Patent Application
20200262505
The present invention relates to a folding head tube, especially to a folding head tube applied to bicycles.
For easy storage and transportation, the bicycle is usually designed to be folded into a compact size. The bicycle with the minimized volume occupies very little space during the storage. Besides folding design of other components of the frame, the head tube of the bicycle is also foldable for reducing the volume required during storage and transportation.
Generally, the head tube is formed by an upper tube and a lower tube. For easy and quick folding/unfolding of the head tube, one side of the upper tube and that of the lower tube are pivotally connected by pivot lugs while the other sides of the upper and lower tubes are connected by a fastener. The upper and lower tubes are positioned by the fastener after being extended for users to control the direction. In order to fold the head tube quickly, the upper tube is folded downward around the axis where the pivot lug on one side of the upper tube and that on one side of the lower tube are pivotally connected.
However, the pivot lug of the upper tube and the pivot lug of the lower tube pivotally connected are main components that bear the load while the head tube is in use. Thus the pivot lugs are deformed easily and the durability of the folding bicycle head tube is further affected.
Thus there is room for improvement and the there is a need to provide a novel folding bicycle head tube.
Therefore it is primary object of the present invention to provide a folding bicycle head tube that not only allows the bicycle to have compact volume after being folded but also improves structural strength of the head tube at the position being folded. Thus the head tube is stronger and more durable.
In order to achieve the above object, a folding bicycle head tube according to the present invention includes an upper tube, a lower tube, a first locking member and a second locking member. The upper tube consists of an opening facing downward and an upper base disposed on the lower end thereof. The lower tube is composed of a lower base arranged at the upper end thereof and a shaft that is projecting from the top end thereof and able to be mounted into the upper tube through the opening for connecting the upper tube and the lower tube. The first locking member and the second locking member are disposed on two opposite sides of the upper base and the lower base at the position between the upper base and the lower base respectively for locking the upper tube and the lower tube in the connected state. The second locking member is composed of a guiding bar, an insertion ring, and a pressing rod. A lower end of the guiding bar is pivotally connected to the lower base while the insertion ring is connected to the upper base and the guiding bar is inserted through the insertion ring. The pressing rod includes an upper end thereof pivotally connected to an upper end of the guiding bar and a lower end thereof that forms a leaning portion abutting against a circular surface of the insertion ring.
The first locking member includes a locking part and a spring. The locking part consists of two side walls, a transverse segment and a threaded member screwed on the transverse segment. The transverse segment connects the two side walls so that the locking part is C-shaped while the two side walls are pivotally connected to a pivot lug of the lower base, respectively. A tip of the threaded member is projecting from the bottom surface of the transverse segment. The spring is fixed on the upper base and the tip of the threaded member is tightly pressed against the surface of the spring so that the locking part is in the locked and fixed state.
The insertion ring is further provided with a fit ring mounted therein. The fit ring is a ring with an insertion hole at the center thereof and a top surface thereof is a circular surface against which the leaning portion abuts. At least one mounting segment is extended downward from the periphery of the insertion hole of the fit ring and inserted through the insertion ring. At least one hook part is disposed on a rear end of the mounting segment and the hook part is mounted into a part of the circumference of the insertion ring so that the fit ring is fixed on the insertion ring.
The guiding bar further includes a threaded hole with an opening facing upward and located on top end thereof. A fastener is inserted through a washer to be screwed into the threaded hole. A top end of the pressing rod is pivotally connected to the washer.
The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein
In order to learn the technical features and functions of the present invention more clearly and completely, please refer to the embodiments described below, related figures and reference characters.
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The upper tube 1 is formed by an opening 11 facing downward and an upper base 12 arranged at the lower end thereof. The lower tube 2 consists of a lower base 21 disposed on the upper end thereof and a shaft 22 that is projecting from the top end thereof and able to be mounted into the upper tube 1 through the opening 11. The first locking member 3 is disposed on one side of the upper base 12 and the lower base 21 at the position between the upper base 12 and the lower base 21 for connecting and locking the upper tube 1 with the lower tube 2 at the side. The second locking member 4 is arranged at the other side of the upper tube 1 and the lower tube 2, opposite to the side with the first locking member 3, and located between the upper base 12 and the lower base 21 for joining and locking the upper tube 1 with the lower tube 2 at the side. The second locking member 4 is composed of a guiding bar 41, an insertion ring 42, and a pressing rod 43. A lower end of the guiding bar 41 is pivotally connected to the lower base 21 while the insertion ring 42 is connected to the upper base 12 and the guiding bar 41 is inserted through the insertion ring 42. An upper end of the pressing rod 43 is pivotally connected to an upper end of the guiding bar 41 while a leaning portion 431 is formed on a lower end of the pressing rod 43 and abutting against a circular surface of the insertion ring 42.
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Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalent.
