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US 9,359,036 B2Granted
Folding bicycle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorThomas Robert George Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle frame includes a top tube, a head tube rotatably coupled to a forward portion of the top tube about a first pivot, a seat tube having an upper portion rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the top tube about a second pivot, and a chain stay rotatably coupled to a lower portion of the seat tube about a third pivot. The head tube and the seat tube each pivot between operating positions away from the top tube and storage positions substantially along the top tube, and the chain stay pivots between an operating position away from the seat tube and a storage position along the seat tube.
Claims20
A bicycle frame comprising:
- a top tube;
- a head tube rotatably coupled to a forward portion of the top tube about a first pivot;
- a seat tube having an upper portion rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the top tube about a second pivot;
- and
- a chain stay rotatably coupled to a lower portion of the seat tube about a third pivot,
- wherein the head tube is pivotable about the first pivot, independent of the seat tube, to storage and upright positions, respectively, the head tube being substantially along-side the top tube in the storage position of the head tube, the head tube being rotated about the first pivot in a first rotational direction away from the top tube from the storage position to the upright position of the head tube,
- wherein the seat tube is pivotable about the second pivot, independent of the head tube, to storage and upright positions, respectively, the seat tube being substantially along-side the top-tube in the storage position of the seat tube, the seat tube being rotated about the second pivot in a second rotational direction away from the top tube from the storage position to the upright position of the head tube, the second rotational direction being opposite the first rotational direction, and
- further wherein the chain stay is pivotable such that, in a storage position the chain stay is along-side the seat tube, and in an upright position the chain stay is rotated about the third pivot in a rotational direction away from the seat tube.
5 more elements
A bicycle comprising:
- a top tube;
- a head tube rotatably coupled to a forward portion of the top tube about a first pivot;
- a seat tube having an upper portion rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the top tube about a second pivot;
- a chain stay rotatably coupled to a lower portion of the seat tube about a third pivot;
- front and rear wheels selectively rotatably coupled to the head tube and the chain stay, respectively;
- handlebars coupled to the head tube opposite the front wheel;
- pedals rotatably coupled to the lower portion of the seat tube;
- and
- a seat selectively coupled to the upper portion of the seat tube,
- wherein the head tube is pivotable about the first pivot, independent of the seat tube, to storage and upright positions, respectively, the head tube being substantially along-side the top tube in the storage position of the head tube, the head tube being rotated about the first pivot in a first rotational direction away from the top tube from the storage position to the upright position of the head tube,
- wherein the seat tube is pivotable about the second pivot, independent of the head tube, to storage and upright positions, respectively, the seat tube being substantially along-side the top-tube in the storage position of the seat tube, the seat tube being rotated about the second pivot in a second rotational direction away from the top tube from the storage position to the upright position of the head tube, the second rotational direction being opposite the first rotational direction, and
- further wherein the chain stay is pivotable such that, in a storage position the chain stay is along-side the seat tube, and in an upright position the chain stay is rotated about the third pivot in a rotational direction away from the seat tube.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.