US3722912A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folding bicycle
Assignee: TSUNODA JITENSHA KK
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Filing: 1971-02-05
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-02-05
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is a folding device for a folding bicycle, according to which a strut is secured on a rear body frame carrying a rear road wheel, a saddle and a crank-pedal thereon and connecting means is mounted on the strut to connect swingably a front body frame carrying a front road wheel to the strut. Provided also to complete the device for simple and easy folding and unfolding works are locking means to have the front body frame fasten to the strut, holding means to maintain the releasing position of the locking means, and a resilient member to hold the fastening position of the locking means.
Inventors
- 👤 A Housayama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:24
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62K; B62K15/00; B62K15/006; B62H; B62H1/00; B62H1/02; F; F16; F16B; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/69; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/0911; Y10T292/0945; Y10T292/0951; Y10T292/0956; Y10T292/1043; Y10T292/1075; Y10T292/1083; Y10T292/1089; Y10T292/54; Y10T292/546; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32254; Y10T403/32262; Y10T403/32319; Y10T403/32327; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/59; Y10T403/599
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A folding device for a folding bicycle comprising a front body frame for carrying a front road wheel, a rear body frame for carrying a rear road wheel and mounting a saddle and a crankpedal thereon, a strut secured on the lower portion of said rear body frame, connecting means for pivotally connecting the lower end portion of said front body frame to said strut whereby in the folded position of said bicycle said front body frame swings toward said rear body frame, locking means for locking said front body frame to said strut in the unfolded position of said bicycle, holding means for maintaining a released position of said locking means, and a resilient member for biasing said locking means to the locking position, said holding means comprising a guiding pipe having an axis and firmly secured on the bottom side of said front body frame and a slide stop pin installed axially of said axis and movably in the bore of said guiding pipe, whereby said stop pin engages and holds said locking means in said released position when said front body frame is in said folded position, and said stop pin is automatically disengaged from holding said locking means when said front body frame is moved to said unfolded position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A folding device for a folding bicycle comprising a front body frame for carrying a front road wheel, a rear body frame for carrying a rear road wheel and mounting a saddle and a crankpedal thereon, a strut secured on the lower portion of said rear body frame, connecting means for pivotally connecting the lower end portion of said front body frame to said strut whereby in the folded position of said bicycle said front body frame swings toward said rear body frame, locking means for locking said front body frame to said strut in the unfolded position of said bicycle, holding means for maintaining a released position of said locking means, and a resilient member for biasing said locking means to the locking position, said holding means comprising a guiding pipe having an axis and firmly secured on the bottom side of said front body frame and a slide stop pin installed axially of said axis and movably in the bore of said guiding pipe, whereby said stop pin engages and holds said locking means in said released position when said front body frame is in said folded position, and said stop pin is automatically disengaged from holding said locking means when said front body frame is moved to said unfolded position.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
295 words
A device for folding and unfolding a bicycle having a rear frame with an extension and a front frame, said device comprising first plate means movably attached to said front frame; lever means attached to said first plate means and manually movable to a first position and a second position to cause said first plate means to move to a first position and a second position, respectively; means for pivotally connecting said front frame to said extension whereby said front frame may be pivoted between a folded and an unfolded position; first spring means attachable to said front frame for biasing said lever means to said first position; locking means for enabling said first plate means to be locked in said second position said extension comprising a hollow bracket for holding said front frame, said hollow bracket forming a second plate means arranged in a position to be substantially parallel with said first plate means when said bicycle is in said unfolded postion, whereby said first plate means engages said second plate means in said first position; said locking means comprising a. hollow means attached to said front frame, b. a first rod contained within said hollow means, c. second spring means, d. a second rod connected to said second spring means, e. whereby when said front frame is in said folded position, said second spring means biases said first rod into locking engagement with said first plate means in said second position, and when said front frame is moved to said unfolded position, said second rod abuts said second plate, causing said second spring means to release said first rod from said locking engagement with said first plate means enabling said first spring means to move said first plate means to said first position.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
295 words
A device for folding and unfolding a bicycle having a rear frame with an extension and a front frame, said device comprising first plate means movably attached to said front frame; lever means attached to said first plate means and manually movable to a first position and a second position to cause said first plate means to move to a first position and a second position, respectively; means for pivotally connecting said front frame to said extension whereby said front frame may be pivoted between a folded and an unfolded position; first spring means attachable to said front frame for biasing said lever means to said first position; locking means for enabling said first plate means to be locked in said second position said extension comprising a hollow bracket for holding said front frame, said hollow bracket forming a second plate means arranged in a position to be substantially parallel with said first plate means when said bicycle is in said unfolded postion, whereby said first plate means engages said second plate means in said first position; said locking means comprising a. hollow means attached to said front frame, b. a first rod contained within said hollow means, c. second spring means, d. a second rod connected to said second spring means, e. whereby when said front frame is in said folded position, said second spring means biases said first rod into locking engagement with said first plate means in said second position, and when said front frame is moved to said unfolded position, said second rod abuts said second plate, causing said second spring means to release said first rod from said locking engagement with said first plate means enabling said first spring means to move said first plate means to said first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
