Bicycle front basket mounting fixture and mounting method using same

Abstract

To provide a fitting tool and a fitting method which can easily and promptly fit a front basket to a basket bracket, and can remarkably improve a work efficiency without a need of large force.SOLUTION: Provided are: a fitting tool for a bicycle front basket that has a receiving member 20 fitted to a back surface of a front basket 2 of a bicycle 1 and an insertion slot 30 to be inserted to the receiving member 20, and enables fitting of the basket to a basket bracket 10 having an erected wall part 12; and a fitting method. The receiving member 20 has: a slot insertion space 26b that enables the insertion slot 30 to be inserted to the interior from a slot insertion hole 26a provided at one side; and a wall part insertion space 27b that enables the wall part 12 to be inserted into a space from a wall part insertion hole 27a provided at the other side to the insertion slot 30 having been inserted. The insertion slot 30 has: a thickened portion 37; and claw pieces 35 that are hung down and support the wall part 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting tool for attaching a bicycle front basket to a bicycle basket bracket, the mounting tool being for attaching the rear side of the front basket. The present invention also relates to a mounting method for a front basket using the mounting tool for a bicycle front basket. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, bicycles are primarily manufactured overseas and imported in large quantities in containers. To fit the bicycles as tightly as possible into a given space, they are often imported without their front baskets. Therefore, after import, the front baskets must be bolted to the bottom of each bicycle individually, resulting in extremely inefficient installation. In this situation, there was a need for a mounting tool and method that could be easily and quickly installed on a large number of bicycles.

[0003] Conventional bicycle front basket attachment devices have often been attached by screwing to a T-shaped basket bracket for attaching the basket. Other examples, such as that shown in Patent Document 1, often involve a front basket support plate attached to a stay that allows the basket to be attached and detached from the basket bracket, supporting the basket from below. While most of these bicycle front basket attachment devices are easy to attach and detach, or can be repurposed as a basket or case for other purposes, few are designed for easy and quick attachment. Therefore, there has been a demand for an attachment device that can be attached to a basket bracket easily and quickly. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Registered Utility Model No. 3043158

[0005] The applicant has filed an unpublished prior application, Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-194445. In this application, the applicant has also conducted extensive research into a mounting tool and mounting method in which a basket bracket is inserted into a receiving material, and then the insertion slot is inserted and fixed like a wedge. However, this method requires a large amount of force to insert the insertion slot like a wedge when the wall portion is already inserted. The applicant has conducted extensive research and development into a mounting tool and mounting method that can easily and quickly mount a large number of bicycle front baskets, and has found a need for a mounting tool and mounting method that does not require as much force during installation and allows for easier and faster installation. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting tool and mounting method for a basket bracket that can greatly improve work efficiency by enabling a front basket to be mounted easily and quickly. Another object is to provide a mounting tool and mounting method that allows for smooth installation without requiring a large amount of force, in order to greatly improve work efficiency. Another object is to provide a mounting tool and mounting method that is less likely to become misaligned. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The front basket mounting device of the present invention is a bicycle front basket mounting device that has a receiving material attached to the back part of the bicycle front basket and an insertion slot that is inserted into the receiving material, and can be attached to a basket bracket that has a rising wall portion, and the receiving material has a slot insertion space that allows the insertion slot to be inserted into it from a slot insertion opening on one side, and a wall insertion space that allows the wall portion to be inserted between the inserted insertion slot and the receiving material from a wall insertion opening on the other side, and the insertion slot has a thick portion and a claw piece that hangs down to support the wall portion.

[0008] It is also preferable that the insertion slot has a convex engaging portion for fixing the inserted state of the receiving member, and that the receiving member has a concave engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion.

[0009] It is also preferable that the receiving member has an inclined portion for inserting the convex engaging portion of the insertion slot, and a top plate support portion for supporting the top plate of the insertion slot.

[0010] It is also preferable that the insertion slot has a downwardly extending tab that is inclined downward and rearward relative to the vertical direction of the thick portion.

