WO2003055736A1

WO2003055736A1 - Foldable bicycle

Info

Publication number: WO2003055736A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2002/000285
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Llewis White
Original assignee: William Llewis White
Priority date: 2001-12-23
Filing date: 2002-12-20
Publication date: 2003-07-10
Also published as: AU2002358358A1

Abstract

A foldable, packaway powered cycle which includes a frame constructed from a reinforced fibre composite material. The foldable main assembly has either formed integrally therewith or attachable thereto an engine, a seat mounting member and a footrest means. The arrangement is such that when erected or folded out the cycle can be used in the normal way and when folded forms a compact lightweight package carryable by hand.

Description

FOLDABLE BICYCLE

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a cycle and more particularly, to a foldable packaway optionally powered cycle. Background to the Invention

A variety of powered cycles, or as they are sometimes known motorcycles, are currently available. Motorcycles come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are designed to suit users' particular requirements. Currently none of the motorcycles known to the applicant are constructed so as to be foldable packaway units which are inexpensive to run, easily carried by hand and cheap to manufacture.

An object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, relatively cheap and economic to run, carryable and optionally powered cycle which at least offers to the public a useful alternative choice.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only. Summary of the Invention

According to the invention there is provided a foldable, packaway and optionally powered cycle including a frame constructed from a reinforced fibre composite material, the frame having a foldable main assembly at one end of which is mounted a front wheel mounting member with an associated handlebar and at the other end of which is mounted a rear wheel mounting means and associated drive mechanism for the rear wheel, the foldable main assembly having either formed integrally therewith or attachable thereto either an engine and footrest means or optionally a set of pedals and a seat mounting member, the arrangement being such that when erected or folded out the cycle can be used in the normal way and when folded forms a compact lightweight package carryable by hand.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a foldable, packaway cycle including a frame constructed from a reinforced fibre composite material, the frame having a foldable main assembly at one end of which is mounted a front wheel mounting member with an associated handlebar and at the other end of which is mounted a rear wheel mounting means and associated drive mechanism for a rear wheel, the foldable main assembly having either formed integrally therewith or attachable thereto a pedal drive and a seat mounting member, the arrangement being such that when erected or folded out the cycle can be used in the normal way and when folded forms a compact lightweight package carryable by hand.

The reinforced fibre composite material can be a plastics material reinforced with carbon fibres.

The pedal drive can include a chain and associated gears adapted to drive the rear wheel.

Preferably the engine, if included, is a four stroke petrol engine of a small capacity such as a 50 or 100 cubic centimetre capacity internal combustion engine.

The engine can be orientated with a crankcase thereof uppermost and with the crankcase formed in one part of the foldable main assembly.

A main cylinder block for the engine can be orientated with its piston stroke in a near vertical plane, when the frame is in a normal upright position, and the main cylinder block can have a downwardly extending member at a lower end of which is fitted the foot rest or foot rests.

The rear wheel mounting means can include rear suspension for the cycle.

A connection between the rear wheel mounting means and said one part of the foldable main assembly can include engine output drive means and a lower support for the seat.

The lower support for the seat can be connected via suspension means such as a coil spring to a seat mounting post or member on which a seat is mounted.

The engine output drive means can be formed in or associated with said one part of the foldable main assembly adjacent to which is the crankcase.

The front wheel mounting member and the rear wheel mounting means can each be a single side arm to thereby reduce the folded package volume of the powered cycle.

The drive from the engine to the rear wheel can be a chain drive or other suitable drive means such as a drive shaft. A chain drive, if provided, can be mounted on a hinge pin formed as part of the rear wheel suspension to a sprocket mounted in known manner on one side of the rear wheel. Alternatively the engine output drive means can be via a centrifugal clutch to a reduction unit, planetary, mounted in association with the rear wheel.

The handlebar can be used to steer the front wheel mounting member by any suitable means. For example, the front wheel mounting member can be mounted by a steering head formed from upper and lower members in which the upper member is any suitable shape in cross section, for example round or square, and is mounted to pivot in part of the foldable main assembly. Vertical movement and steering control of the front wheel can be achieved by allowing the front 'king pin' to slide up/down in a head stock of the main frame assembly on steel balls fitted in grooves machined in the king pin and sleeve to which the handle bars are attached. Thus, because the sleeve can be rotated in a horizontal plane, driving the king pin via steel balls, front suspension travel is achieved because the king pin can move vertically within the constraints of the system parameters created by the grooves. The system can be suspended pneumatically, hydraulically or by way of a mechanical spring.

