TWI912691B - Bicycle mudguards - Google Patents

Abstract

A bicycle mudguard includes a mudguard shell and a support device. The support device includes a base, a latch, a pad, and a strap. The base has a body, a lower fixing portion disposed above the body, and two side walls disposed above the body, with an opening formed between the side walls. The latch has a pressure head hinged to the side walls, the pressure head having a pressing surface adjacent to the opening. The pad is disposed below the body. When the support is in a compressed state, the strap and the pad together define a slit for a fork, the pressing surface is away from a reference surface including the axis and pushes against the pad, the pad is away from the opening to reduce the slit, and when the support is in a non-compressed state, the pressing surface is close to the reference surface, and the pad can move toward the opening to widen the slit.

Description

Bicycle mudguards

This invention relates to a bicycle mudguard, and more particularly to a bicycle mudguard for mounting on the rear upper fork of a bicycle.

A mudguard for mounting on a bicycle. The bicycle includes a frame and a rear wheel mounted on the frame. The frame has a seat tube and a seat cushion mounted on the seat tube. The mudguard includes a tube clamp mounted on the seat tube and a plate extending from the tube clamp to above the rear wheel.

However, installing or removing the pipe clamp requires turning the screws with a wrench, which is quite inconvenient and time-consuming. Furthermore, since the mudguard is only connected to the bicycle at one end through the pipe clamp, it is prone to shifting relative to the rear wheel due to the swaying of the bicycle during riding, thus failing to effectively shield the rear wheel from mud and water.

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a bicycle mudguard that improves upon at least one of the aforementioned shortcomings.

Therefore, the present invention provides a bicycle mudguard adapted for mounting on a rear fork of a bicycle, the rear fork having a fork link. The bicycle mudguard includes a mudguard housing and a support device.

The support device includes a base, a buckle, a pad, a first connecting unit, a second connecting unit, a rod unit, and a strap.

The base has a body, a lower fixing portion disposed above the body along a vertical direction, and two side walls disposed at intervals above the body along a horizontal direction. An opening is formed on the body, penetrating along the vertical direction and located between the side walls. The latch has a pressure head located between and connected to the side walls, the pressure head being rotatable about an axis extending along the horizontal direction and having a pressing surface adjacent to the opening. The pad is movably disposed below the body and facing the opening. The first connecting unit is disposed in the lower fixing portion of the base. The second connecting unit is disposed in the mudguard housing. The rod unit is disposed between the second connecting unit and the first connecting unit. The support device can switch between a tightened state and a non-tightened state relative to one of the forks. When the support device is in the tightened state, the strap and the pad together define a cleavage for the one of the forks. The pressing surface of the pressure head is away from a reference surface perpendicular to the vertical direction and including the axis. The pressing surface pushes against the pad, and the pad is away from the opening to reduce the cleavage. When the support device is in the non-tightened state, the pressing surface of the pressure head is close to the reference surface, and the pad can move toward the opening to enlarge the cleavage.

The advantage of this invention is that the strap and the pad together define the openings for the fork, and the buckle squeezes the pad to reduce the openings 53, so that the pad and the strap cooperate to tighten the fork, thereby firmly fixing the support device to the fork.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, an embodiment of the bicycle mudguard of the present invention includes a mudguard shell 1 and two support devices 20 disposed on two opposite sides of the mudguard shell 1 along a left-right direction X.

The mudguard 1 includes a shell 11 and two upper fixing parts 12 disposed on opposite sides of the shell 11 along the left-right direction X and respectively connected to the support devices 20. Each upper fixing part 12 forms a ring tooth 121 on the opposite side of the shell 11.

For ease of explanation and to simplify the drawings, the following description focuses on the structure of the upper fixing part 12 located on one side of the shell 11 and the support device 20.

The support device 20 includes a base 2, a buckle 3, a pad 4, two straps 5, a first connecting unit 6, a second connecting unit 7, and a rod unit 8.

The base 2 has a body 21, a lower fixing part 22 disposed above the body 21 along a vertical direction Z perpendicular to the left-right direction X, two side walls 23 disposed at intervals above the body 21 along the left-right direction X, a first connecting part 24 disposed on one side of the body 21 along the left-right direction X and facing the other side of the base 2, and a second connecting part 25 disposed on the side of the body 21 opposite to the first connecting part 24.

The lower surface of the seat 21 forms an elongated groove 211 extending along the front-rear direction Y, two recesses 212 extending upward from the elongated groove 211 but not penetrating the seat 21, and an opening 213 extending upward from the elongated groove 211 and penetrating the seat 21. The recesses 212 are spaced apart along the front-rear direction Y. The opening 213 is located between the recesses 212 along the front-rear direction Y and between the side walls 23 along the left-right direction X.

The lower fixing part 22 forms a ring tooth 221 on one side of the base 2 facing the other side in the left-right direction X.

The first joint 24 has two hooks 241 spaced apart along the front-rear direction Y. The second joint 25 has two latches 251 spaced apart along the front-rear direction Y. Each latch 251 is located on the opposite side of its respective hook 241 and together with the base 21 defines a through hole 252.

The latch 3 has a pressure head 31 located between and connected to the side walls 23, a pin 32 extending along the left-right direction X through the side walls 23 and the pressure head 31, and a handle 33 connected to the pressure head 31. The pressure head 31 has a planar pressing surface 311 adjacent to the opening 213 and a convex arc surface 312 connected to the pressing surface 311. The pin 32 is located on an axis L extending along the left-right direction X, so the handle 33 can drive the pressure head 31 to rotate about the axis L.

Referring to Figures 3 to 5, the pad 4 is movably disposed below the seat 21 and facing the opening 213 in the vertical direction Z. The pad 4 has a plate 41 extending in the front-rear direction Y and movably disposed in the long groove 211 in the vertical direction Z, a cushion 42 extending in the front-rear direction Y and located below the plate 41, and two protrusions 43 extending upward from the upper side of the cushion 42, passing through the plate 41, and spaced apart in the front-rear direction Y. The length of the plate 41 in the front-rear direction Y and the width in the left-right direction X are matched with the long groove 211, so the plate 41 can slide and move in the vertical direction Z in the long groove 211. The pad 42 has a concave groove 421 extending along the front-rear direction Y on one side opposite to the protrusions 43. The protrusions 43 can be movably inserted into the grooves 212. In this embodiment, the pad 4 is made of rubber and plastic through injection molding, wherein the plate 41 is made of plastic, and the pad 42 and the protrusions 43 are integrally molded and made of rubber. That is, the pad 42 is soft and elastic, while the hardness of the plate 41 is greater than that of the pad 42. It should be noted that in other variations of this embodiment, the plate 41 may also be made of other hard materials, such as metal sheets.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5, one segment of each strap 5 is detachably disposed at the first coupling portion 24, and the other segment is detachably disposed at the second coupling portion 25. Specifically, each strap 5 has a buckle 51 that can detachably engage with its respective hook portion 241, and a strap body 52 connected to the buckle 51. The strap body 52 has a strap body portion 521 connected to the buckle 51, and a strap tail portion 522 connected to the strap body portion 521. The strap body portion 521 has a plush surface 523. The strap tail portion 522 has a buckle surface 524 located on the same side as the plush surface 523. The plush side 523 of each strap body 521 and the buckle side 524 of each strap tail 522 are fastened together with a Velcro structure, which facilitates fastening and disassembly.

Referring to Figures 2, 4, and 5, the first connecting unit 6 is disposed on the lower fixing portion 22 of the base 2. The first connecting unit 6 has a first rotating seat 61 that can rotate relative to the lower fixing portion 22, and a first angle adjusting member 62 disposed between the lower fixing portion 22 and the first rotating seat 61 and loosely fixing the lower fixing portion 22 and the first rotating seat 61. A ring tooth 611 is formed on the side of the first rotating seat 61 facing the lower fixing portion 22. The first angle adjusting member 62 has a knob 621 on the side of the lower fixing part 22 opposite to the first rotating seat 61, a screw 622 passing through the knob 621 and the lower fixing part 22, and a nut 623 on the side of the first rotating seat 61 opposite to the lower fixing part 22 and engaged with the screw 622. When the screw 622 of the first angle adjusting member 62 is tightened, the ring teeth 611 of the first rotating seat 61 and the ring teeth 221 of the lower fixing part 22 mesh with each other, and the first rotating seat 61 cannot rotate relative to the lower fixing part 22. When the screw 622 of the first angle adjusting member 62 is loosened, turning the knob 621 can cause the first rotating base 61 to rotate relative to the lower fixed part 22 to adjust the angle.

The second connecting unit 7 is disposed on the upper fixing part 12 of the mudguard 1. The second connecting unit 7 has a second rotating seat 71 that can rotate relative to the upper fixing part 12, and a second angle adjusting member 72 disposed between the upper fixing part 12 and the second rotating seat 71 and loosely fixing the second fixing seat and the second rotating seat 71. The side of the second rotating seat 71 facing the upper fixing part 12 forms a ring tooth 711. The second angle adjusting member 72 has a screw 721 that passes through the upper fixing part 12 and the second rotating seat 71, and a nut 722 located on the side of the second rotating seat 71 opposite to the upper fixing part 12 and engaged with the screw 721. When the screw 721 of the second angle adjusting member 72 is tightened, the ring tooth 711 of the second rotating seat 71 engages with the ring tooth 121 of the upper fixing part 12, and the second rotating seat 71 cannot rotate relative to the upper fixing part 12. When the screw 721 of the second angle adjusting member 72 is loosened, the mudguard 1 can rotate relative to the second rotating seat 71 to adjust the angle.

