Box beam bicycle structure
OwnerJames D. Mooreinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A box beam bicycle structure (BBBS) having a box section, a right triangular section and a left triangular section. The right and left triangular sections are either integral with the box structure, or the triangular sections are attached to the box structure by riveting, bonding or welding. The box structure is preferably made of a sheet material and the parts that comprise the box structure are attached together by riveting, bonding or welding. The BBBS interfaces with bicycle components to function as a lightweight, strong bicycle frame. Additionally, the BBBS can be manufactured as a one-piece design, or can utilize a hybrid construction design with an internal structure and reinforcing members at areas of high stress.
Claims21
A box beam bicycle structure comprising:
- a) a box structure including a right side section, a left side section, an upper section, a lower section, a front end having a vertical semi-circular channel, and a rear end having a horizontal semi-circular channel, wherein said box structure has a substantially rectangular shape having the upper section tapering downward toward the front end, and the lower section tapering upward toward the front end,
- b) a right triangular section including an outer surface, an inner surface, a downward tapering upper edge, a lower edge, a front end, and a rear end, wherein said right triangular section extends rearward and outward from the rear end of said box structure, with said triangular section's upper edge tapering downward, and the lower edge tapering upward, and
- c) a left triangular section including an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper edge, a lower edge, a front end, and a rear end, wherein said left triangular section extends rearward and outward from the rear end of said box structure, with said triangular section's upper edge tapering downward, and the lower edge tapering upward, wherein said two triangular sections having a space therebetween and at a location where the respective front ends of said triangular sections interface with the rear end of said box structure, a vertical U-shaped channel is formed, wherein the vertical semi-circular channel at said box structure's front end interfaces with a bicycle head tube, the horizontal semi-circular channel located on the lower section adjacent said box structure's rear end interfaces with a bicycle lower/seat bracket, the right triangular section's rear end interfaces with a bicycle right dropout, and the left triangular section's rear end interfaces with a bicycle left dropout, wherein in combination with the interfacing of the bicycle components, said BBBS functions as a frame for a bicycle.
A box beam bicycle structure comprising a geometric structure with a right section and a left section, wherein said right section and left section comprises a front substantially triangular shape with a front extending taper, wherein located along edges of said structure are flanges for facilitating attachment of the right and left sections together, wherein an upper closeout is attached by attachment means to the upper edges of said left and right front triangular sections, and a lower closeout is attached by attachment means to the lower edges of said left and right triangular front sections, wherein when the upper and lower closeouts are attached, a box structure is created of the two front triangular sections, wherein attached to a rear edge of said box structure are right and left rear triangular shapes, wherein attached to an inner surface of said right rear triangular shape is a right inner triangular section, and attached to an inner surface of said left rear triangular shape is a left inner triangular section, wherein when the two inner triangular sections are attached, two independent triangular shaped structures that extend rearward and outward from said front triangular box structure are created, with a space between the two triangular structures, wherein located on either the left or right triangular section is an opening that is dimensioned for a bicycle drive system, wherein a front end of said box structure interfaces with a head tube bracket that is attached to the front end by attachment means, wherein located substantially where said two rear triangular structures meet the front triangular box structure is an interface with a lower bracket and a seat tube, with the seat tube extending upward through openings on the lower surface and upper surface/upper closeout, wherein extending rearward from the right rear triangular structure is a right dropout, and extending rearward from the left rear triangular structure is a left dropout, wherein the BBBS is utilized in combination with bicycle components to function as a frame for a bicycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.