Aerodynamics of bicycle frames and associated components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11299228-B2
Application number	US-201716319288-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2017
Priority date	Jul 22, 2016
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a bicycle frame and associated bicycle components, and to reducing the aerodynamic drag of these. In one aspect, there is provided an elongate structural member of a bicycle frame, the member comprising a lengthwise extending leading edge, the leading edge comprising at least a pair of forwardly extending protrusions spaced apart lengthwise therealong. In one form, the protrusions comprise tubercles, a series of which are spaced apart lengthwise along the leading edge, and which further extend to at least one side of the leading edge so as to transition into a chordwise extending rib.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An elongate structural member of a bicycle frame, the structural member comprising a lengthwise extending leading edge having at least a pair of forwardly extending protrusions spaced apart lengthwise along the leading edge, wherein each of the protrusions extends to at least one side of the leading edge so as to transition into a chordwise extending rib.

2. The structural member of claim 1 , wherein the leading edge comprises a series of the protrusions spaced apart lengthwise along the leading edge.

3. The structural member of claim 1 , comprising an alternating pattern of the protrusions and spaces extending lengthwise along at least a portion of the leading edge.

4. The structural member of claim 1 , wherein each pair of protrusions is separated by a valley.

5. The structural member of claim 4 , wherein an alternating pattern of the protrusions and the valleys extends lengthwise along at least a portion of the leading edge.

6. The structural member of claim 5 , wherein the pattern extends along an entirety of the leading edge.

7. The structural member of claim 4 , wherein each of the valleys extends to a side of the leading edge so as to transition into a chordwise extending valley.

8. The structural member of claim 7 , wherein each chordwise extending valley extends parallel to one of the chordwise extending ribs.

9. The structural member of claim 1 , wherein each of the protrusions is aerodynamically shaped.

10. The structural member of claim 1 , wherein each of the protrusions comprises a convex rounded form.

11. The structural member of claim 1 , wherein each of the protrusions comprises a tubercle.

12. The structural member of claim 1 , wherein each of the protrusions extends to both sides of the leading edge to transition into a pair of chordwise extending ribs.

13. The structural member of claim 1 , wherein each of the chordwise extending ribs extends at least partially around the member.

14. The structural member of claim 1 , wherein each of the chordwise extending ribs extends parallel to a direction of airflow when in use.

15. The structural member of claim 1 , wherein the member comprises an aerofoil shaped cross-sectional profile.

16. The structural member of claim 1 , wherein the member is selected from the group comprising a seat post, a head tube, a seat tube, a down tube, at least one of a pair of seat stays, and at least one of a pair of forks.

17. An elongate structural member of a bicycle frame, the structural member comprising a lengthwise extending leading edge having a plurality of convex, rounded protrusions spaced apart lengthwise along the leading edge, wherein each of the protrusions extends to at least one side of the leading edge so as to transition into a chordwise rib.

18. An elongate structural member of a bicycle frame, the structural member comprising a lengthwise extending leading edge having a plurality of protrusions spaced apart lengthwise along the leading edge, the protrusions selected from the group comprising tubercles, convex, rounded, and forwardly extending vortex generators, wherein each of the protrusions extends to at least one side of the leading edge so as to transition into a chordwise rib.

19. The structural member of claim 18 , wherein the structural member is selected from the group consisting of a handlebar, a handlebar stem, and a seat post.

Assignees

• Univ Adelaide

Inventors

• Kelso Richard Malcolm
• Atkins Henry James
• Fitzgerald Shaun James

Classifications

• B62K3/02 Primary

  Frames (tandem frames B62K3/14) · CPC title

• B62J17/10

  Ventilation or air guiding devices forming part of fairings · 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

• B62K21/12

  Handlebars; Handlebar stems · CPC title

• B62K19/02

  characterised by material or cross-section of frame members · CPC title