Adjustable Wheel Cradle for Bicycles with Varying Tire Widths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Most bicycle stands have a fixed width that cannot be adjusted to accommodate bicycle tires of varying widths, requiring a trial-and-error process to find the correct fit, which is inconvenient for cyclists with different tire sizes.
Innovation Solution
A wheel cradle with adjustable side panels that can be expanded or contracted using a dial mechanism, allowing the cradle to accommodate tires ranging from 1 inch to 3.25 inches in width, suitable for various bicycle types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed width wheel cradle is used, then the structure is simple and stable, but it cannot accommodate bicycle tires of varying widths
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel cradle employs adjustable side panels that can move between positions to dynamically adapt the cradle width to match different tire widths. The panels are configured to be adjustable along the cradle structure, allowing users to modify the cradle's dimensions based on the specific bicycle tire being stored, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the width parameter of the wheel cradle by allowing the side panels to be repositioned. This parameter adjustment enables the same cradle structure to accommodate a range of tire widths without requiring multiple different cradles, thus improving versatility while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable panels are inserted into different grooves to accommodate varying tire widths, then adaptability is improved, but the adjustment process requires trial and error
Solution Approach 1:
The side panels are pre-configured with specific adjustment positions and orientations that correspond to different tire width requirements. This preliminary configuration allows users to directly select the appropriate position without needing to experiment with different groove insertions, thereby eliminating the trial-and-error process while maintaining adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wheel cradle is made adjustable, then it can fit different tire sizes, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel cradle is segmented into a base structure and separate adjustable side panels. This segmentation allows the main cradle body to remain simple while the adjustable panels provide the necessary adaptability. The panels can be independently positioned without complicating the overall cradle structure, thus resolving the contradiction between adjustability and structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel cradle (100) for bicycles that can be quickly and easily adjusted to accommodate bicycle tires of varying width. The wheel cradle (100) includes a first side panel (140) and a second side panel (140), each attached to a base (110), each oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis, and each extending substantially vertically. An adjustment device (150) is configured to variably adjust the first side panel (140) and/or the second side panel (140) in a direction substantially parallel to the transverse axis to seat the bicycle wheel. The wheel cradle (100) is especially well-suited for combined use in a rack to park multiple bicycles, the rack easily breaking down for compact transport and storage.