Three-wheel folding bicycle

Abstract

A three-wheel bicycle (100) comprises a frame (1) with a lowered footboard (10) disposed in front of the pedals (3) in a central lower position of the frame (1) of the three-wheel bicycle to let the user to rest one foot on the lowered footboard (10); the lowered footboard (10) comprises a front element (4) connected to a front tube (12) of the frame, a rear element (5) connected to a rear tube (14) of the frame, and a hinge (6) connecting the front element (4) to the rear element (5); said hinge (6) has a vertical axis of rotation (Z) so that the front element (4) can rotate relative to the rear element (5), moving the lowered footboard (10) from a closed operating position to an open non-operating position.

Description

[0001] THREE-WHEEL FOLDING BICYCLE

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a three-wheel folding bicycle.

[0004] A three-wheel bicycle is a device comprising:

[0005] - a frame supported on three wheels: one front wheel and two rear wheels,

[0006] - pedals mounted on the frame and connected to the rear wheels by means of a transmission,

[0007] - a saddle mounted on the frame, and

[0008] - a handlebar connected to the front wheel.

[0009] Unlike a bicycle, a three-wheel bicycle allows individuals with poor balance to pedal, thus enabling children and adults with motor disabilities to move around.

[0010] Moreover, the three-wheel bicycle helps prevent secondary damage caused by chronic immobility conditions, thus contributing to improve the motor coordination, spatial perception, and self-esteem of the user.

[0011] However, such a type of three-wheel bicycle according to the prior art is impaired by some disadvantages due to the difficulties encountered by the user to access the three-wheel bicycle frame easily and independently and close the three-wheel bicycle frame in a compact, space-saving configuration to facilitate the transportation or storage of the three-wheel bicycle.

[0012] The results achieved so far by the prior art have solved only one or the other of the two problems.

[0013] Three-wheel bicycles with a frame provided with a lowered footboard that facilitates the access for the user are known. However, such three-wheel bicycles with lowered footboard are not foldable.

[0014] Three-wheel bicycles provided with a hinge in the frame that makes the frame foldable in order to close the three-wheel bicycle into a space-saving configuration are known. However, such three-wheel bicycles with foldable frame do not have a lowered footboard that facilitates the access for the user. The technical hindrance of achieving both objectives consists in the fact that the hinge of the frame must be located in the lowered footboard of the frame, in a position where the frame is subject to high stress during use, for example on uneven ground, when braking, and when getting on and off the three-wheel bicycle.

[0015] When using the three-wheel bicycle, the points of force application are the handlebar and the saddle. In the case of a hinge in a lower part of the frame, the lever arms between the hinge and the points of force application (handlebar and saddle) are excessively long, with a risk of failure of a conventional hinge when using the three-wheel bicycle.

[0016] Examples of three-wheel bicycles provided with adjustable frames in such a way to modify the configuration of the three-wheel bicycle are disclosed in JP2004209037A, JP5624910B2, W00168440A1 and US2023356799A1 .

[0017] The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a versatile three-wheel bicycle that provides easy access for the user and is also foldable, in such a way to be closed to a compact configuration in terms of length for transportation purposes.

[0018] Another purpose is to provide such a three-wheel bicycle that is reliable, safe, and capable of preventing the structural failure of the frame.

[0019] These purposes are achieved in accordance with the invention with the characteristics of the attached independent claim 1 .

[0020] Advantageous embodiments of the invention appear from the dependent claims.

[0021] Further characteristics of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description below, referring to a merely exemplary and therefore nonlimiting embodiment, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0022] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a three-wheel bicycle according to the invention;

[0023] Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of Fig. 1 , illustrating the lowered footboard of the three-wheel bicycle in use configuration;

[0024] Fig. 2A is an exploded view of the components of Fig. 2, Fig. 3 is a detail that illustrates the lowered footboard of the three-wheel bicycle according to the invention, during the closing of the frame of the three- wheel bicycle;

[0025] Fig. 3A is an exploded view of the components of Fig. 3.

[0026] With the aid of the Figures, a three-wheel bicycle according to the invention, which is comprehensively indicated with the reference numeral 100, is described.

[0027] The three-wheel bicycle (100) comprises:

[0028] - a frame (1 ) supported on three wheels comprising one front wheel (2) and two rear wheels (20),

[0029] - pedals (3) rotatably mounted on the frame (1 ) and connected to hubs (21 ) of the rear wheels (20) by means of a transmission (30),

[0030] - a saddle (S) mounted on the frame (1 ), and

[0031] - a handlebar (M) mounted on the frame (1 ) and connected to the front wheel (2).

[0032] The three wheels (2, 20) rest on three points in a plane, thus keeping the three-wheel bicycle (100) in balance.

[0033] The frame (1 ) of the three-wheel bicycle comprises a lowered footboard (10) disposed in front of the pedals (3) in a central lower position of the frame (1 ) of the three-wheel bicycle.

[0034] The lowered footboard (10) is suitably dimensioned to let the user rest one foot on it. When the wheels (2, 20) of the three-wheel bicycle are resting on the ground, the lowered footboard (10) is disposed at a height of approximately 50-150 mm, preferably 80-120 mm, above the ground.

[0035] In view of the above, when a user wants to get on the three-wheel bicycle (100), the user can place one foot on the lowered footboard (10) in order to get off the ground and comfortably sit on the saddle (S).

[0036] The lowered footboard (10) comprises a front element (4) hinged to a rear element (5) by means of a hinge (6) having a vertical axis of rotation (Z), i.e., orthogonal to the upper surface of the footboard (10). The frame (1 ) comprises a front tube (12) protruding upward from the front element (4) of the lowered footboard (10). The front tube (12) of the frame is connected to a vertical tube (13) of the steering.

[0037] The frame (1 ) comprises a rear tube (14) protruding upwards from the rear element (5) of the lowered footboard (10). The rear tube (14) of the frame is connected to a horizontal tube (15) whereon a vertical tube (16) of the saddle (S) is mounted.

[0038] The horizontal tube (16) terminates in a sleeve (17) wherein a shaft (22) connected to the hubs (21 ) of the rear wheels is rotatably mounted.

[0039] The transmission (30) comprises a chain returned to a toothed wheel (31 ) connected to the pedals (3) and to a pinion (32) connected to the shaft (17) of the rear wheels (20).

[0040] With reference to Figs. 2 and 2A, the front element (4) of the lowered footboard consists of a boxed frame comprising a lower plate (40), an upper plate (41 ), and a central body (42) disposed between the lower plate and the upper plate. The lower and upper plates (40, 41 ) are made of sheet metal and the central body (42) is made from a metal bar, for example steel.

[0041] A film (43) made of non-slip material is arranged on the upper plate (41 ).

[0042] The upper plate (41 ) of the front element has a length of approximately 30-40 cm and a width of approximately 10-15 cm. The front tube (12) protrudes from the front of the upper plate (41 ) of the front element. The front tube (12) has a diameter of 2-4 cm. This leaves a free surface on the front tube (12) that allows the user to easily rest his / her foot.

[0043] A side seat (44) recessed between the lower plate (40) and the upper plate (41 ) is formed on one side of the front element (4) of the footboard.

[0044] The side seat (44) of the front element of the footboard is open at the rear and at the front, by means of a rear opening (44a) and a front opening (44b), respectively.

[0045] The rear opening (44a) is defined between two blocks (45, 46) of the central body (42) with stepped shape. The front opening (44b) is defined by a U-shaped notch (48) in a partition (47) arranged transversely between the lower plate (40) and the upper plate (41 ). In front of the partition (47) there is a front seat (49) recessed between the lower plate (40) and the upper plate (41 ).

[0046] In the side seat (44) of the front element of the footboard there is a clip (C) having a C-shaped section open towards the outside.

[0047] The rear element (5) of the footboard consists of a block comprising a lower part (50), an upper part (51 ), and a central body (52) connecting the lower part to the upper part. The block of the rear element is made in one piece from a metal bar.

[0048] The rear tube (14) of the frame protrudes upward from the upper part (51 ) of the rear element. When seen in a plan view, the rear element (5) has a slightly larger surface area than a circumference of the rear tube (14).

[0049] A lateral seat (53) recessed between the lower part (50) and the upper part (51 ) of the rear element of the footboard is formed on one side of the rear element (5) of the footboard.

[0050] The lateral seat (53) of the rear element of the footboard is open at the front by means of a front opening (53a) suitable for interfacing with the rear opening (44a) of the side seat of the front element of the footboard. In view of the above, the lateral seat (53) of the rear element communicates with the side seat (44) of the front element of the footboard.

[0051] The lower and upper parts (50, 51 ) of the rear element of the footboard have front ends (54, 55) with stepped shape suitable for coupling with the blocks (45, 46) of the front element of the footboard when the footboard is in closed operating position.

[0052] The lower and upper parts (50, 51 ) of the rear element of the footboard have respective coaxial holes (56, 57) with vertical axis passing through the lateral seat (53) of the rear element of the footboard.

[0053] A pin (7) is engaged in the holes (56, 57) of the lower and upper parts (50, 51 ) of the rear element of the footboard. The pin (7) has a radial through hole (70) located in the lateral seat (53) of the rear element of the footboard.

[0054] A tie rod (8) comprises a stem (80) disposed in the radial through hole (70) of the pin. The stem (80) has a first enlarged end (81 ) which abuts against the pin (7) to prevent the stem (80) from coming out of the radial through hole (70) of the pin.

[0055] The stem (80) has a second end connected to a knob (82) having a circular body pivoted on a pin (83) of the tie rod with axis orthogonal to the axis of the stem (80). A stop disc (84) is disposed at the second end of the stem (80) abutting against the body of the knob.

[0056] The stem (80) of the tie rod is housed in the lateral seat (53) of the rear element of the footboard and in the side seat (44) of the front element of the footboard. So the stem (80) of the tie rod is engaged in the clip (C) that holds the stem (80) of the tie rod inside the side seat (44) of the front element of the footboard.

[0057] The second end of the stem (80) of the tie rod passes through the front opening (44b) of the side seat of the front element of the footboard and the handle (82) of the tie rod is housed in the front seat (49) of the front element of the footboard. The stop disc (84) of the tie rod abuts against the partition (47) of the front element of the footboard.

[0058] With reference to Fig. 3A, the hinge (6) comprises a first fork (60) integral with the central body (42) of the front element of the footboard, and a second fork (61 ) integral with the upper part (51 ) of the rear element of the footboard.

[0059] The first fork (60) has two arms (62, 63) that protrude laterally from a side opposite to the side where the side seat (44) of the front element of the footboard is located. The two arms (62, 63) of the first fork of the hinge are arranged at a rear end of the front element (4) of the footboard. A U-shaped seat (64) is defined between the arms (62, 63) of the first fork of the hinge. The arms (62, 63) of the first fork of the hinge have respective coaxial holes (62a, 63a) with vertical axis.

[0060] The second fork (61 ) has two arms (65, 66) that protrude forward from the upper part (51 ) of the rear element of the footboard. A U-shaped seat (67) is defined between the arms (65, 66) of the second fork of the hinge. The arms (65, 66) of the second fork of the hinge have respective coaxial holes (65a, 66a) with vertical axis. The arms (62, 63, 65, 66) of the forks (60, 61 ) of the hinge (6) are made of a metal bar, for example steel, to ensure adequate mechanical strength of the hinge (6).

[0061] The two forks (60, 61 ) of the hinge are coupled so that the lower arm (65) of the second fork is disposed in the seat (64) of the first fork and the upper arm (63) of the first fork is disposed in the seat (67) of the second fork. The holes (62a, 65a, 63a, 66a) of the forks are aligned and a hinge pin (67) is disposed in said holes (62a, 65a, 63a, 66a) of the forks, so that the hinge can rotate about the vertical axis (Z) of the pin.

[0062] Following is a description of the operation of the three-wheel bicycle (100).

[0063] When the three-wheel bicycle (100) is in use, the lowered footboard (10) is in a closed position shown in Fig. 2. In such a situation, the front ends (54, 55) of the lower and upper parts (50, 51 ) of the rear footboard element abut against the blocks (45, 46) of the front element of the footboard. The rear opening (44a) of the side seat (44) of the front element communicates with the lateral seat (53) of the rear element.

[0064] The stem (80) of the tie rod is arranged in the lateral seat (53) of the rear element of the footboard and in the side seat (44) of the front element of the footboard and is held in place by the clip (C).

[0065] The enlarged portion (81 ) of the stem of the tie rod abuts against the pin (7) constrained to the rear element (5) of the footboard. The second end of the stem (80) is engaged in the U-shaped notch (48) of the partition (47) of the front element. The knob (82) of the tie rod is located in the front seat (49) of the front element, in a tensioning position, wherein it pulls the stem (80) of the tie rod anteriorly so as to tighten the rear element (5) towards the front element (4). In fact, in order to tension the tie rod (8), the user operates the knob (82) of the tie rod, rotating the knob (82) of the tie rod around its pin (83) so as to bring the knob closer to the partition (47) of the front element.

[0066] The condition with the lowered footboard (10) in closed position is a maximum safety condition since the footboard cannot be opened due to the presence of the tie rod (8). Furthermore, the fact that the hinge (6) is made with two forks (60, 61 ) with arms (62, 63, 65, 66) made of metal bars ensures an adequate mechanical resistance of the hinge (6) against the stresses to which the lowered footboard (10) is subjected during use of the three-wheel bicycle.

[0067] When the three-wheel bicycle (100) is not used and is transported in space-saving configuration, the user operates the knob (82) of the tie rod, rotating the knob (82) of the tie rod around its pin (83) so as to move the knob away from the partition (47) of the front element. T, thus loosening the tie rod (8). As a result, the user can pull the stem (80) of the tie rod out of the U-shaped notch (48) of the partition (47), disengage the stem of the tie rod from the clip (C), and remove the stem (80) of the tie rod from the side seat (44) of the first element of the footboard.

[0068] In view of the above, the front element (4) of the footboard is no longer tightened to the rear element (5) of the footboard. So the user can rotate the front element (4) of the footboard relative to the rear element (5) of the footboard around the axis (Z) of the hinge, bringing the footboard (10) into an open, non-operating position, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0069] It should be noted that when the footboard (10) is in open position, the front element (4) of the footboard has rotated relative to the rear element (5) of the footboard by an angle of approximately 140°-170°, bringing the rear tube (14) alongside the front tube (12) in a position that minimizes the length of the three-wheel bicycle. In fact, in such a case, the length of the three-wheel bicycle going from the hinge (6) to the front end of the front wheel (2) is saved.

[0070] The three-wheel bicycle (100) may comprise locking means to lock the footboard (10) in open position and prevent the footboard from moving during the transportation of the three-wheel bicycle in space-saving configuration. Said locking means can be released by the user to close the footboard.

[0071] Numerous modifications can be made to the present embodiment of the invention, which are within the reach of an expert of the field and fall in any case within the scope of the invention as disclosed by the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Three-wheel bicycle (100) comprising:- a frame (1 ) supported on three wheels comprising a front wheel (2) and two rear wheels (20),- pedals (3) rotatably mounted on the frame (1 ) and connected to hubs (21 ) of the rear wheels (20) by means of a transmission (30),- a saddle (S) mounted on the frame (1 ), and- a handlebar (M) mounted on the frame (1 ) and connected to the front wheel (2); wherein said frame (1 ) of the three-wheel bicycle comprises a lowered footboard (10) disposed in front of the pedals (3) in a central lower position of the frame (1 ) of the three-wheel bicycle to let the user rest one foot on the lowered footboard (10); characterized by the fact that said lowered footboard (10) comprises:- a front element (4) connected to a front tube (12) of the frame,- a rear element (5) connected to a rear tube (14) of the frame, and- a hinge (6) connecting the front element (4) to the rear element (5); said hinge (6) having a vertical axis of rotation (Z), i.e., orthogonal to the upper surface of the footboard (10), so that the front element (4) can rotate relative to the rear element (5) moving the lowered footboard (10) from a closed operating position, wherein the front tube (12) is opposite the rear tube (14) of the frame, to an open non-operating position, wherein the front tube (12) is disposed side by side with the rear tube (14) of the frame and the three-wheel bicycle has a minimum volume.

2. The three-wheel bicycle (100) according to claim 1 , wherein said hinge (6) comprises:- a first fork (60) integral with the front element (4) of the footboard,- a second fork (61 ) integral with the rear element (5) of the footboard, and- a hinge pin (68) pivoted in arms (62, 63, 65, 66) of the fork, in accordance with said vertical axis of rotation (Z).

3. The three-wheel bicycle (100) according to claim 2, wherein said front element (4) of the lowered footboard comprises a boxed frame comprising a lower plate (40), an upper plate (41 ), and a central body (42) disposed between the lower plate and the upper plate; said first fork (60) of the hinge being integral with the central body (42) of the front element and protruding laterally from the central body (42) of the front element.

4. The three-wheel bicycle (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said rear element (5) of the lowered footboard comprises a block comprising a lower part (50), an upper part (51 ) and a central body (52) connecting the lower part to the upper part; said second fork (61 ) of the hinge being integral with the upper part (51 ) of the rear element and projecting anteriorly from the upper part (51 ) of the rear element.

5. The three-wheel bicycle (100) according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the lower and upper parts (50, 51 ) of the rear element of the footboard have front ends (54, 55) with stepped shape suitable for coupling with blocks (45, 46) with stepped shape of the front element of the footboard, when the footboard is in closed operating position.

6. The three-wheel bicycle (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a tie rod (8) connected to the rear element (5) and to the front element (4) of the footboard to tighten the rear element to the front element when the footboard is in the closed operating position.

7. The three-wheel bicycle (100) according to claim 6, wherein said tie rod (8) comprises a stem (80) slidably disposed in a hole (70) of a pin (7) mounted in said rear element (5) and a knob (82) disposed in a front seat (49) of said front element (4) of the footboard.

8. The three-wheel bicycle (100) according to claim 7, wherein said rear element (5) has a lateral seat (53) and said front element (4) has a lateral seat (44) in communication with the lateral seat of the rear element when the footboard is in the closed operating position; said stem (80) of the tie rod being disposed in said lateral seats (53, 44) of the rear and front element.

9. The three-wheel bicycle (100) according to claim 8, comprising a clip (C) disposed in said lateral seat (44) of the front element to retain the stem (80) of the tie rod in said lateral seat (44) of the front element.

10. The three-wheel bicycle (100) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said front element comprises a partition (47) disposed transversely to separate the lateral seat (44) from the front seat (49) of the front element, said partition (47) having a U-shaped notch (48) that accommodates one end of the stem (80) of the tie rod connected to the knob (82).

Images