DE20313580U1 - Single support strut for bicycle is fitted to the bicycle frame via a folding linkage to press the ground support pad onto the ground near the front wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

A single support strut for parking a bicycle has the strut connected to a folding linkage mounted on a plate fitted to the underside of the bicycle frame between the crank and the front wheel. The linkage forms a parallelogram which folds into a compact shape under the frame. In the extended position the strut positions a hinged ground support plate onto the ground near to the back end of the front wheel. This ensures a stable support for bicycles with heavy loads on a front carrier, e.g. a delivery bicycle.

Description

Speedliner Deutschland GmbH. Josephinenstr. 22. 44807 Bochum
Single leg stand and bicycle with such a stand

The invention relates to a one-legged stand which is attached to the frame of a bicycle according to the features of the preamble of claim 1 and to a bicycle with such a stand according to the features of claim 15.

Bicycle stands are known in a wide variety of designs. In addition to two-legged stands, single-legged stands or so-called side stands are known as rear stand and middle stand, which are attached in the area of the rear wheel or in the area of the bottom bracket. Side stands that are attached in the area of the fork of the front wheel are also state of the art. For heavily loaded bicycles, especially bicycles with front luggage racks, the use of a single-legged rear stand or middle stand is problematic. For example, if only the

Commerzbank AG Bochum, 5<S>nfo-No. 3 ^4^82 (BL"2 430 400 36^ ■ '

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>n, ^>ntJ)-No;74 47-431 (BLZ 360 100 43)

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If the front luggage rack is carrying a load and a bicycle is supported on the side stand in the middle position, it can happen that the rear wheel of the bicycle is lifted by the high front load. The bicycle inevitably tips over. Consequently, a bicycle loaded in this way cannot be supported with the necessary stability on such a middle position stand.

The object of the present invention is to show a one-legged stand for a bicycle with which it is possible to park the bicycle safely even with uneven load distribution, in particular with increased loads in the area of a front wheel luggage rack, without the functionality of the bicycle being impaired by the stand. A further object of the invention is to show a bicycle equipped with a one-legged stand that is safe from falling over even with uneven loading, in particular in the area of the front wheel.

The first task is solved in a one-legged stand according to the features of claim 1 in that the base plate of the stand is attached to a down tube extending between a bottom bracket and a handlebar bearing of the bicycle. This arrangement of the stand or the support point of the support leg is of crucial importance for the stability of the bicycle. A bicycle equipped with such a one-legged stand has three support points, which are provided by the two wheels and the one-legged stand. The three support points form a triangle within which the overall center of gravity of the bicycle must lie in order to ensure stability or safety against tipping over. The larger this triangle is, the more stability of the bicycle can be ensured. The distance between the support points of the wheels is determined by the wheelbase, so that the support point of the support leg is of particular importance. Since the overall center of gravity of loaded bicycles shifts upwards, i.e. in the direction of the height level of a front or rear luggage rack,

The overall center of gravity of a bike parked sideways tilts further outwards than of an unloaded bike. The one-legged stand must therefore have a certain minimum length to allow sufficient lateral deflection. In addition, it is crucial that the support point of the standing leg is as far forward as possible on bikes with front wheel carriers, i.e. as close as possible to the center of gravity of the front wheel carrier load. This is the only way to ensure that the rear wheel is not levered and lifted by the load over the connecting line between the support points of the front wheel and the standing leg.

Since there is only a very limited installation space available between the down tube and the front wheel, which is also restricted by the rotating pedal cranks, the invention provides that the support leg is divided into two pivotally connected length sections that are guided towards each other. The support leg can be folded in a defined manner due to the forced movement and takes up very little installation space in the folded-in position, whereas in the unfolded position a sufficient length of the support leg and optimal positioning of the support point is guaranteed. For the stand according to the invention to function properly, a forced movement between the guide strut and the foot strut is required. The forced movement can be provided by form-fitting elements such as intermeshing gears in the area of the pivot bearing. When the guide strut and foot strut, which are connected to each other via a toothing, are swung in, the supporting leg assumes a firmly defined position in the folded-in position without rattling or hanging down freely during the journey.

