CA2364369A1 - Mini bike folding structure - Google Patents

Mini bike folding structure Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2364369A1
CA2364369A1 CA 2364369 CA2364369A CA2364369A1 CA 2364369 A1 CA2364369 A1 CA 2364369A1 CA 2364369 CA2364369 CA 2364369 CA 2364369 A CA2364369 A CA 2364369A CA 2364369 A1 CA2364369 A1 CA 2364369A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
tube
shock absorber
stopper
bracket
handlebar
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2364369
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Ting-Hsing Chen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Far Great Plastics Industrial Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Far Great Plastics Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Far Great Plastics Industrial Co Ltd filed Critical Far Great Plastics Industrial Co Ltd
Priority to CA 2364369 priority Critical patent/CA2364369A1/en
Publication of CA2364369A1 publication Critical patent/CA2364369A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62KCYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
    • B62K15/00Collapsible or foldable cycles
    • B62K15/006Collapsible or foldable cycles the frame being foldable

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Axle Suspensions And Sidecars For Cycles (AREA)

Abstract

A mini-bike folding structure comprises a frame, a shock absorber, a quick-release connector, a retaining unit, a head tube and a handlebar. The handlebar is connected below to a handlebar tube with its lower end connected to the head tube by a first tube fastener. A front tube is connected to the head tube by a second tube fastener. The head tube is divided into two sections connected by the second tube fastener. A pivoting structure is provided at where the lower end of the upper section meets the upper end of the lower section of the head tube.
The pivoting structure is hidden in the front tube when the head tube is stretched up. A crossbar extending backwards from the front tube is connected to a seat tube. A bracket with a flat top at the bottom portion of the seat tube pivots the top of the shock absorber by means of the quick-release connector. The bottom of the shock absorber is pivoted to a rear fork by means of a pivoting member. A
hole of the bracket receives insertion of the retaining unit. The retaining unit including a stopper provided with a spring. A retaining wall at the bottom of the stopper extends to prevent the shock absorber from disengagement.

Description

s TITLE: MINI-BIKE FOLDING STRUCTURE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mini-bike folding structure, and more s particularly, to one that allows folding of the frame for effective saving of storage space, and securely retaining of the shock absorber to prevent it from disengagement.
(b) Description of the Prior Art:
As the bicycle presents excellent mobility, the design of a bicycle is i o compact and easy portability oriented. A mini-bike of the prior art though having a lower, shorter and lighter frame, it prevents from being carried along when a rider has to take a bus or other public transportation means upon trying a longer distance travel or transportation.
Furthermore, as a mini-bike, it is also provided with a shock absorber.
i s Therefore, a quick-release connector to the shock absorber must be first removed to facilitate folding the mini-bike; similarly, the quick-release connector must be mounted to the shock absorber before re-assembling the mini-bike for riding.
After repeated removal and re-assembly as years go by, the quick-release connector is vulnerable to accidental disengagement. Therefore, a safety 2 o structure must be designed for the quick-release connector, thus for the shock absorber.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a mini-bike folding structure comprising a frame, a shock absorber, a quick-release connector, Zs a retaining unit, a head tube and a handlebar for saving storage space and easy removal and re-assembly of the mini-bike. To achieve the purpose, a handlebar is connected below to a handlebar tube. A first tube fastener is used to connect the lower end of the handlebar tube to the head tube and a second pipe fastener is used to connect the lower end of the head tube to a front tube. Said head tube is divided into two sections and connected by the second tube fastener. A
pivoting structure is provided at where meets the lower end of the upper section and the upper end of the lower section of the head tube and said pivoting structure is hidden inside the front tube when the head tube is stretched up. A crossbar extending backwards from the front tube is connected to a seat tube. A bracket is provided at the bottom portion of the seat tube for the quick-release connector to io pivot the top of the shock absorber. The bottom of the shock absorber is pivoted to the rear fork by means of a pivoting member. A hole is provided on the top of the bracket to receive insertion of a retaining unit. The retaining unit includes a stopper provided with a spring. A retaining wall provided at the bottom of the stopper to prevent the shock absorber from disengagement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a partially exploded view (including a shock absorber and a retaining unit) showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
zo Fig. 3 is a partially perspective view (including the shock absorber and the retaining unit) showing an assembly of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a partial side view (including the shock absorber and the retaining unit) of the assembly of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
2 5 Fig. 5 is a view showing operation of the retaining unit of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the partial assembly of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a view showing that the preferred embodiment of the present invention is in its folded status (the handlebar tube is folded); and Fig. 8 is another view showing that the preferred embodiment of the present invention is in its folded status (the rear fork is folded).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Fig. 1, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a frame (1), a shock absorber (2), a quick-release connector (3), a retaining unit (4), a head tube (S) and a handlebar (6). The handlebar (6) is connected below s to a handlebar tube (61 ) with the lower end of the handlebar tube (61 ) connected to the head tube (5) by a first tube fastener (53). A second tube fastener (52) is used to connect a front tube ( 16) of the frame ( 1 ) to the head tube (5).
The head tube (5) is divided into two sections connected to each other by the second tube fastener (52). A pivoting structure (S 1 ) is provided at where meets the lower 1 o end of the upper section and the upper end of the lower section of the head tube (5). The pivoting structure (S 1 ) is hidden inside the front tube ( 16) when the head tube (5) is stretched up. [The pivoting structure (51 ) for not being a characteristic for claim in this application, only its structural profile is illustrated in Fig. 4 without further description]. The lower section of the head tube (5) is i5 fixed to a front fork (54) when passing through the front tube (16) of the frame (1 ). A front wheel (55) is pivoted to the front fork (54). A crossbar of the frame ( 1 ) extending backwards from the front tube ( 16) is connected to a vertical seat tube ( 11 ). A seat ( 12) is connected to the top end of the seat tube ( 11 ). As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the shock absorber (2) is pivoted to a bracket (13) 2 o connected to the bottom portion of the seat tub ( 11 ). The bracket ( 13 ) has a flat top (not marked). A rear fork ( 14) is coupled to a bracket on the rear end of the crossbar of the frame ( 1 ) to receive a rear wheel thereat ( 15). The bottom end of the shock absorber (2) is secured to the rear fork ( 14) by means of a pivoting member (21 ) and seated on a reinforcement member (22). The 2 ~. reinforcement member (22) is a plate having a retaining concave to attach to the bottom end of the shock absorber (2) with the retaining concave facing upward.
The top of the shock absorber (2) is pivoted to the bracket (13) of the seat tube ( 11 ) by means of the quick-release connector (3).
A serrate slot ( 131 ) is each provided on both sides of the bracket ( 13 ) of the 3 o seat tube ( 11 ). A notch ( 132) extending from the center of the slot ( 131 ) to the edge of the bracket (13) permits insertion of the quick-release connector (3).
When the quick-release connector (3) is removed, the top end of the shock absorber (2) loosens from the slot ( 131 ) of the bracket ( 13). A hole ( 133) is provided on the top of the bracket (I3) to receive insertion of the retaining unit s (4).
The retaining unit (4) includes a stopper (41 ), a spring (42), a sleeve (43), and a blocking member (44). The stopper (4I ) is inserted into the spring (42) and passing through the hole (133) of the bracket (13) into the sleeve (43) to expose to the top end of the stopper (4I ) out of the sleeve (43) to fix to the 1 o blocking member (44). A retaining wall (411 ) in diameter larger than that of the stopper (41 ) is provided at the bottom of the stopper (41 ) that is inserted into the bracket ( 13 ). The end of the retaining wall (411 ) is rounded. The stopper (4 I ) of the retaining unit (4) has the retaining wall (411 ) vertically extended and held in position to form a safety retainer of the shock absorber (2).
Z 5 Whereas the bottom of the shock absorber (2) is pivoted to the rear fork ( 14) and held in position with the support from the reinforcement member (22), where the bottom of the shock absorber (2) pivoted to the rear fork ( 14) operates as the support to rotate the rear fork ( I 4) in relation to the bracket ( I 3 ) when the frame (1) is stretched as illustrated in Fig. 4. During assembly of the shock 2 a absorber (2), the stopper (4 I ) by its rounded end of the retaining wall (411 ) is lifted up to compress the spring (42) inside the sleeve (43) for the stopper (41) to retreat from its original position. Once the top of the shock absorber (2) passes through the stopper (4I) and enters into the bracket (l3) as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the stopper (41 ) by taking advantage of the return force of the spring (42) Zs extends once again. Then the quick-release connector (3) at the top of the shock absorber (2) inserts into the notches ( 132) respectively provided on both sides of the bracket (13). As the quick-release connector (3) compresses against both sides of the bracket ( 13), the shock absorber (2} is fixed to where between the bracket (l3) and the rear fork (14) to provide absorption effect. Once the 3o quick release connector (3) is released to free the shock absorber (2), the stopper -s-(41 ) consistently provides a stopping effect. Therefore, the shock absorber (2) is restricted in the bracket (13) for safety protection even the shock absorber (2) is not compressed by the quick-release connector (3).
When folded as illustrated in Fig. 7, the first tube fastener (53) on the head s tube (5) is first loosened for the upper section of the head tube (5) connected to the Lower section of the head tube (5) retreats into the head tube (5) to reduce its length. Then the second tube fastener (52) on the front tube ( 16) is released to draw out the head tube (5) and to expose the pivoting structure (51 ) to the head tube (5) out of the top of the front tube (16). The handlebar (6), the handlebar 1 o tube (61 ) and the head tube (5) rotate to be folded to rest on one side of the frame ( I ) with the pivoting structure (51 ) as the rotation center. As illustrated in Fig.
8, the blocking member (44) is pulled upwardly to cause the stopper (41 ) holding against the spring (42) inside the sleeve (43) for the stopper (4I ) to loosen the shock absorber (2) before removing the quick-release connector (3). The shock absorber (2) is disengaged from the notch ( 132) of the bracket ( 13 ) on the seat tube ( 11 ). Once the shock absorber (2) is completely retreated from the bracket (13), the blocking member (44) is freed for the stopper (41) to retreat to its original position due to the return force from the spring (42). The rear fork (14) having the bracket ( 13 ) as the pivoting center rotates downwards for the shock 2 o absorber (2) to move to the stored position when the rear fork ( 14) is folded.
Finally, both of the rear fork ( 14) and the frame ( 1 ) are folded for space saving purpose.

