BICYCLE STEM HAVING CONTROLLED RELEASE OF THE STEERABILITY THEREOF

• US 20130319169A1
• Filed: 01/06/2012
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Saga Bike
• Original Assignee: Saga Bike
• Inventors: Savard, Franck Jean
• Application Number:
  US13/983,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20130319169A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/551.8
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/06 acting on the front wheel fork or steering head tube
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/18 Connections between forks and handlebars or handlebar stems
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/24 readily releasable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20822 Attachments and accessories

Abstract

A stem (10) for a bicycle handlebar having controlled release of the steerability thereof, includes a body (24) intended for receiving a stem arm (12) which in turn receives a handlebar, the stem also including a headset (40), elements (14) for attaching the stem (10) to the fork (16) of a bicycle including a head tube and a locking/unlocking element (18), wherein the locking/unlocking element (18) includes at least one key (56) placed in a cavity (54) arranged in the headset (40), a resilient element (58) for returning the at least one key towards the outside of the cavity, holes (36) arranged in the stem body (24) through which the keys pass, a ring (62) suitable for retracting the at least one key (56) through the holes (36) by a rotation or translation movement, respectively. The mounting also provides a headset arrangement.

Claims

1. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars with controlled release of its steerability comprising a body (24, 124) designed to accommodate a stem arm (12, 112) itself accommodating a set of handlebars, with said stem also comprising a headset (40, 140), means (14, 114) for attaching said stem (10) on the fork tube (16, 116) of a bicycle comprising a steering socket and locking/unlocking means (18, 118), characterized in that these locking/unlocking means (18, 118) comprise at least one key (56, 156) placed in a housing (54, 154) made in the headset (40, 140), elastic return means (58, 158) of this at least one key toward the outside of said housing, slots (36, 136) made in the stem body (24, 124) through which pass said keys, a ring (62) or a hood (162) making it possible to retract the at least one key (56, 156) through said slots (36, 136) by a movement respectively of rotation or translation.

2. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 1, wherein the housings (54, 154) are made with an off-center longitudinal axis relative to the longitudinal axis of rotation.

3. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 1, wherein the housings (54, 154) are four in number.

4. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 1, wherein the headset (40) comprises a mast (44) and a wedge (52) with a screw (48) for its attachment in the fork tube (16).

5. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 1, wherein the headset (140) comprises a core (152) with a screw (148) for its attachment in the fork tube (116).

6. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 1, wherein the ring (62) comprises projections (72) designed to accommodate the keys (56) in certain given angular positions.

7. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 1, wherein the ring (62) comprises a partially circumferential groove (68) that is designed to accommodate an elastic return element (70) such as an elastomeric retaining ring.

8. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 1, wherein the ring (62) comprises a maneuvering lever (74), manually actuatable, oriented radially, manufactured with the ring and therefore monolithic.

9. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 1, wherein the hood (162) comprises two windows (163) through which pass two push buttons (165), with these two push buttons (165) being connected by a deformable ring (167) ensuring the projection of said push buttons.

10. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 9, wherein the hood (162) comprises stops (169) that are integral with the push button, preventing maneuvering by vertical translation and allowing the vertical translational movement when the push buttons (165) are brought together radially.

11. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 1, wherein the at least one key (156) comprises an upper beveled edge (160-1), in such a way that during vertical translational movements of the hood (162), the at least one key (156) is retracted into its housing (154) in the stem body 124.

12. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 1, wherein the hood (162) comprises additional equipment such as electronic accessories.

13. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 2, wherein the housings (54, 154) are four in number.

14. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 2 wherein the headset (40) comprises a mast (44) and a wedge (52) with a screw (48) for its attachment in the fork tube (16).

15. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 3, wherein the headset (40) comprises a mast (44) and a wedge (52) with a screw (48) for its attachment in the fork tube (16).

16. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 2, wherein the headset (140) comprises a core (152) with a screw (148) for its attachment in the fork tube (116).

17. Stem (10) for a set of bicycle handlebars according to claim 2, wherein the ring (62) comprises a partially circumferential groove (68) that is designed to accommodate an elastic return element (70) such as an elastomeric retaining ring.