• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:

    公开号:NL2011220A
    申请号:NL2011220
    申请日:2013-07-25
    公开日:2014-01-28
    发明作者:Yung-Tai Chang；Chun-Ti Chang；Wan-Tai Chang
    申请人:Yung-Tai Chang；Chun-Ti Chang；Wan-Tai Chang；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Title: Bicycle
    The invention relates to a bicycle, more particularly to a front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-steering bicycle.
    A conventional bicycle includes a pair of sprockets mounted rotatably to a main frame thereof. One of the sprockets is connected co-rotatably to a rear wheel of the conventional bicycle. The conventional bicycle further includes a pedal-crank system connected co-rotatably to another one of the sprockets, and a roller chain trained on the sprockets for driving rotation of the rear wheel when the pedal-crank system is driven to rotate. A front fork mounted with a front wheel is connected rotatably to the main frame for steering the conventional bicycle.
    Another conventional bicycle has a main frame, a front fork connected rotatably to the main frame, and a pedal-crank system connected co-rotatably to a front wheel that is mounted rotatably to the front fork. As such, the front wheel functions to drive and steer this conventional bicycle without the use of sprockets and chain. However, although this conventional bicycle has a relatively simple structure, it is laborious and may even be dangerous for a user to steer and provide power to the same wheel.
    Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle that has a relatively simple structure and that has a simple steering operation.
    Accordingly, a bicycle of the present invention comprises a frame unit, a drive unit, a seat unit and a steering unit.
    The frame unit includes a main frame, a front wheel that is connected rotatably to the main frame, a rear fork that is connected to the main frame behind the front wheel and that is rotatable relative to the main frame about a rear axis, and a rear wheel that is connected rotatably to the rear fork.
    The drive unit is connected to the front wheel and is operable for driving rotation of the front wheel.
    The seat unit is connected to the main frame and is disposed above the front and rear wheels.
    The steering unit includes a handle that is connected to the main frame and that is rotatable relative to the main frame about a front axis parallel to the rear axis, a pair of transmission members that are connected respectively and co-rotatably to the handle and the rear fork, and a transmission unit that interconnects the transmission members.
    Rotation of the handle about the front axis in a first rotational direction drives the rear fork to rotate about the rear axis in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction via the transmission unit.
    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
    Fig. 1 is a side view of a first preferred embodiment of a bicycle according to the invention;
    Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, partly sectional view of the first preferred embodiment;
    Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, partly sectional view of the first preferred embodiment;
    Fig. 4 is another fragmentary sectional view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating a steering unit driving rotation of a rear wheel;
    Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, partly sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the bicycle according to the invention;
    Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the second preferred embodiment illustrating operation of a steering unit and a rear wheel; and
    Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the second preferred embodiment illustrating the steering unit driving rotation of the rear wheel.
    Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that hke elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
    As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the first preferred embodiment of a bicycle according to the present invention comprises a frame unit 1, a drive unit 2, a seat unit 3, and a steering unit 4.
    The frame unit 1 includes a main frame 11, a front fork 12 connected to the main frame 11, a front wheel 13 connected rotatably to the front fork 12, a rear fork 14 connected to the main frame 11 behind the front fork 12 and the front wheel 13 and rotatable relative to the main frame 11 about a rear axis (B) (see Fig. 2), and a rear wheel 15 connected rotatably to the rear fork 14. In this embodiment, the main frame 11 is substantially X-shaped, and has a horizontal handle seat portion 16, a horizontal rear fork seat portion 17 mounted with the rear fork 14, and a main portion 18 interconnecting the handle seat portion 16 and the rear fork seat portion 17 and mounted with the front fork 12 below the handle seat portion 16. The main portion 18 and the rear fork seat portion 17 form an angle ranging from 90° to 150°.
    The drive unit 2 includes a pair of crank arms 21 (only one is shown in Fig. 1) connected co-rotatably to the front wheel 13, and a pair of pedals 22 (only one is shown in Fig. 1) connected respectively and pivotally to the crank arms 21. The drive unit 2 is able to be pedaled to directly drive rotation of the front wheel 13.
