WO1985000567A1

WO1985000567A1 - Cycloseat

Info

Publication number: WO1985000567A1
Application number: PCT/DE1984/000148
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans-Arnold Verspohl
Original assignee: Verspohl Hans Arnold
Priority date: 1983-07-16
Filing date: 1984-07-16
Publication date: 1985-02-14
Also published as: EP0150201A1; DE3325732A1

Abstract

Cycloseat comprising at least two wheels arranged at a certain interval one behind the other and interconnected by a frame (1), as well as a seat (32). The cycloseat is characterized by a front steering head (7) in the region of the front wheel or wheels (10) and a rear steering head (20) arranged at a certain interval in the direction of the rear wheel or wheels (35, 36) and designed to receive a handle-bar (26), both steering head (7, 20) being hingedly interconnected in order to enable the steering of the front wheel or wheels (10) by a steering unit (23). The cycloseat may be used as a bicycle, a tricycle or a multiwheel vehicle.

Description

Chair wheel

The present invention relates to an armchair wheel. An armchair wheel is generally understood to be a wheel which can be designed as a two, three or more wheel and in which an armchair is provided instead of a conventional saddle. H. that is, a seat for the driver or drivers, in particular with a backrest.

Tricycles, and here in particular those with a chain drive, are known in the prior art. These bikes are called shopping bikes, disabled bikes or children's bikes. The different embodiments of this type of wheel have in common that they all have a relatively short wheelbase, which is associated with a correspondingly raised sitting position, similar to that of commercially available two-wheelers. Depending on whether it is a bicycle for adults or children, the seat, which is designed as a saddle, must be arranged at a height such that the driver's legs are in the most extended state possible - Λ -

can operate the pedal pedals of the chain drive.

A disadvantage of this type of bike is, in particular, the center of gravity located high above the running surface, which has an extremely negative influence on the stability of the bike, particularly in curves. Although the wheels are relatively straightforward to drive on a straight track, their cornering behavior is so bad for the reasons described that the speed in the corner area must be greatly reduced in order to prevent the wheel from breaking away or tipping over.

For this reason, tricycles have been developed in which the seat is designed as an armchair and is arranged much lower, in particular at the level of the rear axle, as a result of which a more favorable center of gravity distribution can be achieved. However, in order to allow comfortable driving with such an armchair arrangement, it is consequently necessary to arrange the drive pedals of the chain drive at a considerable distance in the direction of the front wheel, as a result of which a much longer wheelbase compared to the first-mentioned tricycles is necessary.

However, the long wheelbase in turn causes problems with the steering because the lever arm between the handlebar and the front wheel is disproportionately long and requires a wide lateral swing out when cornering.

Attempts have also been made to solve these problems and a proposal has become known in which a steering linkage is guided under the seat (Radmarkt, issue 9, 982 p. 224) However, such a linkage has the decisive disadvantage that the driver can only brace himself on the backrest of the chair when starting off or on gradients in order to exert the necessary pedaling force. The pressing of the upper body against the backrest then causes an unfavorable mechanical load on the back; In addition, breathing activity can be impaired.

In addition to the known three-wheelers described, chair wheels are also known as two-wheelers. The same problems as with tricycles also arise with the known armchair two-wheelers with regard to the steering and stability of the wheels.

The invention is based on the object of offering a chair wheel which has the lowest possible air resistance value, is easy for the driver to steer and - if it is equipped with a mechanical drive - can be driven easily and with the lowest possible forces.

To solve this problem, a chair wheel with at least two wheels arranged one behind the other and connected to one another via a frame construction and an armchair are proposed, the chair wheel according to the invention being characterized in that it has a front control head in the area of the or

Front wheels and a second, rear control head arranged at a distance from it in the direction of the rear wheel or wheels, for receiving a handlebar, the two control heads for controlling the front wheel or wheels being articulated to one another via a steering device. The rear control head is preferably attached to the frame structure.

With such an arrangement, the handlebar can be arranged directly in front of the driver (s), so that the steering manipulations can be carried out as in a conventional bicycle, the steering movements now, however, from the handlebar via the rear control head to the steering device and the front control head and from there to the front wheel or wheels.

It is thus possible according to the invention to build an armchair wheel that on the one hand has a low seating position of the armchair and a long wheelbase, which at the same time also allows the handlebars (in the rear control head) to be positioned directly in front of the armchair, so that the wheel overall is comfortable and easy for the driver to guide.

The chair wheel according to the invention unfolds its advantages, particularly in the case of a tricycle design. It is then designed with two rear wheels arranged at a distance from one another and the frame construction runs from the rear axle to the front steering head, from which a fork extends downwards, which overlaps the front wheel and is fastened to its axle.

