Abstract: A bicycle frame assembly including a shock absorbing system associated with a rear wheel. The frame assembly comprises a main frame section, chain stays, seat stays and a rocker arm element, which are combined with each other to form a four-link mechanism that is movable within a vertical plane including the main frame section. A shock absorbing device is arranged between the rocker arm element and the main frame body, for absorbing shocks transmitted from the rear wheel to the main frame section when the frame assembly is in use.

Abstract: A bicycle frame includes a top tube provided with bulge-processed regions at its front and rear end portions, formed with bores having axes which intersect a longitudinal axis of the top tube, for accommodating therein the upper end portions of the head tube and the seat tube, respectively. The frame further includes a down tube provided with a bulge-processed region at its front end portion, formed with a bore having an axis which intersects a longitudinal axis of the down tube, for accommodating therein the lower end portion of the head tube, and optionally provided with another bulge-processed region at its rear end portion, formed with a bore having an axis which intersects the longitudinal axis of the down tube, for accommodating therein the lower end portion of the seat tube. The frame has an optimized distribution of effective section modulus in the longitudinal direction of the top and down tubes, to realize a markedly improved rigidity and mechanical strength.

Abstract: A friction-type stepless speed change device includes a frictional transmission elements composed of a pair of driving discs connected to an input shaft, and an annular driven disc connected to an output shaft and embraced between and urged against opposite conical surfaces of the driving discs into wedge-engagement to generate frictional force and allow power transmission from the driving discs to the driven disc. The driving discs are at a variable eccentricity relative to the driven disc, with which an effective pitch diameter of the driving discs is varied to effect a stepless speed change. For reducing the size of the frictional transmission elements while preserving a required torque capacity, the device further comprises a driving rotary unit for transmitting power from the input shaft to the driving discs at an increased rotational speed, and a driven rotary unit for transmitting power from the driven disc to the output shaft at a reduced rotational speed.

Abstract: A built-in generator arranged within a hub of a bicycle wheel including a hub member of a wheel rotatably fitted on an axle fixed to a frame of the bicycle, a stationary hollow cylinder fixed to the axle in the hub member, a generating coil unit provided in the stationary hollow cylinder and fixed thereto, a rotor formed integrally with a magnet rotatably provided on the axle, and a planetary transmission device for transmitting rotation of the hub member to the axle at increased speeds. The planetary transmission device is formed of at least one planetary roller device which includes a sun roller integral with the magnet and rotatably provided on the axle, a plurality of planet rollers arranged to be circumscribed on the sun roller, a planet carrier rotatably supporting the planet rollers, and an elastic ring circumscribing on the planet rollers. The planet rollers are in pressure-contact with the elastic ring and the sun roller.

Abstract: A friction stepless speed change device includes an input shaft, a driven shaft and an output shaft arranged on a common axis, and a countershaft rotatably provided in parallel with the common axis. The device further includes tow rockable arms rockable about the countershaft, a cylindrical driving rotary assembly rotatably provided on free ends of the rockable arms to enclose the driven shaft, a set of driving friction discs rotating together with the driving rotary assembly, and a set of driven friction discs rotating together with the driven shaft. The countershaft includes a first gear in mesh with a gear fixed to the input shaft, a second gear in mesh with a gear fixed to the driving rotary assembly, and a third gear in mesh with a sun gear of a planetary gear provided on the driven shaft. The output shaft is integrally formed with an internal gear in mesh with planet gears of the planetary gear.

Abstract: A friction stepless speed change device includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a countershaft provided in parallel with the input and output shafts on one side thereof, two rocking arms rockable about the countershaft, a cylindrical driven rotary assembly rotatably supported on free ends of the rocking arms to enclose the input shaft, a set of driving friction discs rotating together with the input shaft, and a set of driven friction discs rotating together with the driven rotary assembly. The sets of the driving and driven friction discs are wedge-engaged with each other. A gear fixed to the driven rotary assembly is in mesh with one gear of an intermediate gear assembly, and a gear arranged on a planet carrier is in mesh with the other gear of the intermediate gear assembly. Planet gears journaled on the planet carrier are in mesh with an internal gear integrally fixed to the input shaft, and a sun gear integrally formed on the output shaft is in mesh with the planat gears.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stepless speed change device which comprises: an input shaft and an output shaft concentric to each other, a disc progressively thinner toward its outer periphery and fixed to the input shaft, a hollow cylinder fixed to the output shaft for enclosing the disc, a ring progressively thinner toward its inner periphery opposite to that of the disc and fixed to an inner circumference of the hollow cylinder in the same plane as that of the disc, and an intermediate transmitting device having two discs for embracing the ring and the disc on both sides thereof and being movable from a concentric position with the input and output shafts to eccentric positions with desired eccentricities therefrom in a stepless manner. With the above arrangement, the input shaft may be used as an output shaft, and the output shaft may be used as an input shaft.

