Vertical bicycle stand

Abstract

This vertical bicycle stand offers the following features: compact size and stability, convenient placement, ease of loading and unloading, no interference with the gear shift, easy adjustment, compatibility with everything from small-wheeled mini velos to downhill MTBs, usability with fat bikes' wide tires as well as narrow tires, easy and safe use even for those with little strength or clumsiness, and a very simple appearance that is excellent for display. [Solution] The stand is made up of roughly four parts: a column, two hooks, and a floor base. The column stands vertically from the floor, and there is one hook on the top and one on the bottom of the column. Place the bicycle vertically, rest the rear wheel on the lower hook, and hang the inside of the front wheel rim on the upper hook to complete the setup.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a stand (a stand for a vertically placed bicycle) for keeping a bicycle in a posture where the front wheel is vertically and parallelly arranged above the rear wheel.

Background Art

[0002] There is a stand for a vertically placed bicycle for storing a bicycle in a small space indoors. There are types such as those that allow the rear wheel to sink into the base part and hook a hook diagonally below the front wheel.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above types of stands for vertically placed bicycles, some cannot accommodate wide tires like fat bikes or long wheelbases, require time and effort for adjustment, and there is a risk that the transmission may interfere with the stand and be damaged. Also, those that require skill and effort when taking the bicycle out of the stand are troublesome. <000​​​​​​​While other types of vertical storage solutions exist, the challenge lies in the fact that problems arise depending on the structure that achieves the initial goal of storing bicycles vertically. Even if one problem is solved, another problem often arises, making it difficult to solve both simultaneously.

[0007] Based on the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a vertical bicycle stand that solves multiple problems such as small space requirements, stability, ease of placement, ease of removal, no interference with the gear shift, and compatibility with different wheelbases and ease of adjustment. Furthermore, it aims to provide a vertical bicycle stand that can be used with fat bikes with thick tires as well as with thin tires, and that can be used easily and safely even by people with little strength or who are clumsy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, the present invention consists of a support section, a front wheel support section, a rear wheel support section, and a base section. The support section is for supporting the front and rear wheels, has a length that allows the front and rear wheels to be supported, and is a vertically standing columnar shape. It is located on one side of the bicycle, in a place where nothing other than the front and rear wheels can touch it. There is a front wheel support section that supports the front wheel and a rear wheel support section that supports the rear wheel. The base is designed to stabilize the stand, and the support structure is fixed to it. The base has a mounting surface that can be adjusted to the installation location, ensuring stability.

[0009] The front wheel support, rear wheel support, or both have clamping parts on the support for changing and fixing their height. The clamping parts have a pressing surface with the same cross-sectional shape as the outer circumference of the horizontal cross-section of the support, and the support is fixed by the clamping parts clamping the support, thereby reducing the gap between the outer circumference of the support and the pressing surface. The clamping parts have enough strength that the pressing surface undergoes slight deformation when clamping the support, but does not lose its basic shape. By making the outer circumference of the horizontal cross-section of the support non-circular or non-circular, rotation is prevented because the outer circumference shapes do not match and the pressing surface interferes with the support when it attempts to rotate around the support as an axis.

[0010] The front wheel support section of the support unit is rod-shaped, positioned at a horizontal height relative to the center of the front wheel, extending to the side of the bicycle, and angled horizontally and approximately 45 degrees to the rear. The length of the support unit and the front wheel support section is such that the inner circumference (rim side) of the front wheel can be supported at the base where they meet.

[0011] The rear wheel support section of the support is rod-shaped, positioned lower than the center of the rear wheel, extending to the side of the bicycle, oriented horizontally and approximately parallel to the rear wheel axle, and having a length that can support the outer circumference (tire side) of the rear wheel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, a vertical stand can be provided that solves multiple problems such as small space requirements, stability, ease of placement, ease of removal, no interference with the gear shift, and compatibility with different wheelbases and ease of adjustment. Furthermore, it can be used with fat bikes with thick tires as well as with thin tires, and a vertical bicycle stand can be used easily and safely even by people with little strength or who are clumsy. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a stand according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the mounting surface of a stand according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention and a view showing a bicycle placed on the stand according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of a front wheel support according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of a rear wheel support according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a side view of a bicycle, illustrating its overall length and the position of its wheels. [Figure 6] This is a front view of a bicycle to illustrate its overall height and width. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The vertical bicycle stand of the present invention is intended for storing one bicycle indoors. The parts constituting the bicycle (mainly the rear fender) reach the very end 40 shown in FIG. 5, and a lightweight sports bicycle such as the bicycle 30 shown in FIG. 2, where the front wheel 33 does not obstruct the posture of being vertical above the rear wheel 34, for example, a road bike or a mountain bike, is suitable.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the vertical bicycle stand of the present invention is composed of a support part 02, a front wheel support part 03, a rear wheel support part 04, and a base part 05.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the support tool 02 is located on the left side of the bicycle 30 and is in a position where it does not touch other parts except the front / rear wheels 33, 34, so as not to interfere with the parts constituting the bicycle 30 such as the transmission 35. If there is no interference, the support part 02 can be on either the left or right side.

[0017] Set the bicycle 30 so that the front wheel 33 is vertically above the rear wheel 34, and align the front wheel 33 and the rear wheel 34 along the support part 02. Therefore, the length of the support part 02 requires the total length 41 of the bicycle shown in FIG. 5. The posture where the front wheel 33 is vertically and parallel above the rear wheel 34 is called "vertical placement".

[0018] When the bicycle 30 is placed vertically, the rear wheel 34 will roll backward as shown in FIG. 2, and the front wheel 33 will fall forward as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, by the front wheel support part 03 receiving the front wheel 33 and the rear wheel support part 04 receiving the rear wheel 34, the vertical posture is maintained.

[0019] In order to fix and stabilize the vertically placed state, the support part 02 is fixed to the base part 05, and the base part 05 obtains stability on the installation surface 20, thus becoming the vertical bicycle stand of the present invention.

[0020] In the vertical bicycle stand 01 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a structure in which the base part 05 is placed on the floor is adopted. As another structure, there is a base part 05 provided with a bracket in the middle of the support part 02, and it is assumed that the base part 05 is fixed to the wall surface.

[0021] The range that encloses the portion of the base part 05 that is grounded on the floor within a rectangle becomes the installation surface 20 of the shaded area shown in FIG. 2. The rear wheel 34 rides on the upper surface side of the base part 05 near the center of this installation surface 20, and the support part 02 is fixed at a position according to the positional relationship with the vertically placed bicycle 30 as described above.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the size of the installation surface 20 is such that the front - rear dimension is 46 or less than the full height of the bicycle, and the left - right dimension is 45 or less than the full width of the bicycle, and by enclosing it within a range smaller than the size of the vertically placed bicycle 30, it is possible to achieve a small space. With this size, even if it is pushed or shaken slightly, it will not fall over, and stability is also achieved.

[0023] The upper surface side of the base part 05 has a planar shape, has a simple structure, and is lightweight. Since the stand 01 is non - fixed and lightweight, it can be easily relocated. It is assumed that the part that contacts the floor can be replaced with rubber feet, adjusters, casters convenient for moving indoors, etc. It is a stand that is excellent in convenience of arrangement, being lightweight, occupying a small space, and being able to be changed according to user preferences.

[0024] In the vertically - placed bicycle stand 01 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front / rear wheel support parts 03, 04 have a clamping part 10, and the clamping part 10 is provided on the support part 02.

[0025] The clamping part 10 has a pressing surface 11 having the same cross - sectional shape as the outer peripheral shape of the horizontal cross - section of the support part 02. By the pressing surface 11 clamping the support part 02, the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the support part 02 and the pressing surface 11 decreases and it is fixed. Conversely, by loosening, the clamping part 10 slides up and down on the support part 02, and the height of the front / rear wheel support parts 03, 04 is changed.

