sports bike

Abstract

A sports bike, including: a bracket group; a seat element arranged on the support group; two movable front wheels arranged on two sides of the seat element; a drive pedal connected to and driving the movable front wheels; at least one steerable rear wheel arranged on the side of the support group facing away from the drive pedal; a protective cover which is rotatably mounted over the steerable rear wheel and which can be steered synchronously with it; a control assembly connected to the protective cover for controlling the steerable rear wheel and changing the direction of travel, the control assembly comprising a control part for control by the user, at least one first driving axle rotatably arranged in the support group, an adapter fastened to one end of the first driving axle and movable with the control part, and a second driving axle, one end of the second driving axle being rotatably arranged on one side of the first driving axle and the other end being fastened to the protective cover; and a switching assembly arranged on one side of the adapter and comprising a positioning section and an adjusting part matched to and combined with the positioning section, such that by combining the adjusting part with the positioning section, the second driving axis and the first driving axis are synchronously rotatable, while by detaching the adjusting part from the positioning section, the second driving axis is freely rotatable.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a sports bicycle that uses a rear wheel for steering to improve steering flexibility, whereby the rear wheel can be switched between a steering control mode and a free-turn mode to ensure the controllability of the vehicle both during riding and pushing. State of the art

[0002] Multi-purpose bicycles currently available on the market, suitable for sports, riding, rehabilitation, and transportation, typically combine pedal propulsion and wheelchair features and are intended for people with limited mobility or users requiring rehabilitation training. However, existing designs still have several technical deficiencies that compromise comfort and flexibility in actual use.

[0003] First, these vehicles are often based on a wheelchair design, resulting in a relatively large vehicle width. This limits operation in tight spaces or during sharp turns. If the turning radius is too large, steering becomes difficult. Stability may also be compromised by the difference between the inner wheels, especially in scenarios requiring frequent steering maneuvers, such as in tight indoor spaces or crowded areas, where conventional designs can hardly meet the flexibility requirements.

[0004] Furthermore, such a vehicle typically combines the functionality of being driven independently by the user with the option of being pushed by a caregiver. However, most existing steering devices on these vehicles are designed to be operated only by the user. When the caregiver pushes the vehicle, they cannot control its direction using the steering device. This makes the vehicle difficult to steer in push mode. Even if the caregiver can still push the vehicle forward, the directional control is inflexible and the steering is difficult, reducing comfort and safety in push mode.

[0005] Some improved designs attempt to improve steering performance by increasing the number of wheels or using a flexible frame structure. However, such solutions often result in increased vehicle weight and structural complexity. While all-wheel steering can solve the problems of turning radius and directional control in push mode, it also prevents the user from accurately controlling the direction with the steering device in pedal-drive mode, which impairs normal operation in pedal-drive mode. This represents a major obstacle to current technology. Object of the invention

[0006] The main object of the present invention is to introduce a rear-wheel steering system in which the control assembly is used to drive the steerable rear wheel to reduce the turning radius and improve the operating flexibility, and by designing with an adapter and an adjusting part, the rear wheel can be switched between a steering control mode and a free-turn mode, thus ensuring the controllability of the vehicle both when driving and when pushing.

[0007] The structure of the present invention comprises a support group, a seat element, two movable front wheels, a drive pedal, at least one steerable rear wheel, a protective cover, a control assembly, and a switching assembly. The control assembly comprises a control part, a first driving axle, an adapter, and a second driving axle, and the switching assembly comprises a positioning section and an adjustment part. The seat element is arranged on the support group, the movable front wheels are arranged on two sides of the seat element, the drive pedal is connected to and drives the movable front wheels, the steerable rear wheel is arranged on the side of the support group facing away from the drive pedal, the protective cover is rotatably mounted over the steerable rear wheel and is steerable synchronously therewith, and the control assembly is connected to the protective cover to control the steerable rear wheel.the control part is used for control by the user, the first drive axis is rotatably arranged in the support group, the adapter is attached to one end of the first drive axis and is movable with the control part, one end of the second drive axis is rotatably arranged on one side of the first drive axis and the other end is attached to the protective cover, and the adjustment part is precisely combined with the positioning section.

