BICICLETA DESMONTÁVEL

Abstract

Dismountable bicycle comprising at least a frame, a seat tube, a saddle, two wheels and a handlebar, said frame is split into at least a front half-frame and a rear half-frame, said rear half-frame comprising a female / male section and a seat tube housing, said front half-frame comprising a counter male / female section and a sleeve comprising a hole for the seat tube, the seat tube, when assembled, passing through said hole of the sleeve of the rear half-frame and said seat tube housing of the front half-frame, thus realizing an upper connection coupling between the two half-frames thus locking the two half-frames together, simultaneously, further said male section on the front half-frame engaging with said female section of the rear half-frame creating a further lower coupling connecting the two half-frames by locking the two parts of the frame and the seat tube together. The male and female sections, said seat tube and seat tube housing and said seat hole on the sleeve having a non circular geometric section, to prevent reciprocal rotations between the parts.

Description

1 / 12 “FOLDABLE BICYCLE” DESCRIPTION TEXT Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention falls within the field of cycling, in particular in the field of folding bicycles.

[0002] More and more people are taking an interest in the world of bicycles, which has led to the emergence of bicycle touring, both with traditional and electric bicycles. Many people rent bicycles locally, as transporting them with a bicycle rack can be difficult. There are folding bicycles that can be placed in the trunk of a car or motorhome, but they do not perform as well as traditional bicycles, have a less appealing appearance, and are heavier. Furthermore, there are no folding racing bicycles, as this would result in a loss of performance in terms of frame rigidity, lightness, and aerodynamics. Electric bicycles are also not designed to be foldable due to the weight of the battery and, above all, cannot be mounted on a bicycle rack as easily as traditional bicycles usually are.

[0003] The previous technique already proposes frame splitting systems for storage in trunks, but these compromise frame performance and can cause very undesirable vibrations both in the case of amateur use and, even more so, in the professional use of the two-wheeled vehicle.

[0004] These demountable frames also, in addition to the presence of many gaps due to the presence of many Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 5 / 32 Two out of twelve parts, when assembled, have connections between elements that are subject to easy wear and tear, and often consist of cylindrical tube couplings subject to sliding and rotation against each other, which is decidedly disadvantageous. In some cases, to limit the clearance between the frame parts, minimum coupling tolerances are adopted which, disadvantageously, sometimes make frame assembly impossible due to thermal expansion, dirt in the coupling area, etc. Also disadvantageously, materials subject to deformation (such as steel, aluminum, titanium) or carbon fiber and Kevlar materials are used for the coupling areas between the various frame parts, which instead have the disadvantage of being scratched and therefore suffer weakening of the resistant sections. All this makes it impossible to create joints with little clearance and that are easy to disassemble.

[0005] Therefore, one of the objectives of the present invention is to describe a bicycle frame that can be disassembled and is composed of few parts.

[0006] One of the objectives of the present invention is to describe a detachable bicycle frame with reduced clearances.

[0007] Another objective of the present invention is to describe a bicycle frame that may also be suitable for electric bicycles.

[0008] One of the objectives of the present invention is to describe a detachable bicycle frame that guarantees the same performance as a non-detachable frame. Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 6 / 32 3 / 12

[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to describe a bicycle frame that is simple to assemble and disassemble.

[0010] One of the objectives of the present invention is to describe a bicycle frame of simple and economical construction.

[0011] These and other advantages will be obtained thanks to the innovative dismountable bicycle object of the present invention, said bicycle comprising at least one frame, a seat tube, a saddle, two wheels and a handlebar, said frame 2 being divided at least into a front half-frame 3 and a rear half-frame 4, said rear half-frame comprising a male (or female) section and a seat tube housing, said front half-frame comprising a female (or male) section and a sleeve comprising a hole for the seat tube, the seat tube, when assembled, passing through said hole of said sleeve is housed in the seat tube housing of the front half-frame, thus effecting a top connection coupling between the two half-frames, thus locking the two half-frames together simultaneously, furthermore, said male section in the front half-frame fitting with said female section of the rear half-frame,creating an additional lower coupling that connects the two mid-frames by locking the two parts of the frame and the seat tube together, characterized in that said male and female sections, said seat tube and seat tube housing and said seat hole in the sleeve have a non-circular geometric section to prevent rotations, Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, p. 7 / 32 4 / 12 reciprocal between the parties.

[0012] The aforementioned front and rear half-structures comprise axial hooks to prevent release between the said sleeve and the rear half-structure and between the said male and female sections.

[0013] The aforementioned male and female sections comprise coatings of anti-friction and compression-resistant material, in particular, in one embodiment, this ceramic material being lapped or polished to obtain reduced coefficients of friction to facilitate engagement and increase wear resistance.

[0014] The aforementioned female section comprises a gasket located at the point of contact between the male section and the female section on the edge of the stop to absorb vibrations and prevent wear between the parts.

[0015] The aforementioned seat tube shell includes internal reinforcement to ensure the presence of more material and to allow it to support the rider's weight and greater stress.

[0016] The aforementioned front and rear half-structures comprise reinforcing material or reinforcing collars in the vicinity of the separation area between the two half-structures.

[0017] The aforementioned front and rear frames comprise, in the separation area, reinforcing material and wear-resistant plates with grooved faces, with the function of improving the coupling between the two frames.

[0018] The aforementioned wear-resistant plates, when the bicycle is assembled, will be in contact Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 8 / 32 5 / 12 with a grooved face, increasing resistance to stress and significantly reducing wear in the coupling area.

[0019] The aforementioned rear frame comprises, in one embodiment, internally, in the area near the lower coupling with the front frame, an area reinforced with carrier material fixed in the longitudinal direction to the development of the rear frame. In said carrier material, a female housing is formed, in which another “male” carrier material, with a shape suitable for the purpose, is inserted, fixed / welded (etc.) inside the front frame and projecting outwards from the end of the front frame, said male-female coupling reinforcing the lower coupling area of ​​the frames. Note that the female-male coupling can also be reversed if the male-female sections of the half-structures are reversed, without modifying the objectives of the present invention.

[0020] At the bottom of the female housing, there is a gasket to further limit the clearance between the parts and vibrations. Brief description of the invention

[0021] These and other advantages will be better elucidated by the description of the figures below, it being important to emphasize that they are intended only to illustrate and not to limit the purposes of the present invention.

[0022] Figures 1 and 2 show the innovative collapsible bicycle that is the subject of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 shows the assembled picture.

[0024] Figure 4 shows the detail of a Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 9 / 32 6 / 12 hitch.

[0025] In Figure 5, an additional detail of a hitch.

[0026] In Figure 6, the reinforcement in the seat tube housing.

[0027] In Figure 7, the detail of a reinforcement collar.

[0028] In Figure 8, a plan view of a variant of the upper hitch area between the seat tube and the frame.

[0029] In Figure 9, a variant of the contact surfaces.

[0030] In the upper hitch. Figure 10, a variant of Implementation of couplings with transport material. Description of the figures

[0031] In Figure 1, therefore, the innovative collapsible bicycle object of the present invention is visible in a version in which the three parts into which it is divided are visible.

[0032] In particular, frame 2 is divided into a front half-frame 3 and a rear half-frame 4. The seat tube 7, connected at one end to a seat 8, can be removed from the rear half-frame, completely freeing it from the upper coupling 5. The front half-frame 3 and the rear half-frame 4 are connected by means of a lower coupling 6 and an upper coupling 5. In particular, with regard to the upper coupling 5, the locking between the parts occurs by coinciding the M-axis of the sleeve 9, integral to the front half-frame, with the H-axis of the rear half-frame (movement Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 10 / 32 7 / 12 A) and sliding the seat tube 7 into the semi-frame 9 with the S-axis also coinciding with M and H (movement B). The seat tube will then slide into the rear frame, effectively locking the front frame 3 into the upper coupling 5. At the same time, the two frames will also come together at the lower coupling 6, being, due to the geometry of construction suitable for the purpose, with the T and T' axes coinciding and capable of making a male-female connection with the male parts 10 integrated into the front frame and the female part 11 integrated into the rear frame.

[0033] Therefore, it is evident that the dismountable bicycle 1 can, in fact, be disassembled into just 3 parts. It should be noted that, in the case of composite bicycles, the male 10 and female 11 sections of the lower coupling can be integrated into the respective frames by means of resin bonding, as will be described below, whereas, if the frame is made of metal or metal alloy, the parts can be screwed or welded, making them, in any case, integrated into the frames.

[0034] Figure 2 shows the innovative collapsible bicycle 1 in assembled configuration.

[0035] In Figures 3 and 3a, frame 2, upper hitch 5 and lower hitch 6 are highlighted. The front 3 and rear 4 half-frames will also be held in position by means of common quick-release systems, as shown in Figure 3a, of the axial type, to prevent accidental release of the various parts of the bicycle.

[0036] Figure 4 shows a detailed construction of a coupling 6. This is a possible modality. Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, p. 11 / 32 8 / 12 is preferred, but not limiting. The geometric section of the male and female sections of the seat tube, and therefore of the seat tube housing, can have any geometry, but not circular (in this case, hexagonal), to avoid rotations around the T / T axis and thus provide the frame with effective locking of all degrees of freedom. It should also be noted that the male and female sections must be able to be fitted over a length of, for example, more than 15 mm to ensure the tightness and solidity of the structure. The male and female sections can be made directly into the frame or with male-female elements constructed separately and connected to the frame later, for example, by welding or another suitable method, depending on the type of material.

