Adjustable bicycle handle bar adapter and associated method

• US 8,550,484 B1
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Draper
• Original Assignee: Richard Draper
• Inventors: Draper, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D
• Assistant Examiner(s): STABLEY, MICHAEL R
• Application Number:
  US12/869,241
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 280/280, 280/276, 280/278, 280/279
• US Class Current: 280/280
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/16 having adjustable parts therein

Abstract

A bicycle headstock assembly may include a lower member adapted to be attached to a steering rod of the bicycle, and an upper member adjustably connected to the lower member. A pivot joint may be formed at a connection of the lower and upper members respectively. A handle bar clamp may be connected to the upper member and extending away therefrom. A primary fastener may pass through a first location of the pivot joint while an auxiliary fastener may pass through a second location of the pivot joint respectively. In this way, the primary and auxiliary fasteners may cooperate to permit the upper member to selectively pivot and lock at alternate positions relative to the lower member.

Claims

1. A bicycle headstock assembly for adjusting a height and a reach of a handle bar of a bicycle, said bicycle headstock assembly comprising:

a lower member adapted to be attached to a steering rod of the bicycle;

an upper member connected to said lower member;

a pivot joint formed at a connection of said lower and upper members;

a handle bar clamp connected to said upper member;

a primary fastener passed through a first location of said pivot joint; and

an auxiliary fastener passed through a second location of said pivot joint;

wherein said primary and auxiliary fasteners cooperate to permit said upper member to selectively pivot and lock at alternate positions relative to said lower member;

wherein said pivot joint comprises;

a plurality of first annular plates statically attached to a proximal end of said upper member, said first annular plates being spaced apart at a fixed spatial distance; and

a plurality of second annular plates statically attached to an upper end of said lower member, said second annular plates being spaced apart at a fixed spatial distance respectively;

wherein said first annular plates are rotatably interfitted between said second annular plates respectively such that said first and second annular plates are juxtaposed side-by-side in a parallel configuration;

wherein said first and second annular plates are co-axially aligned along a fulcrum axis of said pivot joint.

2. The bicycle headstock assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second annular plates is provided with a primary aperture formed at a center thereof, said primary apertures being aligned along the fulcrum axis of said pivot joint;

wherein each of said first and second annular plates is provided with a plurality of auxiliary apertures formed along a circumference thereof respectively, corresponding ones of said auxiliary apertures being aligned along a plurality of linear paths registered parallel to the fulcrum axis of said pivot joint;

wherein said primary fastener is removably interfitted through each of said primary apertures and thereby pivotally engages said upper member to said lower member;

wherein said auxiliary fastener is removably interfitted through said corresponding auxiliary apertures and thereby statically engages said upper member to said lower member.

3. The bicycle headstock assembly of claim 1, wherein removal of said auxiliary fastener from said pivot joint permits said upper member to selectively rotate relative to said lower member;

wherein removal of said primary and auxiliary fasteners from said pivot joint permits said upper member to disengage said lower member.

4. The bicycle headstock assembly of claim 1, wherein said lower member comprises:

a lower end having an axial bore formed therein, said lower end further having a linear slot formed along an outer surface thereof and extending parallel to a longitudinal length of said lower member; and

a collar clamp attached to said outer surface of said lower end and positioned at opposite side of said slot;

wherein said collar clamp is selectively tightened and loosened for decreasing and increasing a width of said slot respectively.

5. The bicycle headstock assembly of claim 1, wherein said handle bar clamp comprises:

a first section having a proximal end directly coupled to said upper member and axially aligned therewith; and

an arcuate stationary clamp head fixedly attached to a distal end of said first section;

an arcuate mobile clamp head removably connected to said stationary clamp head and thereby adapted to be attached to the handle bars of the bicycle.

6. The bicycle headstock assembly of claim 1, wherein said upper member comprises:

a distal end having an axial bore formed therein and slidably engaged with said handle bar clamp; and

a selectively adjustable upper member clamp securing said handle bar clamp to said upper member.

7. A bicycle headstock assembly for adjusting a height and a reach of a handle bar of a bicycle, said bicycle headstock assembly comprising:

a lower member adapted to be attached to a steering rod of the bicycle;

an upper member adjustably connected to said lower member;

a pivot joint formed at a connection of said lower and upper members;

a handle bar clamp connected to said upper member and extending away therefrom;

a primary fastener passed through a first location of said pivot joint; and

an auxiliary fastener passed through a second location of said pivot joint;

wherein said primary and auxiliary fasteners cooperate to permit said upper member to selectively pivot and lock at alternate positions relative to said lower member;

wherein said pivot joint comprises;

a plurality of first annular plates statically attached to a proximal end of said upper member, said first annular plates being spaced apart at a fixed spatial distance; and

a plurality of second annular plates statically attached to an upper end of said lower member, said second annular plates being spaced apart at a fixed spatial distance respectively;

wherein said first annular plates are rotatably interfitted between said second annular plates respectively such that said first and second annular plates are juxtaposed side-by-side in a parallel configuration;

wherein said first and second annular plates are co-axially aligned along a fulcrum axis of said pivot joint.

8. The bicycle headstock assembly of claim 7, wherein each of said first and second annular plates is provided with a primary aperture formed at a center thereof, said primary apertures being aligned along the fulcrum axis of said pivot joint;

wherein each of said first and second annular plates is provided with a plurality of auxiliary apertures formed along a circumference thereof respectively, corresponding ones of said auxiliary apertures being aligned along a plurality of linear paths registered parallel to the fulcrum axis of said pivot joint;

wherein said primary fastener is removably interfitted through each of said primary apertures and thereby pivotally engages said upper member to said lower member;

wherein said auxiliary fastener is removably interfitted through said corresponding auxiliary apertures and thereby statically engages said upper member to said lower member.

9. The bicycle headstock assembly of claim 7, wherein removal of said auxiliary fastener from said pivot joint permits said upper member to selectively rotate relative to said lower member;

wherein removal of said primary and auxiliary fasteners from said pivot joint permits said upper member to disengage said lower member.

10. The bicycle headstock assembly of claim 7, wherein said lower member comprises:

a lower end having an axial bore formed therein, said lower end further having a linear slot formed along an outer surface thereof and extending parallel to a longitudinal length of said lower member; and

a collar clamp attached to said outer surface of said lower end and positioned at opposite side of said slot;

wherein said collar clamp is selectively tightened and loosened for decreasing and increasing a width of said slot respectively.

11. The bicycle headstock assembly of claim 7, wherein said handle bar clamp comprises:

a first section having a proximal end directly coupled to said upper member and axially aligned therewith; and

an arcuate stationary clamp head fixedly attached to a distal end of said first section;

an arcuate mobile clamp head removably connected to said stationary clamp head and thereby adapted to be attached to the handle bars of the bicycle.

12. The bicycle headstock assembly of claim 7, wherein said upper member comprises:

a distal end having an axial bore formed therein and slidably engaged with said handle bar clamp; and

a selectively adjustable upper member clamp securing said handle bar clamp to said upper member.