WO2004048185A1 - Foldable and transportable bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

A foldable and transportable bicycle comprises a frame (34) formed by two half-members which can be telescopically inserted the one inside the other, a handlebars (44) supporting pillar (40) having in an intermediate position a cylindrical joint (132), to bring the upper portion of the pillar (40) together with the handlebars (44) in a position lowered onto the frame (34), said handlebars (44) being in turn foldable so that the two arms are positioned parallelly to the plane of the bicycle frame (34), a saddle supporting pillar (42), foldable so as to take a position parallel to said frame (34), the saddle (46) being mounted so that in the folded condition of the bicycle it takes a position parallel to said frame (34), the front wheel (30) of the bicycle being mounted to the frame (34) so as to be movable between a first position, corresponding to the open and operating bicycle, in which the wheel (30) is operatively fixed with the fork (36) to the steering sleeve (100), and a second position in which the front wheel (30) is folded inwardly below said frame (34) and raised with respect to the other position, namely the operating one.

Description

Foldable and transportable bicycle The present invention relates to a structure of foldable bicycle, compatible with the condition of transportability and, more specifically, a bicycle structure which at the same time is adapted to be folded to a size (including both wheels) corresponding to that of a normal suit-case (namely of the order of 40-55 x 60-80 cm.) and has a weight consistent with the physical possibilities of a normal user. The problem of the bicycle transportability is a need felt since many years and a great number of proposals has been already made for the solution thereof. As a matter of fact the bicycle is a very agile locomotion means, besides being non polluting, for displacements within limited distances, such as those of the town center areas. However for people living out of town and incoming f om not negligible distances the transportation thereof under the customary travel conditions is highly uncomfortable.

Thus, for the displacements carried out using motor cars, the bicycle, if not folded to acceptable size, must be attached to proper supports fixed to the roof of the car and both the mounting and the dismounting operations require a not negligible time.

When on the contrary the displacement takes place by train, the transportation of the bicycle together with the passenger is possible only if the train is equipped with proper carriages.

If lastly the displacement takes place on a public transportation means, then the transportation of the bicycle together with the passenger is substantially impossible for reasons of encumbrance.

There are other situations in which the folding of the bicycle to very reduced size would be advantageous, such as in the case of journeys with sport boats or when the transfer to the destination place is effected by means of roulottes or campers, or even in the case of tent travelling.

The attempts to date proposed and applied for the bicycle folding, (the first example of which is the so-called "bersagliere bicycle") have been carried out in bicycles having a frame devoid of the upper horizontal tube or "stick", namely bicycles more generally like to the lady model. They consisted in dividing the main longitudinal frame member (namely that connecting the front half-frame, bearing the front wheel and the handlebars, to the rear half-frame, bearing the rear wheel and the saddle together with the related supporting pillar) into two halves hinged to each other by a hinge having the axis essentially perpendicular to the main longitudinal frame member, whereby it is possible to fold the bicycle from the normal size to that of the two half-frames as above mentioned, the length being thus essentially reduced. Besides this main solution there have been proposed and adopted secondary expedients, such as for instance a system for the quick locking and unlocking of the saddle and of the handlebars, so that a reduction of the height of each half- frame is gained upon folding the bicycle.

This solution, however, is not satisfactory firstly because the encumbrance of the folded bicycle involves in any case a remarkable thickness (corresponding to that of the two half-frames superimposed to each other or at least to the extension of the two pedal cranks protruding from one of the two half-frames). Secondly also the encumbrance by height may be remarkable, unless recourse is made to the above mentioned expedients, but in the latter case every time the bicycle is restored from the folded condition to that of normal operation it is necessary to position again both the handlebars and the saddle in the positions suitable for the customer, with the attendant inconvenience and loss of time. It is evident that such an encumbrance has been and is a serious obstacle to the diffusion of the use of the bicycle, for example for displacements within the town area, for customers compelled to transport the bicycle up to near to the town center by car or using a public transportation means.

Main object of the present invention is that of providing a bicycle structure which is of light weight but sturdy and foldable to a size corresponding to that of a normal suit-case, thus permitting the transportation thereof both in the luggage space of a motor car and by urban and extra-urban transportation means. Another object of the present invention is that of providing a bicycle structure of the above mentioned type which, moreover, can^' be quickly converted from the normal condition to the folded one and viceversa by few and simple operations and without modifying the normal positioning, especially as regards the height, of components like handlebars and saddle. These and other objects are achieved by the bicycle structure having the characteristics set forth in the following claim 1.

The following description relates to a preferred embodiment and is referred to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 and 2 are side views (fig. 2 being a partial cross-section view) of the bicycle of the invention in the operating, namely unfolded, condition;

Figs. 3 and 4 are side views, corresponding to figs 1 and 2, of the bicycle in the folded condition, the fig. 4 showing an incomplete folding;

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-section views, according to the planes V-V and VI- VI of figs. 1 and 4, whereas fig. 6B shows a variant of fig. 6;

Figs. 7 and 8 are partial views, partially in exploded viewing, illustrating the relationship between handlebars, pillar, main longitudinal frame member and wheel;

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are cross-secton views of the coupling for the folding of the pillar having associated thereto the handlebars, according to the planes LX-LX, X-

X and XI-XI;

Fig. 12 is a view of the coupling of the previous figures in a partially exploded view;

Fig. 13 is a cross-section view of a detail of the attachment of the handlebars to the pillar;

Fig. 14 is a side view, partially in cross section, of the saddle in the condition of folded bicycle;

Figs. 14a and 14b are further views of the saddle, the former showing the saddle in the operating condition and the latter illustrating in a perspective view the mounting structure of the saddle to the respective sleeve and the folding thereof;

Fig. 15 is partial cross-section view of the mechanism for the folding of the saddle supporting pillar;

Figs, 16 and 17 are side views of the strut supporting the saddle pillar in the respective conditions of bicycle in the operating and in the folded condition;

Figs. 18 and 19 are cross-section, views of the handlebars respectively in the unfolded and in the folded condition;

Figs. 20, 21 and 21 A show variations of the attachment of the handlebars to the related pillar, fig. 21 A being a detailed view of a -particular of fig. 21;

Figs. 22 and 23 are views of the crank mechanism in the two conditions respectively of operating bicycle and of folded bicycle;

Figs. 24 and 25 are cross-section views, according to the planes XXrV-XXIV of fig. 22 and XXV-XXV ^'of fig. 24, of the mechanism for the commuting of the pedal cranks between the two operating conditions shown in figs. 22 and 23;

Figs. 26, 27 and 28 show a variant of the commuting mechanism of the pedal cranks, figs 26 and 27 being respectively cross-section views according to the planes XXVI-XXVI of fig. 27 and XXVH-XXVH of fig. 28;

Figs. 29, 30 and 31 show, in a partial cross-section^* a modified embodiment of the locking of the strut of the saddle pillar, fig. 30 being a cross-section view according to the plane XXX-XXX of fig. 29;

Fig. 32 is a cross-section view, like fig. 5, of another embodiment of the main longitudinal frame member of the bicycle of the invention;

Fig. 33 is a partial view of the rear part of the bicycle in the condition shown in 3;

Fig. 34 schematically illustrates the possibility of coupling as a tandem of two foldable bicycles according to the present invention;

Fig. 35 illustrates a variation of the folding coupling of fig. 10, and

Fig. 36 is a perspective view of a detail of the coupling according to fig. 34.

Referring firstly to figures 1 to 4, which as already mentioned show the bicycle of the present invention in the unfolded or open condition, ready for the use, and in the folded condition, for the manual transportation, the subject bicycle comprises two wheels 30 and 32, respectively the front and the rear one, the front one 30 of which is movable between an extended or operating position, shown in figures 1. and 2, and a folded position, shown in fig. 3.

The bicycle comprises a frame mainly consisting of a substantially horizontal main frame member 34, having telescopic structure, whereby it is enabled to take a fully retracted position, shown in figs. 3 and 4, and an extended position, shown in figures 1 and 2.

The forks 36 and 38, are fixed, in the manner described hereinafter, to the frame

34, the forks in turn supporting the aforesaid wheels 30 and 32. In particular the fork 36 is movable, together with the wheel 30_; between an open position and a folded position.

The frame 34 has furthermore fixed thereto two pillars 40 and 42, the first of which supports the handlebars 44 whereas the second one supports the saddle 46, these pillars being movable between the raised or operating position, shown in the figures 1 and 2, and a folded position, shown in the figures 3 and 4. A pedal operating crank mechanism is lastly fixed to the frame 34, comprising a first gear wheel 48, mounted to an axis 59 to which the foldable pedal cranks to be hereinafter described are fixed, and a second gear transmission group, comprising a gear wheel 50 of great diameter and a coaxial sprocket 52. A first gearing chain 54 provides the connection between the gear wheel 48 and the sprocket 52; whereas the rotation of the gear wheel 50 is transmitted by a second gearing chain 56 to a group of gears of a traditional derailleur, indicated as a whole and generically with the reference number 58, which is fixed to the rear wheel 32. On the axis 59 of the gear wheel 48 two pedal cranks 60D and 60S, (wherein D indicates the right part and S indicates the left part), are mounted so as to protrude towards opposite sides with respect to the plane of the gear wheel, two pedals 62D and 62S being traditionally secured to the pedal cranks. The pedal cranks 60 are mounted to the axis 59 (as shown in the figures 22 and 23)_so_as to be rotatable between two positions respectivejy^orresponding to the bicycle in the operating condition (fig. 22), in which the pedals 62 protrude outwardly from the respective plane passing by each pedal crank (this plane being parallel to the lying plane of the gear wheel 48), and to the bicycle in the folded condition (fig. 23), in which the two pedals 62 are directed inwards with respect to the plane passing by the respective pedal crank.

Coming now back to the main structure of the bicycle of the present invention, it comprises the main longitudinal frame member 34 consisting of two longitudinal frame half-members 64 and 66, telescopically coupled and both hollow, and, as shown in fig. 5, each consisting of a box shaped section .having generally square or rectangular shape (although other section shapes are possible and foreseeable). Within the two half-members at least one tie rod is housed consisting of a threaded rod 70, the rear end of which (namely that corresponding to the rear end of the half-member 64) is connected to a cap-register 82 cooperating in the usual way with the operating lever of the rear brake generically indicated by the reference 80, the brake being also of traditional type and adjustable by means of the cap.

The front end of the rod 70 is slidably coupled with a sleeve 74, housed within the half-member 66 and connected at the front end in the normal way (for example by means of a suitable eyelet) to a flexible cable 78, in turn connected (in the usual way) to the operating lever of the rear brake positioned on the handlebars 44.

From figure 5 it is appreciated that the sleeve 74' is of rectangular cross-section shape and that it can be the housing for an electrical wire, indicated by the reference 75, wound around the sleeve 74 and serving for the supply from the dynamo (not shown), placed as usual on the front wheel, to a rear signal light positioned onto the mudguard of the rear wheel 32. In the drawings by the reference 45 a head lamp is generically indicated which is coupled to handlebars, this lamp being obviously electrically connected to the aforesaid dynamo. In the cross-section view of fig. 5 a second tie rod is illustrated, having the same configuration as that identified by 70 to 74 and previously described, serving for the control of the derailleur, this tie rod being however possibly omitted in the models without derailleur.

The two half-members 64 and 66 are movable between the two positions in which the half-member 66 is respectively inserted within (folded position of the bicycle shown in figure 4) e extended from (operating position of the bicycle shown in figure 2) the half-member 64.

For the positioning and the locking of the two half-members in the above said positions, (as better shown in fig. 15), a lever 84 is provided which is journalled on a pin 86 fixed to the lower surface of the half-member 64 and comprising two arms, respectively 88 and 90, the first of which is useful for the operation of the lever, whereas the second one has a cylindrical or conical protrusion 92 adapted to engage a pair of holes, 94 and 96, respectively formed in the two half-members 64 and 66, these holes becoming coaxial when the two half-members are in the position illustrated in the figures 3 and 4 (namely in the folded condition of the bicycle).

'The arm 88 serving for the operation of the lever is pushed towards the position in which the protrusion 92 is engaged with the aforesaid holes by a spiral spring (not shown) fixed to the pin 86.

When the bicycle is in the condition of the figures 3 and 4, by operating the arm

88 of the lever 84 against the action of the spring the lever rotates around the pin

86 and the protrusion 92 is pulled out of the holes 94 and 96 permitting the withdrawal of the half-member 66 from the half- member 64 for the opening of the frame 34 and thus of the bicycle. At the end of the withdrawal motion another hole 97, provided in the half-member 66, becomes axially aligned with the hole

94 whereby the protrusion 92, pushed by the spring, enters again into the two holes fastening together the two half-members in the new configuration.

The function of the holes 96 and 97 is that of setting the positions of withdrawal and reentering of the half-member 66 with respect to the half-member 64. In particular the distance of withdrawal of the half-member 66 is individuated by the hole 97, whereby the distance between the handlebars and the saddle in the open and operating condition of the bicycle is set.

It is possible and foreseen to provide a number of holes 97, at predetermined and lesser distances with respect to the hole 94, so as to allow that for needs of the user it is possible to vary namely to reduce the distance between the handlebars and the saddle with respect to the maximum one determined by the holes shown in the drawings.

From the figures 2, 4 and 15 it is readily appreciated that the cooperation between the two half-members 64 and 66 in the condition of open and thus operating bicycle is promoted by two cooperating male and female elements, respectively indicated by the references 87 and 89.

These two elements, if the half-members are of square cross-section, are shaped as frustum of pyramid and are made in a frictionless plastic material, so as to guide the sliding of the half-member 66 inside the half-member 64 and prevent that the difference of crosswise dimensions of the two half-members, necessary for the easy mutual sliding motion, becomes an excessive slack, which causes not only noise but in the long run also mechanical damages. Furthermore in this manner also the surface painting of the front half-member 66 is safeguarded. At the front end of the half-member 66 a hollow tubular element 100 is fixed (the sleeve of the driving handlebars or steering), within which a second hollow tubular element 101 (fork sleeve) is housed, the latter being in turn rigidly fixed to a U shaped coupling plate 102, the base of which is orthogonally positioned and preferably with a predetermined inclination with respect to the axis of the aforesaid tubular element 100. In this manner, when the bicycle is in the open and . operating condition, the axis of the pillar 40 crosses the ground upstream (in the sense of the motion) with respect to the contact point of the front wheel with the ground, thus obtaining as it is well known a better maneuverability of the bicycle. As it can be appreciated from fig. 6, the two side wings of the TJ formed by the plate 102, (which extend in two planes parallel to the plane of the wheel 30) are spaced from each other by a distance a little greater than the width of the mudguard 104 which, by means of the fork 36, is mounted in the conventional position with respect to the wheel 30.

The plate 102 is hinged at one end thereof to the fork 36 of the front wheel 30 by means of a pin 108.

As clearly shown in fig. 6, the pin 108 in fact consists of two half-pins 108 A and 108B which are engaged with corresponding holes formed in the two aforesaid wings of the coupling plate 102, as well as with two projections 103 provided on the upper surface of the mudguard 104.

From fig. 6 it can be moreover appreciated how the conventional front brake of the front wheel is arranged, the operating levers of which indicated by 105 are connected to the sheated cable 126 which, starting from the handlebars 44 and being positioned along the pillar 40 in the usual manner, reaches a position in which it can be fixed to the two levers 105 passing through a proper hole formed in the coupling plate 102.

Alternative solutions are possible, depending on the type of braking mechanism, in which the upper ends of the brake levers are inwardly positioned with respect to the two wings of the TJ shaped plate 102, as shown for example in fig. 6B. Thanks to the position of the pin 108, the fork 36, and together therewith the mudguard 104 and the wheel 30, can rotate around the axis of the pin 108 between a folded position, shown in fig. 3, and a position of operating bicycle, shown in figures 1 and 2.

In that second position the upper surface of the mudguard 104 comes into contact with the inner surface of the plate 102.

In order to block the assembly consisting of the fork 36, mudguard 104 and wheel

30 in the two aforesaid positions, locking and unlocking means are^' foreseen, consisting of the coupling ratchet 110, pivoted to the plate 102 and adapted to engage the lower surface of the mudguard 102, and of the hook 112 which, in the folded condition of the bicycle (fig. 4), engages an eyelet 114 protruding from the upper surface of the plate 104.

Moreover, coupling in the section of the half-member 66 to the lower part 100 of the pillar 40, a hole is provided for passing the cable 78 for the operation of the rear brake, this cable coming from the handlebars 44 along the pillar 40 and entering in the said lower part 100 through a hole 122.

The same solution is obviously foreseen for the possible second cable for the control of the derailleur, it being also controlled from the handlebars and thus originating therefrom.

Figures 7 and 8 show in exploded view the structure of the pillar 40 which, as already mentioned, comprises a tubular member 101 rigidly fixed to the coupling plate 102. The sleeve 100 is mounted coaxially with respect to the tubular element

101 and has the front end of the half-member 66 fastened thereto. The possibility of rotation of the tubular element 101 with respect to the sleeve .100 is afforded by ball bearings 120 and 121. The tubular element 101 has axial length greater than that of the sleeve 100, whereby the upper end thereof protrudes from the sleeve

100, said upper end being provided with a screw thread (not shown) for the engagement by a locking nut 124, by which the sleeve 100 with the ball bearings

120 and 121 is kept assembled on the tubular element 101.

To the sleeve 100 is moreover fixed a coupling tubular member, indicated on the whole by the reference 128, serving both for the purpose represented in fig. 34 and hereinafter described and for the dragging of the bicycle in the folded

'condition.

At the upper end of the tubular member 101 a tubular' extension 129 is inserted, which, together with a folding joint 132 and a-tubular member 134, forms the upper portion of the pillar 40.

As it can be clearly seen from figures 2, 4 and from 9 to 12, the tubular extension

129 is rigidly secured (for instance by welding) to a cylindrical element 130, which in turn is rotatably coupled to a partially cylindrical element 133, which in turn has rigidly secured thereto the tubular member 134, to be coupled with the sleeve of the handlebars.

As shown in figures 9 to 12, the cylindrical elements 130 and 133 are associated to each other by concentrically inserting the element 130 into the element 133 and are fastened by means of two central and coaxial half-pins 135, which are engaged by screw threading with the element 130, whereas the rotation of the element 133 around their axis is allowed.

The side surface of the element 133 has' an opening 136, extending by about 180°, whereby the rotation of the element 133, with the tubular extension associated thereto, with respect to the element 130 is allowed.

Inside the inner cavity of the cylindrical element 130 a sleeve 138 is mounted, by which the tubular extension 129 is axially prolonged, and forming the seat for a sliding piston 140, protruding from the upper surface of the cylindrical element

130.

The sliding piston 140, in the lower part thereof, is provided with a pin 142, against which an operating lever 144 can be acted on the lever being pivoted to a pin 146 fixed to a bracket 148 projecting from the inner surface of the cylindrical element 130. The lever 144 is pushed by a spring 150 towards the position in which the sliding piston protrudes from the outer surface of the cylindrical element 130.

Owing to the fact that the operating lever protrudes and must protrude from the outer surface of the cylindrical element 130 (for the actuation thereof), in the above said side surface of the cylindrical element 130 a circumferential slit 152 is provided having a predetermined angular extension sufficient to cause, when the lever 144 is lowered against the action of the spring 150, a withdrawal of the end of the sliding piston 140 sufficient to avoid any interference thereof either with the cylindrical element 133 and with the^" rotation of the cylindrical element 130 with respect to the element 133. To this end a -longitudinal slot 153 is provided also in the side surface of the sleeve 138.

It is worth to note that by the described arrangement also the distance is determined by which the piston 140 protrudes with respect to outer surface of the cylindrical element 133.

In order to avoid in any case a possible withdrawal of the piston 140 from the seat in the sleeve 138, the tubular element is attached to the cylindrical element 133 in a partially closed manner, leaving a hole or seat 154 of diameter lesser than that of the body portion of the piston 140, whereby only the conical point of the piston may enter in the said hole.

For the blocking of the tubular extension 129 to the lower portion of the pillar 40 and particularly to the portion of tubular element 101 protruding from the sleeve

100, a tie rod 156 is provided cooperating with a frustoconical expandable element or stopper 158, positioned at the lower end of the tubular extension 129, the latter end being possibly provided with axial slots whereby the expansion of the stopper 158 causes the outer surface of the tubular element 129 to be correspondingly radially enlarged.

At the other end of the tubular extension 129 (that rigidly fixed to the cylindrical element 130) the tie rod 156 is engaged with a small block 160 having a nut shaped head 157 which, in the embodiment shown in the figures 9 to 12, is positioned adjacently to the stopper 158, so that by rotating the head of the tie rod the radial expansion of the stopper 158 is caused to occur. Alternatively the nut head 157 may be positioned adjacently to the small block 160.

As already mentioned to the tubular element 134 the sleeve 163 is fixed, the latter in turn bearing the handlebars 44.

To this end the sleeve 163, having a diameter lesser than that of the tubular element 134, is inserted thereinto for a predetermined and adjustable distance. The fastening is effected by means of a threaded locking ring 162, internally screw threaded and cooperating with the upper end of the tubular element 134 which, preferably, is provided with axial slots to promote the tightening of the end of the tubular element 134 on the undergoing surface of the sleeve 163.

For the mounting of the handlebars 44, a tie rod 164 is provided inside the sleeve 163, which cooperates, in the manner already described for the tie rod 156, with a frustoconical stopper 166. Also in this case the lower end of the sleeve 163 is preferably provided with slits parallel to the axis to promote a firm locking.

At the upper end the tie rod 164 has an end nut head 169 by which the upper platelet 170 of the handlebars 44 is engaged.

The latter, which shall be described with particular reference to the figures 18, 19 and 2, is realized so that the arms are possibly folded from the usual substantially horizontal position, in which they protrude sidewise with respect to the sleeve

163, to a folded position in which the two arms are arranged parallelly to the lying plane of the bicycle frame and preferably paraHelly to the sleeve itself, thus obviously reducing the side encumbrance of the bicycle.

With reference to the afore mentioned figures, the handlebars 44 consists of a box-type casing 172, having substantially oval cross-section (as shown in figure

20), connected by means of an extension of circular shape 174 to a bracket 176, having a sleeve 178 for the mounting to the sleeve 163.

The coupling between the extension 174 and the bracket 176 takes place by means of a bolt or screw 180, by which an adjustment of the inclination of the extension

174 with respect to the axis of the sleeve 163 is permitted, for example in the two conditions respectively shown in the figures 20 and 21, and thus a position adjustment of the whole handlebars 44.

The handlebars 44 comprises two arms, indicated on the whole and generically by the reference 182.

Each arm 182 comprises a tubular element 184, bearing at the free end the usual handle 185, and adjacently thereto the nut ring 187 is provided for the mounting of the brake levers. To each tubular element 184 a small block 186 is rigidly connected, it being positioned at right angle with respect to the axis of the tubular element 184 and rotatably fastened to the box-type casing 172 by means of a pin

188.

The portion 190 of the small block is partially shaped as a gear, the mooting 191 of which, as clearly shown, is permanently geared to the thoothing 191 of the corresponding portion 190 of the small block 186 connected to the other arm 182 of the handlebars. It is worth to notice that, instead of the partial shaping of the end of the small block 186 with the shown thooting, it is possible to foresee solutions in which a pinion gear is fastened to the small block so as to fulfill the same function as hereinafter described.

Alternatively the two pinions geared to each other might be positioned with their centers on the axes of the arms 182 and in this case it would be necessary to increase the diameter of the same pinions as needed to permit them, when folded, to take instead of the diverging condition a position parallel to the plane of the bicycle frame and particularly parallel to the sleeve 100.

By comparing the figures 18 and 19 it can be readily appreciated that the two arms 182 - can be rotated around the respective pins 188, provided that their blocking as hereinafter described is effected, between the position of fig. 18, in which the two arms are placed horizontally and aligned on the same axis (namely in the normal configuration of use of the bicycle), and the position of fig. 19 in which the two arms 182 are positioned parallelly to each other and substantially also parallelly to the sleeve 163.

For the locking and unlocking of each arm in the position in which it has the horizontal configuration a nut ring 192 is provided, having inner diameter greater than that of the tubular element 182, on which the ring is slidingly mounted, the outer surface 194 of the ring being shaped with a frustoconical tapering suitable to engage the portion 196 of the box-type casing 172, having a corresponding frustoconical tapering, in the manner illustrated in the left part of fig. 18, (whereas in the right part of the same figure the same components are shown in exploded view).

A cylindrical seat 198 is formed inside the ring 192, housing a spring 200 acting against the bottom of the seat and maintained in its position by a second ring 202, removably locked with respect to the tubular element 184 by means of a passing through pin 207 engaging the holes 206 provided in the side surface of the ring 202.

Alternatively the ring 202 may be internally screw threaded so as to be engageable with a corresponding screw threaded part provided in a proper position on the outer surface of the tubular element 184. From figure 18 the operation of the afore described structure can be readily appreciated in order to lock and unlock each arm 182 in the operating condition of the bicycle with respect to the box-type casing 172.

In the normal condition (operative bicycle and thus horizontally positioned arms of the handlebars) the frustoconical surface 194 of the ring 192 is engaged, under the action of the spring 200, with the tapered portion 196 of the box-type casing

172, locking the respective arm 182 in the operating condition.

In order to fold the handlebars to the condition of fig. 19, a force is manually applied to the ring 192 tending to withdraw it rearwardly against the opposing action of the spring 200 (which is thus compressed), until the inclined surface 194 is disengaged from the corresponding inclined surface 196 of the box-type casing: hi such a condition, which is easily arrived by the user with one hand for each arm

182 of the handlebars, it is sufficient to cause each arm 182 and thus each small block 186 to rotate around the respective pin 188, whereby, thanks to the gearing condition of the thoothing 191, the two arms are brought simultaneously in the final desired position, in which they abut against the base 208 of the box-type casing 172.

To return the two arms 182 in the condition of fig. 18 it is enough to grasp either arm (or both) and apply a rotation in the direction contrary to that of the previous rotation around the pin 188.

Thanks to the gearing condition of the thooting 191 this rotation causes a corresponding rotation also of the other arm 182 towards the operating horizontal position.

The above description has been referred to a preferred embodiment, it being meant that alternative equivalent solutions are possible and foreseable both as regards the locking and unlocking of the arms 182 in the operating condition and as regards the possible retention in the folded condition.

Moreover, as shown in fig. 21, the fixing of the box-type casing 172 to the bracket

174 can be effected by means of a connecting coupling 171, and in that case the extension 174 is mounted between the two arms of the connecting coupling by using the holes 173, whereas the bracket is fixed to the other end of the connecting coupling using the hole 175, suitable screw threaded pins being inserted in the holes 173 and 175 for the locking.

In fig. 21 a solution is illustrated in which the arms of the handlebars are folded to a condition parallel to the frame of the bicycle, namely essentially horizontal, instead of that substantially parallel to the sleeve 163, i.e. essentially vertical. As it can be easily appreciated, this variation is readily achieved by rotating the extension 174 with respect to the bracket 176 and locking it by means of the pin

180.

It is lastly worth to notice that advantage of the folded condition of the handlebars is then taken when the bicycle is folded as illustrated in the figures 3 and 4, wherein the pillar 40 is shown in the condition 'in which the rotatable joint is rotated to the condition in which the tubular portion 134 is placed essentially parallelly to the half-member 64 and the handlebars, too folded in the condition shown in the figures 19 and 20, is retained in such a position by a hook lever 210, rotatably journalled to a bracket 212 fixed to the rear frame and particularly to the fork of the rear wheel.

As shown in fig. 13, the lever 210 is provided at the end engaging the handlebars with a release mechanism 214 engaging a recess 216 provided in the box-type casing 172 of the handlebars 44.

The release mechanism can be a key block or a push-button and spring assembly, the end of the push-button being shaped so as to interact with a corresponding shaping of the recess 216, whereby by rotating the push-button it can be rotated between a position in which a seat is engaged thus retaining the push-button in the recess and a second position in which it is freely extractable from the recess. In this manner, when the bicycle is in the folded condition, the handlebars, too folded, is retained in the position of figs. 3 and 4.

As clearly shown in figs. 1 to 4, 15, 16 and 17, the frame 34 has affixed thereto, as already mentioned, also the pillar 42 bearing the saddle 46. The pillar 42 comprises a tubular element 220, hinged at the base thereof to the half-member 64 at the pin 222 engaging two pairs of brackets 224- and 226, respectively fixed to upper surface of the half-member 64 and to the base of the tubular element 220, whereby the tubular element may rotate between a position folded onto the half- member 64, shown in figs. 3, 4 and 15, and a raised or operating position, shown in figs. 1 and 2, in which it is positioned with a certain predetermined inclination with respect to the frame.

As clearly shown in fig. 15, the lower end of the tubular element 220 has an inclination, corresponding to the desired one for the positioning of the pillar 42 and of the saddle, and from such lower end the head of a bolt 228 protrudes, which, in the raised or operating condition of the pillar 42, engages a corresponding slot provided in the upper surface of the half-member 64, having the function of stopping the rotation of the pillar 42 from the folded condition substantially parallel to the half-member 64 to the raised or operating condition of the saddle bearing pillar.

In the latter position of the pillar 42, the head of the bolt 228 presses, as shown, onto the outer surface of the element 89, enhancing the locking of the half- member 66 afforded by the interaction of the frustoconical elements 87 and 89. The bolt 228 is screwed in a small block 230, rigidly fixed inside the tubular element 220, whereby the adjustement thereof by screwing or unscrewing causes it to protrude more or less with respect to the end of the pillar 42 and consequently a greater or lesser locking effect.

The pillar 42, in the raised or operating condition, has associated thereto a supporting strut generally indicated by the reference 232 and more detailedly shown in the figures 16 and 17.

The strut 232 consists of two tubular pieces 234 and 236, the first of which is fixed at its lower end, by means of a bracket and of a pin of usual type, to the upper surface of the half-member 64, whereas the upper end of the upper piece 236 is rotatably anchored to the tubular element 220, in this case too by means of brackets and of a rotatable pin.

As shown in the figures 16 and 17 the two pieces 234 and 236 are hinged to each other by means of respective brackets 238 and 240 and of a pin 242, whereby they are rotatable between an aligned position shown in fig. 16 and the bent position shown in fig. 17, in which the two pieces are substantially parallel. In order to lock the two pieces in the condition of fig. 16 a latch mechanism is provided, comprising a piston 244, slidably housed within the tubular piece 236 and retained thereinto by a pin 246 protruding from the outer surface of the tubular piece 236 through the slot 248, having also the function of limiting the stroke of the piston 244.

A compression spring 250, pressing against an internal panel 252 of the tubular piece 236 pushes the piston 244 towards the extended position namely protruding from the lower end of the tubular piece 236.

From the figures 16 and 17 it can be appreciated that in the condition of operating bicycle and thus with the pillar 42 raised with respect to the frame 34, the strut

232 is maintained in the operating condition by the interaction of the piston 244 with the upper end portion of the lower piece 234, preventing the folding thereof.

Upon willing to bring the bicycle in the folded condition, it is sufficient to draw the pin 246 upwardly, against the action of the spring 250, whereby the piston 244 is withdrawn and thus the folding of the two pieces 234 and 236 towards the condition shown in fig. 17 is permitted.

At the upper end of the tubular element 220 the sleeve 256 bearing the saddle 46 is mounted in the usual manner by means of the nut ring 254.

The saddle too is rotatable between two positions respectively illustrated in the figures 1, 2 and 3, 4, as well as in the figures 14, 14a and 14b.

As clearly viewable in the figures, the sleeve 256 ends upwardly with a plate 282, having hinged to a side thereof, by means of the pin 283, a plate 284 fastened to the saddle 42 (which from the other points of view is of conventional type).

To the opposite side of the plate 282, at the pin 285, a second plate 286 is hinged, which remains in any case fastened to the plate 282.

Lastly to the structure of the saddle a locking hook 288 is fixed, journalled on the pin 290.

In the operating condition of the bicycle the saddle" takes the configuration illustrated in fig. 14a, in which the three plates 282, 284 and 286 are coplanar and folded together as a packet, the plate 286 being interposed between the two other plates and the hook 288 being hooked so as to ensure that the three plates maintain this configuration.

When the bicycle is brought to the folded condition and the saddle takes the positions illustrated in the figures 14 and 14b, the plate 284 is rotated around the pin 283, whereby the structure of the saddle to which it is fastened takes the configuration parallel to the axis of the sleeve 256. At the same time the plate 286 is rotated around the pin 285, whereby it keeps the plates 282 and 286 spread apart in the condition of figs. 14 and 14b.

The rotation of the plate 286 is effected by overcoming the antagonist action of the a spring 289, tending to close again the plate 284 against the plate 282.

As a matter of practice, upon folding the bicycle, the hook 288 is released and the rear end of the saddle is rotated upwardly, whereby the above mentioned plates take the configuration of fig. 14.

In opposite sequence (for the unfolding of the bicycle) it is sufficient to press onto the plate 286 so that the three plates take again the^* packet configuration, the hook

288 being then hooked.

Coming lastly to the mechanism of the pedal cranks, figures 22 and 23 show the bicycle respectively in the operating condition (fig. 22) and in the folded condition (fig. 23).

As shown in fig. 24 the pedal crank 60 (alike both for the right and for the left one) comprises a body 258, terminating at the outer end with an eyelet 260 in which the pedal 62 is mounted in the usual and conventional manner.

The other end of the pedal crank is TJ shaped, the arms 262 of which serve for the mounting on the hub 59, the latter being too of conventional type and thus not described more detailedly, the gear wheel 48 being mounted thereto.

The head 264 of the hub 59 is however provided with two recesses 266, having substantially radial configuration, these recesses being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pedal crank when the pedal crank is mounted to the head

264.

From fig. 24 it can clearly seen that the arms 262 are rotatably anchored to the head 264 and to the hub 59 by means of two bolts 268. The body 258 of the pedal crank has an axial hole 270 open towards the end of the pedal crank to be fixed to the hub, the hole housing a piston 272, the outer end of which, by protruding from the body of the pedal crank, has the purpose of engaging either one or the other of the recesses 266.

To this end the piston is rearwardly acted on by a compression spring 274, interposed in the axial hole 270 between the inner end of the piston and the base of the above said axial hole.

A cross pin 276 is anchored to the body of the piston 272, the ends of the pin protruding form the opposite side walls of the body 258 of the pedal crank, suitable longitudinal slots being provided in the said walls.

The axial movement of the piston is limited by these slots, which prevent it from coming out of the axial hole 270 owing to action of the spring 274.

Outside of the pedal crank 60 the two ends of the pin 276 are preferably provided with two pads or shoes (not shown) helping the actuation of the pin from outside, to draw it towards outer end of the pedal crank, disengaging the head of the piston

272 from the recess 266, whereby the body of the pedal crank can be rotated by

180° around the axis of the bolts 268, and brought into alignement with the diametrally opposite recess 266 (in the manner shown in fig. 25).

At this point, by releasing the shoes 280 and thus the pin 276, the piston 272 is brought back under the action of the spring 274 in the position protruding outwardly whereby it engages the recess 266 locking the pedal crank in the new position.

Thus, when the bicycle is brought from the operating condition to the folded one, by simply actuating the shoes 280 the pedal cranks are brought from the condition shown in fig. 22 to that illustrated in fig. 23, whereby the pedals do not protrude from the minimum encumbrance of the hub 59 with the pedal crank 60.

When passing from the folded condition to the operating one the same operation is repeated in the opposite direction.

As already mentioned figures 26, 27 and 28 relate to a variant of the pedal crank mechanism and particularly a variant of the actuation of the piston 272.

In this case the end of the piston 272 opposed to the conical one 277 interacting with the recesses 266 engages a knuckle plate 292, having a first end hinged, at the pin 293, to the end of the piston and the other end pivotally connected, at the pin 297, to an actuating lever 294, in turn rotatable around a pin 296 and having the free end 295 shaped so as to be actuatable from outside of the pedal crank. A spring 274, having one end abutted against a circumferential step provided in the axial hole 270 of the body 258, pushes the piston 272 towards the position in which the end thereof protrudes from the hole 270. At the plate 292 and lever 294, the body 258 of the pedal crank 60 is provided with two opposite slits 298, through which the end 295 of the lever may protrude outwardly of the body 258 of the pedal crank. The dimensions and the positions of the plate 292 and of the lever 294 are such that, when they are axially aligned with each other and with the axis of the piston 272 (as shown in fig. 27), the conical head of the latter enters in and engages one of the two recesses 266.

When on the contrary the lever 294 takes the position shown in fig. 26 (on either side of the axis of the pedal crank) the conical head of the piston is withdrawn form the facing recess 266 and the pedal crank can be rotated with respect to the axis of the hub 59 as shown in fig. 28.

Upon the rotation of the pedal crank is terminated the lever 294 is returned in the position of fig. 27 engaging the other recess 266.

Turning now to the consideration of figures 29 to 31, a variant is shown for the locking and unlocking of the strut 232.

In this case a locking lever 300 causes the strut 232 to be locked in the operating position (the saddle pillar being raised), the lever being pivoted at the pin 302 to the tubular piece and having the end 303 adapted to engage a cavity or seat 304 provided in the tubular piece 234. The lever 300 is pushed towards the locking position shown in fig. 30 by a spring 306.

Considering now fig. 35 a variant is shown of the joint 132 of the pillar 40 which, besides providing for the rotation of the tubular member 134 between the positions shown in the figures 2 and 3, has a further feature aiming to enhance the maintaining of the joint in the desired condition when the bicycle is open and thus operative. In this case too the tubular member is welded to the cylindrical element 130, rotatably and coaxially housed within the cylindrical element 133, the later having welded thereto the tubular member 134 provided with the usual opening 136. The lever 144 in this case is pivoted to a central pin or hub 135A, which is no longer necessarily formed by two half bolts as in the solution illustrated in the figures 9 to 12. Likewise, instead of the spring 150 a torsion spring is provided. The lever 144 has two pistons 141 and 143 connected thereto in articulated manner, the pistons being slidably housed in two seats 147 and 145, formed by a cross wall, respectively 153 and 149, positioned according to a chord of the cylindrical element 130, and by a partial wall, respectively 157 and 155. Each piston 143 and 141 is connected in articulated manner to the lever 144 by respective plates 400 and 401 pivoted at their two ends.

The pistons 141 and 143 are movable between a withdrawn position, in which the rotation of the tubular member 134 together with the cylindrical element is possible, this position corresponding to the position in which the lever 144 is depressed with respect to the condition shown in fig 35, and a position (which is that shown in fig, 35) in which their free ends engage holes provided in the cylindrical elements 130 and 133, locking the joint in the condition in which the two tubular members 129 and 134 are axially aligned. For the operation of the lever 144, besides the already mentioned opening 152 provided in the cylindrical element 130, the cross walls 149 and 153 are provided with suitable slots 163 and 165.

Considering then the figure 32, a further embodiment is shown of the two half- members 64 and 66, which are substantially U shaped thus perrmtting the upper part of the wheels 30 and 32 to be housed thereinto: thus it is possible to alternatively make use of wheels of greater diameter or further reduce the encumbrance of the bicycle in the folded state. In this case the internal cavity of the two half-members is protected by a screen 67.

As it can be seen in the figures 1 to 4 and 33, the rear wheel has associated thereto a pair of small wheels 41, fixed to the rear fork 38 by means of a pair of rods 43 (one rod for each side of the wheel 32) having associated thereto an actuating lever 47. From fig. 4 it is seen that, by actuating the lever 47 it is possible to bring the small wheels 41 in a position such that, by raising the fore end of the bicycle in the folded condition, the small wheels 41 permit the dragging thereof likewise a roller mounted luggage.

In this case the member 128 is used as a dragging handle.

The member 128, as it is seen in fig. 4, is provided with a tubular part 211 inside which a rod 219 can be inserted (as shown in fig. 3), fixed to a bracket 217 pivoted at the pin 215 to the bracket 212 of another bicycle like that of the present invention. In this manner, as shown in fig. 34, a tandem can be formed by two bicycles coupled in the way shown in fig. 3 and in which the front wheel of the rear bicycle is raised with respect to the ground, and does not interfere with the driving of the tandem.

Lastly, with reference to the figures 3 and 33, the possible use of the bicycle according to the present invention as a training appliance is shown. To the rear wheel 32, which is the driving wheel of the bicycle, a structure 322 is associated, comprising a base 310, which may consist of a plate or of a quadrangular frame, to the two parallel sides of which, positioned on opposite parts with respect to the plane of the wheel 32, two struts 312 take origin, converging to each other and towards the plane of the wheel 32, the struts merging in two connecting plates

314, which can be coupled to the rear fork for example by means of the hooks

318.

As clearly shown in fig. 33, two cross rods 319 are fixed to the pairs of struts 312, the cross rods bearing a shaped roller 320, which is engaged by the rear wheel 32 in the illustrated manner.

From fig. 3 it is appreciated that the mounting of the above described appliance places the bicycle in the condition in which the rear wheel, instead of being into contact with the ground or the street surface, becomes into contact with the two rollers 320, thus permitting the training in the usual manner.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it being meant that conceptually and mechanically changes and variations are possible and foreseeable without falling out of the scope thereof.

For example, as regards the displacement of the front wheel 30 between the two positions respectively corresponding to the bicycle in the operating (figs. 1 and 2) and folded condition (fig. 3), it is also possible to foresee, instead of the hinge coupling between the plate 102 and the upper plate 104 of the fork 36 (in which the wheel 30 with the plate 104 rotates around the axis 108), a like coupling, in which however the wheel 30 with the related plate 104 rotates around a substantially vertical axis, whereby both the plate 104 and that 102 have a substantialyy vertical lying.

Claims

1. Foldable and transportable bicycle, of the type comprising a frame or main frame member (34), two wheels, respectively front (30) and rear (32), a pillar (40) bearing a handlebars (44) and a pillar (42) bearing a saddle (46), a pedal crank assembly (60) for the actuation of a first gear wheel (48) connected through a chain (54) to a sprocket (52) coaxially mounted to a second gear wheel (50) which, through a chain (56), transmits the motion to a group of gears of a derailleur (58) coaxially mounted with respect to the hub of the rear wheel (32), characterized in that: said frame or main frame member (34) consists "of two half-members (64, 66), telescopically coupled and both hollow, said half-members being movable between a position of folded bicycle, in which the half-member (66) is fully entered within the half-member (64), and a position of operating bicycle, in which the half-member (66) is extracted by a predetermined length out of said half- member (64), said frame comprising fisrt means (84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, .96, 97) for the positioning and the locking of said half-members in said two positions; said pillar (40) is rigidly fixed to the front end of said half-member (66) and comprises a sleeve (100) within which a second sleeve (101) is rotatably mounted, to which a structure (102, 104, 108) is rigidly connected for the coupling of the pillar (40) to the fork (36) having the front wheel (30) mounted thereto, said structure being such that said front wheel (30) is movable between a position of operating bicycle and a position of folded bicycle, in which the wheel is placed below the frame (34) and is raised with respect to the position in which is in rollingly engagement with the ground or floor, said pillar (4) further comprising a joint (132) positioned above said sleeve (100) and connected to a tubular member (134) having in turn the handlebars mounted thereto, said joint (132) being rotatable around a horizontal axis so that said tubular member (134) is movable between a position axially aligned with said sleeve (100) and a position in which it is positioned substantially horizontally and parallelly to said main frame member or frame (34); said handlebars (44) comprising two coaxial arms (182) and being foldable between an operating position, in which said arms are coaxial and extend from the two opposite sides with respect to the lying plane of the wheels of the bicycle, and a folded position, in which said arms are substantially parallel to each other, said handlebars further comprising second releasable means (192, 194, 196, 198, 200,

202) for temporarily locking said handlebars in said operating position; said pillar (42) being hinged at its lower end to said half-member (64) and provided with strut means (232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242) acting when said pillar is in the raised position to place said saddle (46) in the operating position; said saddle (46) being fixed to upper end of the pillar (42) by means of third locking means (282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 288, 290, 292) maintaining said saddle in the operating position substantially orthogonal to the axis of said pillar (42) or in folded position substantially parallel to the axis of said pillar (42); said pedal crank assembly comprising two pedal cranks (60D, 60S), having respective pedals (62D, 62S) fixed to their respective ends, said pedal cranks being pivotally mounted to the hub or axis (59) of the assembly so as to be rotatable around the axis of said pivotal connection between a first position of operating bicycle, in which said pedals protrude from said pedal cranks outwardly with respect to the plane passing for the respective pedal crank and at righ angle to said hub, and a second position of folded bicycle, in which said pedals protrude from said pedal cranks inwardly with respect to the above said plane passing for the respective pedal crank, fourth means (266, 270, 272) being provided for locking each pedal crank in one or the other of said two positions, together with actuating means (276, 278) for temporarily unlocking said fourth means. 2. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that said first means for the positioning and locking of the half-members (64, 66) in the said two positions comprise a lever (84) pivotally coupled to a pin (86) anchored to the lower face of the half-member (64) and comprising two arms (88, 90), the first of which serves for the actuation of the lever, whereas the second is provided with a protrusion (92) adapted to engage a hole (94) provided in the half- member (64) and a hole (96, 97) provided in the half-member (66), whereby when the two half-members are in the position of full insertion of the half-member (66) inside the half-member (64) the holes (94, 96) are coaxial whereas when the two half-members are in the condition of extraction of the inner one (66) with respect to the outer one (64) the holes (94, 97) are coaxial.

3. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 2, characterized in that a plurality of holes (97) is provided, to which a predeterminated amount, of extraction of the half-member (66) with respect to the half-member (64) corresponds, each hole (97) being selected as a function of the desired distance between the handlebars pillar and saddle supporting pillar.

4. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 2, characterized in that between the facing surfaces of the two half-members (64, 66) two elements (87, 89) are interposed, cooperating as male and female elements of antifriction material, their cooperation taking place when the "two half-members (64, 66) are extracted from each other, in the condition of open bicycle.

5. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 2, characterized in that in the internal cavity of said half-members (64, 66) a mechanism is housed for the transmission of the braking command from the handlebars (44) to the braking assembly mounted to the rear wheel, said mechanism comprising a tie rod (70), having the rear end connected to a cap-register (82) interacting with a lever (80) for operating the rear brake, and the front end slidably coupled to a sleeve (74), housed in said half-member (66) and having its front end connected to a flexible control core and sheath cable in turn connected to the brake operating lever positioned on the handlebars.

6. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 5, characterized in that in said cavities of said half-members (64. 66) an electrical wire is housed for the connection of the electrical energy generator or dynamo with at least one rear signal lamp.

7. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 6, characterized in that said connecting electrical wire is wound around said tie rod (70).

8. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 6, characterized in that in said cavities of said half-members (64, 66) a second tie rod mechanism is housed like that (70, 74) previously described for the transmission of commands to the derailleur group associated to the rear wheel (32).

9. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that said pillar (40) for supporting the handlebars (44) comprises a sleeve (100), rigidly fixed to front end of the half-member (66), inside which a hollow tubular element 101 is housed having the lower end rigidly connected to the fork (36) of the front wheel (30), and the upper end, protruding from said sleeve (100), which can be rigidly connected to said fonding joint (132), bearing means (120, 121) being provided to afford the free rotation of the tubular element (101) with respect to the sleeve (100), said lower end of said tubular element (101) being connected to said fork (36) through a U shaped plate (102), rigidly fixed to the lower end of said tubular element (101) and substantially orthogonally positioned to the axis thereof, said plate (102) being pivoted at a pin (108) to a plate (104), forming the upper surface of the mudguard of the front wheel and forming integral part of the fork (36), hooking means (110 and 112, 114) being provided to retain said front wheel respectively in the position of open and operating bicycle, in which said hooking means (110) maintain said plate (104) in a position matching with said plate (102), and in the position of folded bicycle, in which said plate (104) together with said fork (36) and the wheel (30) is rotated around said pin (108), taking a position below the lower surface of the half-member (64), within which the half-member (66) has been meanwhile entered.

10. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 9, characterized in that said plate (104) is seated between the arms of the U formed by said plate (102) and said pin (108) consists of two half-pins (108 A and 108B) engaging aligned holes formed in said arms of said U and in two projections (103) of said plate (104), said half-pins being aligned with the ends of the two levers (105) of the braking assembly, said plate (102) being provided with a hole for passing the sheated cable (126) connected to the lever of the front brake placed onto the handlebars and with the cable and sheath respectively of said two braking levers.

11. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that said folding joint (132) of the pillar (40) comprises two cylindrical elements (130, 133), of which that (133) is provided in its side surface with an opening (136) extending by about 180° whereby it is partially cylindrical, said cylindrical elements being associated by concentrically inserting the cylindrical element (130) within the element (133) so that the element (133) is rotatable wit respect to the element (130) around teir common axis, said cylindrical elements (130, 133) being rigidly connected to respective tubular, members (129, 134), the first ofwhich is in turn anchored to the upper end of the tubular element (101) forming an axial extension thereof whereas the second one is connected at its upper end to a sleeve (163) having the handlebars (44) fixed thereto. 12. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 11, characterized in that, for the rotation of said cylindrical element (133) with respect to the cylindrical element (130) and for the mutual locking in the position of operating bicycle in which the tubular members (129) and (134) are substantially axially aligned; a mechanism is provided comprising a piston (140) slidingly housed in a sleeve (138), axially aligned with said tubular member (129), and having a tapered head adapted to engage a hole (154), having a diameter lesser than that of the body of the piston (140) and provided in the outer surface of the cylindrical element (133) in axial alignement with said tubular member (134), a lever (144), fulcrumed on the pin (146) anchored to a bracket (148) protruding from the internal surface of the cylindrical element (130), a spring (150) acting on said lever so as to press it towards the position in which said piston (140) is engaged with said hole (154), a circumferential slit (152) having predeeetermined angular extension to permit the rotating motion of the lever (144) around the fulcrum (146) against the action of said spring (150), a longitudinal slot (153) provided in the side surface of said sleeve (138), a pin (142) protruding from said piston (140) whereby the rotation of the lever (144) around the pin (146) cause said piston (140) to take the position disengaged from said hole (154).

13. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that each arm (182) of said handlebars (44) comprises a tubular element (184), provided at the outer end with a handle (185) and the ring for the mounting of the command lever of the brake and/or of the derailleur and rigidly connected at the inner end to a small block (186) having a toothing (191) geared to the corresponding toothing of the small block (186) fixed to the other arm (182), each said small block (186) being pivoted to said box-type casing on a pin (188) spaced by a predetermined distance with respect to the axis of said arms (182) when the handlebars is in the operating position and said arms are axially aligned with each other.

14. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that said second releasable means for temporarily locking said handlebars (44) in said operating position comprise for each arm (182) a ring (192) slidigly mounte on the tubular element (184) and having the outer surface shaped with a frustoconical tapering (194), a frustoconical tapering (196) formed in said box-type casing (172), a cylindrical seat (198) provided in said ring (192), a spring (200) housed in said seat (198), a second ring (202) shdingly mounted on said tubular element (184) and keeping said spring (200) in said seat, said second ring (202) being coupled to said first ring so that a translation of said second ring along said tubular element (184) causes said frustoconical tapering (194) of said first ring (192) to be disengaged with respect to said frustoconical tapering (196). !5. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that said handlebars (44) is mounted to said pillar (40) by means of a bracket (176), removably fixed to the upper end of the sleeve (163), said box-type casing being provided with an extension of circular shape (174) fastened to said bracket (176) by means of a pin (180) whereby said extension and therewith said box-type casing can be oriented with respect to the axis of said sleeve (163).

16. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 1 and/or 4, characterized in that the lower end of said pillar (42) is hinged to said half- member (64) at the said element (89) and is provided with a bolt having a head (228) protruding by a predetermined and adjustable distance with respect to said lower end of said pillar, the upper surface of said half-member (64) being provided with a slot with which said head of said bolt cooperates and is engaged when said pillar. (42) is brought ot the raised or operating position, so as to press in predetermined way against the outer surface of said element (89).

17. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that said strut means (232) comprise two tubular pieces (234, 236) connected by a hinge (238, 240, 242) and latching means are provided to block the two pieces in the aligned condition, comprising a piston (244) slidingly housed within the tubular piece (236), a pin (246) fixed to said piston and protruding from the two opposite surfaces of said piece, thorugh two slots (248), a compression spring (250) housed in said tubular piece (236)^' to press said piston (244) towards the position protruding from the end of said piece.

18. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that said third locking means of the saddle (46) with respect to the pillar (42) comprise a first plate (282), fixed to the upper end of the pillar, a second plate (284), fixed at the base of the strucrur of the saddle (46) and rotatably pivoted with respect to the first plate (282) at the pin (283), a third plate (286) pivoted to the said first plate at the pin (285), a hook (288) journalled to said second plate (284) on the pin (290) and which can be hooked to said first plate when said saddle is in the operating condition and said first, second and third plates are associated as a packet, a spring (289) acting on said hook to keep it in the said hooked condition.

19. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said pedal cranks (60) comprises a body (258), ending at the outer end with a screw threaded eyelet (260) for the mounting of the respective pedal (62), the other end of said body being U shaped, the two arms of the U being anchored to the head (264) of the hub (59) by means of two bolts (268), said body (258) having an axial hole (270), open towards the U shaped end of the pedal crank, a piston (272) outwardly protruding from the hole (270) in which a spring (274) is housed so as to push said piston (272) towards said position protruding from said hole (270), a pair of recesses (266) formed in said head (264) of said hub and axially aligned with each other and with said axial hole of said body of the pedal crank, whereby the outer end of said piston is pushed by said spring (274) to be seated in the recess (266) directy facing the entrance end of said axial hole (270) from which said piston protrudes, means being furthermore provided acuatable from outside of the pedal crank to withdraw said piston inside said axial hole, disenging the end thereof form the facing recess (266), against the antagonist force of the spring (274).

20. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 19, characterized in that said outwardly actuatable means comprise a pin (276) fixed to said piston (272), a pair of diametrally opposed slots (278) provided in said body (258), through which the ends of said pin (276) protrude, and a pair of shoes or pads (280) fixed to said outer ends of said pin (276) to permit the translation thereof along the slots (278) against the action of the spring (274).

21. Foldable and transportable bicycle according, to claim 19, characterized in that said outwardly actuatable means comprise an articulated connecting plate (292) having a first end hinged, at a pin (293), to the rear end of the piston (272) and the other end pivoted, at the pin (297), to an operating lever (294), journalled to the body (258) at the pin (296) and having the end (295) shaped for the operation of the lever, the body (258) being provided with two opposed slits (298) through which the end (295) of the lever (294) may protrude outwardly of the body (258) of the pedal crank, a contrasting spring (274) being positioned around the piston (272) abutting against a step provided in the axial hole (270) of the body of the pedal crank.

22. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that a tubular element (128) having an axial hole is fixed to said sleeve (100).

23. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 22 characterized in that said axial hole is useful for the coupling of a rod (219) fixed to a bracket (217) pivoted at the pin (215) to a bracket (212) fastened to the rear end of the half- member (64) of another like bicycle, for the conversion of the bicycle in the tandem form.

24. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 22 characterized in that said tubular element is the handle for the transportation of the bicycle in the

the rear wheel (32) by means of a pair of rods (43), said small wheels and said rods being movable by means of an actuating lever (47) between a raised position, when the bicycle is open, and a lowered or transportation position, when the bicycle is in folded condition.

25. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that to the rear wheel (32) a structure (322) may be associated, comprising a base (324) from which two struts (326) take origin converging to each other and towards the plane of the wheel (32) merging into two connecting plates (32() which can be hooked to the rear fork, the pair of struts (326) having fixed thereto two cross rods (319) bearing a shaped roller (320) which is engaged by the rear wheel when the bicycle in the operating condition is positioned with the structure (322) abutting onto the floor and the rear wheel (32) into engagement with the shaped roller (320).

26. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 1, characterized in that said pillar bearing the handlebars in the condition of folded bicycle is maintained in folded condition by means of a hooked lever (210), rotatably pivoted to said bracket (212) fixed to the half-member (64), said lever (210) being provided with a latching mechanism (214) engaging a recess (216) formed in the^' box-type casing (172) of the handlebars.

27. Foldable and transportable bicycle according to claim 26, characterized in that said latching mechanism is key block, or a push-button and spring block, the end of the push-button being shaped so as to interact with a corresponding shaping of the recess (216).