Portable bicycle stand

Abstract

A stand for a bicycle having a wheel, which stand holds the bicycle in an upright position of use on a horizontal surface. The stand comprises a trough having an upwardly open receptacle which is dimensioned and configured to receive the wheel in close cooperation therewith. One or more feet may be manually coupled to the trough to project laterally therefrom to steady the trough on the horizontal surface. The feet may slide fit to the trough, fasten by threaded fasteners, or may fold for stowage within the trough and swing out into a deployed position. The trough may include a storage compartment for bicycle tools and repair materials.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A stand for a bicycle having at least one first wheel mounted thereon, comprising a trough having a primary receptacle which is dimensioned and configured to receive the first wheel in close cooperation therewith, and at least one stabilizing foot which is manually movable to a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the trough, and which in a deployed position is fixed to and projects laterally from the trough in a direction generally parallel to the axle of the first wheel. 
     
     
         2 . The stand of  claim 1 , wherein the trough comprises a channel disposed to receive the stabilizing foot by slide fit in the deployed position. 
     
     
         3 . The stand of  claim 1 , wherein the stand comprises a threaded fastener arrangement disposed to hold the stabilizing foot in the deployed position. 
     
     
         4 . The stand of  claim 1 , wherein the foot is disposed to fold into and be stowed within the primary receptacle of the trough. 
     
     
         5 . The stand of  claim 1 , wherein the foot comprises a folding foot assembly comprising two feet, and a hinge disposed to hold the two feet together with their largest faces facing one another in close proximity in a stowed position, and to fold open to occupy a common plane. 
     
     
         6 . The stand of  claim 5 , wherein the folding foot assembly further comprises an axle pivotally mounted to the trough and disposed to pivot between the stowed position, wherein the feet are contained at least partially within the primary receptacle of the trough, and a deployed position wherein the feet are external to the trough. 
     
     
         7 . The stand of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage compartment formed in the trough, which said storage compartment opens to the exterior of the trough and provides a storage space which avoids intruding upon the primary receptacle of the trough. 
     
     
         8 . The stand of  claim 7 , further comprising an openable closure for the storage compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The stand of  claim 8 , wherein the openable closure comprises a flexible web which removably engages the trough. 
     
     
         10 . The stand of  claim 9 , further comprising a hook disposed on the trough in a location wherein the openable closure may engage and be retained to the hook. 
     
     
         11 . The stand of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one snap fastener disposed to engage and retain the openable closure. 
     
     
         12 . A stand for a plurality of bicycles each having at least one first wheel mounted thereon, comprising a plurality of troughs each having a primary receptacle which is dimensioned and configured to receive one said first wheel in close cooperation therewith, and a base disposed to connect the troughs together in a deployed position such that the primary receptacles of the troughs all open upwardly when the troughs are placed on a horizontal surface, and such that the troughs are stabilized against spontaneous tumbling of bicycles supported by placing one first wheel of each bicycle in one primary receptacle of one trough. 
     
     
         13 . The stand of  claim 12 , wherein the base connects the troughs together such that the troughs are disposed abreast of and parallel to one another. 
     
     
         14 . The stand of  claim 12 , wherein the stand is manually attachable to and removable from the troughs. 
     
     
         15 . The stand of  claim 14 , further comprising a threaded fastener arrangement disposed to hold the stabilizing foot in the deployed position. 
     
     
         16 . The stand of  claim 14 , further comprising an adapting liner which is dimensioned and configured to be received in close cooperation within the primary receptacle of the trough and which in turn comprises a secondary receptacle of dimensions smaller than those of the primary receptacle of the trough, wherein the secondary receptacle is dimensioned and configured to receive a second wheel in close cooperation therewith, wherein the second wheel is of tire width less than that of the first wheel. 
     
     
         17 . The stand of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an adapting liner which is dimensioned and configured to be received in cooperation within the primary receptacle of the trough and which in turn comprises a secondary receptacle of dimensions smaller than those of the primary receptacle of the trough, wherein the secondary receptacle is dimensioned and configured to receive a second wheel in close cooperation therewith, wherein the second wheel is of tire width less than that of the first wheel; and   at least one adapter which is dimensioned and configured to fill a gap between the trough and the adapting liner.