    The seat unit 3 is disposed above the front and rear wheels 13, 15, and includes a seat tube 31 connected telescopically to the main portion 18 of the main frame 11, and a saddle 32 connected to the seat tube 31.
    The steering unit 4 includes a handle 41 that is connected to the handle seat portion 16 of the main frame 11 and that is rotatable relative to the main frame 11 about a front axis (A) parallel to the rear axis (B) (see Fig. 2), a pair of transmission members 42 that are connected respectively and co-rotatably to the handle 41 and the rear fork 14, and a transmission unit 5 that interconnects the transmission members 42. In this embodiment, the transmission members 42 are configured as toothed pulleys and are disposed in the handle seat portion 16 and the rear fork seat portion 17, respectively.
    The transmission unit 5 includes a pair of flexible racks 51, a pair of transmission cables 52, and a pair of cable housings 53.
    Each of the flexible racks 51 has a toothed portion 511 meshing with a respective one of the transmission members 42. The transmission cables 52 cross each other. Each of the transmission cables 52 has opposite first, and second ends. The first ends of the transmission cables 52 are connected respectively to opposite ends of one of the flexible racks 51. The second ends of the transmission cables 52 are connected respectively to opposite ends of the other one of the flexible racks 51. The cable housings 53 are mounted to the main portion 18 of the main frame 11, cross each other, and are disposed for respective extensions of the transmission cables 52.
    In this embodiment, each of the transmission members 42 has a plurality of pulley teeth, and each of the flexible racks 51 further has two end portions 512 that are disposed at opposite sides of the toothed portion 511 thereof. The end portions 512 are provided respectively with two limiting protrusions 54. Each of the limiting protrusions 54 has a width in a longitudinal direction of the flexible rack 51 greater than a distance between tips of an adjacent pair of the teeth of the respective one of the transmission members 42, and has a depth in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the flexible rack 51 and to the directions of the front and rear axes (A, B) greater than a depth of each tooth of the respective one of the transmission members 42.
    In riding the bicycle of this invention, a user can sit on the saddle 32, adjust the height of the saddle 32 via the seat tube 31, and pedal for driving rotation of the front wheel 13.
    Referring further to Fig. 4, in steering the bicycle of this invention, rotation of the handle 41 about the front axis (A) in a first, rotational direction drives the rear fork 14 to rotate about the rear axis (B) in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction via the crossed configuration of the transmission cables 52 of the transmission unit 5. By virtue of the limiting protrusions 54, the rotation of the handle 41 and the rotation of the rear fork 14 are limited within a certain range since each of the limiting protrusions 54 is not insertable into a space between an adjacent pair of the teeth of the respective transmission member 42.
    The advantages of this invention are as follows.
    1. The drive unit 2 is connected directly to the front wheel 13 to drive rotation of the front wheel 13, so that the sprockets and the roller chain in the conventional rear-wheel-drive bicycle disclosed in the prior art can be omitted. As a result, the bicycle of this invention has a relatively simple structure.
    2. The bicycle of this invention is a rear-wheel-steering bicycle by virtue of the steering unit 4. As such, steering operation of the rear wheel 15 and driving operation of the drive unit 2 are individually conducted. Compared with the conventional front-wheel-drive and front-wheel-steering bicycles, the drawbacks can be prevented.
    Referring to Figs. 5 to 7, a second preferred embodiment of this invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment. The difference is that each of the transmission members 42 is configured as a disk and has two diametrically spaced-apart connecting ribs 423 and a pair of peripheral grooves 422 arranged circumferentially alternately with the connecting ribs 423. Each of the connecting ribs 423 is formed with a connecting hole 421.
    The transmission unit 5 includes a pair of transmission cables 52 crossing each other. Each of the transmission cables 52 has opposite first and second ends. As shown in Figure 7, the first ends of the transmission cables 52 engage respectively the connecting holes 421 of one of the transmission members 42. Similarly, the second ends of the transmission cables 52 engage respectively the connecting holes 421 of the other one of the transmission members 42.
    In steering of the bicycle of this invention, rotation of the handle 41 about the front axis (A) in a first rotational direction drives the rear fork 14 to rotate about the rear axis (B) in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction via the transmission cables 52. For each of the transmission members 42, one of the peripheral grooves 422 is used for retaining a portion of one of the transmission cables 52 during rotation of the transmission member 42.
    The second preferred embodiment has advantages the same as the first preferred embodiment. In addition, the structure of the transmission unit 5 in the second preferred embodiment is simpler than that of the first preferred embodiment. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the second preferred embodiment is further lowered.
    权利要求:
    Claims (10)
    [1]
    A bicycle characterized by: a frame unit (1) provided with a main frame (11), a front wheel (13) rotatably connected to said main frame (11), a rear fork (14) connected behind said front wheel (13) with said main frame (11) and rotatable relative to said main frame (11) about a rear axle (B), and a rear wheel (15) rotatably connected to said rear fork (14); a drive unit (2) connected to said front wheel (13) and usable for driving rotation of said front wheel (13); a saddle unit (3) connected to said main frame (11) and positioned higher than said front and rear wheel (13, 15); and a control unit (4) provided with a handlebar (41) connected to said main frame (11) and rotatable relative to said main frame (11) about a front axle (A) parallel to the rear axle (B), a pair of transmission elements (42) connected and co-rotatable with the handlebar (41) and the rear fork (14), respectively, and a transmission unit (5) interconnecting said transmission elements (42); wherein rotation of said handlebar (41) around the front axle (A) in a first direction of rotation drives said rear fork (14) via said transmission unit (5) to rotate around the rear axle (B) in a second direction of rotation opposite to said first direction of rotation .
    [2]
    A bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that said main frame (11) is substantially X-shaped.
    [3]
    A bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that: said transmission elements (42) are formed as toothed pulleys; and said transmission unit (5) is provided with a pair of flexible racks (51), each of which has a toothed portion that engages a respective transmission element (42), and a pair of intersecting transmission cables (52), each of said transmission cables (52) ) has an opposite first and second end, said first and second ends of said transmission cables (52) being connected to an opposite end of one of said flexible racks (51), said second ends of said transmission cables (52) being connected with a respective opposite end of the other of said flexible racks (51).
    [4]
    The bicycle of claim 3, further characterized in that each of said transmission elements (42) has a plurality of pulley teeth, each of said flexible racks (51) further having two end portions disposed on opposite sides of said toothed portions and which end portions are provided with two boundary protrusions (54), wherein each of the boundary protrusions (54) has a width in a longitudinal direction of the corresponding flexible rack (51) that is greater than a distance between tops of an adjacent pair of said teeth of the respective transmission element (42).
    [5]
    The bicycle of claim 3, further characterized in that each of said transmission elements (42) has a plurality of pulley teeth, each of said flexible racks (51) further having two end portions disposed on opposite sides of said toothed portions and which end portions respectively provided with two boundary protrusions (54), each of the boundary protrusions (54) being in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of one of said corresponding flexible gear rack (51) and transversely of the directions of the front and rear axles (A, B ) has a depth greater than a depth of each tooth of the respective transmission element (42).
    [6]
    The bicycle of claim 1, characterized in that: each of said transmission elements (42) has a pair of spaced connection openings (421); said transmission unit (5) is provided with a pair of intersecting transmission cables (52), each of said transmission cables (52) having an opposite first and second end, said first ends of said transmission cables (52) engaging the respective connection opening (421) ) of one of said transmission elements (42), said second ends of said transmission cables (52) engaging the respective connection opening (421) of the other of said transmission elements (42).
    [7]
    The bicycle of claim 6, further characterized in that each of said transmission elements (42) further comprises a circumferential groove (422) for receiving a portion of one of said transmission cables (52) during rotation of said transmission element (42).
    [8]
    Bicycle according to one of claims 3 and 6, further characterized in that said transmission unit (5) is further provided with a pair of cable housings (53) which are attached to said main frame (11), which cross one another and which are placed for extension of the respective transmission cable (52).
    [9]
    A bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that the main frame (11) is provided with a horizontal handlebar section (16) equipped with said handlebar (41), a horizontal rear fork seat section (17) equipped with said rear fork (14), and a main section (18) interconnecting said steering place portion (16) and said rear fork position portion (17) and being equipped with said front wheel (13) and said saddle unit (3).
    [10]
    The bicycle according to claim 9, further characterized in that said main portion (18) and said rear fork area (17) of said main frame (11) form an angle in the range of 90 ° - 150 °.
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
    JP5887687B2|2016-03-16|bicycle
    US9139252B2|2015-09-22|Dual drive sprocket pedal bike
    US20160096588A1|2016-04-07|Bicycle Pedal Crank with Split Shaft
    JP2011522734A|2011-08-04|Twin frame bicycle
    WO2015079426A1|2015-06-04|Swing arm for a vehicle
    NL2011220C2|2014-05-08|Bicycle.
    US20110193311A1|2011-08-11|Pedal-driven scooter
    GB2537387A|2016-10-19|A Wheeled vehicle and a hub
    KR100781182B1|2007-11-30|Two-wheel drive type driving mechanism for tricycle or four-wheeled cycle
    KR100936837B1|2010-01-14|Complex steering cycle having a function to run by hand
    WO2002002395A1|2002-01-10|Pedal vehicle with low center of gravity
    KR101065348B1|2011-09-19|Transmission of human-driven traveling apparatus
    EP2055623B1|2011-06-15|Dual-mode wheel rotating apparatus
    KR101096998B1|2011-12-20|Crank arm for bicycle
    US20110254245A1|2011-10-20|Twist Grip Steerable, Lever-Driven Wheelchair
    JP3130942U|2007-04-19|Drive mechanism especially for unicycles
    KR101650663B1|2016-08-23|a small size bicycle
    KR200451579Y1|2010-12-22|Rear-pedaling standing type bicycle structure
    KR20150117790A|2015-10-21|Tandem bicycle
    KR100781765B1|2007-12-04|One-seat two-wheel drive type four-wheeled cycle for advertisement and publicity work
    KR200420087Y1|2006-06-28|Bicycles with fork all-wheel steering
    KR101693815B1|2017-01-09|A Combined Hand Bike and Recumbent Bike
    JP4866324B2|2012-02-01|Rear-wheel drive four-wheel bicycle
    JP5897198B1|2016-03-30|Tricycle
    KR20110113789A|2011-10-19|Middle wheel drive cycle
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    NL2011220C2|2014-05-08|
    TW201404649A|2014-02-01|
    CN103569268A|2014-02-12|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    DE19724360C2|1996-06-14|1999-03-25|Ruetzel Ralf Dipl Designer Fh|Scooter with front and rear wheel steering|
    CN200974577Y|2006-11-23|2007-11-14|李文怡|Leisure type front-wheel driven bicycle|
    CN201395216Y|2009-01-16|2010-02-03|苏勇|X-shaped bicycle|
    CN201405971Y|2009-05-25|2010-02-17|陈金益|Bicycle with front wheel driving rear wheel to turn|
    CN202243909U|2011-05-31|2012-05-30|朱家兴|Hinged front wheel-driven and rear wheel-steered gear transmission bicycle|TWI596032B|2014-12-11|2017-08-21|Chun Ti Chang|Front wheel drive rear steering wheel bike|
    DE102016001843B4|2016-02-18|2018-05-09|Technische Hochschule Köln|bicycle|
    法律状态:
    2017-03-01| MM| Lapsed because of non-payment of the annual fee|Effective date: 20160801 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    TW101127275A|TW201404649A|2012-07-27|2012-07-27|Bicycle having front wheel for driving and rear wheel for turning|
    TW101127275|2012-07-27|
    [返回顶部]