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US 7,597,338 B2Granted
Bicycle frame with multiple layer tube
AssigneeGiant Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
InventorsSimon I, Kun-Hsi Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle frame is disclosed that includes a set of tubes connected together. At least a portion of one of the tubes comprises at least three layers of materials. For example, in one embodiment, the seat tube includes an inner layer of carbon fiber, a middle layer of aluminum (or other metal), and an outside layer of carbon fiber.
Claims29
A bicycle frame comprising a plurality of tubes connected together;
- at least a portion of a first tube of said plurality of tubes comprises at least three distinct layers of materials;
- at least a majority of said first tube includes at least two of said three distinct layers of materials;
- said three distinct layers include an inner layer, a middle layer and an outer layer;
- said middle layer comprises a metal material;
- and said inner layer and said outer layer comprise different material than said middle layer;
- said first tube comprises a seat tube;
- a portion of said seat tube that receives a seat assembly includes said inner layer and said outer layer without including said middle layer.
4 more elements
A bicycle frame, comprising:
- a seat tube having a top section and a bottom section, said top section having three distinct layers for at least a first portion of said top section, at least a majority of said seat tube includes at least two of said three distinct layers;
- a front support;
- and
- a cross support connected to said front support and said seat tube;
- wherein said three distinct layers include an inner layer comprising carbon fiber, a middle layer comprising a metal material and an outer layer comprising carbon fiber, a portion of said seat tube that receives a seat assembly includes said inner layer and said outer layer without including said middle layer.
2 more elements
A bicycle frame, comprising:
- a seat tube having a top section and a bottom section, said top section having three distinct layers for at least a first portion of said top section, said seat tube has an outside surface with respect to said three distinct layers;
- a front support;
- a cross support connected to said front support and said seat tube, said three distinct layers include an inner layer, a middle metal layer and an outer layer, more than half of said outside surface is formed by said middle metal layer, at least a majority of said seat tube includes at least two of said three distinct layers;
- a bottom bracket connected to said bottom section of said seat tube, said front support is a head tube, said cross support is a top tube, said middle layer is in contact with said bottom bracket, said inner layer is not in contact with said bottom bracket;
- and
- a down tube connected to said head tube and said bottom bracket, said top section of said seat tube is connected to said top tube.
3 more elements
A bicycle frame, comprising:
- a seat tube having a top section and a bottom section, said top section having three distinct layers for at least a first portion of said top section, said seat tube has a length;
- a front support;
- a cross support connected to said front support and said seat tube, said three distinct layers include an inner layer, a middle metal layer and an outer layer;
- said middle metal layer extends for more than half of said length, at least a majority of said seat tube includes at least two of said three distinct layers;
- a bottom bracket connected to said bottom section of said seat tube, said front support is a head tube, said cross support is a top tube;
- and
- a down tube connected to said head tube and said bottom bracket, said top section of said seat tube is connected to said top tube;
- wherein said inner layer has a first length, said middle layer has a second length different than said first length, said outer layer has a third length, said third length is shorter than said first length and said second length.
5 more elements
A bicycle frame, comprising:
- a seat tube having a first layer and a second layer for at least a portion of said seat tube, said seat tube having a seat tube length, said seat tube has a third layer for a top section of said seat tube, said third layer is outside of said first layer, a segment of said top section of said seat tube that receives a seat assembly includes said second layer and said third layer without including said first layer, said first layer is a metal layer, said second layer is different than said first layer, said first layer extends for more than 50% of said seat tube length, said second layer includes carbon fiber, said second layer is inside said first layer, said second layer extends for more than 50% of said seat tube length;
- a front support;
- and
- a cross support connected to said front support and said seat tube.
1 more element
A bicycle frame, comprising:
- a seat tube having a first layer and a second layer for at least a portion of said seat tube, said seat tube has an outer surface with respect to said first layer and said second layer, said first layer is a metal layer, said second layer is different than said first layer, said first layer provides more than 50% of said outer surface, said second layer is inside said first layer for more than 50% of a length of the seat tube;
- a head tube;
- a top tube connected to said head tube and said seat tube;
- and
- a bottom bracket, said first layer is in contact with said bottom bracket, said second layer is not in contact with said bottom bracket.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.