According to a further exemplary embodiment, at least the first rope tensioning portion or the second rope tensioning portion is formed by a fixing eyelet which is arranged around a fixing pin which is fixed to the foot rod.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the fixing pin comprises a cylindrical shape and a fixing screw is in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical fixing pin, such that an outer surface of the cylindrical fixing pin forms a bearing surface for the rope portions of the rope tensioning portion or of the second rope tensioning portion.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the fixing screw comprises a screw axis which is in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical fixing pin, wherein the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical fixing pin is formed spaced apart from the screw axis of the fixing screw.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, at the front wheel region, a steering rod is arranged pivotably around a steering axis, at which a front wheel is fixable. The steering rod may be foldably fixed to the front rod portion and may be correspondingly pivoted between a folded state and the operation state. A clamping device, in particular a quick clamping device, may fix the folded state of the steering rod, for example. Furthermore, the steering rod may be configured length-adjustable.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, at the steering rod, at least one handlebar is arranged, which extends from the steering rod with an angle of 45° to 130°, in particular 90°. For example, the handlebar comprises a bicycle handle which a user can grip and can therefore control the steering rod and correspondingly the bicycle. At the handlebar, a corresponding braking device comprising a braking lever is fixed, for example.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, between the steering rod and the handlebar, a steering hinge is arranged, such that the handlebar is foldable relatively to the steering rod, and in the folded state, the handlebar is in parallel to the steering rod.

In an exemplary embodiment, at the front wheel region or the rear wheel region, additionally a damping system may be integrated, e.g. with a damped bicycle fork, which damps the front wheel or the rear wheel. Moreover, at the steering rod, a damping system may be installed. Furthermore, at the front wheel and/or the rear wheel, a corresponding braking system may be installed, e.g. with disk brakes, which may be controlled from the foot portion or from the handlebar. This may be accomplished via cable pull systems, for example. The front wheel and the rear wheel may comprise different diameters (e.g. 14″ (inches) front wheel, 12″ rear wheel). Furthermore, two or more wheels (e.g. tricycle configuration, three-lane bicycle) may be arranged on the rear axis or the front axis.

It is noted that embodiments of the invention are described with reference to different subject matters of embodiments of the invention. In particular, some embodiments of the invention are described by device claims and other embodiments of the invention are described with method claims. However, it is immediately understood by a person skilled in the art, that, unless explicitly specified otherwise, additionally to a combination of features which belong to a type of subject matter of embodiments of the invention, also an arbitrary combination of features is possible, which belong to different types of subject matters of embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In the following, for the further explanation and for a better understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the accompanied drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a side view of the bicycle in the operation state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the bicycle of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the bicycle with folded foot pedals and a folded handlebar according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 show schematic illustrations of a bicycle in a folded state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show an exemplary embodiment of a hinge connection between parts of the support rod according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the bicycle with a third tension rope portion according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the bicycle with a third tension rope portion as an immobilizer (German: Wegfahrsperre) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a detailed view of the bearing of the foot pedals at the foot rod according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a tensioning system for the bicycle according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows a tensioning system for the bicycle with an excenter system according to an exemplary embodiment.

Same or similar components in different figures are provided with the same reference numbers. The illustrations in the figures are schematic.

FIG. 1, shows a schematic illustration of a side view of the bicycle 100 in the operation state, and FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the bicycle 100 of FIG. 1.

The shown bicycle 100 is in particular configured for downhill driving. The bicycle 100 comprises a front wheel region 101, a rear wheel region 102, and a support rod 110 which couples the front wheel region 101 and the rear wheel region 102 with each other. The support rod 110 comprises at least one hinge for unfolding and folding, wherein the support rod 110 comprises a front rod portion 111 between the front wheel region 101 and the hinge 103, and a rear rod portion 112 between the rear wheel region 102 and the hinge 103. A foot rod 104 is, with a coupling portion 105, pivotably mounted to the support rod 110, wherein the foot rod 104 comprises a footrest region at a foot portion which is opposing to the coupling portion 105, for resting the feet of a user of the bicycle 100. A tension rope system 120 comprises a first rope tensioning portion 121 and a second rope tensioning portion 122, wherein the first rope tensioning portion 121 is coupled to the foot portion and the front rod portion 111, and the second rope tensioning portion 122 is coupled to the foot portion and the rear rod portion 112, such that, when exerting a weight force on the foot portion, the foot rod 104 is alignable in the weight force direction, and the tension rope system 120 is tensible. In the unfolded state, i.e. in an operation state, the user can stand on the bicycle 100 and drive downhill.

For example, the hinge 103 is provided by a fulcrum pin, which forms a pivoting axis 301 (see FIG. 3, for example) along its extension direction for at least the front rod portion 111 or the rear rod portion 112. Between the front rod portion 111 and the rear rod portion 112, the center rod portion 113 is introduced.

From the support rod 110, the foot rod 104 extends, which is pivotably mounted with a coupling portion 105 to the support rod 110, i.e. in the embodiment of FIG. 1 for example to the center rod portion 113. At the foot portion which is opposing to the coupling portion 105, a footrest region 108 is formed, on which the user can stand with its feet on the bicycle 100 when driving downhill.

For stabilizing the support rod 110 in the operation state, i.e. in the unfolded state, the tension rope system 120 is provided. A first rope tensioning portion 121 extends from the foot portion of the foot rod 104 in the direction of the front rod portion 111, and a second rope tensioning portion 122 extends from the foot portion to the rear rod portion 112. The foot rod 104 pushes the first rope tensioning portion 111 and the second rope tensioning portion 112 at their coupling with the foot portion away from the support rod 110, such that a tensioned and thus stable system between the support rod 110, the foot rod 104, and the tension rope system 120 is established.

The pivotable foot rod 104 aligns due to the weight force FG in the direction of the gravity and therefore automatically tensions the first rope tensioning portion 121 and the second rope tensioning portion 122. This leads to the support rod 110 with the front rod portion 111 and the rear rod portion 112 maintaining in the operation position, i.e. in the unfolded state during the operation of the bicycle 100, i.e. for example during driving downhill.

The support rod 110 comprises a bottom side 114 and a top side 115 which is opposite to the bottom side 114. The front wheel region 101 comprises a mounting portion for a front wheel 106 and the rear wheel region 102 comprises a mounting portion for a rear wheel 107, which are arranged below the bottom side 114. The foot rod 104 extends from the bottom side 114 of the support rod 110 in the lower region. Due to the bearing of the wheels 106, 107 on a ground, in the front wheel region 101 and in the rear wheel region 102, bearing forces are introduced, which counteract the weight force Fg of the user which is introduced in the footrest region 105 of the foot rod 104. By the weight force Fg of the user which is transferred via the footrest region 105 to the rope tensioning portions 121, 122, the rope tensioning portions 121, 122 remain securely tensioned.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the first rope tensioning portion 121 leads from the bottom side 114 to the opposing top side 115 of the support rod 110. The first rope tensioning portion 121 extends along the top side 115 via the hinge 103, such that the first rope tensioning portion 121 is guided at the front rod portion 111 from the bottom side 114 to the top side 115 of the support rod, and is fixed to the top side 115 at the center rod portion 113 which, opposing to the front rod portion 111, abuts on the hinge 103.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the first rope tensioning portion 121 further extends along the top side 115 via a further hinge 116 which pivotably couples the rear rod portion 112 with the center rod portion 113. When the first rope tensioning portion 121 is loaded in tension due to the weight force Fg, the rod portions 111, 112, 113 are fixed in the operation position.

The force introduction point of the weight force Fg of the user which is transferred from the user via the footrest region 108 to the first rope tensioning portion 121 and the second rope tensioning portion 122, is placed on the top side 115 of the carrier rod 110. Thus, the rope forces which are introduced via the hinge-conveying rope tensioning portions on the top side 115 of the support rod 110 cause a torque around the hinge 103 and/or the further hinge 116, which comprises the same direction as the bearing forces which are induced via the wheels 106, 107. In other words, the bearing forces and the rope tensioning portions 121, 122 generate a commonly directed torque around the hinge 103, 116 which forces or biases the support rod 110 and/or the rod portions 111, 112, 113 in the unfolded state, i.e. the operation state.

The rod portions 111, 112, 113, in an unfolded state, define an operation position of the bicycle, wherein e.g. the hinge 103 is configured such that, when the front rod portion 111 and the center rod portion 113 are in the operation position, a folding movement of the front rod portion 111 and the center rod portion 113 in the direction of the bottom side or lower side 114 is free, and a folding movement in the direction of the top side 115 is blocked.

For example, the hinge 103 is configured such that the front rod portion 111 and the center rod portion 113 can be pivoted by 90° from the operation position. For example, the hinge 103 may be configured such that, in the operation position, above the hinge 103 in the direction of the top side 115, the rod ends of the rod portions 111, 113 abut, such that no pivoting of the rod portions 111, 113 from the operation position in the direction of the top side 115 is possible. As illustrated in FIG. 1, for example a fulcrum pin bearing of the hinge 103 at the bottom side of the adjoining rod portions 111, 113 may be formed for this purpose, such that pivoting the rod portions 111, 113 is only possible in the direction of their bottom side 104 from the operation position. Corresponding to the hinge 103, the further hinge 116 can be formed, which connects the center rod portion 113 and the rear rod portion 112.

The hinge 103 and the further hinge 103 are freely pivotable and free from an arresting unit.

According to embodiments of the invention, in the operation position, pivoting the front rod portion 111 and the rear rod portion 112 (and/or the center rod portion 113) in the direction of the top side 115 is blocked due to the configuration of the hinge 103, 116 and of the rod portions 111, 112, 113. Pivoting the front rod portion 111 and the rear rod portion 112 (and/or the center rod portion 113) in the direction of the bottom side 114 is prevented by the bearing forces of the wheels 106, 107 and additionally by the rope forces of the rope tensioning portions 121, 122 which are generated by the weight force Fg of the user.

The first rope tensioning portion 121 and the second rope tensioning portion 122 form portions of a common rope. However, due to the pivoting of the foot rod 104 by the weight force of the user, the rope is pushed away from the support rod and the weight force is introduced in the rope. The foot rod 104 with the foot portion slidingly abuts on the rope. This means, that no fixing between the rope and the foot rod 104 is necessary. The footrest region 108 of the foot rod 104 may thus slide or being displaced along the rope. Due to the load of the user on the foot rod 104, it aligns substantially along the direction of the weight force Fg and thus pushes the rope away from the support rod 110, so that a homogenous tension of the first rope tensioning portion 121 and the second rope tensioning portion 122 is thereby generated.

At the foot portion, in particular foldable, foot pedals 109 for resting the feet of a user are arranged. The foot pedals 109 may additionally comprise a roughened surface, for example, to improve the adhesion of a foot of a user. The foot pedals 109 may be unfolded in the operation state and may be correspondingly folded.

The bicycle comprises a tension lever 124 for adjusting a rope length of the first rope tensioning portion 121 and/or the second rope tensioning portion 122. Hence, in the operation state, the rope tensioning portions 121, 122 can be biased.

At the front wheel region 101, a steering rod 117 is pivotably arranged around a steering axis, at which a front wheel 106 is fixable. The steering rod 117 may be fixed to the front rod portion 111 in a manner which is foldable around a steering rod hinge 119 and may be correspondingly pivoted between a folded state and the operation state. A clamping device, in particular a quick clamping device, may fix the folded state of the steering rod 117, for example. Furthermore, the steering rod 117 may be configured length-adjustable.

At the steering rod 117, at east one handlebar 118 is arranged, which extends from the steering rod 117 with an angle α of approximately 130°. For example, the handlebar 118 comprises a bicycle handle which a user can grip and can thus control the steering rod 117 and correspondingly the bicycle 100. At the handlebar 118, for example a corresponding braking device comprising a braking lever is fixed.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the bicycle 100 with folded foot pedals 109 and a folded handlebar 118 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

For example, the foot rod 104 is fixed at the further hinge 116. For example, the hinge 116 may comprise a massive baseplate which additionally allows a pivotable fixation of the foot rod 104.

The foot pedals 109 are foldably fixed to the foot rod 104. Furthermore, at least one foot pedal 109 is unfoldable downwardly, to function as a bicycle stand. For example, the foot pedal 109 may latch in two folding positions with respect to the foot rod 104. In a first latching position, the foot pedal 109 is fixed in particular perpendicularly to the foot rod 104, to represent a rest for a foot of the user. In a second latching position, the foot pedal 109 is fixed with an angle between 130° and 180° to the foot rod 104, to support the bicycle 100 on the foot pedal 109.

In FIG. 3, it is shown that a pivoting axis 301 of the hinge 103 and a further pivoting axis 302 of the further hinge 116 are not in parallel, are in particular skew, to each other. This leads to, in a folded state, the front rod portion 111 and the rear rod portion 112 together with the corresponding front wheels 106 and rear wheels 107 overlapping each other and therefore a compact folded state is possible.

Between the steering rod 117 and the handlebar 118, a steering hinge 123 is arranged, such that the handlebar 118 is foldable relatively to the steering rod 117 around a further pivoting axis 303 and the handlebar 118 is parallel to the steering rod 117 in the folded state.

FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 show schematic illustrations of a bicycle in a folded state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The pivoting axis 301 of the hinge 103 and the further pivoting axis 302 of the further hinge 116 are not in parallel, are in particular skew, to each other. As illustrated in FIG. 4, this leads to, in a folded state, the front rod portion 111 and the rear rod portion 112 together with the corresponding front wheels 106 and rear wheels 107 overlapping each other and therefore a compact folded state is possible.

At the front wheel region 101, the steering rod 117 is arranged pivotably around a steering axis, at which a front wheel 106 is fixable. The steering rod 117 is fixed to the front rod portion 111 in a manner which is foldable around a steering rod hinge 119 around the pivoting axis 401 and can correspondingly be pivoted between a folded state and the operation state. The pivoting axis 401 is also not in parallel to the other pivoting axes 301, 302, and 303, to enable a compact folding of the bicycle 100.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show an exemplary embodiment of a hinge connection between parts of the support rod 110. For example, in FIG. 7, the hinge 103 is illustrated, which connects the front rod portion 111 with the center rod portion 113 or the rear rod portion 112.

The hinge is configured as a bearing sleeve or as a hollow axis 701. For example, the bearing sleeve 701 may be rotatably fixed to the front rod portion 111. The front rod portion 111 may comprise a fork shape at the hinge 103 and may partially enclose the bearing sleeve 701, or may comprise a corresponding opening and may fully enclose the bearing sleeve 701. Furthermore, at the bearing sleeve 701, the further connection partner, such as the center rod portion 113 or the rear rod portion 112, is coupled. The first rope tensioning portion 121 forms two rope portions which extend besides each other, wherein a connection portion 702 of the two rope portions extends through the bearing sleeve 701. Thus, the tension rope portion 121 may be guided from the foot rod 104 through the bearing sleeve 701 and correspondingly through the front rod portion 111 and may be guided back to the foot rod 104 on the opposing side.

Furthermore, corresponding to the front hinge 103, the further hinge 116 may be configured with a bearing sleeve 701.

Furthermore, a further bearing sleeve 801 may be provided at the end of the rear rod portion 112, at which the rear wheel 107 is rotatably fixed. Thus, for example the bearing sleeve 801 may be rotatably fix the rear wheel 107 to the rear rod portion 112. The further bearing sleeve 801 is non-rotatably fixed to the rear rod portion 112, for example, wherein the rear wheel 107 can rotate around the further bearing sleeve 801. Correspondingly, the second rope tensioning portion 122 may extend through the further bearing sleeve 801 or may be fixed in the further bearing sleeve 801.

Furthermore, the bicycle 100 may comprise a driving unit 802, 803, which is in particular battery-driven. Thus, for example in the support rod 110 and/or in the front rod portion 111, the rear rod portion 112 and/or the center rod portion 113, a battery 804 or a battery pack may be arranged. A driving unit 803, for example a wheel hub motor, may be arranged in the front wheel 106 and/or in the rear wheel 107, for example, to drive them. The driving unit 803 is electrically coupled with the battery 804. Furthermore, a driving unit 802 may be arranged at the support rod 110 in the region of an outer surface of the front wheel 106 and/or of the rear wheel 107, to generate a force-transferring coupling with the outer surface and to correspondingly transfer a driving force. For example, the driving unit 802, 803 may be controlled by a corresponding operation element in the handle region of the user, i.e. in the handlebar 118 or the steering rod 117.

FIG. 9 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the bicycle 110. The bicycle 110 comprises the front rod portion 111, the center rod portion 113, and the rear rod portion 112. The front rod portion 111 is coupled by the hinge 103 to the center rod portion 113. The center rod portion 113 is coupled by the further hinge 116 with the rear rod portion 112. In the region of the top side 115, a third tension rope portion 901 is illustrated. The third tension rope portion 901 is coupled at least to two rod portions 111, 112, 113 which are adjacent to a hinge 103. For example, the third tension rope portion 901 is fixed to the front rod portion 111 and the center rod portion 113 and extends via the hinge 103. Alternatively, the third tension rope portion 901 may be fixed to the center rod portion 113 and the rear rod portion 112 and extends via the hinge 116. In the illustrated embodiment, the third tension rope portion 901 is fixed to the front rod portion 111 and extends via the center rod portion 113 to the rear rod portion 112 and is fixed there. In particular, the third tension rope portion 901 extends along the top side 115, i.e. at an opposing side with respect to the hinges 103, 116, in comparison to the first and the second rope tensioning portions 121, 122, which extend in the region of the bottom side 114. Thus, the third tension rope portion 901 generates a torque around the hinge 103 and/or the further hinge 116 by tension, which counteracts the torque which is generated by the first tension rope portion 121 and the second tension rope portion 123.

Therefore, with the third rope tensioning portion 901, a further stabilization of the operation position of the bicycle 100 is provided.

Furthermore, the third tension rope portion 901 may be fixed to a rod portion 111, 112, 113 by a quick release 902. In the shown embodiment, the third rope tensioning portion 901 is detachably fixed by the quick release 902 to the center rod portion 113. At the same time, besides a coupling to the center rod portion 113, the quick release is also couplable to the front rod portion 111. Thus, the quick release 901 draws the front rod portion 111 in the direction of the center rod portion 113 on the one hand and at the same time tensions the third rope tensioning portion 901, when the quick release 902 is set to a closing position (see FIG. 9).

With the quick release 902, for example a folding of the bicycle 110 may be initiated, by releasing the hinge 103 between the front rod portion 111 and the center rod portion 113 by the quick release 901, and at the same time by releasing the tension of the tension rope portion 901 between the center rod portion 113 and the rear rod portion 112 and by thereby enabling a rotation of both rod portions 112, 113 around the further hinge 116.

FIG. 10 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the bicycle 110 with the third rope tensioning portion 901. At the rear rod portion 112, a braking lever 1001 is pivotably fixed via a securing bolt 1003. The braking lever 1001 is pivotable such that it can pivot in the direction of the rear wheel 107 and may be coupled in a blocking position with the rear wheel 107, such that a further rotation of the rear wheel 107 is prevented or braked. The braking lever 1001 is biased in the direction of the blocking position for blocking the rear wheel 107, for example by a spring system.

In the blocking position, the braking lever 1001 can engage in a wheel profile of the rear wheel. Furthermore, by the braking lever 1001, also a braking system and/or a coupling to a braking disk may be provided. Furthermore, the third tension rope portion 901 is fixed to the braking lever 1001. The tension rope portion 901 is fixed to the braking lever 1001, such that in case of pulling the third tension rope portion 901, the braking lever 1001 is adjustable from the blocking position to a release position against the biasing force. In this release position, the rear wheel 107 can freely rotate. The third rope tensioning portion 901 may be guided around the fulcrum pin 1002, for example, and may be coupled to a securing bolt 1003 with the braking lever 1001.

When the third rope tensioning portion 901 is tensioned, for example by the quick release 902, such that it is ensured, that the bicycle 100 is in an operation position, a rotation of the rear wheel 107 is enabled and/or a blocking is eliminated. When the third rope tensioning portion 901 is not under tension and the bicycle 100 is thus not in the operation position, a rotation of the rear wheel 107 is prevented, such that a motion of the bicycle 110 is inhibited. Therefore, for example an immobilizer is enabled, such that the user can only move the bicycle 110, when a secure operation position of the bicycle 110 is adjusted.

In summary, the third tension rope portion 901 (which may be in particular formed separate from the first tension rope portion 121 and the second tension rope portion 122) is tensioned by the quick release 902, such that folding the frame and/or the support rod system 110 during driving is prevented and at the same time the immobilizer is released.