[0011] In addition, the method for attaching a bicycle front basket using the mounting device of the present invention is a method for attaching a receiving material attached to the back portion of the bicycle front basket to a basket bracket having a rising wall portion, and is characterized in that the basket bracket and the receiving material are fixed by inserting an insertion slot having a thick portion and a hanging claw piece from a slot insertion opening formed on the top of the receiving material into a slot insertion space inside the receiving material, and inserting the wall portion from a wall insertion opening formed on the bottom of the receiving material into a wall insertion space inside the receiving material between the inserted insertion slot. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the invention of claim 1, the basket bracket can be inserted into the receiving material after inserting the insertion slot, and the thick portion and the claws allow it to be fixed so that it does not shift in position in the vertical and longitudinal directions. The receiving material can be attached to the front basket at the manufacturing factory, and even if the front basket has been removed during transportation, import, or transfer, it can be easily and quickly attached without using screws, significantly shortening the process time, especially when attaching front baskets to a large number of bicycles.

[0013] Furthermore, the basket bracket can be inserted into the receiving material with the insertion slot inserted, and the installation worker can hold the basket in his / her hand and press the basket from one side to insert the wall part of the basket bracket into the wall insertion space, making it possible to perform installation work with less effort.

[0014] According to the invention described in claim 2, the convex engaging portion of the insertion slot and the concave engaged portion of the receiving member are engaged to support the inserted state of the insertion slot, and it is possible to fix it without rattle in the width direction or up and down, which prevents the front basket from shifting out of position.

[0015] The invention described in claim 3 not only improves work efficiency by making it easier to insert the engagement portion of the insertion slot into the receiving material using the inclined portion, but also prevents the insertion slot from shifting position forward, backward, or left and right by having a top plate support portion that surrounds the top plate when the insertion slot is inserted, thereby enabling stable fixation.

[0016] According to the invention described in claim 4, the insertion slot has a claw piece that supports the wall portion from below, thereby stably supporting the basket bracket from below, and when the wall portion is in a supported state, the restoring force of the elastic deformation acts to press the wall portion backward, allowing for stable support without any misalignment in the front or back.

[0017] The invention described in claim 5 eliminates the need for on-site screw fastening processes, significantly improving work efficiency. Once the insertion slots are inserted into the receiving material, the installer can secure the basket by holding it in his or her hand and inserting the wall part of the basket bracket from one side. Compared to the method of inserting the insertion slots like a wedge to secure the basket, this method not only allows for one-touch installation by holding the relatively heavy basket in one's hand and pressing it down, but also makes it possible to install without requiring a relatively large amount of force. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the attachment to the basket bracket of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the attachment to the basket bracket of the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a partial right side view of a bicycle equipped with the mounting bracket of this embodiment. [Figure 4]1A and 1B are front and partial cross-sectional perspective views of a receiving member for the mounting fixture of the present embodiment, with FIG. 1A being a front view and FIG. 1B being a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a second side portion cut away. [Figure 5] 1 shows the receiving material for the mounting fixture of this embodiment, where (a) is a plan view, (b) is a bottom view, and (c) is a bottom view in which the slot insertion space and the wall insertion space are clearly indicated by hatching. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an insertion slot of the mounting fixture of this embodiment, where FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a rear view. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B show an insertion slot for the mounting fixture of this embodiment, where FIG. 1A is a left side view and FIG. 1B is a plan view. [Figure 8] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the receiving member shown in FIG. 4 at the position of line ZZ, attached to the front basket, and inserted into the insertion slot and basket bracket. [Figure 9] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the receiving member at the position of line YY shown in FIG. 4, in a state where the receiving member is attached to the front basket and the insertion slot and basket bracket are inserted. [Figure 10] 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a support member is attached to the front basket from the state shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 11] 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the insertion slot is inserted into the receiving material from the state shown in FIG. 10. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this description, "front and rear" refers to the front-to-rear direction of the bicycle, with the direction of arrow A in Figures 1, 2, and 3 being the forward direction and the direction of arrow B being the rear direction. Furthermore, the "width direction" refers to the left-to-right direction and refers to the left and right sides of the bicycle, and will be described as the direction of arrow C in Figures 1 and 2. Furthermore, the "up-down direction" refers to the top and bottom of the bicycle, and will be described as the direction of arrow D in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

