Patent Publication Number: US-6709000-B1

Title: Simplified training wheel-to-frame mounting assembly bicycle

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     The invention relates to bicycles, and more particularly to customer friendly simplified assembly systems, including no-tool quick assembly apparatus and methods. 
     The present invention arose out of development efforts directed toward simplified assembly of bicycles and the like. Shipping a bicycle in fully assembled condition is typically cost-prohibitive, and hence the bicycle is usually shipped in pieces, which in turn requires assembly either at the retail outlet or at home by the consumer. There is an increasing demand for simplified, quick assembly. There is also demand for fool-proof assembly, particularly by parents when the rider is a child, to assure a safe, reliable, properly assembled unit. There is also demand, particularly by parents of younger children, for units that can only be disassembled by use of a tool. 
     The present invention provides a simplified, quick mounting assembly for mounting trainingwheels to the bicycle frame. In the preferred embodiment, the invention enables such assembly without tools. Also in the preferred embodiment, the invention enables assembly only in a prescribed manner, to prevent improper installation. In preferred form, assembly is accomplished with a simple snap-in insertion step, and affirmative installation feedback is provided by an audible and tactile click confirming appropriate alignment and snap-in engagement, and proper, successful installation. Also in the preferred embodiment, disassembly desirably requires a tool. Furthermore, the invention lowers shipping cost by enabling more compact, lower profile packaging in pre-assembled condition. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled cycle in accordance with the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the cycle of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the structure in assembled condition. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating disassembly of the structure of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 1 partially cut away and exploded to illustrate assembly. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the structure of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the structure of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the structure of FIG. 9 illustrating assembly. 
     FIG. 12 is similar to FIG.  11  and shows the structure during assembly. 
     FIG. 13 is like FIG.  12  and shows the structure upon completion of assembly. FIG. 13 is taken along line  13 — 13  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line  14 — 14  of FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 11 further illustrating the construction thereof. 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a portion of the structure of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG.  17 . is an exploded perspective view illustrating assembly of the structure of FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the structure of FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the structure of FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 20 is like FIG.  19  and shows the structure during assembly. 
     FIG. 21 is like FIG.  20  and shows the structure upon completion of assembly. FIG. 21 is taken along line  21 — 21  of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a bicycle  30  having front and rear wheels  32  and  34 , a frame  36 , a seat  38 , and handlebars  40 . The frame supports a rear wheel axle  42 . A tool-free trainingwheel-to-frame mounting assembly  44 , FIGS. 2-4, mounts trainingwheel  46 , FIG. 1, to the frame with an insertion motion requiring no tools, to be described. A left side identical trainingwheel and mounting assembly is also provided (not shown). 
     The trainingwheel-to-frame mounting assembly  44  includes a bracket  48 , FIG. 2, mounted to frame  36  and defining a channel  50 , FIGS. 2,  5 ,  8 . Trainingwheel  46  has an arm  52 , FIGS. 2,  3 , inserted into channel  50 . Bracket  48  has a pair of locking members  54 ,  56 , FIGS. 4,  6 , engaging arm  52  upon insertion of arm  52  into channel  50 , FIGS. 2,  7 ,  8 , and preventing separation of the bracket and arm and withdrawal of arm  52  from bracket  48 . The direction of insertion  58 , FIGS. 2,  7 ,  8  is upward and transverse to rear wheel axle  42 . 
     Channel  50  is between bracket  48  and frame  36  and is formed by a U-shaped bracket member having a pair of legs  60 ,  62 , FIGS. 2,  4 ,  5 , extending outwardly from frame  36  and joined by an outer bight  64  spaced outwardly of frame  36  and defining channel  50  therebetween. Arm  52  is also a U-shaped member having a pair of legs  66  and  68  joined by an outer bight  70 . During the noted insertion motion, bight  70  of arm  52  slides along bight  64  of bracket  48 , leg  66  slides along leg  60 , and leg  68  slides along leg  62 . In the fully inserted assembled condition, bight  70  preferably rests flush against bight  66 , leg  66  rests flush against leg  60 , and leg  68  rests flush against leg  62 . 
