US3872972A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bicycle storage device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-03-11
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1994-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A storage device for lifting and tilting a bicycle into a stored position adjacent a ceiling. The storage device features a cable suspended handle bar-seat hanger device, which is adjustable to accommodate the device to different bicycle sizes. A novel cable holder device facilitating adjustable connection of the several elements of the storage device is additionally disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard D Cummins
- 👤 Claire J Cummins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:48
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62H; B62H3/00; B62H3/02; B62H3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
398 words
A device for storing a bicycle in an elevated position, said bicycle being of the type having a handle bar device for effecting manual rotations of a front wheel relative to the frame of said bicycle for steering purposes, said storage device comprising: biasing means; a first cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means; a second cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means; attaching means for removably attaching second ends of said first and second cables to an upper portion of said bicycle; a third cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and a hand pull adjacent a second end thereof, said biasing means tending to move said first ends of said first, second and third cables vertically downwardly into a bicycle storage position; a system for guiding said first, second and third cables whereby when said first ends thereof are moved vertically downwardly by said biasing means, said second ends thereof are forced to move vertically upwardly into a bicycle storage position thereof; a stationary retainer means, said pull associated with said third cable being engageable with said retainer means for retaining said first ends of said first, second and third cables in a bicycle attachment position spaced vertically above said storage position thereof against the bias of said biasing means and said pull associated with said third cable being releasable from engagement with said retainer means to permit said biasing means to move said first ends of said first, second and third cables into said storage position thereof thereby to elevate the bicycle into a partial storage position; and a fourth cable having connecting means adjacent a first end thereof for removably connecting said fourth cable to a lower portion of said bicycle and having a hand pull adjacent a second end thereof, said fourth cable being guided by said system whereby when said hand pull of said fourth cable is moved downwardly, said bicycle is pivoted upwardly about said attaching means from said partial storage position into a fully stored position, said bicycle being retained in said fully stored position by engagement of said hand pull of said fourth cable with said retainer means, and one of said attaching means and said connecting means serving to constrain rotation of said front wheel from alignment with said frame when in said fully stored position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
398 words
A device for storing a bicycle in an elevated position, said bicycle being of the type having a handle bar device for effecting manual rotations of a front wheel relative to the frame of said bicycle for steering purposes, said storage device comprising: biasing means; a first cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means; a second cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means; attaching means for removably attaching second ends of said first and second cables to an upper portion of said bicycle; a third cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and a hand pull adjacent a second end thereof, said biasing means tending to move said first ends of said first, second and third cables vertically downwardly into a bicycle storage position; a system for guiding said first, second and third cables whereby when said first ends thereof are moved vertically downwardly by said biasing means, said second ends thereof are forced to move vertically upwardly into a bicycle storage position thereof; a stationary retainer means, said pull associated with said third cable being engageable with said retainer means for retaining said first ends of said first, second and third cables in a bicycle attachment position spaced vertically above said storage position thereof against the bias of said biasing means and said pull associated with said third cable being releasable from engagement with said retainer means to permit said biasing means to move said first ends of said first, second and third cables into said storage position thereof thereby to elevate the bicycle into a partial storage position; and a fourth cable having connecting means adjacent a first end thereof for removably connecting said fourth cable to a lower portion of said bicycle and having a hand pull adjacent a second end thereof, said fourth cable being guided by said system whereby when said hand pull of said fourth cable is moved downwardly, said bicycle is pivoted upwardly about said attaching means from said partial storage position into a fully stored position, said bicycle being retained in said fully stored position by engagement of said hand pull of said fourth cable with said retainer means, and one of said attaching means and said connecting means serving to constrain rotation of said front wheel from alignment with said frame when in said fully stored position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
