Mounting Bar, Mounting Bracket, And Kit For Use With A Bicycle

Abstract

A mounting bar, bracket, and kit have been developed such that they can couple to a head tube of the bicycle when in a first configuration and then couple to a top tube of a bicycle when in a second configuration. The bracket may be integral with the mounting bar or may be a separate component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A kit for mounting accessories to a bicycle, the kit comprising:
 a mounting bar having a first end, a second end, and a body having a length extending along an axis, the first end configured for coupling to a front portion of the bicycle, the second end configured for coupling to a rear portion of the bicycle; and   a mounting bracket having a head tube coupling portion, a top tube coupling portion, and at least one flange extending therefrom, the at least one flange oriented at an angle of 65 to 85 degrees relative to the axis,   wherein the mounting bracket is positioned adjacent the first end of the mounting bar, the head tube coupling portion is configured to contact a head tube portion of the bicycle in a first configuration and the top tube coupling portion of the mounting bracket is configured to contact a top tube portion of the bicycle in a second configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the mounting bracket is removably secured within the first end of the mounting bar. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1  further comprising a front coupling bracket and a top coupling bracket, wherein the front coupling bracket is configured to couple to the head tube coupling portion of the mounting bracket in the first configuration and the top coupling bracket in the second configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the mounting bar comprises at least two body portions wherein a first body portion is configured to be slidably received in a second body portion to adjust a distance between the first and second ends. 
     
     
         5 . A mounting bracket for use in mounting accessories to a bicycle, the bracket comprising:
 a front portion having a head tube coupling surface that is configured to at least partially contact a head tube of the bicycle when installed in a first configuration; and   a body portion extending generally along a longitudinal axis, the body portion having a top tube coupling surface that is configured to at least partially contact a top tube of the bicycle when installed in a second configuration when the head tube coupling surface does not contact the head tube portion of the bicycle,   the front portion having a front surface oriented at an angle of 65 to 85 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         6 . The mounting bracket of  claim 5  wherein the body portion is generally integral with the front portion. 
     
     
         7 . The mounting bracket of  claim 5  wherein the bracket is made from at least one of polymers, metal, carbon fiber, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting bracket of  claim 5  further comprising at least two flanges extending from the front portion. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting bracket of  claim 5  wherein the body portion includes a substantially planar top surface extending along a longitudinal plane and substantially planar side portions extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting bracket of  claim 9  wherein the head tube coupling surface is inclined at an angle of about 75 to about 85 degrees relative to the top surface. 
     
     
         11 . A mounting bar assembly for use in mounting accessories to a bicycle, the mounting bar comprising:
 a first end portion having a head tube coupling surface, a top tube coupling surface, and at least one flange extending from the first end portion;   a second end portion configured to couple to a rear portion of the bicycle; and   a body positioned between the first and second end portions, the body extending generally along a longitudinal axis,   wherein the head tube coupling surface is configured to contact a least a portion of a head tube of the bicycle when in a first configuration and the top tube coupling surface is configured to at least partially contact a top tube of the bicycle when installed in a second configuration, the at least one flange oriented at an angle of 65 to 85 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         12 . The mounting bar assembly of  claim 11  wherein the first end portion includes a mounting bracket removably secured within the first end of the mounting bar. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting bar assembly of  claim 11  wherein the mounting bar comprises at least two body portions wherein a first body portion is configured to be slidably received in a second body portion to adjust a distance between the first and second ends. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting bar assembly of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the first and second body portions includes a slot configured to receive a fastener to secure the position of the first and second body portions relative to one another. 
     
     
         15 . The mounting bar assembly of  claim 11  wherein the mounting bar includes at least one of polymers, metal, carbon fiber, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The mounting bar assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a front coupling bracket and a top coupling bracket, wherein the front coupling bracket is configured to couple to the first end portion of the assembly in the first configuration and the top coupling bracket in the second configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The mounting bar assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a child seat removably coupled to the body.