The forced movement can advantageously be achieved by an additional lower guide strut, which is pivotally connected to the base plate on the one hand and to the foot strut on the other hand, forming a four-bar linkage.

is movably connected. Such a positive-action four-bar linkage consists of the base plate, the upper and lower guide struts and the foot strut. The base plate serves as a fixed frame for the upper and lower guide struts. The guide struts function as double swing arms between the base plate and the foot strut.

In the embodiment of claim 3, it is provided that the guide struts are hinged to a bearing section of the foot strut. In addition, a traction device, in particular in the form of a spring, is arranged between the bearing section and the base plate. The traction device exerts a spring force that supports both the folding and unfolding process of the supporting leg. In addition, the traction device holds the foot strut in both the folded and unfolded positions. This is achieved by the upper guide strut passing through a dead position when folding and unfolding, so that the supporting leg can be held in both the folded and unfolded positions. Of course, several traction devices can also be provided within the scope of the invention, which act in parallel and generate a spring force in the same direction. In principle, however, several traction devices with differing force vectors can also be used.

In an advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept, the bearing section in the folded-in position points upwards and the free end of the foot brace points downwards (protection claim 4). This arrangement is advantageous because in order to fold out the support leg, pressure only has to be exerted on the bearing section from above. This pressure can be exerted with the foot, for example.

The subject of protection claim 5 is that the foot brace is aligned parallel to the base plate in the folded position. The term parallel is to be understood here as the parallelism of the central longitudinal axes of the foot brace and the base plate. With this arrangement, the required installation space for the stand in the

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folded state is minimal. This configuration can be achieved by a suitable design of the kinematic system.

Within the scope of protection claim 6, it is provided that actuating means for folding out the support leg are provided on the bearing section. These actuating means can be projections or lugs attached separately to the bearing section, which ensure that there is a sufficient contact surface for actuating the stand. Within the scope of the invention, however, it is also possible for the actuating means to be a suitable contouring or profiling of the bearing section, in particular in the area of its end pointing upwards in the folded-in position.

The bearing section is advantageously configured in a fork shape, with the ends of the guide struts engaging between leg plates of the bearing section (protection claim 7). This arrangement has the advantage that the pivot bearings of the guide struts are arranged between the leg plates in a space-saving manner.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the base plate is configured in a U-shaped cross-section, with the ends of the guide struts engaging between the leg plates of the base plate (protection claim 8). This arrangement also serves to integrate the guide struts between the base plate and the foot strut in the most space-saving way possible. The U-shaped configuration of the base plate or the fork-shaped configuration of the bearing section makes it possible for the guide struts to at least partially engage between the leg plates of the base plate and/or the bearing section in the folded-in position (protection claim 9). In the structural design of protection claim 10, it is provided that the pivot bearing between the upper guide strut and the bearing section serves as a stop for the lower guide strut in the folded-out position. Additional stop means on the bearing section are not required. This means that the

The single-legged stand according to the invention is particularly light and can also be manufactured from just a few components.

The adjustability of the stand is improved by providing an adjustable sling between two elements of the four-bar linkage (protection claim 11). In principle, the sling can be arranged between any elements of the four-bar linkage in order to limit the pivoting movement of the four-bar linkage. It is considered advantageous if the adjustable sling is arranged between the lower guide strut and the bearing section (protection claim 12). The adjustable sling is in particular an adjusting screw. This can pass through a threaded hole in the lower guide strut. So that the sling does not lead to an uneven load on the stand structure, it is expedient to arrange the sling and the corresponding abutment as centrally as possible between the lower guide strut and the bearing section. If the bearing section is fork-shaped, the pivot bearing of the upper guide strut on the bearing section is a suitable abutment for the sling. This means that the sling is not supported directly on the bearing section, but with the pivot bearing of the upper guide strut interposed.

