Packaging system for a bicycle

Abstract

A packaging system for a bicycle includes a base tray, a first vertical tower coupled to the base tray, a second vertical tower coupled to the base tray, and an axle protector configured to be coupled to a wheel of the bicycle. The axle protector includes a body portion configured to cover and shield an axle of the wheel along a side of the wheel, and a tab extending from the body portion. The tab is configured to engage a spoke of the wheel to couple the axle protector to the wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging system for a bicycle, the packaging system comprising:
 a base tray;   a first vertical tower coupled to the base tray;   a second vertical tower coupled to the base tray; and   an axle protector configured to be coupled to a wheel of the bicycle, the axle protector including a body portion configured to cover and shield an axle of the wheel along a side of the wheel, and a tab extending from the body portion, the tab configured to engage a spoke of the wheel to couple the axle protector to the wheel.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is a T-shaped tab. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the tab includes a stem and a strip coupled to the stem, wherein a junction point between the stem and the strip defines a V-shaped recess. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is one of a plurality of tabs, and wherein each of the plurality of tabs is a T-shaped tab. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the axle protector is a first axle protector disposed on a first side of the wheel, and further comprising a second axle protector disposed on a second side of the wheel opposite the first side. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising the bicycle, wherein the axle protector is coupled to a front wheel of the bicycle. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging system of  claim 6 , wherein the tab is folded in at least one location. 
     
     
         8 . An axle protector assembly for a wheel of a bicycle, the axle protector assembly comprising:
 a first axle protector including a first body portion configured to cover and shield an axle of the wheel along a first side of the wheel, and a first tab extending from the first body portion, the first tab configured to engage the wheel to couple the first axle protector to the wheel; and   a second axle protector including a second body portion configured to cover and shield the axle of the wheel along a second, opposite side of the wheel, and a second tab extending from the second body portion, the second tab configured to engage the wheel to couple the second axle protector to the wheel.   
     
     
         9 . The axle protector assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first tab is configured to engage a first spoke of the wheel when the first axle protector is coupled to the wheel, and wherein the second tab is configured to engage a second spoke of the wheel when the second axle protector is coupled to the wheel. 
     
     
         10 . The axle protector assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first tab is T-shaped, and wherein the second tab is T-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The axle protector assembly of  claim 8 , wherein each tab includes a stem and a strip coupled to the stem, and wherein a junction point between the stem and the strip defines a V-shaped recess. 
     
     
         12 . The axle protector assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the axle defines an axle axis, and wherein the axle axis is configured to extend through both the first body portion and the second body portion when the first axle protector is coupled to the wheel and the second axle protector is coupled to the wheel. 
     
     
         13 . An axle protector for a wheel of a bicycle, the axle protector comprising:
 a body portion configured to cover and shield an axle of the wheel along a side of the wheel; and   a tab extending from the body portion, the tab configured to engage a first spoke of the wheel and a second spoke of the wheel to couple the axle protector to the wheel,   wherein the tab is T-shaped.   
     
     
         14 . The axle protector of  claim 13 , wherein the body portion is oval. 
     
     
         15 . The axle protector of  claim 13 , wherein the tab is a first tab, and wherein the axle protector includes a second tab extending from the body portion. 
     
     
         16 . The axle protector of  claim 15 , wherein the second tab is T-shaped. 
     
     
         17 . The axle protector of  claim 13 , wherein the tab includes a stem and a strip coupled to the stem, and wherein a junction point between the stem and the strip defines a V-shaped recess. 
     
     
         18 . The axle protector of  claim 13 , wherein the tab includes a first recess and a second recess, and wherein the first spoke is configured to be disposed within the first recess and the second spoke is configured to be disposed within the second recess to couple the axle protector to the wheel. 
     
     
         19 . The axle protector of  claim 13 , further comprising the wheel, wherein the axle protector is coupled to the wheel. 
     
     
         20 . The axle protector of  claim 19 , wherein the wheel is a front wheel of the bicycle.