Stinger Bike Rack Transition System

Abstract

The Stinger Bike Rack product, designed by Mike Vickers, is a system for securing bicycles in an upright position during multi-sport athletic events that include cycling, such as triathions. The system allows quick racking and un-racking of bicycles during the race which is a goal of the competitors. The design is modular, lightweight and durable to solve the problem of set-up, tear-down and transport of the infrastructure required to secure hundreds to thousands of expensive bicycles at one time. Racks are computer cut from expanded PVC sheet. Each rack is six interlocking pieces weighing a total of 25 pounds and holds up to ten bicycles. Assembled size is 2′ wide, 8′ long and 8″ tall; disassembled (packaged) size is 1½″ tall by 8″ wide by 8′ long. A standard pick-up truck can haul racks to accommodate 800 bicycles. Set up time is approximately 30 seconds per rack.

1 . This is an independent claim, nothing else exists in the marketplace similar enough to warrant a dependent claim. 
   
   
       2 . Bike racks for this use are home-made items generally resembling giant saw-horses that have numerous problems as described herein. The Stinger was developed to solve all the problems related to temporary one-day bike storage for a very large volume of bikes. The key objective is to make the racks stable and easy for athletes to use, while at the same time making them minimal in weight, maximal in strength and durability, and extremely simple and fast to set up, move around, tear down, pack, load, ship and store. This product is extremely unique in all these characteristics. 
   
   
       3 . USA Triathlon, the governing body of the sport, immediately endorsed the Stinger due to the claims herein, and promptly ordered  100  racks for use at all their owned, national championship events. USAT will Support all claims and notions expressed herein, and is recognized as the experts in the sport of triathlon.