Patent ID: 7819413

Claim:
A bicycle frame comprising: a top tube with a front end and a rear end, a head tube with a top end and a lower end, a down tube with a front end and a rear end, a seat tube with a top end and lower end, the front end of the top tube connected to the top end of the head tube, the front end of the down tube connected to the lower end of the head tube, the top tube and down tube diverging away from each other as the top tube and the down tube extend rearwardly from the head tube, the rear end of the down tube coupled to the lower end of the seat tube, the rear end of the top tube top connected to the top end of the seat tube, the top tube, head tube, down tube and seat tube substantially forming a closed main frame loop about a hollow central cavity, the head tube adapted to be coupled to a pivotable front fork which carries a front wheel and handlebars, the top tube, head tube, down tube, and seat tube each comprises a tubular member extending about a respective longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis each of the top tube, head tube, down tube, and seat tube lies in a flat longitudinal central plane, the frame in normal use in a bicycle is adapted to be moved in a forward direction with the head tube and down tube forward of the seat tube and the top tube extending generally in the forward direction, the each tubular member having a circumferential wall about its respective longitudinal axis with the circumferential wall having an exterior surface generally symmetrical about the central plane, the each tubular member having inwardly directed portions of its exterior surface facing the central cavity, a storage element disposed within the central cavity coupled to the frame, the storage element having an exterior surface with concealed portions of the exterior surface of the storage element adjacent and concealing inwardly directed concealed portions of the exterior wall of at least one of the head tube, down tube, and seat tube when the storage element is coupled to the frame, the storage element having exposed portions of its exterior surface which, when the storage element is coupled to the frame, together with exposed portions of the exterior surfaces of one or more of the head tube, down tube, and seat tube to which the storage element is adjacent forming in cross section normal to the central plane an oval shape generally symmetrical about the central plane and elongate in the forward direction wherein the oval shape is a teardrop shape having an enlarged rounded forward end and a reduced size rear end wherein the storage element bridges between the down tube and the seat tube, the down tube forms a front portion of the teardrop shape, the seat tube forms a rear portion of the teardrop shape and the storage element forms a middle portion of the teardrop shape.