265 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein cable holder devices are provided to adjustably connect said first ends of said first, second and third cables to said biasing means, to adjustably connect said second ends of said first and second cables to said attaching means, to adjustably connect said second end of said third cable to its associated hand pull, and to adjustably connect said first and second ends of said fourth cable to said connecting means and its associated hand pull, respectively, said holder devices each having an elongated slot opening between spaced first and second surfaces thereof, said slot having widthwise and lengthwise dimensions corresponding essentially to the diameter and three times the diameter of the cable end with which each of said holder devices is associated, each said cable end being characterized as including a reach portion and a dead end portion, said reach portion being connected to an associated opposite cable end, said reach and dead end portions cooperating to define a looped portion, said reach portion lying in engagement with said first surface adjacent opposite ends of said slot with that portion thereof arranged intermediate the points of engagement with said first surface being bowed to extend through said slot, said dead end portion lying in engagement with said second surface adjacent opposite sides of said slot and extending transversely through said bowed portion and being in underlying engagement theRewith, and said looped portion being looped around the one of said biasing means, said attaching means, said hand pull and said connecting means with which said cable end is associated.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
351 words
A device for storing a bicycle in an elevated position comprising: biasing means; a bicycle hanger assembly removably attachable to handle bar and seat portions of said bicycle; a first cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and a second end thereof connected to said hanger assembly; a second cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and a second end thereof connected to said hanger assembly; a third cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and a hand pull adjacent a second end thereof, said biasing means tending to move said first ends of said first, second and third cables, vertically downwardly into a bicycle storage position; a system supportable by a building structure for guiding said first, second and third cables whereby when said first ends thereof are moved vertically downwardly by said biasing means, said second ends thereof are forced to move vertically upwardly into a bicycle storage position thereof; stationary retainer means, said pull associated with said third cable being engageable with said retainer means for retaining said first ends of said first, second and third cables in a bicycle attachment position spaced vertically above said storage position thereof against the bias of said biasing means and said pull associated with said third cable being releasable from engagement with said retainer means to permit said biasing means to move said first ends of said first, second and third cables into said storage position thereof thereby to elevate said bicycle into a partial storage position; and a fourth cable having means adjacent a first end thereof for removably connecting said fourth cable to a sprocket portion of said bicycle and having a hand pull adjacent a second end thereof, said fourth cable being guided by said system whereby when said hand pull of said fourth cable is moved downwardly, said bicycle is pivoted upwardly from said partial storage position into a fully stored position, said bicycle being retained in said fully stored position by engagement of said hand pull of said fourth cable with said retainer means.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
351 words
A device for storing a bicycle in an elevated position comprising: biasing means; a bicycle hanger assembly removably attachable to handle bar and seat portions of said bicycle; a first cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and a second end thereof connected to said hanger assembly; a second cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and a second end thereof connected to said hanger assembly; a third cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and a hand pull adjacent a second end thereof, said biasing means tending to move said first ends of said first, second and third cables, vertically downwardly into a bicycle storage position; a system supportable by a building structure for guiding said first, second and third cables whereby when said first ends thereof are moved vertically downwardly by said biasing means, said second ends thereof are forced to move vertically upwardly into a bicycle storage position thereof; stationary retainer means, said pull associated with said third cable being engageable with said retainer means for retaining said first ends of said first, second and third cables in a bicycle attachment position spaced vertically above said storage position thereof against the bias of said biasing means and said pull associated with said third cable being releasable from engagement with said retainer means to permit said biasing means to move said first ends of said first, second and third cables into said storage position thereof thereby to elevate said bicycle into a partial storage position; and a fourth cable having means adjacent a first end thereof for removably connecting said fourth cable to a sprocket portion of said bicycle and having a hand pull adjacent a second end thereof, said fourth cable being guided by said system whereby when said hand pull of said fourth cable is moved downwardly, said bicycle is pivoted upwardly from said partial storage position into a fully stored position, said bicycle being retained in said fully stored position by engagement of said hand pull of said fourth cable with said retainer means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
233 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein said handle bar portion is characterized as having a transversely extending hand grip bar and a neck extending rearwardly of a juncture with said hand grip bar for attaching same to a post by which a front wheel of said bicycle is mounted for normal turning movements relative to the frame of said bicycle; and said hanger assembly comprises: an elongated rigid member dimensioned to position first and second ends thereof to overlie said hand grip bar and said seat portion, respectively, said first end of said member being connected to said second end of said first cable, a hook device extending transversely of said rigid member adjacent said first end thereof for underlying engagement with said neck, a loop dimensioned to encircle said rigid member and a front end of said seat portion, and an eye hook fixed to and upstanding above said second end of said rigid member, said second end of said second cable passing through the eye of said eye hook and being connected to said loop, whereby when said second cable is tensioned said loop tends to move rearwardly relative to said seat portion and said rigid member tends to move forwardly of said bicycle to maintain said hook device in latching engagement with said neck adjacent said juncture to thereby constrain said front wheel from turning relative to said frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said hook device includes a shank portion journaled by said first end of said rigid member for rotation about an axis extending transversely thereof, a connecting portion extending rearwardly from and at essentially right angles relative to said sHank portion, and an essentially U-shaped latch portion extending downwardly and rearwardly relative to said connecting portion and lying within a plane arranged essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of said shank portion, said latch portion underlying and straddling said neck, and said connecting portion upon forward movement of said rigid member engaging said hand grip bar whereby to maintain said latch portion in latching engagement with said neck as aforesaid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
211 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein said system includes bracket means suspended beneath a ceiling of said building structure, said bracket means including essentially parallel first and second leg portions disposed to extend essentially horizontally from adjacent a side wall of said building structure and a base portion spaced from said side wall and extending transversely of said leg portions; and a plurality of pulleys including first, second and third pulleys fixed to said first leg portion adjacent said side wall, a fourth pulley fixed to said first leg portion intermediate said side wall and said base portion, fifth and sixth pulleys fixed to said second leg portion adjacent said side wall, a seventh pulley fixed to said second leg portion intermediate said side wall and said base portion and an eighth pulley fixed to said base portion intermediate said leg portions, said first cable extending from said biasing means being trained successively over said third and fourth pulleys, said second cable extending from said biasing means being trained successively over said second and seventh pulleys, said third cable extending from said biasing means being trained successively over said first and fifth pulleys, and said fourth cable extending from said pull being trained successively over said sixth and eighth pulleys.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein said biasing means is a counterweight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein said retainer means is fixed to said side wall.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
406 words
A device for storing a bicycle in an elevated position comprising: biasing means; a first cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and a first attaching means adjacent a second end thereof for removably connecting said first cable to a front portion of the frame of said bicycle; a second cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and having a second attaching means adjacent a second end thereof for removably connecting said second cable to a rear portion of the frame of said bicycle; a third cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and a hand pull adjacent a second end thereof, said biasing means tending to move said first ends of said first, second and third cables vertically downwardly into a bicycle storage position: a system for guiding said first, second and third cables whereby when said first ends thereof are moved vertically downwardly by said biasing means, said second ends thereof are forced to move vertically upwardly into a bicycle storage position thereof; a stationary retainer means, said pull associated with said third cable being engageable with said retainer means for retaining said first ends of said first, second and third cables in a bicycle attachment position spaced vertically above said storage position thereof against the bias of said biasing means and said pull associated with said third cable being releasable from engagement with said retainer means to permit said biasing means to move said first ends of said first, second and third cables into said storage position thereof thereby to elevate the bicycle into a partial storage position; and a fourth cable having third attaching means adjacent a first end thereof for removably connecting said fourth cable to a sprocket area and to the rim of a front wheel of said bicycle and having a hand pull adjacent a second end thereof, said fourth cable being guided by said system whereby when said hand pull of said fourth cable is moved Downwardly, said bicycle is pivoted upwardly about said first and second attaching means from said partial storage position into a fully stored position, said third attaching means constraining said front wheel from rotation relative to said frame when said bicycle is in said fully stored position, and said bicycle being retained in said fully stored position by engagement of said hand pull of said fourth cable with said retainer means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
406 words
