TW202140317A - Cargo bike - Google Patents

Abstract

Cargo bike comprising a collapsible frame, the collapsible frame being adjustable between an elongate state in which the collapsible frame positions a front and rear wheel of the cargo bike at a first distance along a longitudinal axis of the cargo bike, and a collapsed state in which the collapsible frame positions the front and rear wheel at a second, smaller distance along the longitudinal axis of the cargo bike, a cargo holder for holding cargo that comprises a face that extends substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis, and wherein in the collapsed state of the collapsible frame at least one of the wheels extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bike and at least partially overlaps with the transversely extending face.

Description

Cargo bike

The present invention relates to a cargo bicycle, in particular, a cargo bicycle with a foldable frame.

Cargo bicycles are generally known and include a frame that positions a front wheel and a rear wheel of the cargo bicycle at a distance along a longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle. Typically, a cargo bicycle includes a cargo holder, which is used, for example, to hold and/or transport cargo and/or people, especially children, in a convenient manner. Generally, the cargo holder includes a side extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle, such as the transverse side or bottom surface of the cargo holder. Compared with, for example, conventional two-wheeled vehicles or three-wheeled vehicles, the cargo holder makes the cargo bicycle relatively large. Cargo bicycles usually include two-wheel and three-wheel configurations. In the case of a three-wheel configuration (such as a tricycle), for example, two front wheels are provided on either side of the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle on the respective longitudinal sides of the cargo holder, and the frame is pressed along the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle Position the front wheels at a distance from the rear wheels. In addition, cargo bicycles usually include a drive train for driving the bicycle, a pedal connected to a crankshaft for engaging the drive train, a seat cushion configuration for the user to sit on, and a seat for making the cargo bicycle Turn to one of the steering configurations. Although, as mentioned above, the cargo bicycle is convenient, for example, for transporting goods and/or people/children, it is known that the underside of the cargo bicycle is relatively large, which causes parking and storage problems for the cargo bicycle.

In order to alleviate the disadvantages, a cargo bicycle with a stackable frame has been proposed in the past, which is designed to stack between an extended state and a folded state. Compared with the extended state, in the folded state, the frame usually positions the front and rear wheels at a smaller distance along the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle. This may be desirable for facilitating the parking and/or storage of cargo bicycles.

Although known cargo bicycles with a stackable frame can be quite satisfactory for holding/transporting goods and/or persons/children, it has been found that the compactness of the cargo bicycle in the folded state necessitates something. In particular, it has proved difficult in practice to provide a cargo bicycle with an easy-to-handle stackable frame that is appropriately compact in the folded state.

The present invention aims to alleviate one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a cargo bicycle with a foldable frame that has improved parking and/or storage capabilities while maintaining a user-friendly foldable structure.

To this end, the present invention provides a cargo bicycle comprising: a foldable frame that can be adjusted between an extended state and a folded state, in the extended state, the foldable frame runs along the cargo A longitudinal axis of the bicycle positions a front wheel and a rear wheel of the cargo bicycle at a first distance, and in the folded state, the foldable frame is positioned at a second smaller distance along the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle The front wheel and the rear wheel; a cargo holder for holding cargo, which includes a surface extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis, and wherein in the folded state of the foldable frame, at least one of the wheels One extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle, and at least partially overlaps the transversely extending surface.

By allowing at least one of the wheels to extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle and at least partially overlap the transversely extending surface of the cargo holder, the related wheels can be conveniently placed sideways. In particular, the laterally extending surface (such as a lateral side or bottom surface of the cargo holder) may provide a space for at least partially accommodating the relevant wheel, preferably a section of the wheel, such as the One of the rounds is fan-shaped.

In the context of this application, a wheel extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle should be understood to mean that one side of the wheel extends substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle. This side can specifically imply a round side of the wheel. In the context of this application, the term "lateral extension" can be considered to mean spanning extension, that is, deviations at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle should be within the scope. For example, when the wheel or surface extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle, it can diverge from the right angle to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle by -30 degrees to 30 degrees, preferably, less than -20 Degrees to 20 degrees, such as -10 degrees to 10 degrees. Also, in the context of this application, the term "partially overlaps with" should be interpreted as a part of the wheel or a part of the wheel support structure (especially, a pillar) placed on the laterally extending surface . In particular, the wheel or part of the wheel surface may extend along the lateral side of the cargo holder, for example, and follow the inclination of the lateral side of the cargo holder. That is, the part of the wheel or surface may, for example, extend substantially parallel to the (inclined) lateral side of the cargo holder. In this way, in the folded state, the wheel or a lower part of the wheel surface can extend under the bottom surface of the cargo holder. As a result, the wheel can be stowed even more conveniently.

Preferably, a locking mechanism is provided for releasably securing the relevant wheel in an end position of the folded state, for example, the part of the wheel and/or the wheel support structure overlapping the laterally extending surface can be secured To the locking mechanism. Thereby, the related wheel can be conveniently fastened to the side and released to return to the extended state.

If in the folded state of the frame, the hub of the at least one wheel that at least partially overlaps the laterally extending surface is substantially within an envelope defined by the lateral boundary of the cargo bicycle, the lateral direction of the hub can be offset. The cargo bicycle protrudes. Preferably, the hub is within an envelope bounded by a quarter of the distance between the lateral borders extending on either side of the longitudinal axis. In this way, it can be achieved that a substantial part of the wheel is within the envelope defined by the lateral boundaries of the cargo bicycle, which in turn can result in a more compact cargo bicycle in the folded state. The lateral boundary is defined by, for example, the longitudinal sides of the cargo holder, or in the case of a tricycle, for example, by the sides or planes of symmetry of the front wheels extending along the longitudinal sides of the cargo holder.

When in the folded state of the frame, the hub of the at least one wheel at least partially overlapping the laterally extending surface is located at or near the longitudinal axis, in particular, near or near the plane of symmetry of the cargo holder Along the plane of symmetry, it may be helpful for the wheel to protrude even less transversely to the cargo bike. Therefore, the configuration can be made even more compact in this folded state.

By hinge-connecting at least a part of the foldable frame (especially, the wheel support structure of the cargo bicycle) to the foldable frame so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis, there may be Helps pivot the related wheels to extend substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle. In particular, connecting the wheel support structure (such as a wheel support) by a hinge can help to place the wheel support structure on the laterally extending surface. The wheel support structure or so-called wheel strut may include a seat stay and/or chain stay. Preferably, a pillar hinge is provided to allow at least a part of the foldable frame to pivot relative to the foldable frame. In this way, a relatively simple foldable structure can be achieved.

Therefore, a cargo bicycle is described, which includes a foldable frame that can be adjusted between an extended state and a folded state as described above, and further includes a cargo holder that is substantially transverse to The side of the cargo bicycle on which the longitudinal axis extends, wherein in the folded state of the foldable frame, at least one of the wheels extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle and is at least partially aligned with the transverse extension The faces overlap. In particular, when at least a part of the wheel support structure of the cargo bicycle as part of the foldable frame is linked to the rest of the foldable frame, the part of the wheel support structure and/or the wheel strut can be conveniently Pivoting about a pivot axis, the pivot axis extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle. In this way, the part of the wheel support structure and/or the wheel strut can be folded toward the transversely extending surface of the cargo holder, so that the respective front wheel and/or the rear wheel in the folded state are at least partly connected to the The laterally extending surfaces overlap, thus allowing the respective front wheel and/or the rear wheel to be conveniently placed sideways, especially with at least a part of the wheel support structure such as the cushion pillar and/or chainstay. Therefore, a particularly compact configuration can be achieved in the folded state, which is accessible and relatively easy to adjust between the extended state and the folded state. In this way, the cargo bicycle can conveniently be equipped with typical bicycle wheels (ie, relatively ordinary, commercially available wheels), and have a nominal rim and tire size (such as according to the European Tire and Rim Technology Organization (ETRTO) The standard tires are approximately 559 mm, 590 mm, 622 mm or 635 mm). Thus, the cargo bicycle provided with a part of the wheel support structure hingedly connected to the rest of the foldable frame can be equipped with typical wheels that are beneficial to the riding comfort of the cargo bicycle in the extended state, while maintaining One of the folded states is particularly compact, which is relatively easy to handle and adjust between the respective extended state and the folded state. In particular, the part of the wheel support structure may be hingedly connected via at least one hinge (for example, provided on a chainstay member, an upper fork member and/or a fork member of the wheel support structure). That is, the at least one hinge is provided on the wheel support structure, a connection of a wheel suspension and, for example, a crank axle and/or the wheel support structure to the rest of the foldable frame (such as a seat tube or main pipe) between.

When at least a part of the foldable frame (preferably, the entire frame) can pivot about a horizontal axis, in the extended state, the horizontal axis extends substantially along the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle, which can help The related wheel is pivoted to extend substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle. In the context of this application, the term "extends along" shall be interpreted as meaning parallel to or coincide with the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle, for example.

If the foldable frame includes a base portion and a telescopic portion that is slidable relative to the base portion along the longitudinal axis and vice versa between the extended state and the folded state, the telescopic portion can be allowed to slide in And slide out the base part. In this way, in this folded state, a relatively compact structure can be obtained. By arranging the base part as a sleeve tube around the telescopic part, so that the telescopic part can slide through the base part, a relatively simple structure for folding the frame can be realized. Preferably, the base part is slidable relative to another sleeve provided on the cargo holder, so that the base part can telescopically slide with respect to the cargo holder along the longitudinal axis. This allows a particularly compact construction in the folded state of the cargo bicycle.

By providing a first hinge connecting a first part of the foldable frame to a second part, the two parts can be stacked toward each other. If the first hinge can be locked in the respective extended and folded states, a relatively stable structure of the cargo bicycle can be realized in the two respective states. Preferably, the first hinge is located under a bottom surface of the cargo holder. That is, the first hinge is preferably located in an envelope defined by the boundary of the bottom surface of the cargo holder. By positioning the first hinge under the bottom surface, it can help to conveniently store the two parts under the bottom surface of the cargo bicycle in the folded state.