In order to make the stability of the frame construction particularly favorable, it is particularly advantageous if it is designed to widen from the area of the front wheel to the area of the rear wheels in a substantially V-shape. In this embodiment, the armchair between the rear wheels can preferably be arranged longitudinally displaceably on the frame construction, as a result of which an extremely low seating position and thus a very favorable air resistance value can be achieved.

The armchair preferably has a seat height that essentially corresponds to the height of the rear axle.

In order to achieve a particularly convenient operation of the handlebar or the steering device, a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the rear control head is arranged lower than the front control head and approximately in the height of the chair surface in front of it. In such an embodiment, the front pinion connected to the pedal pedals is preferably fastened to the frame structure in such a way that it is located between the front and rear control heads below these, preferably also below the seat surface of the armchair, so that the driver can operate the drive by stepping down.

The chair wheel according to the invention can, however, also advantageously be provided with a motor, which is arranged either in the area of the front control head for driving the front wheel or, as in the case of a moped, on the frame construction for driving the rear wheel or wheels.

Advantageous embodiments of an armchair wheel according to the invention describe the further subclaims.

The invention is explained below with reference to the drawing. Show:

1 is a perspective view of an armchair wheel according to the invention, which is designed as a tricycle,

2 shows a side view of the tricycle according to FIG. 1,

3 shows a top view of the tricycle according to FIG. 1.

The tricycle shown in the figures consists of a frame construction 1, which consists essentially of two down tubes 2, 3, an upper tube 4 and two connecting tubes 5, which are the free front ends of the down tubes

2, 3 or the top tube 4 interconnect ι formed

The top tube 4 and the connecting tubes 5 end in a front control head 7, which has at its lower end a plate 8 running perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the tubes 2, 3, 4, 5, from which a fork 9 runs downwards, which the front wheel 10 overlaps and is anchored on both sides of its axis 11.

While the connecting tubes 5 extend obliquely V-shaped from the control head 7 backwards to a cross tube 14, the lower tubes 2, 3 extend from this cross tube 14 likewise substantially V-shaped backwards to a guide channel 15 the rear axle 16.

The down tubes 2, 3 are connected to one another several times by crossbars 17, 18 for stabilization. A second extends from the crosspiece 17. (rear) control head 20 upwards, which is additionally attached to the top tube 4 at a distance from the crossbar 17. The rear control head 20 has at its upper free end a plate 21 running perpendicular to the top tube 4. At the free ends of the plate 21 there are ball joints 22 with ball joint heads, in each of which a handlebar 23 engages at its free end. The two steering rods 23 then run essentially parallel to one another and to the top tube 4 up to the region of the upper free end of the front control head 7, on which a plate 24 is also arranged, which is arranged parallel to the plate 21 of the rear control head and which, like the plate 21 has at its free end ball joints 25 with ball joint heads into which the handlebars 23 engage with their free ends.

Also extending from the rear control head 20 is a link 26, which consists of a rod 27 extending in the extension of the control head 20 and a cross rod 28 articulated at its free end. A chair 30 is provided as the seat element, which consists of a seat surface 31 and a backrest 32, the seat surface 31 being fastened to the lower tubes 2, 3 or the guide channel 15 of the rear axle 16 via webs 33 projecting downwards.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the seat is arranged statically, it can of course also be arranged longitudinally displaceably via rails, so that the position of the seat can be changed depending on the size of the driver.

On the rear axle 16, two rear wheels 35, 36 are arranged at the ends.

_ OMPI The embodiment shown in the drawing is a tricycle with a mechanical drive, namely a chain drive. In this case, a front pinion 38 is arranged on the cross tube 14, through which an axis 39 runs, at the free ends of which pedal arms 40 with pedals 41 are arranged. A chain 42 runs over the front sprocket 38 to a rear rear sprocket 43 arranged on the rear axle 16. The chain drive can of course be easily provided in a manner known per se with a transmission gear.

The principle of steering now works as follows.

After the driver has taken a seat on the armchair 30, he actuates the pedals 41 with his feet and thus sets the wheel as a whole in motion by driving the rear wheels.

For steering purposes, the driver actuates the crossbar 28 of the handlebar 26 with his hands, the deflection being initially transmitted to the plate 21 via the rod 27. Because of its connection to the rod 27, this is always deflected directly together with the cross rod 28, with a parallelogram-like displacement of the handlebars 23 which then causes the plate 24 of the front control head 7 to be parallel via the ball joints 23 and 25, respectively move to the plate 21 of the rear control head 20, the fork 9 and thus the front wheel 10 being deflected simultaneously via the control head 7. The chair wheel according to the invention shown in the drawing can therefore be actuated with the least effort and in an easily accessible manner. The driver is at an extremely low seat height, the actuation of the pedals in the exemplary embodiment shown being particularly energy-saving because they are arranged below the seat surface 31 and below the control heads 7 and 20, respectively.

