In-tube cavity and storage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11511824-B2
Application number	US-201916401211-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2019
Priority date	May 2, 2019
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

A bicycle frame includes a tube with a hollow portion. The tube has an opening that provides access to the hollow portion, and the tube also includes one or more recessed flanges adjacent to the opening. The bicycle frame also includes a cover holder configured to mount to the one or more recessed flanges adjacent to the opening in the tube. The bicycle frame further includes an in-tube storage cover that mounts to the cover holder such that at least a portion of an exterior surface of the in-tube storage cover is flush with an outer surface of the tube. The in-tube storage cover includes a lever mounted on the exterior surface of the in-tube storage cover.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle frame, comprising:
a tube with a hollow portion, wherein the tube includes an opening that provides access to the hollow portion, and wherein the tube also includes one or more recessed flanges adjacent to the opening;
a cover holder configured to mount to the one or more recessed flanges adjacent to the opening in the tube;
an in-tube storage cover that mounts to the cover holder such that at least a portion of an exterior surface of the in-tube storage cover is flush with an outer surface of the tube; and
a lever mounted on the exterior surface of the in-tube storage cover to facilitate removal and locking of the in-tube storage cover.

2. The bicycle frame of claim 1 , further comprising a locking plate mounted to the lever such that the locking plate rotates in unison with the lever.

3. The bicycle frame of claim 2 , wherein the locking plate is mounted to the lever by way of a post that extends through the in-tube storage cover.

4. The bicycle frame of claim 2 , wherein the cover holder includes a pair of locking slots, and wherein each locking slot is configured to receive an edge of the locking plate to secure the in-tube storage cover to the cover holder.

5. The bicycle frame of claim 4 , wherein each locking slot includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is wider than the second portion.

6. The bicycle frame of claim 5 , wherein an upper wall of each locking slot includes a tapered portion that is a transition from the first portion to the second portion.

7. The bicycle frame of claim 4 , wherein a bottom wall of each locking slot includes a locking tab that holds the edge of the locking plate via friction.

8. The bicycle frame of claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the in-tube storage cover includes one or more inserts configured to receive a bicycle accessory.

9. The bicycle frame of claim 1 , wherein the lever includes a flange to facilitate movement of the lever by a user.

10. The bicycle frame of claim 1 , wherein the cover holder includes a first gasket configured to seal an interface between the cover holder and the in-tube storage cover and a second gasket configured to seal an interface between the cover holder and the one or more recessed flanges of the tube.

11. The bicycle frame of claim 1 , further comprising a tool holder mounted to an interior surface of the in-tube storage cover, wherein the tool holder is configured to rest within the hollow portion of the tube and hold one or more tools.

12. The bicycle frame of claim 11 , wherein the tool holder is mounted to the interior surface of the in-tube storage cover by way of one or more posts that extend from the interior surface of the in-tube storage cover to an upper surface of the tool holder.

13. The bicycle frame of claim 12 , wherein the one or more posts form a gap between the interior surface of the in-tube storage cover and the upper surface of the tool holder to facilitate movement of a locking plate mounted to the lever.

14. The bicycle frame of claim 12 , further comprising a prong mounted to the upper surface of the tool holder that mates with an angled flange on the interior surface of the in-tube storage cover to further secure the tool holder.

15. The bicycle frame of claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises a down tube, and wherein the opening in the down tube is positioned on a top wall, a side wall, or a bottom wall of the down tube.

16. A method of making a bicycle frame, the method comprising:
forming a tube for the bicycle frame such that the tube comprises a hollow portion and an opening that provides access to the hollow portion, and wherein forming the tube also comprises forming one or more recessed flanges adjacent to the opening;
forming a cover holder that is sized to fit in the opening in the tube;
mounting the cover holder to the one or more recessed flanges adjacent to the opening in the tube;
forming an in-tube storage cover that mounts to the cover holder such that at least a portion of an exterior surface of the in-tube storage cover is flush with an outer surface of the tube; and
mounting a lever on the exterior surface of the in-tube storage cover to facilitate removal and locking of the in-tube storage cover.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein forming the cover holder includes forming a pair of locking grooves in the cover holder, and further comprising mounting a locking plate to the lever such that the locking plate rotates in unison with the lever, wherein the pair of locking grooves are configured to receive edges of the locking plate when the in-tube storage cover is in a locked position.

18. A bicycle frame, comprising:
a tube with a hollow portion, wherein the tube includes an opening that provides access to the hollow portion, and wherein the tube also includes one or more recessed flanges adjacent to the opening;
a cover holder configured to mount to the one or more recessed flanges adjacent to the opening in the tube, wherein the cover holder includes one or more locking slots;
an in-tube storage cover that mounts to the cover holder such that at least a portion of an exterior surface of the in-tube storage cover is flush with an outer surface of the tube; and
a locking plate mounted to a post that extends through the in-tube storage cover, wherein the locking plate includes one or more edges that mate with the one or more locking slots in the cover holder to secure the in-tube storage cover to the tube.

19. The bicycle frame of claim 18 , further comprising a lever mounted on the exterior surface of the in-tube storage cover to facilitate locking and removal of the in-tube storage cover, wherein the lever is mounted to the post that extends through the in-tube storage cover such that the locking plate moves in unison with the lever.

20. The bicycle frame of claim 18 , wherein each of the one or more locking slots includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is wider than the second portion, and wherein a bottom wall of each locking slot includes a locking tab that holds an edge of the locking plate via friction.

Assignees

• Trek Bicycle Corp

Inventors

• Moechnig Steven
• Lund Reggie
• Yerke Matthew

Classifications

• B62K19/06

  tubular · CPC title

• B62K19/46 Primary

  Luggage carriers forming part of frame (luggage carriers per se B62J7/00) · CPC title

• B62K19/30

  Frame parts shaped to receive other cycle parts or accessories (axle suspensions B62K25/00) · CPC title

• B62J9/30

  characterised by locking arrangements, e.g. top case locks integrated in a vehicle central locking system · CPC title

• B62J9/40

  specially adapted for tools or spare parts · CPC title