Folding bicycle structure

A portable, folding bicycle comprising:

• (a) a main frame divided in front and rear frame sections respectively supporting front and rear wheels and having hinge means interconnecting said frame sections for folding relative to each other into a compact, side-by-side relationship;
• (b) said rear frame section having a seat structure mounted thereon and including a saddle seat, an upper post connected to and depending from said saddle seat, and a lower post secured to said rear frame section for detachably and telescopically receiving said upper post;
• (c) rear fork members extending from said rear frame section and rotatably supporting said rear wheel;
• (d) power transmission means connected to said rear frame section and including a crank assembly extending through a crank hanger secured to said rear frame section, crank arms extending therefrom, a first sprocket mounted to said crank assembly, a second sprocket coaxially affixed to said rear wheel and a drive chain extending between said first and second sprockets for transmission of power to said rear wheel;
• (e) said front frame section having spaced frame members defining a receptacle sized for receipt of said front wheel, said front frame section having a steering assembly affixed thereto including a housing having a spindle extending therethrough and with upper and lower end portions;
• (f) a front fork assembly foldably mounted to said steering assembly and having spaced fork members rotatably supporting said front wheel, upper connecting means for detachable connection of said spaced fork members to the upper end portion of said spindle and lower hinge means connected to the lower end portion of said spindle for rearward folding of said spaced fork members relative to said steering assembly and said front frame section, said front wheel being received, when said fork members are folded, into said receptacle for compact storage thereof;
• and
• (g) a folding handlebar assembly including mutually engageable and separable handlebar portions and posts respectively depending therefrom and telescopically receivable into the spaced fork members of said front fork assembly whereby said posts are receivable into said fork members for compact storage thereof and folding with said front fork assembly.

A portable, folding bicycle comprising:

• (a) a main frame having front and rear frame sections respectively supporting front and rear wheels and having hinge means interconnecting said frame sections for folding relative to each other into a compact, side-by-side relationship;
• (b) a removable seat structure and means for detachably connecting said seat structure to said main frame;
• (c) rear fork members extending from said rear frame section and rotatably supporting said rear wheel;
• (d) power transmission means extending between said main frame and said rear wheel for effecting rotation thereof;
• (e) said front frame section having a frame member defining a receptacle for receipt of said front wheel, said front frame section having a steering assembly affixed thereto and including upper and lower end portions;
• (f) a front fork assembly foldably mounted to said steering assembly and having at least one front fork member rotatably supporting said front wheel and connecting hinge means attaching said front fork member to said lower end portion of said steering assembly for rearward and upward folding of said front fork member and said front wheel into said receptacle for compact storage thereof when the bicycle is folded;
• (g) a handlebar assembly connected to said front fork member and collapsible relative thereto for compact storage;
• (h) said steering assembly including a housing having a spindle extending therethrough and supported for relative rotation therein, said upper and lower end portions being on said spindle;
• (i) attachment means removably securing said front fork member to the upper end portion of said spindle whereby said front fork member is rigidly connected to said spindle when said attachment means are engaged therewith and foldable relative to said spindle when said attachment means are disengaged therefrom.

In a folding bicycle:

• (a) a main frame;
• (b) a steering assembly secured to said main frame and having upper and lower end portions;
• (c) a fork assembly having a lower portion rotatably supporting a wheel and an upper portion terminating adjacent said steering assembly upper end portion having an intermediate portion, said fork assembly having an intermediate portion foldably mounted to said steering assembly by connecting hinge means attaching said fork assembly to the lower end portion of said steering assembly for movement of said fork assembly lower portion toward said main frame when said bicycle is folded into a storage configuration;
• and
• (d) an attachment means extending between said fork assembly upper portion and said steering assembly upper end portion and including a selectively connectible screw fastener operable to draw said fork assembly upper portion toward said steering assembly upper end portion in rigid, extended, relationship when said bicycle is unfolded into a use configuration.