WO2018146590A1

WO2018146590A1 - Rear mudguard fastening system

Info

Publication number: WO2018146590A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/050706
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonello PIREDDA
Original assignee: Polisport Plásticos, Sa
Priority date: 2017-02-07
Filing date: 2018-02-05
Publication date: 2018-08-16

Abstract

The present application describes a rear mudguard fastening system. The system herein presented is useful for providing the user with a rear mudguard with quick fitting and release without the need to use any tools, applicable to most off-road bicycle saddles available on the market. Installing and fastening is achieved by mere pressure on two clips against the saddle rails. In turn, removal is achieved by applying pressure onto the clips in the reverse direction. This system is intended for use in velocipedes, preferably bicycles, for example off-road and trekking bicycles that use rail mounted saddles and without damping springs.

Description

DESCRIPTION

"Rear mudguard fastening system"

Technical Domain

The present application describes a rear mudguard fastening system.

Background

Prior technical solutions which are known to the state of the art allow fastening the mudguards to the saddle rails by means of bolted supports which require additional tools and a longer run time. The current known fastening solutions without the use of tools are fastened to the saddle tube and not to the rails as the present solution.

In the state of the art there are also solutions which are fastened to the rails without tools, presenting themselves as flexible and "disposable" mudguards of the "ass-savers" type. These differ from the technical solution herein presented in terms of the fastening system, as they do not use a system of direct clipping to the rails.

Still in the prior art, the rear mudguard fastening system is only carried out in a single point directly to the saddle tube. This is different from the technical solution herein presented which has a two-point fastening, preventing the inadvertent rotation of the mudguard when in use .

Summary

The present application describes a rear mudguard fastening system, characterized in that it comprises two rod clips, said clips being each a body the shape of which is adapted to grip the respective rail of the saddle of a velocipede, promoting the fitting and fastening thereof to said rails exclusively by means of an opening in said body and without the use of additional fastening elements.

In one embodiment, the rod clips of the rear mudguard fastening system are made of polymeric material.

In another embodiment, the rod clips of the rear mudguard fastening system are made of composite material.

In yet another embodiment, the clips of the rear mudguard fastening system have an orientation ranging from 0° to 90° with respect to the rod.

In one embodiment, the rod of the rear mudguard fastening system has an adjustable length.

In another embodiment, the rear mudguard fastening system is an integral part of the mudguard flap. another embodiment, the rear mudguard fastening is attached by mechanical connection to the

In one embodiment, the rear mudguard fastening system is attached to the mudguard by means of studs and/or rivets and/or screws.

In another embodiment, the rear mudguard fastening system is attached by clipping.

General Description The present application describes a rear mudguard fastening system for application in velocipedes. The technical solution presented allows fastening and removing the rear mudguard on the saddle rails of a velocipede, quickly and without the need for additional fastening elements.

In the context of the present application, fastening elements are intended to refer for example to clamps, screws or other components or tools which are capable of providing a connection between two elements.

To this end, the fastening system that has been developed is mounted by fitting directly onto the saddle rails by means of two clips. The shape of the clips is such that it allows gripping the saddle rails where the fastening system is applied. To this end, the body of said clips has an opening that allows insertion of the rail and consequent fastening of the mudguard. This fitting is achieved by the action of the user by applying pressure onto the clips against the saddle rails. To remove the mudguard, pressure against the rails is necessary in order to release the clips .

Two-point fastening is advantageous as it prevents inadvertent rotation of the mudguard in use. This type of fastening guarantees the stability of the mudguard during sports activities, allowing the user to install or remove it easily, intuitively, quickly and, above all, without the use of additional tools.

Each of the clips comprises a rod which provides contact with the flap of the mudguard. The rods may have different lengths so as to ensure that the system is adaptable to the mudguard flap. This variability in length is necessary so that, depending on the geometry of the flap to be applied, the mudguard remains in its correct operating position. The clip and rod assembly is produced from the same material, which may be a polymer or composite with sufficient strength and flexibility for it to operate correctly, i.e. it should have sufficient strength so that it does not detach while in use and be flexible enough to have a spring effect and fit into in the fastening point.

The fastening system that has been developed can be an integral part of the mudguard flap, or be attached thereto by any mechanical fastening element, for example studs, rivets, screws or others, or even by clipping without the use of any additional component.

The clips can have two possible orientations with respect to the rod, a straight and an angled orientation, i.e. with an angular variation ranging from 0° to 90°. The choice of orientation of the clips depends once again on the geometry of the mudguard flap where the clips will be applied. Depending on the width, length and geometry of the mudguard flap, the straight or angled version will be chosen, in order to achieve the best fastening while in use.

The present technology is useful to provide a rear mudguard with quick fitting and release without the need to use any tools, applicable to most velocipede saddles, such as off- road and trekking bicycles available on the market.

Description of the Figures

For ease of understanding of the present application, figures representing preferred embodiments are attached, which, however, are not intended to limit the invention disclosed herein.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the rear mudguard fastening clips in the straight (a) and angled (b) versions .

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional representation of the rear mudguard fastening system in the angled version and using a rivet-type mechanical fastening element to provide the connection between the fastening system and the mudguard flap.

Description of the embodiments

With reference to the figures, some embodiments are now described in more detail, which, however, are not intended to limit the scope of the present application.

The fastening system that has been developed comprises two clips made of polymeric material, such as polyoxymethylene, or a flexible composite with a functional design, designed to allow the quick fitting and release on the saddle rails of a velocipede, such as a bicycle, without the use of additional tools.

In a particular embodiment, the fastening system comprises two clips connected to a rod which provides connection to the mudguard flap by means of a rivet-type mechanical fastening element. In a particular alternative embodiment, the mechanical fastening element may be of the stud, screw or other type, or even by clipping without the use of any additional component. In yet another embodiment, the fastening system is an integral part of the mudguard flap, wherein the rod and flap are the same element.

The clip and rod assembly is injection molded in technical or composite polymeric material. The clips have a circular profile, adapted to grip the saddle rails where the fastening system is applied, having an opening that allows insertion of the rail and consequent fastening of the mudguards. In this way its sustainability and correct positioning in the bicycle are guaranteed, through the two fastening points. The sustainability of the assembly is determined by the strength and design of the system, namely by the geometry and materials used.

In this sense, the clip rod has a variable length in order to achieve the adaptability of the system to the flap of the mudguard. This variability in length is necessary so that, depending on the geometry of the flap to be applied, the mudguard remains in its correct operating position.

The clips can have two possible orientations, straight and angled, with respect to the rod. The orientation of the clip is arranged according to the dimensions of the flap to be applied, thus achieving a correct attachment to the saddle, ensuring stability in use.

The present description is, of course, in no way restricted to the embodiments presented herein and a person of ordinary skill in the art may provide many possibilities of modifying it without departing from the general idea as defined in the claims. The preferred embodiments described above are obviously combinable with each other. The following claims further define preferred embodiments.

Claims

1. Rear mudguard fastening system, characterized in that it comprises two rod clips, said clips being each a body the shape of which is adapted to grip the respective rail of the saddle of a velocipede, promoting the fitting and fastening thereof to said rails exclusively by means of an opening in said body and without the use of additional fastening elements.

2. Rear mudguard fastening system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the rod clips are made of polymeric material.

3. Rear mudguard fastening system according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod clips are made of composite material .

4. Rear mudguard fastening system according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the clips have an orientation ranging from 0° to 90° with respect to the rod.

5. Rear mudguard fastening system according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the rod has an adjustable length.

6. Rear mudguard fastening system according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it forms an integral part of the mudguard flap.

7. Rear mudguard fastening system according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is attached by mechanical connection to the mudguard.

8. Rear mudguard fastening system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is attached to the mudguard by means of studs and/or rivets and/or screws.

9. Rear mudguard fastening system according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is attached by clipping.