Easy riding bicycle
AssigneeElectra Bicycle Company, LLC
InventorBenno Baenziger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle frame may include handlebars having a rise and range of handlebar angle adjustment and a seat tube mounted at an angle a fixed distance rearward of the bottom bracket. The combination of the handlebar rise, the fixed distance and seat tube angle, as well as the ranges of handlebar angle and saddle height adjustments, result in the handlebar angle and saddle height being sufficiently adjustable so that almost all riders can comfortably sit upright on the saddle using substantially the same leg extension to place a foot flat on the ground when stopped and while pedaling.
Claims30
A bicycle frame, comprising:
- a chain stay frame member supporting a rear bicycle wheel;
- a bottom bracket frame member supporting bicycle pedals;
- a head tube frame member supporting a steerable front fork assembly including handle bars and a front bicycle wheel, the handlebars having a rise and range of handlebar angle adjustment;
- a straight, curved or angled seat tube frame member adjustably supporting a saddle at a range of saddle heights and mounted at a fixed distance rearward of the bottom bracket at a seat tube angle, wherein the seat tube is mounted, or a seat tube axis as extended from a saddle insertion point, intersects the chain stay or a horn at a distance of at or within a radius of a circle of revolution of the pedals;
- and
- one or more interconnecting tube frame members interconnecting the head tube, seat tube and chain stay frame members and the bottom bracket,
- wherein a combination of the handlebar rise, the fixed distance and the seat tube angle, as well as the ranges of handlebar angle and saddle height adjustments, result in the handlebar angle and saddle height being sufficiently adjustable so that almost all riders, for whom the saddle height can be adjusted for the rider to comfortably sit upright on the saddle and use the proper full leg extension while pedaling, can also comfortably reach the handlebars while riding and fully extend one leg to place a foot flat on the ground while stopped.
A method of producing bicycles, comprising:
- a bicycle frame with a straight, curved or angled seat tube frame member adjustably supporting a saddle at a range of saddle heights and mounted at a fixed distance rearward of a bottom bracket at a seat tube angle, wherein the seat tube is mounted, or a seat tube axis as extended from a saddle insertion point intersects a chain stay or a horn at a distance of about at or within a radius of a circle of revolution of the pedals;
- adding handlebars having a rise and a range of angular adjustment for rider's height;
- and
- using values for the distance, rise and range of angular adjustment so that saddle height and angular adjustment permit most riders to comfortably sit upright while pedaling at a proper leg extension and extend a foot flat on the ground when stopped.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.