Steering set for bicycles and adapter for such a steering set

• US 6,736,543 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Look Cycle International
• Original Assignee: Look Cycle International
• Inventors: Couturet, Jean-Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US10/253,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20030059145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 384/538, 384/545, 280/276, 280/279
• US Class Current: 384/545
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/06 Bearings specially adapted for steering heads bearings in general F16C

Abstract

The steering set comprises an upper roller bearing (2) and a lower roller bearing (18) adapted to guide in rotation a pivot tube. Each roller bearing is (2, 18) received in a respective annular recess (14, 19) provided within a steering post (11) forming a part of a bicycle frame (12). Each roller bearing (2, 18) is associated with a respective ring (3, 24) itself resting on a support surface, and an end ring (6) surrounded the pivot tube (10) above the steering socket (11). The roller bearings (2, 18) are associated with adapters (26, 27) in the form of rings disposed between the roller bearings (2, 18) and the bottom of the annular recess (14, 19) so as to adjust the height of the recess so as to adapt it to roller bearings (2, 18) having different heights.

Claims

1. Bicycle steering set, comprising an upper roller bearing (2) and a lower roller bearing (18) adapted to guide in rotation a pivot tube, each roller bearing (2, 18) being adapted to be received in a respective annular recess (14, 19) provided within a steering socket (11) forming part of a frame (12) of a bicycle, each roller bearing (2, 18) being associated with a respective ring (3, 24) resting on a support surface of the latter, and an end ring (6) adapted to surround the pivot tube (10) above the steering socket (11), characterized by the fact that at least one of the roller bearings (2, 18) is associated with an adapter (26, 27) in the form of a ring adapted to be disposed between the roller bearing (2, 18) and the bottom of the annular recess (14, 19) so as to adjust the height of the recess so as to adapt the latter to roller bearings (2, 18) having different heights.

2. Bicycle steering set according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the adapter (26, 27) has on one side a first support surface (28) of a shape complementary to a support surface (30) on the roller bearing (2, 18), and on the other side a second support surface (31) of a shape complementary to the surface of the bottom of the recess (14, 19) in which the adapter (26, 27) is adapted to be disposed.

3. Bicycle steering set according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the complementary shapes (28, 31) comprise conical surfaces.

4. Bicycle steering set according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the adapter (26, 27) comprises on its periphery an axial extension collar (29) having said first support surface (28) for the roller bearing (2, 18).

5. Bicycle steering set according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the adapter (26, 27) is split.

6. Bicycle steering set according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that an adapter (26, 27) is associated with each roller bearing (2, 18).

7. Adapter for a bicycle steering set, characterized by the fact that it is constituted by a ring (26, 27) adapted to be disposed at the bottom of an annular recess (14, 19) within a steering socket (11), so as to adjust the height of the recess (14, 19) relative to roller bearings (2, 18) having different heights.

8. Adapter for a bicycle steering set according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that it comprises on its periphery an axial extension collar (29) having a support surface (28) for a roller bearing (2, 18).

9. Adapter for a bicycle steering set according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that it has on one side a first support surface (28) of a shape complementary to that of a support surface (30) on the roller bearing (2, 18), and on the other side a second support surface (31) of a shape complementary to the surface of the bottom of the recess (14, 19) in which the adapter (26, 27) is adapted to be disposed.

10. Adapter for a bicycle steering set according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the first and second support surfaces (28, 31) of the adapter (26, 27) are conical.

11. Adapter for a bicycle steering set according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the ring forming an adapter (26, 27) is split.