Apparatus and method for storing a bicycle or other two-wheeled vehicle using a suspension mount suspended from a support structure

A bicycle suspension mount for positioning a bicycle tire thereon when the bicycle tire is connected to a bicycle frame of a bicycle so that the suspension mount supportingly suspends the bicycle off a horizontally extending floor surface, the suspension mount comprising:

• a fastener positioned to define a first end of the suspension mount to fasten the suspension mount to a mount support surface so that the mount support surface supports the suspension mount and a bicycle suspended on the suspension mount;
• an extension, defining a bicycle support extension, extending outwardly from an opposing second end of the mount to receive and suspend thereon the bicycle, the support extension having a proximal end connected to the opposing second end and a distal portion including an upper surface portion thereof having a curvature everywhere along the upper surface greater than or equal to zero and wherein the curvature at every point thereon is greater than or equal to the curvature at any other point located farther from the distal end of the extension in a direction inwardly toward the proximal end to thereby permit a bicycle tire to be readily mounted on the extension by contacting a rim of the tire with the upper surface of the extension without having to further align the bicycle tire or frame above or over the extension for proper placement, the distal portion further having an outer lower surface extending upwardly such that an acute angle between an imaginary line tangent to the lower surface at any point thereon and an imaginary line substantially parallel to the lengthwise extent of the elongate body portion is between about five (5) degrees and about ninety (90) degrees;
• and
• at least one fixedly closed lock-loop associated with and integrally connected to a portion of the suspension mount positioned at a lower elevation than the first end to thereby define a closed lock-loop for the suspension mount through which a locking device is readily positionable for further securing the bicycle when mounted thereon.

A unitary suspension mount for positioning a bicycle tire thereon when the bicycle tire is connected to a bicycle frame of a bicycle so that the suspension mount supportingly suspends the bicycle off a horizontally extending floor surface, the suspension mount comprising:

• a fastener positioned to define a first end of the suspension mount to fasten the suspension mount to a mount support surface so that the mount support surface supports the suspension mount and a bicycle suspended on the suspension mount;
• an elongate body portion integrally formed with and rigidly extending from the first end, extending substantially vertically and being substantially parallel to the mount support surface and perpendicular to the horizontally extending floor surface when the mount support surface extends substantially perpendicular to the horizontally extending floor support surface;
• at least one elongated bicycle support extension rigidly and integrally connected to a lower end portion of the elongate body portion and extending outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to readily receive the bicycle tire connected to the bicycle frame of the bicycle, the at least one bicycle support extension also having a lateral extent being sufficiently narrow to readily thread through spokes of the bicycle tire to thereby suspend the bicycle therefrom and a distal portion having an outer lower surface extending upwardly such that the acute angle between an imaginary line tangent to the lower surface at any point thereon and an imaginary line substantially parallel to the lengthwise extent of the elongate body portion is between about five (5) degrees and about ninety (90) degrees;
• and
• at least one fixedly closed loop positioned away from the first end, the closed loop defining a lock-loop for the suspension mount through which a locking device is readily positionable for further securing the bicycle when mounted thereon.

A bicycle suspension mount for positioning a bicycle tire thereon when the bicycle tire is connected to a bicycle frame of a bicycle so that the suspension mount supportingly suspends the bicycle off a horizontally extending floor surface, the suspension mount comprising:

• a fastener positioned to define a first end of the suspension mount to fasten the suspension mount to a mount support surface so that the mount support surface supports the suspension mount and a bicycle suspended on the suspension mount;
• a main body portion rigidly connected to the first end and extending substantially perpendicularly to the horizontally extending floor surface when the mount support surface is positioned above the horizontally extending floor support surface;
• at least one elongated bicycle support extension rigidly and integrally connected to a lower end portion of the main body portion and extending outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to readily receive the bicycle tire connected to the bicycle frame of the bicycle, the at least one bicycle support extension also having a lateral extent being sufficiently narrow to readily thread through spokes of the bicycle tire to thereby suspend the bicycle therefrom and a distal portion having an outer lower surface extending upwardly such that an acute angle between an imaginary line tangent to the lower surface at any point thereon and an imaginary line substantially parallel to the lengthwise extent of the elongate body portion is between about five (5) degrees and about ninety (90) degrees;
• and
• at least one fixedly closed lock-loop associated with and integrally connected to a portion of the suspension mount positioned at a lower elevation than the first end to thereby define a closed lock-loop for the suspension mount through which a locking device is ready positionable for further securing the bicycle when mounted thereon.

A method of securely storing a bicycle by suspending off a horizontally extending floor surface a bicycle tire and a bicycle frame connected to the tire, the method comprising the steps:

• fastening a suspension mount to a preselected support structure, a suspension mount including at least one elongated bicycle support extension associated with a lower portion of the suspension mount and extending outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to readily receive a bicycle tire connected to the bicycle frame of the bicycle, the at least one bicycle support extension also having a lateral extent being sufficiently narrow to readily thread through spokes of the bicycle tire to thereby suspend the bicycle therefrom and a distal portion having an outer lower surface extending upwardly such that an acute angle between an imaginary line tangent to the lower surface at any point thereon and an imaginary line substantially parallel to the lengthwise extent of the elongate body portion is between about five (5) degrees and about ninety (90) degrees;
• and
• lifting the bicycle tire over the distal end of a bicycle support extension extending outwardly from the suspension mount and contacting a rim of the bicycle tire with an upper surface portion of the extension, the upper surface being sufficiently concave to prevent the bicycle tire from disengaging and to permit the bicycle tire to position on the extension in a stable position regardless of where along the upper surface the rim initially contacts with the extension.