By further providing a second hinge connecting the second part of the foldable frame to a third part, and wherein the second hinge can be locked in the extended state and the folded state, respectively, there may be This helps the individual parts to be folded towards each other, just like an accordion. In this way, a particularly compact structure can be achieved in this folded state. In particular, when the first hinge and the second hinge are placed so as to allow at least two parts of the foldable frame to partially extend along each other in the folded state.

If a drive train of the cargo bicycle includes a toothed belt for power transmission in the drive train, a flexible structure of the drive train that can be stacked can be achieved. This is particularly useful in combination with the pivotable part of the foldable frame (especially a wheel support structure) because it allows a part of the drive train to pivot together with the pivotable part. A toothed belt guide block can be placed, for example, near the pillar hinge or as part of the pillar hinge to guide the toothed belt and facilitate the pleating of the toothed belt, for example, around the pillar hinge .

When a seat tube of the cargo bicycle for accommodating a seat and/or seatpost is fixed to the pivotable part (in particular, the wheel support structure) of the cargo bicycle so that it can be together with the foldable frame or in relation to the foldable frame When the foldable frame is pivoted, a particularly simple and delicate structure can be achieved, which allows the seat and related wheels to be conveniently stowed along the lateral side or bottom surface of the cargo holder. This helps to facilitate the use of the foldable frame while maintaining or improving the compactness of the cargo bicycle in the folded state.

If a seat tube of the cargo bicycle for storing a seat and/or seatpost is hinged to the foldable frame, the seat tube can be in a stacking position (where the seat tube is closer to the cargo holder) A plane extending under the lateral bottom surface and substantially parallel to the lateral bottom surface) and a stacking position (where the seat tube is located farther away from the plane, in particular, so that the seat tube extends substantially vertically to the plane. The provision of folding between the seat cushion configuration in the extended state of the foldable frame can further facilitate the folding of the foldable frame under the bottom surface of the cargo holder in the folded state . Thus, in the folded state, the seat tube including the seat and/or the seat post can substantially extend under the bottom surface of the cargo holder. In this way, a particularly delicate and compact structure can be achieved in the folded state. Preferably, a quick locking mechanism is provided, for example, on the cargo bicycle or on the seatpost, which allows simple lowering and raising of the seat height. In this way, it is relatively easy to adjust the seat tube and the seat assembly between a lowered state and an elevated state, for example, while considering the user's preferred use height for the seat.

If in the folded state, substantially all of the foldable frame is retracted by a surface extending along the cargo holder transverse to the longitudinal axis (such as the lateral side and bottom surface of the cargo holder), and the foldable frame Substantially within the envelope defined by the lateral boundary of the cargo bicycle, the part of the foldable frame protruding outside the envelope can be offset. Thus, in this folded state, a particularly delicate and compact structure can be obtained.

Another disadvantage of conventional cargo bicycles with or without a stackable frame is that they should not leave unnoticeable goods and/or persons/children in the cargo holder, for example, when doing business or during shopping. The present invention further aims to alleviate this shortcoming of conventional cargo bicycles. In particular, the present invention aims to provide a cargo bicycle with a foldable frame, which can be carried relatively easily when in a folded state.

As mentioned above, the at least one wheel of the cargo bicycle arranged in the folded state of the foldable frame is placed along the laterally extending surface and to the laterally extending surface, so that the at least one wheel is at least partially Overlap with the laterally extending surface, allowing the relevant wheels to be placed sideways. In addition, by placing relevant wheels along the laterally extending surface (such as the lateral side or bottom surface of the cargo holder) and onto the laterally extending surface, it allows a user to relatively easily move on the lateral surface of the cargo bicycle. It positions itself substantially squarely behind the side. Thus, the cargo bicycle in the folded state can be easily used as a cart. In this way, the goods and/or persons/children do not have to be removed from the goods holder, for example, when doing business or during shopping. This saves a lot of time and haste, especially when taking children. Purchased goods (for example, groceries) can be easily transported in the cargo holder, even with people/children. After shopping, the cargo bicycle can be converted back to a riding state relatively easily, and can be ridden relatively quickly. This can save a lot of time and energy.

If the cargo bicycle further includes at least one support member supported on the frame and/or the cargo holder for supporting the cargo bicycle on a surface (especially, the ground), a relatively simple structure can be achieved relatively easily And the structure is stable, especially, in this folded state.

When the cargo bicycle includes a retractable assembly for the at least one support member, a relatively simple structure can be provided for relatively easy storage of the at least one support member, for example, when riding, or for stability Lower it, for example, in the folded state, the collapsible assembly can shrink in a contracted state and lower the at least one support in a direction of the frame and/or the cargo holder. It is used to support the cargo bicycle on a surface and adjust between a supporting state.

When the at least one support includes a wheel or is formed of a wheel, in particular, a swivel wheel, the cargo bicycle can be displaced relatively easily and stably in the folded state. This is particularly useful when the cargo bicycle is used as a cart in the folded state.

