Battery bracket for bicycles

Claim 2

A support bracket for a battery mounted on a bicycle frame or the like, said bracket comprising: (a) a generally L-shaped frame with a means for attaching the first leg of said frame to a support surface; (b) a generally L-shaped jaw connected to said first leg, the two members in combination defining a generally rectangular space in cross-section within which a battery is secured; (c) a latching means, depending from the free end of the jaw for releasably engaging the second leg of said frame; and (d) a pair of spaced parallel arms arranged on each side of the rectangular space formed by the two members for restricting the lateral movement of a battery supported in said bracket.

Claim 3

The support bracket of claim 1 wherein the second leg of said generally L-shaped frame is formed from an elongated strip of sheet material, the forward portion of which includes a transverse U-shaped ridge with an inwardly facing pocket, the free end extending downwardly in parallel relation to the first leg member and terminating in an inwardly folded transverse knuckle.

Claim 4

The support bracket of claim 2 wherein a support band formed from an elongated strip of sheet material is attached to the first leg of said L-shaped frame and includes inwardly folded knuckles at either end thereof.

Claim 5

The support bracket of claim 3 wherein the spaced parallel arms arranged on each side of the battery space are formed from a continuous piece of rod-like material with portions attached to one of the knuckles of said support band and to the second leg of said L-shaped frame member.

Claim 6

The support bracket of claim 4 wherein said L-shaped jaw is formed from a continuous piece of rod-like material, one portion of which is attached to the other knuckle of said support band, said material being shaped to include a pair of legs which extend outwardly from said knuckle, a pair of arms arranged at substantially a right angle to said legs and another portion which includes a latch element.

Claim 7

The support bracket of claim 5 wherein said latch element comprises a pleat-like configuration, one end of which is attached to the other portion of said L-shaped jaw and the other end of which includes a first pocket and a second pocket, the first pocket being adapted to engage the U-shaped transverse ridge of the second leg of said L-shaped frame, the free end of the second pocket extending obliquely toward the support surface to form a finger grip.

Claim 8

The support bracket of claim 6 wherein the first leg of said generally L-shaped frame is shaped to conform with a typical exterior surface of a frame element of a conventional bicycle, the upper portion of said leg flaring from its shaped section into a flat section which forms the second leg of the L-shaped frame.

Claim 9

The support bracket of claim 7 further comprising a pair of battery terminal contacts fastened to the second leg member and strategically located to align with a pair of compression spring battery terminals of a conventional battery supported in the bracket, and a circuit-breaking switch attached adjacent to the battery terminal contacts.

Claim 10

A support bracket as in claim 1 wherein the means for attaching said first leg member to said support surface comprises a hoseclamp, said hoseclamp including a shroud fitted over a clamp band and the head of a worm screw so that no portion of the worm screw protruding from a screw housing is laterally accessible.

Claim 11

A support bracket of claim 9 wherein the shroud fitted over the clamp band comprises a U-shaped strip of sheet material with legs bent diagonally and inwardly toward the inside of the clamp adjacent to the worm screw housing.

Claim 12

A support bracket as in claim 10 wherein the latch and the free end of the transverse ridge are each provided with openings through which the U-shaped shackle of a small padlock may be passed for securing the elements together.

Claim 13

A support bracket for a battery adapted to be mounted on a bicycle frame or the like, said bracket comprising: (a) a generally L-shaped frame element of first and second leg members; (b) means for attaching said first leg member to a support surface; (c) a generally L-shaped jaw element consisting of first and second leg portions; (d) means for connecting the first portion of said L-shaped jaw element to the first leg of said L-shaped frame element; (e) a latching means pivotally connected to the second portion of said L-shaped jaw element for releasably engaging the second leg of said L-shaped frame element to define a generally rectangular space within which a battery may be secured; and, (f) a pair of diagonally oriented braces arranged on each side of the battery supporting space for restricting the lateral movement of a battery positioned within said bracket.

Claim 14

A support bracket for a battery adapted to be mounted on a bicycle frame or the like, said bracket comprising: (a) a generally L-shaped frame element of first and second leg members; (b) means for attaching said first leg member to a support surface; (c) a generally L-shaped jaw element consisting of first and second leg portions; (d) means for connecting the first portion of said L-shaped jaw element to the first leg of said L-shaped frame element; (e) a latching means pivotally connected to the second portion of said L-shaped jaw element for releasably engaging the second leg of said L-shaped frame element to define a generally rectangular space within which a battery may be secured; and, (f) a pair of diagonally oriented braces arranged on each side of the battery supporting space for restricting the lateral movement of a battery positioned within said bracket.