Preferably the entire frame structure,

Cross and handlebars as lightweight components, for example made of aluminum. It is particularly advantageous if the frame is welded together using seamless precision tubes. For reasons of stability, it is particularly advantageous if the frame from the rear axle 16 to the front control head 7 is constructed with relatively thin, but thick-walled double tubes.

Because of the arrangement according to the invention with the two control heads 7, 20 arranged at a distance from one another and the handlebars 23, an armchair wheel according to the invention has an extremely small turning circle, as a result of which it is recommended to be exceptionally advantageous even in city traffic.

The chair wheel can be completed especially as a shopping bike with a large loading space or a lockable luggage case 45 directly behind the backrest 32.

In addition, a child seat (not shown) can be attached to the top tube 4 of the frame construction using a special fastening. The child sits in a position protected from all sides.

The entire chair wheel can also be covered with a light plastic or fiberglass cover, which in turn can further reduce the air resistance value, and on the other hand this type of "hardtop" provides reliable weather protection.

In order to return the handlebar 26 to a straight-ahead position without great effort after a steering operation, according to the invention a plate can be welded to the lower end of the handlebar 27, which by means of a pulling device, for example a return spring, with a part of the frame structure behind it, for example the crossbar 18 is connected. This return spring then automatically pulls the steering back into the straight-ahead position after each steering operation. In addition, an improved straight running is achieved by the attachment of this return spring.

The chair wheel according to the invention can be combined in any manner with further additional parts known from the prior art. In particular, a wide variety of drive systems can be transferred to an armchair wheel according to the invention, for example a drive via a universal joint or else a motor drive.

The features of the subject matter of these documents disclosed in the above description, the patent claims, the summary and the drawing can be used individually as well as in any combination with one another for the realization the invention in its various embodiments be essential.

OMPI

Claims

- 12 -

P a t e n t a n s r u c h e

^1st Chair wheel with at least two wheels arranged one behind the other and connected by a frame construction and a chair, characterized by a front control head (7) in the area of the front wheel or wheels (10) and one in the direction of the one or more Rear wheels (35, 36) spaced apart, second, rear control head (20) for receiving a handlebar (26), the two control heads (7, 20) for controlling the front wheel or wheels (10) via a steering device (23) ge ¬ are flexibly connected.

2. Chair wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear control head (20) is fixed to the frame structure (1).

..PI

3. Chair wheel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the two control heads (7, 20) connecting steering device (23) is formed by two substantially parallel rods or tubes (23).

4. Chair wheel according to claim 3, characterized in that the rods or tubes (23) are articulated at their free ends via ball joints (22, 25) on the control heads (7, 20).

5. Chair wheel according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that it is designed as a two-wheeler.

6. Chair wheel according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that it is designed as a tricycle with two on one axis (16) spaced rear wheels (35, 36), and the frame construction (1) from the rear axle (16) extends to the front control head (7), from which a fork (9) extends downward, which overlaps the front wheel (10) and is fastened on its axis (11).

7. Chair wheel according to claim 6, characterized in that the frame structure (1) from the area of the front wheel (10) itself into the area of the rear wheels (35, 36) is substantially widened in a V-shape.

8. Chair wheel according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the chair (30) between the rear wheels (35, 36) is arranged longitudinally displaceably on the frame structure (1).

9. Chair wheel according to claim 8, characterized in that the chair (30) has a seat height which speaks ent¬ the height of the rear axle (16) substantially.

10. Chair wheel according to one of claims 6-9, characterized in that the rear control head (20) lower than the front control head (7) and approximately at the height of the seat (31) of the armchair (30) is arranged in front of this.

11. Chair wheel according to one of claims 6 - 10, characterized in that the rear control head (20) is connected via a pulling device for returning the steering device (23) after a cornering into a straight-ahead position with a part of the frame structure (1) behind it .

12. Chair wheel according to claim 11, characterized in that the Zugeinriσhtung is a spring.

13. Chair wheel according to one or more of claims 1-12, characterized in that it can be driven mechanically with a chain drive (38, 42, 43) via one or both rear wheels (35, 36).

14. Chair wheel according to claim 13, characterized in that the drive of the chain drive (38, 42, 43) with pedals (41) arranged below the seat surface of the chair (30).

15. Chair wheel according to one of claims 1-12, characterized in that it can be driven by a motor.

16. Chair wheel according to one of claims 1-15, characterized in that the frame structure (1) and / or the other parts of the wheel with the exception of the wheels (10, 35, 36) and the chair (30) Are made of light metal.

OMH