     Locking members  54 ,  56  are engaged between arm  52  and respective legs  62 ,  60  of bracket  48 , FIG.  6 . Locking member  56 , FIG. 7, has a locking position biased into the path of movement of arm  52 , and upon the noted insertion is engaged and deflected by arm  52  rightwardly in FIG. 7 against the noted bias. Arm  52  has one or more detents  72 ,  74 ,  76 , FIGS. 6-8, preferably grooves or notches, engaged by locking member  56  upon completion of insertion and permitting locking member  56  to return to its locking position due to the noted bias (leftwardly in FIG.  6 ). Locking member  56  is preferably a spring tab permitting one-way insertion of arm  52  into channel  50  along legs  60 ,  62  and preventing withdrawal in the opposite direction. As noted, the detents preferably comprise one or more notches  72 ,  74 ,  76  in arm  52  engaged by spring tab  56 . Spring tab  56  flexes into and out of channel  50  along a direction parallel to bight  64 . If arm  52  is only partially inserted into channel  50 , for example such that only notch  76  is engaged by spring tab  56 , the arm will nevertheless still be locked in the channel and prevented from being withdrawn. When the bike is stood upright on the ground, the arm  52  will automatically be slid further upwardly in channel  50 , such that notch  76  moves upwardly, FIGS. 6,  7 , and spring tab  56  will engage and lock into the lowermost notch  72 . Spring tab  54  is identical, and engages in like manner its respective one or more detent notches  78 ,  80 ,  82 . Spring tabs  54  and  56  are mounted to respective legs  62  and  60  of bracket  48  in any known manner such as pins or rivets  84  and  86 ,  88  and  90 , respectively. In an alternate embodiment, the one or more locking members  54 ,  56  are provided on arm  52 , and the detents are provided on bracket  48 . 
     Bracket  48  is mounted to frame  36  at rear wheel axle  42 . Bight  64  has an aperture  92 , FIGS. 4,  5 , through which rear wheel axle  42  extends. Arm  52  has an open-ended slot  94 , FIGS. 2,  7 , receiving rear wheel axle  42  therein as arm  52  is inserted upwardly and slid into channel  50  transversely to rear wheel axle  42 . Axle nut  96  engages rear wheel axle  42  in threaded relation and mounts bracket  48  to frame  36 . Leg  60  of bracket  48  has a locking tab  98 , FIGS. 4,  5 , engaging frame  36  by being inserted through aperture  100 , to prevent rotation of bracket  48  about rear wheel axle  42 . Nut  96  is removable to permit disengagement of bracket  48  from frame  36  and removal of trainingwheel arm  52 . 
     Installation of trainingwheel arm  52  requires no tools. Disassembly of trainingwheel arm  52  from the bicycle does require a tool, namely a socket or wrench to loosen axle nut  96 . The no-tools installation in combination with a tool requirement for disassembly is considered a desirable advantage, particularly in the case of young riders where parents do not wish children to be able to disassemble the bicycle. The no-tools installation enabled by the tool-free trainingwheel-to-frame mounting assembly is considered highly desirable, particularly for non-mechanically inclined parents. 
     The tool-free trainingwheel-to-frame mounting assembly mounts the trainingwheel to the frame with snap-in insertion as spring tabs  54  and  56  spring back inwardly into respective notches  78 ,  72 . There is an audible and tactile click during insertion, providing positive feedback to the assembler. The insertion is unidirectional; and once the arm  52  is inserted, it is locked against withdrawal in the opposite direction. The locking mechanism provided by the one or more locking members  54 ,  56  permits the noted insertion, and locks trainingwheel arm  52  against withdrawal from the bicycle frame, all without tools. A release mechanism is provided by the assembly at axle nut  96  which is accessible by and requires a tool to unlock the trainingwheel from the frame after the noted insertion. 
     Frame  36  of cycle  30  has a headtube  110 , FIGS. 1,  9 . Headtube  110  is a tubular member extending along a steering axis  112  and having a cylindrical sidewall  114 , FIGS. 11-13, with upper and lower ends  116  and  118 . Front handlebars  40  have a lower central stem  120  extending downwardly into headtube  110 . Front wheel fork  122  supports front wheel axle  123  and has an upper central yoke  124  extending upwardly into headtube  110 . A stem-to-yoke mounting assembly  126 , to be described, mounts front handlebar stem  120  to front wheel fork yoke  124  in mating relation rotationally supported in headtube  110 . Tool-free stem-to-yoke mounting assembly  126  mounts stem  120  to yoke  124  within headtube  110  with an insertion motion requiring no tools. 
     Stem  120  is an axially extending tubular member having a cylindrical sidewall  128 , FIGS. 10,  11 ,  15 , and a lower end  130 . Yoke  124  is an axially extending tubular member having a cylindrical sidewall  132  and an upper end  134 . Stem  120  mates with yoke  124  in keyed nested relation at mating slots  136  and  138  respectively extending from ends  130  and  134 , preventing relative rotation therebetween about steering axis  112 . 
     Stem  120  has a locking member  140 , FIG. 13, engaging yoke  124  upon axial insertion, FIGS. 11,  12 , and engagement of stem  120  and yoke  124  in headtube  110 , and preventing axial separation of stem  120  and yoke  124  and withdrawal from headtube  110 . Sidewall  128  of stem  120  has a first aperture  142  therethrough. Locking member  140  is a pin or button radially biased by spring clip  144  to protrude through aperture  142  (leftwardly in FIGS.  11 - 13 ). Yoke  124  has a tubular sleeve  146  extending along and axially beyond sidewall  132  of yoke  124  and receiving and axially slidable along stem  120 . Sleeve  146  is rigidly mounted to cylindrical sidewall  132 , e.g. by welding. Sleeve  146  has a second aperture  148  therethrough radially aligned with first aperture  142 , FIG. 13, upon completion of axial insertion  147 . Locking member button  140  protrudes through first and second apertures  142  and  148 , FIG. 13, to lock stem  120  to yoke  124 . Sleeve  146  is an outer sleeve circumscribing sidewall  132  of yoke  124 , and locking member button  140  is biased radially outwardly through apertures  142  and  148 . In an alternate embodiment, locking member  140  is provided on yoke  124 . 
     Cylindrical sidewall  114  of headtube  110  has an access aperture  150 , FIG. 13, therethrough providing access to locking member button  140  by a tool in the form of a rod  152  radially inserted (rightwardly in FIG. 13) through access aperture  150  to engage and depress locking member button  140  radially inwardly (rightwardly) out of aperture  148 , to permit axial separation and withdrawal of stem  120  and yoke  124 . A pre-load band  154 , FIG. 11, around cylindrical sidewall  128  of stem  120  holds locking member button  140  depressed radially inwardly in aperture  142  prior to the noted axial insertion  147 . Band  154  is engaged by sleeve  146  of yoke  124  upon the noted insertion to axially slide along (upwardly in FIG. 12) cylindrical sidewall  128  of stem  120 , to release locking member button  140  such that locking member button  140  moves radially outwardly (leftwardly in FIG. 13) through first aperture  142  and into second aperture  148  to lock stem  120  and yoke  124  together. 
