Bicycle Frame

Abstract

A bicycle frame including a down tube, a saddle tube, and a top tube is disclosed. The top tube comprises a first section which, starting from the saddle tube, is oriented in an ascending orientation. Thereby, a space between the down tube, the saddle tube, and the top tube is enlarged, so that the bicycle frame can be carried on a person's shoulder in a more convenient manner.

Claims

1. A bicycle frame comprising: a down tube arranged between a bottom bracket and a steerer tube, a saddle tube connected to the bottom bracket, and a top tube arranged between the saddle tube and the steerer tube, wherein the top tube comprises, in a first section connected to the saddle tube, an angle α relative to the horizontal line of more than 30°, and/or between the first section of the top tube connected to the saddle tube and a second section of the top tube adjoining the first section, an angle β of from 120° to 160°.

2. The bicycle frame according to claim 1, wherein the top tube comprises, in a first section connected to the saddle tube, an angle α relative to the horizontal line of more than 60°.

3. The bicycle frame according to claim 1, wherein between the first section of the top tube connected to the saddle tube and the second section of the top tube adjoining the first section defines angle β of from 130° to 150°.

4. The bicycle frame according to claim 1, wherein, between the steerer tube and the saddle tube, a straight line can be arranged which extends internally of the top tube.

5. The bicycle frame according to claim 4, wherein said line contacts a connecting region between the top tube and the steerer tube.

6. The bicycle frame according to claim 1, wherein the first section is longer than 5 cm.

7. The bicycle frame according to claim 1, wherein the first section is shorter than 20 cm.

8. The bicycle frame according to claim 1, wherein the second section is straight-linear and is connected to the steerer tube.

9. The bicycle frame according to claim 1, wherein the second section is oriented substantially horizontally with respect to the steerer tube.

10. The bicycle frame according to claim 1, wherein the second section is arranged in a slightly ascending orientation in the direction toward the steerer tube.

11. The bicycle frame according to claim 1, wherein the second section is arranged in a slightly descending orientation in the direction toward the steerer tube.

12. The bicycle frame according to claim 10, wherein the second section comprises an angle relative to the horizontal line of less than 20°.

13. The bicycle frame according to claim 10, wherein the second section comprises an angle relative to the horizontal line of less than 10°.

14. The bicycle frame according to claim 1, wherein an upper end of the saddle tube is arranged below an upper edge in the transition region between the first section and the second section of the top tube.

15. The bicycle frame according to claim 1, wherein, between an upper end of the saddle tube and the first section of the top tube, a connection element is provided which fills the intermediate space between the upper end and the first section.

16. The bicycle frame according to claim 1, wherein, between a dropout end and the saddle tube, seat stays are arranged which merge into the first section of the top tube.

17. The bicycle frame according to claim 16, wherein a bottom edge of the seat stays merges, preferably in a straight-lined manner, into a bottom edge of the first section of the top tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0020] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, enabling one of ordinary skill in the art to carry out the invention, is set forth in greater detail in the following description, including reference to the accompanying drawing in which the sole FIGURE shows a bicycle frame according to the invention in lateral view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The bicycle frame comprises a down tube 10 which is arranged between a bottom bracket 12 and a steerer tube 14. The steerer tube 14 serves for receiving the fork stem of the front wheel fork. The bicycle frame further comprises a saddle tube 16 which, starting from the bottom bracket 12, extends upward. At an upper end 18, the saddle tube 16 is open and serves for receiving the saddle support tube supporting the saddle. Further, the bicycle frame comprises a top tube 20 which is connected to saddle tube 16 and steerer tube 14. Two mutually opposite chain stays 22 are connected to bottom bracket 12 and a dropout end 24. Further, two saddle stays 26, again arranged mutually opposite, are provided which, starting from the dropout end 24 for receiving the rear axis of the rear wheel, extend to saddle tube 16.

[0022] Top tube 20 comprises a first section 28 and an adjoining second section 30 extending substantially horizontally. Starting from saddle tube 16, the first section 28 is of a slightly ascending orientation. Thus, section 28 comprises an angle α relative to a horizontal line 32. Said angle α is preferably larger than 30° and more preferably larger than 40°.

[0023] The first section 28 merges into a transition region 34 running into the second section 30. A bottom edge 36 of top tube 20 is bent, particularly in a concave shape, within said transition region 34.

[0024] Between the first section 28 and the second section 30, there is formed an angle β in the range from 120° to 160, particularly 120° to 140°.

[0025] By this frame geometry, an area 38 delimited by down tube 10, saddle tube 16 and top tube 20 is enlarged so that the carrying comfort is improved.

[0026] A bottom edge 40 of the seat stays 26 merges in a stepless manner into a bottom edge 42 of the first section 28.

[0027] Further, a connection element 44 is arranged between the saddle tube 16 and the first section 28 of top tube 20. By said connection element 44, the area of an upper end 46 of saddle tube 16 and of the first section 28 is filled out, preferably completely so. Further, an upper edge formed by the upper end 18 of saddle tube 16 is designed in such a manner that it merges steplessly both into an upper edge 48 of connection element 44 and into an upper edge 50 of first section 28. The upper edge 50 of first section 28 merges with a convex curvature into the upper edge 52 of transition region 34 and then into the upper edge 54 of second section 30.

[0028] Particularly in order to ensure the UCI conformity of the bicycle frame, it can be provided that, as seen in lateral view, a straight line A can be passed through the top tube 20 in such a manner that, between steerer tube 14 and saddle tube 16, said line always extends within the top tube 20. Thus, the line A extends within the first section 28, within the transition region 34 as well as within the second section 30 of top tube 20. In its embodiment illustrated herein, line A contacts a connection area 56 between the second section 30 of top tube 20 and the steerer tube 14. Further, line A contacts an inner side of top tube 20 in the transition region 34 between first section 28 and second section 30.

[0029] Although the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific illustrative embodiments thereof, it is not intended that the invention be limited to those illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow. It is therefore intended to include within the invention all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.