Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62K—CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
  • B62K13/00—Cycles convertible to, or transformable into, other types of cycles or land vehicle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B5/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
  • B62B5/0003—Adaptations for loading in or on a vehicle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B5/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
  • B62B5/0026—Propulsion aids
  • B62B5/0079—Towing by connecting to another vehicle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62K—CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
  • B62K15/00—Collapsible or foldable cycles
  • B62K15/006—Collapsible or foldable cycles the frame being foldable
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B1/00—Hand carts having only one axis carrying one or more transport wheels; Equipment therefor
  • B62B1/10—Hand carts having only one axis carrying one or more transport wheels; Equipment therefor in which the load is intended to be transferred totally to the wheels
  • B62B1/12—Hand carts having only one axis carrying one or more transport wheels; Equipment therefor in which the load is intended to be transferred totally to the wheels involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable, or convertible
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B2207/00—Joining hand-propelled vehicles or sledges together
  • B62B2207/02—Joining hand-propelled vehicles or sledges together rigidly
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62K—CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
  • B62K15/00—Collapsible or foldable cycles
  • B62K2015/005—Collapsible or foldable cycles having additional wheels for use when folded or collapsed

Definitions

• the invention relates to the field of transportation of various charges and provisions, such as purchases made in shops, between trade and premises, possibly with a transfer in the trunk of a vehicle, taking into account the new constraints arising protecting the environment and reducing energy consumption.
• a foldable cycle structure comprising two separable parts, namely, a rear part equipped with drive means and seat means, and a front part with handlebar and basket. provision, these two parts being secured by means of manually operable connection means.
• the document CN200964161 describes a folding bike whose front portion is provided with a provision basket and whose rear portion, removable, can be folded against the front, so that the two wheels are parallel.
• the front part is equipped with a retractable carriage, forming a third support point, improving the stability of the two folded parts and facilitating the hand traction of the assembly. It is actually a folding bike that offers only one comfort limited to a small cyclist and, in the trolley position, offers only a very relative stability because of the proximity of the rolling points on the ground.
• the object of the invention is to provide a cycle which satisfies the following constraints:
• the user To move from the cycle configuration to the trolley configuration, the user must separate the two parts of the cycle, bring the stand to the position of use, then, if he wishes to take the rear part with the trolley, insert the rear wheel in the shoe at the same time that it has a tubular element of the rear frame in the holding means provided on the front part. After locking the holding means, the two parts of the cycle form a compact assembly, all the more stable as the front wheels have a large diameter and are spaced longitudinally from the shoe.
• the user can then move through the aisles of a store by placing his purchases in the shopping basket and not having to worry about securing the rear part of the cycle, since it is carried by the carriage.
• the stand comprises:
• a second lever whose front end is hinged transversely to the rear end of the first lever, and whose rear end carries the hoof by a longitudinal hinge allowing, in a bearing position on the ground, to bring this hoof; transversely on both sides of the longitudinal median plane of the carriage,
• the shoe in the "cycle” configuration, the shoe is held lengthwise under the frame of the rear part, parallel to it, and does not interfere with the pedaling movement, whereas in the "carriage” configuration, it is perpendicular to this frame, and by its support on the ground behind the wheels, it gives a very good stability to the carriage.
• the shoe comprises at least one wheel capable of coming into contact with the ground to form, with the wheels of the front part of the cycle, on the one hand, a stabilizer and, on the other hand a third rolling point, spaced apart front wheels.
• the crutch E comprises:
• a cradle for receiving the rear wheel of the cycle said cradle being articulated about a transverse axis and in bearings disposed at the rear of the basket with possibility of pivoting between two locked positions, but unlocked manually, a retracted position , folded against the basket, and a use position in which the wheels which it is provided are supported on the ground.
• Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of the same cycle when it is in "carriage” configuration and, respectively, with a basket of commission and without basket, console folded;
• Figure 4 is an elevational view from the rear of the front portion of the cycle, when the latter is alone;
• Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of the front portion, without the rear portion, showing two ways to move the commission carriage of Figure 4;
• Figure 7 is a partial view of the frame steering tube, showing, on an enlarged scale, an embodiment of the connecting means of the two parts of the cycle and retaining means of the rear portion against the front portion;
• FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged views of one embodiment of the connecting means of the two parts of the cycle, respectively, in side view in the mounted state, in perspective during the disassembly and disassembled state;
• Figure 1 1 is a partial perspective view showing an embodiment of the locking and unlocking means associated with the stand;
• Figure 12 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the spring latch
• Figures 13 and 14 are perspective views showing the stand and its locking means, respectively, when it is folded and when it is deployed;
• FIGS. 15 to 17 are partial perspective side views of another embodiment of the cycle, when it is respectively in the cycle position, at the beginning of passage in the trolley position and during the separation of its rear part from with its front part;
• Figure 18 is a partial view from the front, showing on an enlarged scale another embodiment of the stand when in the position of use;
• Figure 19 is a partial perspective view and reduced scale showing the front with its steering column
• Figure 20 is a view similar to Figure 19, but in a variant in which the frame is structured to allow the folding of the front wheels against it;
• Figure 21 is a front elevational view of the cycle of Figures 15-19, when in carriage position, with the front portion supporting the rear portion.
• the cycle according to the invention is composed of a rear part A and a front part B.
• the rear part A comprises, in known manner, most of the frame 2 of the cycle, namely:
• the front portion B of the cycle according to the invention is essentially formed by a triangular frame 15, arranged vertically and transversely and carrying, on each side, a vertical bearing 16 for guiding rotation of the one of the two cylindrical heads of the forks 17, and, in central part, a cylindrical sleeve direction 18.
• a rod 19, rotatably mounted in the sleeve 1 8, carries the stem, or equivalent, by which the handlebar 20 is fixed .
• the stem of stem 19 is slidably mounted in the tube 1 8 with the possibility of locking by a means 22 (FIG. 4) with manual tightening, either to adjust the height of the stem to the size of the cyclist, or to reduce the clutter in the storage position.
• Each of the two forks 17 carries the axle of a front wheel 23 having a diameter of between 14 and 20 inches, and is integral with a lever 24, turned towards the rear.
• Each lever 24 serves for the articulation, by a vertical axis 25, of one of the ends of a rod 26, substantially horizontal, the other end is articulated, by another vertical axis 27, to a lever 28 bound in rotation to the steering rod 1 9.
• the two wheels 23 rotate at the same angle at the same time.
• This Figure 4 also shows that the steering sleeve 18 carries a plate 30, substantially vertical, facing rearwardly and constituting one of the elements of the connecting means C between the parts A and B of the cycle. It also carries two jaws 32 turned towards the rear and constituting the means D for maintaining the rear part A of the cycle, when the latter is in a trolley configuration.
• the connecting means C also comprise a plate 33, substantially vertical, turned forwards and welded to the end of the diagonal tube 3 of the frame.
• At least one of the two plates for example that 30, carries lugs 34 protruding from its face and able to penetrate in wells 35 or through holes formed in the other plate 33. These lugs and wells ensure the reciprocal positioning of assemblable parts of the cycle, but also the transfer of efforts and reactions between these two parts.
• the connecting means between the two plates 30-33 are constituted by two lateral levers 36, articulated by one of their ends around a vertical axis 37 carried by the base 30a of the platen 30.
• Each of the levers 36 fits into notches 38 of the plates 30 and 33 and carries at its free end a clamping means of the two plates, such as an eccentric lever 39.
• Figure 7 shows that the jaws 32 of the holding means D are angularly arranged according to the position occupied by the end of the down tube 3 when the apparatus is in a carriage configuration.
• the two jaws 32 are associated with means ensuring their approximation and, for example, to a transverse rod 40 on the ends of which are screwed two nuts 42.
• the front part B of the cycle also carries a stand E comprising, as shown in FIGS. 4, 13 and 14:
• a first longitudinal lever 45 articulated at the base of the steering tube 18 at its front end and around a transverse horizontal axis 44, visible in FIG. 3, in order to be able to oscillate in the vertical plane,
• a second lever 46 whose front end is articulated on the first lever 45 and around transverse axis 47, (FIGS. 13 and 14), and whose rear portion is twisted at 90 degrees to give a longitudinal orientation to the axis 48 carried by its rear end, and visible in FIG.
• the shoe 49 is constituted by a U-shaped profile forming a cradle adapted to receive and maintain the tire of the rear wheel. Its length is greater than the zone of contact with the wheel to, in carriage configuration, be able to extend transversely on both sides of the longitudinal and vertical median plane of the cycle, as shown in FIG.
• This shoe carries at least one and preferably two rollers 50, freely adjustable.
• FIGS. 1 and 13 show that, thanks to the twisted structure of the lever 46 and to the orientation of the hinge 48 of this lever, when the vehicle is in the "cycle" configuration, the shoe 49 can be arranged longitudinally under the diagonal tube 3, while in “carriage” configuration and as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 14, it can be manually oriented to be transverse. In this case, it is disposed behind the front wheels 23 and at a distance L, having a value between 0.25 and 0.40 meters. It thus forms with the bearing points of the wheels 23 on the ground, a triangle T, visible in Figure 2 and providing a very good stability to the carriage.
• the mechanism of the stand E also comprises a latch 52 which is articulated by a transverse axis 53 on the first lever 45. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, the lower part of the latch 52 is hook-shaped and is turned towards the before so as to be able to come into a groove 54 of one of the links 26.
• the lock 52 opposes all movements of the rods, therefore to any inadvertent modification of the orientation of the front wheels 23 and any change of direction of the veh ule. If, when the carriage moves, the force communicated to the handlebar 20 has no effect on the wheels and on the directivity of the movement.
• the length of the lock 52 is chosen so that it can enter the groove 54 only when the lever 45 is in the inclined position putting the shoe 49 resting on the ground.
• a device comprising, as shown in detail in Figures 1 1 and 1 2, a finger 56 slidably mounted in a body 57 integral with the frame 15.
• This finger is permanently biased by a return spring 58, driving out of the body 57 its end in form of bolt, so that it comes either in a striker 59 formed in the first lever 45, to ensure the wedging of the crutch in the folded position under the frame, or in another striker 60, to wedge the stand in the unfolded position.
• the front portion B comprises forward of the steering sleeve 18 a carrying console 64 comprising a base 65 attached to the tube 18, a plate 66 articulated on the base and can occupy a horizontal position for receiving charges and commissions or be folded vertically against this base, and optionally a flange 67 can be folded against the plate ( Figure 3) or be erected perpendicular to the plate ( Figure 2).
• This console can be used alone but, preferably, it supports a bag or basket 70 equipped with wheels 71 and can itself be used to transport loads between different levels of a store, when the carriage can not be brought to a different level.
• the two parts of the cycle can also be equipped with various folding means, limiting the general volume of the truck, such as folding pedals, folding handlebars, seat post and telescoping steering in their tube.
• various elements can be linked by joints, such as forks relative to their pivot.
• connection means C manually actuate the connection means C to separate the front portion B from the rear portion A of the cycle
• FIGS. 5 and 6 also show that the front part B can be used alone in a carriage, therefore without the rear part A, and either with the stand E in the unfolded position to stabilize the carriage at each loading stop, or with the stand in the folded position, for example for a movement between a store and a place of unloading or reassembly of the parts of the cycle.
• the cycle can be brought, when disassembled in the trunk of a vehicle, on the perimeter parking where its two parts A and B are assembled, or near the place of use, by any other means of public transport.
• “cycle” configuration it allows the user to go to the city center or to a shop, without causing any pollution, the energy consumed being only the muscle of the cyclist.