A device for storing a bicycle in an elevated position comprising: biasing means; a first cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and a first attaching means adjacent a second end thereof for removably connecting said first cable to a front portion of the frame of said bicycle; a second cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and having a second attaching means adjacent a second end thereof for removably connecting said second cable to a rear portion of the frame of said bicycle; a third cable having a first end thereof connected to said biasing means and a hand pull adjacent a second end thereof, said biasing means tending to move said first ends of said first, second and third cables vertically downwardly into a bicycle storage position: a system for guiding said first, second and third cables whereby when said first ends thereof are moved vertically downwardly by said biasing means, said second ends thereof are forced to move vertically upwardly into a bicycle storage position thereof; a stationary retainer means, said pull associated with said third cable being engageable with said retainer means for retaining said first ends of said first, second and third cables in a bicycle attachment position spaced vertically above said storage position thereof against the bias of said biasing means and said pull associated with said third cable being releasable from engagement with said retainer means to permit said biasing means to move said first ends of said first, second and third cables into said storage position thereof thereby to elevate the bicycle into a partial storage position; and a fourth cable having third attaching means adjacent a first end thereof for removably connecting said fourth cable to a sprocket area and to the rim of a front wheel of said bicycle and having a hand pull adjacent a second end thereof, said fourth cable being guided by said system whereby when said hand pull of said fourth cable is moved Downwardly, said bicycle is pivoted upwardly about said first and second attaching means from said partial storage position into a fully stored position, said third attaching means constraining said front wheel from rotation relative to said frame when said bicycle is in said fully stored position, and said bicycle being retained in said fully stored position by engagement of said hand pull of said fourth cable with said retainer means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
275 words
In a bicycle storage device having first and second vertically extending bicycle elevating cables attached to front and rear portions of said bicycle for elevating said bicycle, the improvement for attaching lower ends of said elevating cables to the handle bar and seat portions of said bicycle while simultaneously constraining turning of a front wheel of said bicycle relative to its frame, said handle bar portion being characterized as having a transversely extending hand grip bar and a neck extending rearwardly of a juncture with said hand grip bar for attaching said hand grip bar to a mounting post by which said front wheel is mounted for normal turning movements relative to said frame, which comprises: an elongated rigid member dimensioned to position first and second ends thereof to overlie said hand grip bar and said seat portion, respectively, said first end being connected to said lower end of said first cable; a hook device extending transversely of said rigid member for underlying engagement with said neck; a loop dimensioned to encircle said rigid member and a front end of said seat portion; and an eye hook fixed to and upstanding above said second end of said rigid member, said lower end of said second cable passing through the eye of said eye hook and being connected to said loop, whereby tensioning of said second cable tends to move said loop rearwardly over said front end of said seat portion and to move said rigid member forwardly of said bicycle to maintain said hook in latching engagement with said neck adjacent said juncture thereby to constrain turning of said front wheel relative to said frame.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
275 words
In a bicycle storage device having first and second vertically extending bicycle elevating cables attached to front and rear portions of said bicycle for elevating said bicycle, the improvement for attaching lower ends of said elevating cables to the handle bar and seat portions of said bicycle while simultaneously constraining turning of a front wheel of said bicycle relative to its frame, said handle bar portion being characterized as having a transversely extending hand grip bar and a neck extending rearwardly of a juncture with said hand grip bar for attaching said hand grip bar to a mounting post by which said front wheel is mounted for normal turning movements relative to said frame, which comprises: an elongated rigid member dimensioned to position first and second ends thereof to overlie said hand grip bar and said seat portion, respectively, said first end being connected to said lower end of said first cable; a hook device extending transversely of said rigid member for underlying engagement with said neck; a loop dimensioned to encircle said rigid member and a front end of said seat portion; and an eye hook fixed to and upstanding above said second end of said rigid member, said lower end of said second cable passing through the eye of said eye hook and being connected to said loop, whereby tensioning of said second cable tends to move said loop rearwardly over said front end of said seat portion and to move said rigid member forwardly of said bicycle to maintain said hook in latching engagement with said neck adjacent said juncture thereby to constrain turning of said front wheel relative to said frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
117 words
The improvement according to claim 10, wherein said hook device includes a shank portion journaled by said first end of said rigid member for rotation about an axis extending transversely thereof, a connecting portion extending rearwardly from and at essentially right angles relative to said shank portion, and an essentially U-shaped latch portion extending downwardly and rearwardly relative to said connecting portion and lying within a plane arranged essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of said shank portion, said latch portion underlying and straddling said neck, and said connecting portion upon forward movement of said rigid member engaging said hand grip bar whereby to maintain said latch portion in latching engagement with said neck as aforesaid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |