US 12,214,837 B2
Systems and methods for bicycle storage with asymmetrical, shared individual storage spaces
Walter B. Zahn, Somerville, MA (US); and Doris Baumgaertner, Dielheim (DE)
Filed by My Bike Valet, Inc., Somerville, MA (US)
Filed on Aug. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/885,139.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/239,366, filed on Aug. 31, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0064081 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B62H 3/12 (2006.01)
CPC B62H 3/12 (2013.01) 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bicycle storage unit comprising:
a support base having generally parallel and horizontal first and second base frame bars spaced apart from each other and secured directly or indirectly to each other to define an interior space therebetween, the interior space having a defined width, height, and length; and
a plurality of generally vertical and parallel support posts extending perpendicularly from the base frame bars, wherein the support posts are arranged on the first and second base frame bars to store a selected number of bicycles in a double row along the length of the unit, with a first row of bicycles on a first side of the bicycle storage unit and a second row of bicycles on a second side of the bicycle storage unit,
with the bicycles stored in a “front wheel up” configuration in which a selected bicycle front wheel of a selected bicycle is positioned vertically above a selected bicycle rear wheel of the selected bicycle, and
with the selected bicycle rear wheel and the selected bicycle front wheel aligned in a vertical line through the interior space,
wherein a first set of support posts is secured to the first base frame bar to form the first side, with the first set of support posts having a first support post with an interior space-facing surface that is arranged to receive a first bicycle and that is arranged to suspend the first bicycle therefrom,
wherein a second set of support posts is secured to the second base frame bar to form the second side, with the second set of support posts having a second support post with an interior space-facing surface that is arranged to receive a second bicycle and that is arranged to suspend the second bicycle therefrom,
wherein adjacent first support posts comprise support posts in the first set of support posts that are adjacent to each other on the first side and are spaced apart on the first side a selected first distance to define a first space on the first base frame bar between the adjacent first support posts, with the first space sized to allow at least a portion of the second bicycle to be passed across the first space and across the interior space toward the second support post, with the second support post positioned on the second base frame bar directly across the interior space from the first space, and
wherein adjacent second support posts comprise support posts in the second set of support posts that are adjacent to each other on the second side and are spaced apart on the second side a selected second distance to define a second space on the second base frame bar between the adjacent second support posts, with the second space sized to allow at least a portion of the first bicycle to be passed across the second space and across the interior space toward the first support post, with the first support post positioned on the first base frame bar directly across the interior space from the second space.