JP2012121399A - Foldable bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a foldable bicycle which is compact in a storage state.SOLUTION: In a storing state of the foldable bicycle 1, a right hand side handle 5a and a left hand side handle 5b cover a first frame 6 by being linked to a linking part 8 and being rotated, and the right hand side handle 5a and the left hand side handle 5b, and the first frame 6 overlap in a side view of the foldable bicycle 1. Also when changing from a running state to the storing state of the foldable bicycle 1, total length which is the running direction length of the foldable bicycle 1 can be shortened by relative rotation of the second frame 7 to the first frame 6 by making the linking part 8 into a rotating center, and bringing the distance of a front wheel 2 and a rear wheel 3 close.

Description

  The present invention relates to a folding bicycle.

  Conventionally, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a first frame in which a front wheel is provided on one side in the longitudinal direction and a saddle is provided on the other side in the longitudinal direction, a rear wheel is provided on one side in the longitudinal direction, and a handle is provided on the other side in the longitudinal direction. And a folding bicycle composed of a second frame. The folding bicycle of Patent Document 1 has three rotating portions in the vicinity of the intersection between the first frame and the second frame. The first is a rotating part (the main rotating part in the description of Patent Document 1) that can be rotated in a direction in which the distance between the front wheel and the rear wheel is reduced in the traveling direction of the folding bicycle. A rotating part that can be rotated in a direction approaching the front wheel side (handle frame rotating part in the description of Patent Document 1), and a third rotating part that can be rotated in a direction to bring the saddle closer to the rear wheel side (patent In the description of Document 1, there is a saddle frame rotating portion). By rotating each of the three rotating portions, the folded bicycle can be switched between a storage state and a traveling state.

JP 2003-34283 A

  The folding bicycle of Patent Document 1 is different in a rotating portion that can be rotated in a direction in which the distance between the front wheel and the rear wheel is reduced, and a rotating portion that can be rotated in a direction in which the handle is closer to the front wheel. Therefore, when the folded bicycle is stored, the distance is increased by the distance between the two rotating portions in the traveling direction of the folded bicycle. The same can be said for the rotating unit that can rotate in the direction in which the distance between the front wheel and the rear wheel approaches, and the rotating unit that can rotate in the direction in which the saddle approaches the rear wheel.

  Therefore, the present invention is proposed to provide a folding bicycle that can be made more compact in the stored state than before.

  In order to solve the above technical problem, the first feature configuration of the present invention includes a front wheel and a rear wheel, a saddle on which a user can be seated, and a handle that determines a traveling direction when operated by the user. A first frame provided with the front wheel on one side in the longitudinal direction and the saddle on the other side in the longitudinal direction; a second frame provided with the rear wheel on one side in the longitudinal direction and the handle on the other side in the longitudinal direction; A folding bicycle that links the first frame and the second frame, the front wheel, the first frame, and the saddle, the rear wheel, the second frame, and the handle. And a substantially X shape in a side view of the folding bicycle, and the handle includes a right hand side handle and a left hand side handle, and the right hand side handle and the left hand side hand. , By rotating relative to the second frame, and the right hand side handle and the left hand side handle and said first frame is to overlap in a side view of the folding bicycle.

  According to this characteristic configuration, the right hand side handle and the left hand side handle overlap the first frame in a side view of the folding bicycle. Accordingly, since the length in the traveling direction of the folded bicycle can be shortened when the folded bicycle is stored, a more compact folded bicycle can be provided.

  According to a second feature configuration of the present invention, the link portion is configured to rotate the second frame relative to the first frame with the link portion as a rotation center, thereby distance between the front wheel and the rear wheel. The overall length, which is the length in the traveling direction of the folding bicycle, can be shortened by bringing the distance closer.

  According to this characteristic configuration, the bicycle can be folded by rotating the second frame relative to the first frame. For example, the user (folding operator) moves the saddle provided on the other side of the first frame toward the handle provided on the other side of the second frame, so that the second frame with respect to the first frame. Can be rotated relative to each other. Therefore, since the user can perform the folding operation at a relatively high position separated from the ground, the user can perform the folding operation without being in a low posture. In other words, according to this characteristic configuration, the operability during the folding operation can be improved.

  According to a third feature of the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the second frame is sandwiched between the right hand handle and the left hand handle, the right hand handle is pulled toward the user side, and the left hand Pulling the side handle away from the user side turns the traveling direction to the right, pulls the left hand side handle toward the user side, and pulls the right hand side handle away from the user side to turn the traveling direction leftward. Is to turn.

  According to this characteristic configuration, the turning operation by the user can be performed in the same manner as a conventional bicycle even with the right hand side handle and the left hand side handle linked to the linkage part. Therefore, even if the conventional bicycle is changed to the folding bicycle of the present invention, the user can use the folding bicycle without learning a new turning operation method.

  According to a fourth feature configuration of the present invention, the linkage portion includes a first shaft portion through which the first frame and the second frame are inserted, and the first shaft portion is the first shaft portion. The second frame is supported so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the first frame, with the second frame having a second shaft portion through which the second frame and the handle are inserted, The second shaft portion supports the handle so as to be rotatable.

  According to this characteristic configuration, the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion are configured by two shaft portions. More specifically, a load acts on the first shaft portion from the first frame and the second frame, and a handle load acts on the second shaft portion. Therefore, since the load of the first frame, the second frame, and the handle is distributed to the two shaft portions, the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion have a radial length of the shaft portion as compared with one shaft portion. Can be shortened to reduce the size. Therefore, if it comprises two shaft parts, since it is not necessary to employ | adopt one shaft part whose radial direction length of a shaft part is comparatively long, a more compact folding bicycle can be provided.

  According to a fifth characteristic configuration of the present invention, the first frame is provided with the saddle and the linking portion to form a cylindrical first shaft, and the first wheel is inserted through a cylinder of the first shaft and the front wheel. And a second shaft provided with a link portion for relatively rotating the second shaft and the front wheel with respect to the first shaft to transmit the operation of the handle to the front wheel. .

  According to this characteristic configuration, the first frame includes the first shaft and the second shaft. The folding bicycle of the present invention includes two frames, a first frame and a second frame. The first frame is provided with a saddle and a front wheel on which a user can sit. When the user does not turn the rear wheel by operating the handle, but the front wheel turns, the saddle that needs to be provided on the first frame without being interlocked with the handle operation, and the turnable first It is necessary to configure with front wheels that need to be provided in one frame. Therefore, the first frame is composed of two shafts, the first shaft and the second shaft, and the handle is operated by providing a link part for rotating the second shaft and the front wheel relative to the first shaft. A folding bicycle that can turn the front wheel can be constructed.

  According to a sixth feature of the present invention, the first frame and the second frame are dampers that reduce vibration transmitted from the rear wheel to the saddle at a position closer to the rear wheel than the linkage portion. It is to provide.

  According to this characteristic configuration, since the damper is provided, the vibration (impact) generated when the folding bicycle travels can be reduced, and the vibration transmitted to the saddle can be reduced. Accordingly, vibrations are hardly transmitted to the user, and the user can comfortably fold the bicycle.

  According to a seventh feature of the present invention, the first frame and the second frame are dampers that reduce vibration transmitted from the rear wheel to the saddle at a position closer to the rear wheel than the linkage portion. The damper is provided with a first damper provided on the first frame between the linkage portion and the saddle, and a second damper provided on the second frame between the linkage portion and the rear wheel. The first damper and the second damper are brought into contact with each other and contacted with each other by rotating the second frame relative to the first frame with the linkage portion as a rotation center. It is in any state of contact.

  According to this characteristic configuration, the damper is configured by two of the first damper and the second damper. By dividing the damper into two, the length of the damper protruding from the first frame and the second frame when the folding bicycle is folded can be shortened as compared with the case of one. Therefore, a more compact folding bicycle can be provided when folding the folding bicycle.

  According to an eighth feature of the present invention, the second frame includes a pedal that transmits a rotational force to the rear wheel when the user manually rotates, and a rotational force of the pedal is transmitted to the rear wheel. A chain for transmitting to the first frame, and the chain includes a first chain and a second chain, and the second frame between the rear wheel and the pedal includes the first chain and A linkage sprocket for linking the second chain is provided.

  According to this characteristic configuration, the chain includes two chains of the first chain and the second chain, and includes the linkage sprocket that links the first chain and the second chain. In the case of a conventional bicycle, the sprocket ratio (gear ratio) is set by the ratio between the number of teeth of the pedal-side sprocket that rotates integrally with the pedal and the number of teeth of the rear-wheel side sprocket that rotates integrally with the rear wheel. However, when the sprocket ratio is set small, it is necessary to decrease the number of teeth of the pedal side sprocket or increase the number of teeth of the rear wheel side sprocket. Similarly, when the sprocket ratio is set large, it is necessary to increase the number of teeth of the pedal side sprocket or decrease the number of teeth of the rear wheel side sprocket. Usually, the number of teeth of one of the pedal side sprocket and the rear wheel side sprocket is fixed, and the number of teeth of the other of the pedal side sprocket and the rear wheel side sprocket is variable. Therefore, the sprocket on the side where the number of teeth is variable is enlarged, and when a plurality of sprocket ratios are configured in the folding bicycle, it is difficult to apply to a folding bicycle having a limited mounting space. Therefore, in this feature configuration, since the linkage sprocket is provided separately from the pedal side sprocket and the rear wheel side sprocket, the number of teeth of each sprocket can be reduced and the size can be reduced. Therefore, even if the folding bicycle has a limited mounting space, a plurality of sprocket ratios can be easily configured, and a more compact folding bicycle can be provided.

  A ninth characteristic configuration taken in the present invention is that either one of the front wheel and the rear wheel is a single wheel, and one of the front wheel and the rear wheel is a two-wheel.

  According to this characteristic configuration, since the folding bicycle has three wheels, when the bicycle is folded and stored, the three wheels can come into contact with the ground and the folding bicycle can stand up without support. Therefore, a member such as a stand can be omitted when folding, and a compact folding bicycle can be provided.

It is a perspective view of the folding bicycle concerning this embodiment. It is a side view (side view) of the folding bicycle concerning this embodiment. It is a side view (side view) of the folding bicycle which concerns on this embodiment, and is a figure at the time of folding bicycle. It is a figure which shows the structure of the link part of the folding bicycle which concerns on this embodiment, and is IV-IV sectional drawing of FIG. It is the elements on larger scale of the link part of the folding bicycle which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the chain and sprocket of the folding bicycle which concern on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the rotating shaft core conversion member of the folding bicycle which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the front wheel shaft of the folding bicycle which concerns on this embodiment.

  A folding bicycle according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  A folding bicycle 1 according to the present embodiment includes a front wheel 2 and a rear wheel 3, a saddle 4 on which a user can sit, a handle 5 on which a user can operate a traveling direction, and a front wheel 2 and a longitudinal portion on one side in the longitudinal direction. A first frame 6 provided with a saddle 4 on the other side in the direction, a second frame 7 provided with a rear wheel 3 on one side in the longitudinal direction and a handle 5 on the other side in the longitudinal direction, a first frame 6 and a second frame 7 is provided. The front wheel 2, the first frame 6, and the saddle 4, the rear wheel 3, the second frame 7, and the handle 5 have a substantially X shape in a side view of the folding bicycle 1 (see FIG. 2).

  The handle 5 includes a right hand side handle 5a gripped by the user's right hand and a left hand side handle 5b gripped by the user's left hand. The handle 5 is provided by sandwiching the outer peripheral surface of the second frame 7 between the right hand side handle 5a and the left hand side handle 5b. The handle 5 configured as described above is operated in the right direction by pulling the right hand side handle 5a toward the user side and pulling the left hand side handle 5b away from the user side, and the left hand side handle 5b is moved to the user side. When the right hand side handle 5a is pulled away from the user side, the advancing direction is operated to the left.

  The right hand side handle 5a and the left hand side handle 5b cover the first frame 6 by releasing the lock mechanism (not shown) and rotating by being linked to the linking portion 8 when the folding bicycle 1 is stored, and the folding bicycle 1 In the side view, the right hand side handle 5a and the left hand side handle 5b overlap the first frame 6 (see FIG. 3). Further, when the folding bicycle 1 is changed from the traveling state to the retracted state, the lock mechanism (not shown) is released, and the second frame 7 is rotated relative to the first frame 6 with the linkage portion 8 as the rotation center. Thus, by shortening the distance between the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3, the overall length, which is the length in the traveling direction of the folding bicycle 1, can be shortened.

  The linking portion 8 has a first shaft portion 8 a that passes through the first frame 6 and the second frame 7, and the first shaft portion 8 a is relative to the first frame 6 with the first shaft portion 8 a as a rotation center. The second frame 7 is supported so as to be relatively rotatable. The first shaft portion 8 a has a second shaft portion 8 b through which the second frame 7 and the handle 5 are inserted. The first shaft portion 8 a moves the second frame 7 relative to the first frame 6 with the first shaft portion 8 a as a rotation center. The second shaft portion 8b supports the handle 5 so as to be rotatable.

  The first frame 6 includes a first shaft 6a that is provided with a saddle 4 and a linkage portion 8 and has a cylindrical shape, and a second shaft 6b that is inserted through the cylinder of the first shaft 6a and is provided with a front wheel 2. In order to transmit the operation of the handle 5 to the front wheel 2, the second shaft 6 b and the front wheel 2 are pivotally moved relative to the first shaft 6 a.

