This application does not make a claim of priority to any application.
One or more of the embodiments of the instant invention disclosed generally relates to a training wheel system for a bicycle.
A conventional training wheel assembly for a bicycle comprises two support brackets mounted on two opposite sides of a bicycle frame, at or near a rear wheel assembly, comprising two training wheels, each rotatably mounted on a respective support bracket.
A bicycle training wheel system is designed to maintain a bicycle in the upright position while a novice rider learns to balance the bicycle by their own efforts. U.S. Pat. No, 4,615,535, by David K. McMertrey is an example of a conventional training wheel system for a bicycle comprises two support brackets, with fixed structural configuration, each bracket having a wheel, rotatably mounted to the bracket. It is common to mount one support bracket on each of the opposite sides of a bicycle frame, typically at or near the rear wheel axle, so positioned that each wheel may contact the riding surface. Another example, U.S. Pat No. 6,994,368 by Charles Brown describes a variation on the fixed structural configuration having a training wheel assembly that employs a series of rigid, flat, bolted metal strips.
A number of existing patents, regarding application of variable stabilizing force to maintain the bicycle upright, can be grouped into one or more of several groupings. These groups include: (1) adjustable stabilizing force accomplished through the employment of a plurality of fixed angular adjustment positions, (2) adjustable stabilizing force accomplished through the employment of a spring system, and (3) adjustment accomplished through the employment of a compressible cushion.
United States patents the employ some form of spring mechanism include:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,000, by Stephen R. Saunders describes a training wheel assembly that employs an adjustable dual spring system that is controlled by turning the front wheel handle bars.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,213, by Paul Storch describes a training wheel assembly that employs a pre-loaded spring that simultaneously acts to increase a restoring force as bicycle tilts while maintaining the training wheel contact with the ground opposite the tilt direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,163, by Larry P. Egley describes a training wheel assembly that employs a pre-loaded spring, with a threaded bolt and spring compression member. Egley describes the invention as possessing multiple stop and tension adjustment mechanisms.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,403, by Larry P. Egley describes a training wheel assembly that employs a pre-loaded spring, with a threaded bolt and spring compression member. Egley describes the invention as possessing a variable tension adjustment mechanisms.
U.S. Pat. No, 5,492,354, by Charles D Rainey describes a training wheel assembly that employs resiliently flexible arm, preferably a longitudinal coil spring for laterally spacing the training wheels from a rear bicycle wheel. The training wheels are shown to be flush with the bottom of the back wheel, and Rainey describes the invention as permitting assembly to bend as necessary to accommodate the rider leaning into a turn.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,745 by James V. Sharp describes a training wheel assembly that employs a hinged parallelogram framework including a combination chain and spring tensioning mechanism attached between opposite parallel sides. The training wheels are shown to be flush with the bottom of the back wheel, and Sharp describes the invention as permitting assembly to pivot to through an adjustable range of motion and tension resistance.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,012, by Al A. Eisenmann describes a training wheel assembly that employs a strut including a hollow sleeve, a spring disposed within the sleeve, and a threaded shaft for adjusting compression of the spring. The training wheels are shown to be flush with the bottom of the back wheel, and Eisenmann describes the Invention as permitting assembly to pivot to through an increasing or decreasing range of side travel and spring compression.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,632 by Hiroshi Yoshida describes a training wheel assembly that employs a tongue and grove hinge mechanism, an overlapping T-shaped framework, and a compression spring assembly that functions to hold the framework together and allow for bicycle incline during a turn.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,556,277 by Kimberly M. Lytle describes a training wheel assembly that employs a remotely controlled, motorized adjustment device. The training wheels are shown to be flush with the bottom of the back wheel, and Lytle describes the invention having a spring that urges the training wheels to contact the riding surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,641,213 by Yu-Gang Chen describes a training wheel assembly that employs a telescoping tube adjustment mechanism, with a stiffness adjusting member biased between the telescoping tubes. The training wheels are shown to be flush with the bottom of the back wheel, and Chen describes the invention utilizing a threaded adjustment member permitting assembly to pivot to through an increasing or decreasing range of upward or downward travel and spring compression.
United States patents that employ some form of compressible frame or resistance cushion mechanism include:
U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,067, by Graham William Pickering describes a training wheel assembly that employs a visco-elastic connector to produce spring force to progressively oppose angular displacement. The training wheels are shown to be flush with the bottom of the back wheel, and Pickering describes the invention as permitting assembly to move through an increasing or decreasing range of angular displacement.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,641,213 by Yu-Gang Chen describes a training wheel assembly that employs a telescoping tube adjustment mechanism, with a stiffness adjusting member biased between the telescoping tubes. The training wheels are shown to be flush with the bottom of the back wheel, and Chen describes the invention utilizing a threaded adjustment member permitting assembly to pivot to through an increasing or decreasing range of upward or downward travel and cylinder of compressible material.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,916 by Solvio Plana describes a training wheel assembly that employs a single piece molded structure with a C-shaped compliant hinge structure. The training wheels are shown to be flush with the bottom of the back wheel, and Plana describes the invention allowing upward angular adjustment of training wheels relative to the rear bicycle wheel.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
The present invention resides in providing a bicycle training wheel system with the functional resistance and restorative force attributes of a gas cylinder, applied to the problems associated with controlling the reactive movements of the bicycle training wheel assembly. Utilizing a gas loaded piston assembly (herein after “gas assembly”) in conjunction with a bicycle training wheel system employs a set of physical properties that differ markedly from the mechanical properties of a traditional metal spring training wheel system.