Suspension for the cycle, in the front wheel mounting member, can be provided by making the lower member round in section and adapted to slide coaxially in the upper member with steel balls in the corners of, for example a square sectioned upper member or in guides in another suitable shaped upper member, for example resting in tracks provided in the upper end of the lower member.

A front hydraulic or a pneumatic suspension unit can additionally or alternatively be provided.

Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

Description of the Drawings

The example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view, of an example of foldable packaway powered cycle according to the invention showing a locking mechanism for the foldable frame and in which some of the parts of the cycle are omitted for clarity purposes; Figure 2 is view from the opposite side of the example of cycle shown in Figure

1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view from one side on a reduced scale of the cycle shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view from the other side on a reduced scale of the cycle shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side view of part of the example shown in Figure 1 showing an example of drive for the rear wheel;

Figure 6 shows a diagrammatic plan view of a folding mechanism for the frame shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a diagrammatic plan view of the section of cycle shown in

Figure 5 and showing an example of drive between the engine and rear wheel; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view of an example of suspension mechanism for a front and steered wheel for the powered cycle.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

In Figures 1 , 2, 3 and 4 are shown side views of preferred example of foldable packaway powered cycle according to the invention in which in each case the frame consists of a foldable main assembly generally indicated by arrow 1. The foldable main assembly 1 is formed in two parts 2, 3. The two parts 2, 3 are adapted to fold, as shown in Figure 6, at point X ( Figure 1) so that the parts 2, 3 rest alongside and in juxtaposition to each other. One of the parts and in the first example shown in Figure 1 the part 2 incorporates a locking mechanism including a locking pin 4 disengagement of which allows the two parts, 2, 3 to hinge and when engaged retains the parts 2, 3 aligned and rigidly together.

One end 5 of the part 2 of the main assembly 1 is provided with a tubular mounting 6 for a headset or other suitable bearing through which an upper end 7 of a front wheel mounting member 8 extends. At the upper end 7 of the front wheel mounting member 8 is a set of handlebars generally indicated by arrow 9. The handlebars 9 can be arranged so as to fold back onto part 2 for storage or transportation, and can form part of a carrying handle mechanism (not shown).

The front wheel mounting member 8 can at its lower end include only a single side arm 10. In the examples a single side arm 10 is shown and it includes a lower bearing 11 in which a bearing for a front wheel 12 is mounted.

The other part 3 of the foldable main assembly has integrally formed therewith or attachable thereto an internal combustion engine (arrow 13). In the examples a crankcase 14 for the engine 13 is formed as part of the other part 3 of the foldable main assembly.

The engine 13 is mounted inverted with a cylinder block 15 beneath the crankcase 14. As shown, the cylinder block 15 is provided with fins 16 to improve cooling and has extending from the bottom thereof a downwardly extending member 17 to which a footrest 18 is attached.

The engine 13 can be a 100cc four stroke petrol fuelled internal combustion engine. Exhaust from the engine can be dispersed in any of a variety of ways. For example, the applicant contemplates that an integrally formed rear mudguard (not shown) can be provided in which an exhaust passage extends from the engine through a hollow section of the mudguard which hollow section acts as a muffler. This allows exhaust gases to be dispensed at the rear of the cycle.

The other part 3 of the foldable main assembly 1 also includes a mounting 19 for the rear wheel mounting means 20 and a lower support 21 for a seat 22.

The lower support 21 for the seat can be linked by arm 23 via a suspension means (not shown) such as a coil spring or hydraulic or pneumatic damper system. Above the arm 23 is the seat 22 which may be padded as required.

A hinge pin 24 of the mounting 19 can include a driven axle powered from the engine. An appropriate gearbox or drive mechanism of any known light weight type is linked and positioned between the crankcase 14 and the driven axle portion of the hinge pin 24. As shown in Figures 2, 5 and 7, a chain or belt drive 25 exists between the driven axle of the hinge pin and a sprocket 26 on a rear wheel 27.

In Figure 2 is shown a version of foldable cycle which incorporates both an engine 13 and a pedal drive 33 for emergency or alternate use. In this version a chain drive 32 is provided which drives a chain ring mounted on or adjacent the hinge pin 24.

In Figure 6 is shown a plan view of a folding connection 28 for the foldable main assembly. Any suitable locking mechanism can be provided to lock the frame assembly parts 2, 3 in their aligned and erected position.