[0008] Typically, the user can sit on the seat element and step on the drive pedals to move the front wheels forward, and through the control part of the steering assembly, drive and rotate the rear wheel. With a smaller turning radius, it is easier to steer. The adapter design allows the second driving axis to selectively move with the first driving axis. When the adjustment part of the switching assembly is connected to the positioning section, the second driving axis rotates synchronously with the first driving axis to activate the steering device control mode. Or when the adjustment part is separated from the positioning section, the second driving axis can rotate freely, allowing the protective cover and the steerable rear wheel to rotate freely, allowing the caregiver to push the vehicle.The invention has a wide range of applications, including sports, driving, rehabilitation and transportation.

[0009] The above technique can solve the problems of conventional multi-purpose bicycles, such as the large turning radius, the difficult steering, and the fact that the steering device is mounted at the front and therefore difficult for a caregiver to control, resulting in a practical and advanced improvement of the invention. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment according to the present invention from a different angle; Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the structure of the control assembly of the first embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the steering of the rear wheels of the first embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the rear wheel switching of the first embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of the first embodiment according to the present invention in sliding mode; Fig. Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the rear wheel switching of a second embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 8 shows an exploded view of a third embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 9 shows a schematic view of the seat adjustment of the third embodiment according to the present invention. Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

[0010] It is based on the Fig. 1 to 3. The present invention comprises the following: a bracket group 1; a seat element 2 arranged on the support group 1; two movable front wheels 21 arranged on two sides of the seat element 2; a drive pedal 22 connected to and driving the movable front wheels 21; at least one steerable rear wheel 3 arranged on the side of the support group 1 facing away from the drive pedal 22; a protective cover 31 rotatably mounted over the steerable rear wheel 3 and steerable synchronously therewith; a control assembly 4 connected to the protective cover 31 for controlling the steerable rear wheel 3 and changing the direction of travel, the control assembly 4 comprising a control part 41 for control by the user, at least one first driving axle 42 rotatably arranged in the support group 1, an adapter 43 fastened to one end of the first driving axle 42 and movable with the control part 41, and a second driving axle 44, one end of the second driving axle 44 being rotatably arranged on one side of the first driving axle 42 and the other end being fastened to the protective cover 31; at least one switching assembly 5, which is arranged on one side of the adapter 43 and comprises a positioning section 51 and an adjusting part 52 matched to and combined with the positioning section 51, so that by combining the adjusting part 52 with the positioning section 51, the second driving axis 44 and the first driving axis 42 are rotatable synchronously, while by detaching the adjusting part 52 from the positioning section 51, the second driving axis 44 is freely rotatable.

[0011] Here, an elastic element 521 is arranged on the adjustment part 52 to reinforce the connection between the positioning section 51 and the adjustment part 52 through the elastic force. A sleeve section 431 serving for the movable arrangement of the adjustment part 52 is provided on one side of the adapter 43 and has two locking slots 432, wherein the adjustment part 52 is provided with a projection 522 matched to each locking slot 432.

[0012] Here, the support group 1 is a metal frame and comprises a seat support 11 for arranging the seat element 2 and a wheel support 12 for arranging the movable front wheels 21 and the steerable rear wheels 3. The seat element 2 comprises a seat section 23 arranged on the seat support 11 and a backrest section 24 arranged on the seat support 11 and located on one side of the seat section 23. In the present embodiment, the seat section 23 and the backrest section 24 are fastened to the seat support 11 by an elastic band. The two movable front wheels 21 are jointly rotatably arranged on a drive shaft 211 and are located on two sides of the wheel support 12. The drive pedal 22 is rotatably arranged on the section of the wheel support 12 that projects forward and is arranged in front of the seat section 23 and is located on the front side of the seat section 23.The drive pedal is a pedal commonly found on bicycles. There are two steerable rear wheels 3. For example, the steerable rear wheels 3 are rotatably mounted on the rearwardly extended portion of the wheel mount 12 and are thus located on the rear side of the seat portion 23, and can be pivoted synchronously by means of a handlebar 412 and a triangular swing arm 413. For example, a respective protective cover 31 is a U-shaped plate arranged over the corresponding steerable rear wheel 3, with its two ends rotatably attached to the axle of the corresponding steerable rear wheel 3 and its upper surface being fixed to the second driving axle 44. The steering assembly 4 includes all driving structures leading from the steering device 411 to the steerable rear wheels 3.The control part 41 of the control assembly 4 is defined as a combination of the T-shaped steering device 411, the steering rod 412, the swing arm 413, and the drive rod 414. The number of first driving axles 42 corresponds to the number of steerable rear wheels 3, namely two. For example, the first driving axles 42 and the second driving axles 44 are arranged vertically above the corresponding steerable rear wheels 3, with a respective first driving axle 42 being fastened to the corresponding adapter 43 and a respective second driving axle 44 being fastened to the corresponding protective cover 31. The fastenings can be made by screwing, locking, gluing, or welding.For example, a respective adapter 43 is a sheet metal element arranged between the corresponding first driving axis 42 and the corresponding second driving axis 44. The term “arrangement between the two driving axes” refers to the movement therebetween, and in the present exemplary embodiment, the position of the driving axes is also taken into account. For example, a respective switching assembly 5 is a snap-in structure, a press-fit structure, or a plug-in structure. In the present exemplary embodiment, a respective switching assembly is a plug-in structure, and a respective positioning section 51 is a recess or a through-hole. In the present exemplary embodiment, a respective positioning section is a recess formed integrally in the corresponding protective cover 31.For example, a respective adjustment part 52 is a movable plug pin located on the corresponding adapter 43. For example, a respective elastic element 521 is a tension spring arranged in the sleeve section 431. For example, the two respective locking slots 432 are two slots of different depths provided at one end of the corresponding sleeve section 431. For example, a respective projection 522 is a rib located on one side of the corresponding adjustment part 52.

[0013] It is based on the Fig. 1 to 6. In the present invention, the support assembly 1 essentially has the shape of a wheelchair and includes the seat portion 23, the backrest portion 24, the movable front wheels 21, and the steerable rear wheels 3. However, since it is suitable for multiple purposes, such as sports, driving, rehabilitation, and transportation, it is equipped with a drive pedal 22 and a steering assembly 4. Of course, the overall appearance of the vehicle does not necessarily have to correspond to that of a wheelchair. For example, the seat element 2 may have only the seat portion 23 without the backrest portion 24. The arrangement of the backrest portion 24 enables the user to ride more comfortably and safely without impairing the implementation of subsequent functions.

[0014] It is based on the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. When the user uses the present invention for cycling or sporting activities, the user can sit on the seat element 2 and, by depressing the drive pedal 22, engage the drive shaft 211 to steer the movable front wheels 21 to move forward. The steering device 411 of the control part 41 sequentially moves the handlebar 412, the swing arm 413, the drive rod 414, the adapters 43, the first driving axles 42, the second driving axles 44, the protective covers 31, and the steerable rear wheels 3 to use the steerable rear wheels 3 for steering. The control part 41 is used to drive the steering rod 412, the swing arm 413 and the drive rod 414, which represents a conventional mechanism for the synchronous steering of the front wheels of a four-wheeled vehicle via the steering wheel, the operation of which is not further explained here.In the control mode of the steering device 411, in which the adjustment parts 52 are connected to the corresponding positioning sections 51, the ends of the drive rod 414 are rotatably connected to the adapters 43, allowing the adapters 43 to be further driven to pivot and rotate. In this case, the first drive axes 42 are rotatably arranged in the support group 1, so that when the adapters 43 rotate about the corresponding first drive axes 42, they can be limited by the support group 1 and thus are not twisted by pulling the drive rod 414.Since the positioning portion 51 located on each protective cover 31 is fixed to the adjustment part 52 located on the corresponding adapter 43, when the adapter 43 is pulled by the drive rod 414, the protective covers 31 can be driven to rotate by the corresponding switching assemblies 5. The protective covers 31 are directly rotatably arranged above the corresponding steerable rear wheels 3, so that driving the protective covers 31 is equivalent to driving the corresponding steerable rear wheels 3. In this way, the control steering of the steerable rear wheels 3 is achieved by the control part 41. The design of the steerable rear wheels 3 allows for a smaller turning radius, making it easier for the user to perform a larger turn without being restricted by the vehicle size or tight environments.

[0015] It is based on the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. When the user uses the present invention for mobility or rehabilitation purposes, they generally do not need to control the movement of the vehicle themselves, but rather the caregiver pushes it from behind. In this case, by simply switching the switching assemblies 5 to the free-rotation mode, the connection between the control part 41 and the steerable rear wheels 3 can be interrupted, allowing the steerable rear wheels 3 to rotate freely, thus allowing the caregiver to push the vehicle without difficulty. The switching operation mainly consists in breaking the connection between a respective adjustment part 52 and the corresponding positioning section 51, so that a respective adjustment part 52 is separated from the corresponding positioning section 51.However, since the projection 522 located on one side of each adjustment part 52 also engages the corresponding deeper locking slot 432, the caregiver must counteract the pulling force of the elastic elements 521 to pull the adjustment parts 52 upward and rotate them so that the projections 522 are moved into the corresponding shallower locking slots 432. When the caregiver releases the adjustment parts 52, the adjustment parts 52 are automatically pulled downward by the corresponding elastic elements 521 and engage the corresponding shallower locking slots 432. Since these locking slots 432 are shallower, the upper ends of the adjustment parts 52 protrude from the corresponding sleeve portions 431, i.e., the lower ends of the adjustment parts 52 are separated from the corresponding positioning portions 51.Due to this detachment, the protective covers 31 cannot move with the corresponding adapters 43, which interrupts the connection between the steering part 41 and the steerable rear wheels 3. A respective second driving axle 44 is only rotatably arranged on one side of the corresponding first driving axle 42 and is not directly connected to it, i.e., in terms of the positional relationship, a respective second driving axle 44 is rotatably mounted on the corresponding adapter 43 or rotatably in the mounting group 1. In this way, the protective covers 31 and the steerable rear wheels 3 can be rotated about the corresponding second driving axles 44 while the caregiver pushes the vehicle. This allows the caregiver to push the vehicle without using the front steering part 41 for steering and prevents the steerable rear wheels 3 from becoming difficult to steer due to the lack of free pivoting.The design of the control assemblies 4 and the switching assemblies 5 allows the steerable rear wheels 3 to be switched between the control mode of the steering device 411 and the free-rotation mode, optimizing the vehicle's controllability during both cycling and pushing. Furthermore, the design of the sleeve portions 431 ensures that the adjustment parts 52 are stably confined in the corresponding sleeve portions 431, regardless of whether they perform a lifting or rotating movement, to ensure a more uniform force action of the elastic elements 521 and prevent premature fatigue caused by excessive lateral force. Furthermore, the adjustment parts 52 can also be reliably inserted into the corresponding positioning portions 51, or the projections 522 can properly engage the corresponding shallower locking slots 432, thus preventing unexpected mode changes.At the same time, this construction provides shock protection and extends the service life of the switching assemblies 5. The design with elastic elements 521, locking slots 432, and projections 522 can simplify the switching operation of the switching assemblies 5 and reduce the problem of inaccurate locking caused by improper human operation.

[0016] It will be Fig. 7. The main difference between the present embodiment and the above embodiment lies in the structure and operation of the switching assemblies 5 and the change of the steerable rear wheels 3 into a single wheel. In order to avoid the instability caused by the single wheel, auxiliary wheels 32 may be provided on two sides of the steerable rear wheel 3 to increase safety when sitting. In each switching assembly 5, for example, a protruding block arranged on one side of the adapter 43 is used instead of the positioning portion 51, and the adjusting part 52 is replaced by a U-shaped locking member rotatable on the protective cover 31. The structure used for switching modes including elastic members, sleeve portions, locking slots, and projections is thus no longer used.Accordingly, when the adjusting part 52 located on the protective cover 31 is rotated to two sides of the positioning section 51, the rotation of the adapter 43 is restricted by the adjusting part 52 due to the existence of the positioning section 51, thereby rotating the adjusting part 52 and the protective cover 31 synchronously. The co-movement of the protective cover 31 is equivalent to the co-movement of the steerable rear wheel 3. In this way, the goal of steering the steerable rear wheel 3 by the control part 41 can be achieved. When the switching assembly 5 is placed in the free-rotation mode, the connection between the control part 41 and the steerable rear wheel 3 can be severed by releasing the connection between the adjusting part 52 and the positioning section 51, and the steerable rear wheel 3 can also be freely rotated. This structural simplification reduces manufacturing costs.It should be noted that the structure and functional mode of the switching module 5 are not subject to any restrictions.

[0017] It is based on the Fig. 8 and Fig.9. The main difference between the present embodiment and the above embodiment is that the seat member 2 is designed to be detachable and position-adjustable, and the seat bracket 11 is designed to be detachably mounted on the wheel bracket 12. In the present embodiment, at least one quick-release assembly 13 is disposed between the seat bracket 11 and the wheel bracket 12. Specifically, the quick-release assembly 13 is a slip-on clamp fastener disposed on the wheel bracket 12, which can wrap around and clamp the rod 111 located on the underside of the seat bracket 11, so that the seat bracket 11 can be easily and quickly disassembled and assembled, which makes it easier for the user to separate the seat bracket 11 and the wheel bracket 12 when not in use, thus reducing the overall space required and facilitating storage.Alternatively, at least one poka-yoke mechanism 112 may be provided between the seat bracket 11 and the quick-release assembly 13 to prevent the seat bracket 11 from being installed in the reverse direction or displaced. In the present embodiment, the poka-yoke mechanism 112 consists of screws arranged on the underside of the seat bracket 11, which are positioned on two sides opposite the quick-release assembly 13. If the user performs the assembly incorrectly, the poka-yoke mechanism 112 comes into contact with the quick-release assembly 13, preventing the seat bracket 11 from being inserted into the clamp seat 131 of the quick-release assembly 13. In this way, correct assembly can be ensured.At the same time, the quick release assembly 13 is limited between the screws on two sides, which supports the axial limiting effect of the quick release assembly 13 on the rod 111 of the seat bracket 11 and thereby indirectly increases the safety during use.

[0018] In addition, the wheel support 12 comprises two slide rail sections 121, a mounting slide seat 7 movably arranged on the slide rail sections 121 and serving to arrange the seat support 11, and an operating part 71 serving to fasten the mounting slide seat 7. The mounting slide seat 7 is equipped with two rollers 72 on the top and bottom of the slide rail sections 121 in order to achieve a smooth sliding effect through the sliding mode with double-track rollers. At the same time, the clamping effect of the upper and lower rollers 72 is utilized to prevent deflection or loosening of the mounting slide seat 7. The operating part 71 is, for example, an L-shaped rod, the end of which is located in the mounting slide seat 7 and is provided with an anti-slip section 73, by which the resistance between the mounting slide seat 7 and the slide rail sections 121 can be increased.For example, the anti-slip portion 73 may be a cam located at the end of the operating part 71, and an eccentric wheel or a rubber part for pressing down by the operating part 71. When the operating part 71 is operated and its end is rotated in the mounting slide seat 7, the cam may be brought into contact with the slide rail portions 121, or the end of the operating part 71 may be pressed down against the anti-slip portion 73. In this way, the L-shaped design can generate a larger moment, which can reduce the force required for operation and fixation, so that the anti-slip portion 73 can easily provide greater resistance to provide a simple and stable control effect.The forward and backward adjustment function of the fastening sliding seat 7 allows the position of the seat element 2 to be adjusted according to the body shape and leg length of the user in order to facilitate the pressing of the drive pedal 22.

Claims

[1] A sports bicycle comprising: a bracket group; a seat element arranged on the support group; two movable front wheels arranged on two sides of the seat element; a drive pedal connected to and driving the movable front wheels; at least one steerable rear wheel arranged on the side of the support group facing away from the drive pedal; a protective cover which is rotatably mounted over the steerable rear wheel and which can be steered synchronously with it; a control assembly connected to the protective cover for controlling the steerable rear wheel and changing the direction of travel, the control assembly comprising a control part for control by the user, at least one first driving axle rotatably arranged in the support group, an adapter fastened to one end of the first driving axle and movable with the control part, and a second driving axle, one end of the second driving axle being rotatably arranged on one side of the first driving axle and the other end being fastened to the protective cover; and a switching assembly arranged on one side of the adapter and comprising a positioning section and an adjusting part matched to and combined with the positioning section, such that by combining the adjusting part with the positioning section, the second driving axis and the first driving axis are synchronously rotatable, while by detaching the adjusting part from the positioning section, the second driving axis is freely rotatable. [2] A sports bicycle according to claim 1, wherein an elastic member is arranged on the adjusting part to reinforce the connection between the positioning section and the adjusting part by the elastic force, wherein a sleeve section for movably arranging the adjusting part is provided on one side of the adapter and has two locking slots, and the adjusting part is provided with a projection adapted to each locking slot. [3] A sports bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the support assembly comprises a seat support for arranging the seat element and a wheel support for arranging the movable front wheels and the steerable rear wheel, the seat support being detachably arranged on the wheel support by at least one quick-release assembly and at least one poka-yoke mechanism being provided between the seat support and the quick-release assembly. [4] A sports bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the support group comprises a seat support for arranging the seat element and a wheel support for arranging the movable front wheels and the steerable rear wheel, the wheel support comprising two slide rail sections, a fastening sliding seat movably arranged on the slide rail sections and serving to arrange the seat support, and an operating part for fastening the fastening sliding seat.

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