Abstract:
A modulized bicycle frame includes at least two frame body members each sidelong symmetric to each other and having a head connecting portion, a seat connecting portion and a bottom-bracket connecting portion, and a plurality of fastening members for combining the frame body members to form the bicycle frame. The frame body members are easy to assemble and disassemble so as to facilitate replacement and modification of the modulized bicycle frame. Besides, the frame body members are suitable for mass manufacture, thereby saving manufacturing costs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to bicycles, and more particularly, to a modulized bicycle frame, which is constituted from modulized frame body members, wherein the modulized frame body members can be easily assembled and replaced so that a user is allowed to design and realize his/her personalized bicycle frame. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    With the progress of life quality, leisure activities and exercises have formed an important part of our daily life. Among others, bicycle riding is a popular exercise suitable for people of all ages. For safe and pleasing riding, it could not be more necessary to have a quality and reliable bicycle. 
         [0005]    Conventionally, a bicycle frame is composed of a plurality of tubes and fittings, typically including a front frame formed by a head tube, a top tube, a down tube, a seat tube and a bottom bracket, and a rear frame formed by a seat stay and a chain stay that are extended from the seat tube and a bottom bracket, respectively. Such a bicycle frame traditionally has the front frame, the rear frame and the bottom bracket welded in to an integral frame body. While the traditional bicycle frame provides excellent structural stability, its appearance and size have been unchangeably determined at the time the parts are welded together. 
         [0006]    However, consumers&#39; appetite for styles and designs of bicycles is always changing with the fashion trends, and is often dampened by the immutability of the traditional bicycle frames. While buying a new frame is an alternative, whether the new frame accommodates the existing parts is another issue to be considered. 
         [0007]    Since the immutability of the traditional bicycle frames substantially prohibits the multiplex combination and replacement of the tubes, it would be desired to have a modulized bicycle frame that allows a user to personalize the combination and helps manufacturers to save manufacturing costs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the shortcomings of the existing devices, the present invention provides a modulized bicycle frame that is easy to assemble and disassemble. 
         [0009]    The frame assembly has at least two frame body members that are sidelong symmetric to each other. Each of the frame body members may be made of a metal material or a plastic material. Between the frame body members, there are a head connecting portion, a seat connecting portion and a bottom-bracket connecting portion. The frame body members are combined by plural fastening members. One top tube portion is formed by the frame body members between the head connecting portion and the seat connecting portion. One down tube portion is formed by the frame body members between the head connecting portion and the bottom-bracket connecting portion. One seat tube portion is formed by the frame body members between the seat connecting portion and the bottom-bracket connecting portion. In addition, on the frame body members, a seat stay portion is extended from the seat connecting portion and running counter to the top tube portion while a chain stay portion is extended from the bottom-bracket connecting portion and running counter to the down tube portion. The chain stay portion is formed with a retaining notch for receiving an axle of a rear wheel. 
         [0010]    Each of the frame body members of the frame assembly may be composed of a front piece and a rear piece. The front piece includes the top tube portion, the down tube portion and the seat tube portion, while the rear piece includes the seat stay portion, the chain stay portion and another seat tube portion. 
         [0011]    By connecting the head connecting portion, the seat connecting portion and the bottom-bracket connecting portion to the frame body members, the modulized bicycle frame is assembled. 
         [0012]    One objective of the present invention is to provide the above-disclosed modulized bicycle frame, wherein a user is allowed to assemble the modulized bicycle frame at his/her will by connecting the frame body members, the head connecting portion, the seat connecting portion and the bottom-bracket connecting portion, so as to endow the modulized bicycle frame with the possibility of modification and wherein the modulized components are suitable for mass manufacture and thereby save manufacturing costs. 
         [0013]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide the above-disclosed modulized bicycle frame, wherein the top tube portions, the down tube portions, the seat tube portions, the seat stay portion and the chain stay portions are also configured to cover a bicycle frame of a traditional bicycle, so as to meet decorative needs and reinforce the structural stability of the frame of the traditional bicycle. 
         [0014]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide the above-disclosed modulized bicycle frame, wherein the frame assembly may be made of metal or plastic so as to have a structural strength sufficient for the frame assembly to replace a bicycle frame of a traditional bicycle, so the present invention can be implemented with or without a traditional bicycle for improved versatility. 
         [0015]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide the above-disclosed modulized bicycle frame, wherein the frame assembly may be made through pressing when made of metal or alloy, or may be made through injection molding when made of plastic, both being suitable for mass manufacture that saves manufacturing costs and reducing the number of separate parts. Thereby, it is convenient for a user to assemble and carry. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a modulized bicycle frame according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective of the modulized bicycle frame according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a modulized bicycle frame according to a second embodiment of the present invention 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective of the modulized bicycle frame according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the modulized bicycle frame according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective of a modulized bicycle frame according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a modulized bicycle frame of the present invention is primarily composed of at least one frame assembly  10  and a plurality of fastening member  20 , which will be illustrated in detail below. 
         [0024]    The frame assembly  10  has at least two frame body members  11  that are sidelong symmetric to each other. Each of the frame body members  11  may be made of a metal material or a plastic material. Between the frame body members  11 , there are a head connecting portion  12 , a seat connecting portion  13  and a bottom-bracket connecting portion  14 . The head connecting portion  12  is configured to receive a handle, a front fork and a front wheel. The seat connecting portion  13  is configured to receive a seat. The bottom-bracket connecting portion  14  is configured to receive a mechanism driving a bicycle, such as crank, a chainwheel, pedals and other necessary parts. 