The rod unit 8 is disposed between the second connecting unit 7 and the first connecting unit 6. That is, the first rotating seat 61 is connected to the end of the rod unit 8 opposite to the second connecting unit 7. The second rotating seat 71 is connected to the end of the rod unit 8 opposite to the first connecting unit 6. As can be seen from the foregoing description, the rod unit 8 can rotate relative to the base 2 through the first connecting unit 6, and the mudguard 1 can rotate relative to the rod unit 8 through the second connecting unit 7.

In addition, the rod unit 8 is telescopic and has an inner tube 81 connected to the second rotating seat 71, an outer tube 82 connected to the first rotating seat 61 and movably fitted with the inner tube 81, and a length adjustment member 83 disposed between the inner tube 81 and the outer tube 82 and loosely fixed to the inner tube 81 and the outer tube 82.

The length adjusting member 83 has a sleeve 831 fixed to the outer tube 82 and surrounding the outer tube 82 and the inner tube 81, and a locking ring 832 screwed into the sleeve 831 and capable of loosely tightening the sleeve 831. When the locking ring 832 is locked, it can tighten the sleeve 831 and cause the sleeve 831 to tighten the inner tube 81, preventing the inner tube 81 from moving relative to the outer tube 82 to fix the length of the rod unit 8. When the locking ring 832 is loosened, the inner tube 81 can move relative to the outer tube 82 to adjust the length of the rod unit 8.

Referring to Figures 6 to 8, the present invention provides a bicycle mudguard adapted for mounting on a rear seat fork (not shown) of a bicycle (not shown), the rear seat fork having two forks 30, and the bicycle having a rear wheel (not shown) positioned between the forks 30. It should be noted that, since the forks 30 of the rear seat fork are symmetrically arranged, Figures 6 and 7 only show one fork 30 to illustrate the process of mounting one of the support devices 20 onto the fork 30.

First, the pad 4 of the support device 20 is placed against the upper side of the fork 30, so that the fork 30 is fitted snugly into the groove 421 of the pad body 42. Next, the buckles 51 of the straps 5 are fastened to the hooks 241 respectively. Then, the strap ends 522 are sequentially wrapped around the fork 30 from below, passed upward through the holes 252 respectively, and wrapped downward around the buckles 251 respectively. At this time, each strap 5 and the pad 4 together define a drawstring opening 53 for the fork 30. Next, the strap ends 522 are pulled to bend towards the strap body 521 and connected to the side of the strap body 521 opposite to the drawstring opening 53. That is, the buckle surfaces 524 of the tail portions 522 are respectively glued to the plush surfaces 523 of the body portions 521. Then, the handle 33 is turned downwards and the buckle 3 is pressed, so that the support device 20 relative to the fork 30 changes from a non-pressurized state to a pressurized state.

Referring to Figures 3 and 8, when the support device 20 is in the non-tightened state, the handle 33 is upward and away from the seat 21, and the pressing surface 311 of the pressure head 31 is adjacent to a reference surface S that is perpendicular to the vertical direction Z and includes the axis L, so that the pad 4 can move toward the opening 213 to enlarge the constriction 53.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, when the support device 20 is in the tightened state, the handle 33 faces downwards and is close to the seat 21. The pressing surface 311 of the pressure head 31 is away from the reference surface S and pushes against the plate 41. The pad 4 is away from the opening 213 and the constriction 53 is narrowed to tighten the straps 5. The straps 5 cooperate with the pad 4 to tighten the fork 30. At this time, the pressing surface 311 of the pressure head 31 is in contact with the upper side of the plate 41, increasing the area of force applied by the pressure head 31 to the plate 41 to improve the stability of the buckle 3 squeezing the plate 41.

Because the plate 41 is made of hard plastic, it can reliably push the soft pad 42 against the fork 30. Furthermore, the groove 421 of the pad 42 is concave, allowing it to stably cover and secure the upper part of the fork 30. Combined with the straps 5 surrounding the lower part of the fork 30, the straps 5 and the pad 4 can stably fix the support device 20 to the fork 30. Moreover, the shape of the plate 41 matches the elongated groove 211, meaning the plate 41 is slidably fitted into the elongated groove 211, preventing the base 2 from shifting due to shaking when riding the bicycle.