[0037] An important constructive observation concerns the contact surfaces 12 between the male section 10 and the female section 11, which will be coated with an anti-friction material that is highly resistant to compression. In particular, this material will preferably be lapped or polished ceramic to obtain reduced coefficients of friction and facilitate engagement. Furthermore, the ceramic material, in addition to its very high compressive strength, is lighter than a metallic material and can be machined with low dimensional tolerances. Last but not least, the aforementioned ceramic material has, as is known, much lower coefficients of thermal expansion than metallic materials, which benefits from very reduced clearances between the coupled parts and, therefore, a dismountable structure with very low vibration compared to a one-piece structure. The material of Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 12 / 32 9 / 12 Ceramic coating will also be adoptable in the case of carbon fiber frames, since it is known that the characteristics of ceramic materials (such as, for example, zirconia, silicon nitride, sialon, etc.) combine perfectly with carbon itself, given the negative coefficient of thermal expansion, the high modulus of elasticity, the high strength (if the composite is anisotropic) and the low specific weight, making it a material similar to ceramic materials. This is especially important for high-performance bicycles, where high-performance materials are required. A second option in coating the contact surfaces 12 is represented by an “anti-wear coating” that reduces the coefficient of friction.

[0038] The coating has the advantage of being much lighter than the ceramic tile material applied to the surfaces, as it is a layer that varies from a few micrometers to tenths of a millimeter. The coating material can be different depending on the substrate on which it is deposited (the substrate is the base material with which the coupling is made) and can be applied with different technologies, such as CVD, PVD, spray or immersion.

[0039] The polymer coating, in addition to having a very low coefficient of friction, adheres very well to surfaces (especially composite ones), is self-lubricating and elastic, which means that it resists stress very well. In particular, in the present invention, the coating of the material will be used in the application to the seat tube and inside the seat tube housing, since this must be inserted and removed whenever the Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, p. 13 / 32 10 / 12 bicycle for disassembly.

[0040] Figure 5 shows the detail of a coupling 6 in which a joint 13 is visible, placed at the contact point between the male section 10 and the female section 11, on the protrusion of the stop. This joint has the function of deforming elastically when the frame is assembled and the two parts 10 and 11 are fitted closer together and held together by means of, for example, the quick release 19, not visible here. This joint will additionally absorb some of the vibrations to which the frame will be subjected.

[0041] Figure 6 shows a cutaway detail of the dividing area between the front 3 and rear 4 half-frames, in the area where the seat tube housing 16 is located. In this part of the frame, to ensure the presence of more material and to allow support for the rider's weight and greater stresses, a reinforcement 15 can be inserted inside the seat tube housing 16. The seat tube housing 16, in a variant design, can be made with a locking wedge, according to already known solutions.

[0042] Figure 7, on the other hand, shows the detail of a reinforcement collar 20 that can be adopted in case of a shortage of support material in the area where the half-frames are divided. These reinforcement collars are fixed to the parts of the frame to be coupled; when the frame is assembled, the collars will be in contact with a U-shaped surface that acts as reinforcement near the area where the frame has the dividing line between the right and left half-frames. Figures 8 and 9

[0043] A detail of the area where it is done Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 14 / 32 11 / 12 upper coupling 5 is visible. In one variant, the reinforcement material 29 can be provided on both the front and rear halves of the frame, where grooves 21 can be obtained for wear-resistant plates 23, which have the function of increasing the coupling between the two halves of the frame. These wear plates have grooved faces 24 which, when the bicycle is assembled, come into contact with each other, increasing resistance to stress and significantly reducing wear in the coupling area 5.

[0044] Wear-resistant plates 23 can be made of metal (such as aluminum) or ceramic material.

[0045] It should be noted that wear-resistant plates, represented here in an exemplary embodiment with grooved faces 24, can also be made with a flat face; however, the complementary grooved version also prevents micromovements and makes the structure even more hyperstatic.

[0046] Figure 10 shows, in cross-section, a variant of the connection between the two half-structures with transition materials or with bonded transition material. The rear half-structure comprises, internally, in the area near the lower coupling with the front half-structure, a reinforced area 27 with transport material fixed longitudinally to the development of the rear half-structure. In this transport material, a female housing 30 or engagement cavity is formed, in which a male transport material 26, with a shape suitable for this purpose, is inserted, fixed / welded (etc.) inside the half-structure. Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 15 / 32 12 / 12 front structure and which projects outwards from the end of the front half-structure. The said male-female connection reinforces the lower coupling area 28 of the half-structures. In particular, the male 26 can be housed between the reinforced area 27 and the rear half-structure 4.

[0047] It should be noted that the male-female connection can also be reversed if the male-female sections of the half-structures are reversed, without modifying the objectives of the present invention. A soft gasket 25 will be present on the underside of the female housing 30 to further limit the clearance between the parts and vibrations. Undoubtedly, the advantage of having the dismountable bicycle object of the present invention considerably increases the practicality of use in conjunction with wireless brakes and gears, currently available on the market and easily installed on any bicycle. The absence of fasteners (wires and links) between the front frame and the rear frame creates maximum freedom of handling of the two parts, which become, in fact, completely separate elements from each other, with all the benefits of the frame.

[0048] Therefore, it is evident that the present invention allows for the solution of all the aforementioned problems of the known art, it being understood that non-substantial variants of the present invention, such as modifications in materials, bicycle model, couplings, color, dimensions, etc., are all variants included in the present invention, as better defined by the appended claims. Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 16 / 32

Claims

1 / 4 CLAIMS 1. A collapsible bicycle (1), comprising at least one frame (2), a seat tube (7), a saddle (8), two wheels and handlebars, said frame (2) being divided into at least one front half-frame (3) and one rear half-frame (4), said rear half-frame comprising a female (or male) section (11) and a seat tube housing (16), said front half-frame comprising a male (or female) section (10) and a sleeve (9) comprising a hole for the seat tube, the seat tube (7), when assembled, passing through said hole of said sleeve (9) being housed in the seat tube housing (16) of the front half-frame, thus effecting a top connection coupling between the two half-frames, thereby locking the two half-frames together simultaneously, additionally,the aforementioned male section (10) in the front half-frame (3) engaging with the aforementioned female section (11) of the rear half-frame (4) creating another lower coupling (6) that connects the two half-frames that lock the two parts of the frame and the seat tube together, characterized in that the aforementioned male (10) and female (11) sections, the aforementioned seat tube (7) and the seat tube housing (16) and the aforementioned seat hole in the sleeve (9) have a geometric section, provided it is not circular, to prevent reciprocal rotations between the parts.

2. Dismountable bicycle (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that the geometric section of the male (10) and female (11) sections of the seat tube (7) and therefore of the seat tube housing (16) have Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 17 / 32 2 / 4 a hexagonal geometry to prevent rotations around the axis (T / T') and therefore provide the frame (2) with effective locking of all degrees of freedom.

3. Dismountable bicycle (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that said front (3) and rear (4) frames comprise axial hooks (19) to prevent release between said sleeve (9) and rear frame (4) and between said male section (10) and said female section (11).

4. Dismountable bicycle (1), according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the said male (10) and female (11) sections comprise coatings of anti-friction and compression-resistant material, said material being, for example, ceramic material lapped or polished to obtain reduced coefficients of friction, so as to facilitate engagement and increase wear resistance.

5. Dismountable bicycle (1), according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said female section (11) comprises a joint (13) placed at the point of contact between the male section (10) and the female section on the stop protrusion to absorb vibrations and prevent wear between the parts.

6. Dismountable bicycle (1), according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the said seat tube housing (16) comprises an internal reinforcement (15) to ensure the presence of more material and allow the support of the cyclist's weight and greater stresses.

7. Dismountable bicycle (1), according to Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 18 / 32 3 / 4 previous claims, characterized in that said front (3) and rear (4) frames comprise reinforcing material (29) or reinforcing collars (20) near the separation area between the two frames.

8. Dismountable bicycle (1), according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said front (3) and rear (4) frames comprise, in the separation area, wear-resistant plates (23) with grooved faces (24) with the function of improving the coupling between the two frames. In fact, said wear-resistant plates (23), when the bicycle is assembled, will be in contact with the grooved faces (24), increasing resistance to stress and significantly reducing wear in the coupling area.

9. Dismountable bicycle (1), according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said rear frame (4) comprises internally, in the area near the lower coupling (6) with the front frame (4), a reinforced area (27) with transport material fixed longitudinally to the development of the rear frame (4). In this transport material a female housing (30) is formed, into which is inserted an additional “male” transport material, of suitable shape for the purpose, fixed / welded inside the front frame (3) and projecting outwards from the end of the front frame (3), and said male-female coupling reinforces the lower coupling area (28) of the frames.

10. Dismountable bicycle (1), according to the preceding claims, characterized in that Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, p. 19 / 32 4 / 4 at the bottom of the female housing (30) there is a gasket (25) to further limit the clearance between the parts and the vibrations. Petition 870250083421, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, p. 20 / 32

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