Abstract: A stepless speed change device has an input shaft and an output shaft. The device inlcudes a planetary carrier proviced at an inner end of the input shaft, a sun gear provided at an inner end of the output shaft to be in mesh with planet gears carried on the planetary carrier, and an internal gear in mesh with the planet gears to form a planetary gear. The device further includes a driven rotor rotatable about the input shaft and in the form of a hollow cylinder having flanges at both ends and concentrically connected to the internal gear, a driving rotor enclosing the driven rotor and including two members connected to the input shaft on both sides of the driven rotor, and an intermediate friction transmission ring whose eccentricity is adjustable and interposed between the flanges of the driven rotor and between the two members of the driving rotor for transmitting rotating power therebetween.

Abstract: A speed change device for a bicycle comprises a carrier jointed to a crank arm and a plurality of planet gears rotatably supported on a plurality of shafts arranged in a circle on said carrier. Each of the planet gears includes a plurality of planet gear elements different in number of teeth. The device further comprises an internal gear in mesh with ones of the planet gear elements of the planet gears and formed in an outer circumference with a sprocket to form a driven rotary body, one-way clutches for connecting the driven rotary body to the carrier, a plurality of sun gears provided on a crankshaft and in mesh with the planet gear elements of the planet gears, respectively, and one-way clutches provided between inner circumferences of the sun gears and a fixed bearing enclosing the crankshaft. One of the one-way clutches last mentioned is able to connect selectively.

Abstract: A stepless speed change device comprises internally toothed ratchet rings arranged in plural rows side by side in an axial direction on an inner circumference of a driving rotary member on an input side through one-way clutches interposed therebetween, a stationary ring fixed to a frame of a bicycle and encircling the driving rotary member, a plurality of planet rollers rotatably fitted in the driving rotary member at plural locations, pawls in plural rows to engage ratchets of the internally toothed ratchet rings and having bottoms pivotally connected to an eccentric cam whose eccentricity relative to a center shaft is adjustable, and a resilient member provided in contact with the planet rollers to produce the frictional transmission between the stationary ring and the internally toothed ratchet rings respectively and the planet rollers.

Abstract: A stepless speed change device comprises first ratchet rings arranged in plural rows side by side in an axial direction on an inner circumferential surface of a rotary member on an input side through one-way clutches interposed therebetween, and an eccentric cam assembly arranged on a center shaft. An eccentricity of the cam assembly is adjustable relative to the center shaft. The device further comprises first pawls in plural rows to engage ratchets provided in the ratchet rings and having bottoms pivotally connected to a carrier rotatably provided on the eccentric cam assembly. The bottoms of the pawls in one row are between the bottoms of the pawls in the other row.

Abstract: A stepless speed change device comprising an internally toothed ratchet formed in an inner circumference of a driving rotary body, a floating ring having an inner diameter smaller than a root diameter of teeth of the internally toothed ratchet and arranged in floating condition in side-by-side relation to the internally toothed ratchet, and a plurality of pawls whose distal ends engage the teeth of the internally toothed ratchet and inscribe the floating ring. Bottoms of the pawls are pivotally connectd to a driven rotary body rotatably provided on an eccentric cam assembly whose eccentricity is adjustable.

Abstract: An adjustable handlebar for a bicycle according to the invention comprises two handlebar members whose adjacent ends are pivotally supported by two bolts whose extended axes are crossing in front of the bicycle, gear teeth formed in the adjacent ends of the handlebar members so as to pivotally move one handlebar member by pivotally moving the other handlebar member, two sets of isosceles triangle-shaped thrust serrations at adjacent ends of the handlebar members and an upper portion of a handlebar stem, thereby anchoring the handlebar members when the bolts are tightened and moving the adjacent ends of the handlebar members away from the upper portion of the handlebar stem when the bolts are loosened and the handlebar members are rotated, and a cam and cam follower assembly having a lever for engaging and disengaging the serrations, thereby simply changing positions of handlebar members symmetrically.

Abstract: A band brake assembly for a bicycle includes a brake band having a brake lining and a brake drum to which the brake lining is urged by a brake operating cable in braking. According to the invention, the band brake assembly comprises a wire guide whose front half is in the form of an arc and fixed to an operative end of the brake band and whose rear half extends in a tangential direction of the brake band. An inner wire of the brake operating cable extends rearward along an outer surface of the wire guide and is fixed to a rear end of the wire guide. With this arrangement, the lining, brake band, wire guide and inner wire form a multiple or laminated connection to permit these members to shift slightly with each other when braking, thereby preventing resonance and absorbing or damping vibration caused in braking.

Abstract: A bicycle frame comprises a main frame having a head tube portion and a seat tube support portion integrally formed of a single blank tube, a seat tube inserted in the seat tube support portion of the main frame and having a cross-shaped lower end formed from a single blank tube by bulge-forming, a metal fitting having an aperture adapted to receive a lower end of the seat tube and chain stay supports on both sides of the aperture, two chain stays having front ends fixed to a mid portion of the main frame and mid portions abutting against the chain stay supports of the metal fitting, and rear forks connecting rear ends of the chain stays and an upper end of the seat tube. Two lateral expanded portions of the cross-shaped lower end are pierced to form apertures into which commercially available bearings are press-fitted to form a hanger portion or bottom bracket of the seat tube.Production processes are simplified to improve the productivity of bicycles.

Abstract: A blank tube constituting a main frame for a two-wheeled vehicle, comprises a main tubular portion having thicker walls in the proximity of its ends subjected to the largest forces and tubular expanded portions extending from the ends of the tube for receiving a head tube and a seat tube without using separate parts such as lugs. The blank tube further comprises a gradually enlarged diameter portion adjacent to the tubular expanded portions to more improve the strength of the tube.The thicker walls, tubular expanded portions and gradually enlarged diameter portion are formed simultaneously in dies by bulging. Moreover, the dies are formed with recesses, so that the blank tube is formed with protrusions. The protrusions are formed with apertures for passing brake wires or electric wires through the tube. The main tubular portion of the blank tube is formed in a particular cross-section effectively increasing its strength by pressing by means of the dies including corresponding sectional cavities.

Abstract: A frame for a folding bicycle includes a base frame having a triangular configuration, the base frame having a pair of back forks and a pair of lower stays joined to a pair of end members respectively. A main pipe is interconnected between the pair of back forks and the pair of lower stays, and a quadric link is connected to the triangular base frame. The guadric link includes the main pipe, a seat pipe, a front pipe, and an upper stay, along with a first pivot pivotally connecting the main pipe and the seat pipe to provide pivotal movement of the seat pipe relative to the main pipe, a second pivot pivotally connecting the main pipe and the front pipe to provide pivotal movement of the front pipe relative to the main pipe, a third pivot pivotally connecting the front pipe and the upper stay to provide pivotal movement between the front pipe and the upper stay, and a fourth pivot pivotally connecting the seat pipe and the upper stay to provide pivotal movement between the seat pipe and the upper stay.

Abstract: A foldable bicycle frame includes a lower frame and a front frame pivotally mounted on the lower frame, the lower frame having fork elements supporting a rear wheel axle. A seat tube is pivotally mounted on the lower frame. A front support stay is pivotally mounted on the front frame and is also pivotally mounted on the seat tube. A seat stay has an upper section and a lower section, the upper section being pivotally connected to the seat tube, the lower section being pivotally connected to the lower frame at the fork elements, the upper and lower sections each having a pair of upper and lower stay members respectively and a locking plate device connecting the upper and lower sections and operable to selectively provide a pivotal connection between the upper and lower sections to provide for folding of the bicycle and to effect a rigid connection between the upper and lower sections to provide assembled operability of the bicycle frame.

Abstract: A caliper brake for a bicycle comprising left and right caliper arms rotatably fitted to a pivot shaft and having at their ends brake shoes adapted to be urged against a rim of a wheel of the bicycle, a rocking arm having a base portion pivotally mounted to a frame of the bicycle between the caliper arms on the pivot shaft in a semi-fixed condition, and the rocking arm having at its end a through-hole, opposite to which the left and right caliper arms have bottomed holes, respectively, and a universal joint lever having at its middle portion a middle protrusive ball portion and at both its ends end protrusive ball portions, respectively, the middle protrusive ball portion fitting in the through-hole of the rocking arm, those end protrusive ball portions fitting in the bottomed holes of the left and right caliper arms, respectively, whereby the extent of the free gaps between the left and right brake shoes and the rim are maintained substantially equal.