# US 2014/0151975 A1 · Method of manufacturing a group of bicycles

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- Number: US 2014/0151975 A1
- Document ID: US20140151975A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/152,510
- Filed: 2014-01-10
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-02-17
- Assignees: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
- Applicants: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
- Inventors: Christopher P. D'Aluisio
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151975A1

## CPC

- B62K 3/02: Frames (tandem frames B62K3/14)
- B62K 3/04: having a substantially horizontal top bar
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method of designing and manufacturing a model of bicycles in such a manner that the size (e.g., diameter) of the head tube bearings and/or the stiffness of the forks varies between frame sizes. The method includes selecting first and lower headset bearing sizes for the first and second frame sizes, respectively, wherein the first lower headset bearing size is different than the second lower headset bearing size. The method further includes manufacturing first bicycles of the first frame size and second bicycles of the second frame size, and coupling first and second lower headset bearings to the first and second bicycles, respectively. The same model designations are then attached to each of the first and second bicycles. This same method can also be used with models having more than two frame sizes. The difference in size of the lower headset bearings and/or fork steerer tubes can be substantially proportional to the difference in length of the seat tube.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A group of bicycles comprising:
a first bicycle having a first frame size and corresponding with a model, the first bicycle having a first frame, a first fork, and a first lower headset bearing rotationally supporting the first fork in the first frame, the first lower headset bearing having a first bearing size; and
a second bicycle having a second frame size different from the first frame size and corresponding with the same model, the second bicycle having a second frame, a second fork, and a second lower headset bearing rotationally supporting the second fork in the second frame, the second lower headset bearing having a second bearing size different than the first bearing size.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A group of bicycles as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third bicycle having a third frame size different from the first and second frame sizes and corresponding with the same model, the third bicycle having a third frame, a third fork, and a third lower headset bearing rotationally supporting the third fork in the third frame, the third lower headset bearing having a third bearing size different than the first and second bearing sizes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A group of bicycles as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a fourth bicycle having a fourth frame size different from the first, second and third frame sizes and corresponding with the same model, the fourth bicycle having a fourth frame, a fourth fork, and a fourth lower headset bearing rotationally supporting the fourth fork in the fourth frame, the fourth lower headset bearing having a fourth bearing size that is the same as the first bearing size.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A group of bicycles as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a fifth bicycle having a fifth frame size different from the first, second, third and fourth frame sizes and corresponding with the same model, the fifth bicycle having a fifth frame, a fifth fork, and a fifth lower headset bearing rotationally supporting the fifth fork in the fifth frame, the fifth lower headset bearing having a fifth bearing size that is the same as the second bearing size.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A group of bicycles as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a sixth bicycle having a sixth frame size different from the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth frame sizes and corresponding with the same model, the sixth bicycle having a sixth frame, a sixth fork, and a sixth lower headset bearing rotationally supporting the sixth fork in the sixth frame, the sixth lower headset bearing having a sixth bearing size that is the same as the third bearing size.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A group of bicycles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first frame has a first seat tube length and the second frame has a second seat tube length shorter than the first seat tube length, and wherein the second bearing size is less than the first bearing size.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A group of bicycles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first frame has a first seat tube length and the second frame has a second seat tube length longer than the first seat tube length, and wherein the second bearing size is greater than the first bearing size.