US 6,634,664 B1Granted

Multi-purpose mounting member for bicycle

AssigneeShimano Inc.

InventorMasao Kojima

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Abstract

A multi-purpose mounting member for a bicycle fork, especially a front suspension fork, is provided. The multi-purpose mounting member has a rigid front support portion, a rear support portion and a recessed portion that connects the front and rear portions together. The recessed portion forms a mounting space that is sized to receive the inner side surfaces of the forks and the ridge of the fork. Preferably, the multi-purpose mounting member is designed to provide a smooth contoured connection with the front fork. In other words, the mounting space of the multipurpose mounting member is shaped and arranged to provide a very attractive integrated appearance. The front and rear portions are preferably provided with fenders that are adjustable in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, the front support portion is also designed to receive other accessory components, such as an electrical control box, a lamp or a carrier. In other embodiments, the multi-purpose mounting member can be constructed of several pieces. For example, the multi-purpose mounting member can have a plastic lightweight cover and a rigid metal support or holder.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A multi-purpose mounting member for a bicycle fork, comprising:

a rigid front support portion having a first end configured to be located adjacent the bicycle fork and a second end with a front accessory attachment portion located longitudinally between said first and second ends, said first end having a first end surface and said second end having a second end surface longitudinally spaced from said first end surface, said front accessory attachment portion having a longitudinally extending upper surface located between said first and second end surfaces and facing substantially in an upward direction when mounted to the bicycle fork and a longitudinally extending lower surface facing substantially in a downward direction that is substantially opposite to said upper direction when mounted to the bicycle fork, at least one of said upper and lower surfaces having an accessory mounting structure;
a rear support portion having a first end coupled to said front support portion by a recessed portion to form a mounting recess between said front and rear support portions with a portion of the bicycle fork being receivable in said mounting recess, at least one of said first ends of said front and rear support portions being configured with at least one fork mounting portion to be fixedly coupled to the bicycle fork, said mounting recess being defined by a first end surface of said first end of said rear support portion said first end surface of said front support portion and said recessed portion;
and
at least one of several accessory components being fixedly coupled to said front support portion via said accessory mounting structure of said front accessory attachment portion, said at least one of several accessory components having a mounting portion at least partially overlying one of said upper and lower surfaces of said front accessory attachment portion such that said mounting portion of said at least one of several accessory components overlaps said front accessory attachment portion in the vertical direction
said multi-purpose mounting member having an overall longitudinal arc shape in order to follow the annular circumference of a bicycle wheel that is coupled to the bicycle fork.

2 more elements

A multi-purpose mounting member for a bicycle fork, comprising:

a rigid front support portion having a first end configured to be located adjacent the bicycle fork and a second end with a front accessory attachment portion;
a rear support portion having a first end coupled to said front support portion to form a mounting space between said front and rear support portions with a portion of the bicycle fork being receivable in said mounting space, at least one of said front and rear support portions being configured with at least one fork mounting portion to be fixedly coupled to the bicycle fork;
and
at least one of several accessory components being fixedly coupled to said front support portion via said front accessory attachment portion,
said front support portion being formed of two front pieces with a first of said front pieces being formed of a rigid material and a second of said front pieces being formed of a less rigid material that overlies said first of said front pieces.

2 more elements

A multi-purpose mounting member for a bicycle fork, comprising:

a rigid front support portion having a first end configured to be located adjacent the bicycle fork and a second end with a front accessory attachment portion located between said first and second ends, said first end having a first end surface and said second end having a second end surface, said front accessory attachment portion having an upper surface located between said first and second end surfaces and facing substantially in an upward direction when mounted to the bicycle fork and a lower surface facing substantially in a downward direction that is substantially opposite to said upper direction when mounted to the bicycle fork, at least one of said upper and lower surfaces having an accessory mounting structure;
a rear support portion having a first end coupled to said front support portion to form a mounting space between said front and rear support portions with a portion of the bicycle fork being receivable in said mounting space, at least one of said first ends of said front and rear support portions being configured with at least one fork mounting portion to be fixedly coupled to the bicycle fork, said first end of said rear support portion having a first end surface forming part of said mounting space together with said first end surface of said front support portion;
and
at least one of several accessory components being fixedly coupled to said front support portion via said accessory mounting structure of said front accessory attachment portion,
said front accessory attachment portion including at least one hole extending between said upper and lower surfaces, and said at least one of said several accessory components being mounted to at least one of said upper and lower surfaces using said at least one hole.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.