Foldable bicycle and storage system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10858058-B2
Application number	US-201616073383-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2016
Priority date	Jan 27, 2016
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

A bicycle includes a frame having a first segment and a second segment each elongated along a longitudinal axis. A hinge includes a first face on the first segment and a second face on the second segment. The first face and the second face are rotatable relative to each other about a rotational axis. The rotational axis extends at a non-right angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle comprising:
a frame having a first segment and a second segment each elongated along a longitudinal axis; and
a first hinge including a first face on the first segment and a second face on the second segment;
the first face and the second face abutting each other in a plane and being rotatable relative to each other in the plane, the plane extending at a non-right angle relative to the longitudinal axis;
a third segment and a second hinge connecting the second segment and the third segment;
a lock releasably engageable with the first hinge and releasably engageable with the second hinge;
the lock including: a first latch at the first hinge, a second latch at the second hinge, a cord connected to the first latch and the second latch, and a switch connected to the cord.

2. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second hinge is rotatable about a rotational axis that extends at a non-right angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

3. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first hinge includes a stop positioned to prevent relative rotation of the first segment and the second segment at a folded position as the first segment and the second segment move from an unfolded position to the folded position.

4. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first segment and the second segment includes a curved segment curving relative to the longitudinal axis.

5. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a front wheel connected to the first segment, and a rear wheel connected to the third segment.

6. The bicycle as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a motor supported by the third segment.

7. The bicycle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a lock releasably engageable with the first hinge.

8. A bicycle comprising:
a frame having a first segment and a second segment each elongated along a longitudinal axis; and
a first hinge including a first face on the first segment and a second face on the second segment, the first face and the second face being rotatable relative to each other about a rotational axis;
the rotational axis extending at a non-right angle relative to the longitudinal axis;
a third segment and a second hinge connecting the second segment and the third segment;
a lock releasably engageable with the first hinge and releasably engageable with the second hinge;
the lock includes a first latch at the first hinge, a second latch at the second hinge, a cord connected to the first latch and the second latch, and a switch connected to the cord.

9. The bicycle as set forth in claim 8 wherein the second hinge is rotatable about a second rotational axis extending at a non-right angle relative to the rotational axis of the first hinge.

10. The bicycle as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a front wheel connected to the first segment, and a rear wheel connected to the third segment.

11. The bicycle as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a motor supported by the third segment.

12. The bicycle as set forth in claim 8 wherein at least one of the first segment and the second segment includes a curved segment curving relative to the longitudinal axis.

13. The bicycle as set forth in claim 8 wherein the first hinge includes a stop positioned to prevent relative rotation of the first segment and the second segment at a folded position as the first segment and the second segment move from an unfolded position to the folded position.

14. The bicycle as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a lock releasably engageable with the first hinge.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Thompson Thomas Robert George

Classifications

• B62M6/40 Primary

  Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor · CPC title

• B62K15/006

  the frame being foldable · CPC title

• B62K2015/001

  Frames adapted to be easily dismantled · CPC title

• B62J7/04

  arranged above or behind the rear wheel · CPC title

• B62K15/008 Primary

  foldable about 2 or more axes · CPC title