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US 4,900,047 AGranted
Foldable bicycle
OwnerHarry Montague, David Montagueinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A foldable bicycle with separate complete front and rear frames joined at the seat post by concentric frame members. An alignment mechanism automatically actuates as the frames are rotated into a frame open position. A binder bolt mechanism locks the frames open in a rigid orientation. The bicycle frame and components may be configured as a lightweight ten-speed bicycle or as an all terrain bicycle.
Claims29
A foldable bicycle frame comprising:
- a complete closed front frame having a first hollow member to accommodate a seat post,
- a complete rear frame having a second hollow member to accommodate said seat post, said first and second hollow members being concentric to define a joining section, whereby said front and rear frames are foldable about said hollow members,
- a means to automatically align said first and second hollow members comprising a spring biased alignment member to secure said front and rear frames members in an open position, a housing located on said joining section, said housing containing said alignment member and a track mounted on one of said concentric members to provide a guide for said alignment member and, means to lock said first and second members into a rigid orientation.
A foldable bicycle frame comprising:
- a complete closed front frame, a complete rear frame, means defining a joining section for said front and rear frames comprising, members of said complete closed front frame and said rigid rear frame defining a pair of concentric mutually rotatable members, a first of said members comprising a seat tube of said front frame and a second of said members comprising a seat tube of said rear frame, and means automatically aligned with said concentric mutually rotatable members, whereby said rotatable members are aligned in an open position of said frame, said means automatically aligned comprises members in an open position, a housing located on said joining section, said housing containing said alignment member, and guide means on one of said concentric members to provide a guide for said alignment member.
A foldable bicycle frame comprising:
- a complete closed front frame and a separate complete rear frame, both said complete closed front and complete rear frames being rigid continuous frames,
- a joining section defined by seat tubes of said front and rear frames wherein said seat tubes form a pair of concentric mutually rotatable members, and
- means to automatically align said rotatable members and when released allowing said front and rear frames to fold about said concentric members comprising a spring biased alignment member to secure said front and rear frames members in an open position, a housing located on said joining section, said housing containing said alignment member and a track mounted on one of said concentric members to provide a guide for said alignment member.
A foldable bicycle comprising:
- a complete closed front frame, a separate complete rear frame, said front and rear frames being continuous and rigid, a seat post, means for holding said seat post formed by first and second tubular members of said front and rear frames defining concentric members at a joining section wherein said front and rear frames are foldable about said concentric joining section,
- means automatically aligned with said concentric joining section to align said first and second tubular members and means to lock said first and second tubular members in a fixed orientation, said means automatically aligned comprises members in an open position, a housing located on said joining section, said housing containing said alignment member, and guide means on one of said concentric members to provide a guide for said alignment member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.