Furthermore, when the support device 20 changes from the non-tightened state to the tightened state, the handle 33 of the lever 3 is pulled down from top to bottom, and the convex arc surface 312 of the pressure head 31 slides against the plate 41 of the pad 4, so that the lever 3 can be smoothly and easily pulled down.

When you want to remove the support device 20, simply pull the handle 33 upwards to release the latch 3, so that the support device 20 changes from the tightened state to the untightened state, widening the opening 53. Then remove the strap 5 to remove the support device 20 from the fork 30.

Referring to Figures 5 and 9, the rotation angle of the rod unit 8 can be adjusted by loosening the screw 622 of the first angle adjusting member 62 and rotating the knob 621. The rotation angle of the mudguard 1 can be adjusted by loosening the screw 721 of the second angle adjusting member 72. The length of the rod unit 8 can be adjusted by loosening the locking ring 832 of the length adjusting member 83. Therefore, the bicycle mudguard of the present invention allows for quick and easy adjustment of the length and angle of the rod unit 8 and the angle of the mudguard 1 according to different sizes of rear seat forks or wheels or according to the user's preference, offering the advantage of multi-axis rotation adjustment.

It should be noted that in other variations of this embodiment, one of the support devices 20 can be replaced with a support member (not shown) of a different structure that can be detachably installed on the fork 30. Furthermore, in other variations of this embodiment, the number of straps 5 is not limited; the number of straps 5 can be one or more, and the number of hooks 241 and buckles 251 is adjusted accordingly to change the number of straps 5.

In summary, the bicycle mudguard of the present invention, by means of the straps 5 and the pad 4, defines the gussets 53 for the fork 30, and by means of the buckle 3 squeezing the pad 4 to reduce the gussets 53, so that the pad 4 and the straps 5 cooperate to tighten the fork 30, thereby firmly fixing the support device 20 to the rear upper fork, thus effectively achieving the purpose of the present invention.

However, the above description is merely an example of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

1: Mudguard Shell 11: Shell Body 12: Upper Fixing Part 121, 221, 611, 711: Ring Tooth 20: Support Device 2: Base 21: Seat Body 211: Long Groove 212: Groove 213: Opening 22: Lower Fixing Part 23: Side Wall 24: First Joint 241: Hook 25: Second Joint 251: Buckle 252: Through Hole 3: Latch 31: Press Head 311: Pressing Surface 312: Convex Arc Surface 32: Pin 33: Handle 4: Liner 41: Plate Body 42: Pad Body 421: Tube Groove 43: Protrusion 5: Strap 51: Buckle 52: Belt Body 521: Belt Body 523: Fleece Surface 522: Belt Tail 524: Buckle Surface 53: Tie End 6: First Connecting Unit 61: First Rotating Seat 62: First Angle Adjustment Component 621: Button 622, 721: Screw 623, 722: Nut 7: Second Connecting Unit 71: Second Rotating Seat 72: Second Angle Adjustment Component 8: Rod Unit 81: Inner Tube 82: Outer Tube 83: Length Adjustment Component 831: Sleeve 832: Locking Ring 30: Fork Rod L: Axis S: Reference plane X: Left/Right direction Z: Up/Down direction Y: Front/Back direction

Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly shown in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the bicycle mudguard of the present invention; Figure 2 is a partial exploded perspective view of the embodiment; Figure 3 is an incomplete cross-sectional view of a support device of the embodiment, showing a lever handle pointing upwards away from a base; Figure 4 is a side view of the embodiment; Figure 5 is an incomplete cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional schematic view of the support device of the embodiment fixed to a fork, showing the lever handle pointing downwards close to the base, and the support device in a tightened state; Figure 7 is an incomplete cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, but the support device is in the uncompressed state; and Figure 9 is a side view of the mudguard of this embodiment, showing the position and angle of the mudguard changing through the support device.

