Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Patent
1986-10-16
1988-01-12
Pekar, John A.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
280287, B62K 1500
Patent
active
047186887
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to bicycles which may be collapsed into a folded state wherein they will occupy less space for storage or transportation.
A number of bicycles having folding frame structures have been proposed in the past and although they reduce the space occupied by the bicycle to a more compact volume, generally existing folding bicycles are such that, in the folded state, they are still relatively bulky. Furthermore most folding bicycles are difficult to carry and it can be very fatiguing for the user to carry the folded bicycle for any distance
It is an object of this invention to provide a collapsible bicycle which can be folded into a very compact state for ease of transportation either by the user or in or on another vehicle, and for storage in confined spaces.
Accordingly this invention provides a collapsible bicycle comprising a triangular frame formed from the interlinking of a forward strut, a rear strut, and a generally horizontal bottom strut which is connected to the other two struts at or near their lower ends, a wheel mounted at or near the lower ends of each of the forward and rear struts by supports, each of which is offset from the axis of the respective strut, whilst the upper ends of the forward and rear struts are interconnected in such a way that these two struts can be moved to lie alongside one another, after releasing a frame locking member on the bottom strut, so that the two wheels will lie side by side and with their respective offset supports positioned at opposite sides of the pair of wheels.
The simple triangular structure for the frame and the method of interlinking of the three struts enables the framework to be collapsed down to a very compact state wherein the struts are very close to one another with their longitudinal axes generally parallel and with the wheels close to one another. Indeed it is a preferred feature that the wheels should incorporate mutually engaging releasable locking members enabling the wheels to be interengaged, when lying alongside one another, so that they rotate about a common axis. Such a structure then takes the form generally of an elongated shaft carrying a double wheel at one end. Not only is this structure very compact but it also enables the user to transport the folded bicycle by grasping an upper portion of the folded frame members and wheeling the unit along the ground by means of the interlinked wheels.
In the preferred arrangement, for interconnection of the struts, the bottom strut is detachable from one of the other two struts and pivotally connected to the other of the two struts enabling the released bottom strut to be swung up alongside the other strut. Ideally the bottom strut will be connected to the forward strut by a pivot arrangement allowing the forward strut to rotate about its axis relative to the bottom strut. Additionally the upper ends of the forward and rear struts can be interconnected by a swivel joint allowing the forward strut to rotate about its axis relative to the rear strut also, the forward strut then acts as a steering member for the bicycle. Preferably the swivel joint will also interconnect the front and rear struts in the manner enabling them to be moved to lie alongside one another. The pivot arrangement advantageously comprises a releasable pivot pin and socket interconnection also providing the locking member. Thus the pivot arrangement may be interengaged by a releasable catch operated by a lever or other pressure release member. It is preferred that the mounting of the pivot arrangement on the forward strut should be adjustable. Another possibility is to provide that the pivot arrangement is slidably received on the forward strut so that, after release of the locking member, it may be slid up the forward strut as the forward strut is moved to lie alongside the rear strut. Another alternative is to provide a locking member in the form of a lockable hinge at a central position of the bottom strut with the ends of the bottom strut pivotally interconnected to the other two struts.
The bicycle ma
REFERENCES:
patent: 3990717 (1976-11-01), Best
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