Linkage connection mechanism and method for front fork leg and handlebar stem of folding bicycle

Abstract

The invention discloses a linkage connecting mechanism for a front fork leg and a handlebar vertical tube of a folding bicycle, which realizes efficient folding and unfolding of the bicycle through the innovative structural design that the fork leg is hinged with a fork shoulder, and the handlebar vertical tube is in sliding connection with the fork shoulder and is in sleeve connection with the fork leg. A user only needs to rotate the handlebar to control the rudder of the front wheel to steer and control the handlebar to ascend and descend, the folding action that the front wheel is close to the rear wheel can be achieved in a linkage mode, and the size of the bicycle is greatly reduced. And the lifting handle keeps the holding handle on the upper portion at the original position, a reinforcing structure is formed at the hinged position after the vertical pipe is inserted into the fork legs, and the semi-automatic folding operation of lifting unfolding and pressing storage can be completed with one hand. The mechanism is simple in design and convenient to operate, friendly and easy-to-use folding experience is provided for female users, and the folding bicycle is pushed to enter the 2.0 era.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of bicycles, in particular to a linkage connection mechanism between a front fork leg and a handlebar riser of a foldable bicycle. Background Art

[0002] The front fork of a conventional bicycle is mainly composed of three parts: the front fork leg, the fork crown assembly, and the vertical tube. Most existing folding bicycles use a folding device to connect the handlebar to the front fork steerer tube, which has the disadvantages of allowing too much free rotation of 360 degrees and easy winding and breaking of the wire. In addition, the folded handlebar will cause the grip to contact the mud and be contaminated. The structure after folding is messy, and it is necessary to bend down to pick up the handlebar to unfold it, which is complicated and not ergonomic. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention aims to provide a foldable bicycle with a single-arm front fork leg connected to a handlebar stem and capable of being lifted and lowered. Through an innovative linkage design, the bicycle can be semi-automatically folded by simply turning the handlebars, thereby meeting the requirements of a user-friendly design and improving user convenience.

[0004] The front fork of the present invention comprises a vertical tube, a fork crown sleeve, a support rod and a fork leg. The fork crown assembly is formed by connecting the sleeve and the support rod. The front fork leg is hinged with the fork crown to form a foldable front fork. The handlebar is slidably connected with the fork crown outside the head tube, and then sleeved and fixed with the front fork leg to form a force-bearing structure.

[0005] The sleeve comprises a sliding connection or sleeve connection structure formed by a sliding groove and a sleeve rod and connected with a handlebar stem sleeve.

[0006] The upper end of the sleeve of the fork shoulder is connected with the upper end of the vertical pipe via a connecting plate to form a force-bearing structure. The sleeve is arranged parallel to the vertical pipe, and a wedge ring is arranged inside the sleeve.

[0007] The present invention utilizes the rotation characteristics of the threaded connection between the handlebar and the front fork leg. When the handlebar controls the front wheel rudder to swing left and right more than 90 degrees, it is a non-forward state. At this time, the handlebar and the sleeve continue to swing and are resisted by the frame tube, and the handlebar can continue to rotate and screw into the front fork leg to be tightened. When the handlebar and the sleeve of the fork crown are slidably connected and inserted into the correct position, the spring ball pops out and locks.

[0008] Furthermore, when the handlebar drives the stem to swing and turn backward, the front fork is stuck by the interference between the sleeve on the stem and the frame tube; the front fork remains upright under the action of the spring return, at this time, the stem is screwed into the front fork leg and tightened, otherwise it is screwed out.

[0009] When the bicycle is folded, the rudder swings toward the rear of the body, pressing down the raised handlebar stem and applying a downward force of 10 kg (if the wedge ring damping force of the handlebar stem is set to 2 kg, the whole bicycle will be about 8 kg), which can force the front fork legs to overcome the spring stress and fold, just like a horse kneeling with its front legs; when the handlebar stem falls down and presses against the upper tube opening of the front fork leg, the front fork can be locked, keeping the front wheel in a folded state.

[0010] During the unfolding operation, lift the handlebar with one hand. Under the action of the spring, the front fork legs will automatically straighten. Rotate the handlebar tube to complete the socket connection or screw connection and locking with the front fork legs, truly realizing the convenient operation of "lifting to unfold and pressing to fold".

[0011] In addition, rotating the handlebar tube less than half a turn can release the front fork to complete folding, driving the front wheel to move backward and close to the frame, further reducing the volume. When operating in the reverse direction, swing the handlebar counterclockwise to rotate the rudder. The side of the sleeve abuts against the frame tube, and the spring bead is pressed into the hole to unlock. The handlebar tube is screwed out to complete the semi-automatic folding process.

[0012] For semi-automatic folding, the upper and lower sections of the front fork are hinged. The handlebar tube is slidably connected to the upper section of the front fork and screwed to the lower section outside the head tube. The specific steps are as follows: Step 1: Insert the handlebar tube downward and rotate it to tightly fix it to the lower section of the front fork with screws. Step 2: Rotate the handlebar tube in the reverse direction to disengage it from the lower section of the front fork and raise it. Step 3: Fold the front fork and then lower the handlebar tube.

[0013] When the handlebar tube is in the raised state, the front wheel swings backward, the front fork legs are folded, and the handlebar tube is inserted downward in front of the front wheel, which can minimize the storage volume. At the same time, when the handlebar tube is lowered, it drives the crossbar to descend to a height not higher than the head tube cup cover. The thin handle can be retracted into the crossbar, further optimizing the storage effect.

[0014] The present invention has remarkable beneficial effects: 1. The single-arm fork leg design can make the front and rear wheels closely approach, greatly reducing the volume after folding. 2. The lifting handlebar keeps the grip in the upper position, which conforms to ergonomics, is comfortable to operate, and clean. 3. The insertion of the handlebar tube into the fork leg forms a reinforcing structure at the hinge, enhancing the overall stability and reliability. 4. Only by rotating the handlebar can semi-automatic folding be achieved, and the operation is simple and convenient to use. Description of the Drawings

[0015] Figure 1 It is the front view of the connection structure between the front fork leg and the handlebar tube in the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 It is the structure diagram of the front fork leg in the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 It is the structure diagram of the fork shoulder assembly in the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 It is the schematic diagram of the folding of the fork leg of the front fork in the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 It is the cross-sectional view of the connection between the handlebar tube and the fork shoulder sleeve and the front fork leg in the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6Schematic top view of the limited swing of the riser pipe in the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 Side view of the folding of the front fork leg in the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 Rear top view of the folding and swinging backward of the front fork leg in the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 Rear side view of the folded bicycle in the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 Front view of the connection structure between the front fork leg and the S-shaped riser pipe in the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 Front view of the connection structure between the front fork leg connecting upper tube and the riser pipe in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Wherein: 1. Front fork leg; 2. Fork shoulder; 21. Upright tube; 22. Support rod; 23. Sleeve; 24. Wedge ring; 25. Connecting plate; 26. Hinge plate; 3. Riser pipe; 4. Screwed piece; 5. Head tube; 6. Pin shaft; 7. Frame tube; 8. Cross bar; 9. Thin bar; 10. Headset cover; 11. Front wheel; 12. Spring bead; 13. Leg upper tube; 14. Spring. Detailed implementation manners

[0017] In the present invention, sliding connection covers the implementation form of socket connection. The sleeve is only a preferred component, and in fact, structures such as sliding sleeves, sliders, sliding grooves, pins, and sleeve rods can be used to achieve it; socket connection also includes plug connection, which is mainly used to achieve the clamping and fixing of pipe fittings. The left and right structures can be equivalently interchanged. "Falling" specifically refers to the state of reaching the maximum descending height. Based on the concept and principle of the present invention, changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations made by those skilled in the art to the implementation manners all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0018] Embodiment 1: Refer to the attached Figures 1-4 As shown, the front fork of the present invention is composed of upper and lower sections; the upper end includes a front fork upright tube (21), a fork shoulder (2), and the sleeve (23) is connected and fixed by a support rod (22). The lower end adopts a single-arm front fork leg (1). The upper and lower sections are hinged into a folding front fork by a pin shaft (6). A torsion spring (14) is arranged at the pin shaft (6) of the front fork. The spring (14) provides a torsion force of 10 kg to straighten the fork leg. The front fork leg (1) is reset under the action of the spring (14) and is in an upright state.

[0019] A hinge plate (26) is fixedly arranged on the sleeve (23) of the fork shoulder for installing the pin shaft (6).

[0020] Refer to the attached Figure 1 , 5As shown, the handlebar tube (3) is arranged outside the head tube (5) and slidably connected to the fork shoulder (2) to form a liftable structure. When the front fork legs (1) are in the upright state, the handlebar tube (3) descends and sleeves with the front fork legs (1). The sleeved part adopts a wedge structure to achieve gapless reinforcement after sleeving.

[0021] See Appendix Figure 4 、 5 、10, the sleeve (23) of the fork shoulder (2) is arranged parallel to the vertical tube (21) and connected into a stress structure. The upper end of the sleeve (23) is fixed to the upper end of the vertical tube (21) through a connecting plate (25).

[0022] As Figure 5 shown in the left figure, the lower taper section of the handlebar tube (3) adopts a threaded structure, preferably a right-handed thread. A screw connecting piece (4) is arranged between the handlebar tube (3) and the front fork legs (1). Grooves are respectively formed in the lower taper section of the handlebar tube (3) and the upper taper pipe orifice of the front fork legs (1), and the screw connecting piece (4) is installed to realize threaded rotation connection. Further, the screw connecting piece (4) adopts multiple screws and can be adjustably installed on the handlebar tube (3) with inclined and multi-hole positions to make it tightly fit with the fork legs. The protruding screw connecting piece (4) also plays a role in preventing the handlebar tube (3) from falling off from the sleeve (23), for anti-theft.

[0023] As Figure 5 shown in the right cross-sectional view, the sleeve (23) is arranged in upper and lower segments. The upper sleeve (23) is replaced by a connecting plate (25), and holes are formed in the connecting plate (25) to form a sleeve ring that sleeves on the handlebar tube (3). A wedge ring (24) is arranged at the inner orifice of the sleeve (23) to make the handlebar tube (3) and the sleeve (23) of the fork shoulder slide without gaps.

[0024] The wedge ring (24) is made of plastic or elastic material and has an open structure like a piston ring. The outer ring is wedge-shaped and fits with the wedge-shaped surface at the inner orifice of the sleeve (23). The inner cavity of the wedge ring (24) is smaller than the outer diameter of the handlebar tube (3) to form a self-locking ring type damping structure. Further, wedge rings (24) are arranged at both the upper and lower inner orifices of the sleeve (23). By using the wedge ring (24), the handlebar tube (3) is held by the sleeve (23) with an appropriate force to avoid free up and down movement; preferably, the holding force is about 2 kg. When the handlebar tube (3) is pressed down or lifted beyond this force, the handlebar tube (3) can rise or fall without gaps and with damping.

[0025] See Appendix Figure 5 、 6 shown, holes are drilled in the sleeved section of the handlebar tube (3) and tapered copper spring beads (12) with spring protrusions are installed in the holes.

[0026] The present invention utilizes the screw connection rotation characteristics of the handlebar stand tube (3) and the front fork leg (1). When the handlebar controls the rudder of the front wheel (11) to swing left and right more than 90 degrees, it is in a non-forward state, that is, it turns backward.

[0027] Taking right rotation as an example, when the handlebar tube (3) swings and turns backward, the front fork is stopped by interfering with the frame tube (7), and the handlebar tube (3) can continue to be screwed into the front fork leg (1) and tightened like a screw; at the same time, when the handlebar tube (3) and the sleeve (23) of the fork crown (2) are slidably connected and inserted into the correct position, the openings of the handlebar tube (3) and the sleeve (23) are aligned, and the spring pushes the spring bead (12) to pop out, locking the handlebar tube (3) and the sleeve (23) with the front fork leg (1), thereby ensuring the safety of the front wheel rudder.

[0028] On the contrary, when the handlebar is rotated out and swung counterclockwise to the left, the side of the sleeve (23) abuts against the frame tube (7), and the spring bead (12) is pushed into the hole of the sleeve (23) to unlock, so that the handlebar stem (3) is rotated out from the front fork leg (1) and raised; the front fork leg (1) is folded up; and the handlebar stem (3) falls down. The above continuous actions complete the linkage connection between the front fork leg (1) and the handlebar stem (3) of the super-controlled folding bicycle, and semi-automatic folding can be achieved with one hand.

[0029] See attached Figure 7 , 8 As shown, the hinge pin (6) of the front fork of the present invention is inclined, and the fork leg drives the front wheel (11) to be offset and folded forward at an angle of 45 degrees; when the handlebar (8) is rotated 120 degrees to the left, the front wheel (11) swings backward to be close to one side of the frame, and the handlebar (8) is still kept within the packaging size of the foldable bicycle.

[0030] See attached Figure 8 , 9 As shown, the specific steps of semi-automatic folding are as follows: Step 1. Insert the seat tube (3) downward and rotate it to tighten it with the lower section of the front fork. Step 2. Rotate the seat tube (3) in the opposite direction to separate it from the lower section of the front fork and lift it up. Step 3. Fold the front fork and drop the seat tube (3).

[0031] like Figure 9 As shown, the front fork leg (1) is folded up, and the upper end of the leg is supported by the handlebar tube (3); when the handlebar tube (3) is raised, the front fork leg (1) is reset to an upright position under the action of the spring (14).

[0032] The present invention takes a vehicle body of 8 kg as an example: the reset spring (14) acts to keep the front fork upright. When the bicycle is folded, the rudder rotates and swings toward the rear of the vehicle, the handlebar (3) is in the raised position, and the handlebar is pressed down. If it is greater than 2 kg, and the weight of the whole vehicle is added; a weight of 10 kg is pressed on the front fork leg (1), so that the front fork leg is folded; the handlebar riser (3) falls and locks the front fork so that the front wheel is kept in a stable folded state. When the handlebar is lifted by one hand, the front fork leg (1) is reset to an upright state under the action of the spring (14) and is locked with one turn.

[0033] The present invention realizes semi-automatic folding of the foldable bicycle only by rotating the handlebars, and the user does not need to bend over during the whole process and will not get his hands dirty.

[0034] The handlebar (3) is raised, and after the front fork leg (1) is folded up, the handlebar (3) is inserted behind the front wheel (11); when the rudder of the front wheel (11) swings toward the rear, the handlebar (3) falls in front of the front wheel (11).

[0035] See attached Figure 9 As shown, the handlebar (3) falls down and drives the horizontal handlebar (8) to be placed obliquely above the frame tube (7), and then falls down to a height not higher than the head tube (5) bowl assembly cover (10). The position of the horizontal handlebar (8) is designated as the lower edge line of the horizontal handlebar (8) tube.

[0036] The handlebar tube (3) falls down, and the lower end of the tube touches the ground, thereby providing increased support for the folded bicycle and replacing the supporting feet.

[0037] The handlebar of the present invention adopts a transverse and vertical telescopic structure, so that the horizontal handlebar (8) can be lowered close to the frame tube (7). The horizontal handlebar adopts a two-section telescopic sleeve structure. After the bicycle is folded, the thin handlebar (9) is retracted into the horizontal handlebar (8), and the length is shortened to reduce the volume of the folded bicycle.