     Upper end  116  of headtube  110  has an upper headtube bearing  154 , FIG. 11, facing inwardly and upwardly. Lower end  118  of headtube  110  has a lower headtube bearing  156  facing inwardly and downwardly. Bearings  154 ,  156  may be O-rings with races, a ball bearing string, or the like. The bearings may be held in place by locking tabs such as  158  and  160 , FIG. 10 or by snap or clip rings or the like. Stem  120  has a stem bearing  162 , FIG. 11, therearound facing outwardly and downwardly and engaging upper headtube bearing  154 , FIG. 12, upon insertion. Bearing  162  is a collar slidable along cylindrical sidewall  128  of stem  120 . Yoke  124  has a yoke bearing  164  therearound facing outwardly and upwardly and engaging lower headtube bearing  156 . Bearing  164  is rigidly fixed to yoke  124 . A bearing biasing member in the form of helical compression spring  166  around cylindrical sidewall  128  bears axially between shoulder  168  of stem  120  and stem bearing  162  and biases stem bearing  162  axially toward yoke bearing  164 . Upon the noted axial insertion  147 , FIG. 11, stem bearing  162  initially engages upper headtube bearing  154 , FIG. 12, and upon continued axial insertion, FIG. 13, stem bearing  162  remains in engagement with upper headtube bearing  154  and also axially slides along (upwardly in FIG. 13) cylindrical sidewall  128  of stem  120  against the bias of biasing spring  166 , such that upon full axial insertion with locking member button  140  engaging yoke  124  at aperture  148 , FIG. 13, bearing biasing member  166  maintains axial spacing of stem bearing  162  and yoke bearing  164  equal to the axial spacing of upper and lower headtube bearings  154  and  156 , thus providing desirable bearing loading. 
     Tool-free stem-to-yoke mounting assembly  126  mounts stem  120  to yoke  124  within headtube  110  with snap-in insertion. Locking member button  140  snaps in to aperture  148  with an audible and tactile click, providing positive feedback to the installer of successful assembly and installation. The insertion is unidirectional, and once the stem and yoke are inserted they are locked against withdrawal. Locking member button  140  and pre-load band  154  permit the noted insertion, and lock stem  120  against withdrawal from yoke  124  and lock stem  120  and yoke  124  against withdrawal from headtube  110 , all without tools. The release mechanism enabled by access through hole  150  and the requirement of a tool to unlock stem  120  from yoke  124  and stem  120  and yoke  124  from headtube  110  after insertion are considered a desirable advantage, particularly for parents of young children as riders. Access hole  150  is typically covered by a decal or a plug which is removed to provide the noted access for disassembly. Pre-load or release band  154  holds locking member button  140  in its release position prior to installation insertion, and during installation insertion is engaged by sleeve  146  of yoke  124  to release locking member button  140  to move to its locking position, FIG. 13, engaging yoke  124  at aperture  148  of sleeve  146  and locking stem  120  to yoke  124 . 
     Cycle  30 , FIG. 1, has an opposing pair of right and left cranks with pedals for engagement by the feet of a rider for manual propulsion. One of the cranks, namely the right crank  180 , and the right pedal  182 , are shown in FIG. 1. A tool-free pedal-to-crank mounting assembly  184 , FIGS. 16-21, mounts pedal  182  to crank  180  with an insertion motion requiring no tools, to be described. The left pedal is mounted in like manner to the left crank. 
     The pedal-to-crank mounting assembly includes first and second intersecting bores  186  and  188 , FIG. 21, in crank  180 . First bore  186  extends along an axial direction (up-down in FIG.  21 ). Second bore  188  extends laterally and crosses first bore  186  at a common intersection  190 . Pedal  182  has a pedal shank  192 , FIG. 17, extending into a crank bore provided by bore  188 . Crank  180  has a locking member  194 , FIGS. 18,  21 , engaging pedal shank  192  upon insertion  193  of pedal shank  192  (rightwardly in FIGS. 17,  20 ) into crank bore  188  to lock pedal shank  192  in crank bore  188 . Locking member  194  is provided by a pin in first bore  186  and axially slidable therealong and biased by compression biasing spring  196  toward common intersection  190 . Pedal shank  192  extends into second bore  188  and into common intersection  190 . A third bore  198 , FIGS. 17,  19 , in pedal shank  192  receives pin  194  axially biased into third bore  198  to lock pedal shank  192  in bore  188 . Bore  198  has an axially facing stop surface  200  engaging and stopping pin  194  to limit axially biased movement of the pin. Bore  186  extends between first and second axial ends  202  and  204 . First end  202  is closed. Second end  204  is open. Bore  198  is coaxial with bore  186  in common intersection  190  in inserted, installed assembled condition, FIG.  21 . Bore  198  extends axially between first and second axial ends  206  and  208 , FIG.  19 . Each of the first and second ends  206  and  208  of bore  198  are open. Biasing spring  196  in bore  186  bears between pin  194  and first end  202  of bore  186  and biases pin  194  toward common intersection  190  and into bore  198  in assembled condition through first end  206  of bore  198 . 