         [0025]    At least one top tube portion  111  is formed by the frame body members  11  between the head connecting portion  12  and the seat connecting portion  13 . At least one down tube portion  112  is formed by the frame body members  11  between the head connecting portion  12  and the bottom-bracket connecting portion  14 . Furthermore, at least one seat tube portion  113  is formed by the frame body members  11  between the seat connecting portion  13  and the bottom-bracket connecting portion  14 . In addition, on the frame body members  11 , a seat stay portion  114  is extended from the seat connecting portion  13  and running counter to the top tube portion  111  while a chain stay portion  115  is extended from the bottom-bracket connecting portion  14  and running counter to the down tube portion  112 . The chain stay portion  115  is formed with a retaining notch  116  for receiving an axle of a rear wheel. 
         [0026]    The plural fastening members  20  serve to provide combination between the frame body member  11  and the head connecting portion  12  and between the seat connecting portion  13  and the bottom-bracket connecting portion  14  so as to make the frame body members  11  assembled to each other. The fastening member  20  may be bolts, rivets, blind rivets or tenon-mortise structures. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  illustrate the first embodiment of the present invention. Therein, for the sake of mass manufacture, each of the frame body members  11  of the frame assembly  10  may be composed of a front piece  15  and a rear piece  16 . The front piece  15  includes the top tube portion  111 , the down tube portion  112  and the seat tube portion  113 , while the rear piece  16  includes the seat stay portion  114 , the chain stay portion  115  and another seat tube portion  113 . The front piece  15  and the rear piece  16  are such assembled that the seat tube portions  113  thereof are overlapped, and the fastening members  20  make the head connecting portion  12 , the seat connecting portion  13  and the bottom-bracket connecting portion  14  correspondingly assembled. 
         [0028]    Upon assembling the top tube portions  111 , the down tube portions  112  and the seat tube portions  113  of the front pieces  15 , a top tube, a down tube and a seat tube as those known in a traditional bicycle are formed. By assembling the seat stay portions  114  and the chain stay portions  115  of the rear pieces  16 , a seat stay and a chain stay as those known in a traditional bicycle are formed. The fastening members  20  serve to not only fasten the frame body members  11 , but also hold the head connecting portion  12 , the seat connecting portion  13  and the bottom-bracket connecting portion  14  together, thereby ensuring the solidness and stability of the head tube, the seat tube and the bottom bracket such constructed. A user is thus allowed to choose any said frame assembly  10  of his/her favorite style to form his/her personalized bicycle frame. In addition, when a manufacturer produces the subject matter of the present invention, as long as the frame body members  11  are with the relative positions and distance between the head connecting portion  12 , the seat connecting portion  13  and the bottom-bracket connecting portion  14  fixed, the frame body members  11  of different appearances can be assembled with existing parts without problem, so a user can replace the frame body members  11  easily as often as he/she wants. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 3  through  FIG. 5 , in another embodiment of the present invention, all components of the previously discussed embodiment are incorporated. Furthermore, there is a top tube  101  provided between the head connecting portion  12  and the seat connecting portion  13 , a down tube  102  provided between the head connecting portion  12  and the bottom-bracket connecting portion  14 , and a seat tube  103  provided between the seat connecting portion  13  and the bottom-bracket connecting portion  14 . The seat connecting portion  13  has two seat stay tubes  104  extended counter to the top tube  101  while the bottom-bracket connecting portion  14  has two chain stay tube  105  extended counter to the down tube  102 . In assembly, the top tube  101  is sandwiched by the top tube portions  111 , and the down tube  102  is sandwiched by the down tube portions  112 , while the seat tube  103  is sandwiched by the seat tube portions  113 . The seat stay portions  114  sandwich the seat stay tubes  104  and the chain stay portions  115  sandwich the chain stay tubes  105 . 
         [0030]    Alternatively, the present invention may be applied to a traditional bicycle so as to add the head connecting portion  12 , the seat connecting portion  13  and the bottom-bracket connecting portion  14  to the traditional bicycle. In such a case, the top tube portions  111 , the down tube portions  112 , and the seat tube portions  113  of the frame body members  11  are respectively aligned and combined so as to receive a top tube  101 , a down tube  102  and a seat tube  103  of the traditional bicycle, respectively. Meantime, the seat stay portions  114  and the chain stay portions  115  cover a seat stay tube  104  and a chain stay tube  105  of the traditional bicycle from outside. Thereby, the top tube portions  111 , the down tube portions  112 , the seat tube portions  113 , the seat stay portions  114  and the chain stay portion  115  can removably wrap the frame of the traditional bicycle for a decorative purpose while the frame body members jointly reinforce the structural stability of the frame of the traditional bicycle. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , in another embodiment of the present invention, all components of the previously discussed embodiment are incorporated. Furthermore, the frame body members  11  are each a one-piece structure with the front frame and the rear frame integrated, so as to further improve the integrity and stability of the assembled modulized bicycle frame. 
         [0032]    The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments and it is understood that the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Moreover, as the contents disclosed herein should be readily understood and can be implemented by a person skilled in the art, all equivalent changes or modifications which do not depart from the concept of the present invention should be encompassed by the appended claims.