Recumbent Bicycle with Direct Underseat Steering
OwnerChapin Del Sol Whiteinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention allows a rider to operate a bicycle in a recumbent position, and steer the bicycle using a direct underseat steering system. The recumbent position, compared to the typical upright riding position, greatly reduces air resistance and required effort. The direct underseat steering system is mechanically simple, which makes is less costly to manufacture, and the direct steering system is also less likely than linkage-based systems to be damaged in a crash. The frame geometry allows the manufacturer to use inexpensive materials and techniques, while still providing the rider adequate stiffness and durability.
Claims13
A double-pyramid recumbent bicycle frame comprising:
- a) a rear pyramid formed by a rear seat tube, a left seat stay, a right seat stay, a left chain stay, and a right chain stay;
- b) a forward pyramid formed by a left main side stay, a right main side stay, a main tube, a left front side stay, a right front side stay, and a front down tube;
- c) a head tube that forms part of the forward pyramid and connects to the front end of the left main side stay, the front end of the right main side tube, the front end of the front down tube, the rear end of the left front side stay, the rear end of the right front side stay, and the rear end of the front down tube;
- d) a left rear dropout that connects to the left seat stay of the rear pyramid, the left chain stay of the rear pyramid, and the left main stay of the forward pyramid;
- e) a right rear dropout that connects to the right seat stay of the rear pyramid, the right chain stay of the rear pyramid, and the right main stay of the forward pyramid;
- f) a connection between the left side of the midsection of the rear seat tube of the rear pyramid and the left main stay of the forward pyramid;
- and
- g) a connection between the right side of the midsection of the rear seat tube of the rear pyramid and the right main stay of the forward pyramid.
A steering assembly for a bicycle comprising:
- a) a left front fork and a right front fork that are connected to each other, said front forks rotatably attached and removably attached to a head tube, and
- b) a handlebar that is operably connected to the front forks, said handlebar mounted so that it rotates freely in the vertical space between an upper frame component and a lower frame component, said upper frame component being connected to said head tube, and said lower frame component being connected to said head tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.