In the figures, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The drawings are only schematic representations of embodiments of the present invention given by way of non-limiting exemplary embodiments.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a cargo bicycle 1 in a folded state II. The foldable cargo bicycle 1 includes a foldable frame 2. The foldable frame can be adjusted between an extended state I and a folded state II. In the extended state I, the foldable frame 2 presses a first distance L1 along a longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1 (see Figure 3) The front wheel 3 and the rear wheel 4 of the cargo bicycle 1 are positioned. In the folded state II, the foldable frame 2 positions the front wheel 3 and the rear wheel 4 along the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1 at a second smaller distance L2. The cargo bicycle 1 includes a cargo holder 6 for holding cargo. The cargo holder 6 includes a side 7 extending substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1, such as the transverse side 7a or the bottom surface 7b of the cargo holder 6. This exemplary embodiment is a tricycle, so that the cargo bicycle 1 includes two front wheels 3 placed along the longitudinal sides 8 of the cargo holder 6. The two-wheel configuration is shown in FIG. 6 and discussed in more detail later, in which a single front wheel 3 is placed at or near an opposite end of the cargo holder 6 with respect to the rear wheel 4. The front wheel 3 can be arranged on the cargo holder 6, the foldable frame 2 or the wheel support structure 9 of the cargo bicycle, for example. In this exemplary embodiment, the front wheel 3 is configured on a wheel support structure 9 connected to the cargo holder 6.

Here, in the folded state II of the foldable frame 2 of FIG. 1, the rear wheel 4 extends transversely to the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1, and at least partially overlaps the transversely extending surface 7, that is, for the rear wheel The wheel support structure 9 of 4 is placed on the lateral side 7a. The cargo bicycle 1 further includes a locking mechanism 10 for releasably securing the rear wheel 4 in an end position of the folded state II on the laterally extending surface 7.

The wheel support structure 9 of the cargo bicycle 1 for the rear wheel 4 is hingedly connected to the foldable frame 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the wheel support structure 9 for the rear wheel 4 is connected to the foldable frame 2 by a pillar hinge 11. Here, the pillar hinge 11 is provided on a chainstay member (lower part), and the wheel support structure 9 is connected to the rest of the foldable frame 2 via the pillar hinge 11. Alternatively, the strut hinge may be provided on the seat stay (upper part) or both the seat stay and the lower rear filling part. That is, the pillar hinge 11 couples the chainstay hinge to a main pipe of the frame as the remaining part of the foldable frame 2. The pillar hinge is positioned between the one-wheel suspension of the rear wheel 4 and the crankshaft of the cargo bicycle 1. Additionally or alternatively, the wheel support structure 9 for the rear wheels 4 may be included by the foldable frame 2 or form part of the foldable frame 2 so that a part of the foldable frame 2 can pivot relative to the foldable frame 2. Here, in the folded state II, the wheel support structure 9 is pivoted about the pillar hinge 11 with respect to the foldable frame 2 so that the rear wheel 4 at least partially overlaps the lateral side 7a. The pillar hinge 11 defines a substantially vertical axis 12 that extends substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1. Preferably, the vertical axis 12 of the pillar hinge 11 extends substantially parallel to the lateral side 7a of the cargo holder 6, so that at least a part of the wheel overlaps the lateral side 7a in the folded state.

In this exemplary embodiment, the front wheel 3 and the rear wheel 4 of the cargo bicycle 1 are provided as typical wheels, that is, relatively common, commercially available wheels and have a nominal rim and according to the European Tire and Rim Technical Organization ( ETRTO) standard tires with a tire size of 635 mm. However, any common, commercially available wheel can be provided, for example, with a nominal rim and a tire size between approximately 406 mm and 642 mm, such as approximately 559 mm, 590 mm, and 622 mm.

The cargo bicycle 1 includes a first hinge 13 that hinges a first part 14 of the foldable frame 2 to a second part 15, which can be seen more clearly in FIG. 4 and described later. The first hinge 13 is located under a bottom surface 7b of the cargo holder 6. The seat tube 19 of the cargo bicycle 1 for storing a seat 20 and/or a seatpost is fixed to the wheel support structure 9 of the cargo bicycle 1. The seat tube 19 and the wheel support structure 9 can pivot together with respect to the foldable frame 2.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the cargo bicycle 1 in the folded state II of the foldable frame 2. The wheel support structure 9 for the rear wheel 4 forms part of the foldable frame 2. A hub 16 of the rear wheel 4 that at least partially overlaps the bottom surface 7b of the cargo holder 6 is substantially within an envelope 17 defined by the lateral boundary of the cargo bicycle 1. As can be seen in Figure 2, the lateral boundary may be defined by the longitudinal side 8 of the cargo holder 6 (ie, the envelope 17'), or by the plane of the front wheel 3 extending along the side 8 (envelope 17). Here, the hub 16 of the rear wheel 4 is in an envelope 17". The envelope 17" is defined by a quarter of the distance between the lateral borders extending on either side of the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1. In addition, the hub 16 of the rear wheel 4 is located near the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle coincides with the plane of symmetry of the cargo holder 6.

Referring to FIG. 2, at least a part of the foldable frame 2 can pivot about a horizontal axis 18 which extends substantially along the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1 in the extended state of the foldable frame 2. Here, the foldable frame 2 can pivot about a quarter turn around the horizontal axis 18, for example, by being provided in the form of one or more baffles provided on the foldable frame 2, which restricts the movement around the horizontal axis 18 Mobile (not shown). The seat tube 19 of the foldable frame 2 for accommodating a seat 20 and/or a seatpost is fixed to the wheel support structure 9 of the foldable frame 2 and also forms a part of the frame 2. The seat tube 19 and the wheel support structure 9 can pivot together with the foldable frame 2.

The foldable frame 2 includes a base portion 21 and a telescopic portion 22 that can slide relative to the base portion 21 between the extended state I and the folded state II along the longitudinal axis 5. Conversely, the telescopic portion 22 can slide along the longitudinal axis 5 from the folded state II to the extended state I. The base portion 21 is configured as a sleeve tube around the telescopic portion 22 so that the telescopic portion 22 can slide through the base portion 21. Furthermore, the base part 21 is slidable relative to another sleeve 23 provided on the cargo holder, so that the base part can telescopically slide with respect to the cargo holder along the longitudinal axis. In this embodiment, the cargo bicycle 1 includes a drive train 24 including a chain 25 for driving the drive train 24. Alternatively, for example, a toothed belt may be included for driving the drive train 24, or the drive train 24 may include a drive shaft that directly cooperates with a driven shaft. In the latter case, the drive shaft and the driven shaft can be adjusted, for example, between a coupled state in which they are in direct contact with each other and a decoupled state in which they are decoupled and spaced apart. In this way, in the decoupled state, the drive shaft and the driven shaft can pivot relative to each other together with one of the pivotable parts of the foldable frame 2 (in particular, the wheel support structure 9).

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the cargo bicycle 1 in an extended state I. The foldable frame 2 positions the front wheel 3 and the rear wheel 4 of the cargo bicycle 1 along the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1 at a first distance L1. The cargo bicycle 1 includes two front wheels 3, which are rotatably mounted to a cargo holder 6 via a wheel support structure 9. The steering control 26 (especially, the handlebar) is provided on the cargo holder 6. The pivotable steering mechanism 27 of the cargo bicycle 1 pivotally connects the foldable frame 2 to the cargo holder 6. The seat tube 19 of the cargo bicycle 1 is hingedly connected to the foldable frame 2. A tube hinge 28 is provided to it. The seat tube 19 is in a stacking-out position α. In the stacking-out position α, the seat tube 19 is positioned farther away from a plane extending under the bottom surface 7b of the cargo holder 6 and substantially parallel to the bottom surface 7b, in particular, The seat tube 19 is made to extend substantially vertically to the plane to provide a seat cushion configuration in the extended state I of the foldable frame 2. A locking member c is provided for releasably securing the seat tube in the stacking-out position α. The locking member c also serves as a locking mechanism for releasably securing the first hinge 13 in the respective extended state I and the folded state II. Furthermore, a fastening mechanism d is provided for releasably fastening the wheel support structure 9 of the rear wheel 4 to the foldable frame 2. Additionally or alternatively, a fastening mechanism d may be provided for releasably fastening the seat tube 19 to the wheel support structure 9 of the rear wheel 4. In particular, the fastening mechanism d can be controlled by a switch (not shown) provided on the seat tube 19. A quick locking mechanism b is provided for lowering and raising the seat 20 relatively quickly. In this way, it is relatively easy to adjust the assembly of the seat tube 19 and the seat 20 between a lowered state and an elevated state, for example, while considering the user's preferred height of use of the seat 20. In particular, the lowering and/or raising of the seat 20 can be used to conveniently control the switch provided on the seat tube 19. Additionally or alternatively, a handle a can be conveniently provided at or near the seat 20 to operate the quick lock mechanism b for lowering and raising the seat 20 (see FIG. 3).

Additionally or alternatively, the pivotable steering mechanism 27 may be configured to include a steering linkage group having one or more control rods, a rocker, and a steering rod connected to each of the front wheels 3 or A steering shaft with a pinion that cooperates with the steering rack of the front wheel 3. In this latter case, the steering rack is connected to each front wheel 3 via a separate pivot point. Each front wheel 3 mounted on the cargo holder 6 (for example, via a wheel support structure 9) is configured to pivot about a vertical axis that extends substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1 to allow it Steering. In the case of the steerable front wheel 3, a pivot locking mechanism (not shown) for releasably fastening the cargo holder 6 to the foldable frame 2 may be provided, for example, to lock the cargo bicycle 1 in the extended state I.

In this exemplary embodiment, the front wheel 3 and the rear wheel 4 of the cargo bicycle 1 are provided as typical wheels, that is, relatively common, commercially available wheels and have a nominal rim and according to the European Tire and Rim Technical Organization ( ETRTO) standard tires with a tire size of 622 mm. However, any common, commercially available wheel can be provided, for example, with a nominal rim and a tire size between approximately 406 mm and 642 mm, such as approximately 559 mm, 590 mm, and 622 mm.

Fig. 4 shows a simplified schematic top view of the cargo bicycle 1 of Fig. 3 in the folded state II. Here, it can be seen that the pivotable steering mechanism 27 acts as a second hinge that hinges the first part 14 of the foldable frame 2 to the cargo holder 6. The first part 14 and the second part 15 are folded toward each other. In particular, the first hinge 13 and the second hinge in the form of a pivotable steering mechanism 27 are placed so that the first part 14 and the second part 15 of the foldable frame 2 partially extend across each other in the folded state II . Additionally or alternatively, the cargo bicycle 1 may include a second hinge that hinges the second part 15 of the foldable frame 2 to a third part, wherein the second hinge can be locked in respective extended and folded states (Not shown). For example, this can be advantageously implemented in a two-wheeled cargo bicycle 1 to achieve the same result.

In FIGS. 4-6, the seat tube 19 including the seat and the seatpost is in the folded position β. In the folded position β, the seat tube 19 is positioned closer to a plane extending under the bottom surface 7b of the cargo holder 6 and substantially parallel to the bottom surface 7b. As shown, in the folded state II of the foldable frame 2, the seat tube 19 in the folded position β extends under the bottom surface of the cargo holder 6 and within the envelope 17 defined by the lateral boundary of the cargo bicycle 1 (Image 6). In an exemplary embodiment, the seat tube hinge 28 is inclined relative to the foldable frame 2 such that in the folded position β, the seat tube 19 is offset from the foldable frame 2. However, it is also possible to provide a seat tube hinge 28 substantially transverse to the foldable frame 2 so that in the folded position β, the seat tube 19 substantially extends along the foldable frame 2. Preferably, the seat tube hinge 28 is configured such that in the folded position β, the seat tube 19 including the seat and/or the seatpost is within the envelope 17 defined by the lateral boundary of the cargo bicycle 1. More preferably, in the folded state II of the foldable frame 2 and the folded position β of the seat tube 19, the seat tube 19 including the seat and/or the seat post is under the bottom surface 7b of the cargo holder 6. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the drive train 24 of the cargo bicycle 1 includes a toothed belt 29 for power transmission in the drive train 24. The toothed belt 29 is partially folded around the pillar hinge 11. There, the pillar hinge 11 may be provided with a guide block (not shown) to safely guide the toothed belt 29 between an operating state and a folded state in a manner known to the skilled person. .

Fig. 5 shows a simplified schematic side view of the cargo bicycle 1 of Fig. 3 in the folded state II including a retractable support wheel assembly 30. A collapsible assembly 30 for at least one support 31 (especially a caster) is mounted to the cargo holder 6. The collapsible assembly 30 is in a supporting state Ia in which at least one support 31 is lowered for supporting the cargo bicycle 1 on a surface. The retractable assembly 30 can be adjusted to a retracted state in which the at least one support member is retracted in one direction of the foldable frame 2 and/or the cargo holder 6 (not shown).

As in other embodiments, in the folded state II of the foldable frame 2, the rear wheel 4 is placed sideways. Here, the steering control 26 (especially, the handlebar) can be accessed by a user for pushing the cargo bicycle 1 as a cart.

Figure 6 shows a simplified schematic top view of a fourth embodiment (in particular, a two-wheel configuration) of the cargo bicycle 1 in the folded state II. In the folded state II, the foldable frame 2 positions the front wheel 3 and the rear wheel 4 along the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1 by a distance L2. Here, the front wheel 3 is provided in front of the lateral side 7a of the cargo holder 6 to allow space for pivoting the front wheel 3 with respect to the foldable frame 2. There, a wheel support structure 9 (especially, a front fork) for supporting the front wheel 3 is pivotally arranged on the foldable frame 2. The hub 16 of the front wheel 3 is rotatably mounted to the wheel support structure 9 of the front wheel 3. The steering control 26 (especially the handlebar) is connected to the wheel support structure 9 of the front wheel 3 via a pivotable steering mechanism 27 in a manner known to the skilled person. In this way, the front wheels 3 can be steered by the steering control 26.

The wheel support structure 9 of the rear wheel 4 is hingedly connected to the foldable frame 2 via a pillar hinge 11. As can be seen in FIG. 6, in the folded state II of the foldable frame 2, the rear wheel 4 extends substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1 and at least partially overlaps the transversely extending surface 7. In addition, the hub 16 of the rear wheel 4 at least partially overlapping the laterally extending surface 7 is substantially inside the envelope 17 defined by the lateral boundary of the cargo bicycle 1. Preferably, the hub 16 of the rear wheel 4 is within an envelope 17' defined by a quarter of the distance between the lateral boundaries extending on either side of the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1 to allow the Compact structure in state. The drive train 24 includes a toothed belt 29 to realize the pivoting of the wheel support structure 9 of the rear wheel 4.

In this embodiment, the base portion 21 of the foldable frame 2 is configured as a sleeve around the telescopic portion 22 of the foldable frame 2 so that the telescopic portion 22 can slide through the base portion 21. The telescopic portion 22 is slidable relative to the base portion 21 along the longitudinal axis 5 between the extended state I and the folded state II and between the folded state II and the extended state I. A locking mechanism can be provided that locks the foldable frame 2 in each of the respective extended state I and the folded state II. In order to slide the foldable frame 2 to the extended state I, the telescopic part 22 slides out of the base part 21. Subsequently, the seat tube 19 is vertically folded around the seat tube hinge 28 to the folded out position α, and then the wheel support structure 9 and the rear wheel 4 are pivoted around the pillar hinge 11 to extend along the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1 . Preferably, the wheel support structure 9 of the rear wheel 4 is fastened to the foldable frame 2 by a fastening mechanism. Preferably, the two-wheel configuration of the cargo bicycle 1 also includes a retractable support assembly 30 having a support wheel 31 to provide stability in the folded state II of the foldable frame 2. In this case, the cargo bicycle 1 in the folded state II of the frame can be operated as a cart with a steerable front wheel 3.

