Practice bike

Abstract

To easily perform detachment / attachment of a chain and a pedal unit in a training bicycle having a seat stay.SOLUTION: A training bicycle 1 with a detachable pedal unit includes: a bicycle frame 100 in which a reception part 110, to which a pedal unit 200 is connected, is provided at a lower part of a seat tube 120; the pedal unit 200 detachably connected to the reception part 110; and a chain installed between the pedal unit 200 and a rear wheel 300. In the bicycle frame 100, a seat stay 150 on a side where a chain wheel is connected thereto is detachably connected to the bicycle frame 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a training bicycle with a detachable chain and pedal unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Bicycles with detachable pedal units have been developed and used in the past. The main purpose of making it possible to remove the pedal unit from the bicycle is to allow the rider to practice riding the bicycle. Specifically, the unit body, including the chainwheel and pedal cranks, is detachable from the bicycle body with bolts or the like, and the pedal unit can be fixedly connected / disconnected with bolts and nuts (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] This configuration allows children, especially those riding a bicycle for the first time, to remove the unit body and kick the ground with their feet to learn how to handle the handlebars and their sense of balance.Once they have mastered the riding technique to a certain extent, they can attach the unit body to the bicycle and practice pedaling the pedals connected to the pedal cranks to move the bicycle forward.This is an effective training method not only for children but also for adults of a certain age. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-147199 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, small training bicycles, especially for children, often do not have seat stays because the rider is light, making it easy to attach and detach the pedal unit and chain.However, in the case of bicycles with seat stays, the rear wheel must be removed from the main body to attach the chain, which makes it difficult to attach and detach the pedal unit and chain.

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a training bicycle and bicycle frame that allows the chain and pedal unit to be easily attached and detached even on training bicycles that have seat stays. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, a bicycle (1) with a detachable pedal unit includes a bicycle frame (100) having a receiving portion (110) for connecting a pedal unit (200) provided at the bottom of a seat tube (120), a pedal unit (200) detachably connected to the receiving portion (110), and a chain (500) installed between the pedal unit (200) and a rear wheel (300). The pedal unit (200) rotatably holds a pedal crank (220) to which a chain wheel (210) is pivotally attached, and the receiving portion (110) is attached to the pedal crank (220). The training bicycle has a connecting portion (230) for connecting to the chain wheel (210), and the chain (500) is stretched between the chain wheel (210) and a rear sprocket (310) mounted on the rear wheel, thereby detachably connecting the pedal unit (200) and the chain (500) to the bicycle frame (100), and the bicycle frame (100) has a seat stay (150) on the side connecting the chain wheel (210) detachably connected to the bicycle frame (100). With this configuration, the seat stay (150) on the side connecting the chain wheel (210) is detachable, so the chain (500) and pedal unit (200) can be easily attached and detached even on a training bicycle that has a seat stay (150).

[0008] In the above configuration, the bicycle frame (100) may be configured to include a chain stay (130) for rotatably fixing the rear wheel (300) at least on the side facing the pedal unit (200).

[0009] In the above configuration, a branch portion (132) extending diagonally upward and forward may be provided on the rear wheel side of the chain stay (130), and the rear end side of the seat stay (150) may be fixed to the branch portion (132). According to this configuration, the branch portion (132) is set in a position and shape that facilitates attachment and detachment, thereby facilitating attachment and detachment of the seat stay (150).

[0010] In the above configuration, the pedal unit (200) may include a chain cover (250) that covers the chain (500), and the branch portion (132) may be provided on the outside of the chain cover (250) so as to overlap the chain cover (250) when viewed from the side of the bicycle frame (100). With this configuration, sandwiching the chain cover (250) with the branch portion (132) is expected to have the effect of improving strength.

[0011] In the above configuration, the pedal unit (200) may include a chain cover (250) that covers the chain (500), the chain cover (250) may be provided with a through-hole (252) through which the chain stay (130) passes, and the chain stay (130) may be inserted into the through-hole (252) from the rear outside of the chain cover (250) toward the front inside. According to this configuration, attaching the chain stay (130) through the through-hole (252 facilitates attachment of the chain cover (250).

[0012] In the above configuration, the chain cover (250) may be separable in the front-rear direction, and the through-hole (252) may be formed across the separated portion of the chain cover (250). With this configuration, the chain cover (250) is separable in the front-rear direction, which further facilitates installation of the chain cover.

[0013] In the above configuration, the rear ends of the seat stays (150) may be fixed onto the axle (302) of the rear wheel (300). According to this configuration, the axle (302) is used to fix the seat stays (150), thereby reducing the number of parts.

[0014] In the above configuration, the rear ends of the seat stays (150) may be provided with elongated holes (152) that are open rearward, and the rear ends of the seat stays (150) may be fixed onto the axles (302) of the rear wheel (300) by fixing members (136) that are provided in the elongated holes (152). According to this configuration, the elongated holes (152) that are open rearward can facilitate adjustment when attaching the seat stays (150).

[0015] In the above configuration, the pedal unit (200) may include a chain cover (250) that covers the chain (500), and the seat stays (150) may be attached to the outside of the chain cover (250). According to this configuration, the chain cover (250) can be stabilized by being sandwiched between the seat stays (150).

[0016] In the above configuration, the seat stays (150) may have detachable portions at both ends, making the entire seat stay (150) detachable. This configuration makes the entire seat stay (150) detachable and eliminates any gaps along the way, improving the strength of the bicycle frame (100) when the seat stays (150) are attached.

[0017] Another aspect of the present invention is a bicycle frame (100) to which a pedal unit (200) and a chain (500) are detachably attached, characterized in that the seat stays (150) connecting the chain wheel (210) are detachably connected to the bicycle frame (100). With this configuration, the seat stays (150) connecting the chain wheel (210) are detachable, so the chain (500) and pedal unit (200) can be easily attached and detached even on a training bicycle that has seat stays (150). Example 1

[0018] A bicycle and bicycle frame according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of a bicycle according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the bicycle. Fig. 3 is a side perspective view of the bicycle with the pedal unit and chain removed, and Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view showing the seat stay connection. Fig. 5 is a side perspective view of the bicycle showing an embodiment of a different seat stay connection structure, and Fig. 6 is a side perspective view of the bicycle with the seat stay removed. Fig. 7 is a rear perspective view showing the seat stay connection, and Fig. 8 is a side perspective view of the bicycle showing the interior of the pedal unit.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 8, the bicycle 1 of the present invention comprises a bicycle frame 100, a pedal unit 200, a rear wheel 300, a handle section 400 having a front wheel 420, and a chain 500, and by making the seat stays 150 detachable, the chain 500 and pedal unit 200 can be easily detached from the bicycle frame 100.

[0020] The bicycle frame 100 is a component that constitutes the main body of the bicycle 1 according to the present invention, and as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 8, is equipped with a pedal unit 200, a rear wheel 300, a handlebar unit 400 equipped with a front wheel 420, and a chain 500. The bicycle frame 100 is equipped with a seat tube 120, chainstays 130, a down tube 140, and seat stays 150, and in this embodiment, the handlebar unit 400 is mounted on a head tube 160 mounted at the front of the down tube 140 so as to be able to rotate left and right. Alternatively, a top tube 170 may be installed, connecting the upper part of the seat tube 120 to the front of the down tube 140.

[0021] In this embodiment, the bicycle frame 100 is made of iron, but this is not limited to this. In order to reduce weight, it can be made of aluminum, chromoly, carbon, titanium, resin, or any other material that has sufficient strength.

[0022] A receiving portion 110 is installed on the bicycle frame 100. The receiving portion 110 is a member for connecting the pedal unit 200, and as shown in Figure 1, is fixedly installed at the bottom of the seat tube 120 and is configured to detachably connect the pedal unit 200 to the bicycle frame 100 with bolts.

[0023] The receiving portion 110 can be configured to be fixed to the seat tube 120, or to a portion of the down tube 140 below where it intersects with the seat tube 120. Furthermore, since the receiving portion 110 is a component on which the pedaling force is concentrated when the user rides the bicycle and pedals, it is desirable that the receiving portion 110 be a sturdy component and be firmly connected to the bicycle frame 100. In this embodiment, the receiving portion 110 is made of the same steel as the bicycle frame 100, but this is not limited to this. To reduce weight, the receiving portion 110 can be made of aluminum, chromoly, carbon, titanium, resin, or any other material with sufficient strength. As a specific configuration variation of the receiving portion, the receiving portion 110 can be a substantially cylindrical hollow component extending below the saddle, and a pedal unit having a unit-side connector inserted into the hollow component can be attached (see JP 2013-147199 A, paragraphs

[0017] to

[0020] and FIG. 3). In addition, the receiving part may be provided with a gear part that can engage with the crank via a concave / convex shape, and the crank may be inserted into the gear part to turn the pedal (see International Publication No. 2018-216676, paragraphs

[0050] to

[0054] and Figures 1 to 2, 8 and 9).

[0024] A rear wheel 300 is attached to the rear end of the chain stay 130. A rear sprocket 310 is attached to the rear wheel 300, on which a chain 500 is stretched to transmit the rotational power of the pedal crank 220. A handlebar unit 400 including a front fork 430 to which a handlebar 410 and a front wheel 420 are attached is attached to the front of the down tube 140 via a head tube 160.

[0025] The pedal unit 200 is a unit that includes pedals 240, pedal cranks 220, chain wheel 210, and chain cover 250 that are detachably attached to the bicycle frame 100, and in this embodiment is detachably connected to the receiving part 110. A chain 500 is installed between the chain wheel 210 of the pedal unit 200 and the rear sprocket 310 of the rear wheel 300. The chain cover 250 that covers the chain 500 is not an essential component of the pedal unit 200, but is desirable in order to protect the chain 500 and prevent accidents between the rider and the chain.

[0026] The pedal unit 200 of the bicycle 1 according to the present invention is configured to rotatably hold a pedal crank 220 to which a chain wheel 210 is pivotally attached, and to have a connecting portion 230 for detachably connecting to a receiving portion 110 fixedly connected to the bicycle frame 100.

[0027] The main body of the pedal unit 200 rotatably holds a pedal crank 220, to which a chain wheel 210 is pivotally attached, and is connected to the bicycle frame 100. The main body of the pedal unit 200 is equipped with a connection part 230. The connection part 230 is a member for connecting and fixing the pedal unit 200 to the bicycle frame 100, and in this embodiment, is configured to connect to a receiving part 110 provided on the bicycle frame 100.

[0028] In this embodiment, the connection part 230 is welded to the pedal unit 200, but this is not limiting and the connection part 230 may be integrally formed. Furthermore, the connection part 230 is made of the same steel as the bicycle frame 100 to ensure strength, but this is not limiting and the connection part 230 may be made of aluminum, chromoly, carbon, titanium, resin, or any other material that is sufficiently strong to reduce weight.

[0029] In this embodiment, the receiving portion 110 and the connecting portion 230 are fixed together with a bolt. Specifically, the bolt is inserted into holes (not shown) drilled in the receiving portion 110 and the connecting portion 230 and fastened together with a nut. Note that either the hole drilled in the receiving portion 110 or the connecting portion 230 can be an elongated hole. This makes it possible to adjust the tension of the chain 500 stretched between the chain wheel 210 and the rear sprocket 310, by increasing or decreasing it.

[0030] With the above configuration, the pedal unit 200 and the chain 500 can be detachably attached to the bicycle frame 100.

[0031] In this embodiment, the bicycle frame 100 is equipped with a pair of left and right chainstays 130, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The chainstays 130 sandwich the rear wheel 300 from the left and right, and the wheel 500 is rotatably secured at the tip of the chainstays 130. A branched section 132 extending diagonally upward and forward is provided on the rear wheel side of the chainstay 130, and the rear end of the seat stay 150 (described later) is secured to this branched section 132 (see FIG. 4). Positioning the branched section 132 in a position and shape that facilitates attachment and detachment facilitates attachment and detachment of the seat stay 150. The chainstay 130 can also be configured as a one-arm type, secured on only one side. When only one chainstay 130 is provided, the chainstay 130 is preferably located on the chainwheel 210 side.

[0032] In this embodiment, the bicycle frame 100 is equipped with seat stays 150 that span between the chain stays 130 and the upper part of the seat tube 120. The seat stays 150 of the bicycle 1 according to the present invention are configured so that one of the left and right stays is detachably connected. In this embodiment, the seat stay 150 on the side that connects the chainwheel 210 is detachably connected to the bicycle frame 100, and the seat stay 150 on the opposite side is fixed to the chain stay 130 and seat tube 120 by welding or the like. This configuration makes it possible to easily attach and detach the pedal unit and chain, as described below. In this embodiment, the seat stays 150 are provided on both sides of the rear wheel 300 as described above, but it is sufficient that the seat stays 150 are provided at least on the chainwheel 210 side (in the following description, the term "seat stay 150" refers to the detachable seat stay 150 provided on the chainwheel 210 side).

[0033] Previously, there were children's bicycles with detachable pedal units, such as training bicycles. Because these children's training bicycles are small, they typically do not have seat stays. This made it relatively easy to attach and detach the pedal unit and chain. However, adult bicycles typically have seat stays because they must support the bike's weight. Because of the seat stays, even if a detachable pedal unit were attached to an adult bicycle, the seat stays would get in the way, making it difficult to remove the chain.

[0034] By adopting the configuration of the present invention, regardless of the size of the bicycle, including that for adults, it is possible to easily detach the pedal unit and chain by removing the seat stay 150, making it possible for even adults to easily practice riding a bicycle.

[0035] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the seat stays 150 are configured so that both ends are detachably connected between the rear ends of the chain stays 130 and the upper part of the seat tube 120, thereby making the entire seat stay 150 detachable. Specifically, connection holes drilled in the branch portion 132 at the rear ends of the chain stays 130, connection holes formed in the upper part of the seat tube 120, and connection holes formed in both ends of the seat stays 150 are fastened with bolts and nuts. In this case, the branch portion 132 is disposed outside the chain cover 250 so as to overlap the chain cover 250 when viewed from the side of the bicycle frame 100, and sandwiching the chain cover 250 between the branch portion 132 is expected to have an effect of improving strength. Furthermore, by attaching the seat stays 150 to the outside of the chain cover 250 and sandwiching the chain cover 250 between the seat stays 150, the entire bicycle frame can be stabilized. Furthermore, the entire seat stay 150 is detachable and has no gaps in between, which improves the strength of the bicycle frame 100 when the seat stay 150 is attached.

[0036] Here, the chain cover 250 is provided with through holes 252 through which the chain stays 130 pass, and the chain stays 130 are inserted into the through holes 252 from the rear outside of the chain cover 250 toward the front inside. Attaching the chain stays 130 via the through holes 252 makes it easy to attach the chain cover 250. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the chain cover 250 is separable in the front-to-rear direction, and the through holes 252 are formed across the separated portions of the chain cover 250. Because the chain cover 250 is separable in the front-to-rear direction, attaching the chain cover (inserting the chain stays 130 into the through holes 252) is even easier. Example 2

[0037] 5 to 7, the distal end (rear wheel side) of the chainstay 130 can be fixed to the seat stay 150 with a nut by utilizing the axle 302 of the rear wheel 300. Specifically, a rear-opening elongated hole 134 is formed at the rear end of the chainstay 130, and the rear end of the chainstay 130 is fixed onto the axle 302 of the rear wheel 300 by a fixing member (nut 136 in this embodiment) provided in the elongated hole 134 (the axle 302 has a groove formed therein so that it can engage with the nut 136). Similarly, a rear end of the seat stay 150 is formed with a rear-opening elongated hole 152, and the rear end of the seat stay 150 is fixed onto the axle 302 of the rear wheel 300 by a fixing member (nut 136 in this embodiment) provided in the elongated hole 152. In other words, the axle 302 passes through both the elongated hole 134 of the chainstay 130 and the elongated hole 152 of the seat stay 150, and the chainstay 130 and the seat stay 150 are fixed together by tightening the nut 136. The rear ends of the chainstay 130 and the seat stay 150 have a flat, plate-like shape to make them easier to fix with the nuts. The elongated holes that are open rearward also make it easy to adjust the positions of the chainstay 130 and the seat stay 150 when they are attached. Note that the seat stay 150 may be attached at both ends as in this embodiment, making the entire seat stay 150 detachable, or only a portion of the seat stay 150 may be detachable.

[0038] In this embodiment, the seat stays 150 are made of the same iron as the bicycle frame 100, but this is not limited to this and can be made of aluminum, chromoly, carbon, titanium, resin, or any other material with sufficient strength to reduce weight.

[0039] It is believed that most people learn how to ride a bicycle by practicing when they are young, but there are also many people who reach junior high school age or become adults without having practiced riding a bicycle. In such cases, there is a problem in that there are no equipment suitable for adults to practice riding a bicycle safely.

[0040] Practicing riding a bicycle requires mastering two actions: (1) straddling the frame and developing a sense of balance, and (2) pedaling. In recent years, training bikes with detachable pedals have been gaining attention, especially for children just starting to ride, to make it easier to master these two actions. By making the pedals detachable, the bikes are lightweight and pedal-less, making it easy to develop a sense of balance. Next, by attaching the pedals and practicing pedaling, even those who are not very athletic can learn to ride a bicycle. When it comes to training bikes, it is important to choose a bike that fits your body size, but currently there are no bikes sized for adults, which poses a major problem when adults try to practice the above-mentioned exercises: they have to disassemble the bike.

[0041] Pedal removal and installation is usually done by a professional bicycle mechanic, but it is desirable for the pedals to be able to be installed and removed by the rider themselves. To achieve this, the pedals need to be as easy to install and remove as possible, without having to remove safety equipment such as brakes or parts that require special tools, such as wheels.

[0042] For example, if a bicycle frame without seat stays is used, it is possible to remove the pedals and chain without removing the rear wheel or brake. This type is thought to be effective for bicycles for light children, but for larger and more physically fit children in elementary school and above, the chain stays need to be thicker to maintain strength, which makes the bicycle heavy and therefore unsuitable as a training bicycle.

[0043] To solve this problem, the seat stays, which connect the rear wheel and seat, can be made removable, making it possible to remove and attach the pedals and chain without removing the rear wheel or brake. [Industrial Applicability]

[0044] By using the bicycle and bicycle frame of the present invention, it is now possible to easily attach and detach pedals to bicycle frames of various shapes, including diamond frames, which offer an excellent balance of strength and light weight. Furthermore, bicycle frames of various sizes, from children's to adults', can be used as training bicycles, making it possible to provide a bicycle and bicycle frame that can be used by a wide range of people.

[0045] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above is merely an example of an embodiment, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In addition to the above, the present invention can be modified and changed in various ways within the scope of the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0046] [Figure 1] 1 is a side perspective view of a bicycle according to the present invention; [Figure 2] Exploded view of a bicycle [Figure 3] Side perspective view of bicycle with pedal unit and chain removed [Figure 4] Rear perspective view showing the seat stay connection [Figure 5] 10 is a side perspective view of a bicycle showing another embodiment of a seat stay connection structure. [Figure 6] Side perspective view of bicycle with seat stays removed [Figure 7] Rear perspective view showing the seat stay connection [Figure 8] A side perspective view of the bicycle showing the inside of the pedal unit [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1. Bicycle 100 Bicycle Frame 110 Receiving 120 seat tube 130 chainstay 132 Branch 134 Long hole (chainstay) 136 Fixing parts (nuts) 140 down tube 150 seat stay 152 Long hole (seat stay) 160 head tube 170 top tube 200 Pedal Unit 210 Chainwheel 220 pedal crank 230 Connection 240 pedals 250 chain cover 252 Through hole 300 rear wheel 302 Axle (rear wheel) 310 rear sprocket 400 Handle 410 Handle 420 front wheel 430 front fork 500 Chain

Claims

1. A seat tube, a down tube extending forward from the lower end of the seat tube, a top tube extending forward from the upper part, and a pair of rear wheels extending from the lower end of the seat tube to the left and right. a diamond-shaped frame having a pair of chain stays and a pair of seat stays extending from the top to the left and right of the rear wheel; The pedal crank, to which the chain wheel is attached, is rotatably held, and the pedal crank has a connecting portion for connecting to a receiving portion provided at the lower end of the seat tube. A pedal unit that is detachably connected; a chain that is installed between the chain wheel and a rear sprocket that is installed on the rear wheel; , and a training bicycle, characterized in that of the pair of seat stays, only the seat stay on the chain wheel side is detachably attached to the frame at its front and rear ends, and the rear end of this seat stay is connected to a branch section extending obliquely upward and forward from the rear wheel side of the chain stay on the chain wheel side of the pair of chain stays.

2. The pedal unit includes a chain cover that covers the chain, 2. The training bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the branch portion is provided on the outside of the chain cover so as to overlap with the chain cover when viewed from the side of the bicycle frame.

3. The pedal unit includes a chain cover that covers the chain, 2. The training bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the chain cover has a through hole through which the chain stay passes, and the chain stay is inserted into the through hole from the rear outside of the chain cover toward the front inside.

4. The chain cover is separable in the front-rear direction, 4. The training bicycle according to claim 3, wherein the through hole is formed across the separation portion of the chain cover.

5. The pedal unit includes a chain cover that covers the chain, 2. The training bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the seat stays are disposed between the rear ends of the chain stays and an upper portion of the seat tube, and the ends of the chain stays are disposed outside the chain cover.

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