[0020] Explaining the bicycle as a whole, as shown in Figure 3, the mounting fixture of the present invention attaches the front basket 2 to a basket bracket 10, which is a bracket for attaching the back portion of the front basket 2 of the bicycle 1, and is configured to insert and secure the basket bracket 10 after inserting the insertion slot 30 into a receiving member 20 that is pre-attached to the back portion of the front basket 2 of the bicycle 1. The bottom portion of the front basket 2 is pre-attached to a stay 5 attached to the axle of the front wheel 4 of the bicycle 1 with a base member 6, and the mounting fixture is then attached to the basket bracket 10 of the front basket 2 to complete the installation of the front basket 2.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the basket bracket 10 has a typical T-shape consisting of an arm 11 extending in the front-to-rear direction and a wall 12 that rises upward from the tip of the arm 11 and extends in the width direction. The wall 12 is a wall-like member that rises from the arm 11 and has a rectangular surface with the width direction as its longitudinal direction, and has openings 13, 13 that are used when screwing it to the mounting plate of the front basket 2. The base end of the arm 11 has a fixing hole 14 that is opened to pass through and fix it to the protruding upper end of the bicycle's front fork 3 (see Figure 3).

[0022] First, the basic configuration of the receiving member 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1 , the receiving member has first side portions 22, 22 on both sides of a receiving member base 21 extending rearward (in the direction of arrow B), and second side portions 23, 23 extending further rearward (in the direction of arrow C) on both sides of the first side portions 22, 22, resulting in a convex overall shape in a plan view. The two second side portions 23, 23 are open between them, and a bridge portion 24 is disposed protruding upward from the second side portions 23, 23 via extension portions 25, 25. The receiving member 20 of this embodiment is integrally molded from a hard resin material. The receiving member 20 has spaces within the receiving member base 21, first side portions 22, 22, and second side portions 23, 23, into which an insertion slot 30 and a wall portion 12 of a basket bracket 10, which will be described later, can be inserted.

[0023] The configuration of the receiving material 20 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 4 and 5 in addition to Figures 1 and 2. The receiving material base 21 has first side portions 22, 22 on both the left and right sides that protrude rearward and second side portions 23, 23 that protrude further to the side than the first side portions 22, 22. The space between the second side portions 23, 23 is open, and in front view, the rear surface 21a and engaged portion 21c, which are the rear surface of the receiving material base 21 and face and contact the thick portion 37 of the insertion slot 30 described below, as well as screw holes for attaching a basket, are exposed. A bridging portion 24 is formed that rises upward and bends to bridge between the second side portions 23, 23 on both sides, and extension portions 25, 25 are formed that extend up from the second side portions 23, 23.

[0024] The receiving material 20 has a slot insertion opening 26a that opens upward for inserting an insertion slot 30 (described later), and a slot insertion space 26b into which the insertion slot 30 is inserted. The slot insertion opening 26a is open so that it is surrounded by the receiving material base 21, the first side portions 22, 22 on both sides, the second side portions 23, 23 on both sides, and the extensions 25, 25 in a plan view. The slot insertion space 26b is located below the slot insertion opening 26a and is similarly surrounded by the receiving material base 21, the first side portions 22, 22 on both sides, the second side portions 23, 23 on both sides, and the extensions 25, 25.

