Bicycle Accessory Mounting Strut Layout for Tip-Over Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting devices for bicycle accessories like luggage racks and mudguards are prone to damage and misalignment due to unintentional tipping, limiting their functionality and requiring complex repairs, especially when using quick-release skewers or thru-axles.
Innovation Solution
The mounting struts are supported on the wheel axle via a fastening element, positioned between the fork arms or adjacent to them, allowing the struts to be arranged closer to the wheel and protected by the fork arms, with optional elastic damping elements for improved stability and vibration damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mounting struts are attached to fork arms using quick-release skewers or thru-axles, then the accessory can be mounted on the bicycle, but the mounting struts are susceptible to damage and deformation due to accidents or unintentional tip-overs
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting strut is extracted from the fork arm area and repositioned to the wheel hub area. The fastening element is supported on the wheel axle or fixed parts of the wheel hub instead of the fork arms, removing the mounting strut from the vulnerable position near the fork arms where it is exposed to damage during tip-overs.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attaching the mounting strut to the fork arms (conventional approach), the invention inverts the attachment location to the wheel hub. This reversal of the mounting location protects the strut by positioning it within the protective space formed by the fork arms and wheel.
2Length of moving object
If mounting struts are positioned close to the wheel, then the accessory can be arranged closer to the wheel, but the mounting struts are more exposed to damage from tip-overs
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting strut and fastening element are nested within the protective space formed by the fork arms and wheel hub assembly. The fastening element is supported on the wheel axle or hub, positioning the mounting strut inside the structural envelope created by the fork arms, which act as a protective barrier during tip-overs.
3Ease of manufacture
If mounting devices use quick-release skewers or thru-axles on fork arms, then assembly is relatively simple, but the mounting struts are prone to misalignment and plastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel hub and wheel axle serve as intermediary structures that provide a stable, precise mounting platform. The fastening element interfaces with the wheel axle or hub fixed parts, which have precisely defined geometric features, ensuring accurate alignment of the mounting strut and attached accessory while maintaining simple assembly through the fastening mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces the risk of deformation and damage, enables precise alignment, simplifies assembly, and enhances theft protection, while allowing accessories to be positioned closer to the wheel without requiring frame modifications, thus improving durability and usability.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic damping element can be provided between the fork arm and the fastener. This can be, for example, an elastomeric and/or foamed washer. The restoring force of the damping element, which occurs when the thru-axle or quick-release skewer is tightened, not only allows for a more even pressure distribution and thus improved force application to the fastener, but the damping element also acts as a tolerance compensation and dampens vibration-induced oscillations of the accessory.
Data Source
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AI summary
A mounting device for attaching an accessory is described, comprising a wheel hub (5) penetrated by a wheel axle (3) and supported on at least one fork arm (4), and at least one mounting strut (6) for the accessory. To create such a mounting device, which, despite reduced manufacturing effort and simple assembly conditions, minimizes the risk of deformation or damage to the attached accessories even in the event of unintentional tipping of the bicycle, and simultaneously allows for a wheel-close arrangement of the accessory, it is proposed that the at least one mounting strut (6) be supported via a fastening element (8) on the wheel axle (3) facing the at least one fork arm (4) or on the fixed parts of the wheel hub (5) facing the at least one fork arm (4).