Since the lifting device can protrude into the interior of the four-bar linkage, according to claim 13, an opening is provided in the upper guide strut to accommodate the lifting device in the folded-in position. This means that the lifting device, in particular in the form of an adjusting screw, can engage in this opening in the upper guide rail and even penetrate it without the required installation space of the stand in the folded-in position changing depending on different lifting device settings. The fork-shaped configuration of the bearing section allows the head of the adjusting screw to penetrate the bearing section in a space-saving manner.

Optionally, a support leg that is movable relative to the foot brace can be attached to the free end of the foot brace. The mobility of the support leg allows the free end of the support leg to be adjusted to the surface. An enlarged support surface prevents the support leg from sinking in on soft surfaces. The mobility of the support leg can be provided by a single pivot axis, i.e. there is a joint connection with degree of freedom 1. In principle, it is also possible to provide a ball joint between the support leg and the free end of the foot brace in order to enable the stand to be adjusted even better to the respective surface.

The invention further relates to a bicycle with a one-legged stand as described above (protection claim 15). The one-legged stand can be attached directly to the down tube extending between the bottom bracket and the handlebar bearing. However, it is also conceivable that the stand is attached to a bracket of the down tube pointing towards the front wheel. This bracket enables the stand to be moved towards the front wheel and thus allows the support point to be brought even closer to the front wheel. In any case, the support point of the stand is located between the front wheel and the bottom bracket on a bicycle viewed from the side.

One advantage of the two-wheeler according to the invention is that the pedal crank can move freely when the stand is in the unfolded position, so that the stand can be unfolded while driving. However, this also means that the support point is arranged at a distance from the bottom bracket axis that is greater than the length of a pedal crank. In addition, it is provided that the front wheel can move freely when the stand is in the unfolded position (protection claim 18). This aspect is also important if the stand is to be unfolded while driving.

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It is considered particularly advantageous if the support point is located as far forward as possible on the bicycle. According to claim 15, a transverse plane of the bicycle running through the support point of the foot brace intersects the down tube in its front third adjacent to the handlebar bearing, i.e. the support point is located at a considerable distance from the bottom bracket.

The invention is explained in more detail below using the embodiment shown in the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a bicycle with the stand according to the invention in the rear view;

Figure 2 shows the bicycle of Figure 1 in side view;
Figure 3 is an enlarged partial section of Figure 2 and

characters

4 and 5 show the stand in side view, once in unfolded position and once in folded position.

Figures 1 and 2 show a bicycle 1 with a one-legged stand 2 in a parking position. The stand 2 has a support leg 3 that can be folded in and out. The support leg 3 essentially consists of three components: a foot brace 4, which has a movably attached support foot 6 at its free end 5, an upper guide brace 7 and a lower guide brace 8. The guide braces 7, 8 are pivotally connected to a base plate 9 with a U-shaped cross-section. The base plate 9 is clamped to a bracket 10. The bracket 10 is arranged below the down tube 13 extending between the bottom bracket 11 and the handlebar bearing 12 and is essentially U-shaped in its course. A lower leg 14 of the bracket 10 points forwards from the bottom bracket 11, while an upper leg 15 opens into the down tube 13. The upper leg 15 is connected to the lower leg 14 via a web tube 16.

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The web tube 16 is positioned at an angle opposite to the direction of travel. The angle of inclination of the web tube 16 essentially corresponds to the angle of inclination of the down tube 13. The base plate 9 of the stand 2 is attached to this web tube 16 in such a way that the support leg 3 can be swung out diagonally to the front left.

From Figure 1 it is clear that the support point 17 of the foot brace 4 on the support surface 8 is arranged so far off-center from the bicycle 1 that a center of gravity S runs through a load 21 carried in a front or rear luggage carrier 19, 20 at a maximum transverse distance A from the support point 22 of the rear wheel 23. The transverse distance A is at most as large as the transverse distance of the support point 17 from the rear wheel 23.

From Figure 2 it can be seen that the support point 17 of the foot brace 4 is located spatially between the front wheel 24 and the bottom bracket 11. In this embodiment, a transverse plane Q running through the support point 17 would intersect the down tube 13 in its front third adjacent to the handlebar bearing 12. A transverse plane in the sense of the invention is to be understood as a plane that runs perpendicular to the vehicle's central longitudinal plane.

