US3984142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable enclosure for a cyclist
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-11-15
•
Granted: 1976-10-05
•
Expires: 1994-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A portable enclosure for the rider of a wheeled vehicle, such as a bicycle, includes an outer skin having an aerodynamically streamlined shape and enclosing at least the torso of the cyclist. The outer skin is supported on the body of the cyclist by a plurality of inflatable cells formed by an inner skin bonded at selected points to an inner surface of the outer skin. The two skins are shaped and assembled together to define an access opening in the bottom of the enclosure through which the cyclist can insert his torso into the enclosure. An opening may also be provided near the top and front of the enclosure, through which the cyclist can project his head. Alternatively, a similarly located socket may be formed in the enclosure to receive and gimbal a rigid protective helmet worn by the cyclist and having a rounded outer surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Van Valkenburgh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:30
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62J; B62J17/00; B62J17/08; B62J17/02; B62J17/06; B62J17/065; B62J17/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
419 words
A portable enclosure for the rider of a wheeled vehicle, such as a bicycle, the enclosure comprising: an outer skin of flexible material which is longer relative to the forward direction of vehicle movement than it is wide, is generally inverted U-shaped transverse thereto and has at least a bottom opening; at least one forward air cell underlying and connected to the skin at the forward end of the enclosure for providing a smooth, rounded forward end shape to the skin at the forward end of the enclosure, the forward air cell being forwardly spaced from the rider of the vehicle; side air cells underlying and connected to the skin at sides of the enclosure, the side air cells extending from a position proximate the at least one forward air cell along sides of the enclosure, at least one side air cell extending to the bottom opening into the skin for defining, in cooperation with the other air cells, a space within the enclosure in which the rider can insert at least his torso, the side air cells also providing a curved shape to the skin at the sides of the enclosure which is generally smoothly continuous with the rounded forward end shape provided by the at least one forward air cell; at least one top air cell underlying and connected to the skin at the top of the enclosure for holding the skin at the top of the enclosure in a curve which is generally smoothly continuous with both sides of the enclosure at least at a rearward portion thereof, at least the top air cell also extending into the space within the opening for engaging the rider in the space within the enclosure thereby to support the enclosure in the desired position only on the rider; and at least one rearward air cell underlying and connected to the skin at a rearward end of the enclosure and extending from a position proximate the side air cells and the top air cell for providing a curved, rearward end shape to the skin of the enclosure which is smoothly continuous with at least the curves of the skin at the adjacent top and sides of the enclosure, the rearward air cell being rearwardly spaced from the rider of the vehicle; whereby an elongated, continuously smooth, curved shape is provided to the skin of the enclosure for reducing the air resistance to forward movement of the vehicle and rider over that which they have without the enclosure about the rider.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
419 words
A portable enclosure for the rider of a wheeled vehicle, such as a bicycle, the enclosure comprising: an outer skin of flexible material which is longer relative to the forward direction of vehicle movement than it is wide, is generally inverted U-shaped transverse thereto and has at least a bottom opening; at least one forward air cell underlying and connected to the skin at the forward end of the enclosure for providing a smooth, rounded forward end shape to the skin at the forward end of the enclosure, the forward air cell being forwardly spaced from the rider of the vehicle; side air cells underlying and connected to the skin at sides of the enclosure, the side air cells extending from a position proximate the at least one forward air cell along sides of the enclosure, at least one side air cell extending to the bottom opening into the skin for defining, in cooperation with the other air cells, a space within the enclosure in which the rider can insert at least his torso, the side air cells also providing a curved shape to the skin at the sides of the enclosure which is generally smoothly continuous with the rounded forward end shape provided by the at least one forward air cell; at least one top air cell underlying and connected to the skin at the top of the enclosure for holding the skin at the top of the enclosure in a curve which is generally smoothly continuous with both sides of the enclosure at least at a rearward portion thereof, at least the top air cell also extending into the space within the opening for engaging the rider in the space within the enclosure thereby to support the enclosure in the desired position only on the rider; and at least one rearward air cell underlying and connected to the skin at a rearward end of the enclosure and extending from a position proximate the side air cells and the top air cell for providing a curved, rearward end shape to the skin of the enclosure which is smoothly continuous with at least the curves of the skin at the adjacent top and sides of the enclosure, the rearward air cell being rearwardly spaced from the rider of the vehicle; whereby an elongated, continuously smooth, curved shape is provided to the skin of the enclosure for reducing the air resistance to forward movement of the vehicle and rider over that which they have without the enclosure about the rider.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