[0025] In order to insert the insertion slot 30 from the slot insertion opening 26a into the slot insertion space 26b, an inclined slope 21b is formed in the upper center of the base rear surface 21a of the receiving base 21. The left-right length of the slope 21b is the same as the left-right length of the thick portion 37 of the insertion slot 30, and the vertical length is about one-third of the vertical length of the receiving base 21. The lower part of the slope 21b forms the base rear surface 21a that receives the thick portion 37 of the insertion slot 30, and a concave engaged portion 21c is formed in the lower center of this base rear surface 21a so that it can engage with the convex engaging portion 37a of the insertion slot 30.

[0026] The engaged portion 21c of the receiving member 20 is recessed at the left-right center of the base rear surface 21a of the receiving member base 21, with its upper edge at the up-down center. The left-right width of the engaged portion 21c is approximately the same as the left-right width of the convex engaging portion 37a of the insertion slot, so that when the insertion slot 30 is inserted into the slot insertion space 26b, the engaging portion 37a enters and engages with the engaged portion 21c, preventing it from slipping out upward or shifting left-right. Furthermore, the inclined portion 21b is formed on the upper side of the base rear surface 21a, inclined toward the upper end so as to widen the opening area, preventing the engaging portion 37a protruding from the insertion slot 30 from getting caught and making it difficult to insert the insertion slot 30 into the slot insertion space 26b.

[0027] Next, we will explain the top plate support portion for supporting the top plate 31 of the insertion slot 30. The periphery of the slot insertion opening 26a has approximately the same shape as the periphery of the top plate 31 of the insertion slot 30, and is surrounded by the receiving base 21, both first side portions 22, 22, second side portions 23, 23, and extension portions 25, 25, preventing the top plate 31 from shifting left and right or front and back near the upper end of these. Furthermore, on both sides of the inclined surface 21b of the receiving base 21, steps 21d, 21d that descend one step downward from the top surface of the receiving base 21 are formed. With this configuration, when the insertion slot 30 is inserted, the top plate 31 is supported from below by the steps 21d, 21d so as to close the slot insertion opening 26a, and its periphery is supported by the peripheral wall of the slot insertion opening 26a. This prevents shifting forward, backward, left and right when the insertion slot 30 is inserted, and prevents it from dropping downward more than expected.

[0028] The receiving material 20 has a wall insertion opening 27a that opens downward for inserting the wall 12 of the basket bracket 10, and a wall insertion space 27b into which the wall 12 is inserted. The second side portions 23, 23 of the receiving material 20 are open downward to form a hollow interior, within which the wall insertion space 27b is formed, and the lower edge thereof becomes the wall insertion opening 27a.

[0029] In bottom view, the slot insertion space 26b is located in the front, and the wall insertion space 27b is located in the rear, so that they are aligned in a front-to-rear direction (see FIG. 5(c)). When the insertion slot 30 is inserted into the slot insertion space 26b, the insertion slot 30 is located at the rear of the wall insertion space 27b, and the insertion slot 30 and the inner front walls 23a, 23a of the second side portions 23, 23 form the front walls of the wall insertion space 27b. Downwardly sloping surfaces 23b, 23b are formed on the lower back surfaces of the rear surfaces of the second side portions 23, 23, making it easy to insert the wall portion 12 even if the insertion angle is slightly off from the vertical.

[0030] Next, the configuration of the insertion slot 30 will be described in detail. As shown in Figures 6 and 7 as well as Figures 8 and 9, which are cross-sectional views after insertion is complete, the insertion slot 30 basically comprises a top plate 31, tabs 35, 35, and a thick portion 37. The insertion slot 30 is made of a hard resin material and can be inserted into the slot insertion space 26b while elastically deforming.

[0031] The top plate 31 protrudes forward compared to the overall shape of the insertion slot 30, and has a front-to-rear width that is longer than the front-to-rear widths of the base end 32 and the thick portion 37. When the insertion slot 30 is inserted into the slot insertion space 26b, it is supported by the top plate support portion described above, and is supported so as not to shift left and right or front and rear.

