Bicycle Parking Rack

What is this patent about?

’631 is related to the field of bicycle parking racks, specifically addressing the problem of efficiently and securely parking bicycles while accommodating various wheel sizes and preventing damage to bicycle components. Traditional bicycle parking often relies on kickstands, which can lead to instability and bikes falling over. Existing racks aim to organize parking and prevent bikes from falling, but may not adequately address the diversity of bicycle designs.

The underlying idea behind ’631 is to create a bicycle rack that securely holds a bicycle wheel using a combination of restriction members and support members . The restriction members guide and laterally constrain the wheel, while the support members provide vertical support. A key insight is to shape the restriction members with a recessed area to avoid interference with brake systems or quick-release mechanisms. The support members are designed with a recess to accommodate different wheel widths and a non-planar face to increase structural rigidity.

The claims of ’631 focus on a bicycle parking rack comprising a base with slots, at least two restriction members with a specific curved shape including a recessed area, and at least two support members with a recess for the wheel. The support members are connected to the restriction members and have a bottom edge inserted into the slots of the base. The claims emphasize the non-continuous planar face of the support members, which includes a recessed zone and a protrusion to reinforce the structure.

In practice, a bicycle wheel is positioned between the two restriction members, which guide the wheel into the recess of the support member. The curved shape of the restriction members, particularly the recessed area, ensures that brake components or quick releases do not collide with the rack. The support member's recess cradles the wheel, preventing it from contacting the ground and providing stable support. The slots in the base facilitate easy assembly and ensure proper positioning of the support members.

This design differentiates itself from prior approaches by providing a more versatile and robust solution. The combination of the specifically shaped restriction members and the reinforced support members allows the rack to accommodate a wider range of bicycle types and wheel sizes. The recessed area on the restriction members is a key feature that prevents damage to sensitive bicycle components, a problem not adequately addressed in earlier designs. The modular base allows for easy assembly and adjustment of the number of parking spaces.