Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-10
2001-07-31
Hurley, Kevin (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267401
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a foldable bicycle according to the preamble of claim
1
.
Such a bicycle is known from DE-A-196 36 900.
Foldable bicycles are known in practice. Compared with “ordinary” bicycles, i.e. non-foldable bicycles, foldable bicycles offer the advantage that the bicycle in folded condition occupies relatively little space and can readily be transported, while the bicycle in unfolded condition can be ridden as an “ordinary” bicycle.
Known foldable bicycles generally have a construction comparable with the construction of an ordinary, i.e. non-foldable bicycle, with pivotal connections and/or sliding connections provided in different places in the frame, which connections in a normal operating condition of the bicycle, i.e. the unfolded condition, are secured by securing means. If the bicycle is to be folded up, those securing means are undone and the frame is hinged at those pivotal connections, respectively pushed in at the sliding connections.
In a foldable bicycle known in practice, the frame has a pivotal connection which in the operating condition is locked by a quick-acting closure, usually a closing clamp based on the eccentric principle. The saddle pin is slidable in the saddle tube and is clamped therein by a clamping connection which is likewise operated by a quick-acting closure. The steering stem is slidable and rotatable in the steering head, and is clamped therein by a clamping connection likewise operated by a quick-acting closure. A major drawback of a sliding connection, as is for instance used for the saddle pin in the saddle tube, is that it is inconvenient for the user to precisely adjust the saddle pin at its proper length again when the bicycle is being unfolded. Similarly, it is inconvenient for the user to precisely reset the height and orientation of the handlebar in the proper position. Further, known foldable bicycles have the drawback that the undoing and securing of the pivotal connections is relatively complicated, requires relatively much force and usually results in dirty hands. More in particular, the number of operations to be performed is rather high: retracting the saddle pin into the saddle tube requires three operations, viz. undoing the saddle clamp, pushing in the saddle pin, and securing the saddle pin in the pushed-in condition. Retracting the steering stem into the steering head requires three operations as well. Finally, folding up the frame also requires three operations: undoing the frame pivot, pivoting the two frame halves, and securing the frame pivot again in the folded condition.
The above in any case results in that folding and, to a worse extent, unfolding a known bicycle require relatively much time and dexterity.
In everyday life, there is an ever-increasing demand for mobility. For instance in the field of commuter traffic, there is a tendency from a situation where the commuting distance is relatively small to a situation where that distance is fairly great. This can particularly be observed in urban environments, where offices and the like are located in town but where employees prefer living in a quiet, out-of-town environment, for instance in a village. On the other hand, the possibility of every employee travelling between home and work with his own car becomes smaller and smaller, and from an environmental viewpoint, this is less and less desirable, too. Further, the possibility of travelling by car within the center of a town becomes smaller and smaller.
Hence, in this context, there is a growing need for a foldable bicycle that can readily be taken along in one's own car or public transport. However, presently available foldable bicycles prove to be insufficiently capable of meeting that need. The reason for this resides in the drawbacks associated with those bicycles.
It is an object cache present invention to provide a foldable bicycle which meets that need in a better manner.
It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a foldable bicycle which in folded condition occupies as little space as possible. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a foldable bicycle which can be folded relatively simply and quickly while requiring little force. Further, it is an object of the present invention co provide a foldable bicycle wherein the unfolding can be effected relatively simply and quickly while requiring relatively little force and relatively few operations, and wherein the bicycle reliably returns from the folded condition into the desired unfolded condition.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4598923 (1986-07-01), Csizmadia
patent: 5947500 (1999-09-01), McGrane
patent: 4423647 (1996-01-01), None
patent: 196 36 900 (1997-04-01), None
patent: 0404017 (1990-12-01), None
patent: 93 21055 (1993-11-01), None
Hurley Kevin
Kinney & Lange , P.A.
Urban Solutions B.V.
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