Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Patent
1991-03-19
1993-03-16
Focarino, Margaret A.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
280287, 280284, B62K 1500
Patent
active
051938340
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to folding bicycles that are of standard size and which can be quickly folded for transport in a car, airplane, or bus, or which can be stored in a minimum amount of space.
2. PRIOR ART
The bicycles of the prior art when folded require considerable space. For example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,729 to Underwood, considerable space lies between the rear wheel and the seat tube.
3. INVENTION
The present invention reduces the volume of the folded bicycle to an area roughly equal to that of the rear wheel, and to a width approximately equal to the width of the rear fork of the bicycle. This is accomplished by mounting the rear wheel axle inside of the two rear wheel triangles of the bicycle frame, so that the rear wheel can be moved forward inside of the two triangles. The separable coaxially constructed front chainwheel axle hub, allows the rear wheel to be moved even further forward, while at the same time offering a means of separating the front frame members from the hub. The split seat tube allows the rear wheel to be moved yet even further forward, between the right and left seat tubes, and at the same time allows the front frame to be folded into the rear frame between the two seat tubes about their common axis, with the rear wheel between the front frame members.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In the figures of the drawings, like reference numerals identify like components and in those drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bicycle in its operable mode,
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the bicycle,
FIG. 3 is an orthographic view of the folded bicycle,
FIGS. 4, 5 and 11 are detail drawings of the front chainwheel axle hub subassembly and associated various elements,
FIGS. 6 to 9 are detail drawings of the various crank arm subassemblies,
FIG. 10 is a detail of the coaster brake arm connection with bicycle frame,
FIG. 12 is an orthographic view of the front frame subassembly of a lady's bicycle
FIG. 13 is a view of a front chainwheel axle,
FIG. 14 is a view of a folding right crank arm with pedal
FIG. 15a-e show the various possible configurations of the folding bicycle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The drawings show a bicycle 2, with frame 4, a front wheel 6, a rear wheel 8, a seat 11, a handle bar assembly 700, a front fork 16, and a rear wheel drive system 10.
The frame 4, consists of a front frame subassembly 300 and a rear frame triangle subassembly 200.
The front frame subassembly 300, consists of, laterally spaced and symmetrically orientated with respect to the vertical plane of the bicycle, two upper frame members 301, 302 with their respective front ends fastened to the upper end of the front fork hub 313, and two lower frame members 303, 304, with their respective upper ends fastened to the lower end of the front fork hub.
The space between the two upper frame members 301 and 302 and between the two lower frame members 303 and 304 is such that the rear wheel tire can pass between these members. The outside width of the upper frame member pair 301, 302, and the lower frame member pair 303, 304, is such that each pair can pass between the rear wheel triangles 201 and 202, of the rear frame triangle subassembly 200.
The rearwardmost end of each upper frame member 301, 302 is fastened to a pivot block 311 that defines a lateral bore 312, capable of receiving the pivot bushing 203 of the rear frame triangle subassembly, whereby a bearing is created, consisting of the bore 312 and bushing 203, pivotally joining together the front frame subassembly 300 and the rear frame triangle subassembly 200. The pivot block serves also as fastening point for either the adjustable seat support 3 or unadjustable seat support 5.
The right inner element 404, of the front chainwheel axle hub subassembly 400, is fastened to the lower end of the right lower frame member 304 of the front frame subassembly while the left inner element 403 is fastened to the lower end of the left lower frame member 303.
The front fork hub 313 is outfitted with a ball bearing
REFERENCES:
patent: 4022485 (1977-05-01), Cox
patent: 4429890 (1984-02-01), Hon
patent: 4440414 (1984-04-01), Wang
patent: 4441729 (1984-04-01), Underwood
patent: 4842292 (1989-06-01), Wang
patent: 5069468 (1991-12-01), Tsai et al.
Focarino Margaret A.
Hurley Kevin
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