The gas assembly is utilized in conjunction with a hinged frame and wheel to provide controlled vertical orientation assistance when mounted to a bicycle. The gas assembly provides assistance to a bicycle rider in maintaining a bicycle in an upright orientation through application of a smooth adjustable force. The nature of the mechanism allows the rider to receive appropriate balance assistance without unduly hindering the proper bicycle motion necessary to operate the bicycle. This assembly allows the rider to smoothly lean into turns with a variety of speeds and angles to safely learn the proper balance requirements. The design is configured to adjustably fit a variety of bicycle frames and rider weights.
In relation to the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numeral may be used for the same or similar constituents. The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to the drawings generally, the present invention is directed toward a bicycle training wheel system. As illustrated in
One embodiment of the current training wheel invention comprises two independent assembly sub-units. The descriptions of this first embodiment shall be directed to the right hand side elements for convenience, but are inclusive of identical mirror image left side elements.
Referring to the drawings, in which identical parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout, as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Again referring to
Referring to
The lower pivot arm 140 further comprises a first gas spring mounting region, generally designated by the reference number 146. The first gas spring mounting region comprises a pair of first gas spring mounting flanges, generally designated by the reference number 147. Each of the first gas spring mounting flanges 147 comprises a first gas spring mounting orifice, generally designated by the reference number 148. The lower pivot arm 140 further comprises a first pivot gas spring mounting bracket, generally designated by the reference number 149, and pivotally positioned between the first gas spring mounting flanges 147. The first pivot gas spring mounting bracket 149, further comprises a first threaded metal female grommet, generally designated by'the reference number 149a, and configured to accept male threading of a gas spring, generally designated by the reference number 182 (shown in
The lower pivot arm distal end 142 further comprises a first hinge mounting region, generally designated by the reference number 150. The first hinge mounting region 150, comprises a pivot arm first hinge mounting orifice, generally designated by the reference number 151.
As seen in
Again referring to
The mounting region 170 comprises an axle orifice, generally designated by the reference number 173 and so configured to accept the rear wheel axle 116 to reversibly attach the support arm 160 to the bicycle rear frame 101 as shown in
As shown in
The proximal end of support arm 60 comprises a pair of support arm first hinge mounting orifices, generally designated by reference number 174. The support arm first hinge mounting orifices 174, so configured to accept a pivot arm first hinge pin 175. The combination of support arm first hinge mounting orifices 174 is configured to cooperatively and pivotally accept the first hinge mounting region 150. The pivot arm first hinge mounting orifice 151 is configured to rotatably accept pivot arm first hinge pin 175 to form a hinge between support arm 160 and the lower pivot arm 140 as shown in
Again referring to
The second pivot gas spring mounting bracket 181 is positioned within a U-channel, generally designated by the reference number 178. The U-channel 178 is formed by U-channel support arm sides, generally designated by the reference numbers 179a and 179b.
The second pivot gas spring mounting bracket 181 is positioned between the support arm first pivot mounting orifices 176, so as to pivotally accept a first pivot mounting pin, generally designated by the reference number 180. The second pivot gas spring mounting bracket 177, further comprises a second threaded metal female grommet, generally designated by the reference number 177, and configured to accept a male threaded gas spring, generally designated by the reference number 182 and shown in
Again referring to the distal end 162 of the U-channel support arm 160, comprises a series of gusset mounting orifices, generally designated by the reference number 190. The gusset mounting orifices 190 are configured so as to accept fasteners, such as bolts, screws, rivets, or arty other fastening element that will hold the training wheel frame elements together. The gusset mounting orifices may be circular or slots. The slot shape may be selected to accommodate small modification or adjustments for bicycle sizes.
As shown in
Another embodiment found in
These are but two of the possible configurations for preventing the unwanted rotation of training wheel system 50, and it is understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as explained.
As seen in
The training wheel system 50 comprises a horizontal support member, generally designated by the reference number 210. The horizontal support member 210 connects the right and left side training wheel system 50 components, as seen in FIG. The horizontal support member 210 possesses a horizontal support member first end, generally designated by the reference number 210a and a horizontal support member second end, generally designated by the reference number 210b. A reinforcement gusset, generally designated by the reference number 220, is employed at the joint between the U-channel support arm distal end 162 and the horizontal support member first end 210a to fasten the parts together.
It is understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as explained.
It is understood that a possible modification that falls within the scope of this invention would include modifying the cargo tray 300 to attach directly to the generally vertical support arms 160 to function as both the cargo tray 300 and the horizontal support member 210.