US5094502A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bicycle shield device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-07-03
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Granted: 1992-03-10
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Expires: 2009-07-03
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a bicycle shield device adapted to be removably connected to a bicycle attached to a carrier for transportation by a highway vehicle so that the shield device is interposed in the airstream immediately ahead of the bicycle, in order to shield the bicycle from impact by foreign objects during such transportation. The device of the invention generally comprises an elongate narrow body to shield the bicycle frame and frame-mounted components, and a pair of opposed arms extending outwardly from the body in generally perpendicular relation to shield the bicycle handlebars and handlebar-mounted components. Various embodiments and adaptations for accommodation of different bicycle-to-carrier attachment systems are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael B. Mote
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:19
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62J; B62J23/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
428 words
A bicycle shield device for protecting a bicycle against the impact of foreign objects during transportation of the bicycle by a transporting vehicle with the bicycle releasably mounted on a carrier rack attached to the transporting vehicle in a configuration in which the plane of the frame of the bicycle is substantially vertical and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the transporting vehicle, comprising an elongate shell-like body to be disposed immediately in front of the bicycle in an air stream created relative to said bicycle by forward movement of the transporting vehicle, said body being of substantially greater length than width, having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, and said body being curved in cross-section across its width to form a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, with the length of said body being such that said body extends from the lowest point of said bicycle as mounted on the carrier rack to or slightly beyond the highest point of said bicycle as mounted on the carrier rack, and with the width of said body at its widest point being equal to or less than the total distance from the outer end of the pedal apparatus of the bicycle on one side of the plane of the frame of the bicycle to the outer end of said pedal apparatus on the opposite side of said plane; a pair of elongate arms each being of substantially greater length then width and having a first end and a second end, disposed in opposed relation across the longitudinal axis of said body and disposed longitudinally on said body such that said arms are in front of the handlebars of the bicycle in the air stream created relative to said handlebars by forward movement of the transporting vehicle with said body disposed in front of said bicycle, each of said arms being curved in cross-section across its width to form a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, with the longitudinal configuration of each of said arms matching the longitudinal profile of the portion of said handlebars behind said arm in a vertical plane perpendicular to the plane of said bicycle, with the length of each of said arms approximately equal to the length of the longitudinal profile of the portion of said handlebars behind said arm, and with the width of each of said arms slightly greater than the cross-sectional dimension of said handlebars; and means of removably attaching said body immediately in front of said bicycle, with said bicycle mounted on the carrier rack.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
428 words
A bicycle shield device for protecting a bicycle against the impact of foreign objects during transportation of the bicycle by a transporting vehicle with the bicycle releasably mounted on a carrier rack attached to the transporting vehicle in a configuration in which the plane of the frame of the bicycle is substantially vertical and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the transporting vehicle, comprising an elongate shell-like body to be disposed immediately in front of the bicycle in an air stream created relative to said bicycle by forward movement of the transporting vehicle, said body being of substantially greater length than width, having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, and said body being curved in cross-section across its width to form a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, with the length of said body being such that said body extends from the lowest point of said bicycle as mounted on the carrier rack to or slightly beyond the highest point of said bicycle as mounted on the carrier rack, and with the width of said body at its widest point being equal to or less than the total distance from the outer end of the pedal apparatus of the bicycle on one side of the plane of the frame of the bicycle to the outer end of said pedal apparatus on the opposite side of said plane; a pair of elongate arms each being of substantially greater length then width and having a first end and a second end, disposed in opposed relation across the longitudinal axis of said body and disposed longitudinally on said body such that said arms are in front of the handlebars of the bicycle in the air stream created relative to said handlebars by forward movement of the transporting vehicle with said body disposed in front of said bicycle, each of said arms being curved in cross-section across its width to form a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, with the longitudinal configuration of each of said arms matching the longitudinal profile of the portion of said handlebars behind said arm in a vertical plane perpendicular to the plane of said bicycle, with the length of each of said arms approximately equal to the length of the longitudinal profile of the portion of said handlebars behind said arm, and with the width of each of said arms slightly greater than the cross-sectional dimension of said handlebars; and means of removably attaching said body immediately in front of said bicycle, with said bicycle mounted on the carrier rack.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The shield device of claim 1, wherein the profile of the handlebars in such air stream created relative to such handlebars is L-shaped, and wherein the longitudinal configuration of each of said arms is an L-shape matching the L-shaped handlebar profile.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The bicycle shield device of claim 1, wherein said means of removably attaching said body immediately in front of said bicycle comprises a plurality of flexible straps each interconnected at a first end to said body and configured to be passed around a portion of said bicycle and secured at a second end to stabilize said body relative to said bicycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The bicycle shield device of claim 1, wherein said arms are disposed on the portion of said body between said first end of said body and the longitudinal midpoint of said body, and wherein at least a portion of said body between said longitudinal midpoint and said second end of said body is wider than the portion of said body between said longitudinal midpoint and said first end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The bicycle shield device of claim 1, wherein an elongate narrow strip along each of two opposed elongate edges of said body is flared outwardly from the curvature of said body so as to deflect air moving over the convex outer surface of said body outwardly from the plane of the frame of said bicycle as the air passes over said elongate narrow strip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The bicycle shield device of claim 1, wherein an elongate narrow strip along each of two opposed elongate edges of each of said arms is flared outwardly from the curvature of said arm so as to deflect air moving over the convex outer surface of said arms outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the portion of the handlebars in front of which each respective arm is disposed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The bicycle shield device of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal axis of said body is straight such that the longitudinal configuration of said body is straight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
The bicycle shield device of claim 1, wherein said bicycle is mounted on the carrier rack with one of the wheel and tire assemblies of said bicycle nearer the front of the transporting vehicle than other portions of said bicycle, and wherein at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of said body is curved such that the longitudinal configuration of a portion of said body to be disposed in front of said wheel and tire in said airstream is curved to match the curvature of said wheel and tire in the plane of the frame of said bicycle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
The bicycle shield device of claim 8, wherein the portion of said body to be disposed in front of said wheel and tire is in direct contact with the respective portion of said tire, and said portion of said body to be disposed in front of said wheel and tire includes an elongate dome extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said portion of said body outwardly from the convex outer surface thereof and having a concave inner surface in communication with the concave inner surface of said body, such that a portion of said tire is received in the concavity of said dome with said body in place relative to said bicycle on said carrier rack.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
The bicycle shield device of claim 8, wherein a portion of said wheel and tire are to be received within the concavity formed by the cross-sectional curvature of said body and wherein said portion of said body to be disposed in front of said wheel and tire in said airstream includes one or more elongate slots formed within said concavity with their longitudinal axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of said portion of said body, such that the portion of said tire to be received within said concavity is received within said one or more slots formed therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The bicycle shield device of claim 1, wherein said arms are disposed on said body intermediate said first and second ends of said body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bicycle shield device of claim 1, wherein said arms are disposed on said body coincident with said first end of said body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The bicycle shield device of claim 1, wherein said body and said arms are formed of a shape retentive plastic material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
The bicycle shield device of claim 1, wherein said body is configured and said arms are configured and disposed on said body such that the portion of said handlebars behind each of said arms with said body removably attached in front of said bicycle on said carrier rack is at least partially received within the concavity formed by the cross-sectional curvature of said arms.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-10 | 1995-09-09 | 1996-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-10 | 1999-09-09 | 2000-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-10 | 2003-09-09 | 2004-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |