FOLDING TRICYCLE.

Description

DESCRIPTION in support of a patent application for an industrial invention entitled: “FOLDING TRICYCLE”. Owner: “ORMESA SRL”, with registered office in FOLIGNO (PG), Via of Industries 6-8. DEPOSITED ON............. DESCRIPTION TEXT The present invention relates to a tricycle folding. The tricycle is a device comprising: - a frame supported on three wheels: a front wheel and two rear wheels, - pedals mounted in the frame and connected by means of a transmission, to the rear wheels, - a saddle mounted on the frame, - a handlebar connected to the front wheel. The tricycle, unlike the bicycle, allows a cycling even for people with poor balance and therefore the mobility of children and adults with disabilities motor. The tricycle also helps prevent secondary damage caused from conditions of chronic immobility, contributing to the improvement of motor coordination, spatial perception and user self-esteem. However, such a type of tricycle, according to the known art, presents some drawbacks due to the impossibility user to easily access the frame independently of the tricycle, and to close the tricycle frame in a compact way, in a space-saving configuration, to facilitate the transporting the tricycle or storing the tricycle. The results achieved so far by the known technique have only one or the other of the two problems was solved. Tricycles with a frame having a low footboard are known which facilitates access for the user. However, such tricycles with lowered footboards are not foldable. There are known tricycles with a hinge in the frame that makes the folding frame to close the tricycle in a folding configuration minimal bulk. However, such tricycles with folding frames do not they provide some lowered platform that facilitates access to the user. The technical obstacle of being able to achieve both objectives consists in the fact that the frame hinge must be placed in the lowered frame platform, where the frame is subject to many stresses during use, for example on uneven terrain disconnected, during braking, during climbing operations and getting off the tricycle. When using the tricycle, the load points of the forces are the handlebars and the saddle. In the case of a hinge in one part bottom of the frame, the lever arms between the hinge and the points of load of forces (handlebars and saddle) are excessively long, with a risk of failure of a traditional hinge, while using the tricycle. The aim of this innovation is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art, providing a versatile tricycle designed to allow easy access to the user and which at the same time time is also of the folding type, suitable to be closed in a minimum overall length configuration for the purposes of transport. Another aim is to provide such a reliable tricycle, safe and able to avoid structural failure of the frame. These objects are achieved in accordance with the invention with the characteristics of the attached independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention appear from dependent claims. Further features of the invention will appear later. clear from the detailed description that follows, referring to one of his purely exemplary embodiment and therefore not limiting, illustrated in the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tricycle according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 1, illustrating the lowered footboard of the tricycle, during a configuration of use; Fig. 2A is an exploded view of the components of Fig. 2, Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating the lowered footboard of the tricycle according to the invention, during the closing of the frame of the tricycle; Fig. 3A is an exploded view of the components of Fig. 3 A tricycle is described with the help of the figures. according to the invention, indicated overall with the number reference 100. The tricycle (100) comprises: - a frame (1) supported on three wheels comprising a front wheel (2) and two rear wheels (20), - pedals (3) mounted in a rotating manner in the frame (1) and connected, by means of a transmission (30), to wheel hubs (21) rear (20), - a saddle (S) mounted on the frame (1), and - a handlebar (M) mounted on the frame (1) and connected to the front wheel (2). The three wheels (2, 20) rest on three points in a plane and so they keep the tricycle in balance (100). The frame (1) of the tricycle includes a lowered footboard (10) placed in front of the pedals (3) in a central position and lower frame (1) of the tricycle. The lowered platform (10) has sufficient dimensions to allow the user to rest one foot on it. When the wheels (2, 20) of the tricycle rest on the ground, the lowered footboard (10) is located at a height from the ground of approximately 50-150 mm, preferably 80-120 mm. This way, when a user needs to get on the tricycle (100), the user can rest one foot on the lowered footboard (10) to lift yourself off the ground and sit down comfortably on the saddle (S). The lowered footboard (10) comprises a front element (4) hinged to a rear element (5), by means of a hinge (6) having a vertical rotation axis (Z), i.e. orthogonal to the upper surface of the platform (10). The frame (1) comprises a front tube (12) which protrudes upwards from the front element (4) of the lowered footboard (10). The front tube (12) of the frame connects to a tube vertical (13) of the steering (5). The frame (1) includes a rear tube (14) which protrudes upwards from the rear element (5) of the lowered footboard (10). The rear tube (14) of the frame connects to a tube horizontal (15) on which a vertical tube (16) is mounted saddle (S). The horizontal tube (16) ends in a sleeve (17) in which a shaft (22) connected to the hubs (21) of the rear wheels. The transmission (30) comprises a chain driven on a gear wheel (31) connected to the pedals (3) and on a pinion (32) connected to the shaft (17) of the rear wheels (20). With reference to Figs. 2 and 2A, the front element (4) the lowered platform is made up of a boxed frame comprising a lower plate (40), an upper plate (41) and a central body (42) arranged between the lower plate and the upper plate. The lower and upper plates (40, 41) are made of sheet metal and the central body (42) is obtained from a bar metallic, such as steel. On the upper plate (41) there is a film (43) in non-slip material. The upper plate (41) of the front element has a length of about 30-40 cm and a width of about 10-15 cm. The front tube (12) protrudes from a front plate upper (41) of the front element. The front tube (12) has a diameter of 2-4 cm. Therefore on the front plate (12) there remains a free surface suitable for easily allowing the support of a user's foot. On one side of the front element (4) of the footboard is a lateral seat (44) was obtained, recessed between the lower plate (40) and the top plate (41). The lateral seat (44) of the front element of the footboard It is open posteriorly and anteriorly, by means of respectively a rear mouthpiece (44a) and an anterior mouthpiece (44b). The rear mouthpiece (44a) is defined between two blocks (45, 46) of the central body (42) having a shape step. The front mouth (44b) is defined by a notch “U” shaped (48) of a transversely arranged bulkhead (47) between the lower plate (40) and the upper plate (41). In front of the bulkhead (47) there is a front seat (49) recessed between the lower plate (40) and the upper plate (41). In the lateral seat (44) of the front element of the a clip (C) having a “C” shaped section is placed on the platform open to the outside. The rear element (5) of the footboard consists of a block comprising a lower part (50), ... upper (51) and a central body (52) which connects the part lower than the upper part. The rear element block It is made in a single piece from a metal bar. The rear tube (14) of the frame protrudes above from the top (51) of the rear element. The element rear (51) seen in plan has a slightly surface greater than a circumference of the rear tube (14). On one side of the rear element (5) of the footboard is a lateral seat (53) was obtained, recessed between the lower part (50) and the upper part (51) of the rear element of the footboard. The lateral seat (53) of the rear element of the footboard it is open anteriorly, by means of an anterior mouthpiece (53a) intended to interface with the rear mouthpiece (44a) of the lateral seat of the front element of the footboard. In this way the lateral seat (53) of the rear element communicates with the lateral seat (44) of the front element of the platform. The lower and upper parts (50, 51) of the element rear of the footboard have front ends (54, 55) to step shape suitable for coupling with the blocks (45, 46) of the front element of the footboard; when the footboard is in closed position of use. The lower and upper parts (50, 51) of the element rear of the footboard have respective coaxial holes (56, 57) with vertical axis passing through the lateral seat (53) of the rear element of the footboard. A pin (7) engages in the holes (56, 57) of the parts lower and upper (50, 51) of the posterior element of the footboard. The pin (7) has a radial through hole (70) which has in the lateral seat (53) the rear element of the platform. A tie rod (8) comprises a stem (80) arranged in the hole radial through (70) of the pin. The stem (80) has a first enlarged end (81) which comes into contact with the pin (7) for avoid the stem (80) coming out of the radial through hole (70) of the pin. The stem (80) has a second end connected to a knob (82) having a circular body pivoted on a pin (83) of the tie rod with axis orthogonal to the axis of the stem (80). A stop disc (84) is arranged at the second end of the stem (80) in contact with the body of the knob. The stem (80) of the tie rod is housed in the lateral seat (53) of the rear element of the footboard and in the lateral seat (44) of the front element of the footboard. Then the stem (80) of the tie rod engages in the clip (C) which holds the stem (80) of the tie rod inside the lateral seat (44) of the front element of the platform. The second end of the tie rod (80) passes through the front mouth (44b) of the lateral seat of the front element of the footboard and the knob (82) of the tie rod is housed in the front seat (40) of the element front of the footboard. The stop disc (84) of the tie rod is in hit on the bulkhead (47) of the front element of the footboard. With reference to Fig. 3A, the hinge (6) comprises a first fork (60) integral with the central body (42) of the element front of the footboard and a second fork (61) integral with the upper part (51) of the rear element of the footboard. The first fork (60) has two arms (62, 63) that protrude laterally on a side opposite to the side where the lateral seat is located (44) of the front element of the footboard. The two arms (62, 63) of the first hinge fork are arranged at one end rear of the front element (4) of the footboard. Between the arms (62, 63) of the first fork of the hinge is defined as a seat (64) “U” shaped. The arms (62, 63) of the first fork of the hinges have respective coaxial holes (62a, 63a), with axis vertical. The second fork (61) has two arms (65, 66) which protrude anteriorly from the upper part (51) of the element rear of the footboard. Between the arms (65, 66) of the second The hinge fork is defined as a “U” shaped seat (67). arms (65, 66) of the second hinge fork have respective coaxial holes (65a, 66a), with vertical axis. The arms 62, 63, 65, 66) of the hinge forks (60, 61) (6) are made of metal bar, for example steel, for ensure adequate mechanical resistance of the hinge (6). The two forks (60, 61) of the hinge are coupled in so that the lower arm (65) of the second fork is has in the seat (64) of the first fork and the upper arm (63) of the first fork is placed in the seat (67) of the second fork. The holes (62a, 65a,63a, 66a) of the forks are aligned and a hinge pin (67) is arranged in said holes (62a, 65a,63a, 66a) of the forks, so that the hinge can rotate around to the vertical axis (Z) of the pin. The operation of the tricycle is described below (100). When using the tricycle (100), the lowered footboard (10) is in a closed position shown in Fig. 2. In this situation, the anterior ends (54, 55) of the lower and upper (50, 51) of the rear element of the footboard are in struck against the blocks (45, 46) of the front element of the footboard. The rear mouth (44a) of the lateral seat (44) of the anterior element communicates with the lateral seat (53) of the rear element. The stem (80) of the tie rod is located in the lateral seat (53) of the rear element of the footboard and in the lateral seat (44) of the front element of the footboard, held by the clip (C). The enlarged portion (81) of the tie rod stem is in stop on the pin (7) constrained to the rear element (5) of the footboard. The second end of the stem (80) is engaged in the “U” notch (48) of the bulkhead (47) of the element front. The knob (82) of the tie rod is located in the seat front (49) of the front element, in a position of tensioning, in which the stem (80) of the tie rod is pulled forward so as to tighten the rear element (5) towards the element front (4). In fact, to tension the tie rod (8), the user activates the knob (82) of the tie rod, that is, it rotates the knob (82) of the tie rod around its pin (83) so as to bring the knob on the bulkhead (47) of the front element. The situation where the lowered platform (10) is in the closed position, it is a situation of maximum safety, in fact the opening of the platform is prevented by the presence of the tie rod (8). Furthermore, the fact that the hinge (6) is made with two forks (60, 61) having arms (62, 63, 65, 66) made of metal bar, ensures adequate mechanical resistance of the hinge (6) against the stresses to which the lowered platform is subjected (10) while using the tricycle. When the tricycle (100) is not to be used and must be transported in a space-saving configuration, the user operates the knob (82) of the tie rod, i.e. rotates the knob (82) of the tie rod around its pin (83) so as to move the knob away from the bulkhead (47) of the element front. This way the tie rod (8) is loosened. As a result the user can extract the tie rod stem (80) from the “U” notch (48) of the bulkhead (47), can disengage the tie rod stem from the clip (C) and can remove the tie rod stem (80) from the seat side (44) of the first element of the platform. In this way the first element (4) of the platform is not more tightly to the second element (5) of the platform. Then the user can rotate the first element (4) of the platform with respect to the second element (5) of the platform around the axis (Z) of the hinge, bringing the footboard (10) into an open position of not use as shown in Fig. 3. It should be noted that when the footboard (10) is in position open, the first element (4) of the platform has rotated with respect to the second element (5) of the platform of an angle of approximately 140- 170°, bringing the rear tube (14) alongside the front tube (12) in a condition of minimum overall length of the tricycle. In fact, in this case the entire length is saved of the tricycle that goes from the hinge (6) to a front end of the front wheel (2). The tricycle (100) may comprise locking means which lock the footboard (10) in the open position, to prevent the footboard moves during transport of the tricycle in the condition of minimum size. These locking devices can be unlocked by the user to be able to close the platform. (if such locking devices are provided in your tricycle and are visible in the drawings, please point them out to me and explain how they work). In the present embodiment of the invention, equivalent changes and modifications may be made to the within the reach of a technician in the field, which in any case fall within the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. THE AGENCY ENGINEER CLAUDIO BALDI SRL (ENG. GIANLUIGI CUTROPIA)

