JP2002249091A - Folding bicycle by x-frame also used as carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a folding bicycle stored into an extremely compact size, facilitating the folding and developing, holding a strength of a car body in traveling and being carried by rolling on the ground without raised up in folding. SOLUTION: In folding, a front frame having a front wheel and a handle and a rear frame having a rear wheel and a saddle are drawn near in the front/rear direction on an axle by an X-frame laid across therebetween and then a driving frame having a pedal pivoted onto the rear axle, a gear, etc., is separated so that the front/rear frames are tilted by approximately 45 deg. relative to the axle and the front wheel is regulated to be coaxially disposed in parallel on the rear wheel axle. In traveling, the X-frame supports the front/rear frames by crossing therebetween, the driving frame fixes a crossing part between the rear wheel and the X-frame so as to provide this bicycle with the strength compared with the conventional folding bicycle of a hinge mechanism type. In folding, the front/rear wheels are coaxially disposed in parallel so as to stably moving by rolling on the ground and also used as a carrier.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an improvement of a folding bicycle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are mainly the following four types of conventional folding bicycle technologies. 1, JP-A-7-277257, JP-A-7-246974
It is a method that turns back at the center of the bicycle. 2. A method in which the front and rear wheels are set at both ends to reduce the size in the vertical direction as described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 11-180371 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-1276. 3, JP-A-52-47216, JP-A-10-23637
1. A method of reducing the size in the front-rear direction by using an X-shaped frame as disclosed in JP-A-8-188188. 4, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 47-16653, JP-A-6-32272,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-105765 discloses a method in which a folding shaft is inclined with respect to an axle to aim at a parallel arrangement of front and rear wheels.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 1. Prior Art 1
As for the reduction, there is a problem that the compactness is not sufficiently obtained simply by overlapping the front part and the rear part in the center part. In order to make it compact, it was necessary to fold the handle pipe or saddle pipe, or to reduce it to a double pipe shape. 2. Regarding the prior art 2, since the front and rear wheels are at both ends, it is difficult to carry around in public places due to mud on the wheels. Or, an operation such as accommodation in the back was required. 3. Regarding the prior art 3, there is a problem that the front wheel and the rear wheel are on the axle due to the mechanism for folding in the front-rear direction, and the two wheels cannot be housed side by side, resulting in insufficient compactness.
Alternatively, the wheels need to be very small in order to be compact, resulting in impaired safety against road surface irregularities, or having to increase the gear ratio, which complicates the driving parts. 4. Regarding the prior art 4, there is only one portion where the angle to the axle is provided for storage, and the external force during traveling is concentrated there, and there is a problem in the strength of the vehicle body.

Accordingly, the present invention is sufficiently compact and can be easily folded, and when stored, the front and rear wheels are bound in the same direction. An object of the present invention is to provide a folding bicycle which has a connecting structure and which can be rolled and moved on the ground without lifting when stored.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to be housed in a sufficiently compact manner, two front and rear frames having front and rear wheels are pulled by two X-shaped frames which are bridged therebetween and intersect at the center. A folding mechanism.

In order to be able to roll and move on the ground during storage, the drive frame including the rear wheels during storage is separated from the intersection of the X-shaped frame and deflected in the direction of the traveling axle. The front wheels can be coaxially juxtaposed with the rear wheels.

[0007] In order to impart strength to the vehicle body, the frame wire is preferably used as it is, so that the axial force is transmitted without difficulty, and at the same time, the frame is given strength against twisting and bending.

[0008]

[Function] By adopting an X-shaped frame, the saddle and the handle are close to each other at the top and the front and rear wheels are close to each other at the time of storage, so that they are very compact and can be carried in public spaces. .

Since the rear wheels are deflected with respect to the axle in accordance with the driving device thereof, and the front wheels are arranged along the rear wheels.
The front and rear wheels are arranged coaxially and can be rolled and carried on the ground without lifting in a folded state.

[0010] By forming the X-shaped frame, the two wires are crossed and passed over the front and rear frames, forming a triangular truss, and maintaining the strength of the vehicle body frame. Can be.

The front frame has a front wheel and a steering wheel, and the rear frame has a rear wheel and a saddle, and a load can be transmitted to the wheels through the frame without difficulty.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The front frame is provided with a front wheel, a front lower tube, a front upper tube, and a folding handle in order from the bottom. The lower front tube has a lower front hinge, and the upper front tube has a front upper hinge. The front frame rotatably supports the lower front tube and the upper front tube, and has a rise preventing device so that the lower front tube does not wear over a predetermined position.

The rear frame includes, in order from the bottom, a rear wheel, a drive frame rotatable around a rear wheel axle, and a rear lower tube.
Tub, rear upper tube and saddle. The lower rear tube has a lower rear hinge, and the upper rear tube has a rear upper hinge. The rear frame rotatably supports the rear lower tube and the rear upper tube, and has a rise preventing device so that the rear lower tube does not rub above a predetermined position.

The forward tilting frame connects the front lower hinge on the front lower tube below the front frame and the rear upper hinge slidably supported by the rear frame. The backward leaning frame is
A connection is made between a rear lower hinge above a rear lower tube below the rear frame and a front upper hinge slidably supported by the front frame.
The forward tilting frame and the rearward tilting frame are rotatably connected to each other at a substantially central portion so that the frame can maintain strength against external forces such as twisting and bending of the frame.