A portable enclosure according to claim 1 and additionally comprising a closable valve member through the outer skin and adapted to be opened to introduce air into said cells, said valve member also being constructed to open in response to an air pressure within said cells greater than a predetermined air pressure to release the greater pressure from within said cells whereby greater pressure from collision of the enclosure with an object is released through the valve rather than rupturing said cells to preserve a cushioning effect of said cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A portable enclosure according to claim 1 having a head opening adjacent the top and front of said enclosure through which a rider whose torso is enclosed by the enclosure can protrude at least the upper portion of his head, said head opening being dimensioned so that edges of the head opening are adapted to fit closely a rigid protective helmet worn by the rider.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A portable enclosure according to claim 3, also comprising a rigid protective helmet disposed in said head opening and coupled to said skin of the enclosure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A portable enclosure according to claim 1 wherein the outer skin and air cells are shaped and located so as to define adjacent the top and front of the enclosure, when said plurality of air cells are inflated, a socket adapted to receive a rigid protective helmet having a rounded outer surface and adapted to be worn by a rider, said socket being adapted to permit said helmet to slidably rotate therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A portable enclosure according to claim 1 having at least one vent positioned so as to direct a flow of air onto the body of a rider in the enclosure.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
266 words
A method of reducing the air resistance to forward movement of a wheeled vehicle such as a bicycle and its rider, the method comprising: enclosing at least the torso of the rider in a space within an elongated outer skin of flexible material having a bottom opening to a space for admitting the rider's torso; rounding a forward end of the skin relative to the direction of forward vehicle movement with an air cell or portion thereof which is forwardly spaced from the rider within the skin for initiating smooth air flow along the skin during forward vehicle movement; rounding top and side portions of the skin which extend rearwardly of the forward end in curves generally smoothly continuous with the rounded forward end with further air cells for continuing the smooth air flow from the forward end along the top and side of the skin; separating the sides of the skin with cooperation between the further air cells and forward air cell or portion thereof for providing the space within the skin for the rider's torso; projecting at least the air cell at the top of the skin into the space within the skin for engaging the rider to support the skin in the desired position only on the rider; and rounding a rearward end of the skin in curves generally smoothly continuous with the sides and top of the skin with still another air cell for continuing the smooth air flow from the forward end of the skin and along the top and sides thereof to and beyond the rearward end of the skin.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
266 words
A method of reducing the air resistance to forward movement of a wheeled vehicle such as a bicycle and its rider, the method comprising: enclosing at least the torso of the rider in a space within an elongated outer skin of flexible material having a bottom opening to a space for admitting the rider's torso; rounding a forward end of the skin relative to the direction of forward vehicle movement with an air cell or portion thereof which is forwardly spaced from the rider within the skin for initiating smooth air flow along the skin during forward vehicle movement; rounding top and side portions of the skin which extend rearwardly of the forward end in curves generally smoothly continuous with the rounded forward end with further air cells for continuing the smooth air flow from the forward end along the top and side of the skin; separating the sides of the skin with cooperation between the further air cells and forward air cell or portion thereof for providing the space within the skin for the rider's torso; projecting at least the air cell at the top of the skin into the space within the skin for engaging the rider to support the skin in the desired position only on the rider; and rounding a rearward end of the skin in curves generally smoothly continuous with the sides and top of the skin with still another air cell for continuing the smooth air flow from the forward end of the skin and along the top and sides thereof to and beyond the rearward end of the skin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR474666A
Cited
US1144150A
Cited
US1270704A
Cited
US1256594A
Cited
US1802807A
Cited
US1916483A
Cited
US2761689A
Cited
US2745104A
Cited
US3086211A
Cited
US3296626A
Cited
US3323136A
Cited
US3768467A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-10-05 | 1980-04-05 | 1980-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-05 | 1984-04-05 | 1984-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-05 | 1988-04-05 | 1988-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |