Bicycle frame with asymmetric chain stay for performing freestyle maneuvers

Claim 2

In a freestyle bicycle for performing freestyle maneuvers having a frame of the type including a tubular top tube having front and rear ends, a tubular seat tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the rear end of said top tube, a tubular head tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the front end of said top tube, a tubular down tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the bottom end of said head tube, a pair of chain stay tubes having front and rear ends, a pair of seat stay tubes having top and bottom ends with the top ends secured to the top end of said seat tube, a bottom bracket secured to the bottom ends of said seat and down tubes and the front ends of said chain stay tubes, two rear fork dropout ends secured to the rear and bottom ends, respectively, of said chain stay and seat stay tubes, the improvement wherein: an upwardly arched tube is secured across the seat stay tubes behind the seat tube to provide a step behind the seat tube defining a standing platform on the seat stay tubes which platform is free and uncluttered for access on either side by either foot of a rider performing freestyle maneuvers; and a rear caliper brake is mounted across the underside of the chain stay tubes and has lateral brake actuating arms extending outwardly beneath the chain stay tubes, at least one of said chain stay tubes extending sufficiently outwardly to completely overhang the end of the respective brake actuating arm and protect the arm from engagement by a performer's foot when using the chain stay tube as a step during freestyle maneuvers.

Claim 3

In a freestyle bicycle for performing freestyle maneuvers having a frame of the type including a tubular top tube having front and rear ends, a tubular seat tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the rear end of said top tube, a tubular head tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the front end of said top tube, a tubular down tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the bottom end of said head tube, a pair of chain stay tubes each having front and rear ends, a pair of seat stay tubes each having top and bottom ends with the top ends secured to the top end of said seat tube, a bottom bracket shell secured to the bottom ends of said seat and down tubes and the front ends of said chain stay tubes, two rear fork dropout ends secured to the rear and bottom ends, respectively, of said chain stay and seat stay tubes, said bottom bracket shell being adapted to rotatably journal therein a pedal crank shaft having a sprocket alongside and adjacent to the front end of one of said chain stay tubes, the improvement wherein: a rear caliper brake is mounted across the underside of the chain stay tubes and has lateral brake actuating arms extending outwardly beneath the chain stay tubes; and said chain stay tubes are asymmetric, with the front portion of the other chain stay tube, opposite said one chain stay tube, being curved farther outwardly from the centerline of the frame than the corresponding front portion of said one chain stay tube, to provide a step completely covering the end of the brake actuating arm beneath said other chain stay tube to provide a support for a performer's foot while preventing contact with the brake actuating arm during freestyle maneuvers.

Claim 4

In a freestyle bicycle for performing freestyle maneuvers having a frame of the type including a tubular top tube having front and rear ends, a tubular seat tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the rear end of said top tube, a tubular head tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the front end of said top tube, a tubular down tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the bottom end of said head tube, a pair of chain stay tubes each having front and rear ends, a pair of seat stay tubes each having top and bottom ends with the top ends secured to the top end of said seat tube, a bottom bracket shell secured to the bottom ends of said seat and down tubes and the front ends of said chain stay tubes, two rear fork dropout ends secured to the rear and bottom ends, respectively, of said chain stay and seat stay tubes, said bottom bracket shell being adapted to rotatably journal therein a pedal crank shaft having a sprocket alongside and adjacent to the front end of one of said chain stay tubes, the improvement wherein: a rear caliper brake is mounted across the underside of the chain stay tubes and has lateral brake actuating arms extending outwardly beneath the chain stay tubes; and said chain stay tubes are asymmetric, with the front portion of the other chain stay tube, opposite said one chain stay tube, being curved farther outwardly from the centerline of the frame than the corresponding front portion of said one chain stay tube, to provide a step completely covering the end of the brake actuating arm beneath said other chain stay tube to provide a support for a performer's foot while preventing contact with the brake actuating arm during freestyle maneuvers.

Claim 5

A bicycle frame according to claim 2 in which each rear fork dropout end comprises a central vertical plate portion with the bottom end of a corresponding seat stay tube being secured to it, said vertical plate portion having a slot to receive the corresponding end of a rear axle, and a laterally outwardly extending horizontal plate portion secured along its outer edge to the rear end portion of a corresponding chain stay tube.

Claim 6

A bicycle frame according to claim 3 in which the rear end portion of each chain stay tube comprises a laterally outwardly extending standing platform at a level above that of the rear axle.

Claim 7

A bicycle frame according to claim 2 in which a diagonal tube is secured between the down and seat tubes to provide an additional standing platform for performing freestyle maneuvers.

Claim 8

A bicycle frame according to claim 2 in which an upwardly-arched tube is secured across the upper surfaces of the seat stay tubes to provide an additional standing platform for freestyle maneuvers.

Claim 9

In a freestyle bicycle for performing freestyle maneuvers having a frame of the type including a tubular top tube having front and rear ends, a tubular seat tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the rear end of said top tube, a tubular head tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the front end of said top tube, a tubular down tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the bottom end of said head tube, a pair of chain stay tubes each having front and rear ends, a pair of seat stay tubes each having top and bottom ends with the top ends secured to the top end of said seat tube, a bottom bracket shell secured to the bottom ends of said seat and down tubes and the front ends of said chain stay tubes, two rear fork dropout ends secured to the rear and bottom ends, respectively, of said chain stay and seat stay tubes, said bottom bracket shell being adapted to rotatably journal therein a pedal crank shaft having a sprocket alongside and adjacent to the front end of one of said chain stay tubes , the improvement wherein: a rear caliper brake is mounted across the underside of the chain stay tubes and has lateral brake actuating arms extending outwardly beneath the chain stay tubes; said chain stay tubes being asymmetric, with the front portion of the other chain stay tube extending farther outwardly from the centerline of the frame than the corresponding front portion of said one chain stay tube to provide a first step completely covering the end of the brake actuating arm beneath said other chain stay tube to provide a standing platform for a performer's foot while preventing contact with the brake actuating arm during freestyle maneuvers; an upwardly-arched tube secured across the upper surfaces of the seat stay tubes to provide a second step; said chain stay tubes having outwardly-curved rear portions extending past the rear axle to provide third and fourth steps; and a diagonal tube secured between the down and seat tubes to provide a fifth step.

Claim 10

In a freestyle bicycle for performing freestyle maneuvers having a frame of the type including a tubular top tube having front and rear ends, a tubular seat tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the rear end of said top tube, a tubular head tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the front end of said top tube, a tubular down tube having top and bottom ends with the top end secured to the bottom end of said head tube, a pair of chain stay tubes each having front and rear ends, a pair of seat stay tubes each having top and bottom ends with the top ends secured to the top end of said seat tube, a bottom bracket shell secured to the bottom ends of said seat and down tubes and the front ends of said chain stay tubes, two rear fork dropout ends secured to the rear and bottom ends, respectively, of said chain stay and seat stay tubes, said bottom bracket shell being adapted to rotatably journal therein a pedal crank shaft having a sprocket alongside and adjacent to the front end of one of said chain stay tubes , the improvement wherein: a rear caliper brake is mounted across the underside of the chain stay tubes and has lateral brake actuating arms extending outwardly beneath the chain stay tubes; said chain stay tubes being asymmetric, with the front portion of the other chain stay tube extending farther outwardly from the centerline of the frame than the corresponding front portion of said one chain stay tube to provide a first step completely covering the end of the brake actuating arm beneath said other chain stay tube to provide a standing platform for a performer's foot while preventing contact with the brake actuating arm during freestyle maneuvers; an upwardly-arched tube secured across the upper surfaces of the seat stay tubes to provide a second step; said chain stay tubes having outwardly-curved rear portions extending past the rear axle to provide third and fourth steps; and a diagonal tube secured between the down and seat tubes to provide a fifth step.