Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-24
2001-09-25
Boehler, Anne Marie (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S278000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293575
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a frame assembly, more particularly to a foldable frame assembly for a bicycle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional foldable frame assembly for a bicycle includes first and second frame members with proximate end portions, a coupler plate interposed between and pivotally connected to the proximate end portions of the first and second frame members to permit relative movement between the first and second frame members from a folded position to an unfolded position, and a fastening device for fastening together the first and second frame members to prevent relative movement therebetween at the unfolded position. The fastening device includes a spring-loaded locking bolt with a first end portion connected to the coupler plate, an operating lever connected pivotally to a second end portion of the locking bolt, and a socket member provided on the locking bolt and biased away from the coupler plate. The socket member is associated with the operating lever via a cam mechanism such that the operating lever is operable from a releasing position to a locking position so as to push the socket member toward the coupler plate against the biasing action to engage locking protrusions on the proximate end portions of the first and second frame members and retain the frame members at the unfolded position.
Some of the disadvantages that result from the use of the conventional foldable frame assembly are as follows:
(i) Because the locking bolt project outwardly from one side of the frame members, the fastening device can easily get caught by the garment of the user, thereby causing inconvenience to the user.
(ii) The socket member will eventually disengage from the locking protrusions at the proximate end portions of the frame members due to fatigue of the spring that is loaded on the locking bolt, thereby untimely disposing the operating lever in the releasing position.
(iii) Vibration of the frame members during riding on an uneven is severe and generates noise sound.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of this invention is to provide a foldable frame assembly for a bicycle which is clear of the aforesaid disadvantages that are generally associated with the conventional foldable frame assembly.
Accordingly, a foldable frame assembly for a bicycle of the present invention includes a first frame member, a second frame member, a pivot member with a first axis to interconnect pivotally proximate end portions of the first and second frame members and permit relative movement between the first and second frame members from a folded position to an unfolded position, and a fastening device mounted on the first and second frame members. The fastening device is operable to retain the first and second frame members in the unfolded position. The proximate end portions of the first and second frame members are formed with first and second recesses, respectively. The first and second recesses have a respective recess bottom and cooperatively form an accommodating space that extends in a longitudinal direction transverse to the first axis of the pivot member. The fastening device is mounted in the accommodating space, and includes a hooking seat, a pivot seat, an elongated handle member, a connecting rod, and a hook member. The hooking seat has a mounting section mounted securely on the recess bottom of the first recess, and a hooking section that extends from the mounting section into the first recess. The pivot seat is mounted securely on the recess bottom of the second recess. The handle member has an operating portion and a connecting portion on one end of the operating portion. The connection portion has first and second pivot units. The first pivot unit is mounted pivotally on the pivot seat about a second axis transverse to the longitudinal direction such that the handle member is pivotable between a locking position, where the operating portion of the handle member is disposed in the second recess, and a releasing position, where the operating portion extends outwardly of the second recess. The connecting rod has a pivot section pivoted to the second pivot unit about a third axis parallel to the second axis, and a distal section that extends from the pivot section toward the first recess. The hook member has a coupling portion coupled to the distal section of the connecting rod, and a hooking portion that extends from the coupling portion for engaging the hook section of the hooking seat such that, when the hooking portion engages the hooking section, movement of the handle member from the releasing position to the locking position will result in a pulling force on the connecting rod to engage firmly the hooking portion with the hooking section and retain securely the first and second frame members in the unfolded position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4440414 (1984-04-01), Wang
patent: 5269550 (1993-12-01), Hon et al.
patent: 5398955 (1995-03-01), Yeh
patent: 5440948 (1995-08-01), Cheng
patent: 5492350 (1996-02-01), Pan
patent: 5590895 (1997-01-01), Hiramoto
patent: 5794958 (1998-08-01), Hsiao
patent: 6135668 (2000-10-01), Lin
patent: 1112828 (1966-11-01), None
Burrows Mike
Yang Darly
Boehler Anne Marie
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Gaint Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Winner Tony
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