     Pin  194  is accessible through second end  204  of bore  186  and second end  208  of bore  198  by inserting a tool in the form of a rod  210 , FIG. 21, axially upwardly in FIG. 21 into bore  186  through second end  204  and axially into bore  198  through second end  208  to axially push pin  194  out of bore  198  against the bias of spring  196 , to unlock pedal shank  192  from crank  180  and permit withdrawal of pedal shank  192  laterally leftwardly in FIG. 21 along and out of bore  188 . 
     Bore  188  extends laterally between first and second ends  212  and  214 , FIGS. 18,  19 . Each of first and second ends  212  and  214  is open. A pre-load or release plug  216 , FIGS. 17-19, is insertable laterally into bore  188  through second end  214  to hold pin  194  in a retracted withdrawn position, FIG. 19, against the bias of spring  196  and out of common intersection  190 . This is the pre-assembly condition in which the cycle is shipped. This construction permits insertion of pedal shank  192  laterally rightwardly in FIGS. 17 and 20 as shown at arrow  193  into and along bore  188  through its first end  212  without being blocked by pin  194 . During insertion of pedal shank  192  laterally rightwardly into and along bore  188  through its first end  212 , pedal shank  192  engages plug  216  and pushes the plug out of bore  188  through its second end  214 , to release pin  194  such that the pin slides axially downwardly in FIGS. 16 and 21 into bore  198  to lock pedal shank  192  in bore  188 . Insertion of pedal shank  192  into bore  188  through its first end  212  and the expulsion of plug  216  from bore  188  through its second end  214  is a single unidirectional rectilinear motion requiring no tools. 
     Pedal shank  192  and bore  188  are complementally shaped in keyed configuration to each other to prevent rotation of pedal shank  192  in bore  188  and to coaxially align bore  198  with bore  186  for receipt of pin  194  in bore  198 . In preferred form, the keyed configuration is a D-shape  218 , FIG. 18, though other configurations or keyway slots or the like may be used. In another alternate embodiment, the locking member is provided on the pedal shank  192 , and a locking bore is provided in the crank. 
     Tool-free pedal-to-crank mounting assembly  184  mounts pedal  182  to crank  180  with snap-in insertion. The assembly provides an audible and tactile click during insertion assembly as pin  194  snaps in to bore  198 , to provide positive feedback of a successfully completed installation. The insertion is unidirectional, and once the pedal shank  192  is inserted it is locked against withdrawal in the opposite direction. The locking mechanism provided by pin  194  and plug  216  permits the noted insertion and locks pedal  182  against withdrawal from crank  180 , all without tools. The noted release mechanism accessible by and requiring a tool  210  to unlock pedal  182  from crank  180  after the noted insertion is desirable, particularly for young children riders. Pre-load release plug  216  holds locking member  194  in its release position, FIG. 19, and is engaged by the pedal during the noted insertion motion to release the locking member  194  to its locking position, FIG. 21, engaging the pedal shank and locking same to the frame. 
     In the preferred assembly sequence, the trainingwheels are initially installed, followed by installation of the stem and fork assembly, followed by installation of the pedals. However, any installation sequence of these steps may be utilized. Snap-in engagement of spring tab  56  into notches  72 ,  74 ,  76  upon respective alignment thereof, and snap-in engagement of locking button  140  into aperture  148  upon alignment of apertures  142  and  148 , and snap-in engagement of locking pin  194  into bore  198  upon alignment of bores  186  and  198 , provides affirmative installation feedback by an audible and tactile click confirming the noted alignment and engagement, and proper, successful installation. Each step is a simple single snap-in unidirectional rectilinear insertion requiring no tools. Desirably, a tool is needed for disassembly. 
     It is recognized that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.