Bicycle brake mounting structure

• US 20020014756A1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kazuhiro Fujii
• Original Assignee: Kazuhiro Fujii
• Inventors: Fujii, Kazuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,572,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/274
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 1/00 Brakes back-pedalling brakes B62L5/00; Arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 1/14 the elements being mounted on levers pivotable about different axes

Abstract

A bicycle brake device is coupled to a bicycle frame section, which includes one or more bicycle brake mounting structures. The bicycle frame section can be either a portion of a front fork or rear fork of a bicycle. The brake device is preferably a caliper brake device such as a cantilever brake device, a side pull brake device, or a center pull brake device. The caliper brake device has a pair of brake arms, which are pivotally coupled to either the front fork or rear fork for selectively engaging the rim of the bicycle wheel. In certain embodiments, the bicycle brake mounting structures are U-shaped brackets, which are fixedly coupled to the frame member or members. In other embodiments, the bicycle brake mounting structures are formed by a pair of separate tubular frame members, which are fixedly coupled top the remainder of the bicycle frame section. In the case of cantilever brake devices and side pull brake devices, the bicycle brake mounting structure or structures support both ends of pivot pins, while in the case of center pull brake devices, the bicycle brake mounting structure or structures support both ends of the center mounting pin.

Claims

1. A bicycle frame section, comprising:

a first rigid frame member;

a second rigid frame member spaced from said first rigid frame member;

a first brake mounting member coupled to said first rigid frame member; and

a second brake mounting member coupled to said second rigid frame member,

said first and second brake mounting members being configured to support opposite sides of a mounting portion of a bicycle brake device therebetween.

2. A bicycle frame section according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second rigid frame members are tubular members.

3. A bicycle frame section according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second rigid frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a front bicycle fork.

4. A bicycle frame section according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second rigid frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a bicycle chain stay.

5. A bicycle frame section according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second rigid frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a seat stay.

6. A bicycle frame section according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second rigid frame members are coupled together at one end by a bicycle wheel mounting portion having a slot adapted to receive an axle of a bicycle wheel.

7. A bicycle frame section according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second brake mounting members are connected together by an intermediate member to form a substantially U-shaped member.

8. A bicycle frame section according to claim 7, wherein

said first and second brake mounting members have first and second axially aligned holes, respectively.

9. A bicycle frame section according to claim 8, wherein

one of said first and second brake mounting members has a third hole.

10. A bicycle frame section according to claim 1, wherein

each of said first and second rigid frame members has a first end and a second end, with said first ends of said first and second rigid frame members being coupled together and said second ends of said first and second rigid frame members being coupled together.

11. A bicycle frame section according to claim 1, further comprising

a third rigid frame member;

a fourth rigid frame member coupled to said third rigid frame member;

a third brake mounting member coupled to said third rigid frame member; and

a fourth brake mounting member coupled to said fourth rigid frame member, with said third and fourth brake mounting members being configured to pivotally support opposite sides of a brake arm.

12. A bicycle frame section according to claim 11, wherein

said first, second, third and fourth rigid frame members are tubular members.

13. A bicycle frame section according to claim 11, wherein

said first, second, third and fourth rigid frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a front bicycle fork, with said first, second, third and fourth rigid frame members being arranged such that said first and second rigid frame members form a first bicycle wheel mounting portion and said third and fourth rigid frame members form a second bicycle wheel mounting portion.

14. A bicycle frame section according to claim 11, wherein

said first, second, third and fourth rigid frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a bicycle chain stay, with said first, second, third and fourth rigid frame members being arranged such that said first and second rigid frame members are located on a first side of a first bicycle wheel and said third and fourth rigid frame members are located on a second side of a first bicycle wheel.

15. A bicycle frame section according to claim 11, wherein

said first, second, third and fourth rigid frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a bicycle seat stay, with said first, second, third and fourth rigid frame members being arranged such that said first and second rigid frame members are located on a first side of a first bicycle wheel and said third and fourth rigid frame members are located on a second side of a first bicycle wheel.

16. A bicycle frame section according to claim 11, wherein

said first and second rigid frame members are coupled together at one end by a first bicycle wheel mounting portion having a first slot adapted to receive an axle of a bicycle wheel, and said third and fourth rigid frame members are coupled together at one end by a second bicycle wheel mounting portion having a second slot adapted to receive the axle of the bicycle wheel.

17. A bicycle frame section according to claim 11, wherein

said first and second brake mounting members are connected together by a first intermediate member to form a first substantially U-shaped member, and said third and fourth brake mounting members are connected together by a second intermediate member to form a second substantially U-shaped member.

19. A bicycle frame section according to claim 18, wherein

said first and second frame members are rigid tubular frame members.

20. A bicycle frame section according to claim 18, wherein

said first and second frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a front bicycle fork.

21. A bicycle frame section according to claim 18, wherein

said first and second frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a bicycle chain stay.

22. A bicycle frame section according to claim 18, wherein

said first and second frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a seat stay.

23. A bicycle frame section according to claim 18, wherein

said first and second rigid frame members are coupled together at one end by a bicycle wheel mounting portion having a slot adapted to receive an axle of a bicycle wheel.

24. A bicycle frame section according to claim 18, wherein

said first and second brake mounting means are substantially U-shaped members.

25. A bicycle frame section according to claim 18, wherein

said bicycle frame means further includes third and fourth rigid frame members coupled together;

and

third brake mounting means, coupled to said third frame member, for supporting a first end of a second mounting member of a second brake arm; and

fourth brake mounting means, coupled to said fourth frame member, for supporting a second end of the second mounting member of the second brake arm.

26. A bicycle frame section according to claim 25, wherein

said first, second, third and fourth rigid frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a front bicycle fork, with said first, second, third and fourth rigid frame members being arranged such that said first and second rigid frame members form a first bicycle wheel mounting portion and said third and fourth rigid frame members form a second bicycle wheel mounting portion.

27. A bicycle frame section according to claim 25, wherein

said first, second, third and fourth rigid frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a bicycle chain stay, with said first, second, third and fourth rigid frame members being arranged such that said first and second rigid frame members are located on a first side of a first bicycle wheel and said third and fourth rigid frame members are located on a second side of a first bicycle wheel.

28. A bicycle frame section according to claim 25, wherein

said first, second, third and fourth rigid frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a bicycle seat stay, with said first, second, third and fourth rigid frame members being arranged such that said first and second rigid frame members are located on a first side of a first bicycle wheel and said third and fourth rigid frame members are located on a second side of a first bicycle wheel.

29. A bicycle frame section according to claim 25, wherein

said first and second rigid frame members are coupled together at one end by a first bicycle wheel mounting portion having a first slot adapted to receive an axle of a bicycle wheel, and said third and fourth rigid frame members are coupled together at one end by a second bicycle wheel mounting portion having a second slot adapted to receive the axle of the bicycle wheel.

18. A bicycle frame section, comprising:

bicycle frame means for supporting a part of a bicycle, said bicycle frame means having first and second frame members spaced apart from each other,

first brake mounting means, coupled to said first frame member, for supporting a first end of a first mounting member of a first brake arm; and

second brake mounting means, coupled to said second frame member, for supporting a second end of the first mounting member of the first brake arm.

30. A bicycle frame section, comprising:

a first rigid frame member; and

a first brake mounting member rigidly coupled to said first rigid frame member, said first brake mounting member having a first mounting flange with a first pivot pin support and a second mounting flange with a second pivot pin support, said first and second mounting flanges being spaced apart and configured to support opposite sides of a portion of a brake device therebetween.

31. A bicycle frame section according to claim 30, wherein

said first and second mounting flanges are connected together by a first intermediate member to form a first substantially U-shaped member.

32. A bicycle frame section according to claim 31, wherein

said first rigid frame member is a tubular member.

33. A bicycle frame section according to claim 31, wherein

said first rigid frame member is at least part of a front bicycle fork.

34. A bicycle frame section according to claim 31, wherein

said first rigid frame member is at least part of a bicycle chain stay.

35. A bicycle frame section according to claim 31, wherein

said first rigid frame member is at least part of a seat stay.

36. A bicycle frame section according to claim 31, wherein

one end of said first rigid frame member has a bicycle wheel mounting portion with a slot adapted to receive an axle of a bicycle wheel.

37. A bicycle frame section according to claim 31, wherein

said first and second brake mounting members have first and second axially aligned holes, respectively, forming said first and second pivot pin supports.

38. A bicycle frame section according to claim 37, wherein

one of said first and second brake mounting members has a third hole.

39. A bicycle frame section according to claim 30, further comprising

a second rigid frame member coupled to said first rigid frame member with said first and second brake mounting members coupled thereto;

third and fourth rigid frame members coupled together with third and fourth brake mounting members coupled thereto to support opposite sides of a portion of a brake device.

40. A bicycle brake mounting structure, comprising:

a first brake mounting member adapted to be coupled to a bicycle frame,

a second brake mounting member adapted to be coupled to the bicycle frame; and

a connecting member coupled between said first and second mounting members to form a brake device receiving recess therebetween.

41. A bicycle frame section according to claim 40, wherein

said first and second mounting members are connected together by said connecting member to form a first substantially U-shaped member.

42. A bicycle frame section according to claim 41, wherein

said first brake mounting member has a first mounting flange with a first pin support and said second brake mounting member has a second mounting flange with a second pin support, said first and second mounting flanges being spaced apart and configured to support opposite sides of a portion of a brake device therebetween.

43. A bicycle frame section according to claim 42, wherein

said first and second mounting flanges have first and second axially aligned holes, respectively, forming said first and second pin supports.

44. A bicycle frame section according to claim 43, wherein

one of said first and second mounting flanges has a third hole.

46. A method of mounting a bicycle brake according to claim 45, wherein

said first and second rigid frame members are tubular members.

47. A method of mounting a bicycle brake according to claim 45, wherein

said first and second rigid frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a front bicycle fork.

48. A method of mounting a bicycle brake according to claim 45, wherein

said first and second rigid frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a bicycle chain stay.

49. A method of mounting a bicycle brake according to claim 45, wherein

said first and second rigid frame members are rigidly coupled together to form at least part of a seat stay.

50. A method of mounting a bicycle brake according to claim 45, wherein

said first and second rigid frame members are coupled together at one end by a bicycle wheel mounting portion having a slot adapted to receive an axle of a bicycle wheel.

51. A method of mounting a bicycle brake according to claim 45, wherein

said first and second brake mounting members are connected together by an intermediate member to form a substantially U-shaped member.

52. A method of mounting a bicycle brake according to claim 45, wherein

said first and second brake mounting members have first and second axially aligned holes, respectively.

53. A method of mounting a bicycle brake according to claim 45, wherein

one of said first and second brake mounting members has a third hole.

45. A method of mounting a bicycle brake, comprising the steps of:

providing a bicycle frame with first and second frame members spaced apart from each other to form a brake arm receiving recess therebetween;

providing a bicycle brake with a pair of brake arms movably mounted relative to each other via at least one pivot member having first and second ends; and

mounting said first end of said at least one pivot member to said first frame member and said second end of said at least one pivot member to said second frame member.