Additionally or alternatively, in the folded state II, the front wheel 3 may extend transversely to the longitudinal axis 5 of the cargo bicycle 1 and at least partially overlap the transversely extending surface 7. In this way, the front wheel 3 can be folded, and a side surface of the front wheel 3 and/or the wheel support structure 9 of the front wheel 3 can be placed at least partially along the laterally extending surface 7. In this case, another collapsible support assembly 30 with support wheels 31 may be provided to allow the cargo bicycle 1 in the folded state II of the foldable frame 2 to be used as a cart.

In FIGS. 3 to 6, the pillar hinge 11 is provided on the chainstay parts (upper and lower), and the wheel support structure 9 is connected to the rest of the foldable frame 2 via the pillar hinge 11. That is, the pillar hinge 11 couples the seat stay and the chain stay hinge to the rest of the foldable frame 2. The pillar hinge is positioned between a hub of the rear wheel 4 and a seat tube of the cargo bicycle 1. By positioning the pillar hinge further toward the hub, it can be achieved that in the folded state of the foldable frame, at least one of the wheels extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle and at least partially overlaps the transversely extending surface. Thus, in the folded state, a compact structure can be realized, and in particular, it is relatively easy to handle and adjust between the respective extended state and the folded state. Alternatively, the wheel support structure 9 may include, for example, only one chainstay member or a seatstay member (that is, no seatstay member or underfill member respectively), or a fork head of the front wheel through A pillar hinge hinge is coupled to the rest of the foldable frame.

It will be obvious to the skilled person that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown here. Many changes are possible. For example, the foldable cargo bicycle may be equipped with a burner including an electric motor and a battery and/or an electrical system for carrying the cargo in one or both of the cargo bicycle mode and the cart mode. The bicycle provides power and/or assistance. For example, the drive train may be configured to drive the front wheels. In addition, the cargo holder (especially, the bottom surface of the cargo holder) may include a recessed section, for example, an improved cargo space or a raised section, for example, to provide a seat in the cargo holder Mat configuration. In addition, the cargo holder can be detachably provided on the frame of the cargo bicycle, so that the cargo holder can be decoupled from the cargo bicycle. In addition, the cargo bicycle may have suspensions, in particular, seatposts, front and/or rear suspensions. Suspension is often used to compensate for the roughness of the terrain. For example, these wheels can be provided as typical wheels, that is, relatively ordinary, commercially available wheels, and have a nominal rim and tire size (for example, according to the European Tire and Rim Technology Organization (ETRTO) standard, In the range of approximately 406 mm to 642 mm, such as approximately 559 mm, 590 mm, 622 mm, or 622 mm) tires. Such changes should be obvious to the skilled person, and are considered to belong to the scope of the present invention as defined in the scope of the appended application.

1: Cargo bike 2: Foldable frame 3: front wheel 4: rear wheel 5: Longitudinal axis 6: Cargo holder 7: The laterally extending surface of the cargo holder 7a: The lateral side of the cargo holder 7b: The bottom of the cargo holder 8: The longitudinal side of the cargo holder 9: Wheel support structure 10: Locking mechanism 11: Pillar hinge 12: vertical axis 13: The first hinge 14: The first part of the foldable frame 15: The second part of the foldable frame 16: Wheel hub 17: The envelope defined by the lateral boundary of the cargo bicycle 17': Envelope defined by the lateral boundary of the cargo holder 17'': An envelope bounded by a quarter of the distance between the lateral borders extending on either side of the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle 18: Horizontal axis 19: seat tube 20: Seat 21: The base part of the foldable frame 22: The telescopic part of the foldable frame 23: additional casing 24: Drive system 25: chain 26: Steering control 27: Pivotable steering mechanism 28: seat tube hinge 29: Toothed belt 30: Shrinkable support assembly 31: Support/Self-aligning wheel I: The extended state of the foldable frame II: The folded state of the foldable frame Ia: The support state of the retractable support assembly α: The stacking position of the seat tube β: Folding position of seat tube L1: The first distance along the longitudinal axis L2: The second distance along the longitudinal axis a: The handle used to operate the quick lock mechanism b: Quick lock mechanism c: Locking member d: Fastening mechanism

The present invention will be further explained based on the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. In the scheme: Figure 1 shows a simplified schematic side view of a first embodiment of a cargo bicycle according to the invention in a folded state; Figure 2 shows a simplified schematic top view of a second embodiment of a cargo bicycle in a folded state; Figure 3 shows a simplified schematic side view of a third embodiment of a cargo bicycle in an extended state; Figure 4 shows a simplified schematic top view of the cargo bicycle of Figure 3 in a folded state; Figure 5 shows a simplified schematic side view of the cargo bicycle of Figure 3 in a folded state with a retractable support wheel assembly; Figure 6 shows a simplified schematic top view of a fourth embodiment of a cargo bicycle in a folded state.

