GB2378161A

GB2378161A - Folding structure for a bicycle

Info

Publication number: GB2378161A
Application number: GB0118741A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ting-Hsing Chen
Original assignee: Far Great Plastics Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Far Great Plastics Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-08-01
Filing date: 2001-08-01
Publication date: 2003-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2021-08-01
Also published as: GB2378161B; GB0118741D0

Abstract

A seat strut 5 has a pair of lugs 52 at its rear end that are connected to a shock absorber 7. The connection is releasable due to arcuate recesses 521 in the lugs that locate a releasable fastening 8 with the upper end of the shock absorber. The other end of the shock absorber is connected to a chain stay 6 via holes 61. The rear fork can pivot at a U-shaped lug portion 41 so that a cross bar 4 and the rear fork fold in on themselves. The releasable fastener may be a quick-release clamp 81 and lock nut 82. A handlebar is also foldable at the lower end a stem 2 with the aid of a pivot mechanism (22, figure 4) and releasable fastening 11.

Description

TITLE: BIKE FOLDING STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bike folding structure, and more 0 particularly, to one that with completely foldable frame for effective space saving purpose.

(b) Description of the Prior Art : While riding a bike for fun and sports gets very popular nowadays, design of the bike is even more diversified and such design is and should be compact and portable oriented since the bike gives excellent mobility. Accordingly, this inventor re-designed a mini bike that is different from the regular bikes by emphasizing the fun and sports. Said mini bike has a lower frame, shorter range between front tube and seat stay, compact and easy to carry along by its rider.

However, said mini bike is found with some inconvenience. Since the frame of said mini bike is fixed, it prevents from being folded for storage when not used or when the rider is taking some other transportation means, e. g. MRT or train. Even though said mini bike is smaller than the regular bike, it consumes large space within a limited room and cause quite uncomfortable for the rider to carry along.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a compact bike folding structure. To achieve the purpose, the structure has both upper and lower ends of a front tube to be respectively connected to a stem of a handlebar and a fork pivoted to a front wheel. A crossbar extending from the head tube connects at a right angle to a seat post which receives a seat. A pivot holder beneath the crossbar pivots a chain stay comprised of a pair of corresponding

plates, and further to a rear wheel Said modified structure is characterized by having pivoted an absorber vertically from the pivot bracket of the chain stay. A packing unit is provided on top of the absorber and a pivot bracket is formed at the rear edge of the seat post.

On both wings of said pivot bracket, an arc gap is provided in corresponding to the travel route of the packing unit on top of said absorber for the absorber to stand between the pivot holder and the chain stay when the packing unit holds against said gaps. Upon folding, the packing unit is released to disengage the absorber from the gaps, thus, both of the chain stay and the absorber allow to be turned downward and folded in by centering around the pivot holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. I is an exploded view of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the present invention when assembled.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of assembling the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing how a handlebar and a stem of the present invention are folded in.

Fig. 5 is a view showing how a packing unit of the present invention is removed.

Fig. 6 is a view showing how a seat fork of the present invention is folded.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the present invention is essentially 0 comprised of a stem of handlebars of the bike divided into two retractable sections to become foldable and lean against the side of the frame of the bike a I I when folded, and a chain stay foldable towards a front wheel characterized by that:

A fastener 11 connects the uer end of the head tub ? 1 to 9 stem (2) of handlebars, and the stem (2) is divided into two sections joined by a second fastener (21). The terminal of the lower section of the stem (2) is provided with a foldable pivoting mechanism (22) and concealed inside the head tube (1) when the pivoting mechanism (22) extends (only illustrated in Fig. 4 since the mechanism is not a key feature to be claimed in this application). The head tube (1) is connects to a fork (3), which connects further to a front wheel (31). An arc crossbar (4) extends backwards from the peripheral of the front tube (M) and connects to the peripheral of a seat post (5) provided at a right angle to the crossbar (4). A seat (51) is provided on top of the seat post (5) and a pair of pivoting wings (52) are integrated at the rear peripheral of the seat post (5) with each wing provided an arc gap (521) facing backwards. A hollow pivot holder (41) to connect a chain stay (6) comprised of a pair of corresponding plates.

A hole (61) penetrating both plates of the chain stay (6) at the top edge of the chain stay (6); a pair of pedals (62) and a rear wheel (63) are respectively pivoted to and between the two plates of the chain stay (6).

