BICYCLE FRAME WITH REMOVABLE DOWN TUBE CLIPS

摘要

A bicycle frame having a replaceable flexible down tube assembly, wherein the down tube assembly includes a resilient arcuate down tube member with connectors in the form of releasable mounting clips removably attached to the ends of down tube member. The clips clamp on transverse mounting pins in stems attached to the bicycle frame at the ends of the down tube assembly. The clips are releasable to remove the down tube assembly from the frame for replacement or substitution of a down tube having different performance or appearance characteristics. The clips are removable from the down tube for separate replacement of clips and the down tube.

主权项

1. A bicycle frame having a replaceable down tube assembly that is releasably mounted between forward and rearward mounting stems in the frame, the mounting stems including transverse mounting pins mounted therein and being secured to the frame at positions where ends of the down tube assembly are attached to the frame, the down tube comprising an elongated down tube member having end fittings releasably attached to ends of the down tube member, the end fittings having transverse recesses in outer ends thereof that fit over the mounting pins in the stems, the end fittings further including a locking mechanism for releasably holding the end fittings on the mounting pins with the mounting pins engaged in the recesses, the end fittings permitting at least limited pivotal movement of the down tube about the lateral axis of the mounting pins upon at least limited vertical deflection of the down tube in the frame.