Composite bicycle frame

Abstract

A bicycle frame manufactured of one or more continuous fiber composite tubes, wherein the tubes are joined to one another without lugs by overlaying the joints with resin impregnated continuous fiber composite material and clamping the joints in static pressure molds. Gussets are integrally formed as part of the joints. One or more of the tubes may be metal, preferably titanium. The bicycle frame is provided with metal drop outs which are also preferably titanium.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bicycle frame, comprising: a head tube;   a seat tube;   a top tube extending between said head tube and said seat tube;   a bottom bracket shell disposed at a first longitudinal end of said seat tube;   a down tube extending between said head tube and said bottom bracket shell;   two chain stays extending from said bottom bracket shell in a direction away from said down tube;   two rear drop-outs, each said drop-out disposed in joining relationship to one of said chain stays at a first longitudinal end thereof farthest from said bottom bracket shell;   two seat stays, each said seat stay extending from a second longitudinal end region of said seat tube opposite said first longitudinal end to one of said rear drop-outs; and   continuous fiber composite material with hardening agents impregnated therein, substantially surrounding, and in laminated contact with, the junction between: (a) said head tube and said top tube,   (b) said head tube and said down tube,   (c) said seat tube and said top tube,   (d) each said chain stay and each said rear drop-out,   (e) each said seat stay and said seat tube, and   (f) each said seat stay and each said rear drop-out,     thereby forming a structural joint connecting said tubes at each said junction, a structural joint connecting said seat stays and said rear drop-outs, and a structural joint connecting said chain stays and said rear drop-outs, and   integrated structural joints and gussets of continuous fiber composite material with hardening agents impregnated therein wrapped in laminated contact with, and connecting: (a) said seat tube and said bottom bracket shell,   (b) said down tube and said bottom bracket shell, and   (c) each said chain stay and said bottom bracket shell, such that at least one of said gussets extends in a plane whose direction is transverse to the direction of a plane in which the longitudinal axes of at least the head tube, seat tube, top tube, and down tube lie.     
     
     
       2. A bicycle frame, comprising: a continuous fiber composite material head tube;   a continuous fiber composite material seat tube;   a continuous fiber composite material top tube extending between said continuous fiber composite material head tube and said continuous fiber composite material seat tube;   a bottom bracket shell disposed at a first longitudinal end of said continuous fiber composite material seat tube;   a continuous fiber composite material down tube extending between said continuous fiber composite material head tube and said bottom bracket shell;   two continuous fiber composite material chain stays extending from said bottom bracket shell in a direction away from said continuous fiber composite material down tube;   two rear drop-outs, each sad drop-out disposed in joining relationship to one of sad continuous fiber composite material chain stays at a first longitudinal end thereof farthest from said bottom bracket shell;   two continuous fiber composite material seat stays, each said seat stay extending from a second longitudinal end region of said continuous fiber composite material seat tube opposite said first longitudinal end to one of said rear drop-outs; and   continuous fiber composite material with hardening agents impregnated therein, substantially surrounding, and in laminated contact with, the junction between: (a) said continuous fiber composite material head tube and said continuous fiber composite material top tube,   (b) said continuous fiber composite material head tube and said continuous fiber composite material down tube,   (c) said continuous fiber composite material seat tube and said continuous fiber composite material top tube,   (d) each said continuous fiber composite material chain stay and one rear drop-out,   (e) each said continuous fiber composite material seat stay and said continuous fiber composite material seat tube, and   (f) each said continuous fiber composite material seat stay and one rear drop-out,     thereby forming a structural joint connecting said tubes at each said junction, a structural joint connecting said seat stays and said rear drop-outs, and a structural joint connecting said chain stays and said rear drop-outs, and   integrated structural joints and gussets of continuous fiber composite material with hardening agents impregnated therein wrapped in laminated contact with, and connecting: (a) said continuous fiber composite material seat tube and said bottom bracket shell,   (b) said continuous fiber composite material down tube and said bottom bracket shell, and   (c) each said continuous fiber composite material chain stay and said bottom bracket shell,     such that at least one of said gussets extends in a plane whose direction is transverse to the direction of a plane in which the longitudinal axes of at least the head tube, seat tube, top tube, and down tube lie.   
     
     
       3. A bicycle frame, comprising: a continuous fiber composite material head tube;   a continuous fiber composite material seat tube;   a continuous fiber composite material top tube extending between said continuous fiber composite material head tube and said continuous fiber composite material seat tube;   a bottom bracket shell disposed at a first longitudinal end of said continuous fiber composite material seat tube;   a continuous fiber composite material down tube extending between said continuous fiber composite material head tube and said bottom bracket shell;   two continuous fiber composite material chain stays extending from said bottom bracket shell in a direction away from said continuous fiber composite material down tube;   two rear drop-outs, each sad drop-out disposed in joining relationship to one of said continuous fiber composite material chain stays at a first longitudinal end thereof farthest from said bottom bracket shell;   two continuous fiber composite material seat stays, each said seat stay extending from a second longitudinal end region of said continuous fiber composite material seat tube opposite said first longitudinal end to one of said rear drop-outs; and   integrated structural joints and gussets of continuous fiber composite material with hardening agents impregnated therein, wrapped in laminated contact with and connecting: (a) said continuous fiber composite material head tube and said continuous fiber composite material top tube,   (b) said continuous fiber composite material head tube and said continuous fiber composite material down tube,   (c) said continuous fiber composite material seat tube and said continuous fiber composite material top tube,   (d) each said continuous fiber composite material seat stay and said continuous fiber composite material seat tube; and     integrated structural joints and gussets of continuous fiber composite material hardening agents impregnated therein wrapped in laminated contact with, and connecting: (a) said continuous fiber composite material seat tube and said bottom bracket shell,   (b) said continuous fiber composite material down tube and said bottom bracket shell, and   (c) each said continuous fiber composite material chain stay and said bottom bracket shell,     such that at least one of said gussets extends in a plane whose direction is transverse to the direction of a plane in which the longitudinal axes of at least the head tube, seat tube, top tube, and down tube lie; and   a structural joint of continuous fiber composite material with hardening agents impregnated therein, wrapped in laminated contact with, and connecting: (a) each said continuous fiber composite material chain stay and one rear drop-out, and   (b) each said continuous fiber composite material seat stay and one rear drop-out.     
     
     
       4. The bicycle frame according to claim 3, further comprising a metal tube core located inside said continuous fiber composite material head tube, thereby proving additional structural integrity of said head tube. 
     
     
       5. The bicycle frame according to claim 4, wherein said metal is titanium. 
     
     
       6. The bicycle frame according to claim 3, wherein said rear drop-outs are metal. 
     
     
       7. The bicycle frame according to claim 6, wherein said metal is titanium. .Iadd. 
     
     
       8.  A bicycle frame of the type including a plurality of tubes of the type which are joined to a bottom bracket shell, the tubes having longitudinal axes, and the frame extending in a plane defined by the longitudinal axes of the tubes, comprising: continuous fiber composite material with hardening agents impregnated therein, substantially surrounding, and in laminated contact with, a junction between said tubes and said bottom bracket shell to form at least one integrated structural joint and gusset between said tubes and said bottom bracket shell, said at least one gusset extending in a plane transverse to the plane of the frame. .Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       9.  The bicycle frame of claim 8, wherein said bottom bracket shell is comprised at least in part of continuous fiber composite material, and further comprising a metal tube core located inside said bottom bracket shell. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. The bicycle frame of claim 8, wherein said integrated structural joint and gusset further comprises an integrated 
     
     
        chain stay bridge. .Iaddend..Iadd.11.  A bicycle frame of the type including a plurality of tubes of the type which are joined to a bottom bracket shell, the tubes having longitudinal axes, and the frame extending in a plane defined by the longitudinal axes of the tubes, comprising: continuous fiber composite material with hardening agents impregnated therein, substantially surrounding, and in laminated contact with, a junction between said tubes and said bottom bracket shell to form at least one integrated structural joint, gusset, and chain stay bridge at least in part between said tubes and said bottom bracket shell, said at least one integrated structural joint, gusset, and chain stay bridge extending in a   
     
     
        plane transverse to the plane of the frame. .Iaddend..Iadd.12.  The bicycle frame of claim 11, wherein said bottom bracket shell is comprised at least in part of continuous fiber composite material, and further comprising a metal tube core located inside said bottom bracket shell. 
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.13.  A structural joint for a bicycle frame of the type securing together a plurality of tube sections, the tube sections having longitudinal axes, and the frame extending in a plane defined by the longitudinal axes of the tube sections, comprising: continuous fiber composite material with hardening agents impregnated therein, substantially surrounding, and in laminated contact with, a junction between said tube sections to form at least one integrated structural joint and gusset between said tube sections, said at least one gusset extending principally in a plane transverse to the plane of the   
     
     
        frame. .Iaddend..Iadd.14.  The structural joint of claim 13, wherein at least one of said tube sections is formed principally of continuous fiber composite material having hardening agents impregnated therein, and further comprising a metal tube core located inside said at least one tube section. .Iaddend.