Retractable bike fender and housing assembly

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to bike fenders, and more particularly, to a retractable bike fender which resides in a housing, wherein the housing is adapted to be removably affixed to a seat or handlebar post.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Bicycle fenders which include a stored position and an extended position are known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,296 discloses a bicycle fender which is manually distorted to a compact storage position. The storage condition allows the fender to be carried on a bicycle in a non-operating, convenient condition or carried by the user. The fender may be applied when conditions merit and the fender may be easily removed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,935 discloses a readily removable and collapsible bicycle fender. It includes a strip of resilient material such as spring steel which is fixed at one end to a connector, which in turn is fixed to a bicycle seat post. The fender has two states. In the first state the strip is self biased into a helical coil configuration. In the second state the strip is longitudinally straight and rigid and self biased into a bowed configuration between the side edges of the strip.

Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use readily removed and collapsible bicycle fenders, the provision of a bicycle fender which includes a light on its distal end is not contemplated. Nor does the prior art described above teach or suggest a bicycle fender where the top portion of the fender is coated with a light reflective material. The prior art does not describe a wiper integral with the housing for removing debris and water which may have accumulated on the bottom side of the fender. The prior art does not describe a housing where the fender resides when retracted and a housing from which the fender depends when it is elongated. The foregoing disadvantages are overcome by the unique structural features of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a retractable bike fender and housing. The bike fender resides in the housing while it is in its retracted position and depends from the housing when it is in its extended position. The bike fender includes an integral light at the distal end. The light is powered by a battery and may flash. Elements of the fender may be coated with a reflective material which may be illuminated by the integral light as well as other light sources. The housing is designed to mounted about the seat stem to provide a barrier against water and debris being flung against the rider by the rear wheel. The housing may also be mounted about the handlebar stem to provide a barrier against water and debris being flung against the rider by the front wheel. The fender housing has an opening which permits the elongated fender to be extended and retracted from the housing. A hand operated drum within the housing is rotated manually by use of grip hubs which extend through both sides of the housing. The fender is stored in the housing until use, and it is stored in a generally coiled fashion. A wiper is present proximal the opening of the housing which will wipe and remove any debris which may become attached to the underside of the bike fender. The housing may be mounted on a pivotable element, which will permit the angular orientation of the fender with respect to the wheel to be adjusted. Further, the housing may be removably affixed to the pivotable element, in order to permit quick removal and attachment.

The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bike fender and housing which includes a housing in which the fender may be manually retracted and partially withdrawn.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bike fender and housing wherein the fender resides in the housing while it is in its retracted position and depends from the housing when it is in its extended position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bike fender and housing which includes a proximal end, a distal end, a top side, a bottom side, a right side and a left side.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a retractable bike fender which includes a light integral with the distal end.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bike fender and housing wherein the proximal end resides within the housing when the bike fender is extended.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bike fender and housing wherein the elements of the fender may be coated with a reflective material.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bike fender and housing wherein the housing includes securing means to permit the housing to be affixed to a seat post or a handlebar post of a bicycle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bike fender and housing which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a bike fender and housing which is of durable and reliable construction.

These together with still other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and the above objects as well as objects other than those set forth above will become more apparent after a study of the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1

is a view showing the bike fender mounted on the seat stem of a bicycle.

FIG. 2

is a view showing the bike fender mounted on the handlebar stem of a bicycle.

FIG. 3

is a view of the bike fender and housing with the fender element partially extended.

FIG. 4

is a view of the bike fender and housing with a cutaway through the housing showing the fender element residing therein.

FIG. 5

is a side view of the bike fender with the fender fully stored in the housing.

FIG. 6

is a side view of the bike fender with the fender partially extended from the housing.

FIG. 7

is a side view of the bike fender with the fender fully extended from the housing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, a retractable bike fender and housing embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be described.

Turning initially to

FIG. 1

, the bike fender

10

is shown mounted on the seat stem

20

of a bicycle

30

. Generally, the invention includes a housing

40

with a mounting element

50

, and an extensible flexible fender element

60

with a light

70

affixed to the distal end of the fender

60

. With the fender

60

and housing

40

mounted on the rear of the bicycle, any water and debris that would be thrown toward the rider by the rear wheel will be blocked.

The bike fender housing and assembly

100

is shown in dashed lines as to show another possible configuration of attachment to the seat stem

20

. In this configuration, the housing is pivoted in an upward fashion.

Referring now to

FIG. 2

, the bike fender

10

is shown mounted on the front handlebar stem

80

of the bicycle

30

. Generally, the invention includes a housing

40

with a mounting element

50

, and an extensible flexible fender element

60

with a light

70

affixed to the distal end of the fender

60

. With the fender

60

and housing

40

mounted on the front of the bicycle, any water and debris that would be thrown toward the rider by the front wheel will be blocked.

