BICYCLE TRANSPORT GONDOLA WITH A CANOPY

Description

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

[0002] This applies in particular to cargo baskets integrated into the frame of a cargo bike, notably when mounted on a carrying platform formed at the front of the handlebars, to allow, for example, the transport of goods or passengers such as infants or animals. Such baskets generally include a base surrounded at least partially by a skirt, so as to form a cargo compartment for passengers and / or goods.

[0003] We also know of gondolas which have two arches, each extending between two opposite sides of the compartment, in particular two front and rear sides of a compartment of roughly rectangular shape, forming above said compartment an arch on which a hood can be mounted reversibly, in particular by being placed between the two arches, so as to cover the compartment, for example to protect its cargo and / or its passengers from the sun and / or inclement weather.

[0004] The document "Bunch Bikes The Original | Electric Cargo Bike Review (2021)" (URL https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=Hps6K4Au350) shows the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] Document EP-4 124 550 describes a "cargo" type bicycle whose basket includes: two side hoops intended to be reversibly assembled at their front end to a front edge of the gondola and at their rear end to the bicycle frame, each having a lengthwise retractable structure thanks to a system of telescopic tubes; a hood which can be placed on the hoops assembled above said compartment to cover it, and which, when not in use, can be completely removed from said hoops and then stored in an annex compartment provided for this purpose on the front of the gondola.

[0006] With this design, when the user wants to cover the compartment, they must first extend and raise the hoops, then remove the soft top from its storage compartment and place it over the hoops. Similarly, when they want to uncover the compartment, for example in warm and / or sunny weather, they must remove the soft top 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 time-consuming steps. Furthermore, there is a risk of losing the convertible top, especially if it is not used for an extended period.

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

[0009] To this end, according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a bicycle transport platform, said platform comprising a base surrounded at least partially by a peripheral skirt to form a loading compartment, said platform having two hoops each extending between two opposite sides of the compartment, forming an arch above said compartment, said platform being equipped with a canopy that can be arranged between the hoops in a configuration covering the compartment, the canopy having two first opposing edges which are slidably mounted on a hoop respectively 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 is uncovered,said gondola being equipped with an additional wall fixed to the peripheral skirt and positioned laterally opposite the arch of a hoop, forming a gap between them sufficient to allow the sliding of the corresponding first edge.

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

[0011] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description, made with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: [ Fig.1 ] represents, in a top-view perspective, a bicycle equipped with a transport basket according to an embodiment of the invention, in which the canopy is not shown; [ Fig.2 ] partially represents the bicycle in side view figure 1 centered on the front roll bar and an additional wall forming a windshield positioned opposite it; Fig.3 ] represents, in perspective, a transport gondola viewed from the side figure 1 , in which a hood mounted on the hoops is partially folded down to reveal the compartment; Fig.4 ] partially represents, from below, the sliding assembly of one edge of the hood shown in the previous figures onto a frame of the gondola; [ Fig.5 ] partially represents, in perspective view from above, the gondola of the previous figures in which the hood, in its stowed position, is placed 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 convertible top deployed on the hoops.

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

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

[0014] Alternatively, the transport cradle can form an independent trailer, and can for this purpose be mounted on a chassis equipped with at least one wheel, and in particular with two side wheels, said trailer being able to be attached reversibly 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 includes a rear seating structure 4 for the user, as well as a front structure 5 on which the carrying platform 3 is formed, each structure 4, 5 including at least one wheel 6, 7 to allow the movement of said bicycle.

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

[0017] As is known, the rear structure 4 also includes: two rear stays 10 each having a triangular structure extending longitudinally to the rear and on either side of the seat tube 8, a rear wheel 6 being mounted for rotation between the free rear ends of said stays; a crankset 11 mounted for rotation at the junction between the respective lower arms 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 rotation of said rear wheel by operation of said crankset, possibly with the assistance of an electric motor (not shown).

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

[0019] In the description, terms referring to spatial positioning are used in reference to the bicycle as shown in the figures. Thus: The terms "front" and "rear" are defined in relation to the direction of movement of the bicycle; the term "longitudinal" is relative 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 includes a front edge 13 on which a fork 14 of a steering wheel 7 is mounted for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis, and a rear edge 15 on which a steering handlebar 16 is mounted for rotation about 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 includes a substantially vertical head tube 17 formed on the rear edge 15 of the front structure 5, to which the seat tube 8 is connected via at least one longitudinal tube 18, the handlebar 16 being rotatably mounted in said head tube. The front structure 5 further includes mechanical means for connecting the handlebar 16 to the fork 14, so as to allow the user to pivot said fork, and thus the steering wheel 7, by rotation of said handlebar.

[0022] Advantageously, the front structure 5 includes a support leg 19 which is mounted to rotate about a transverse axis under the carrying platform 3, between a deployed operating position (as shown on the figure 1 ), in which said kickstand rests on the ground to hold the bicycle in an upright position, particularly during parking, and a retracted storage position, in which said kickstand is folded under said platform to allow movement of said bicycle.

