Bicycle frame
AssigneeCannondale Corporation
InventorsChristopher P. D'Alusio, Christopher A. Peck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a mountain bike frame (10) for use with a rear wheel (118). The frame is a “diamond-type” frame that includes seat stay tubes (32, 34). The seat stay tubes (32, 34) are spaced apart to define a gap distance (C) between the inner surface of the seat stay tubes (32, 34) at a tire intersection point that at a minimum is greater than about 2 inches. In addition, the seat stay tubes (32, 34) have a modulus of elasticity value multiplied times the moment of inertia value is between about 1.0 lb×inches2 and about 10 lb×inches2. The frame is for use with only a rear disc brake mounted to one of the seat stay tubes (32,34).
Claims27
A bicycle frame for use with a rear wheel comprising:
- a head tube;
- a top tube extending rearwardly from the head tube;
- a down tube extending substantially rearwardly and downwardly from the head tube;
- a seat tube having a first portion connected to the top tube and a second portion coupled to the down tube, such that the head tube, top tube, down tube and seat tube form a first substantially triangular region;
- a bottom bracket connected to the down tube and seat tube;
- a pair of dropouts;
- a pair of chain stay tubes spaced from one another and extending generally rearwardly from the bottom bracket to the associated dropout;
- and
- a pair of seat stay tubes coupled to the top tube and extending generally rearwardly and downwardly from the top tube to the associated dropout, such that the seat tube, pair of chain stay tubes, and pair of seat stay tubes form a second substantially triangular region, and the pair of seat stay tubes further being spaced from one another and defining a gap distance between the inner surface of the seat stay tubes at a tire intersect point that is greater than about 2 inches, and the seat stay tubes having a modulus of elasticity value multiplied by a moment of inertia value being between about 1.0 lb×inches2 and about 10 lb×inches2.
A bicycle comprising:
- a frame including
- a head tube,
- a top tube extending rearwardly from the head tube,
- a down tube extending substantially rearwardly and downwardly from the head tube,
- a seat tube having a first portion connected to the top tube and a second portion coupled to the down tube, such that the head tube, top tube, down tube and seat tube form a first substantially triangular region,
- a bottom bracket connected to the down tube and seat tube,
- a pair of dropouts,
- a pair of chain stay tubes spaced from one another and extending generally rearwardly from the bottom bracket to the associated dropout, and
- a pair of seat stay tubes coupled to the top tube and extending generally rearwardly and downwardly from the upper end of the seat tube to the associated dropout, such that the seat tube, pair of chain stay tubes, and pair of seat stay tubes form a second substantially triangular region, and the pair of seat stay tubes further being spaced from one another and defining a gap distance between the inner surface of the seat stay tubes at a tire intersect point that is greater than about 2 inches, and the seat stay tubes having a modulus of elasticity value multiplied by a moment of inertia value being between about 1.0 lb×inches2 and about 10 lb×inches2,
- a front wheel assembly including a front wheel rotatably connected to one end and handlebars connected to the other end, and the front wheel assembly being connected to the head tube of the frame;
- a rear wheel rotatably connected to the dropouts of the frame;
- a seat is mounted on a seat post, and the seat post is disposed within the seat tube;
- a pedal assembly is operatively connected to the bottom bracket and the rear wheel;
- and
- a disc brake assembly is mounted on the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.