[0032] The flange-shaped member has a base end 32 extending downward from the top plate 31, and claws 35 formed in an inverted U shape are formed on both the left and right sides of the base end 32. The base end 32 has a predetermined thickness, and has a front-to-back width that is approximately the same as the front-to-back width of the slot insertion space 26b of the receiving member 20 described above. A thick portion 37 is formed to extend downward from this base end 32 into the space surrounded by the claws 35. The base end 32 and the thick portion 37 have the same front-to-back width, and the rear surface hangs down so as to be flush with the rear edge of the top plate 31, and the front surface is positioned one step lower than the front edge of the top plate 31.

[0033] The claw pieces 35 are composed of downward claws 35a, 35a extending downward from both the left and right sides of the base end 32 of the top plate 31, and a claw tip portion 35b connecting these at the bottom. The claw pieces 35 are formed thinner than the base end 32 and the thick portion 37, and in a side view, the downward claws 35a, 35a are gradually inclined rearward as they extend downward. The downward claws 35a, 35a are formed as claws protruding rearward so as to be aligned vertically with the lower edge of the thick portion 37, and are gradually thinner toward the tip. The claw tip portion 35b also has the same inclination as the downward claws 35a, 35a, gradually thinning toward the tip (lower end).

[0034] The thick portion 37 is a thick rectangular member hanging down from the base end 32, and has a shape in which the thickness gradually decreases toward the lower edge. The thickness (front-to-back width) of the thick portion of the thick portion 37 is formed so as to be approximately the same as the front-to-back width of the slot insertion space 26b of the receiving material 20, as described above, and is inserted into the slot insertion space 26b when inserted into the receiving material 20.

[0035] A convex engaging portion 37a is formed that protrudes in a square shape further forward from the front side surface of the thick portion 37. As described above, it fits into and engages with the concave engaged portion 21c formed in the receiving material base 21 of the receiving material 20. Note that in this embodiment, the engaging portion and the engaged portion are convex and concave, respectively, but the engaging portion and the engaged portion may have their convex and concave positions reversed, or the engaging portion and the engaged portion may be formed in a position other than the thick portion, and are not limited to this embodiment.

[0036] The basket connector 40 that attaches the receiving material 20 to the back of the front basket 2 will now be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the basket connector 40 is a thick resin member that is oval in front view, and has insertable screw holes 41, 41 on the front and rear, and protrusions 42, 42 that protrude around the screw holes 41, 41. Although not shown, a cover is provided on the back side to cover the inserted screws while they are fixed.

[0037] A method for attaching the receiving material 20 to the front basket 2 using the basket connector 40 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as 10 and 11, the basket connector 40 is positioned on the inside of the basket at the back of the front basket 2, and the receiving material 20 is positioned on the outside of the basket. The basket connector 40 and the receiving material 20 are overlapped so as to sandwich the steel wires and mounting plate that form the basket, and screws are inserted into the screw holes 41, 41 of the basket connector 40 through screw holes opened in the receiving material base 21 of the receiving material 20 and tightened to secure them in place. Alternatively, a unique plate or the like may be placed on the basket and the receiving material 20 may be fastened through screws. In practice, the basket connector 40 and the receiving material 20 are fastened together during manufacturing and then transported.

[0038] The following describes a method for attaching a bicycle front basket using a mounting fixture. At the stage of using this attachment method, the basket bracket 10 is attached to the front fork 3 in advance, the support member 20 is attached to the front basket 2 using the basket connector 40 (see Figure 10), and the bottom of the front basket 2 is fixed to the bicycle basket stay 5 with another base fixture 6 (see Figure 3).

[0039] Next, the insertion slot 30 is inserted through the slot insertion opening 26a of the receiving material 20. When the insertion slot 30 is completely inserted into the slot insertion space 26b, the top plate 31 comes to cover the slot insertion opening 26a, and the convex engaging portion 37a of the insertion slot 30 fits into and engages with the concave engaged portion 21c of the receiving material 20 (see FIG. 11).