The handlebar 9 can be used to steer the front wheel mounting member 10 by any suitable means. For example, the front wheel mounting member 10 can be mounted by a steering head 6 formed from upper and lower members in which in the drawing the upper member 32 is column shaped and is mounted to pivot in part 6 which is formed as part of the foldable main assembly 2. The lower part 33 links the upper part to the mounting member 10. Vertical movement and steering control of the front wheel 12 can be achieved by allowing the front 'king pin' member 34 to slide up/down in the member 32 of the head stock 6 of the main frame assembly on steel balls 29 fitted in grooves 30, 31 machined in the king pin 34 and upper part 32 to which the handle bars 9 are attached. Thus, because the sleeve/upper part 32 can be rotated in a horizontal plane, driving the king pin 34 via steel balls 29, front suspension travel is achieved because the king pin 34 can move vertically within the constraints of the system parameters created by the grooves 30, 31.

Not shown in the accompanying drawings are known type fuel supply, battery, brake system and/or controls for operating the cycle. The construction, nature and position of the fuel, brake system, battery and controls will be understood by a skilled addressee and are designed to suit any user's requirements and their selection and type would be clearly known and appreciated by those skilled in the art of manufacturing such a cycle.

In use in its erected position the cycle constitutes a simple, inexpensive and cost effective alternative mode of transport. It can be easily packed away for storage or carrying when the engine is not operating by releasing the locking mechanism and folding the main assembly so that the parts 2, 3 lie alongside each other in juxtaposition. The fact that nearly the entire cycle or at least its major components are constituted from a composite carbon fibre material makes it a substantially light weight easily carried item.

For example, the fact that the front and rear wheel mountings may only have a single arm means that weight is saved as is space as when folded the wheels are alongside each other.

The example of the invention described is a deluxe version and it is to be appreciated that other models may be produced such as one with a 50cc four stroke engine with no suspension and bicycle tyres, and which could if so desired use existing bicycle chain gear sets and thus the drive is from the forward gear set which therefore offers a powered multi-gear ratio cycle.

Thus by this invention there is provided a foldable packaway powered cycle.

Where in the foregoing description a particular example or integers have been described, it is to be appreciated that their mechanical equivalents can be substituted as if they were individually set forth herein.

An example of the invention has been described and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications can take place without departing from the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

1. A foldable, packaway powered cycle including a frame constructed from a reinforced fibre composite material, the frame having a foldable main assembly at one end of which is mounted a front wheel mounting member with an associated handlebar and at the other end of which is mounted a rear wheel mounting means and associated drive mechanism for a rear wheel, the foldable main assembly having either formed integrally therewith or attachable thereto an engine, a seat mounting member and footrest means, the arrangement being such that when erected or folded out the cycle can be used in the normal way and when folded forms a compact lightweight package carryable by hand.

2. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reinforced fibre composite material is a plastics material reinforced with carbon fibres.

3. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the engine is a four stroke petrol engine of a small capacity such as a 50 or 100 cubic centimetre capacity internal combustion engine.

4. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the engine is orientated with a crankcase thereof uppermost and with the crankcase formed in one part of the foldable main assembly.

5. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in claim 4 wherein a main cylinder block for the engine is orientated with its piston stroke in a vertical plane, when the frame is in a normal upright position.

6. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in claim 5 wherein the main cylinder block has a downwardly extending member at a lower end of which is fitted a foot rest or foot rests.

7. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the rear wheel mounting means includes rear suspension for the cycle.

8. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a connection between the rear wheel mounting means and said one part of the foldable main assembly can include engine output drive means and a lower support for the seat.

9. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in claim 8 wherein the lower support for the seat can be connected via suspension means such as a coil spring to a seat mounting post or member on which a seat is mounted.

10. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the engine output drive means is formed in or associated with said one part of the foldable main assembly adjacent to which is the crankcase.

11. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the front wheel mounting member and the rear wheel mounting means are each be a single side arm to thereby reduce the folded package volume of the powered cycle.

12. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the drive from the engine to the rear wheel can be a chain drive or other suitable drive means such as a drive shaft.

13. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in claim 12 wherein the drive from the engine to the rear wheel is via a chain drive which is mounted on a hinge pin formed as part of the rear wheel suspension which drive is adapted to drive a sprocket mounted on one side of the rear wheel.

14. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in any one of the preceding claimes wherein the handlebar can be used to steer the front wheel mounting member by any suitable means.

15. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in claim 14 wherein the front wheel mounting member is mounted by a steering head formed from upper and lower members in which the upper member is of any shape in section and is mounted to pivot in part of the foldable main assembly.

16. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein suspension for the cycle, in the front wheel mounting member, is provided by making the lower member round in section and adapted to slide coaxially in the upper member with steel balls in the lower and upper members resting in tracks provided in the upper end of the lower member and the interior wall(s) of the upper member.

17. A foldable, packaway powered cycle as claimed in claim 16 wherein a front hydraulic or pneumatic suspension unit can additionally or alternatively be provided.

18. A foldable, packaway powered cycle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.