Patent ID: 12195134

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward,” “rearward,” “left,” “right,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

Referring now to the drawings in general, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the disclosure or any invention thereto.

InFIGS.1A through2Cis shown a bicycle (“bike”)10having a frame12. The frame12may be a drop frame embodied according to the present disclosure. A drop frame, in some examples, may be a bicycle frame12with an adjustable top bar30. In some embodiments, the top bar30may be raised, lowered and/or moved sideways, or any direction out of alignment with the frame position as in use. A drop frame12may include a top bar30having a removable portion30. A drop frame12may generally include a top bar30, a head tube14adjoining a fork16, a down tube18, a seat tube24and/or seat stays22. The bicycle10may include a set of wheels, a seat26, chains, and handle bars.

Drop frame12may include a top tube30. Top tube30may be a folding top tube. Top tube30may be an adjustable top tube. Top tube30may be an articulating top tube. Top tube30may be a movable top tube. Top tube30may be a removable top tube. Top tube30may be a hinged top tube. Top tube30may, in some instances, retreat toward either a head tube14or toward a set tube24in an accordion type structure and movement.

Top tube30may include a first end32and a second end40, referenceFIGS.3and4. Top tube30may be removable at both ends32,40or either end32,40. Top tube30may fold downward, for example in a motion M1, and alternate, from a substantially horizontal first position to a dropped second position and back. The top tube30may drop at one of the ends32,40to drop out of the way of a user mounting the bike. Top tube30may be secured back in the first position after the user has mounted the bike. The top tube30may be secured in the horizontal first position to provide a stable, secure ride, as with a non-movable top tube. Top tube30may include a front portion30b, a movable portion30a, and/or a back portion30c. In certain examples, top tube movable portion30ais located between front portion30band back portion30c.

In one embodiment, top tube30may include a first end32and second end40, with second end40including a hinge and interfacing with an upper portion of the seat tube24. The first end may interface with the head tube14along an upper portion of the head tube and include a receiver35. A reversal of this configuration, with the hinged end at the first end32and the second end interfacing with the head tube14is considered within the scope of inventions of the present disclosure. The first end32and/or second end40may be considered, in some examples, a drop end.

By way of example, the top tube30may be hinged at the second end40and may drop from the horizontal, first position to the dropped, second position, shown inFIG.3andFIG.4, the top tube30drops toward seat tube24when first end32is unsecured, along M1. Top tube30may drop to a vertical position where drop bar30may be dropped to be at least substantially parallel to seat tube24. Top tube30may, in some instances, drop to rest with tube slot34resting along the seat tube24. A fastener58(seeFIG.2A) may secure top bar30to seat tube24when top tube30is in a dropped position.

Top tube30at first end32may include tube slot34, one example of which is seen inFIGS.5and9. Tube slot34, in one embodiment, may be an extension of and/or integrally formed part of tube30. Tube slot34may include an inner opening. Tube slot34may fit with receiver35. Receiver35may be a part of top tube30. Receiver35may be integrally formed and/or mated with top tube30. The inner opening in tube slot34may align with one or more openings in receiver35. A pin31may fit through the inner opening that is aligned with the openings in the tube slot34and receiver35, respectively. The pin31, by way of example, may be a locking quick release pin. The pin31may be tethered to the bike10by way of a tether31′ so that when it is extracted from the receiver, it remains attached to the bike10and does not become prone to being lost.

Referencing generallyFIGS.6-8, and10-13, the top tube30may include a hinge. Any type of hinged joint may be utilized at second end40. By way of example, a heim joint may be used to form a hinged joint. The heim joint may be integrally formed or mated with the top tube30. In one example of a heim joint, reference the exploded view of end40ofFIG.12, the heim joint43may include a part that protrudes from or is attached to the top tube30. A connector41may interface with the heim joint. The heim joint provides for lateral and vertical play to provide easy lowering of the first end of the top tube30. The heim joint43may meet with sleeve42. A ball swivel of heim joint43may align with openings in the sleeve42with a securing element, by way of example, a bolt that interlocks the heim joint43within the sleeve42. If a more rigid hinge is desired, other forms of hinge joints may be utilized and are considered within the scope of the inventions. In some examples, a bolt may extend through openings in sleeve42and interlace through connector41to form a hinge joint in end40.

Examples of heim joint43may include a first nut61welded in place inside or attaching to top tube30tubing. The tubing may be rounded over for extra strength at the end. A shaft70of the joint may screw into the nut. There may be a second nut62and, in some embodiments, a third nut63along the shaft70. The joint can be tightened or loosened by turning the joint shaft. The shaft70may be locked in place by tightening both the nuts together against the tubing. The joint includes a head68on the joint shaft70with the head having an interior ball swivel64including a central opening.

