Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles

• US 7,350,437 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hi-Line SRL
• Original Assignee: Hi-Line SRL
• Inventors: Mangano, Antonio, Mangano, Giuseppe
• Primary Examiner(s): Ridley; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson; Matthew A.
• Application Number:
  US10/895,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20050198781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 745/511, 745/514, 745/515, 745/516, 745/518, 745/519, 744/82, 742/80
• US Class Current: 74/551.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/12 Handlebars; Handlebar stems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2078 Handle bars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20828 Handholds and grips

Abstract

A handlebar (11,111,211) for cycles and motorcycles, in particular for cross-country use, which is light but at the same time resistant to high intensity shocks and stresses and having an optimized elasticity. The handlebar has a median section (13,113) which presents a central portion (23) having a diameter d₂₃ and a thickness s₂₃ for fixing the handlebar; two end sections (15,17), each of them presenting a central portion (27) having a diameter d₂₇ and a thickness s₂₇ for holding the handlebar; and two intermediate sections (19,21), each of them presenting a central portion (25) having a diameter d₂₅ and a thickness s₂₅ linking to the median section (13) in an inner bending zone (24) and to a corresponding one of the end sections (15,17) in an external bending zone (26) having a thickness s₂₆. The handlebar has a variable diameter and a variable thickness such that the diameter varies according to the law d₂₃>d₂₅>d₂₇ and the thickness of the handlebar varies according to the law s₂₆>s₂₃>s₂₅>s₂₇.

Claims

1. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles comprising a bent tube so as to define:

a median section presenting a central portion having a diameter d₂₃ and a thickness s₂₃ for fixing the handlebar;

two end sections for holding the handle bar, each end section having a central portion having a diameter d₂₇ and a thickness s₂₇; and

two intermediate sections, each intermediate section having a central portion linking to said median section in an internal bending zone and to a respective one of said end sections in an external bending zone, said external bending zone having a thickness s₂₆ and each central portion having a diameter d₂₅ and a thickness s₂₅;

said handlebar presenting variable diameter and thickness, wherein said diameter varies according to the following law;

d₂₃>

d₂₅>

d₂₇

and the thickness of the handlebar varies according to the following law;

s₂₆>

s₂₃>

s₂₅>

s₂₇.

2. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles according to claim 1, wherein said end sections comprise a corresponding free end portion having a diameter d₂₉ and a thickness s₂₉ and wherein s₂₅>

s₂₉>

s₂₇ and d₂₉ is approximately equal to d₂₇.

3. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles according to claim 2, wherein said two intermediate sections are tapered and exhibit a diameter continuously decreasing from the median section towards the corresponding end sections.

4. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles according to claim 3, wherein s26 is about 5.2 mm, s23 is about 4.5 mm, s25 is about 4.2 mm, s29 is about 4.0 mm, and s27 is about 2.8 mm.

5. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles according to claim 2, wherein said diameter d₂₃ is about 28 mm and said diameter d₂₇ is about 22 mm, the diameter d₂₅ being intermediate between said two values.

6. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles according to claim 1, wherein each of said intermediate sections comprises a cylindrical portion having a constant diameter substantially at the center of each intermediate section, wherein the cylindrical portion is configured for fixing a clamp having a cylindrical inner section.

7. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles according to claim 6, further comprising:

a crossbar arranged substantially parallel to the median section; and

a clamp having a cylindrical inner section and fixed to one of said cylindrical portions having a constant diameter substantially at the center of each intermediate section, said clamp being provided with a bracket and with a fixing element to which the crossbar is fixed.

8. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles according to claim 1, wherein each of said intermediate sections comprises a conical portion substantially at the center of each intermediate section, the diameter of said conical portion decreasing as one moves away from said median section, wherein each intermediate section is configured for fixing a clamp having a conical inner section complementary to the inner section of said conical portion.

9. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles according to claim 8, further comprising:

a crossbar arranged substantially parallel to the median section; and

a clamp having a conical inner section complementary to said conical portion, said clamp being provided with a bracket and with a fixing element to which the crossbar is fixed.

10. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles according to claim 1, wherein said handlebar is provided in at least one of the end sections with a cylindrical seat, defined by a section having a reduced diameter, wherein the end section is configured for inserting a sleeve for assuring easier sliding of the throttle control.

11. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles according to claim 10, further comprising a sleeve inserted on said cylindrical seat for assuring easier sliding of the throttle control.

12. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles according to claim 11, wherein said sleeve exhibits a thickness substantially equal to the depth of said cylindrical seat so that the handlebar is without steps on the external surface of said end section provided with said cylindrical seat.

13. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles according to claim 12, wherein said sleeve exhibits a length of about 100 mm.

14. Handlebar for cycles and motorcycles according to claim 1, wherein said handlebar is made of aluminum alloy.