Bicycle Rack Wheel Gutter Angled Bottom Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycle racks cause bicycles with narrow tires to tilt due to inadequate support, as the wheel contacts one side wall and the leg on the opposite side, leading to instability.
Innovation Solution
The bicycle rack design features a wheel gutter with a sloping bottom surface at an angle between 60 and 85 degrees relative to the wheel bracket legs, ensuring the wheel contacts the side wall, and optionally includes additional side walls and a pressure strip to maintain the bicycle upright, with the center of gravity alignment and angled components enhancing stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the wheel gutter has vertical side walls and a flat bottom, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but bicycles with narrow tires tilt and become unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom of the wheel gutter is designed with a local slope angle between 60 and 85 degrees at the location of the wheel bracket, while the rest of the bottom remains flat. This localized change in geometry provides the necessary guidance for the wheel to contact the side wall at the correct angle, preventing tilting without requiring complete structural redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel bearing surface is positioned asymmetrically relative to the wheel bracket legs, creating an angled relationship between the wheel contact point and the bracket structure. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that the wheel contacts the side wall in a way that leverages the bicycle's center of gravity to maintain an upright position.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the wheel bearing surface is angled between 60 and 85 degrees relative to the leg, then the bicycle remains upright and stable, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a range of 60 to 85 degrees for the wheel bearing surface angle, providing flexibility in manufacturing. This parameter range allows for variation in production while maintaining the functional outcome of bicycle stability, reducing the need for extremely tight tolerances compared to a single precise angle requirement.
3Stability of the object's composition
If side walls are added to support the wheel, then the bicycle stability is enhanced, but the device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall of the wheel gutter serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the gutter, guides the wheel to the correct contact angle, and works in conjunction with the angled bottom surface to maintain bicycle stability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate support components.
Data Source
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AI summary
A bicycle rack 1 has a wheel gutter 3, provided with a bottom 5 and an upright side wall 7, as well as a wheel bracket 9 provided with two legs 11 and 13. The wheel bearing surface 6 of the bottom 5 is at an angle 8 with respect to the side wall 7. Furthermore, one of the legs 11 of the wheel bracket 9 is located directly above the side wall 7. Due to the wheel bearing surface 6 sloping towards an edge of the wheel gutter 3, the wheel 103 will run sideways against the upright side wall 7 while the bicycle 101 is riding in the wheel gutter 3. Because the center of gravity of a bicycle is not in the middle, gravity will ensure that the wheel 103 will lean against the leg 11. This will cause the bicycle 101 to get upright in the bicycle rack 1 while riding in the bicycle rack 1.