An absorber (7) having its both ends each penetrated by a sleeve (71) and both ends of each sleeve (71) is adapted with a ring (72). The lower end of the absorber (7) is pivoted between the two plates of the chain stay (6) through the hole (61) by means of the sleeve (71) and rings (72). The upper end of the absorber (7) is restricted in position in the gaps (521) of the pivoting wings (52) by means of a packing unit (8) provided. The packing unit (8) is comprised of a

fast wrench (81) and a fixed nut (82) to penetrate through the sleeve (71) on the top of the absorber (7) In its normal use as illustrated in Fig. 3, the absorber (7) having its bottom connected to the chain stay (6) by means of a pivoting element (9) provides a clamping force (also as illustrated in Fig. 5) with the fast wrench (81) and the fixed nut (82) of the packing unit (8) respectively holding against both sides of the gap (521) of the pivoting wing (52). As a result, the absorber (7) stands between the chain stay (ó) and me pivoring wing (52) oÎ the seat post (5). in case of a bumpy road, the rear wheel (53) rises to compress against the absorber (7) by linking the chain stay (6) to have a pivot holder (41) provided on top of the chain stay (6) as pivoting center to absorb elevation difference and vibration

energy back fed from the road as transmitted by the rear wheel (6), thus to Y All maintain riding stability and comfort.

Upon folding as illustrated in Fig. 4, the second fastener (21) on the head tube is released, so that the upper handlebars inside the stem (2) can be retracted into the handlebars to reduce the overall length of the stem (2). Then the fastener (11) on the head tube (1) is removed to pull out of the stem (2) to expose the folding mechanism (22) provided at the bottom of the stem (2) from the top of the head tube (1). Consequently, the handlebars stem (2) turns to lean against the side of the bike frame in relation to the head tube (I) having the pivoting mechanism as a turning center. Now referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the fast wrench (81) on the pivoting wing (52) is tightened up to release the fast wrench (81) and the fixed nut (82). After the release, the absorber (7) is disengaged from the gaps (521) of the pivoting wings (52) having the hole (61) where the absorber (7) is connected to the chain stay (6) as the center. Furthermore, the chain stay (6) having the pivot holder (41) as the turning center rotates downward to be folded in together with the absorber (7), and the chain stay (6) and the crossbar (4) are folded in a configuration approximately at a right angle to the ground for saving the storage space.

Claims

I CLAIM ; 1. A bike folding structure by having both ends of a head tube respectively connected to a handlebars stem and a fork pivoted to a front wheel, a crossbar extending from the peripheral of said head tube and connecting to a seat post that receives a seat, a pivot holder fixed beneath said crossbar in front of said seat post to connect to a chain stay comprised of a pair of plates pivoted to a rear wheel, which is characterized by that : an absorber pivoted longitudinally between said plates of said chain

stay having a packing unit on top of said absorber ; 0 c a pair of pivoting wings integrated with the peripheral of the seat post ; 0 each said pivoting wing is cut in a gap corresponding to the travel route of said packing unit on top of said absorber for said absorber to hold against said gap in position, thus to stand vertically between said pivot holder and said rear wheel; upon folding, said packing unit being released for said absorber to disengage from said gaps of said pivoting wings and said chain stay turned downward to fold in with said pivot holder as the turning center.
2. A bike folding structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said clamping unit comprises a wrench and a fixed nut.

2. A bike folding structure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, said packing unit is comprised of a fast wrench and a fixed nut.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A bike folding structure having a head tube connected to a handlebar stem which is connected to a fork rotatably mounting the front wheel, a crossbar extending from the periphery of said head tube and connecting to a seat post that receives a seat, a pivot holder fixed beneath said crossbar in front of said seat post to connect to a chain stay which comprises a pair of plates rotatably mounting a rear wheel, a shock absorber pivoted longitudinally between said plates of said chain stay having a first end portion pivotally mounted on said chain stay and a second end portion remote from the first end portion having a clamping unit and a pair of pivot wings integral with the periphery of the seat post, each said pivot wing having an arcuate slot adapted to slidingly receive part of said clamping unit as the first end portion of the shock absorber is pivoted on said chain stay to an operative position whereby the shock absorber is clamped by the clamping unit to retain it in the operative position vertically between said pivot wings and said chain stay and the clamping unit is releasable to allow said part of the unit to disengage from the arcuate slots by pivotal movement of the shock absorber on the chain stay whereby to permit the chain stay to turn about the pivot holder and thus fold the chain stay inwardly so that the rear wheel is adjacent the front wheel of the structure.