US 8,025,195 B2Granted

Energy gel pack clamping fixture

OwnerJason Anthony Robichaux, Bradley Keith Wardinventors

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Abstract

The energy gel pack clamping fixture is a device used for fixably securing multiple gel packs in a central and convenient location about the horizontal tube member just behind the handlebar stem of bicycles. The fixture includes a central rail flame having an arrangement of integrally molded compression gland grooves and mounting tabs on both ends where adjustable cable tie wraps secure the rail about the tube member. A gel pack is secured about the rail frame by positioning the tear-off tab over the gland depression such that the tearing axis lies along the lateral edge of the gland. A snap clamp piece is oriented and pressed about the top of the tear-off tab then forcibly inserted into the mating gland while deforming the tab in place. The snap clamp piece locks in place when deflectable insertion tab arms become seated beneath the lower edge of the rail flame receiving slots. In this manner, repeated for each of multiple packs, the fixture facilitates central mounting and tear opening of energy gel packs in a repeatable and quick fashion.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An energy gel pack clamping fixture for securing and transporting a gel pack having a tear tab, the energy gel pack clamping fixture comprising:

(a) a rigid central rail member made of plastic that is a generally rectangular shaped solid having at least one swept compression gland cavity and mounting tabs on either end of the rail, wherein said mounting tabs are centrally aligned along the longitudinal axis of the central rail and configured to receive a flexible and lockable wrapping strap in an overlapping fashion, wherein said wrapping strap exerts pressure against said mounting tabs towards the surface of a tube member;
and
(b) at least one rigid compression clamp made of plastic and comprised with a matching insertion profile sized to interlock within the swept compression gland cavity of the central rail member;
and additionally, said central rail member and said compression clamp further comprising respective offset compression gland surface profiles, each profile comprising at least two direction changes along the profile path of each respective gland surface;
(a) wherein said direction changes along the profile paths impart at least two pressure bearing surfaces against the gel pack tear tab.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.