[0040] Next, the front basket 2 fixed by the base fittings 6 is pulled up by hand, and the wall 12 of the basket bracket 10 is inserted into the wall insertion space 27b through the wall insertion opening 27a located below the receiving material 20. At this time, because the wall insertion opening 27a is located below the receiving material 20, by pulling up the front basket 2 and pushing down from above the wall 12, the user can insert the front basket 2 into the wall insertion space 27b without using much force compared to inserting the relatively small insertion slot 30 later (see FIG. 2).

[0041] When the wall portion 12 is inserted into the wall portion insertion space 27b, the tabs 35 of the insertion slots 30, which were inclined rearward before insertion, elastically deform forward, deforming to a nearly vertical state along the thick portion 37. In this state, the tabs 35 support the lower part of the wall portion 12, thereby supporting the basket bracket 10 from below. Because the tabs 35 are elastically deformed forward with the wall portion 12 inserted, a force acts on the tabs 35 to return them rearward, continuously pressing the wall portion 12 rearward. This also prevents the basket bracket 10 from shifting position forward or backward.

[0042] The claws 35, 35 of the insertion slot 30 not only have a locking function in the fully inserted state, but also a function to prevent disengagement when the lock is suddenly released. The positions of the claws 35, 35 correspond to the positions of the openings 13, 13 opened in the wall portion 12 of the basket bracket 10. Therefore, if the locking state of the claws 35, 35 in the fully inserted state is suddenly released, they will once engage with the openings 13, 13 of the basket bracket 10, thereby providing a complete function of preventing disengagement.

[0043] That is, the insertion slot 30 is molded from an elastic resin material using PA material, and when inserted, the claw pieces 35, 35 are pressed by elastic deformation, but even if the engagement is unexpectedly released, a force acts to restore the elastic deformation and engage with the upper edges of the openings 13, 13. Therefore, even if the front basket 2 is unexpectedly released, it is difficult for it to come off. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1...bicycle, 2...front basket, 10...basket bracket, 12...wall portion, 13...opening, 20...receiving material, 21...receiving material base, 21a...rear surface of base, 21b...inclined portion, 21c...engaged portion, 21d...step portion (top plate support portion), 22...first side portion, 23...second side portion, 24...hanging portion, 25...extension portion, 26a...slot insertion opening (top plate support portion), 26b...slot insertion space, 30...insertion slot, 31...top plate, 35...claw piece, 37...thick portion, 37a...engaging portion.

Claims

1. A bicycle front basket attachment device having a receiving member attached to a rear portion of the bicycle front basket and an insertion slot for insertion into the receiving member, and capable of being attached to a basket bracket having a rising wall portion, The receiving material has a slot insertion space that allows the insertion slot to be inserted into the interior from a slot insertion opening arranged on one side, and a wall insertion space that allows the wall to be inserted between the inserted insertion slot and the wall insertion opening arranged on the other side, The attachment for a bicycle front basket is characterized in that the insertion slot has a thick portion and a claw piece that hangs down to support the wall portion.

2. 2. The bicycle front basket mounting fixture according to claim 1, wherein the insertion slot has a convex engaging portion for fixing the inserted state of the receiving material, and the receiving material has a concave engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion.

3. The bicycle front basket mounting fixture according to claim 2, characterized in that the receiving material has an inclined portion for inserting the convex engaging portion of the insertion slot and a top plate support portion for supporting the top plate of the insertion slot.

4. 4. The attachment for a bicycle front basket according to claim 1, wherein the insertion slot has a downwardly extending tab that is inclined downward and rearward relative to the vertical direction of the thick portion.

5. A method for attaching a front basket of a bicycle to a basket bracket having a wall portion that extends upward, the method comprising: An insertion slot having a thick portion and a hanging claw piece is inserted into a slot insertion space inside the receiving material from a slot insertion opening formed on the upper side of the receiving material, An attachment method using a bicycle front basket attachment device, characterized in that the basket bracket and the receiving material are fixed by inserting the wall portion from a wall insertion opening formed below the receiving material into a wall insertion space inside the receiving material between the inserted insertion slot.

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