Supports: racks – Special article – Velocipede type
Patent
1994-04-12
1995-10-10
Ramirez, Ramon O.
Supports: racks
Special article
Velocipede type
A47F 500
Patent
active
054563674
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a bicycle storage apparatus, having a rotatable frame which includes a plurality of holders extending radially relative to a central axis, in which the bicycles with their front wheels directed outwards can be fastened and where the frame is surrounded by a wall which comprises a lockable doorway for radially inserting and removing a bicycle. With such a storage apparatus it is possible by means of a protective lockable doorway to prevent bicycles being stolen which are temporarily left behind by users. This storage apparatus can be found at places where there is a large supply of bicycles.
2. State of the Art
A first prior art bicycle storage apparatus, such as is seen in DE-OS 105.950, has radially arranged bicycle holders. A bicycle is inserted with the rear wheel directed towards a central axis, so that the narrower rear part of the bicycle is located near the central axis and the handlebars having the largest cross dimension of the bicycle are located near a position radially extending outwards.
The first prior art storage apparatus is utilized more efficiently than other prior art bicycle lockups, in which the bicycles are stored parallel with each other in concatenated lockup sections, because storing a specific number of bicycles requires a smaller area. In the first prior art bicycle storage apparatus, the width of the handlebars of the bicycles arranged in a circle around the central axis determines the maximum number of bicycles to be stored per unit area. Also of importance, is that the handlebars of the bicycles do not catch or touch one another and remain apart, so that a selected bicycle could be removed radially from the holders.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a bicycle storage apparatus, in which the number of bicycles to be stored per unit area may be considerably increased.
For this purpose, the bicycle storage apparatus of the invention includes holders coupled to a circular frame which arrange the bicycles in two concentric rows, the bicycles being alternately located in one or the other row. The holders on either side of the holder located opposite to the doorway, at their ends remote from the frame center, are capable of moving transversely in a reciprocating manner to counteract a spring force, so that a bicycle on the holder located in front of the doorway can be moved unimpededly axially to or from a more inwardly located row of bicycles between the bicycles standing on either side of the bicycle.
By arranging the bicycles in two concentric rows, a highly compact storage is possible, while the handlebars of adjacent bicycles cannot touch one another.
According to a preferred embodiment the frame is rotatable around a central axis and, furthermore, a drive arrangement is present for causing the bicycle holders to rotate around this axis. The drive arrangement is coupled to a control arrangement which, upon receiving commands to move the drive, controls the drive arrangement so that the drive arrangement rotates the desired bicycle holder opposite the doorway and then unlocks the door.
It should further be observed that more storage apparatus units, for example, six rotating frames, can be accommodated in one common space which is accessible through a single well-secured door. In addition, these storage apparatus units each comprising a rotatable frame can be used in two parallel rows of contiguous units, between which rows there is a common corridor.
When a square surrounding wall is used, one side of which is bordering on the corridor, the entrance door is positioned in the middle of this side. If a plurality of such units are arranged side by side, the partition walls perpendicular to the corridor between the adjacent units may be omitted and the pairs of walls running parallel with the corridor can be arranged as two walls extending along the units. In this case a unit is obtained, constituted by a plurality of groups of radial bicycle holders which are rotata
REFERENCES:
patent: 3907114 (1975-09-01), Ewers
Gordon David P.
Purol Sarah L.
Ramirez Ramon O.
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