[0026] In the vertically - placed bicycle stand 01 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a knob 12 having a female screw and one end side of the front / rear wheel support parts 03, 04 tighten and loosen the clamping part 10 with a male screw.

[0027] In a vertical bicycle stand 01 according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clamping portion 10 has one slit 13 parallel to the pressing surface 11, and a gap is provided in the slit 13. The pressing surface 11 is also the inner circumferential surface of the clamping portion 10. There is a vertical through hole near the center of the slit 13, through which either the front or rear wheel support portion 03 or 04 passes and is tightened or loosened by the knob 12.

[0028] If the outer circumference of the horizontal cross-section of the support part 02 is circular, and the clamping force of the clamping part 10 is weak, the load of the bicycle on the front / rear wheel support parts 03 and 04 may cause the clamping part 10 to rotate around the support part 02 as an axis, potentially causing the bicycle to tip over.

[0029] Tightening it firmly with tools to prevent rotational misalignment is cumbersome and makes adjustment inconvenient. Furthermore, the support section 02 and clamping section 10 need to withstand strong forces, resulting in large and heavy stand components. Lighter weight is desirable for ease of placement, and this compromises the design's simplicity, which is problematic.

[0030] One way to solve this problem is to make the outer circumference shape of the horizontal cross-section of the support part 02 other than circular. Even if the clamping part 10 is tightened with a weak force, rotational misalignment is prevented because the outer circumference shape does not match and will cause interference. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vertical bicycle stand 01 employs an elliptical shape.

[0031] While this can also be prevented with a square or rectangular outer shape, the rounded shape without corners allows the clamping surface 11 to tighten smoothly without obstruction when tightening the clamping portion 10, and prevents rotational misalignment when it might occur because the outer shapes do not match. To accommodate this difference, the clamping surface 11 and the clamping portion 10 are designed to undergo slight deformation when tightened, but have sufficient strength to maintain their basic shape.

[0032] Rotation can be prevented by various shapes, such as a circular outer shape with some irregularities, so shapes other than a circle that cannot cause rotational misalignment are used. Shapes that do not prevent rotational misalignment, such as a semi-circular shape with part of it cut off, or a regular polygon, are considered the same as a circle.

[0033] The ability to freely change and fix the front / rear wheel support sections 03 and 04 vertically allows for compatibility with bicycles of different wheelbases (frame sizes). Slightly inaccurate positioning is not a problem, as adjustments can be made after placing the bicycle, making it easy to use.

[0034] By fine-tuning the front / rear wheel support sections 03 and 04 and aligning the front / rear wheels 33 and 34 vertically and parallel, any size bicycle can be neatly stored upright. If there were a mechanism to prevent the wheels from slipping, it would be troublesome to reach in and remove them, but in this invention, the bicycle remains free, so it can be easily placed and removed simply by holding the handle 32.

[0036] In a vertical bicycle stand 01 according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front wheel support part 03 is rod-shaped, and when placing a bicycle on the stand 01, the front wheel support part 03 is adjusted to the horizontal plane at a height 43 from the center of the front wheel so that the inner circumference (rim side) of the front wheel 33 fits inside. The front wheel support section 03 extends from the support section 02 to the side of the bicycle and is angled horizontally at approximately a 45-degree rearward diagonal. When a bicycle is placed vertically, the front wheel 33 side (upper side) tends to fall forward, so the inner circumference side (rim side) of the front wheel 33 slides into the joint between the support section 02 and the front wheel support section 03 and leans over. In this way, the front wheel 33 naturally rests against the support section 02 due to its own weight. The front wheel support section 03 needs to be long enough to receive the front wheel 33 at the base where it connects with the support section 02.

[0037] In a vertical bicycle stand 01 according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rear wheel support portion 04 is rod-shaped, and when placing a bicycle 30 on the vertical stand 01, the rear wheel support portion 04 is adjusted to a height lower than the center 44 of the rear wheel 34 so that the outer circumference (tire side) of the rear wheel 34 makes contact. The rear wheel support portion 04 extends from the support portion 02 to the side of the bicycle 30, faces horizontally (parallel to the rear wheel axle), and has a length that can support the rear wheel 34.

