JP2003026066A - Collapsible bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a collapsible bicycle easy in carrying after being folded up. SOLUTION: In this collapsible bicycle, frames 31 and 32 can be folded up between a front wheel 12 and a rear wheel 22. A caster 35 grounding at folding-up time, and nongrounding at traveling time is arranged in an almost central position between the two wheels 12 and 22. At folding-up time, the caster 35 is grounded so that the collapsible bicycle can be used as a tricycle composed of the front wheel 12, the rear wheel 22, and the caster 35.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a folding bicycle.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, there are folding bicycles that can be folded compactly. However, since the bicycle after being folded cannot be easily transported, the bicycle is carried from the shoulder or put in the trunk of a car for transportation.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a folding bicycle which is easy to carry after folding.

[0004]

To achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a folding bicycle in which a frame can be folded between a front wheel and a rear wheel, and a substantially central position between the two wheels. A caster that is grounded when folded and not grounded while traveling is provided, and when the caster is grounded when folded, the caster can be used as a three-wheeled vehicle including the front wheel, the rear wheel, and the caster. Is characterized by.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show the first embodiment. Overall Structure: As shown in FIG. 1, the folding bicycle of the present invention has a head pipe 10, a standing pipe 20, and a lateral frame 30. The head pipe 10 supports a front wheel 12 via a front fork 11 at a lower portion thereof and a handle post 13 to which a handle bar 14 is fixed at an upper portion thereof. The handle bar 14 is rotatable around the handle post 13 as described later. A rear wheel support frame 21 that supports a rear wheel 22 is fixed to the standing pipe 20. The standing pipe 20 supports a seat post 25 that supports a saddle 26 at an upper portion thereof, and a drive unit 23 is provided at a lower portion thereof. The drive unit 23
Is composed of a pedal 24 and a sprocket, a chain or the like rotated by the pedal 24. The rear wheel 22
A basket 27 is provided above.

Horizontal frame: The horizontal frame 30 comprises a first horizontal frame 31 fixed to the head pipe 10, a second horizontal frame 32 fixed to the standing pipe 20, and a bent pipe 33.

FIG. 2 shows a saddle 2 for clarity of explanation.
6 and the basket 27 are omitted in the drawing. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, the bent pipe 33 includes a first horizontal frame 31 and a second horizontal frame 3 so that the first horizontal frame 31 can rotate relative to the second horizontal frame 32.
2 is rotatably connected. The bent pipe 3
In the traveling state shown in FIG. 2A, 3 is provided so as to protrude leftward (upward in FIG. 2) with respect to the straight line L connecting the front wheels 12 and the rear wheels 22, and each of the lateral frames. Reference numerals 31 and 32 are curved toward the bent pipe 33. When the first horizontal frame 31 is rotated about the bending pipe 33 toward the second horizontal frame 32 and is rotated to the folded state shown in FIG. 2B, the horizontal frames 31 and 32 move the bending pipe 33. It becomes the "U" shape with the top. In the folded state, the side surfaces of the front wheel 12 and the rear wheel 22 are parallel to each other and the front wheel 1
The axis line a1 of 2 and the axis line a2 of the rear wheel 22 coincide with each other. In the folded state, it is preferable to set the radius of each of the curved portions of the horizontal frames 31 and 32 to 7 cm, so that the distance D between the front wheel 12 and the rear wheel 22 is about 14 cm. By setting D to 14 cm, the vehicle width in the folded state can be about 30 cm.

Fixing member: As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first horizontal frame 31 and the second horizontal frame 32 are
The fixing member 36 fixes the vehicle in one of the running state and the folded state. The length of the fixing member 36 is substantially equal to the distance D between the front wheel 12 and the rear wheel 22 in the folded state shown in FIG. 2B, and the fixing member 36 faces each other in the folded state. By being installed on both lateral frames 31, 32,
The horizontal frames 31 and 32 are held in a folded state. On the other hand, in the traveling state shown in FIG.
The horizontal members 31, 32 are fixed in a running state by the fixing member 36 being installed between the first and second members.

