Patent EP2176117B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP2176117B1
Active / In Force
EP
⏱️ 1.7 years remaining
Collapsible bicycle
Assignee: Topeak Inc
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Filing: 2008-08-06
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Granted: 2011-03-16
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Expires: 2028-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A collapsible bicycle (1) has a frame (2) collapsible in its plane. The frame (2) includes a head tube (3) having a collapsible bicycle front side end (10) in which a front wheel fork (12), which receives a front wheel (13), is mounted. A seat stay (5) has an end (38) receiving a seat tube (39). A lever (6) is articulated at a first articulation point (50) at a collapsible bicycle rear side end (37) of the head tube (3) and at a second articulation point (49) at the end (38) of the seat stay (5) receiving the seat tube (39). The lever (6) is arranged to the collapsible bicycle front side in a riding position of the collapsible bicycle (1). A down tube (4) is articulated at a third articulation point (18) at the collapsible bicycle front side end (10) of the head tube (3) and at a fourth articulation point (24) at an end (38a) of the seat stay (5), opposite the end (38) of the seat tube (39). The first, second, third and fourth articulation points (50; 49; 18; 24) are arranged in such a way, that, for moving the collapsible bicycle (1) from the riding position into a sliding position or from the sliding position into the riding position, respectively, the end (38) of the seat stay (5) receiving the seat tube (39) is shiftable in a direction (117) towards the head tube (3) or in a direction (119) away from the head tube, respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Hördum
- 👤 Christian Bitsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:41
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62K; B62K15/00; B62K15/006; B62K15/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
Folding bicycle (1) having a frame (2) which is foldable in its plane, the frame (2) comprising: an upper frame strut (3) having a folding bicycle front side end (10) on which a front wheel fork (12) is mounted for receiving a front wheel (13), a seat strut (5) having an end (38) for receiving a seat tube (39); a lever (6) being articulated at a folding bicycle rear side end (37) of the upper frame strut (3) at a first articulation point (50), the lever (6) being arranged in relation to the seat strut (5) on a folding bicycle front side in a riding position of the folding bicycle (1), and a lower frame strut (4) being articulated at the folding bicycle front side end (10) of the upper frame strut (3) at a third articulation point (18), and at an end (38a) of the seat strut (5) opposing the end (38) for receiving the seat tube (39) at a fourth articulation point (24), characterised in that the lever (6) is articulated at a second articulation point (49) at the end (38) for receiving the seat tube (39) of the seat strut (5), wherein the first, second, third and fourth articulation points (50, 49, 18, 24) are arranged with respect to each other in such a manner that, for bringing the folding bicycle (1) from the riding position into a pushing position or from the pushing position into the riding position, the end (38) of the seat strut (5) for receiving the seat tube (39) is approximately pivotable in a direction towards (117) the upper frame strut (3) and/or in direction away (119) from the upper frame strut.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
Folding bicycle according to claim 1, characterised in that the folding bicycle (1) further comprises a rear wheel fork (27) for receiving a rear wheel (28), which is articulated at a folding bicycle rear side end (23) of the lower frame strut (4) at a fifth articulation point (26), and a rear wheel strut (35) being articulated at the folding bicycle rear side end (37) of the upper frame strut (3) at a sixth articulation point (36) and at the rear wheel fork (27) at a seventh articulation point (34), wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh articulation points (50, 49, 18, 24, 26, 36, 34) are arranged with respect to each other in such a manner that the rear wheel (28) pivots by means of the pivoting of the end (38) of the seat strut (5) for receiving the seat tube (39) in direction to (117) the upper frame strut (3) and/or away (119) from the same in a direction towards the front wheel (13) and/or away from the front wheel (13).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Folding bicycle according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the lower frame tube (4) comprises an end portion (22) bent towards the upper frame strut (3), at which the seat strut (5) is articulated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Folding bicycle according to claim 3, characterised in that a nose (25) protrudes from the bent end portion (22), at which the rear wheel fork (27) is articulated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Folding bicycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the seat strut (5) comprises a fork-shaped portion (41) through which the upper frame strut (3) extends.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
Folding bicycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper frame strut (3) comprises a recess (50a) in which the lever (6) is embedded in the riding position of the folding bicycle (1).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
Folding bicycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the seat strut (5) comprises a resting member (62) and the upper frame strut (3) comprises a receiving member (61), which in the riding position of the folding bicycle (1) are form-fit in a plane substantially perpendicular to the seat strut (5).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
Folding bicycle according to claim 7, characterised in that the resting member (62) is formed to be hollow-cone shaped and the receiving member (61) is formed to be cone shaped and that they are engaged in the riding position of the folding bicycle (1).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
