Adjustable compliance bicycle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11242111-B2
Application number	US-202016896279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2020
Priority date	May 17, 2015
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

A bicycle includes a lower frame member and an upper frame member connected to a head tube. The lower frame member includes a down tube, a bottom bracket, and chain stays. The upper frame member includes a top tube, seat stays, and a passage formed in part by a first side wall and a second side wall. The first and second side walls include a first and second openings, respectively. A seat tube extends in an upward direction from the bottom bracket and through the passage. The seat tube includes an opening that extends laterally therethrough. A passive pivot assembly secures the seat tube within the passage, and includes a guide sleeve that extends through the first opening, through the opening in the seat tube, and through the second opening. One or more fasteners secure the guide sleeve to the upper frame member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle, comprising:
a lower frame member connected to a head tube, wherein the lower frame member includes a down tube, a bottom bracket, and chain stays;
an upper frame member connected to the head tube, wherein the upper frame member includes a top tube, seat stays, and a passage formed in part by a first side wall and a second side wall;
a seat tube extending in an upward direction from the bottom bracket and through the passage formed in the upper frame member, wherein the seat tube includes a plurality of first indents; and
an adjustment plate assembly that mounts to the seat tube and that includes a plate with a second plurality of indents and one or more objects that mount in a gap formed between the first plurality of indents and the second plurality of indents.

2. The bicycle of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more objects is secured by a pair of indents that includes a first indent in the first plurality of indents and a second indent in the second plurality of indents, and wherein a position of the one or more objects controls compliance of the seat tube.

3. The bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the seat tube includes a first opening and a second opening configured to receive retaining bolts to secure the plate to the seat tube.

4. The bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more objects are in the form of spheres or cylinders.

5. The bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more objects are made of metal, an elastomer, plastic, or fiber reinforced plastic.

6. The bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more objects comprises a strip of material that is placed in the gap between the plate and the seat tube.

7. The bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more objects comprises two objects or three objects.

8. The bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first indents are on a rear facing side of the seat tube.

9. The bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the first side wall of the passage includes a first opening and the second side wall includes a second opening, and wherein the seat tube includes an opening that extends laterally therethrough and that aligns with the first opening and the second opening.

10. The bicycle of claim 9 , further comprising a passive pivot assembly that secures the seat tube within the passage, wherein the passive pivot assembly comprises:
a guide sleeve that extends through the first opening in the first side wall, through the opening in the seat tube, and through the second opening in the second side wall; and
one or more fasteners to secure the guide sleeve to the upper frame member.

11. The bicycle of claim 10 , wherein the first opening in the first side wall of the passage includes a seat configured to receive a bushing or a bearing.

12. The bicycle of claim 11 , wherein the one or more fasteners includes a first fastener, and wherein the bushing or the bearing is configured to rotatably cooperate with a stem portion of one of the one or more fasteners.

13. The bicycle of claim 10 , wherein the guide sleeve includes a stem portion and a head portion, and wherein the head portion of the guide sleeve traverses an overlapping area between the first opening in the first side wall of the passage and a seat formed around the opening that extends laterally through the seat tube.

14. The bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the plate is at least partially mounted in the passage, and wherein the passage is formed in part by an end of the top tube.

15. The bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the plate is at least partially mounted in the passage, and wherein the passage is formed in part by a web wall that extends laterally between the seat stays.

16. The bicycle of claim 1 , further comprising a gasket positioned between an end of the top tube and the seat tube.

17. The bicycle of claim 16 , wherein the gasket is also positioned between the seat tube and the first side wall of the passage and between the seat tube and the second side wall of the passage.

18. The bicycle of claim 16 , wherein the gasket includes openings configured to receive a guide sleeve.

19. The bicycle of claim 1 , further comprising a gasket that includes a web wall, and a first arm and a second arm mounted to the web wall.

20. The bicycle of claim 1 , wherein an axis of the opening in the seat tube is formed along a plane that is offset in a forward direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the bicycle.

Assignees

• Trek Bicycle Corp

Inventors

• Hartung Tim
• Moechnig Steven

Classifications

• B62K19/18 Primary

  Joints between frame members · CPC title

• B62J1/02 Primary

  Saddles resiliently mounted on the frame; Equipment therefor, e.g. springs · CPC title

• B62J1/08

  Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars (attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36) · CPC title

• B62K19/04

  the material being wholly or mainly metallic, e.g. of high elasticity · CPC title

• B62K3/04

  having a substantially horizontal top bar · CPC title