[0023] The gondola 1 includes 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 infants, or goods.

[0024] In the embodiment shown, the peripheral skirt 21 comprises a substantially rectangular geometry, with two transverse front 23 and rear 24 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, particularly 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 passenger can deactivate by lifting said lever.

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

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

[0028] To protect compartment 22, and in particular its passengers, from exposure to the sun and / or inclement weather, the gondola 1 is equipped with a hood 32 which can be positioned between the hoops 30, 31 in a configuration covering said compartment.

[0029] As depicted on the figure 3 , the hood 32 has two first opposing edges 33, 34, respectively front and rear, which are each mounted to slide on the respectively front hoop 30 and rear hoop 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 allows the canopy 32 to be deployed and retracted from the hoops 30, 31 quickly and intuitively, without the need for cumbersome operations to assemble / disassemble the hoops 30, 31 and / or to assemble / remove the canopy 32 from said hoops. Thus, the user can quickly cover – or uncover – the compartment 22 as needed, for example, in the event of a sudden downpour.

[0031] Advantageously, the front edges 33 and rear edges 34 of the soft top 32 each include sliding means 35 for sliding on the corresponding hoop 30, 31, said means being mounted around said hoop without the possibility of manual removal. Thus, the soft top 32 is permanently attached to the hoops 30, 31, which prevents its loss by the user when not in use.

[0032] The sliding means each comprise at least one loop 35 which is mounted to slide around the corresponding hoop 30, 31. As shown in the figure 4 , the front edges 33 and rear edges 34 of the hood 32 each include a row of loops 35 spaced along said edge, each loop 35 including 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 opposing edges 36 - here lateral - which extend longitudinally on either side of the front edges 33 and rear edges 34. These lateral edges 36 are arranged opposite a 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 side edges 36 is equipped with means 37 for reversible attachment to the corresponding side of the compartment 22. This side edge 36 may in particular have two front and rear ends for connection with the front edge 33 and rear edge 34 of the soft top 32 respectively, each of these ends being equipped with a means 37 for reversible attachment to 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 respectively with 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 outer face of the corresponding lateral panel 25.

[0036] Advantageously, each of the side edges 36 is equipped with such means 37 to allow 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 allows each lateral edge 36 to be detached from the nacelle 1, and frees up each lateral space extending on either side of the hoops 30, 31, by folding the canopy 32 up over the upper part of said hoops. Thus, in this configuration, the canopy 32 can provide protection for compartment 22 and its passengers against sunlight and / or inclement weather, while allowing air to circulate in compartment 22, in order to prevent a rise in temperature in said compartment in case of high temperatures.

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

[0039] Thus, the hood 32 in its covering configuration is prevented from hanging from the hoops 30, 31 under the effect of gravity, which could inconvenience the passengers occupying compartment 22.

[0040] The soft top 32 may include at least one transparent panel 39, extending in particular between its front edges 33 and rear edges 34, but also between its side edges 36, in order to allow passengers occupying the compartment 22 to see through said panel when the soft top 32 is in the configuration covering said compartment, and also to allow ambient light to enter said compartment through said panel. For reasons of assembly robustness, the transparent panel 39 may be welded to a textile frame, itself sewn to the edges 33, 34, 36 of the soft top 32.

[0041] The first 33, 34 and / or the second 36 edges of the hood 32 can also be fitted 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 covering configuration, in order to conceal said hoops and / or said sides, and thus improve the aesthetics of the nacelle 1 in said covering configuration.

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

[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 is deployable beyond the hoop 31, in order to cover the handlebar 16, and more particularly the hands of the user, and thus protect them against the weather when the hood 32 is in the configuration covering the compartment 22.

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

[0045] To do this, one of the side 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 rollable around said folded hood and including closure means 45 to form the receiving cover 43.

[0046] In particular, the wall 44 includes a first longitudinal edge which is permanently attached, 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 fastening means 45 on complementary means 45 formed at the level of said lateral edge, in order to allow the closure of the cover 43 by cooperation between said fastening and complementary means.

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

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

[0049] In particular, in the embodiment shown, the windscreen wall 46 extends transversely in the upper part of the front panel 23, and is arranged longitudinally opposite the front side face of the front roll bar 30.

[0050] Advantageously, the windscreen wall 46 is positioned opposite the front arch 30 so as to form between them a gap 47 whose longitudinal dimension is sufficient to allow the front edge 33 of the soft top 32 to slide in said gap.

[0051] The gondola 1 can also be equipped with an additional wall, in particular for blackout, said wall including means for reversible association on an arch, in particular the rear arch 31, in a configuration where it is arranged laterally opposite the arch of said arch.

