Patent Application
20190291807
The field to which the disclosure generally relates includes cycles, and more particularly, includes cycles with folding features.
Cycles may come in a variety of forms that may be propelled through manual power, machine power, or both. Reconfiguring a cycle to a compact form may be desirable for storage or transportation. The mechanisms that enable reconfiguration tend to be complex, and operation of the mechanisms may be time consuming. As a result, new approaches to enable reconfiguration are desirable.
A folding bicycle according to the present disclosure includes a foldable frame having a fore portion, an aft portion, and a hinge disposed between the fore portion and an aft portion. The frame is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position. The bicycle includes a front fork pivotably coupled to the fore portion. The front fork is pivotable about a first central axis. A first wheel is rotatably coupled to the front fork, and a second wheel is rotatably coupled to the aft portion. The bicycle also includes a handlebar stem rotatably and slidably coupled to the front fork. The handlebar stem has a second central axis and is slidable along the second central axis between a first deployed position and a first retracted position relative to the frame. The second central axis is non-coaxial with the first central axis. The bicycle additionally includes a seat post slidably coupled to the aft portion. The seat post is slidable between a second deployed position and a second retracted position relative to the frame. The fore portion has a first aperture therethrough and a second aperture therethrough. When the frame is in the folded position, the handlebar stem in the first retracted position, and the seat post in the second retracted position, the handlebar stem is disposed at least partially within the first aperture to thereby secure the front fork relative to the frame, and the seat post is disposed at least partially within the second aperture to thereby secure the frame in the folded position.
In an exemplary embodiment, the second central axis is not parallel to the first central axis.
In an exemplary embodiment, the handlebar stem has a noncircular cross-sectional profile, and the first aperture has a corresponding noncircular profile. In such embodiments, the frame may have a frame long axis, and the handlebar stem may be coupled to a handlebar assembly having a handlebar long axis. In such embodiments, the handlebar stem has an elliptical profile with a stem long axis oriented generally parallel to the handlebar long axis, and the first aperture has an elliptical profile with an aperture long axis oriented generally parallel to the frame long axis.
In an exemplary embodiment, the frame comprises a main tube, a head tube, and a bracket coupling the main tube to the head tube. The front fork is pivotably coupled to the head tube, and the first aperture and second aperture are disposed in the bracket.
In an exemplary embodiment, the bicycle additionally includes a first clamp member and a second clamp member. The first clamp member is configured to selectively restrict relative motion between the seat post and the aft portion, and the second clamp member is configured to selectively restrict relative motion between the handlebar stem and the front fork.
In an exemplary embodiment, the frame comprises a seat tube having a third central axis. The seat post is disposed at least partially within the seat tube. With the frame in the folded position, the third central axis is aligned with the second aperture.
In an exemplary embodiment, the hinge has a pivot axis and the rear wheel has an axis of rotation, with the pivot axis and axis of rotation being generally parallel.
A cycle assembly according to the present disclosure includes a frame. The frame has at least one main tube extending from a fore portion to an aft portion and a head tube coupled to the fore portion. The head tube has a first central axis. The frame ios provided with an aperture therethrough. The cycle assembly additionally includes a front fork pivotably coupled to the head tube and pivotable about the first central axis. The cycle assembly further includes a handlebar stem rotatably and slidably coupled to the front fork. The handlebar stem has a second central axis and is slidable along the second central axis between a deployed position and a retracted position relative to the frame. The second central axis is non-coaxial with the first central axis. When in the retracted position the handlebar stem is disposed at least partially in the aperture.
In an exemplary embodiment, the cycle assembly additionally includes a hinge disposed between the fore portion and the aft portion. In such embodiments, the main tube is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position.
In an exemplary embodiment, the second central axis is not parallel to the first central axis.
In an exemplary embodiment, the handlebar stem has a noncircular cross-sectional profile, and the aperture has a corresponding noncircular profile. In such embodiments, the frame may have a frame long axis, and the handlebar stem may be coupled to a handlebar assembly having a handlebar long axis. In such embodiments, the handlebar stem has an elliptical profile with a stem long axis oriented generally parallel to the handlebar long axis, and the first aperture has an elliptical profile with an aperture long axis oriented generally parallel to the frame long axis.
In an exemplary embodiment, the frame includes a bracket coupling the main tube to the head tube, and the aperture is provided through the bracket.
A cycle assembly according to the present disclosure includes a frame having at least one main tube extending from a fore portion to an aft portion. The frame has a hinge disposed between the fore portion and the aft portion. The main tube is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position. The frame includes a head tube coupled to the fore portion and a seat tube coupled to the aft portion. The seat tube has a central axis. The frame is provided with an aperture therethrough proximate the fore portion. The assembly additionally includes a seat post disposed at least partially within the seat tube. The seat post is slidable between a deployed position and a retracted position relative to the frame. With the main tube in the folded position, the central axis is aligned with the second aperture. With the seat post in the retracted position, the seat post is disposed at least partially in the first aperture to thereby secure the main tube in the folded position.
