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EP-4438453-B1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING THE GEOMETRY OF A BICYCLE

EP4438453B1EP 4438453 B1EP4438453 B1EP 4438453B1EP-4438453-B1

Inventors

  • ESCARIHUELA ALCOVERRO, Arnau

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20230330

Claims (15)

  1. System (1) for changing the geometry of a bicycle by modifying the position of a connection of a rear suspension mechanism, comprising: first and second chips (2) each having an orifice (21); a first component (3) of the rear suspension mechanism that comprises a fork-like end, each arm (31) of the fork comprising a socket (32) configured to receive a corresponding chip (3), the first arm of the fork comprising the first socket, the second arm of the fork comprising the second socket, where said first and second sockets (32) each comprise a hole (33); a second component (4) of the rear suspension mechanism having an end comprising a connection hole (41), and a screw (5) configured to pass through the orifice (21) of the first chip (2),efthe hole (33) of the first socket (32), the connection hole (41) of the second component (4), the hole (33) of the second socket (32), and thread into the orifice (21) of the second chip (2), where the chips (2) are configured to fit into the sockets (32) of the first component (3) alternatively in at least two different positions, where each position corresponds to a different position of the orifices (21) of the chips (2) with respect to the first component (3), each socket (32) of the first component (3) comprises a cavity (34) defined by walls (35) provided around the hole (33) of said socket (32), characterized in that each chip (2) comprises a body (22) where the orifice (21) is provided, where each body (22) has a shape configured to fit into said cavity (34) of the respective socket (32) such that it alternates between said at least two positions by sliding against the walls (35) without exiting the cavity (34), where each cavity (34) does not have the same shape as the respective body (22) but it is configured in a cam-like manner with the walls (35) having smooth curves, said walls (35) thereby causing each body (22) to follow a translation or a combined movement of rotation and translation upon said body (22) moving from one position to another.
  2. System (1) for changing the geometry of a bicycle according to claim 1, where each body (22) has an elongated shape and each the cavity (34) has a heart-like shape comprising two lobes (34a, 34b) that protrude in two directions forming an angle, such that each body (22) fits alternatively in one or the other lobe (34a, 34b) respectively in a high position or in a low position, where the walls (35) of each cavity (34) are configured to guide the bodies (22) between the high position and the low position following a trajectory combining rotation and translation.
  3. System (1) for changing the geometry of a bicycle according to claim 2, where each body (22) is essentially rectangular with semi-circular ends and the orifice (21) is provided near one of said ends, and each lobe (34a, 34b) of the cavity (34) of the socket (32) of the first component (3) has an essentially semi-circular shape.
  4. System (1) for changing the geometry of a bicycle according to claim 3, where the lobes (34a, 34b) of each cavity (34) comprise a high lobe (34a) and a low lobe (34b), where said lobes (34a, 34b) are configured such that an angular difference of the bodies (22) between the high position and the low position is smaller than 90°.
  5. System (1) for changing the geometry of a bicycle according to claim 4, where the angular difference of each body (22) between the high position and the low position is between 55° and 80°.
  6. System (1) for changing the geometry of a bicycle according to any of claims 4-5, where the axes (E 34a , E 34b ) of the lobes (34a, 34b) of each cavity (34) form 90°, such that, in the low position, the bodies (22) are aligned with the axis (E 34b ) of the low lobe (34b) while, in the high position, the bodies (22) are not aligned with the axis (E 34a ) of the high lobe (34a).
  7. System (1) for changing the geometry of a bicycle according to any of the previous claims, where each chip (2) further comprises a protrusion (23) perpendicular to a plane parallel to the body (22) that extends at least partially an inner wall of the orifice (21) of the chip (2), such that, when the body (22) is housed inside the cavity (34) of the socket (32), the protrusion (23) passes through the hole (33) of said socket (32), and where the shape of the hole (33) is configured in such a way that the protrusion (23) slides against the edges of said hole (33) when the chip moves between the high position and the low position.
  8. System (1) for changing the geometry of a bicycle according to claim 7, where the protrusion (23) has a circular inner wall (231) forming part of an inner surface of the orifice (21) of the chip (2) and an also circular outer wall (232).
  9. System (1) for changing the geometry of a bicycle according to any of claims 7-8, where the hole (33) of each socket (32) has essentially the same shape as the cavity (34) of said socket (32).
  10. System (1) for changing the geometry of a bicycle according to any of the previous claims, where each chip (2) further comprises a protection plate (24) provided at a side of the body (22) opposite to that where the protrusion (23) is provided, where the protection plate (24) protrudes radially with respect to the body (22) such that, when the chip (2) is fitted in the socket (32), said protection plate (24) covers an upper edge of the walls (35) of the cavity (34) with the purpose of preventing the entrance of debris.
  11. System (1) for changing the geometry of a bicycle according to claim 10, where each chip (2) further comprises an indicator element configured to provide the user with a visual indication as to the orientation of the body (22).
  12. System (1) for changing the geometry of a bicycle according to claim 11, where each indicator element is a tooth (25) protruding radially from the protection plate (24).
  13. System (1) for changing the geometry of a bicycle according to claim 12, where each socket (32) further comprises at least a projection (36) provided in the trajectory of the tooth (25) when the chip (2) reaches the high position.
  14. Bicycle comprising a geometry change system (1) according to any of the preceding claims.
  15. Method for changing the geometry of a bicycle carried out by a system (1) according to any of claims 1-13, characterized by comprising the following steps: - loosening the screw (5) without extracting it completely; - moving the chips (2) from the initial position to the desired position by causing each the body (22) to slide against the walls (35) of the cavity (34) without extracting the chips (2) from their respective sockets (32); and - tightening the screw (5) again.

