Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-22
2001-07-24
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C224S426000, C297S215110, C297S195130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264223
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for carrying a passenger on a bicycle, and in particular a carrier for a passenger wherein the passenger is seated forward of the seat of the rider of the bicycle.
With the exception of a few bicycle-built-for-two designs, all bicycles are designed to support only one individual: a seated rider. However, it is often necessary or desirable to carry a passenger on a bicycle. For example, many adults carry small children on bicycles, using bicycle passenger seats that are designed especially for children.
Typically, bicycle passenger seats for children are designed to be secured to the bicycle frame rearwardly of the seat of the rider and above the rear wheel. This arrangement emulates the placement of a typical luggage rack for bicycles. This arrangement is unsatisfactory in at least two aspects: the weight of the child above the rear axle renders the bicycle potentially unstable when the rider dismounts, and the child's view from the passenger seat is obstructed by the legs and torso of the rider perched on the rider's seat.
One bicycle seat design that overcomes these deficiencies in the prior art is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,479, issued to the present inventors in 1990. In this apparatus, the child passenger seat is disposed to extend between the seat post and the steering tube, and to be supported by either the horizontal tube of the frame (in a typical bicycle style for men), or suspended between the seat post and the oblique down tube of the frame (in a typical bicycle style for women). This arrangement places the passenger medially between the front and rear wheels, resulting in a far more stable distribution of the passenger's weight on the frame. Moreover, the child passenger is afforded an excellent view, unobstructed by the body of the bicycle rider. The present invention is an improvement over this prior art apparatus, and is significantly different structurally, especially in the front attachment arrangement and the child footrest.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally comprises a bicycle passenger carrier for a child. The carrier is comprised of a longitudinally extending body having a front end and a rear end, with a passenger seat disposed medially between the two ends. The rear end of the body includes a rear clevis defined by a longitudinally extending slot that is dimensioned to engage the seat post of a bicycle frame in close fit. The clevis engagement of the seat post prevents rotation of the body about the longitudinal axis thereof, while permitting the carrier to be mounted on bicycles of different sizes and configurations. At least one bolt hole extends laterally through the clevis tines to receive a bolt that secures the rear of the body to the seat post.
The passenger seat includes a back support comprised of a curved seat back extending upwardly from the body. At the front end of the body, a forward portion extends downwardly and is provided with a front clevis adapted to engage either the oblique down tube of a woman's bike or to receive the horizontal tube of a man's bike. The front clevis is defined by a front slot opening forwardly and downwardly. A pair of bolt holes extend laterally through the forward portion, and are positioned to receive a bolt that retains the front end on either the horizontal tube of a man's bicycle or the down tube of a woman's bicycle.
Extending upwardly at the front end of the body is a pommel or saddle horn. The pommel provides a hand rest for the passenger, and also serves as a support for a foot rest assembly. The foot rest assembly includes a platform having the configuration of a shallow tray with an open forward side. A strap assembly includes a closed loop strap extending through slots in opposed sides of the platform, with a strap portion extending laterally between the opposed sides and across the platform. A medial portion of the strap assembly includes a medial opening for receiving and securing the pommel. The platform is suspended on the strap assembly for supporting the feet of a passenger riding in the passenger seat.
The passenger carrier is secured to a bicycle by first placing the carrier so that the seat post extends through the rear clevis, and the front clevis engages either the oblique down tube of a woman's bike or the horizontal tube of a man's bike. A pair of bolts or similar fasteners is secured through the rear clevis and the front clevis, and the foot rest assembly is secured to the pommel, and the installation is complete. To remove the passenger carrier, the process is reversed. No modification of the bicycle is required, nor is there any permanent hardware required to install or remove the carrier.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2234299 (1941-03-01), Christy
patent: 3544158 (1970-12-01), Timms
patent: 3743321 (1973-07-01), Luschen et al.
patent: 4305532 (1981-12-01), Reminger
patent: 4919479 (1990-04-01), Loewke et al.
patent: 5190306 (1993-03-01), Nauman et al.
patent: 5330215 (1994-07-01), Bishaf et al.
patent: 5467906 (1995-11-01), Forman
patent: 5800014 (1998-09-01), Musso, Jr.
patent: 5927801 (1999-07-01), Miree
Loewke Daniel David
Loewke Eunice R.
Cohen Howard
Johnson Brian L.
Lerner Avraham H.
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