The top tube30may include an adjustment factor wherein turning the top tube30, for example clockwise, may slightly shorten or lengthen the overall top tube length, and vice versa. This adjustment factor allows for custom, secure fit of the top tube30with the top tube being adjustable and foldable. In some examples, heim joint43is adapted with securing nuts that may be loosened to allow top bar30to be rotated to lengthen and counter rotated to be shortened and then retightened at the nut to produce a custom, slightly adjustable due to rotation, top bar with an augmented secure fit when in use in the horizontal position.

In certain embodiments, a bicycle10includes a top tube30. The top tube30includes two breaks along a top tube length. The two breaks may be spread apart toward the distal ends of top tube30. The two breaks are configured to work together to allow a portion of the top tube30to become misaligned and/or retracted to provide more step through space in the bicycle10. In some examples, the step through space is at least 6 inches greater than with conventional bicycles. In other examples, there is provided an increased step through space of at least 1 inch, and in some examples of more than 5 inches. In some examples, the bicycle10includes a lowered step through space relative to the barrier to mounting created by the top tube30.

Some examples of bicycle10, include a top tube30, the top tube30including a drop end. The top tube30including a drop end may increase the weight of the overall bicycle10by 20 or less ounces, in some embodiments. In some examples, the added weight of top tube30may be less than 2 lbs. This increased weight is far less than the additional 5-8 lbs. often added to provide stability in a step-through frame bicycle.

A top tube30including a drop end may be installed as an aftermarket part. A top tube including a drop end may be installed as original equipment with the bike frame.

In some examples, a top tube first end or second end may include a joint and the other of the first or second ends includes a separation and drops out of alignment with the other top tube portions. The movable portion may drop to decrease a step over height requirement lower than a step over height requirement when all the top tube portions are aligned. The step over height requirement may be greater when the top tube is in the first position than when the top tube is in the second position. A step over height requirement may be considered the height of a top tube in a first position or riding position, measured from the ground to the top of the top tube (for example, the clearance needed to mount a bicycle). While bicycle heights and sizes may vary, the measurements remain consistent proportionally as to any given bicycle.

Examples may include a bicycle10having a bicycle frame12. ReferencingFIGS.1-2, the bicycle frame12may include a top tube30that is displaceable from the frame12in at least one place, the top tube30forming a riding plane P1in a first position and a mounting plane P2in a second position when the top tube30is displaced. The top tube30, in this example, alternates between the first position and the second position, and the mounting plane P1is lower on the bicycle frame12than the riding plane P2, forming a larger mounting space MS. A mounting space MS may be formed by a mountable area between the head tube14, down tube18, and seat tube24, with the top tube30forming an upper border of the mountable area along riding plane P1and determining the amount of the mountable space MS available to a bicycle rider. A larger mounting space MS may be available during mounting when the top tube30is in the second position.

In this example, a distance D2is formed between a ground plane P3and a mounting plane P2, D2equating to the distance between a ground surface (at P3) and the lowest available part of the mountable space MS (at P2). Embodiments may include a distance D2of between 12″ to 15″, and in other examples D2may be less than 16″ and in other examples less than 15″. Distance D2is reduced in examples of the invention when the top bar30is in the second position.

A distance D1is formed between riding plane P1and mounting plane P2. In some examples, distance D1may be at least 8″ of increased mounting space MS available to a rider when the top bar30is in the second position. Some embodiments of the invention increase the mountable space MS by at least 4″ and other embodiments increase the mountable space MS by at least 5″ or more along D1.

In other embodiments, a bike10may include a top drop tube30, wherein the stack measurement for any given bike (vertical distance from the bottom bracket to the center of the top of the head tube) is at least double that of a measurement of a drop height (vertical distance from the bottom bracket to the tube slot34when the tube slot is in a dropped, second position).

In still other embodiments, a measurement vertically between the bottom bracket to the tube slot34of any given bike is greater when the top tube30is in the first position than a measurement vertically between the bottom bracket to the tube slot34when the top tube30is in the second position.

In other embodiments, the disclosure includes a method for easy bicycle mount according to combinations of any of the embodiments of the present disclosure. In some examples, the disclosure includes a method for a bicycle drop top tube. A user may release a top tube30from the horizontal, in-use position, for example by lowering a section of top tube30. The user may step through and onto the bike and then re-position top tube30into the in-use position and stabilize the top bar, by way of example, by aligning the tube slot34with the receiver35. It is contemplated that the tube slot34may align with receiver35by aligning from movement from a top, bottom or side of tube slot34.

Numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structure and function. Many of the novel features are pointed out in the appended claims. The disclosure, however, is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts, within the principle of the disclosure, to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the general claims are expressed. It is further noted that, as used in this application, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one referent.