# US 9,751,582 B2 · Bicycle assembly with bottom bracket area

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- Number: US 9,751,582 B2
- Document ID: US9751582B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/130,746
- Filed: 2016-04-15
- Published: 2016-10-06
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-10
- Assignees: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
- Applicants: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
- Inventors: Jason L. Chamberlain; Robb H. Jankura; Brian Daniel Robinson; Bradley L. Paquin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751582B2

## CPC

- B62K 19/34: Bottom brackets
- B23P 11/025: {by using heat or cold}
- B29C 53/821: {Mandrels especially adapted for winding and joining}
- B29C 70/68: by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers {, e.g. foam blocks (mould constructions therefor B29C33/12; joining preformed parts by moulding B29C65/70)}
- B29C 70/681: {Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations}
- B29C 70/86: Incorporated in coherent impregnated reinforcing layers, {e.g. by winding}
- B29D 12/00: Producing frames
- B62K 3/02: Frames (tandem frames B62K3/14)
- B62K 19/02: characterised by material or cross-section of frame members
- B62K 19/08: made from sheet
- B62K 19/16: the material being wholly or mainly of plastics
- B62K 19/30: Frame parts shaped to receive other cycle parts or accessories (axle suspensions B62K25/00)
- B62M 3/003: {Combination of crank axles and bearings housed in the bottom bracket (bottom bracket frame details B62K19/34)}
- B29K 2105/0872: {Prepregs}
- B29K 2307/04: Carbon
- B29K 2705/00: Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
- B29L 2031/3091: {Bicycles}
- B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
- B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A bicycle assembly can include a main frame having a bottom bracket area to receive a bottom bracket. The bottom bracket area can be made of carbon fiber with one or more embedded seat blanks to serve as bearing surfaces within the bottom bracket area. The disks may be machined to a high tolerance to receive a bottom bracket.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of forming a bicycle frame comprising:
providing at least one seat blank having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
forming at least a portion of a frame around the at least one seat blank such that the frame prevents movement of the seat blank relative to the frame; and
machining the frame and the seat blank;
wherein the step of machining the frame occurs after the step of forming the portion of the frame.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising providing one of a mandrel and an internal compression bladder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein forming at least a portion of a frame around the seat blank further comprises forming a seat support structure that abuts the first and second sides of the seat blank.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein forming at least a portion of a frame around the seat blank further comprises forming a seat support structure such that the seat support structure surrounds the seat blank on all sides.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The Method of claim 2, wherein forming at least a portion of a frame around the at least one seat blank further comprises forming carbon fiber plies around the at least one seat blank and the internal bladder to form a seat support structure that surrounds the at least one seat blank on all sides.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising curing the combined carbon fiber plies and the at least one seat blank.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein curing the combined carbon fiber plies and the at least one seat blank comprises applying heat to the combined carbon fiber plies and the at least one seat blank.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein machining the frame and the seat blank further comprises machining the seat support structure from the first side.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein machining the frame and the seat blank further comprises machining the seat support structure from both the first and second sides simultaneously.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein machining the frame and the seat blank further comprises machining the frame and the seat blank from the first side and then machining the frame and the seat blank from the second side.