FR2818233A1 - UNIVERSAL SUSPENDED FOLDING BICYCLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a high-performance, easy-to-manoeuvre, suspended folding bicycle, free of rear seat stays, consisting of two main parallel parts, one fixed (10) and the other mobile (3), mutually linked by a pin (25) and by a shock-absorber (1) having two functions: observing triangulation and providing additional comfort to the user. Its simple and fast folding system in height does not modify the structure of the essential part of the bike (wheel-steering-transmission). Said bicycle is characterised by its two wheels of different diameters, its compactness being less than a meter long, whether folded or unfolded. Finally, the invention in characterised by the easy and fast transformation of said bicycle into an exercise bike, by being fixed on an adapted home-based training device. Said bicycle is unisex, for all sizes and for outdoor as well as indoor use.

Description

<Desc / Clms Page number 1>

 The present invention relates to a bicycle, that is to say a cycle in which the two wheels are of different diameters, the smallest being placed at the front.

 It is folding, has a suspension, is mixed, all sizes, for outdoor and indoor use, because coupled with an accessory, it quickly turns into an exercise bike, hence its universality and modernism.

 It is handy, light, efficient and compact (less than a meter), folded as unfolded, and the transformations that characterize it are quick and easy.

 Traditionally, a folding cycle uses a joint that breaks its frame to reduce its length. This system modifies either the alignment of the two wheels or the wheelbase, which affects the rigidity of the assembly, in use.

 The device according to the invention overcomes this drawback in that it does not modify, during folding, the structure of the essential part of the bicycle, that is to say the wheels, the steering and the transmission.

 When pedaling, this system offers better rigidity thanks to the immutable alignment of the rotating parts. In addition it is devoid of rear shrouds which allows the assembly and disassembly of the chain without having to break it.

 The cycle presented therefore reduces its dimensions to folding, in the direction of height.

 Its innovative design allows it, when folded, to be transported in the luggage compartment of any motor vehicle, including the smallest currently on the market.

 Finally, thanks to an accessory-home training device, this cycle, by virtue of its architecture, quickly and easily transforms into a stable exercise bike, with a minimum footprint, and with an adjustable use position.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:
Figure 1 shows the bicycle in its position of use on the public highway.

 Figure 2 shows the bicycle in its exercise bike function, attached to its accessory-home training device-, shown in front view.

 Figure 3 shows the same accessory in top view.

Figure 4 shows phase nO 1 of folding
Figure 5 shows phase n 2 of folding
Figure 6 shows the fully folded bicycle.

 With reference to these drawings, the folding system consists of three operations for loosening quick-locking devices.

<Desc / Clms Page number 2>

 The first consists of unlocking the base of the shock absorber (1), sliding the latter between the arms of the rear fork (2) and lowering the mobile arm (3) on the rear wheel (4).

 The second is to unlock the quick release of the collar that blocks the seatpost (5) to bring the saddle (6) to its lowest position.

 The last, after unlocking according to the same system, consists in knocking down the handlebar support rod (7) towards the rear - which also serves as a transport handle - in order to clip it onto the ring provided for this purpose (8 ), and fixed on the movable arm (3).

 The entire folding operation will only take a few seconds.

The conversion to a stationary bike consists of a simple disassembly of the front wheel (9), to put the rear wheel (4) on the rollers of the accessory, and to fix the front fork on the bracket of the accessory and lock it by tightening a quick release system.

Again, in seconds, the transformation is completed.

 The frame of this cycle, made of aluminum alloy consists of two main parts, one fixed, the other mobile.

 The first, fixed part, consists of a short beam of rectangular section (10) on which is welded the steering bush (11) on one side and the bottom bracket (12) on the other. From the latter leave the two bases of triangular section preferably (stiffness) which constitute the rear fork (2), also welded, and carrying at each end the lugs for fixing the rear wheel (4) of 16 inches. These two bases are connected together, at the front of the rear wheel (4) by a welded plate, which receives a U-shaped support (13), drilled on the side from side to side to receive an axle and quick locking , and drilled on the bottom to eventually attach a traditional jaw brake.

The base on the left will eventually have mounting brackets for a disc brake system.

 The right rear wheel mounting lug will be designed to accommodate a possible derailleur.

 The steering bush (11), welded at a determined angle, will support a steering bearing set, preferably integrated, and will support the short two-legged front fork (14) holding the 8-inch front wheel (9).

 The second part of the frame, movable arm (3), produced by folding and welding in the same material, is of rectangular section and has a parallelogram profile with

<Desc / Clms Page number 3>

 long base and low height. At one end, it carries two welded and drilled tabs (15), at the other end a tube (16) welded and split in its upper part, used to receive the seatpost (5) as well as a clamp . At a given dimension, a drilling (17) is carried out right through. An opening (18) is also made on the underside, under the bore (17) to insert the head of the shock absorber (19).

