Cannondale Corporation

Tod Patterson

Timothy J Fenton

Don H Chan

A frame that includes first and second tubular members, joined at a predetermined angle to each other solely by a bond along a joint between a surface along a portion of a wall of the first member and an edge along at least a portion of the wall of the second member, is fabricated by cutting the edge of the wall of the second member at the joint being to a shape that conforms to and abuts the surface of the first member so as to establish and maintain the predetermined angle between the members. The first member is formed with a slot that registers with the edge of the second member, and the second member is formed with an integral tab along part of the edge forming the joint. The tab on the second member is received in close-fitting relation in the slot of the first member so as to establish and maintain a predetermined position of the second member axially and rotationally relative to the first member.

Method of making frames from tubular members and frames made by the

A device for removably attaching an accessory to first and second spaced-apart elements affixed to a bicycle and defining an opening that has a minor dimension and a major dimension comprises a support member and a cleat member, which are essentially permanently attached to each other and each of which has a medial portion adapted to span the minor dimension of the opening and a leg portion extending out from each of the opposite ends of the medial portion for engagement with opposite sides of a respective one of said elements. The overall dimension between the outer ends of the leg portions of the cleat member is less than the major dimension of the opening so that the clear member can be inserted in the opening by aligning it with the major dimension of the opening and then repositioned to align it with the minor dimension and engage the leg portions with the bicycle elements. Components are included for fastening the cleat member to the support member, fastening the accessory to the support member, and releasably connecting the support member to a third element affixed to the bicycle to prevent the cleat member and support member from rotating or translating relative to the first and second elements.

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Westport, CT, United States of America

Tod Patterson