Bicycle transport basket equipped with a canopy

Abstract

Bicycle Transport Platform Equipped with a Canopy 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) that can be arranged between the hoops (30, 31) in a configuration covering the compartment (22), the canopy (32) having two first opposing edges (33, 34) which are slidably mounted on a hoop (30, 31) respectively so as to allow the canopy to be folded from the covering configuration to a storage configuration in which at least a portion of the compartment (22) is uncovered. Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Bicycle transport platform equipped with a canopy

[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] It applies in particular to cradles 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 gondolas generally include a bottom surrounded at least partially by a peripheral skirt, so as to form a loading compartment for passengers and / or goods.

[0004] 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 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 arches, so as to cover the compartment, for example to protect its cargo and / or its passengers from the sun and / or inclement weather.

[0005] Document EP-4 124 550 describes a "cargo" type bicycle whose basket comprises: - two lateral arches designed 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 presenting a structure that retracts in length 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 arrangement, when the user wishes to cover the compartment, they must first extend and raise the hoops, then remove the soft top from its storage compartment and place it on said hoops. Similarly, when they wish to uncover the compartment, for example in hot 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 operations to implement. Furthermore, there is a risk of losing the convertible top, particularly when it is not used for an extended period.

[0008] The invention aims to improve 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 extending each between two opposite sides of the compartment by forming an arch over said compartment, said platform being equipped with a hood that can be arranged between the hoops in a configuration covering the compartment, the hood having two first opposite edges which are mounted to slide on respectively a hoop 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 is uncovered.

[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 from the following description, made with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0012] [Fig.1] represents, in perspective top view, a bicycle equipped with a transport gondola according to an embodiment of the invention, in which the hood is not shown;

[0013] [Fig.2] partially represents in side view the bicycle of [Fig.1], centered on the front hoop and an additional wall forming a windscreen arranged opposite;

[0014] [Fig.3] represents, in perspective side view, a transport gondola according to [Fig.1], in which a hood mounted on the hoops is partially folded to reveal the compartment;

[0015] [Fig.4] partially represents in view from below the sliding mounting of an edge of the hood of the preceding figures on an arch of the gondola;

[0016] [Fig.5] partially represents, in perspective top view, the gondola of the previous figures in which the hood in storage position is arranged in a cover fitted for this purpose along one side of the compartment;

[0017] [Fig.6] partially represents, in side view, the attachment on one side of the compartment of the convertible top deployed on the hoops.

[0018] In relation to these figures, a bicycle transport gondola 1 is described below.

[0019] In the embodiment shown, the bicycle includes a frame 2 which has a carrying platform 3 on which such a transport cradle 1 is mounted.

[0020] Alternatively, the transport cradle can form an independent trailer, and can for this purpose be mounted on a chassis provided 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.

[0021] In relation to [Fig.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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] In a known manner, the rear structure 4 further comprises: - two rear stays 10 each having a triangular structure which extends longitudinally at the rear and on either side of the seat tube 8, a rear wheel 6 being mounted in 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 seat 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 actuation of said crankset, possibly with the assistance of an electric motor (not shown).

[0024] Furthermore, the rear structure 4 includes a platform 12 which extends longitudinally above the rear wheel 6, in order to allow the user to transport a small load.

[0025] In the description, the terms referring to positioning in space are taken with 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" 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.

[0026] The front structure 5 comprises a front edge 13 on which a fork 14 of a steering wheel 7 is mounted for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis, as well as a rear edge 15 on which a steering handle 16 is mounted for rotation about a second substantially vertical axis, the carrying platform 3 extending longitudinally between said front and rear edges.

[0027] In [Fig. 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 rotating said handlebar.

[0028] Advantageously, the front structure 5 includes a kickstand 19 which is mounted to rotate about a transverse axis under the carrying platform 3, between a deployed operating position (as shown in [Fig.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 down under said platform to allow movement of said bicycle.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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. Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the door 26 is formed within the thickness of the corresponding side panel 25, to which it is connected at a vertical edge by a hinge 27. The door is 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.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in the figures, the 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.

[0033] The gondola 1 further comprises two hoops 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 close to the front 23 and rear 24 panels respectively of the peripheral skirt 21.

[0034] In order to protect compartment 22, and in particular its passengers, from exposure to the sun and / or weather, the gondola 1 is equipped with a hood 32 which can be arranged between the hoops 30, 31 in a configuration covering said compartment.

[0035] As shown in [Fig.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 30 and rear 31 hoop, 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.

[0036] This arrangement allows the canopy 32 to be deployed and retracted from the hoops 30, 31 quickly and intuitively, without having to perform tedious 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 - uncover - the compartment 22 when needed, for example in the event of a sudden onset - or cessation - of a downpour.

[0037] Advantageously, the front edges 33 and rear edges 34 of the soft top 32 each include sliding means 35 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.

[0038] The sliding means each comprise at least one loop 35 which is mounted to slide around the corresponding hoop 30, 31. As shown in [Fig. 4], the front edges 33 and rear edges 34 of the hood 32 each comprise a row of loops 35 spaced along said edge, each loop 35 comprising a textile loop which is attached by sewing to an inner wall of the hood 32.

[0039] 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.

[0040] To this end, at least one of the two side edges 36 is equipped with reversible fastening means 37 for 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 hood 32, respectively, 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.

[0041] In relation to [Fig.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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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 the compartment 22 and its passengers against sunlight and / or inclement weather, while allowing air to circulate in the compartment 22, in order to prevent a rise in temperature in said compartment in the event of high temperatures.

[0044] 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 stretch 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 stretch said soft top between said lateral sides in an overlapping configuration.

[0045] Thus, the hood 32 in the covering configuration is prevented from hanging from the hoops 30, 31 under the effect of gravity, which could inconvenience the passengers occupying the compartment 22.

[0046] 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, but 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 outline, itself sewn onto the edges 33, 34, 36 of the soft top 32.

[0047] The first 33, 34 and / or the second 36 edges of the soft top 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 soft top is in the configuration of covering, in order to conceal said hoops and / or said sides, and thus to improve the aesthetics of gondola 1 in said covering configuration.

[0048] In particular, the front edges 33 and rear edges 34 each comprise such a textile wall 40 under which are sewn the sliding loops 35 of said edge on the corresponding hoop 30, 31.

[0049] 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.

[0050] In relation to [Fig.5], the hood 32 further includes a cover 43 for receiving said hood in storage configuration.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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 fixing 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 fixing and complementary means.

[0053] In the embodiment shown, the fastening and complementary means are formed by a zipper strip 45 of the zipper type.

[0054] In relation to figures 1 to 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] Advantageously, the windscreen wall 46 is arranged 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.

[0057] The gondola 1 can also be equipped with an additional wall, in particular a blackout wall, said wall comprising means for reversible association on a roll bar, in particular the rear roll bar 31, in a configuration where it is arranged laterally opposite the arch of said roll bar.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] Furthermore, the cradle 1 may include a storage cover in which this additional blackout wall can be folded when not in use.

[0061] The canopy 32 and / or a possible additional wall 40, 41, 42, 44 may include at least a portion having photo-reflective properties, in order to improve the visibility of the gondola 1 in the event of low ambient light, and thus improve the safety of the bicycle user and / or the passengers occupying the compartment 22.

[0062] 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.

[0063] When the user wishes to deploy the canopy 32 in the covering configuration, he opens the cover 43, attaches 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, then slides the front edges 33 and rear edges 34 of the canopy 32 on their respective hoops 30, 31, until the opposite side edge 36 comes into contact with the opposite side panel 25 of the gondola 1.

[0064] 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 gondola 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.

[0065] 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 cover panels 40 of 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 onto their respective hoops 30, 31, as shown in [Fig.3], until bringing the two lateral edges 36 of the hood 32 towards the wall 44 forming the cover 43.

[0066] Finally, the user rolls the wall 44 around the hood 32 thus rolled up, then closes the cover 43 by means of the zip closure strip 45, as shown in [Fig.5].

Claims

Demands

1. Bicycle transport platform (1), said platform comprising a base (20) 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) that 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) that are slidably mounted on a hoop (30, 31) respectively so as to allow the canopy to be folded from the covering configuration to a storage configuration in which at least a portion of the compartment (22) is uncovered,said gondola being characterized in that it is equipped with an additional wall (46) fixed to the peripheral skirt (21) and arranged laterally opposite the arch of a hoop (30), forming a gap (47) between them which is sufficient to allow the sliding of the corresponding first edge (33).

2. Transport gondola (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the hood (32) has two opposing second edges (36) extending on either side of the first edges (33, 34), said second edges being arranged opposite one side (25) of the compartment (22) respectively 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 gondola (1) according to claim 2, characterized 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. Transport platform (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that each of the second edges (36) is equipped with a reversible fastening means (37) on the corresponding side (25) so as to maintain the overlapping configuration from one side to the other.

5. Transport gondola (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 dismantling.

6. Transport platform (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 gondola (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 in relation to the spacing of the hoops (30, 31) so as to stretch said hood between said hoops in overlapping configuration.

8. Transport gondola (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized 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 overlapping configuration.

9. Transport gondola (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 corresponding hoops (30, 31) and / or sides (25).

10. Transport cradle (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 gondola (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is equipped with a complementary wall comprising means for reversible association on an arch (31) in a configuration where it is arranged laterally opposite the arch of said arch.

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

13. Bicycle according to claim 12, characterized in that the frame (2) comprises a rear seating structure (4) for 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.

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