The detailed functioning of the stand 2 is explained below using Figures 3 to 5. From Figure 3 it can be seen that the guide struts 7, 8 engage in a fork-shaped bearing section 25 of the foot strut 4. The bearing section 25 has two leg plates 26 running parallel to one another, which are connected to one another in the area of the pivot bearings 27, 28 between the upper and lower guide struts 7, 8 and the bearing section 25.

To save weight, the upper and lower guide struts 7, 8 are provided with elongated holes. The guide struts 7, 8 engage with their ends facing the base plate 9 between two parallel leg plates 29 of the base plate 9. The possible end positions of the stand 2

are shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5. The end positions are reached under the influence of a spring force which is applied by a traction device 30 in the form of a tension spring. The traction device 30 is fastened with its end in the area of the pivot bearing 27 to the bearing section 25. The other end of the traction device 30 is fixed to a clamping jaw 31. The clamping jaw 31 is screwed to the base plate 9 via several screws and encloses the web tube 16 of the bracket 10 in a force-fitting manner. The clamping jaw 31 and the back of the base plate 9 are provided with a recess adapted to the cross-section of the web tube 16. The clamping jaw 31 enables the stand 2 to be subsequently mounted on the bicycle 1 and readjusted. The stand 2 can be easily replaced.

From Figure 4 it can be seen that the upper guide strut 7 and the foot strut 4 run at an angle to each other, with the pivot bearing 27 being pulled by the traction means 30 in the direction of the base body 9. This means that the pivot bearing 27 has passed a dead point, which is to be assumed when the upper guide strut 7 and foot strut 4 are aligned. In the position shown, the stand 2 cannot automatically swing back into the folded position of Figure 5. This is not possible in particular if the stand 2 has to bear the load of the bicycle 1 on the stand.

The lower guide strut 8 is supported on the pivot bearing 27 via a stop means 32 in the form of an adjusting screw screwed through the lower guide strut 8. This enables stepless adjustment of the stand 2. An opening 33 (Figure 3) enables the stand 2 to be folded up compactly, as shown in Figure 5. The opening 33 in the upper guide strut 7 enables the threaded section of the stop means 32 to engage, as can be seen in Figure 5. At the same time, the fork-shaped configuration of the bearing section 25 enables the head 34 of the adjusting screw 32 to engage between the leg plates 26, so that in the folded position the foot strut 4 is positioned parallel to the base plate 9 and is fixed in this position by the tension means 30. From Figure 5

it can be seen that the upper end of the leg plates 26 of the bearing section 25 is provided with a central notch. This notch serves as an actuating means 35 in the form of a profile. The cyclist can apply pressure to the upper end or the actuating means 35 with his foot without slipping.

Reference symbol list:

1 - Bicycle

2- Stand

3 - Mainstay of 2

4 - Foot brace v. 3

5 - free end of 4 6- support foot of 4

7 - upper guide strut v.

8 - lower guide strut v.

9 - Base plate of 2 10- Bracket

11 - Bottom bracket v. 1

12- Handlebar bearing v. 1

13- Down tube v. 1

14 - lower leg of 13

15 - upper leg of 13

16 - web pipe between 14 and

17- Support point v. 4

18- footprint

19 - front luggage rack

20 - rear luggage rack

21 - Load

22- Installation point of 23

23- Rear wheel

24 - Front wheel

25 - Camp section v. 4

26 - Leg plates v. 4

27 - Swivel bearing between 7 and

28 - Swivel bearing between 8 and

29 - Leg plates v. 9

30- traction device 31 - clamping jaw 32- lifting device 33 - opening in 34- head of 32 35 - actuating device on

A - transverse distance Q - transverse plane S - center of gravity

Claims (19)

