Bicycle chain stay coupling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016016631-A1
Application number	US-201414333107-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 16, 2014
Priority date	Jul 16, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bicycle chain stay coupling apparatus includes a first bracket component coupled to a seat tube of a bicycle frame, a connecting component of a chain stay of the bicycle frame, and a coupling component encasing the connecting component and coupled to the first bracket component. The coupling component is relatively more elastic than the first bracket component and the connecting component, and the coupling component is positioned in series between the first bracket component and the connecting component with respect to a common axle of the first bracket component, the connecting component, and the coupling component.

First claim

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a first bracket component coupled to a seat tube of a bicycle frame; a connecting component of a chain stay of the bicycle frame; and a coupling component engaging the connecting component and coupled to the first bracket component, the coupling component being relatively more elastic than the first bracket component and the connecting component, the coupling component being positioned in series between the first bracket component and the connecting component with respect to a common axle of the first bracket component, the connecting component, and the coupling component.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a relatively rigid second bracket component coupled to the seat tube proximate the first bracket component, one of the first and second bracket components having a radially-inwardly extending first protrusion; and a relatively rigid gear component directly coupling the coupling component and rotatably coupled about the common axle between the first and second bracket components, the gear component having a first set of recesses radially spaced from each other about a periphery thereof, wherein engagement of the first protrusion and one of the first set of recesses rotatably locks the gear component with respect to the first and second bracket components.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the gear component includes a support portion extending radially inwardly to partially bisect the coupling component.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the g support portion extends radially across the coupling component and the common axle.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the connecting component has an elongate profile aligned substantially orthogonal to the first and second support portions.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising first and second connecting components of the chain stay of the bicycle frame received on opposing sides of the coupling component.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the coupling component includes an elastomeric material.

8 . An assembly comprising:
a seat tube for a bicycle frame; a chain stay for the bicycle frame; a first bracket component coupled to the seat tube; a connecting component of the chain stay; a coupling component engaging the connecting component and coupled to the first bracket component; and a common axle extending between the first bracket, the connecting component and the coupling component, wherein the coupling component is relatively more elastic than the first bracket component and the connecting component, the coupling component is positioned in series between the seat tube and the chain stay with respect to the common axle.

9 . The assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a relatively rigid second bracket component coupled to the seat tube proximate the first bracket component, one of the first and second bracket components having a radially-inwardly extending first protrusion; and a relatively rigid gear component directly coupling the coupling component and rotatably coupled about the common axle between the first and second bracket components, the gear component having a first set of recesses radially spaced from each other about a periphery thereof, wherein engagement of the first protrusion and one of the first set of recesses rotatably locks the gear component with respect to the first and second bracket components.

10 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the gear component includes a support portion extending radially inwardly to partially bisect the coupling component.

11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the g support portion extends radially across the coupling component and the common axle.

12 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the connecting component has an elongate profile aligned substantially orthogonal to the first and second support portions.

13 . The assembly of claim 9 , further comprising first and second connecting components of the chain stay received on opposing sides of the coupling component

14 . The assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a clamping component engaging at least one of the first and second bracket components and selectively biasing the first protrusion into one of the first set of recesses to rotatably lock the gear component relative to the first and second bracket components.

15 . The assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a lever rotatably coupled to the seat tube and engaged with the clamping component.

16 . The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the clamping component includes a cable fixed between one of the first and second bracket components and the lever.

17 . The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the clamping component includes a flexible outer cable fixed to one of the first and second bracket components, a flexible inner cable extending through the outer cable and fixed to the other of the first and second bracket components, the outer and inner cables each engaged with the lever:

18 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the coupling component includes an elastomeric material.

19 . A bicycle frame comprising:
a seat tube component; a chain stay component; first and second bracket components coupled to the seat tube, one of the first and second bracket components having a radially-inwardly extending first protrusion; first and second connecting components coupled to the chain stay; a coupling component engaging the first and second connecting components on opposing sides of the coupling component; a gear component engaging the coupling component and rotatably coupled between the first and second bracket components, the gear component having a first set of recesses radially spaced from each other about a periphery thereof; and a common axle between the first and second bracket components, the first and second connecting components, the coupling component and the gear component, wherein engagement of the first protrusion and one of the first set of recesses rotatably locks the gear component to the first and second bracket components, the coupling component includes an elastomeric material, and the seat tube and the chain stay are in series with the coupling component therebetween with respect to the common axle.

20 . The bicycle frame of claim 19 , further comprising:
a clamping component engaging at least one of the first and second bracket components and selectively biasing the first protrusion into one of the first set of recesses to rotatably lock the gear component to the first and second bracket components; and a lever rotatably coupled to the seat tube and engaged with the clamping component.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Thompson Thomas Robert George

Classifications

• B62K2025/025

  Hinged axle clamps · CPC title

• B62M6/50

  characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof · CPC title

• B62K25/02 Primary

  for mounting axles rigidly on cycle frame or fork, e.g. adjustably · CPC title

• B60B27/023

  specially adapted for bicycles · CPC title

• B62K25/00

  Axle suspensions (for vehicles in general B60G) · CPC title