Passenger transportation system for bicycles

Claim 2

A footrest usable by a person riding a bicycle having a frame, said frame including a horizontal tube, a handle bar post and a diagonal tube extending rearwardly and downwardly from said handle bar post, said footrest being supported at least by the diagonal tube of the bicycle, wherein said footrest comprises: first and second sides, each said side having a substantially planar side surface with a longitudinal direction of extent coextensive with that of the diagonal tube, said sides adjoining each other along adjacent ends thereof to form a longitudinally extending vertex and so as to define an included angle θ between said substantially planar side surfaces; and wherein each of said sides includes at least one foot land for resting a foot thereon, each said land comprising a substantially planar surface extending outwardly form and longitudinally rearwardly along each said respective planar side surface; and wherein said footrest is mounted to the diagonal bar such that the bar is nested within said longitudinally extending vertex and such that said sides depend downwardly from said vertex.

Claim 3

The footrest of claim 1 wherein each said foot land has an abrasive surface thereon.

Claim 4

The footrest of claim 1 and further including means for securing said footrest to the handle bar post of a bicycle at a location rearwardly thereof, with said vertex supported over the diagonal tube in coextensive engagement therewith.

Claim 5

The footrest of claim 1 and including means for attachment of said foot rest to a bicycle, wherein said attachment means comprises: a pair of apertures disposed on opposite sides of said footrest in both front and rear portions thereof; and a pair of straps, one strap insertable into a pair of said apertures in said front portion of said footrest and adapted to be wrapped around said handle bar post and the other strap insertable into said rear pair of apertures and adapted to be wrapped around said diagonal bar.

Claim 6

The footrest of claim 1 wherein the angle θ is the range of between 80° and 100°.

Claim 7

The footrest of claim 1 wherein each foot land extends longitudinally along its respective side at an angle of about 135° thereto.

Claim 8

The footrest of claim 6 wherein each said foot land is disposed at an angle of about 25° with respect to said longitudinally extending vertex.

Claim 9

The footrest of claim 1 wherein said bicycle has a vertical axis and the cross-section of each said foot land in a vertical plane is disposed at an angle of about 90° with respect to the vertical axis of the bicycle when said footrest is attached to said bicycle.

Claim 10

The footrest of claim 1 wherein said footrest is made of aluminum.

Claim 11

The footrest of claim 1 wherein said footrest is made of a synthetic material.

Claim 12

The footrest of claim 1 wherein said vertex extends at an angle with respect to said foot lands, permitting said vertex to conform to the angular disposition of the bicycle diagonal tube in mounting engagement therewith.

Claim 13

The footrest of claim 1 wherein said sides depend downwardly form said vertex at such an angular disposition as to support said foot lands at a location where the feet of a passenger resting thereon cannot come into contact with the spokes of the front wheel of the bicycle.

Claim 14

A bicycle passenger transportation system for a bicycle having a frame including a horizontal tube, a handle bar post, and a diagonal tube extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom, said system comprising: a footrest usable by a passenger riding the bicycle, said footrest being supported at least by the diagonal tube of the bicycle, wherein said footrest includes: first and second sides, each side having a substantially planar side surface with a longitudinal direction of extent coextensive with that of said diagonal tube, said sides adjoining each other along adjacent ends thereof to form a longitudinally extending vertex and so as to define an included angle θ between said planar side surfaces, said footrest being mounted to said diagonal bar such that said diagonal bar is nested within said longitudinally extending vertex and such that said sides depend downwardly from said vertex; and wherein each of said sides includes at least one foot land for resting a foot thereon, each said land comprising a substantially planar surface extending outwardly from and longitudinally rearwardly along each said respective planar side surface; and wherein said system further comprises an auxiliary seat for attachment to the horizontal bar forwardly of the main seat.

Claim 15

A bicycle passenger transportation system for a bicycle having a frame including a horizontal tube, a handle bar post, and a diagonal tube extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom, said system comprising: a footrest usable by a passenger riding the bicycle, said footrest being supported at least by the diagonal tube of the bicycle, wherein said footrest includes: first and second sides, each side having a substantially planar side surface with a longitudinal direction of extent coextensive with that of said diagonal tube, said sides adjoining each other along adjacent ends thereof to form a longitudinally extending vertex and so as to define an included angle θ between said planar side surfaces, said footrest being mounted to said diagonal bar such that said diagonal bar is nested within said longitudinally extending vertex and such that said sides depend downwardly from said vertex; and wherein each of said sides includes at least one foot land for resting a foot thereon, each said land comprising a substantially planar surface extending outwardly from and longitudinally rearwardly along each said respective planar side surface; and wherein said system further comprises an auxiliary seat for attachment to the horizontal bar forwardly of the main seat.