1: Mudguard

11: Shell

12: Upper fixing part

121: Ring teeth

2: Base

21: Seat

22: Lower fixing part

221: Ring teeth

23: Side wall

24: First Union Section

241: hook part

25: Second Union Section

251: Buckle

252: Perforation

3: Buckle

32: Pin

4: Pads

41: Plate

42: Cushion

421: Pipeline

43: Bump

5: Straps

51: Buckle

52: Band

521: With body

523: Velvet surface

522: With tail

524: Fastener Surface

6: First connection unit

61: First Rotating Seat

611: Ring teeth

62: First Angle Adjustment Component

621: Rotary knob

622: Screws

623: Nuts

7: Second connection unit

71: Second Rotating Seat

711: Ring teeth

721: Screws

722: Nuts

8: Bar Unit

L: Axis

X: Left/Right direction

Z: Up/Down direction

Y: forward and backward direction

Claims (10)

A bicycle mudguard is adapted for mounting on a rear fork of a bicycle, the rear fork having a fork link. The bicycle mudguard includes: a mudguard shell; and a support device including: a base having a body, a lower fixing portion disposed above the body in a vertical direction, two side walls disposed at intervals above the body in a horizontal direction, a first joint portion disposed on the body, and a second joint portion disposed on the body, the body having an opening formed therethrough in the vertical direction and located between the side walls; and a latch having a pressure head located between and connected to the side walls, the pressure head being rotatable about an axis extending in the horizontal direction and having a pressing surface adjacent to the opening. A pad, movably disposed below the base and facing the opening; a first connecting unit, disposed at the lower fixed portion of the base; a second connecting unit, disposed at the mudguard shell; a rod unit, disposed between the second connecting unit and the first connecting unit; and a strap, one section of which is disposed at the first joint and the other section of which is disposed at the second joint. The support device can switch between a tightened state and a non-tightened state relative to one of the forks. When the support device is in the tightened state, the strap and the pad together define a space for one of the forks. The provided opening has a constriction, wherein the pressing surface of the pressure head is away from a reference surface perpendicular to the vertical direction and including the axis and pushes against the pad, the pad being away from the opening to reduce the constriction, and when the support device is in the non-tightened state, the pressing surface of the pressure head is close to the reference surface, and the pad can move toward the opening to enlarge the constriction. The bicycle mudguard as described in claim 1, wherein the first coupling is disposed on one side of the seat body along the left-right direction, and the second coupling is disposed on the side of the seat body opposite to the first coupling. The bicycle mudguard as described in claim 2, wherein the first joint has a hook, the second joint has a buckle that defines a through hole together with the seat, the strap has a buckle that can be detachably fastened to the hook, and a strap body connected to the buckle, the strap body having a strap body connected to the buckle and a strap tail connected to the strap body, the strap tail passing through the through hole, wrapping around the buckle and bending toward the strap body and detachably connected to the side of the strap body opposite to the drawstring opening. The bicycle mudguard as described in claim 1, wherein the lever further has a handle connected to the pressure head and capable of rotating the pressure head, the pressure head further has a convex arc surface connected to the pressing surface, and when the support device changes from the non-tightened state to the tightened state, the convex arc surface of the pressure head slides against the pad. The bicycle mudguard as described in claim 1, wherein the pressing surface of the pressure head is planar, and when the support device is in the tightened state, the pressing surface of the pressure head abuts against the pad. The bicycle mudguard as described in claim 1, wherein the lower side of the seat body forms an elongated groove extending in a front-rear direction, and two recesses extending upward from the elongated groove but not penetrating the seat body, the opening extending upward from the elongated groove and located between the recesses in the front-rear direction, the pad having a plate extending in a front-rear direction and movably disposed in the elongated groove, and a plate extending in the front-rear direction... An extension pad located below the plate, and two protrusions extending upward from the upper side of the pad, passing through the plate and spaced apart in the front-to-back direction, the plate having a greater hardness than the pad, the protrusions being movable into the grooves, the pad having a concave arc-shaped channel on one side of the protrusions for accommodating one of the forks. The bicycle mudguard as described in claim 6, wherein the mudguard body is made of plastic and the pad and the bumps are made of rubber. The bicycle mudguard as described in claim 1, wherein the rod unit is rotatable relative to the base via the first connecting unit, the first connecting unit having a first swivel seat connected to one end of the rod unit opposite to the second connecting unit and rotatable relative to the lower fixing part, and a first angle adjustment member disposed between the lower fixing part and the first swivel seat and loosely fixing the lower fixing part and the first swivel seat. The bicycle mudguard as described in claim 1, wherein the mudguard shell is rotatable relative to the rod unit via the second connecting unit, the mudguard shell includes a shell and an upper fixing portion disposed on the shell, the second connecting unit has a second rotating seat connected to one end of the rod unit opposite to the first connecting unit and rotatable relative to the upper fixing portion, and a second angle adjusting member disposed between the upper fixing portion and the second rotating seat and loosely fixing the upper fixing portion and the second rotating seat. The bicycle mudguard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod unit is telescopic and has an inner tube connected to the second connecting unit, an outer tube connected to the first connecting unit and movably fitted with the inner tube, and a length adjustment member disposed between the inner tube and the outer tube and capable of loosely fixing the inner tube and the outer tube.