Sizable composite tube bicycle frame and method of making
OwnerMichael Parkininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sizable reduced weight bicycle frame and method for making such incorporating tubes of a composite material, the method providing for flexibility and full customization of the bicycle frame with a minimum amount of tooling, which tooling securely holds lugs of the bicycle frame at selected customized positions relative to the tooling during the molding process.
Claims41
A bicycle frame comprising:
- a first portion;
- a second portion;
- a composite material extending between said first and second portions, said composite material sized according to a preferred distance between said first and second portions;
- and
- an adhesive layer between an inner surface of at least said first portion and said composite material to adhere said composite material to at least said first portion.
A system for fabricating a bicycle frame comprising:
- a mold body having an inner molding surface;
- a first portion at least partially in contact with said inner molding surface;
- a second portion at least partially in contact with said inner molding surface;
- an attachment device for connecting at least one of said first and second portions to one of multiple positions in said mold body to size the bicycle frame;
- and
- a composite material placed within the mold body between and within at least a part of the first and second portions.
A method for fabricating a bicycle frame comprising the steps of:
- providing a mold body having an inner molding surface;
- providing a first portion at least partially in contact with the inner molding surface;
- providing a second portion at least partially in contact with the inner molding surface;
- providing an attachment device for connecting at least one of said first and second portions to one of multiple positions in said mold body to size the bicycle frame;
- and
- providing a composite material placed within the mold body between and within at least a part of the first and second portions.
A bicycle frame comprising:
- a first portion;
- a composite material at least partially inserted into said first portion;
- and
- an adhesive layer between an inner surface of said first portion and said composite material to adhere said composite material to said first portion;
- wherein said composite material may be trimmed to provide a preferred length.
A method for fabricating a bicycle frame comprising the steps of:
- cutting a composite material to a desired length;
- inserting the composite material into an end of a first portion;
- positioning an adhesive layer between an inner surface of the first portion and the composite material;
- and
- adhering the composite material to the first portion such that the adhesive layer is sandwiched between the composite material and the inner surface of the first portion.
A system for fabricating a bicycle frame comprising:
- a mold body having an inner molding surface;
- a composite material placed within the mold body and at least partly within a frame portion
- the inner molding surface encasing both the composite material and at least a part of the frame portion;
- and
- an attachment device for connecting said frame portion to one of multiple positions in said mold body to size the bicycle frame.
A bicycle frame having a first portion and a second portion with a composite material extending between the first and second portions, the composite material sized to provide a preferred distance between the first and second portions and to size the bicycle frame, and having an adhesive layer between an inner surface of at least the first portion and the composite material to adhere the composite material to at least the first portion, the bicycle frame fabricated by a system comprising:
- a mold body having an inner molding surface;
- the first portion at least partially in contact with said inner molding surface;
- the second portion at least partially in contact with said inner molding surface;
- an attachment device for connecting at least one of said first and second frame portions to one of multiple positions in said mold body to size the bicycle frame;
- and
- a composite material placed within the mold body between and within at least a part of the first and second portions.
A method for manufacturing a bicycle frame comprising the steps of:
- providing a first portion;
- providing a second portion;
- extending a composite material between said first and second portions, the composite material sized according to a preferred distance between the first and second portions;
- and
- positioning an adhesive layer between an inner surface of at least the first portion and the composite material to adhere the composite material to at least the first portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.