Patent ID: 7367576

Claim:
A foldable bicycle comprising: front and rear wheel axles which are disposed opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction, respectively extend along front and rear axes oriented in a transverse direction, and are adapted for mounting front and rear wheels, respectively, the front and rear wheels being disposed in tandem in a position of use; a sprocket which is rotatable about a rotating axis and is adapted to drive the rear wheel; a head strut having a lower head portion is connected to said front wheel axle, and an upper head portion which is opposite to said lower head portion in an upright direction transverse to the longitudinal and transverse directions and is adapted to couple with a handlebar; a seat strut having a front seat end is pivotally connected to said upper head portion about a first pivot axis parallel to the front wheel axis, and an intermediate support portion which extends rearwardly and downwardly from said front seat end and is adapted to support a saddle, and terminates at a rear seat end that is disposed upwardly and forwardly of said rear wheel axle in the position of use; a first bracing strut having a first front end which is pivotally connected to said lower head portion about a third pivot axis parallel to and offset from the front wheel axis, and a first rear end opposite to said first front end; a second bracing strut including a second rear end which is pivotally connected to said rear seat end about a fourth pivot axis parallel to the rear wheel axis, an intermediate bracing portion which extends forwardly from said second rear end, and terminates at a second front end that is coupled to said sprocket to permit rotation of said sprocket thereon, and a rear stay is disposed to interconnect said intermediate bracing portion and said rear wheel axle, said second front end being pivotally connected to said first rear end about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis and offset from the rotating axis such that lifting of said second front end of said second bracing strut towards said front seat end results in turning of said first and second bracing struts about the third and fourth pivot axes, respectively, so as to bring said bicycle into a folded position, where said front and rear wheel axles are closer to each other in the longitudinal direction and the front and rear wheels are held in tandem, and where said rear seat end is disposed rearwardly of said rear wheel axle; and a locking member disposed to releasably lock said second bracing strut from turning relative to said first bracing strut when the front and rear wheels are in the position of use.