[0052] In particular, this blackout wall can be arranged reversibly in longitudinal view of the rear side face of the rear hoop 31, and can include at least a central portion made of a transparent material, in order to allow vision through it of the bicycle user and / or the passengers occupying the compartment 22.

[0053] Advantageously, the means for reversibly associating this blackout wall include 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.

[0054] In addition, the cradle 1 can include a storage cover in which this additional blackout wall can be folded when not in use.

[0055] The canopy 32 and / or any additional wall 40, 41, 42, 44 may include at least one portion with photo-reflective properties, in order to improve the visibility of the gondola 1 in low ambient light, and thus improve the safety of the bicycle user and / or the passengers occupying compartment 22.

[0056] 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 blackout wall have such photo-reflective properties.

[0057] When the user wishes to deploy the canopy 32 in the covering configuration, they open the cover 43, attach the hook and loop fasteners 36 of the side edge 36 bearing said cover to the corresponding loops 38 formed on the adjacent side panel 25 of the gondola 1, and then slide the front edges 33 and rear edges 34 of the canopy 32 onto their respective hoops 30, 31, until the opposite side edge 36 comes alongside the opposite side panel 25 of the gondola 1.

[0058] Next, the user stretches the hood 32 over the hoops 30, 31 by attaching the hook and loop strips 37 on the other side edge 36 to their respective loops 38 formed on the other side panel 25 of the cradle 1, then unfolds the textile walls 40 of the front edges 33 and rear edges 34 to cover each of the hoops 30, 31, as well as the rear flap 42 to cover the handlebar 16.

[0059] Similarly, when the user wishes to store the soft top 32, they detach the hook and loop fasteners 37 from each side edge 36, then fold the side panels 40 covering the hoops 30, 31 and the rear flap 42 over the transparent central panel 39 of the soft top 32, and then slide its front edges 33 and rear edges 34 over their respective hoops 30, 31, as shown in the figure 3 , until the two lateral edges 36 of the hood 32 are brought towards the wall 44 forming the cover 43.

[0060] Finally, the user wraps the panel 44 around the rolled-up hood 32, then closes the cover 43 using the zipper strip 45, as shown in the figure 5 .

Claims

1. Bicycle transport cradle (1), said cradle comprising a bottom (20) at least partially surrounded by a peripheral skirt (21) to form a loading compartment (22), said cradle having two hoops (30, 31) each extending between two opposite sides (25) of the compartment (22) to form an arch above said compartment, said cradle being equipped with a hood (32) that can be placed between the hoops (30, 31) in a configuration covering the compartment (22), the hood (32) having two first opposite edges (33, 34) which are mounted so as to slide on respectively one of said hoops (30, 31) 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 (22) is uncovered, said cradle being characterised in that it is equipped with an additional wall (46) fixed to the peripheral skirt (21) and arranged laterally opposite the arch of one of said hoops (30), forming a gap (47) between them which is sufficient to allow the corresponding first edge (33) to slide.

2. Bicycle transport cradle (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the hood (32) has two opposite second edges (36) which extend on either side of the first edges (33, 34), said second edges being disposed opposite respectively one of said sides (25) of the compartment (22) when the hood (32) is in the covering configuration, at least one of said second edges being disposed at a distance from the corresponding side (25) when the hood (32) is in the storage configuration.

3. Bicycle transport cradle (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that at least one of the second edges (36) is equipped with means (37) for reversible attachment to the corresponding side (25) of the compartment (22).

4. Bicycle transport cradle (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that each of the second edges (36) is equipped with a means (37) for reversible fixation to the corresponding side (25) so as to maintain the covering configuration from one side to the other.

5. Bicycle transport cradle (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised 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 removal.

6. Bicycle transport cradle (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the sliding means comprise at least one loop (35) which is mounted so as to slide around the corresponding hoop (30, 31).

7. Bicycle transport cradle (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the dimension of the hood (32) between its first edges (33, 34) is defined in relation to the spacing of the hoops (30, 31) so as to stretch said hood between said hoops in the covering configuration.

8. Bicycle transport cradle (1) according to any of claims 2 and 3 to 7, if they are dependent on claim 2, characterised in that the dimension of the hood (32) between its second edges (36) is defined in relation 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. Bicycle transport cradle (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the first (33, 34) and / or second (36) edges of the hood (32) are equipped with a textile wall (40, 41) for covering the corresponding hoops (30, 31) and / or the corresponding sides (25).

10. Bicycle transport cradle (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it comprises a cover (43) for receiving the hood (32) in the storage configuration.

11. Bicycle transport cradle (1) according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that it is equipped with an additional wall comprising means for reversible attachment to one of said hoops (31) in a configuration where it is arranged laterally opposite the arch of said hoop.

12. Bicycle comprising a frame (2) which has a carrying platform (3) on which is mounted a bicycle transport cradle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Bicycle according to claim 12, characterised in that the frame (2) comprises a rear structure (4) for the user to sit on 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 enable the bicycle to be moved.