1: Cargo bike

2: Foldable frame

3: front wheel

4: rear wheel

5: Longitudinal axis

6: Cargo holder

7: The laterally extending surface of the cargo holder

7a: The lateral side of the cargo holder

7b: The bottom of the cargo holder

8: The longitudinal side of the cargo holder

9: Wheel support structure

10: Locking mechanism

11: Pillar hinge

12: vertical axis

13: The first hinge

14: The first part of the foldable frame

15: The second part of the foldable frame

16: Wheel hub

18: Horizontal axis

19: seat tube

20: Seat

24: Drive system

26: Steering control

29: Toothed belt

II: The folded state of the foldable frame

L2: The second distance along the longitudinal axis

Claims (17)

A cargo bicycle, comprising: a foldable frame that can be adjusted between an extended state and a folded state, in the extended state, the foldable frame is pressed along a longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle A front wheel and a rear wheel of the cargo bicycle are positioned at a first distance, and in the folded state, the foldable frame positions the front wheel and the rear wheel at a second smaller distance along the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle; A cargo holder for holding cargo, comprising a surface extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis, and wherein in the folded state of the foldable frame, at least one of the wheels is transverse to the cargo bicycle The longitudinal axis extends and at least partially overlaps the laterally extending surface. The cargo bicycle according to claim 1, wherein in the folded state of the frame, the hub of the at least one wheel at least partially overlapping the laterally extending surface is substantially in a plurality of lateral directions of the cargo bicycle Within an envelope defined by a boundary, preferably within an envelope defined by a quarter of the distance between the lateral boundaries extending on either side of the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle. The cargo bicycle according to any one of claim 1 or 2, wherein in a folded state of the frame, one of the at least one wheel at least partially overlapping the laterally extending surface in the folded state of the frame A wheel hub is located at or near the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle, especially at or near the symmetry plane of the cargo holder. The cargo bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a part of the wheel support structure of the cargo bicycle as part of the foldable frame is hingedly connected to the foldable frame so as to be able to surround substantially A vertical axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle pivots. The cargo bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least a part of the foldable frame, preferably all of the frame, can pivot about a horizontal axis, and in the extended state of the foldable frame In this case, the horizontal axis extends substantially along the longitudinal axis of the cargo bicycle. The cargo bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the foldable frame includes a base portion and a telescopic portion, the telescopic portion opposing along the longitudinal axis between the extended state and the folded state The base part can be slid, and vice versa. The cargo bicycle according to claim 6, wherein the base portion is configured as a set of tubes around the telescopic portion, so that the telescopic portion can slide through the base portion, and preferably, the base portion can be provided with respect to The other sleeve on the cargo holder slides so that the base part can slide telescopically with respect to the cargo holder along the longitudinal axis. The cargo bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising: a first hinge connecting a first part of the foldable frame to a second part, and wherein the first hinge can be locked to each In the extended state and the folded state, preferably, the first hinge is located under a bottom surface of the cargo holder. The cargo bicycle according to claim 8, further comprising: a second hinge connecting the second part of the foldable frame to a third part, wherein the second hinge can be locked in the respective extended state and In this folded state. The cargo bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein in the folded state, substantially all of the foldable frame is covered by a plurality of surfaces extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the cargo holder It is stowed, and the foldable frame is substantially in an envelope defined by several lateral boundaries of the cargo bicycle. According to any one of claims 1 to 10, especially the cargo bicycle described in combination with claim 4, wherein a drive train of the cargo bicycle includes a toothed belt for power transmission in the drive train. The cargo bicycle according to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein a seat tube of the cargo bicycle for accommodating a seat and/or seatpost is fixed to the pivotable part of the cargo bicycle, in particular, The wheel support structure is such that it can pivot together with the foldable frame or relative to the foldable frame. The cargo bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a seat tube of the cargo bicycle for storing a seat and/or a seatpost is hingedly connected to the foldable frame so that the seat tube can be Fold between a folded-in position and a folded-out position. In the folded position, the position of the seat tube is closer to a plane extending under the transverse bottom surface of the cargo holder and substantially parallel to the transverse bottom surface. In the folded-out position, the seat tube is positioned farther away from the plane, in particular, so that the seat tube extends substantially vertically to the plane to provide a seat cushion configuration in the extended state of the foldable frame. The cargo bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the cargo bicycle is a tricycle comprising two front wheels rotatably mounted to the cargo holder, wherein the steering control, especially the handlebar, is provided On the cargo holder, wherein a pivotable steering mechanism of the cargo bicycle pivotally connects the foldable frame to the cargo holder, and wherein in the folded state of the foldable frame, The rear wheel is placed sideways so that the steering controls, especially the handlebars, can be accessed by a user for pushing the cargo bicycle as a cart. The cargo bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising: at least one support member supported on the frame and/or the cargo holder for supporting the cargo on a surface, especially the ground bike. The cargo bicycle according to claim 15, comprising: a retractable assembly for the at least one support, which can be adjusted between a retracted state and a support state, in the retracted state, the at least one support The member shrinks in one direction of the frame and/or the cargo holder, and in the supporting state, the at least one support member is lowered for supporting the cargo bicycle on a surface. The cargo bicycle according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the at least one support includes a wheel or is formed of a wheel, and the wheel is in particular a self-aligning wheel.

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