Patent EP0565760A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0565760A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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A collapsible bicycle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1992-04-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A collapsible bicycle comprises a frame (10), a front (31) and rear (32) wheels rotatably attached thereto, and a drivetrain (40) for transmitting torque to the rear wheel, with the frame including a movable structure (20) on which the rear wheel is attached. The frame carries a pair of lower stay elements (21a,21b) on a lower portion thereof and a fork member on an upper portion thereof with the prongs of the fork member defining a pair of upper stay elements (221a,221b). The front ends of the lower stay elements are adjoined with respective pivot rings (23a,23b) attached to a bottom bracket of the frame so as to enable the rotation of the movable structure thereabout, while the male and female elements of a quick-release type connector are provided on the shank portion of the fork member and an upper portion of a seat tube of the frame to enable the fixing of the movable structure thereto. The frame is further provided with an arcuate down tube (13) adapted for the positioning thereunder of the rear wheel and movable structure when the bicycle is in a compacted form. This being accomplished by first disconnecting the fork member from the frame and then rotating the movable structure about the bottom bracket until the rim of the rear wheel is in proximity with the down tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Shu An Ts'ao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:15
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62K; B62K15/00; B62K15/006; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32114; Y10T403/59; Y10T403/599; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2164
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A bicycle comprising a frame, a front wheel and a rear wheel attached with said frame, a drive train for transmitting torque to said rear wheel, wherein said frame includes a movable structure to which said rear wheel is rotatably attached, a pivoting means for pivotably connecting a lower portion of said movable structure to a first fixed portion of said frame, and a connecting means for releasably connecting an upper portion of said movable structure to a second fixed portion of said frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A bicycle according to claim 1, wherein said pivot means comprises at least one hinge element provided on said first fixed portion of said movable structure, and a bracket element provided on said first fixed portion of said frame in which a crank axle of said drivetrain is positioned, said hinge element being rotatably attached to said bracket element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
A bicycle according to claim 2, wherein said at least one hinge element comprise a pair of pivot rings and said bracket element is positioned therebetween, said pivot rings being rotatably attached to said bracket element by a bearing sleeve positioned in said pivot rings and said bracket element, said bearing sleeve being fixed to said bracket element and having flanged outer ends rotatably positioning said pivot rings therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A bicycle according to claim 3, wherein said movable structure includes a pair of lower stay elements, a first end portion of each said lower stay element carrying the axle of said rear wheel, the opposing ends of each said stay element being joined with respective said pivot rings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bicycle according to claim 4, wherein said movable structure further includes a cross element provided between the pair of said lower stay elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
A bicycle according to claim 5, wherein said frame includes an arcuate tubular member disposed between said front wheel and a front portion of said drivetrain, said tubular member being adapted for the positioning thereunder of said rear wheel and said movable structure after said upper portion of said movable structure is disconnected from said second fixed portion of said frame and said movable structure with said rear wheel are rotated about said bracket element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
180 words
A bicycle according to claim 6, wherein said connecting means comprises: a tubular extension provided on said second fixed portion of said frame, said tubular extension having a plurality of apertures formed radially thereon; a sleeve member slidingly retained on said tubular extension, said sleeve member having a stepped internal diameter; a plurality of blocking elements positioned in respective said apertures, said blocking elements being projected radially inwards through said apertures when in abutment with a smaller diameter section of said sleeve member in registry with said apertures, and outwardly extendible when a larger diameter section of said sleeve is in registry with said apertures so as to not obstruct the inner passage of said tubular extension; a spring element urging said sleeve member in an axial direction towards a position whereat said smaller diameter section of said sleeve member is in registry with said apertures; a shaft member provided on said upper portion of said movable structure said shaft member being insertable into said tubular extension and having a circumferential groove formed thereon adapted for engaging said blocking elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bicycle according to claim 7, wherein said tubular extension is pivotably attached to said frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A bicycle according to claim 8, wherein said movable structure further includes a fork member provided on an upper portion thereof, said fork member having a pair of prong like upper stay elements with the free end portions thereof carrying the axle of said rear wheel, said shaft member of said connecting means being fixed to the shank portion of said fork member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A bicycle according to claim 9, wherein said movable structure further includes a reinforcing means provided between said fork member and said lower stay elements for strengthening said movable structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A bicycle according to claim 10, wherein said reinforcing means comprises a fork like cross member having a pair of prongs adjoining with respective said lower stay elements and a shank portion adjoining with said fork member below the juncture portion thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
A bicycle according to claim 1, wherein said frame includes an arcuate tubular member disposed between said front wheel and a front portion of said drivetrain, said tubular member being adapted for the positioning thereunder of said rear wheel and said movable structure after said upper portion of said movable structure is disconnected from said second fixed portion of said frame and said movable structure with said rear wheel are moved about said first fixed portion of said frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A bicycle according to claim 12, further comprising a support means for holding said rear wheel and said movable structure in position under said tubular member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A bicycle according to claim 13, wherein said support means comprises an elastic roughly C-shaped clamp element fixed to said tubular member, said clamp element being releasably engageable with a rim portion of said rear wheel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
180 words
A bicycle according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprises: a tubular extension provided on said second fixed portion of said frame, said tubular extension having a plurality of apertures formed radially thereon; a sleeve member slidingly retained on said tubular extension, said sleeve member having a stepped internal diameter; a plurality of blocking elements positioned in respective said apertures, said blocking elements being projected radially inwards through said apertures when in abutment with a smaller diameter section of said sleeve member in registry with said apertures, and outwardly extendible when a larger diameter section of said sleeve is in registry with said apertures so as to not obstruct the inner passage of said tubular extension; a spring element urging said sleeve member in an axial direction towards a position whereat said smaller diameter section of said sleeve member is in registry with said apertures; a shaft member provided on said upper portion of said movable structure said shaft member being insertable into said tubular extension and having a circumferential groove formed thereon adapted for engaging said blocking elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A bicycle according to claim 15, wherein said tubular extension is pivotably attached to said frame.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
A bicycle according to claim 16, wherein said movable structure further includes a fork member provided on an upper portion thereof, said fork member having a pair of prong like upper stay elements with the free end portions thereof carrying the axle of said rear wheel, said shaft member of said connecting means being fixed to the shank portion of said fork member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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