In an exemplary embodiment, the frame includes a bracket coupling the main tube to the head tube, and the aperture is provided through the bracket.
Embodiments according to the present disclosure provide a number of advantages. For example, the present disclosure provides a folding frame for a cycle which may provide a compact and portable package, while also providing a simple yet robust mechanism for securing the cycle in a folded position.
The above advantage and other advantages and features of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but are merely representative. The various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desirable for particular applications or implementations.
The cycle 40 includes a propulsion system 55. In various embodiments, the propulsion system 55 may operate on manual inputs, motor powered inputs, or a combination thereof. The propulsion system 55 may include a crank assembly with a crankshaft connected with first and second pedal assemblies. In addition, the propulsion system 55 may include a motor powered unit that may augment or supplant manual inputs.
A front fork 56 is pivotably coupled to the main tube 44 via the head tube 72. The head tube 72 has a central axis 60, which may also be referred to below as a first axis. The front fork 56 extends generally along the first axis 60, which may also define the pivot axis of the front fork 56 relative to the head tube 72. The front fork 56 may be coupled to a front wheel 54. The front fork is provided with a sleeve 59 and a first clamp member 58.
A handlebar stem 45 disposed partially within the sleeve 59 and is releasably coupled to the front fork 56 by means of the first clamp member 58. The sleeve 59 comprises a tubular section within which the handlebar stem 45 may slide. In the illustrated embodiment the first clamp member 58 comprises a quick-release clamp; however, in other embodiments other clamping devices may be used. The first clamp member 58 may be released to permit relative motion between the handlebar stem 45 and the front fork 56, or engaged to restrict relative motion therebetween.
The handlebar stem 45 extends generally along a second axis 62. The second axis 62 is not coaxial with the first axis 60. In the illustrated embodiment the second axis 62 is not parallel to the first axis 60. However, in other embodiments the second axis 62 may be parallel to and offset from the first axis 60. When the first clamp member 58 is released, the handlebar stem 45 may thereby slide along the second axis 62 without interference from the front fork 56.
The main tube 44 is provided with a bracket 70 having at least one handlebar stem aperture 61. In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket 70 is positioned foreword of the joint 41 and couples the main tube 44 to the head tube 72; however, in other embodiments the bracket 70 may be disposed in other locations. In the illustrated embodiment the bracket 70 is provided with two handlebar stem apertures 61; however, in other embodiments, a greater or lesser number of handlebar stem apertures 61 may be provided. The handlebar stem aperture 61 is aligned with the second axis 62 and is sized to receive the handlebar stem 45. When the first clamp member 58 is released, the handlebar stem 45 may translate toward the bracket 70 and slide into the handlebar stem aperture 61. The first clamp member 58 may then be re-engaged to secure the handlebar stem 45 in the new position.
In an exemplary embodiment, the handlebar stem aperture 61 has a non-circular profile, and the handlebar stem 45 has a corresponding non-circular cross-section profile. In the embodiment illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the joint 41 has a pivot axis with a similar orientation to the axis of rotation of the rear wheel 68. This arrangement may be referred to as a “vertical fold” frame. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, the joint 41 has a pivot axis which is not orthogonal to the central axis of the main tube 44. As a result, when the main tube 44 is folded about the joint 41, the front wheel 54 and rear wheel 68 may be generally aligned along a common central axis 69, as illustrated in
A seat post 64 may be disposed within the seat tube 46. The seat post 64 may be provided with a seat 65 which is configured to support a rider of the cycle 40. The seat post 64 is slidable relative to the seat tube 46 along a third axis 66. A second clamp member 67 is coupled to the seat tube 46. The second clamp member 67 may be released to permit relative motion between the seat post 64 and the seat tube 46, or engaged to restrict relative motion therebetween. When the second clamp member 67 is released, the seat post 64 may thereby slide along the third axis 66 to raise or lower relative to the seat tube 46.
The bracket 70 is provided with at least one seat post aperture 71. In the illustrated embodiment the bracket 70 is provided with one seat post aperture 71; however, in other embodiments, a greater number of seat post apertures 71 may be provided. When the frame 42 is in the folded position as illustrated in
As may be seen in
As may be seen, the present disclosure provides a folding frame for a cycle which may provide a compact and portable package, while also providing a simple yet robust mechanism for securing the cycle in a folded position.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments can be combined to form further exemplary aspects of the present disclosure that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics can be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes can include, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, embodiments described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and can be desirable for particular applications.