Claim 16

The system of claim 13 wherein said auxiliary seat comprises: an elongated seat cushion formed from material of sufficiently high density to support the weight of a person; an elongated slot extending over the entire length of said seat cushion and terminating at its lower end in a continuous opening in the bottom of said seat cushion extending through the outer surface thereof, and the upper end of said slot being closed and terminating within the body of said seat cushion, whereby said seat cushion may be removably mounted on the horizontal bar extending between the main seat post and the handle bar post of a bicycle, at a location forwardly of the main seat on said seat post, by placing said continuous opening against the top of said horizontal bar and forcing the seat cushion downwardly so that said slot slides over said horizontal bar, until said closed end of said slot is brought into firm engagement with said horizontal bar.

Claim 17

The bicycle passenger transportation system as defined in claim 14 wherein said slot terminates at its upper end in a tubular passage sized and adapted to fit snugly around the aforesaid horizontal bar of a bicycle, and said cushion having sufficient resiliency that the material of said cushion defining said tubular passage will spring back around the horizontal bar in secure, embracing engagement therewith after said slot is forced over the bar.

Claim 18

The bicycle passenger transportation system as defined in claim 14 wherein said slot extends substantially vertically when said seat cushion is oriented generally horizontally for mounting on a horizontal bar of a bicycle, and said tubular passage is located substantially at the longitudinal central axis of said seat cushion.

Claim 19

The bicycle passenger transportation system as defined in claim 14 wherein said slot extends substantially vertically within said seat cushion, when said seat cushion is oriented generally horizontally for mounting on a horizontal bar of a bicycle, said slot extending between said continuous opening at its lower end and said closed upper end thereof.

Claim 20

The bicycle passenger transportation system as defined in claim 14 wherein said tubular passage at the upper end of said slot is of a lesser diameter than the horizontal bicycle bar which it is adapted to embrace, whereby the walls of said tubular passage squeeze around the horizontal bar and tightly embrace it after the installation of said seat on such a bicycle bar.

Claim 21

The bicycle passenger transportation system as defined in claim 14 wherein the material from which said seat cushion is formed is polyurethane.

Claim 22

The bicycle passenger transportation system as defined in claim 14 wherein said cushion is of cylindrical shape.

Claim 23

The bicycle passenger transportation system as defined in claim 20 wherein said seat cushion is in the shape of a right circular cylinder, and is uniformly of such a shape over its entire length, whereby a person seated thereon will be comfortably supported at any position along the length of the seat cushion where the person must position himself in order to grip the handlebars on a bicycle.

Claim 24

The bicycle passenger transportation system as defined in claim 14, and further including: a protective and decorative cover wrapped around the outside of said seat cushion and extending into and covering the portions of said seat cushion defining said slot and said closed upper end thereof so as to protect said portions of said cushion from wear in the course of sliding said slot onto and off of a horizontal bar of a bicycle for installation and removal of said seat cushion.

Claim 25

The bicycle passenger transportation system as defined in claim 22 wherein said cover has a pocket formed integrally therewith, said pocket depending downwardly from said seat cushion when said seat cushion is installed in its normal position of use.

Claim 26

The bicycle passenger transportation system as defined in claim 23 wherein said cover is made of nylon.

Claim 27

The bicycle passenger transportation system of claim 13 wherein each said foot land has an abrasive surface thereon.

Claim 28

The bicycle passenger transportation system of claim 13 and further including means for securing said footrest to the handle bar post of a bicycle at a location rearwardly thereof, with said vertex supported over the diagonal tube in coextensive engagement therewith.

Claim 29

The bicycle passenger transportation system of claim 13 and including means for attachment of said foot rest to a bicycle, wherein said attachment means comprises: a pair of apertures disposed on opposite sides of said footrest in both front and rear portions thereof; and a pair of straps, one strap insertable into a pair of said apertures in said front portion of said footrest for wrapping around said handle bar post and the other strap insertable into said rear pair of apertures for wrapping around said diagonal bar.

Claim 30

The bicycle passenger transportation system of claim 13 and further including: a first belt adapted to be worn by a rider on said main seat, said first belt having coupling means located thereon so as to project forwardly from the front of the rider's body; and a second, belt adapted to be worn by a passenger sitting on said auxiliary seat in front of said main seat, said second belt having complementary coupling means located thereon so as to project rearwardly from the back side of the passenger's body for detachable, coupling engagement with said coupling means on said first belt, whereby a passenger sitting on said auxiliary seat will be secured to and supported by a rider sitting on said main seat.

Claim 31

The passenger, transportation belt system as defined in claim 28 wherein said first belt comprises a pair of opposed, looped shoulder straps through which the rider's arms extend and which are adapted to fit around the rider's shoulders, and said coupling means comprising a pair of coupling members secured to said shoulder straps and extending forwardly therefrom, said coupling members being constructed and arranged to releasably connect to said complementary couplinq means in detachable, coupling engagement therewith.

Claim 32

The passenger transportation system as defined in claim 29 wherein said first belt further comprises a neck strap connected between the top of said looped shoulder straps and adapted to lie across and bear against the top of the shoulders of the rider.

Claim 33

The bicycle passenger transportation system as defined in claim 29 wherein said second belt has first and second shoulder straps adapted to be secured over the tops of the shoulders of the passenger, and said complementary coupling means comprises first and second coupling members attached to said shoulder straps and constructed to releasably couple to said pair of coupling members on said first belt.

Claim 34

The bicycle transportation system of claim 13 wherein said vertex extends at an angle with respect to said foot lands, permitting said vertex to conform to the angular disposition of the bicycle diagonal tube in mounting engagement therewith.

Claim 35

The bicycle transportation system of claim 13 wherein said sides depend downwardly from said vertex at such an angular disposition as to support said foots lands at a location where the feet of a passenger resting thereon cannot come into contact with the spokes of the front wheel of the bicycle.

Claim 36

A footrest usable by a person riding a bicycle having a frame, said frame including a horizontal tube, a handle bar post and a diagonal tube extending rearwardly and downwardly from said handle bar post, said footrest being supported at least by the diagonal tube of the bicycle, wherein said footrest comprises: first and second sides connected to each other to define an included angle θ therebetween; and attachment means for attaching said footrest to the handle bar post of a bicycle, said attachment means comprising: a pair of apertures disposed on opposite sides of said footrest in both front and rear portions thereof; and a pair of straps, one strap insertable into a pair of said apertures in said front portion of said footrest and adapted to be wrapped around said handle bar post and the other strap insertable into said rear pair of apertures and adapted to be wrapped around said diagonal bar; wherein each of said sides includes at least one foot land for resting a foot, each said land comprising a substantially planar surface extending outwardly form each said respective side

Claim 37

A footrest usable by a person riding a bicycle having a frame, said frame including a horizontal tube, a handle bar post and a diagonal tube extending rearwardly and downwardly from said handle bar post, said footrest being supported at least by the diagonal tube of the bicycle, wherein said footrest comprises: first and second sides connected to each other to define an included angle θ therebetween; and attachment means for attaching said footrest to the handle bar post of a bicycle, said attachment means comprising: a pair of apertures disposed on opposite sides of said footrest in both front and rear portions thereof; and a pair of straps, one strap insertable into a pair of said apertures in said front portion of said footrest and adapted to be wrapped around said handle bar post and the other strap insertable into said rear pair of apertures and adapted to be wrapped around said diagonal bar; wherein each of said sides includes at least one foot land for resting a foot, each said land comprising a substantially planar surface extending outwardly form each said respective side

Claim 38

A bicycle passenger transportation system for a bicycle having a frame including a horizontal tube, a handle bar post, and a diagonal tube extending rearwardly and downwardly from said handle bar post, said system comprising: an auxiliary seat for attachment to the horizontal bar forwardly of the main seat for supporting a passenger thereon; and a footrest usable by a passenger riding the bicycle, said footrest being supported at least by the diagonal tube of the bicycle, wherein said footrest includes: first and second sides connected to each other to define an included angle θ therebetween; and attachment means for attaching said footrest to the handle bar post of a bicycle, said attachment means comprising: a pair of apertures disposed on opposite sides of said footrest in both front and rear portions thereof; and a pair of straps insertable into a pair of said apertures in said front portion of said footrest and adapted to be wrapped around said handle bar post and the other strap insertable into said rear pair of apertures and adapted to be wrapped around said diagonal bar; wherein each of said sides includes at least one foot land for resting a foot thereon, each said land comprising a substantially planar surface extending outwardly from each said respective side.

Claim 39

A bicycle passenger transportation system for a bicycle having a frame including a horizontal tube, a handle bar post, and a diagonal tube extending rearwardly and downwardly from said handle bar post, said system comprising: an auxiliary seat for attachment to the horizontal bar forwardly of the main seat for supporting a passenger thereon; and a footrest usable by a passenger riding the bicycle, said footrest being supported at least by the diagonal tube of the bicycle, wherein said footrest includes: first and second sides connected to each other to define an included angle θ therebetween; and attachment means for attaching said footrest to the handle bar post of a bicycle, said attachment means comprising: a pair of apertures disposed on opposite sides of said footrest in both front and rear portions thereof; and a pair of straps insertable into a pair of said apertures in said front portion of said footrest and adapted to be wrapped around said handle bar post and the other strap insertable into said rear pair of apertures and adapted to be wrapped around said diagonal bar; wherein each of said sides includes at least one foot land for resting a foot thereon, each said land comprising a substantially planar surface extending outwardly from each said respective side.