Folding bicycle according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the folding bicycle (1) comprises a carrier (45) and at least one carrier support strut (47), wherein the carrier (45) is articulated at the seat strut (5) at an eighth articulation point (44) and the carrier support strut (47) is articulated at the end (37) of the upper frame tube (3) at a ninth articulation point (48) and at the carrier (45) at a tenth articulation point (46), wherein the eighth, ninth and tenth articulation points (44, 48, 46) are arranged with respect to each other in such a manner that the carrier comprises in the riding position and in the pushing position a position substantially horizontal or rising upwards in a direction towards the folding bicycle rear side (8).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
103 words
Folding bicycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the seat strut (5) can firmly be connected to the upper frame strut (3) for the riding position of the folding bicycle (1) by means of locking a connecting member (51) attached to the seat strut (5), and that the seat strut (5) can be released for pivoting the seat strut (5) in a first pivot direction (117) relative to the upper frame strut (3) in the plane of the frame (2) for the pushing position of the folding bicycle (1) by means of unlocking the connecting member (51).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
Folding bicycle according to claim 10, characterised in that the connecting member (51) comprises a handle lever (52) which is articulated at the seat strut (5) and a hook (53) connecting to the handle lever (52), wherein the hook (53) engages behind a pin (54) attached to the upper frame strut (3) by means of pivoting the hook (53) in a second pivot direction (119) for locking the connecting member (51), and releases the pin (54) by means of pivoting the hook (53) in the first pivot direction (117) for unlocking the connecting member (51).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Folding bicycle according to claim 11, characterised in that the handle lever (52), the hook (53) and the pin (54) together form a beyond dead centre mechanism.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
Folding bicycle according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that a spring (55) is provided which pre-stresses the hook (53) in the first pivot direction (117).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
Folding bicycle according to at least one of claims 11 to 13, characterised in that the seat strut (5) comprises a stop (60) against which the unlocked connecting member (51) strikes in the first pivot direction (117).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
Folding bicycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the folding bicycle (1) is provided with a handle bar device (15) comprising a fastening device (96) by means of which the handle bar device (15) is releasably fastened to the front wheel fork (12), and two handle bar tubes (90, 91) respectively attached to the fastening device (96) to be pivotable by means of a hinge (97, 98) between the riding position and a first storing position of the folding bicycle and between the pushing position and a second storing position of the folding bicycle (1).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
Folding bicycle according to claim 15, characterised in that each of the hinges (97, 98) comprises a bearing half (107, 108) attached to the handle bar tube (90, 91), a bearing half (105, 106) attached to the fastening device (96), and a pivot pin (109) bearing the same, wherein the bearing halves (105, 107, 106, 108) can be coupled to each other in a form-fit and/or frictionally engaged manner for the riding position, the pushing position, the first and/or second storing positions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
Folding bicycle according to claim 16, characterised in that a quick release (110, 111) is provided, which comprises the pivot pin (109) and by means of which the bearing halves (105, 107, 106, 108) can be pressed against each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
Folding bicycle according to claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the bearing halves (105, 107, 106, 108) comprise corresponding receiving and engaging members (113, 112).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
Folding bicycle according to at least one of claims 16 to 18, characterised in that the bearing halves (107, 108) attached to the handle bar tubes (90, 91) are coupled to each other by means of a cardan joint (115).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
Folding bicycle according to at least one of claims 15 to 19, characterised in that the handles (94, 95) of the handle bar tubes (90, 91) in the driving and pushing positions extend substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the frame (2) and in the first and second storing positions extend substantially in the plane of the frame (2).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
156 words
Folding bicycle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the folding bike (1) comprises a stand holder (125) to which a stand (130) is attached to be pivotable between an extended position for supporting the folding bicycle (1) and a retracted position for riding the folding bicycle (1), and a stand strut (126), wherein the stand holder (125) is articulated at the rear wheel fork (27) at an eleventh articulation point (128) and the stand strut (126) is articulated at the lower end (38a) of the seat strut (5) at a twelfth articulation point (129) and at the stand strut (125) at a thirteenth articulation point (127), wherein the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth articulation points (127, 128, 129) are arranged relative to each other in such a manner that the stand (130) remains in the extended position when moving the folding bicycle (1) between the riding position and the pushing position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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