Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Patent
1993-09-13
1994-07-19
Forcarino, Margaret A.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
280278, 280283, B62K 304, B62K 1500
Patent
active
053302192
ABSTRACT:
A bicycle frame includes a front frame having a cross bar, a rear frame including a center post, and a leaf-spring-like flexible plate interconnecting the cross bar to the center post. A shock-absorbing member is pivotally secured at its ends to the front end of the cross bar and to the bottom of the center post in a triangular arrangement. The shock-absorbing member includes a coil spring that stores energy as the shock absorber member is extended in a first direction and the frame is expanded, which energy is returned to the bicycle frame upon relaxation of the coil spring. However, the shock-absorbing member is substantially incompressible in the opposite direction so that it prevents the front and rear frames from collapsing undesirably. This also allows forces to be transmitted from the front frame to the rear frame through the shock-absorbing member in the second opposite direction thus taking some stress off of the flexible plate. The rear frame includes a fixed portion including an upper center post, and a rotatable portion rotatably axially mounted in the upper center tube. The rotatable portion can be pivoted around the upper center post to a compact storage position adjacent the front frame. This provides a compact arrangement of the bicycle that is more easily shipped and/or stored.
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Exhibit A discloses three product brochures published by Greendale Bicycle Co., the assignee of the present application, advertising an early version of the flexible bicycle, the publication date being over one year prior to filing the present application.
Exhibit B discloses another product brochure published by Greendale Bicycle Co. advertising another version of the flexible bike, the publication date being later than the filing date of the present invention.
Exhibit C is a close-up photograph of the spring plate and a quick release bolt-type connector used on flexible bicycles which were sold by Greendale Bicycle Co. over one year ago.
Engvall Ricky A.
Groendal Mark L.
Vaughn Richard D.
Forcarino Margaret A.
Greendale Bicycle Company
Hurley Kevin
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