The drive frame is rotatably supported with respect to the rear wheel axle. The drive frame includes a well-known rear wheel gear, pedal gear, and a chain or belt connecting the same. A pedal shaft is attached to the pedal gear. This chain or belt drive is
A gear system using a drive shaft may be used. From the support portion of the pedal gear, an arm having a quick release mechanism which can be freely detachably connected to the crossing portion of the frame inclined forward and backward extends.

[0016] The front frame and the rear frame are an X-shaped frame formed by a front tilt frame and a rear tilt frame which are bridged therebetween.
By folding the vehicle vertically around its intersection, it is pulled back and forth on the bicycle axle. At that time, the rear upper tube of the forward leaning frame is positioned above the rear frame, that is, in the direction of the saddle, and similarly, the front upper tube of the rearward tilting frame is the front frame of the forward frame. The upper part is slid upward and downward, that is, in the direction of the handle.

In the above operation, the drive frame is disengaged by the lever operation from the intersection of the X-shaped frame consisting of the forwardly inclined frame and the backwardly inclined frame, and is moved with respect to the axle for storage. About 4
Deflected 5 degrees. The pedal shaft and the like fit so as to fill the gap between the X-shaped frames.

The front wheels are turned by about 135 degrees so that they can be arranged coaxially in parallel with the rear wheels deflected by 45 degrees with a separation distance between the front wheel axle and the front frame center provided for the operability of the front wheels. Become.

With the two parallel wheels thus obtained,
You can easily roll around the ground without lifting the folding bike. It can be used as a carrier by attaching it to a bicycle that stores luggage.

In the bicycle, the X-shaped frame connecting the front and rear frames needs a certain length in order to maintain stability, and the saddle may need to be pushed up when folded back and forth. . Therefore, a mechanism that can be easily pushed up in the raising direction is desired. The lower part of the buffer mechanism is connected to the lower part of the outer frame by a wire or a spring, and when folded, the inner pipe supporting the saddle is pushed up by the contact between the upper rear tube and the lower part of the saddle, and is stored without difficulty. Can be.

This is particularly effective when the rider must set the saddle low for a child or the like. When the X-shaped frame is opened when the folding bicycle is deployed and the rear upper tube is lowered with respect to the rear frame, there is no contact between the lower saddle and the rear upper tube, and the saddle is in the raised storage position. It goes back down and automatically returns to the home position when running by the force of the built-in spring.

[0022]

In recent years, many bicycles have been seen to be folded in two at the center of the axle by hinges. However, they are not sufficiently compact simply by folding the front and rear parts in half, and in order to make them even smaller, it is necessary to fold the saddle and the handle shaft, and it is difficult to operate them easily. For this reason, it has not been possible to make full use of the advantage of the original folding bicycle, which is folded in other long-distance transportation means and then expanded in short-distance travel, and runs diligently. In this invention, like a folding umbrella,
A folding bicycle that can be easily folded, easily unfolded when it is desired to be used, does not become a hindrance when folded, and is not repelled even in public places such as dirt can be obtained. A further notable advantage is that the front and rear wheels can be coaxially juxtaposed during storage, so that they can be rolled on the ground without lifting when carrying. Also, it can be used as a carrier for heavy goods.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view from a direction perpendicular to the folding axle.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the above.

FIG. 5 is a side view in the middle of folding

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the above.

FIG. 7 is a side view from a direction perpendicular to the traveling axle.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view of the same, below the middle.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional plan view of the above and below the middle.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a rear frame extension shaft configuration.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram when a saddle low position is set.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram when a saddle high position is set.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a fit when the saddle is set at the low position.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the fit of the above-described case at the time of storage.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a fit when the saddle is set at the low position.

FIG. 16 is a view showing the fit of the storage case in the above case.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a fit when setting the saddle high position;

FIG. 18 is a view showing the fit of the storage unit in the above case.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view of a driving frame joining apparatus.

FIG. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drive frame in a direction orthogonal to the traveling axle.

FIG. 21 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drive frame in the traveling axle direction.

FIG. 22 is a view looking down on a horizontal section of the drive frame.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, front frame 2, rear frame 2a, rear frame extension shaft fixed female type 2b, extension frame b 2c, extension frame c 2d, extension frame d3, rearward tilt frame 4, front leaning frame 5, front upper tube 5a, front upper hinge 6, front lower tube 6a, front lower hinge 7, rear upper tube 7a, rear upper hinge 8, rear lower tube 8a, rear lower hinge 9, front wheel 10, folding handle 11, rear wheel 12, saddle 12a, buffer spring 13, drive frame 13a, drive frame side male mold 14, pedal gear 15, rear wheel gear 16, Pedal shaft 17, folding pedal 18, chain 19, center hinge 19a, center hinge side female type 20, drive frame joining device 21, traveling axle 22, stowed axle

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A front frame having a front wheel at a lower portion and a folding handle at an upper portion, a rear frame having a rear wheel at a lower portion and a saddle at an upper portion, and an X-shaped frame stretched over them. A folding bicycle that can be stored in a compact form by pulling it back and forth in the axle direction. 2. The folding bicycle according to claim 1, wherein when stored, the rear wheel is deflected with respect to the traveling axle together with the driving device so that the front wheel can be juxtaposed coaxially with the folding wheel. 3. Even when the rear frame has an extension shaft built in coaxially with the rear frame and the saddle is set at a low position, it is possible to store the extended
3. The folding bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the rear frame extends to a position where the mold frame has completely extended in the vertical direction, and can be stored compactly without difficulty.