1. Single-legged stand which is attached to the frame of a bicycle ( 1 ) and supports the bicycle ( 1 ) in a parking position opposite a parking surface ( 18 ), wherein a support leg ( 3 ) is pivotably mounted on a base plate ( 9 ) attached to the frame of the bicycle ( 1 ) and wherein its free end ( 5 ) can be pivoted out in the direction of the parking surface ( 18 ), characterized in that the base plate ( 9 ) is attached to a down tube ( 13 ) extending between a bottom bracket ( 11 ) and a handlebar bearing ( 12 ) of the bicycle ( 1 ), wherein the support leg ( 3 ) has an upper guide strut ( 7 ) which is hinged to the base plate ( 9 ) and which is pivotally connected to a foot brace ( 4 ) via a pivot bearing ( 27 ), wherein the movement transmission between the upper guide strut ( 7 ) and the foot strut ( 4 ) is inevitable. 2. Stand according to claim 1, characterized in that the forced movement is provided by a lower guide strut ( 8 ) which is pivotally connected to the base plate ( 9 ) on the one hand and to the foot strut ( 4 ) on the other hand, forming a four-bar linkage. 3. Stand according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide struts ( 7 , 8 ) are articulated to a bearing section ( 25 ) of the foot strut ( 4 ), wherein a traction means ( 30 ) is arranged between the bearing section ( 25 ) and the base plate ( 9 ), which holds the foot strut ( 4 ) both in the folded-in position and in the unfolded position, in each case by overcoming a dead position, wherein a spring force supporting both the folding process and the unfolding process emanates from the traction means ( 30 ). 4. Stand according to claim 3, characterized in that the bearing section ( 25 ) points upwards in the folded-in position and the free end ( 5 ) of the foot brace ( 4 ) points downwards. 5. Stand according to claim 4, characterized in that the foot brace ( 4 ) is aligned parallel to the base plate ( 9 ) in the folded position. 6. Stand according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that actuating means ( 35 ) for folding out the support leg ( 3 ) are provided on the bearing section ( 25 ). 7. Stand according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the bearing section ( 25 ) is configured in a fork-shaped manner, wherein the ends of the guide struts ( 7 , 8 ) engage between leg plates ( 26 ) of the bearing section ( 25 ). 8. Stand according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the base plate ( 9 ) is configured in a U-shaped cross section, wherein the ends of the guide struts ( 7 , 8 ) engage between the leg plates ( 29 ) of the base plate ( 9 ). 9. Stand according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the guide struts ( 7 , 8 ) in the folded-in position are each located at least partially between the leg plates ( 26 , 29 ) of the base plate ( 9 ) and/or the bearing section ( 25 ). 10. Stand according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the pivot bearing ( 27 ) between the upper guide strut ( 4 ) and the bearing section ( 25 ) serves as a stop for the lower guide strut ( 8 ) in the unfolded position. 11. Stand according to claim 10, characterized in that an adjustable stop means ( 32 ) is provided between two elements ( 7 , 8 , 9 , 25 ) of the four-bar linkage. 12. Stand according to claim 11, characterized in that the adjustable stop means ( 32 ) is provided between the lower guide strut ( 4 ) and the bearing section ( 25 ). 13. Stand according to claim 12, characterized in that an opening ( 33 ) is provided in the upper guide strut ( 7 ) for receiving the stop means ( 32 ) in the folded-in position. 14. Stand according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a support foot ( 6 ) which is movable relative to the foot brace ( 4 ) is attached to the free end ( 5 ) of the foot brace ( 4 ). 15. Bicycle with a one-legged stand according to one of claims 1 to 14. 16. Bicycle according to claim 15, characterized in that the stand ( 2 ) is attached to a bracket ( 10 ) of the down tube ( 13 ) pointing towards the front wheel ( 24 ). 17. Bicycle according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the pedal crank is free to move in the unfolded position of the stand ( 2 ). 18. Bicycle according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the front wheel ( 24 ) is free to move in the unfolded position of the stand ( 2 ). 19. Bicycle according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that a transverse plane ( 9 ) of the bicycle ( 1 ) running through the support point ( 17 ) of the foot brace ( 4 ) intersects the down tube ( 13 ) in its front third adjacent to the handlebar bearing ( 12 ).