  The link portion 9 includes a first link portion 9a connected to the handle 5, and a second link that rotates in the circumferential direction of the second shaft 6b together with the second shaft 6b when the first link 9a is rotated by the operation of the handle 5. Part 9b. When the handle 5 is operated by the user, the turning operation of the handle 5 is transmitted in the order of the handle 5, the first link portion 9a, the second link portion 9b, and the second shaft 6b to rotate the front wheel 2. In other words, the link part 9 presents a link ball having two rotation axes, which is composed of the first link part 9a and the second link part 9b.

  The first frame 6 and the second frame 7 include a damper 10 that reduces vibration transmitted from the rear wheel 3 to the saddle 4 at a position closer to the rear wheel 3 than the linkage portion 8. The first damper 10a is provided on the first frame 6 between the saddle 4 and the second damper 10b is provided on the second frame 7 between the linkage portion 8 and the rear wheel 3. By rotating the second frame 7 relative to the first frame 6 with the linkage portion 8 as the rotation center, the first damper 10a and the second damper 10b are brought into contact with each other (state shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) and not. It will be in any state of contact (state of FIG. 3). The first damper 10a and the second damper 10b may be configured by members that are elastically deformed as a whole, or an elastic member 10c is provided at a contact portion between the first damper 10a and the second damper 10b. The first damper 10a and the second damper 10b themselves may be non-elastic members. In this embodiment, the case where the elastic member 10c is provided in the contact part between the 1st damper 10a and the 2nd damper 10b is illustrated.

  The second frame 7 includes a pedal 11 that transmits a rotational force to the rear wheel 3 when the user rotates manually, and a pedal side that rotates the rotational force of the pedal 11 on the same axis as the rotation axis of the pedal. A chain 12 is provided for transmission from the sprocket 13a to the rear wheel sprocket 13b that rotates on the same axis as the rotation axis of the rear wheel 3.

  The chain 12 includes a first chain 12a and a second chain 12b, and an associated sprocket 13c that links the first chain 12a and the second chain 12b to the second frame 7 between the rear wheel 3 and the pedal 11. Is provided. As described above, since the linkage sprocket 13c is provided separately from the pedal side sprocket 13a and the rear wheel side sprocket 13b, the number of teeth of each sprocket can be reduced and the size can be reduced. Therefore, even if the folding bicycle 1 has a limited mounting space, a plurality of sprocket ratios can be easily configured, and a more compact folding bicycle 1 can be provided.

  The folding bicycle 1 of the present embodiment is a three-wheeled bicycle in which the front wheel 2 is two wheels and the rear wheel 3 is one wheel. By setting it as the three-wheeled folding bicycle 1, the three-wheeled contact with the ground can stand the folding bicycle 1 without support. Therefore, a member such as a stand can be omitted at the time of folding, and the compact folding bicycle 1 can be provided.

  The member shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is a member for connecting the second shaft 6 b and the front wheel 2.

  The rotation axis conversion member 14 is provided at the front wheel 2 side tip of the second shaft 6b, and converts the rotation direction of the second shaft 6b into a direction substantially parallel to the ground when the folding bicycle 1 is traveling. The rotating shaft converting member 14 is provided with a shaft portion 14a connected to a front wheel shaft 15 described later. The rotation axis conversion member 14 is configured such that the turning direction and the axial direction of the shaft portion 14a coincide with each other when the second shaft 6b is rotated by a user's handle operation.

  The front wheel shaft 15 is formed with an insertion hole 15a into which the shaft portion 14a of the rotational axis converting member 14 is inserted in the center in the longitudinal direction, and the front wheel shaft portion 15b of the front wheel 2 is formed at both longitudinal ends. The front wheel shaft portion 15b is connected. A thrust bearing may be used between the shaft portion 14a and the insertion hole 15a in order to prevent the shaft portion 14a from being separated from the insertion hole 15a.

  According to the folding bicycle 1 of the present embodiment, the right hand side handle 5a, the left hand side handle 5b, and the first frame 6 overlap in a side view when stored. Therefore, the folding bicycle 1 can be folded more compactly in the traveling direction, and the folding bicycle 1 can be moved more easily while being stored.

  As an additional note, the present invention is superior to Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-34283) described above in the following points.

  The structure of the folding bicycle described in Patent Document 1 is a cable steering system in which the operation of the handle is converted into an axial retracting force of the cable and transmitted again as the operating force of the front wheel in order to transmit the operation of the handle by the user to the front wheel. Modules have been proposed. By applying such a cable steering module to a folding bicycle, a frame configuration in which the handle and the front wheel are separated can be realized.

