US 5,312,125 A · Collapsable compact bicycle

Abstract

A collapsible bicycle comprises a frame, a front and rear wheels rotatably attached thereto, and a drivetrain for transmitting torque to the rear wheel, with the frame including a movable structure on which the rear wheel is attached. The frame carries a pair of lower stay elements on a lower portion thereof and a fork member on an upper portion thereof with the prongs of the fork member defining a pair of upper stay elements. The front ends of the lower stay elements are adjoined with respective pivot rings attached to a bottom bracket of the frame so as to enable the rotation of the movable structure thereabout, while the male and female elements of a quick-release type connector are provided on the shank portion of the fork member and an upper portion of a seat tube of the frame to enable the fixing of the movable structure thereto. The frame is further provided with an arcuate down tube adapted for the positioning thereunder of the rear wheel and movable structure when the bicycle is in a compacted form. This being accomplished by first disconnecting the fork member from the frame and then rotating the movable structure about the bottom bracket until the rim of the rear wheel is in proximity with the down tube.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A bicycle comprising a frame, a front wheel and a rear wheel attached with said frame, and a drivetrain for transmitting torque to said rear wheel, wherein said frame includes:

a movable structure to which said rear wheel is rotatably attached;
a pivoting means for pivotably connecting a lower portion of said movable structure to a first fixed portion of said frame comprising;
a) a pair of pivot rings provided on the lower portion of said movable structure;
b) a bracket element on said frame positioned between the pivot rings wherein a crank axle of said drivetrain is positioned therethrough, the pivot rings being rotatably attached to the bracket element by a bearing sleeve positioned in the pivot rings and the bracket element, with the bearing sleeve being fixed to the bracket element and having flanged outer ends rotatably positioning the pivot rings therebetween;
and
a connecting means for releasably connecting an upper portion of said movable structure to a second fixed portion of said frame.

3 more elements

A bicycle comprising a frame, a front wheel and a rear wheel attached with said frame, and a drivetrain for transmitting torque to said rear wheel, wherein said frame includes:

a movable structure to which said rear wheel is rotatably attached;
a pivoting means for pivotably connecting a lower portion of said movable structure to a first fixed portion of said frame, and
a connecting means for releasably connecting an upper portion of said movable structure to a second fixed portion of said frame comprising:
a) a tubular extension pivotably attached to the second fixed portion of said frame, said tubular extension having a plurality of apertures formed radially thereon;
b) a sleeve member slidingly retained on said tubular extension, said sleeve member having a stepped internal diameter;
c) a plurality of blocking elements positioned in respective said apertures, said blocking elements being projected radially inwards through said apertures when in abutment with a smaller diameter section of said sleeve member in registry with said apertures, and outwardly extendible when a larger diameter section of said sleeve is in registry with said apertures so as to not obstruct the inner passage of said tubular extension;
d) a spring element urging said sleeve member in an axial direction towards a position whereat said smaller diameter section of said sleeve member is in registry with said apertures;
and
e) a shaft member provided on the upper portion of said movable structure, said shaft member being insertable into said tubular extension and having a circumferential groove formed thereon adapted for engaging said blocking elements.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Collapsable compact bicycle

Life of this patent

Collapsable compact bicycle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14