Description

Field of the invention The present invention belongs to the field of bicycles, and particularly to the field of systems designed for modifying the geometry of a double suspension bicycle, commonly known as "flip chip" systems. A first object of the present invention is a novel system for modifying the geometry of a double suspension bicycle without the need to disassemble completely any connection of the rear suspension system. A second object of the invention is a method for modifying the geometry of a double suspension bicycle using the system disclosed above. State of the art The geometry of a bicycle refers to the different angles and distances between the elements forming said bicycle. The geometry of a bicycle has a direct impact in the behaviour of the bicycle during use, directly affecting the manoeuvrability, stability, user position, as well as many other variables. Depending on the geometry, a bicycle can be focused towards a good pedalling efficiency and climbing performance or, on the other hand, focused towards improving the behaviour in technical downhill. For that reason, there are different bicycle models having different geometries depending on the intended use. Merely as an example, in the field of mountain bikes there are three main types: XC, All mountain and Enduro. In recent years, a system known as "flip chip" intended to change the geometry and the kinematics of the rear suspension mechanism in double suspension mountain bicycle has been developed. A double suspension bicycle is characterized by comprising a rear suspension mechanism allowing the rear wheel to move with respect to the main frame, also known as front triangle, in a controlled manner. There exist a number of rear suspension mechanism, but they all have in common the provision of a number of articulations intended to allow the aforementioned movement of the rear wheel that, naturally, is dampened by a damper. Fig. 1 shows a particular example of a bicycle having a rear suspension system where the different elements making up the suspension mechanism enabling the controlled movement of the rear wheel are illustrated. In this particular case, the system comprises a deformable polygon comprising bases (BS) articulated to an end of the main frame (CP) and, at the other end, braces (TI) that, in turn, have an opposite end connected to an articulated linkage (B). The opposite end of the articulated linkage (B) is articulated to the main frame (CP). To this deformable polygon a dyad (or secondary mechanism) is added whose main components are a prolonger (PR) having an end articulated to a intermediate position of the articulated linkage (B) and a opposite end connected to an and of the damper (AM). Finally, the opposite end of the damper (AM) is articulated to the main frame (CP). Thanks to this configuration, the rear suspension mechanism allows the rear wheel to move up or down depending on the irregularities of the ground and also on the inertia caused by the movement of the cyclist while pedalling, the movement capacity being controlled by the stiffness of the damper (AM). The "flip chip" system allows for modifying the position of a connection of the rear suspension mechanism, thus impacting the geometry of the bicycle as a whole and, therefore, it allows for changing the bicycle behaviour during use. Particularly, a flip chip system installed in the connection between the damper (AM) and the prolonger (PR) is briefly disclosed here. This flip chip system allows for the modification of the distance D shown in Fig. 1 which, in turn, affects the rest of the geometrical parameters of the bicycle that determine its behaviour. It is important to point out that the figures only show an exemplary configuration of this type of systems, since the flip chip system could be installed in other positions of the rear suspension system. Fig. 2 shows in more detail a flip chip system installed in the bicycle illustrated in Fig. 1. Specifically, the image of Fig. 2 corresponds to the flip chip system of an Orbea model Rallon 2022 bicycle. Fig. 2 shows in greated detail how the damper (AM) is connected to the prolonger (PR) which, in turn, is connected to the articulated linkage (B). The connection between the rear end of the articulated linkage (B) and the brace (TI) making up the uppermost element of the rear triangle is also shown. In this context, the flip chip system is formed by the following elements: 1. Two respectively upper and lower chips (P1, P2) having a washer-like shape (these are the parts commonly known as flip chips in this field)2. Two sockets (A1, A2) provided at the front end of the prolonger (PR) for receiving the chips (P1, P2).3. A screw (T) passing through the first chip (P1) housed in the upper socket (A1) of the prolonger (PR), an end orifice of the bar making up the plunger of the damper (AM), and the second chip (P2) housed in the lower socket (A2) of the prolonger (PR). The screw (T) is screwed in a thread pr