  However, the folding bicycle disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses a cable to transmit the operation of the handle to the front wheels. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately transmit the detailed operation of the handle by the user to the front wheels, and there remains a problem in operability when the folding bicycle is running.

  In addition, if the cable is disconnected for any reason, it will not be possible to change the direction of travel of the folded bicycle.Therefore, measures such as increasing the radial length of the cable and arranging the cable to bend as much as possible are provided. It is necessary to consider ensuring reliability. However, in a bicycle having a folding function, the cable may hinder the folding operation, and the operability during folding may be impaired. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the cable is bent and disconnected at the time of folding.

  On the other hand, the present invention does not use a cable to transmit the operation of the handle 5 to the front wheel 2. Therefore, the above-described problem of Patent Document 1 cannot occur.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Folding bicycle 2 ... Front wheel 3 ... Rear wheel 4 ... Saddle 5 ... Handle 5a ... Right hand side handle 5b ... Left hand side handle 6 ... First frame 6a .... First shaft 6b ... Second shaft 7 ... Second frame 8 ... Linking part 8a ... First shaft part 8b ... Second shaft part 9 ... Link part 9a ... First link portion 9b ... second link portion 10 ... damper 10a ... first damper 10b ... second damper 10c ... elastic member 11 ... pedal 12 ... chain 12a .... First chain 12b ... Second chain 13a ... Pedal side sprocket 13b ... Rear wheel side sprocket 13c ... Coupling sprocket 14 ... Rotating shaft center conversion member 15 ... Front wheel shaft

Claims (9)

Front and rear wheels,
A saddle that the user can sit on,
A handle for determining a traveling direction by the user's operation;
A first frame provided with the front wheel on one longitudinal side and the saddle on the other longitudinal side;
A second frame provided with the rear wheel on one longitudinal side and the handle on the other longitudinal side;
A foldable bicycle comprising a linkage portion for linking the first frame and the second frame,
The front wheel, the first frame, and the saddle, and the rear wheel, the second frame, and the handle have a substantially X shape in a side view of the folding bicycle,
The handle is composed of a right hand side handle and a left hand side handle,
The right hand side handle and the left hand side handle rotate with respect to the second frame, so that the right hand side handle, the left hand side handle and the first frame overlap in a side view of the folding bicycle. bicycle.   The linkage portion has a traveling direction length of the folding bicycle by rotating the second frame relative to the first frame with the linkage portion as a rotation center so as to reduce the distance between the front wheel and the rear wheel. The folding bicycle according to claim 1, wherein a certain total length can be shortened. The outer peripheral surface of the second frame is provided by being sandwiched between the right hand side handle and the left hand side handle,
Pulling the right hand side handle to the user side and turning the left hand side handle away from the user side to turn the traveling direction to the right,
The folding bicycle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the left hand side handle is pulled toward the user side, and the right hand side handle is pulled away from the user side to turn the traveling direction leftward. The linkage portion has a first shaft portion that passes through the first frame and the second frame,
The first shaft portion supports the second frame so as to be rotatable relative to the first frame with the first shaft portion as a rotation center,
The second frame has a second shaft portion through which the second frame and the handle are inserted,
The folding bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second shaft portion rotatably supports the handle. The first frame has a first shaft that is provided with the saddle and the linkage portion and has a cylindrical shape, and a second shaft that is inserted through a cylinder of the first shaft and is provided with the front wheel,
The folding bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a link portion that relatively moves the second shaft and the front wheel with respect to the first shaft to transmit the operation of the handle to the front wheel. .   6. The damper according to claim 1, wherein the first frame and the second frame are each provided with a damper that reduces vibration transmitted from the rear wheel to the saddle at a position closer to the rear wheel than the linkage portion. Folding bicycle as described in The first frame and the second frame include a damper that reduces vibration transmitted from the rear wheel to the saddle at a position closer to the rear wheel than the linkage portion.
The damper includes a first damper provided in the first frame between the linkage part and the saddle, and a second damper provided in the second frame between the linkage part and the rear wheel. Consists of
By rotating the second frame relative to the first frame with the linkage portion as a rotation center, the first damper and the second damper are brought into a contact or non-contact state. The folding bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The second frame is provided with a pedal for transmitting a rotational force to the rear wheel when the user rotates manually, and a chain for transmitting the rotational force of the pedal to the rear wheel. ,
The chain includes a first chain and a second chain, and the second frame between the rear wheel and the pedal is provided with a linkage sprocket that links the first chain and the second chain. Item 8. The folding bicycle according to any one of items 1 to 7.   The folding bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein one of the front wheel and the rear wheel is a single wheel, and the other of the front wheel and the rear wheel is a two-wheel vehicle.

Images