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EDGE

 

EDGE

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EDGE FOLDING BIKES

Riding a bicycle is a convenient and environmentally conscious mode of transportation that is becoming increasingly popular in urban centers. In cities around the US, bicycles have become a central part of the local culture and are often used in place of cars or public transit to commute to work. The issue however, is that while bikes are significantly smaller than traditional vehicles, they are still large enough that carrying them indoors is unwieldy and, in some cases, inappropriate. The alternative is locking it outdoors on a rack, but spots may not be available and a large risk of theft exists.

The solution to this problem is the foldable bicycle, which allows the commuter to collapse the frame into a smaller package that can then be stowed away or carried at the person’s side. There are already several designs on the market for folding bikes, however these products feature unconventional frames that are incompatible with standardized parts. Further, many use smaller diameter wheels which are harder for the consumer to source. The Edge Bike aims to solve these issues with an innovative approach to the collapsible frame.

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DEVELOPMENT

The Edge Bike uses four and five bar linkages to rotate its frame into a smaller form factor. When transitioning between each state, these links fold to fill as much open space as possible while ensuring structural rigidity of the frame. In the closed and open positions, these bars are secured by quick-release pins that lock with a push-button. To keep the head tube parallel to the seat tube, the five-bar linkage also incorporates gear teeth on its central hinge to fully constrain the assembly’s motion. The Edge Bike frame was modeled in SOLIDWORKS and rendered in Keyshot 9. Peripheral components, including the pedals, sprockets, wheels, saddle, and handlebars were sourced from GrabCAD.


GALLERY


EDGE designed by Joe Li and Jason Feinberg / December 2020