초록 ▼

A foldable, portable bicycle in which the handlebar, its elongated post, the seat assembly, the pedal crank and the frame are foldable quickly and easily into a compact and regular-shaped package that is easily portable and storable, and are unfoldable with similar speed and ease into a safe, durabl

A foldable, portable bicycle in which the handlebar, its elongated post, the seat assembly, the pedal crank and the frame are foldable quickly and easily into a compact and regular-shaped package that is easily portable and storable, and are unfoldable with similar speed and ease into a safe, durable and comfortable bicycle that accommodates adults of normal size. The frame is designed with a low profile that is substantially the same in height and thickness as the dimensions of the wheels and their supports, and the handlebar and seat assemblies extend upwardly to normal height, but fold and collapse, along with the pedals, to substantially within the confines outlined by the folded frame. Quick release latches are provided for the handlebar post, the seat post sections, the frame hinge and the pedal hinges, and the pedal cranks are designed for effective performance and easy, compact folding. Optional features include an enclosed front carrying compartment, a bracing cable permitting the seat post to be made of lighter materials, a rear carrying rack that extends the flat and low profile across the rear frame section, and a shopping cart mode in which the partially folded frame is held with the two bicycle wheels parallel, and an auxiliary wheel assembly stored in the mid-portion of the frame is swung out to form a 3-wheel cart with a carrying deck.

대표청구항 ▼

In a foldable and portable bicycle having a frame and a front wheel mount at the front end of said frame, a handlebar and steering assembly comprising: a front wheel support having an upper end and a lower end portion extending downwardly from said upper end, and carrying a front wheel with an axle

In a foldable and portable bicycle having a frame and a front wheel mount at the front end of said frame, a handlebar and steering assembly comprising: a front wheel support having an upper end and a lower end portion extending downwardly from said upper end, and carrying a front wheel with an axle mounted on said lower end; a handlebar having a central portion that normally is disposed above said upper end, and laterally projecting opposite end portions; an elongated steering post having an upper end that is joined to said central portion and a lower end spaced above said wheel support; steering post hinge means at the lower end of said post and including a hinge and a hinge base above said upper end of said wheel support, said hinge means defining a pivotal axis offset to one side of said post for swinging of the post from a normal upright position over said front wheel support to a depending folded position in which the post is offset laterally and longitudinally from the front wheel support and extends downwardly alongside and lies closely against the front wheel; said steering post hinge means including means for turning said handlebar from a normal position in which said opposite end portions project laterally on opposite sides of the wheel to a generally front-to-rear position to lie alongside the wheel during said swinging movement of the post to the depending folded condition; means for connecting said hinge base to said front wheel support through the front wheel mount; and selectively operable post locking means for holding the steering post securely in its normal upright operating position relative to said hinge base and releasable to permit the post to swing to its folded position.