on the corresponding side (25) of the compartment (22).

4. Transport basket (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that each of the second edges (36) is equipped with a reversible fixing means (37) on the corresponding side (25) so as to maintain the overlapping configuration from one side to the other.

5. Transport basket (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first edges (33, 34) of the hood (32) each comprise means (35) for sliding on the corresponding hoop (30, 31), said means being mounted around said hoop without the possibility of manual disassembly.

6. Transport basket (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the sliding means comprise at least one loop (35) which is mounted to slide around the corresponding hoop (30, 31).

7. Transport nacelle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the dimension of the hood (32) between its first edges (33, 34) is defined relative to the spacing of the hoops (30, 31) so as to stretch said hood between said hoops in the overlapping configuration.

8. Transport nacelle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in thatthe dimension of the hood (32) between its second edges (36) is defined relative to the length of the hoops (30, 31) between the sides (25) of the compartment (22) so as to stretch said hood between said sides in the covering configuration.

9. Transport basket (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first (33, 34) and / or second (36) edges of the hood (32) are equipped with a textile wall (40, 41) covering the hoops (30, 31) and / or the corresponding sides (25).

10. Transport nacelle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it includes a cover (43) for receiving the hood (32) in storage configuration.

11. Transport nacelle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in thatit is equipped with a complementary wall (46) fixed to the peripheral skirt (21) by being arranged laterally opposite the arch of a hoop (30) by forming a clearance (47) between them which is sufficient to allow the sliding of the corresponding first edge (33).

12. Transport nacelle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is equipped with a complementary wall comprising reversible association means on a hoop (31) in a configuration where it is arranged laterally opposite the arch of said hoop.

13. Bicycle comprising a frame (2) which has a carrying platform (3) on which is mounted a transport basket (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. Bicycle according to claim 13, characterized in thatthe frame (2) comprises a rear structure (4) for seating the user and a front structure (5) on which the carrying platform (3) is formed, each structure (4, 5) comprising at least one wheel (6, 7) to allow the movement of said bicycle.