Casters: As shown in FIG. 1, casters 35 are provided at the lower end of the bent pipe 33. The caster 35 can be selected from a non-grounded posture P1 in which the bicycle does not touch the ground when the bicycle is stopped, and a grounding posture (shown by a chain double-dashed line) P2 in which the caster 35 descends below the front wheels 12 and the rear wheels 22 and touches the ground when the bicycle is stopped. is there. The caster 35 is fixed to one of the postures P1 and P2 by a fixing bolt 34. As shown in FIG. 3, by fixing the caster 35 in the grounding posture P2, lifting the front wheel 12 above the ground, and then folding the bicycle, the bicycle is a three-wheeled vehicle including the rear wheel 22, the front wheel 12, and the caster 35. Becomes

Folding Method: First, the caster 35 shown in FIG. 1 is pulled out and fixed from the non-grounded posture P1 to the grounded posture P2, and as shown in FIG. 3, the front wheel 12 is lifted and slightly separated from the ground. Next, the fixing member 36 shown in FIG. 2A is removed from the horizontal frames 31 and 32, and the first
The horizontal frame 31 is rotated around the bent pipe 33 toward the second horizontal frame 32 so that the axis a1 of the front wheel 12 and the axis a2 of the rear wheel 22 coincide with each other, as shown in FIG. 2B. After the rotation, the fixing member 36 is fitted into the horizontal frames 31 and 32 again, the horizontal frames 31 and 32 are laid and the horizontal frames 31 and 32 are fixed, so that the bicycle has the rear wheel 22 and the front wheel. 12 and casters 3
It will be a tricycle consisting of 5.

After the fixing, the handlebar 14 is rotated around the handlepost 13 so that the handlebar 14 is parallel to the front wheel 12 and the rear wheel 22 as shown in FIG. 2 (c). The pedal 24 is provided so as to be foldable, and as shown in FIG. 2C, the width of the folded bicycle (three-wheeled vehicle) can be narrowed by folding the pedal 24 at the time of folding.

Second Embodiment: FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, casters 35B are provided at the lower end of the bent pipe 33 at a position where the pipe 35 does not contact the ground during traveling. Unlike the caster 35 described in the first embodiment, the caster 35B does not change its posture vertically. As shown by the chain double-dashed line, after folding the bicycle around the bent pipe 33, as shown in FIG. 5, the folded pipe 33 is tilted forward and the casters 35 are grounded. Becomes
Other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment, and the same portions or corresponding portions will be denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description and illustration thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, a hinge 33A is provided instead of the bent pipe 33, and the curved portions are not provided on both the horizontal frames 31 and 32.
1, 32 may be formed linearly.

Third Embodiment: FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7A, a third horizontal frame 37 is provided between the first horizontal frame 31 and the second horizontal frame 32. Between the first horizontal frame 31 and the third horizontal frame 37, and between the second horizontal frame 32 and the third horizontal frame 37.
The horizontal frame 37 is rotatably connected via first and second hinges 33B and 33C, respectively.

The first and second hinges 33B and 33C
The fixing holes 38 for fixing the horizontal frames 31, 32, 37 at a predetermined angle are provided in each. The fixing hole 38 is formed of, for example, a through hole that is punched at a predetermined rotation angle, and the horizontal frames 31, 32, 3 are formed.
After rotating 7, the bar is inserted into the fixing hole 38 to fix the angles of the horizontal frames 31, 32, and 37.
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, the first horizontal frame 31 and the third horizontal frame 37 can be folded in a substantially parallel state, and in the folded state, the first horizontal frame 31 can be folded. The distance D between the third lateral frame 37 and the third lateral frame 37, that is, the vehicle width of the bicycle can be selected.
The fixing holes 38 may be drilled at a plurality of positions for trial production. Other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment,
The same parts or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description and illustration thereof will be omitted.

In order to ride on a bicycle, as shown in FIG.
As shown in, the first horizontal frame 31 and the third horizontal frame 3
7 and the second horizontal frame 32 are linearly extended to be in a running state. When slowly pushing through an amusement park or a park as a handcart, as shown in FIG. 7B, the angle between the first horizontal frame 31 and the third horizontal frame 37 is set to a predetermined angle (for example, 90 °) E, and the first horizontal frame 31 and the second horizontal frame 32 are set in a first folded state in which they are parallel to each other. In such a case, the vehicle width becomes large, so that the vehicle can be pushed stably. On the other hand, when passing through a narrow place such as a ticket gate at a station, as shown in FIG. 7C, the angle between the first horizontal frame 31 and the third horizontal frame 37 is set to the angle E in the first folded state. The angle is set to a larger angle (for example, 135 °) F, and the first horizontal frame 31 and the second horizontal frame 32 are set in the second folded state in which they are parallel to each other.

In this way, the distance between the first horizontal frame 31 and the second horizontal frame 32 can be fixed so that the distance can be selected. By selecting the narrow second folded state,
The vehicle width can be changed and used according to the situation on the spot.

If the wheels are made smaller and the vehicle body is made of aluminum to achieve compactness and weight measurement,
Usability as a wheelbarrow is further improved. Further, the cage may be provided above the front wheel 12 instead of above the rear wheel 22, or may be provided above the rear wheel 22 and the front wheel 12, respectively.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since it is a three-wheeled vehicle in the folded state, it can be easily pushed with one hand, and transportation of the folding bicycle becomes extremely easy. Further, since it can be used as a compact wheelbarrow in the folded state, the folded bicycle can be carried as a wheelbarrow into a train without hesitation. Furthermore, at the platform of the station or in areas where bicycles are not allowed, the luggage is placed on the basket provided above the rear wheels and used as a wheelbarrow. It can be used as a bicycle. Therefore, even an elderly person with weak physical strength can easily carry heavy luggage through various places including a bicycle prohibited area.

If the vehicle width at the time of folding can be selected and fixed, when an amusement park or a park is slowly pushed as a handcart to pass by, the vehicle is relatively wide and the stability is important. When passing through a narrow place such as a ticket gate of a station, the vehicle width can be changed according to the place to pass, such as by setting the vehicle in a narrow folded state.

Furthermore, if the casters can be moved up and down, the casters do not become an obstacle during running, and when the casters are folded in two, the two points of the rear wheel and the casters are in contact with the ground, so the casters are the fulcrum. As a result, the bicycle can be easily held in a standing posture, so that even an inexperienced elderly person can easily rotate and fold the front wheel side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a folding bicycle according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a folding method of the bicycle.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a method of folding the bicycle.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the folding bicycle according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the folding bicycle in the same folded state.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a horizontal frame showing a modified example.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a horizontal frame according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Head pipe 11: Former Hawk 12: Front wheel 20: Vertical pipe 21: Rear wheel support frame 22: Rear wheel 30: Horizontal frame 31: First horizontal frame 32: Second horizontal frame 33: Bent pipe 33B: First hinge 33C: Second hinge 35, 35B: Casters 36: fixing member 37: Third horizontal frame P1: Non-grounding posture P2: Grounding posture

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A folding bicycle having a frame that can be folded between a front wheel and a rear wheel, wherein a caster, which is grounded when folding and not grounded when traveling, is provided at a substantially central position between the two wheels. A folding bicycle that can be used as a three-wheeled vehicle including the front wheels, the rear wheels, and the casters when the casters are grounded when folded. 2. A head pipe that supports front wheels via a front fork, a standing pipe to which a rear wheel support frame that supports rear wheels is fixed, and the head pipe and the standing pipe are connected together,
A folding bicycle, comprising: a lateral frame that is bendable such that side surfaces of the front wheel and the rear wheel face each other, wherein the lateral frame is a first frame fixed to the head pipe.
A horizontal frame, a second horizontal frame fixed to the vertical pipe, and a rotatable first horizontal frame and a second horizontal frame so that the first horizontal frame can rotate relative to the second horizontal frame. The bent pipe is connected to the bent pipe, and the bent pipe is provided so as to project in either one of the left and right directions with respect to the straight line connecting the front wheel and the rear wheel in the traveling state, and the horizontal frames are bent. It is curved toward the pipe, and by folding the lateral frame around the bent pipe, the lateral frame becomes a substantially “U” shape with the bent pipe as an apex, and the front wheel and the rear wheel are It is foldable so that its side surfaces are parallel to each other, and a caster that does not touch the ground in the running state is provided below the bent pipe, so that it can be folded. In the folding bicycle, the caster can be used as a three-wheeled vehicle including the front wheel, the rear wheel, and the caster when the caster is grounded. 3. The head pipe for supporting a front wheel via a front fork, a stand pipe to which a rear wheel support frame for supporting a rear wheel is fixed, and the head pipe and the stand pipe as claimed in claim 1. Along with
A lateral frame that is bendable so that side surfaces of the front wheel and the rear wheel face each other, and the lateral frame includes a first frame fixed to the head pipe.
A horizontal frame, a second horizontal frame fixed to the vertical pipe, and a rotatable first horizontal frame and a second horizontal frame so that the first horizontal frame can rotate relative to the second horizontal frame. A third frame to be connected, and the first horizontal frame and the third horizontal frame, and the second horizontal frame and the third horizontal frame are rotatably connected via hinges. And so that the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame can be folded in a substantially parallel state, and in the folded state, the distance between the first horizontal frame and the second horizontal frame is fixed so that the distance can be selected. A folding bicycle that can be used. 4. The bicycle according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the caster is in a non-grounded position where it does not touch the ground when the bicycle is in a stopped posture, and when the caster is in a stopped posture equivalent to the front wheels and the rear wheels or lower than these wheels. A folding bicycle that can be selectively fixed to the grounding position where it is grounded.