[0039] In a vertical bicycle stand 01 according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front / rear wheel support sections 03 and 04 are in the shape of circular rods. It is envisioned that a cushioning tube to prevent scratches and a wheel slippage stopper can be attached. The ends of the rods have a screw structure, and the length can be increased or decreased by connecting rods of the same shape with male and female threads, and it is also envisioned that a spherical protective device can be attached.

[0040] The objective of this patent is to accommodate bicycle tire widths ranging from 150mm for fat bikes to 20mm for road bikes. To achieve this, the support section 02 is located on only one side of the bicycle, and the front and rear wheel support sections 03 and 04 are connected to the support section 02 at a freely adjustable length to the side of the bicycle 30. Furthermore, to avoid obstructing these, the upper surface of the base section 05 is a flat, unobstructed shape. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rear wheel support section 04 is provided on the support section 02 of the vertical bicycle stand 01 to support the rear wheel 34. This also relates to the issue of interference with the gear shift, but both are achieved.

[0041] In a vertical bicycle stand 01 according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base portion 05 has a shape that eliminates unnecessary parts while maintaining the mounting surface 20 in order to reduce weight. The upper surface of the base portion 05 is made to be the same as a planar shape as long as the structure that hinders the achievement of the objective is omitted from the upper surface of the base portion 05 and the function equivalent to that of a flat surface where the bicycle 30 rests on the base portion 05 is achieved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 01 Bicycle stand 02 Support part 03 Front wheel support part 04 Rear wheel support part 05 Base section 10 Clamping part 11 Pressing surface 12 Knobs 13 Cracks 20 Installation surface 30 Bicycles 31 Saddle 32 handle 33 Front Wheel 34 Rear wheels 35 transmission 40 Last in line 41 Total length of the bicycle 42 Wheelbase (length between front and rear wheel axles) 43 Height to the center of the front wheel 44 Height to the center of the rear wheel 45 Bicycle width 46 Total height of the bicycle 47 tire width

Claims

1. A bicycle stand for maintaining a bicycle in a position where the front wheel is aligned vertically and parallel to the rear wheel, It is a support for the front and rear wheels, located on one side of the bicycle, in a position where nothing other than the front and rear wheels can touch it, and has a vertically standing columnar support section long enough to support the front and rear wheels, A front wheel support section that receives the front wheel, and a rear wheel support section that receives the rear wheel, A bicycle stand characterized by having a base section with a mounting surface and a fixed front support section, which is intended to stabilize the stand.

2. A bicycle stand according to claim 1, Either the front wheel support or the rear wheel support, or both, The support portion is provided with a clamping portion for changing and fixing the height position, The clamping portion has a pressing surface having the same cross-sectional shape as the outer peripheral shape of the horizontal cross-section of the support portion. The clamping portion clamps the support portion, thereby reducing the gap between the outer surface of the support portion and the pressing surface, and fixing it in place. The clamping portion has sufficient strength to clamp the support portion, causing slight deformation of the pressing surface but without altering its basic shape. A bicycle stand characterized by preventing rotation by making the outer circumference shape of the horizontal cross-section of the front wheel support part other than circular or similar to a circular shape, so that even if the pressing surface attempts to rotate around the support part as an axis, the outer circumference shape does not match and it becomes jammed.

3. The bicycle stand according to either claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the front wheel support portion provided on the front support portion is rod-shaped, positioned at a height horizontal to the center of the front wheel, extends to the side of the bicycle, is oriented horizontally and at approximately a 45-degree angle to the rear, and has a length at the base where the support portion and the front wheel support portion meet so as to support the inner circumference (rim side) of the front wheel.

4. The bicycle stand according to either claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rear wheel support portion provided in the front support portion is rod-shaped, located at a height lower than the center of the rear wheel, extends to the side of the bicycle, is oriented horizontally and substantially parallel to the rear wheel axle, and has a length that can support the outer circumference (tire side) of the rear wheel.

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