Claims

1. Tricycle (100) comprising: - a frame (1) supported on three wheels comprising a front wheel (2) and two rear wheels (20), - pedals (3) rotatably mounted in the frame (1) and connected, by means of a transmission (30), to hubs (21) of the rear wheels (20), - a saddle (S) mounted on the frame (1), and - a handlebar (M) mounted on the frame (1) and connected to the front wheel (2); wherein said tricycle frame (1) comprises a low footboard (10) arranged in front of the pedals (3) in a central and lower position of the tricycle frame (1) to allow the user to place one foot on the low footboard (10); characterised in that said lowered footboard (10) comprises: - a front element (4) connected to a front tube (12) of the frame, - a rear element (5) connected to a rear tube (14) of the frame, and - a hinge (6) connecting the front element (4) to the rear element (5);said hinge (6) having a vertical rotation axis (Z), i.e. orthogonal to the upper surface of the footboard (10), so that the front element (4) can rotate with respect to the rear element (5) bringing the lowered footboard (10) from a closed position for use, in which the front tube (12) is in front of the rear tube (14) of the frame to an open position for non-use in which the front tube (12) is alongside the rear tube (14) of the frame and the tricycle is in a condition of minimum bulk.; 2. Tricycle (100) according to claim 1, wherein said hinge (6) comprises: - a first fork (60) integral with the front element (4) of the footboard, - a second fork (61) integral with the rear element (5) of the footboard, and - a hinge pin (68) pivoted in arms (62, 63, 65, 66) of the fork, in accordance with said vertical rotation axis (Z).

3. Tricycle (100) according to claim 2, wherein said front element (4) of the lowered footboard is constituted by a box frame comprising a lower plate (40), an upper plate (41) and a central body (42) arranged between the lower plate and the upper plate; said first fork (60) of the hinge being integral with the central body (42) of the front element and protruding laterally from the central body (42) of the front element.

4. Tricycle (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said rear element (5) of the lowered footboard is made up of a block comprising a lower part (50), an upper part (51) and a central body (52) which connects the lower part to the upper part; said second fork (61) of the hinge being integral with the upper part (51) of the rear element and protruding anteriorly from the upper part (51) of the rear element.

5. Tricycle (100) according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the lower and upper parts (50, 51) of the rear element of the footboard have step-shaped front ends (54, 55) suitable for coupling with step-shaped blocks (45, 46) of the front element of the footboard, when the footboard is in the closed position for use.

6. Tricycle (100) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a tie rod (8) connected to the rear element (5) and to the front element (4) of the footboard to tighten the rear element to the front element, when the footboard is in the closed position for use.

7. Tricycle (100) according to claim 6, wherein said tie rod (8) comprises a stem (80) slidably arranged within a hole (70) of a pin (7) mounted in said rear element (5) and a knob (80) arranged in a front seat (49) of said front element (4) of the footboard.

8. Tricycle (100) according to claim 7, wherein said rear element (5) has a lateral seat (53) and said front element (4) has a lateral seat (44) communicating with the lateral seat of the rear element, when the footboard is in the closed position for use; said stem (80) of the tie rod being arranged in said lateral seats (53, 44) of the rear and front element.

9. Tricycle (100) according to claim 8, comprising a clip (C) arranged in said lateral seat (44) of the front element to retain the stem (80) of the tie rod in said lateral seat (44) of the front element.

10. Tricycle (100) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said front element comprises a transversely arranged bulkhead (47) dividing the lateral seat (42) from the front seat (49) of the front element, said bulkhead (47) having a “U” shaped notch (48) which accommodates one end of the stem (80) of the tie rod connected to the knob (82).