Claims (4)

1. A mini-bike folding structure comprising a frame, a shock absorber, a quick-release connector, a retaining unit, a head tube and a handlebar, wherein the handlebar being connected below to a handlebar tube; the lower end of the handlebar tube being connected to the head tube by a first tube fastener; a front tube being connected to the head tube by a second tube fastener; the head tube being divided into two sections connected by the second tube fastener; a pivoting structure being provided at where the lower end of the upper section meeting the upper end of the lower section of the head tube; the pivoting structure being hidden in the front tube when the head tube is stretched up; a crossbar extending backwards from the front tube being connected to a seat tube;
a bracket with a flat top being formed at the bottom portion of the seat tube to pivot the top of the shock absorber by means of the quick-release connector; the bottom of the shock absorber being pivoted to a rear fork by means of a pivoting member; a hole provided on the top of the bracket to allow insertion of the retaining unit; the retaining unit including a stopper provided with a spring; and a retaining wall being at the bottom of the stopper to prevent the shock absorber from disengagement.
2. A mini-bike folding structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, a reinforcement member is provided to the rear fork in relation to the bottom end of the absorber; the reinforcement member is a plate having a concave retaining surface being adhered facing up to the bottom end of the absorber.
3. A mini-bike folding structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, a serrate slot is each provided on both sides of the bracket of the seat tube; a notch extending from the center of the slot to the edge of the bracket for receiving insertion of the quick-release connector.
4. A mini-bike folding structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, the retaining unit includes a stopper, a spring, a sleeve and a blocking, the stopper being inserted through the spring and the hole of the bracket to extend into the sleeve; the stopper having its top exposed out of the sleeve and connected to the blocking member; a retaining wall having a rounded end in a diameter larger than that of the stopper being extended from the end of the stopper; the stopper of the retaining unit having its retaining wall extended from the bracket to form a safety retainer for the shock absorber.
CA 2364369 2001-12-05 2001-12-05 Mini bike folding structure Abandoned CA2364369A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2364369 CA2364369A1 (en) 2001-12-05 2001-12-05 Mini bike folding structure

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2364369 CA2364369A1 (en) 2001-12-05 2001-12-05 Mini bike folding structure

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2364369A1 true CA2364369A1 (en) 2003-06-05

Family

ID=4170750

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2364369 Abandoned CA2364369A1 (en) 2001-12-05 2001-12-05 Mini bike folding structure

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2364369A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017059811A1 (en) * 2015-10-09 2017-04-13 福建省新车技科技发展有限公司 Folding electric bicycle
WO2017140059A1 (en) * 2016-02-16 2017-08-24 朱红英 Foldable vehicle frame having shock-absorbing apparatus
WO2017140061A1 (en) * 2016-02-16 2017-08-24 朱红英 Folding frame with damping device

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017059811A1 (en) * 2015-10-09 2017-04-13 福建省新车技科技发展有限公司 Folding electric bicycle
WO2017140059A1 (en) * 2016-02-16 2017-08-24 朱红英 Foldable vehicle frame having shock-absorbing apparatus
WO2017140061A1 (en) * 2016-02-16 2017-08-24 朱红英 Folding frame with damping device

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