[0038] See attached Figure 10 As shown, the sleeve (23) comprises a sliding connection or sleeve connection structure formed by a sliding groove and a sleeve rod and connected with a sliding sleeve of the handlebar tube (3). The upper section of the handlebar tube (3) is centered, and the lower section adopts an S-bend to be plugged into the offset front fork leg (1).

[0039] Embodiment 2: See attached Figure 11 As shown, the front fork leg (1) is bent and fixed to the leg upper tube (13). The leg upper tube (13) is arranged in the center of the frame centerline. Other structures are similar to those of the first embodiment.

[0040] The present invention provides at least one front fork leg (1), and a hinge mechanism is provided at the front upper end of the leg. The impact force from the front of the vehicle is absorbed and carried by the hinge mechanism and the front fork leg (1) tube and the sleeve (23).

[0041] See attached Figure 11 As shown, the upper section of the front fork of the present invention is hinged to the lower section, that is, the upper section is composed of a sleeve (23), a vertical tube (21), a support rod (22) and a hinge plate (26), and a partial view Figure 10 Slide the seat tube onto the upper section of the front fork and screw it onto the lower section on the outside of the head tube. The specific steps are as follows: Step 1. Insert the seat tube downward and tighten it to the lower section of the front fork; Step 2. Rotate the seat tube in the opposite direction to separate it from the lower section of the front fork and lift it up; Step 3. Fold up the front fork and drop the seat tube.

Claims

1. A linkage connection mechanism between a front fork leg and a handlebar stem of a folding bicycle, characterized in that: The front fork legs and fork crowns are hinged to form a foldable front fork; The handlebar stem is slidably connected with the fork crown at the outer side of the head tube, and then sleeved with the front fork leg.

2. The linkage connection mechanism between the front fork leg and the handlebar stem of the folding bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The handlebar stem is screwed to the front fork leg.

3. The folding bicycle front fork leg and handlebar stem linkage connection mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the handlebar stem is swung and turned backward, the front fork is stopped by interfering with the frame tube, and the handlebar stem is screwed into the front fork leg and tightened, and vice versa.

4. The linkage connection mechanism between the front fork leg and the handlebar stem of the folding bicycle according to claim 2, characterized in that: The front fork can be released and folded by rotating the handlebar less than half a circle, driving the front wheel to move backwards and close to the frame.

5. The linkage connection mechanism between the front fork leg and the handlebar stem of the folding bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the handlebar is in the raised state, the front wheel swings backward, the front fork legs are folded, and the handlebar is inserted downward to the front of the front wheel.

6. The linkage connection mechanism between the front fork leg and the handlebar stem of the folding bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the handlebar stem and the sleeve of the fork crown are slidably connected and inserted into the correct position, the spring bead pops out and locks.

7. The linkage connection mechanism between the front fork leg and the handlebar stem of the folding bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that: A wedge ring is arranged inside the sleeve.

8. The linkage connection mechanism between the front fork leg and the handlebar stem of the folding bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the handlebar stem falls, the horizontal handlebar is driven to fall to a height not higher than the head tube bowl assembly cover, and the thin handlebar can be retracted into the horizontal handlebar.

9. The linkage connection mechanism between the front fork leg and the handlebar stem of the folding bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that: Pressing down on the raised handlebar forces the fork legs to fold, overcoming the spring stress.

10. A linkage connection mechanism and method for a front fork leg and a handlebar stem of a folding bicycle, wherein the upper section of the front fork is hinged with the lower section, and the stem is slidably connected to the upper section of the front fork and screwed to the lower section on the outside of the head tube. The specific steps are as follows: Step 1. Insert the seat tube downward and rotate it to tighten it with the lower section of the front fork; Step 2. Rotate the handlebar in the opposite direction to separate it from the lower section of the front fork and raise it; Step 3. Fold the front fork and drop the stem.

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