 These two parts of the frame are interconnected by an axis (25), which passes through the beam and the two legs (15), behind the steering bush; they are also connected by the shock absorber (1), at determined length and calibration, in order to respect the triangulation and to provide additional comfort to the user.

The top of this shock absorber (19) is fixed rotating, thanks to an axis passing through the bore (17) of the movable arm.

 The base of this shock absorber, in the form of a jumper, will come to rest on an axis fitted with a quick-locking clamping device passing through the U-shaped support (13).

 The transmission is traditional, crankset, chain, pinion with a development adapted to flat and slightly hilly routes.

To direct the cycle, a stem (20) supports an articulated tube (7) on which is welded, at the top, a straight and narrow handlebar (21), and at the bottom, two legs (22) welded and drilled supporting a device notched (23) and a quick release clamping system
This notched device consists of: - a cylinder, the two faces of which have notches (around twenty), machined into a star. It is traditionally blocked in the bracket (20), - two washers, notched in the same way, on one side, and welded inside the two legs (22), - a quick-locking system axis which crosses the cylinder, the washers and the two tabs, to block or unblock the device.

On the tube (7), at a given distance, a rubberized sleeve (24) is placed for an adequate grip, during the transport of the folded cycle.

 Finally, to transform the cycle into an exercise bike, a home training device is necessary. It is made of square section tubes assembled by welding. The rear part forms a rectangular frame receiving two rollers mounted on ball bearings and fixed on four legs welded at determined centers.

 From this frame leaves a tube terminated by a T, and which supports a rider provided with a quick-locking clamping system intended to block the front fork.

<Desc / Clms Page number 4>

 To respond to use on public roads, the invention will be equipped with a lighting system, lateral reflectors, a possible second brake, mudguard, a bell, and for optimal practicability, a basket of great depth can be placed at the front.

Claims (5)

1) Folding, suspended bicycle, characterized by its frame devoid of rear shrouds, and consisting of two main parts, the first, fixed part, consisting of a short beam of rectangular section (10) on which the steering bush is welded (11) on one side and the bottom bracket (12) on the other, from which the two bases of triangular section preferably (rigidity) which constitute the rear fork (2), also welded, and bringing to each end the fixing lugs of the 16-inch rear wheel (4), these two bases being connected together, at the front of the rear wheel (4) by a welded plate, which receives a U-shaped support (13) , drilled on the side from side to side to receive an axis and quick locking, and drilled on the bottom to optionally fix a traditional jaw brake, the second part of the frame, movable arm (3), produced by folding and welding , being of rectangular section e t sporting a parallelogram profile with a long base and low height, carrying at one end two welded and drilled tabs (15), at the other end a tube (16) welded and split in its upper part, used to receive the rod seat (5) as well as a clamp, at a given dimension, a drilling (17) being performed right through, an opening (18) also being formed on the underside, under the drilling (17) for insert the head of the shock absorber (19), these two parts of the frame being interconnected by an axis (25), which passes through the beam and the two legs (15), behind the steering bush; being also connected by the shock absorber (1), at determined length and calibration, in order to respect the triangulation and to provide additional comfort to the user; the top of this shock absorber (19) being fixed rotating, by virtue of an axis passing through the bore (17) of the movable arm, the base of this shock absorber, in the form of a jumper, coming to rest on an axis equipped with a clamping device quick release through the U-shaped support (13).  2) method of folding the bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of three operations of loosening of quick-locking devices: the first consisting in unlocking the base of the shock absorber (1), in sliding the latter between the arms of the rear fork (2) and lower the mobile arm (3) on the rear wheel (4), the second consisting in unlocking the quick release of the collar which blocks the seatpost (5) to bring the saddle ( 6) in its lowest position, the last, after <Desc / Clms Page number 6>  unlocking according to the same system, consisting in knocking down the handlebar support rod (7) also serving as a transport handle - in order to clip it onto the ring provided for this purpose (8), and fixed on the movable arm (3).  3) Folding bicycle, suspended, according to claim 1, characterized by wheels of different diameters, the smallest being placed at the front.  4) Folding bicycle, suspended, according to claim 1, characterized by its length of less than one meter, folded as unfolded.  5) A method of transforming the bicycle according to claim 1, into an exercise bike, characterized in that it consists in dismantling the front wheel (9), in placing the rear wheel (4) on the rollers of the drive device at home, and fix the front fork on the caliper of the same accessory and lock it by tightening a quick-locking device.