• the cycle In front of the store, the cycle is configured in a "trolley", whose reduced size allows its circulation in the aisles of the store to ensure the collection of purchases in the basket.
• the cart On leaving the store, the cart can be left as is to walk to another store or go to a nearby parking spot, or then be reconfigured in a cycle to prevent the user from walking too long.
• the cycle according to the invention by its cycle-trolley combination provides a new solution of urban and peri-urban mobility complementary to the car and public transport.
• the stability gain provided to the person who leans on the handlebars can be used as a walking aid for people with reduced mobility, in addition to its function of purchasing collector.
• FIGS. 15 to 21 differs from the previous one by:
• the rear part A of the frame is composed of a lower tube 1 03 starting from the bottom bracket to which end the seat post 1 04 and the rear arm 1 08.
• the latter is unique , so as to reduce the transverse bulk of this part and the volume of the carriage shown in Figure 21.
• the end of the aquaile 1 1 5 b is so l id a re a substantially vertical link 72 in which is pivotally mounted an axis, not visible but integral with a body 73 carrying the rocket, not shown, on which is hinged the hub 74 of the corresponding wheel 123.
• FIG. 19 shows that the steering tube 1 19, pivotally mounted in the sheath 1 18, is connected at its lower end to the core of a control fitting 75.
• This latter has a generally U-shaped shape, the ends of which wings 75a are hingedly hinged to the bodies 73.
• any rotation communicated to the steering tube 1 19 by the handlebar 120 is transmitted to the two bodies 73 and the wheels 123.
• the central portion of the handlebar 120 is ring-shaped 120a and is connected to the tube 1 1 9 by locking means 1 22 for pivoting between:
• the means D for holding the rear part A are therefore constituted essentially by the ring 120a of the handlebar 120.
• FIGS 15 to 17 show that the connecting means C between the two parts of the cycle comprise:
• FIGS. 18 to 20 show, on a larger scale, that the basket 170 for receiving a load or an independent bag is constituted by a folded metal wire in the form of a bucket seat and having two uprights 170a and a transverse bar 170b .
• the two uprights 170a are welded against the vertical bearings 72 of the front portion B, while the lower arch 170b is integral with a tab 79, bent downwards and constituting one of the elements of the stand E.
• the uprights 170a are provided on their rear part with two horizontal runners 80 in which are articulated the lateral branches 149a of a cradle 149 able to receive the rear wheel 109.
• two branches 149a are connected by a cross member 81 carrying two rollers 82 of ground support and constituting the second element of the stand E.
• the cradle 149 can occupy two positions:
• FIG. 15 a retracted position, shown in FIG. 15, in which it is straightened upwards against the frame of the front part and is locked by an elastic blade 83 protruding from the sheath 1 18 and snapping onto the crossmember 81,
• FIGS. 6 to 21 a use position, shown in FIGS. 6 to 21, in which the rollers 82 are in abutment with the ground and it is wedged, by snapping an intermediate cross-member 84 with a locking blade 85 projecting from basket 170.
• the carriage can be moved like that of the previous embodiment by providing the same benefits.
• the steering tube 1 19 is also mounted to slide vertically in its sleeve 1 18 so that its lower end can come to a level lower than that of the horizontal axes of rotation of the wheels 123.
• the tube 1 19 is brought to this lower level, it results in a vertical displacement of the fitting 75 whose branches 75a, retained by their ends to a higher level, generate on the bodies 73 rocket doors, a draw backwards, causing the pivoting of the two wheels 123 and their folding against the rear part of the carriage.
• This configuration reduces the transverse size of the carriage and facilitates its storage in a closet or in the trunk of a vehicle.

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Citations (9)

• 2009
  • 2009-09-28 FR FR0904606A patent/FR2950601B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2010
  • 2010-09-27 WO PCT/FR2010/052021 patent/WO2011036424A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2010-09-27 EP EP10769033.1A patent/EP2483140B1/fr active Active

Patent Citations (9)

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