The bike fender housing and assembly

110

is shown in dashed lines as to show another possible configuration of attachment to the handlebar stem

80

. In this configuration, the housing is rearwardly mounted.

FIG. 3

shows a view of the retractable bike fender and housing assembly

10

. Housing

40

has a face plate

42

with a first opening

46

on a first side

44

. The fender

60

passes through the first opening

46

between a stored and an extended position. The fender

60

has a first position where it resides within the housing

40

and a second position, where it is resides outside the housing in a generally elongated fashion. The fender

60

is retained in the housing in a coiled configuration, and the fender

60

may be manually retracted into the housing

40

by rotation of drum

113

. The drum

113

will rotate when the grip hubs

113

A are manually rotated. In this manner the fender is wound upon drum

113

inside the housing

40

. The fender

60

has a proximal end

82

and a distal end

84

. The fender

60

has a top side

64

and a bottom side

66

. The fender

60

top side

64

has a reflective coating

62

located along the length of the fender

60

, ie: the reflective coating covers the top side

64

along the area intermediate the proximal and distal ends. This reflective coating

62

will further enhance the safety of the bike rider, by enhancing the visibility of the rider in the headlights of traffic. A reflective coating may also be located along the bottom side

66

of the fender as well. Further, reflective coatings may be placed on the housing

40

. Any reflective or retro-reflective coating may be employed and several are well known in the art.

A light

70

is affixed to the distal end of the fender

60

and remains outside the housing

40

. The light

70

may be gripped and pulled upon to extend the fender

60

from the housing

40

as well as to assist the return of the fender

60

to a housed condition. The light

70

is battery powered and may periodically flash or remain constantly on during darkness. Means such as a switch may be provided to actuate the light during the evening and deactivate the light during the daylight hours.

Housing

40

has an attachment means

50

located on a second side

52

. The attachment means

50

may be of any type which would permit the housing

40

to be secured to a tubular member of a bicycle. The preferred attachment points are the seat stem and the handlebar post, however, as bicycle design evolves, there may be other preferred locations. Also, other attachment configurations may be provided to secure the housing

40

to non-cylindrical elements of a bicycle, as many new designs incorporate teardrop, elliptical, and elongated rectangular frame members.

The housing

40

may pivot up and down within about a 60 degree arc by the incorporation of an intermediate element

110

between the housing and the attachment means

50

. The intermediate element will be more clearly shown and described in the description of

FIGS. 5-7

below.

FIG. 4

shows a cut away view into the interior of the housing

40

. The first opening

46

is shown passing through the face plate

42

. The first opening

46

acts as a wiper element which will coact with the top side

64

and the bottom side

66

of the fender

60

as it is reinserted back into the housing

40

. The first opening

46

will remove and debris or water which may have accumulated on the bottom side

66

of the fender

60

, keeping the stored fender generally clean and dry. The first opening

46

may have an arcuate, rectangular, W-shaped, M-shaped, or sawtooth shaped configuration. The first opening

46

has a W-shaped configuration as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

.

The fender

60

is shown in a coiled

80

A fashion about drum

113

within the housing

40

, with the proximal end

82

of the fender coiled about the drum

113

inside the housing

40

and the distal end

84

located near the light

70

. The fender proximal end

82

may be affixed to the drum

113

, so that when the grip hubs

113

A are rotated the fender

60

extends or retracts from the housing

40

. The housing

40

has a top side

90

and a bottom side

92

. On both the interior right side and the interior left side, a series of spiraling grooves or tracks may be located to guide the fender

60

into the housed configuration within the housing

40

.

Referring now specifically to

FIGS. 5

,

6

&

7

, the bike fender and housing assembly

10

is shown in various states of extension.

FIG. 5

shows the fender

60

fully enclosed in the housing

40

. Note how the light

70

remains outside of the housing and may be able to be activated during nocturnal riding without extending the fender.

FIG. 6

shows the fender

60

partially extended. The fender

60

will be manufactured of a material which although is flexible, will be able to maintain rigidity when extended. The material may include, but is not limited to, kydex.

FIG. 7

shows the fender

60

fully extended.

Intermediate element

110

is located in between the attachment means

50

and the housing

40

. A cylindrical element

112

permits the housing to pivot in a wide angular range to permit the fender to be adjusted to a position where it would best protect the rider from getting splashed with water and road debris.

It is apparent from the above that the present invention accomplishes all of the objectives set forth by providing a new and improved bike fender and housing assembly wherein the fender may be extended and retracted into the housing, as well as such an assembly including a plurality of visibility enhancing safety features including lights and reflective coatings.

With respect to the above description, it should be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to those skilled in the art, and therefore, all relationships equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed only by the scope of appended claims.

While the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein. Hence, the proper scope of the present invention should be determined only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalents.