FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to bicycles. In particular, this invention relates to a bicycle that can be converted to a stroller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Cycling is popular as a leisure and exercise activity, and as a means of travelling short and medium distances. A typical bicycle, as is well known, comprises a frame supporting a seat for the rider, mounted on front and rear wheels one of which (typically the rear wheel) is driven by a pair of pedals disposed generally within reach of the rider from the seat. The front wheel is rotatably mounted within the frame and a steering mechanism, typically a handlebar, is rotationally fixed to the front wheel, allowing the rider to turn, and to maintain balance while riding.

[0003] Because it has only two wheels a bicycle is vertically stable in the direction of travel, i.e. along a line between the two-point contact of the wheels to the ground, but unstable in a lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of travel. The rider maintains balance when in motion by constantly steering toward the centre of gravity, to compensate for the lateral instability of the bicycle. In essence, when riding a bicycle the rider is always falling toward one side or the other, but stays upright by steering the bicycle toward the direction that the rider is falling at any particular moment. With a skilled rider this corrective process is imperceptible, but without this constant correction the bicycle would invariably fall over to one side. By itself the bicycle is incapable of maintaining lateral balance because it has only two-point contact with the ground.

[0004] Accordingly, a bicycle is not a feasible means of carrying children or goods unless a cyclist is actually riding it. If a cyclist is using a bicycle as a means of travelling with a child to a destination where the bicycle cannot be used, for example to a supermarket to shop for groceries, once at the destination the bicycle becomes an impediment. It has to either be locked and left unattended, which risks theft and leaves the user without a means of carrying the goods or child, or 'walked' about the destination, which is awkward at best and not even an option in places such as many commercial premises where bicycles are not allowed.

[0005] It would therefore be advantageous to provide a bicycle that is capable of being converted between a bicycle mode and a stroller mode. The user can walk ith children and/or goods in the stroller mode, for example out of an apartment down to the street, convert the stroller to a bicycle and cycle to the destination with children and/or goods in the carrier, and then at the destination covert the bicycle back to the stroller mode and enter the supermarket to shop for groceries with the bicycle in the stroller mode. The bicycle need never be left unattended, and in both the bicycle mode and the stroller mode provides a convenient way to carry goods and/or children, while allowing the bicycle to be used as an environmentally friendly and efficient means of travelling to and from the destination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(0006) In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention solely by way of non-limiting example,

[0007] Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the bicycle in the bicycle mode.

[0008] Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the bicycle in the bicycle mode with the carrier removed for purposes of illustration.

[00091 Figure 3 is a front elevation of the bicycle in the bicycle mode.

[0010] Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the bicycle in the bicycle mode.

[0011] Figure 5 is a right side elevation of the bicycle in the bicycle mode.

[0012] Figure 6 is a left elevation of the bicycle in the bicycle mode.

[0013] Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the bicycle in the stroller mode with the carrier removed for purposes of illustration. [0014] Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the bicycle in the stroller mode.

[0015] Figure 9 is a front elevation of the bicycle in the stroller mode.

[0016] Figure 10 is a rear elevation of the bicycle in the stroller mode.

[0017) Figure 1 1 is a right side elevation of the bicycle in the stroller mode.

[0018] Figure 12 is a left elevation of the bicycle in the stroller mode.

[0019] Figure 13 is a bottom perspective view of the bicycle in the bicycle mode with the carrier removed for purposes of illustration.

[0020] Figure 14 is a partial perspective view of the bicycle showing the front locking mechanism in the bicycle mode.

[0021] Figure 15 is a partial perspective view of the bicycle showing the locking mechanism in the stroller mode.

[0022] Figure 16 is a side elevation of the bicycle in the bicycle mode showing a kickstand in the deployed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The drawings illustrate an embodiment of a bicycle converted to a stroller according to the invention. The embodiment illustrated is particularly well adapted for use as a stroller for children, however it will be appreciated that the carrier can be adapted to and/or used to carry anything within the practical size and weight limits and the safety constraints of a bicycle. As used herein "stroller" includes a jogger, carrier, wheelchair, evacuation chair, cart or any other three-wheeled vehicle having a carrier capable of carrying humans, pets or other cargo.

[0024] A convertible bicycle 10 according to the invention comprises a carrier portion 12 mounted on a bicycle portion 14. In the example illustrated the bicycle comprises a frame 14 comprising a hinge member 22 and a seat tube 24 supported at a rear end of the hinge member 22. Rear wheel supports, conventionally comprising a seat stay 28 and chain stay 30, are affixed to the seat tube 24 at intermediate and lower positions, respectively, generally forming (in side view) a triangular frame section supported on both sides by the rear wheel 32, which may optionally be covered by a fender 33. These components along with a drive mechanism 40 form a rear portion 14a of the frame 14. Typically a saddle 16 is mounted to the seat tube 24 via a seat post 18.

[0025] In the embodiment shown the drive mechanism 40 comprises a conventional foot pedal assembly comprising crank arms 42 terminating in foot pedals 44, rotationally fixed to a drive sprocket 40 which drives a chain disposed about the rear wheel sprocket (not shown behind chain guard 48), to propel the bicycle 10 in a forward direction. The rear wheel sprocket may drive the rear wheel 32 in a conventional 'ratchet' fashion, rotationally engaging the rear wheel 32 in the forward direction but disengaging from the rear wheel 32 in the reverse direction. Thus, as the pedal assembly is rotated the rear wheel sprocket and rear wheel 32 rotate according to the gear ratio between the drive sprocket 40 and the rear sprocket, but if the cyclist stops rotating the pedal assembly the rear wheel 32 continues to rotate so as not to act against the momentum or impede the motion of the bicycle 10. The structures and principles involved in propelling a bicycle in this fashion are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0026] Many bicycles have multiple 'gears', for example providing a plurality of drive and/or rear wheel sprockets which can be selectively engaged by the cyclist in motion to increase or decrease the gear ratio between the drive and rear wheel sprockets, and thus the amount of force required to drive the rear wheel 32, as is well known. The invention is equally well suited for these and other types of 'multiple speed' bicycles.

[0027] A front portion 14b of the frame 14, constructed as a separate component from the rear portion 14a of the frame, comprises a front bottom tube 23 supporting a handlebar tube 26 that is oriented generally vertically (although advantageously having at a slight rearward angle as shown). The handlebar tube 26 contains a steering column 50 that is free to rotate within the handlebar tube 26. A handlebar stem 52 is affixed to the upper end of the steering column 50 in rotationally fixed relation, and in turn supports the steering member, for example handlebar 54, in rotationally fixed relation. The front bottom tube 23 curves or bends upwardly toward the front of the frame 14 and is supported by the upper end of a fork 56 which is in turn supported by the front wheel 34 in conventional fashion. A fender is optionally disposed above the front wheel 34 in order to protect the bottom of the carrier 12 from spray, small rocks and debris that may be kicked up by the front wheel 34 when the bicycle 10 is in motion.

[0028] The components of the frame 20 may be formed from any material suitable for a bicycle, and affixed in any suitable fashion (for example in the case of metal components, welded).

[0029] The front fork 56 is rotationally affixed to the forward end of the front bottom tube 23, for example through a head tube equipped with ball bearings extending into a receptacle formed in the carrier (seen in Figure 15), and is thus able to pivot to the left and right in order to steer the bicycle 10. The lower end of the steering column 50 is rotationally fixed to a rear steering linkage 70, seen in Figure 2, such that rotating the handlebar 54 turns the steering column 50 which in turn rotates the rear steering linkage 70. A front steering linkage 72 is rotationally fixed to the fork 56. The rear and front steering linkages 70, 72 are connected by tie rods 74, 76 which also curve or bend upwardly toward the front of the frame 14 and are each respectively pivotally connected to an end of the steering linkages 70, 72. Thus, turning the handlebar 54 to rotate the rear steering linkage 70 rotates the front steering linkage 72 via tie rods 74, 76, in turn rotating the fork 56 and thereby rotating front wheel 34 to steer the bicycle 10 in both the bicycle mode and the stroller mode. In order to maximize the length of the carrier 12, described below, the carrier 12 is provided with a recessed front end (best seen in Figures 3 and 9) to accommodate the upwardly-directed front ends of the front bottom tube 23 and tie rods 74, 76 and a portion of the front wheel 34 (shown in Figure 13 with the carrier 12 removed for purposes of illustration).

[0030] The rear end of the hinge member 22 is pivotally connected to rear portion 14a of the frame 14, as at pivot 80, and the front end of the hinge member 22 is pivotally connected to the front portion 14b of the frame 14, for example to an intermediate position of the front bottom tube 23 as at pivot 82 (see Figure 2). The hinge member 22 thus allows the rear portion 14a of the frame 14 to fold toward the front portion 14b of the frame 14 in the manner described below.

[0031] For ease of conversion, in the embodiment shown a link arm 84 connects the rear 14a and front 14b portions of the frame, parallel to the hinge member 22. The rear end of the link arm 84 is pivotally connected to rear portion 14a of the frame 14, for example to the chain stay 30 as at pivot 86, and the front end of the link arm 84 is pivotally connected to the front portion 14b of the frame 14, to an intermediate position of the front bottom tube 23 as at pivot 88. The pivots thus 80, 86 form a hinge point allowing the hinge member 22 to fold forwardly toward the front portion 14b of the frame 14, pivots 82, 88 forming hinge points allowing the rear portion 14a of the frame 14 to fold against the carrier 12 such that the rear wheel 32 is positioned to support the rear of the carrier 12 at one side, retaining the orientation of the rear portion 14a throughout the conversion. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated the link arm 84 is provided to create a pivoting parallelogram that generally maintains the rear portion 14a of the frame 14 (and in particular the rear wheel 32) in parallel alignment with the front portion 14b of the frame 14; however, it will be appreciated that this is merely a convenience and a bicycle 10 of the invention can function to convert to the stroller mode without the link arm 84.

[0032] Accordingly, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the rear portion 14a of the frame 14 can be folded forwardly at both the front and rear hinge points to be positioned alongside the front portion 14b of the frame 14, and particularly against one side of the carrier 12, with the rear wheel 32 oriented in the direction of travel, in order to convert the bicycle 10 to the stroller mode shown in Figures 8 to 12.

[0033] The bicycle 10 is locked into the bicycle and stroller modes for use in each respective mode. In the embodiment shown the bicycle is locked into the bicycle mode by a bicycle mode lock, illustrated in Figure 14. In the embodiment shown the bicycle mode lock comprises a rear lock 1 10 comprising a rigid pin 1 12 disposed through a hole 1 14 in a protruding portion 30a of the chain stay 30 and extending into a hole 1 16 disposed in a rear portion of the hinge member 22, which prevents pivoting of the rear portion 14a of the frame 14 about the pivot 80 thereby locking the rear portion 14a of the frame 14 in alignment with the hinge member 22 along the direction of travel; and a front lock 120 comprising a 'U'-shaped bracket 122 affixed to the rear portion of the bottom tube 23, in which the front portion of the hinge member 22 nests when in the bicycle mode, and a pin 124 which extends through holes 128 in the bracket 122 to trap the hinge member 22 in the clamp 122, thereby locking the front portion 14b of the frame 14 in alignment with the hinge member 22 along the direction of travel. The pin 124 may comprise a ring 126 pivotally secured to the pin 124 (for example to the head 124a) which overlaps the bottom arm of the bracket 122 to prevent the pin 124 from detaching from the bracket 122 as the mechanism is jostled in transit.

[0034] To lock the bicycle 10 in the stroller mode a stroller mode lock is provided, for example as illustrated in Figure 15 (the auxiliary wheel 60 has been omitted for purposes of illustration). The stroller mode lock 130 comprises an engaging member, in the embodiment shown a pair of arms 132 pivotally mounted as at 134 to a clamp 136 affixed to an upper portion of the seat tube 24. The anus 132 pivot to latch over the upper edge of the carrier 12, preventing the rear portion 14a of the frame 14 from moving away from the side of the carrier 12 in the stroller mode.

10035] A kickstand 100, illustrated in Figure 16, may be provided to assist in the conversion by supporting the rear portion 14a of the frame 14 during the conversion process. In the embodiment illustrated the kickstand 100 is pivotally fixed to the rear of the front frame portion 14b, for example to the bottom tube 23 as at 102, close to the centre of gravity of the bicycle 10 to ease the raising of the rear frame portion 14a when the kickstand 100 is deployed. The kickstand may be biased to the upper position, as is conventional.

[0036] An auxiliary wheel 60 suspended above the level of the riding surface 2 in the bicycle mode. For example the auxiliary wheel 60 may be rotationally affixed to a pushbutton axle 60a, which is well known to those skilled in the art, and in the embodiment shown is suspended above the riding surface (e.g. the ground) 2 by an upper receiver 61 formed in or affixed to in the wall of the carrier 12. The auxiliary wheel 60 may be stowed in any other convenient position and manner that does not interfere with the operation of the bicycle 10 in the bicycle mode. The auxiliary wheel 60 may be a conventional bicycle wheel, for example with a solid hub or hub-and-spoke construction, and may match the bicycle wheels 32, 34 in size and weight. The auxiliary wheel 60 is thus in a raised position spaced from the riding surface 2 when the bicycle 10 is in the bicycle mode, as shown in Figures 3 to 6, and can be moved to a lowered position in which the auxiliary wheel 60 contacts the supporting surface when the bicycle 10 is in the stroller mode, as shown in Figures 9 to 12, by inserting the axle 60a into a lower receiver 62. In the embodiment illustrated the lower receiver 62 depends from a shaft 64 affixed to the frame 14. The auxiliary wheel 60 is thus locked into the raised position in the bicycle mode and locked into the lower receiver 62 for use of the bicycle 10 in the stroller mode.

[0037] The carrier 12 is mounted on and supported by the front bottom tube 23, for example resting on lateral supports 90, 92 affixed to the front bottom tube 23 (lateral support 92 also serving as or housing a sleeve 66 for receiving the shaft 64 of the auxiliary wheel 60). The carrier 12 may have a bottom portion 94 formed out of any suitable material, for example plastic, in the embodiment shown formed as a unitary piece. The carrier 12 has a bottom surface with recesses 96 sized to receive the lateral supports 90, 92 in a snap-fit relation, and/or fastened to the lateral supports 90, 92 by suitable fasteners (not shown). The optional top 98 of the carrier 12, which may be removable and/or designed to be collapsed or folded toward an end of the bottom portion 94, may be made from a solid or screen fabric, or any other desired material. Because of the manner in which the bottom portion 94 is recessed to accommodate the upwardly- directed front ends of the front bottom tube 23 and tie rods 74, 76 and the front wheel 34 (see Figure 13), a seat back for a child may be formed at the front end of the carrier 12 with the child facing rearwardly, taking advantage of a greater amount of leg room toward the rear end of the carrier 12. 100381 The carrier 12 may be permanently attached to the frame 14 or removable. In the latter case, carriers of different configurations of carrier 12 may optionally be provided for different purposes.

[0039] In use, the bicycle 10 in the bicycle mode can be ridden in conventional fashion. The bicycle 10 is steered by turning the handlebar 54 toward the left or right, as in a conventional bicycle, so no special training or reconditioning is required to ride the bicycle 10 of the invention. Turning the handlebar 54 turns the steering column 50 within the handlebar tube 26, rotating the rear steering linkage 70, which rotation is transferred to the front steering linkage 72 via tie rods 74, 76. The drive mechanism 40 and brakes (not shown) operate in conventional fashion to propel and slow/stop the bicycle. The low centre of gravity obtained by supporting the carrier 12 on the bottom of the frame 14 improves stability relative to a carrier mounted over a wheel in a conventional bicycle.

10040] To convert the bicycle 10 to the stroller mode, the kickstand 100 is deployed to the supporting position, supporting the bicycle 10 on the three-point contact provided by the kickstand 100 and the front wheel 34. The rear and front locks 1 10, 120 are unlocked, releasing the rear and front portions 14a, 14b of the frame 14 relative to the bottom tube 122, and the rear portion 14a of the frame 14 (supported above the riding surface 2 by the kickstand 100, which is disposed behind the centre of gravity of the bicycle 10) is pivoted forwardly toward and alongside the front portion 14b of the frame 14 until it reaches the carrier 12, as shown in Figures 8 and 1 1. The stroller mode lock 120 is then actuated to restrain the frame 14 in this position.

[0041] The auxiliary wheel 60, in the raised position in the bicycle mode, is moved into the lowered position for the stroller mode, supporting the rear end of the carrier 12 opposite the rear wheel 32, by manually pulling the wheel 60 laterally to retract the axle 60a from the upper receiver 61 and the shaft 60a is reinserted into the lower receiver 62 to lock the auxiliary wheel 60 in the lowered position (stroller mode). The kickstand 100 is returned to the upper position and the bicycle 10, now in stroller mode, can be pushed and steered using the handlebar 54 in the manner described above. These steps are followed in reverse order to convert the bicycle 10 from the stroller mode back to the bicycle mode.

[0042] Powered assistance may be provided in both the bicycle and stroller modes, for example by an electric motor (not shown) housed in the hub of the front wheel 34 (or other convenient location) and controlled by a hand throttle (not shown). Provision may be made in the carrier 12 (or other convenient location) for batteries (not shown) to power the motor.

[0043] An embodiment of the present invention having been thus described in detail by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. The invention includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.