a rod disposed within said hollow core and laterally moveable therein;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
a rod disposed within said hollow core and laterally moveable therein;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
8 words
a spring means attached to said front frame;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
8 words
a spring means attached to said front frame;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 2, further comprising means attachable to said hollow means for holding said first spring means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said rear frame has a holding means attached thereto, and wherein said first plate means is locked in said first position against said holding means with said second rod of said locking means in contact with said second plate means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
and a second rod attachable to said spring means and said first rod, said spring means holding said first and second rods normally in a first position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
and a second rod attachable to said spring means and said first rod, said spring means holding said first and second rods normally in a first position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
269 words
In a folding bicycle comprising a rear frame portion for holding a rear wheel, a seat and a crankshaft holder, and a front portion for holding a front wheel and a handle bar, the combination comprising extension means attached to said rear frame; a semicircular bracket means fixedly attached to said extension; pivot means for pivotally holding said front frame against said extension and within said bracket means; bolt means attached to said front frame for locking said front frame to said holding means when said bicycle is in an unfolded condition; first plate means movably mounted on said front frame; lever means attached to said first plate means for moving said first plate means between a first and a second position; said lever means in said first position causing said first plate means to be locked against said bracket means thereby resulting in said unfolded condition of said bicycle, and in said second position causing said first plate means to be out of contact with said bracket means thereby resulting in a folded condition of said bicycle with said front frame pivotally moved toward said rear frame; means operable by said lever means for biasing said first plate means against said bracket means in said unfolded condition of said bicycle; and said lever means in said second position moving said first plate means out of said locked position with said bracket means whereby said front frame is rotated about said pivot means and toward said rear frame, said lever means thereupon locking said first plate means in a second position when said bicycle is in said folded position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
269 words
In a folding bicycle comprising a rear frame portion for holding a rear wheel, a seat and a crankshaft holder, and a front portion for holding a front wheel and a handle bar, the combination comprising extension means attached to said rear frame; a semicircular bracket means fixedly attached to said extension; pivot means for pivotally holding said front frame against said extension and within said bracket means; bolt means attached to said front frame for locking said front frame to said holding means when said bicycle is in an unfolded condition; first plate means movably mounted on said front frame; lever means attached to said first plate means for moving said first plate means between a first and a second position; said lever means in said first position causing said first plate means to be locked against said bracket means thereby resulting in said unfolded condition of said bicycle, and in said second position causing said first plate means to be out of contact with said bracket means thereby resulting in a folded condition of said bicycle with said front frame pivotally moved toward said rear frame; means operable by said lever means for biasing said first plate means against said bracket means in said unfolded condition of said bicycle; and said lever means in said second position moving said first plate means out of said locked position with said bracket means whereby said front frame is rotated about said pivot means and toward said rear frame, said lever means thereupon locking said first plate means in a second position when said bicycle is in said folded position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said last mentioned means comprises
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
237 words
In a folding bicycle comprising a rear frame portion for carrying a rear wheel, a seat and a crankshaft holder, and a front frame portion for holding a front wheel and a handle bar, the combination comprising an extension member secured on the lower portion of said rear frame above said crankshaft holder; a semicircular bracket secured on a side of said extension member to receive and hold the lower end portion of said front frame in an unfolded condition of said bicycle; hinge means for pivotally and transversely mounting said front frame within said bracket in said unfolded condition and away from said bracket and toward said rear frame in a folded condition of said bicycle; a hook member vertically and rotatably mounted on a side of said front frame to cause locking between said front frame and said bracket when said front frame is received and held in said bracket, said hook member including a release handle lever secured thereon; means for normally biasing said hook member to its locking position; and regulating means automatically responsive to said folded and unfolded positions, for holding the released position of said hook member after said hook member is vertically rotated to its released position and the front frame is moved to said folded position and for conditioning said hook member to its locking position when said front frame is moved to said unfolded condition of said bicycle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
237 words
In a folding bicycle comprising a rear frame portion for carrying a rear wheel, a seat and a crankshaft holder, and a front frame portion for holding a front wheel and a handle bar, the combination comprising an extension member secured on the lower portion of said rear frame above said crankshaft holder; a semicircular bracket secured on a side of said extension member to receive and hold the lower end portion of said front frame in an unfolded condition of said bicycle; hinge means for pivotally and transversely mounting said front frame within said bracket in said unfolded condition and away from said bracket and toward said rear frame in a folded condition of said bicycle; a hook member vertically and rotatably mounted on a side of said front frame to cause locking between said front frame and said bracket when said front frame is received and held in said bracket, said hook member including a release handle lever secured thereon; means for normally biasing said hook member to its locking position; and regulating means automatically responsive to said folded and unfolded positions, for holding the released position of said hook member after said hook member is vertically rotated to its released position and the front frame is moved to said folded position and for conditioning said hook member to its locking position when said front frame is moved to said unfolded condition of said bicycle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |