Waterproof end cap for bicycle frame member

• US 10,023,257 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chi-Yi Lin
• Original Assignee: Chi-Yi Lin
• Inventors: Lin, Chi-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): ESTREMSKY, GARY WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US15/386,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20180170471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 4113726, 292246, 292DIG 11, 292175, 138 89, 280179, 280180
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 23/00 Other protectors specially adapted for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/18 Connections between forks and handlebars or handlebar stems
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/122 Threaded inserts, e.g. "rampa bolts"
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/14 Cap nuts; Nut caps or bolt caps
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/284 Locking by means of elastic deformation F16B39/2825, F16B39/36, F16B39/38 take precedence

Abstract

A waterproof end cap for covering and closing an end hole of a bicycle head tube includes a threaded locking base, a locking member, and a sealing cover. The threaded locking base is engaged in the end hole. The locking member has large- and small-diameter portions. The end of the large-diameter portion that faces away from the small-diameter portion has an outwardly extending annular plate. The small-diameter portion is externally threaded, extends into the end hole, and threadedly connects with the threaded hole of the threaded locking to base such that the annular plate is pulled to cover the end hole. The sealing cover is larger than the annular plate in diameter and has opposite first and second sides. The first side is free of water-holding spaces. The second side covers the annular plate detachably through elastic engagement. Water can neither accumulate on nor leak through the sealing cover.

Claims

1. A waterproof end cap for a bicycle frame member, wherein the end cap is configured to cover and close an end hole of a head tube of a bicycle, and wherein the head tube is connected with handlebars and a bicycle fork, with the end cap comprising:

a threaded locking base centrally provided with a threaded hole and peripherally provided with a plurality of outwardly extending engaging plates, with the threaded locking base received in the end hole of the head tube, wherein the engaging plates of the threaded locking base are engaged with an inner wall of the head tube and are thus secured in position;

a locking member having a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion, wherein the large-diameter portion has an end facing away from the small-diameter portion, is provided with an outwardly extending annular plate, and has an end face centrally and concavely provided with a receiving cavity, wherein the receiving cavity has a peripheral wall provided with an engaging groove, wherein the small-diameter portion is peripherally provided with an external thread and is centrally provided with a through hole in communication with the receiving cavity of the large-diameter portion, wherein the small-diameter portion extends into the end hole of the head tube, wherein the external thread of the small-diameter portion is threadedly connected with the threaded hole of the threaded locking base, and wherein the annular plate of the large-diameter portion is pulled by the small-diameter portion to cover the end hole of the head tube;

a sealing cover having a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the annular plate of the locking member, with the sealing cover having a first side and a second side facing away from the first side, wherein the first side is free of any water-holding space, with the second side covers the annular plate of the locking member and is provided with a mounting portion, wherein the mounting portion is formed with an outwardly opening slide groove, wherein the slide groove is mounted therein with a press switch, wherein the press switch is restricted to linear sliding movement within a predetermined range; and

an elastic member between the press switch and the slide groove, wherein the elastic member pushes the press switch outward elastically, wherein the press switch has an outer side provided with a first engaging block and a pressing plate, wherein the mounting portion has a side facing away from the first engaging block and provided with a second engaging block, wherein the mounting portion is mounted in the receiving cavity of the locking member, and wherein the first engaging block and the second engaging block are engaged in the engaging groove of the peripheral wall of the receiving cavity of the locking member to prevent the sealing cover from separating from the locking member.

2. The waterproof end cap of claim 1, wherein the locking member is provided with a driving groove between the receiving cavity of the large-diameter portion and the through hole of the small-diameter portion.

3. The waterproof end cap of claim 1, wherein the first side of the sealing cover is a completely flat surface.

4. The waterproof end cap of claim 1, wherein the second side of the sealing cover is peripherally and protrudingly provided with a wall, and wherein the wall covers a periphery of the annular plate of the locking member.

5. The waterproof end cap of claim 1, wherein the elastic member of the sealing cover is a spring.

6. The waterproof end cap of claim 1, wherein the pressing plate of the sealing cover protrudes beyond the sealing cover.

7. The waterproof end cap of claim 1, wherein the head tube and the handlebars are connected by a handlebar stem, wherein the handlebar stem has an end connected to the head tube and formed with a longitudinal slit, and wherein the sealing cover is provided with a protruding positioning portion fitted in the slit of the handlebar stem to prevent the sealing cover from rotation.

8. The waterproof end cap of claim 7, wherein the protruding positioning portion of the sealing cover is provided on the pressing plate of the sealing cover.