Bicycle Transport Enclosure With Upright Frame and Fork Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods of transporting bicycles often require disassembly, which can damage parts and necessitate costly and time-consuming reassembly by dedicated staff upon arrival at the destination.
Innovation Solution
A carrier system comprising a bottom and top enclosure with frame and fork receivers that secure a bicycle in an upright position, allowing for secure transport of substantially assembled bicycles, with quick release mechanisms for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If bicycles are transported in assembled state, then transportation time and reassembly cost are reduced, but risk of damage to parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier is divided into multiple functional receivers: a front fork receiver, a rear frame receiver, and a seat post receiver. Each receiver independently secures a specific bicycle component, allowing the bicycle to be transported in an assembled state while preventing damage through distributed support points that maintain proper geometry and prevent stress concentration on any single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is designed with pre-configured receivers and adjustment mechanisms that are prepared in advance to accommodate the bicycle's components. The quick-release mechanisms and adjustable positioning features are built into the carrier structure beforehand, enabling rapid loading and securing of the bicycle without requiring disassembly, thus reducing both time and damage risk.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If bicycles are disassembled for transport, then damage risk is reduced, but reassembly cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier incorporates self-adjusting features including spring-loaded compression members with quick-release mechanisms that automatically adapt to different bicycle frame sizes and geometries. The seat post receiver includes adjustable positioning features that self-align with standard seat post diameters. These self-service characteristics eliminate the need for complex manual adjustment procedures during loading and unloading, reducing both damage risk and operational complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If carrier structure is simplified, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but security and protection capability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Each receiver in the carrier is designed with multi-functionality: the front fork receiver provides both structural support and directional guidance; the rear frame receiver offers compression loading and positioning; the seat post receiver delivers both support and adjustable positioning. These universal receivers can accommodate various bicycle types and sizes without requiring additional components, maintaining high security capability while simplifying manufacturing through standardized, reusable design elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A carrier for transporting a bicycle can include a bottom enclosure, a frame receiver attached to a back of the bottom enclosure and configured to connect to a bicycle frame at rear dropouts; a fork receiver attached to a bottom surface of the bottom enclosure and configured to connect to front fork dropouts, the fork receiver having a first degree of freedom in movement and rotational movement; a top enclosure; and a plurality of fasteners configured to mechanically secure the top enclosure to the bottom enclosure. When secured together, the bottom and top enclosures can contain the bicycle assembly in an upright orientation with respect to bottom surface. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.