Steering bearing assembly for a bicycle

• US 5,319,993 A
• Filed: 09/02/1993
• Issued: 06/14/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tien Hsin Industries Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Tien Hsin Industries Company Limited
• Inventors: Chiang, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US08/115,866
• Time in Patent Office: 285 Days
• Field of Search: 74/551.1-551.8, 280/279, 280/275, 280/276, 280/277, 280/278, 280/280, 403/24, 403/88, 403/90, 403/344, 384/545
• US Class Current: 74/551.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/06 Bearings specially adapted for steering heads bearings in general F16C
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32311 Ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2078 Handle bars

Abstract

A steering bearing assembly includes a head tube, a steerer tube that has a first end which is connected to a front fork of a bicycle and which extends through the head tube, and a bearing assembly disposed between the head tube and the steerer tube. A truncated cone-shaped inserter is disposed in a second end of the steerer tube and has an axially extending threaded bore formed therethrough. A C-shaped resilient member with an inner tapered wall is press-fitted into the steerer tube above the inserter. A threaded bolt is disposed on the second end of the steerer tube and is threaded into the inserter. When the threaded bolt is tightened, the resilient member expands radially to abut frictionally against the steerer tube and to compress downward simultaneously a stem that is disposed on the head tube around the steerer tube.

Claims

1. A steering bearing assembly for a bicycle frame, comprising:

a head tube connected to the bicycle frame;

a steerer tube connected to a front wheel fork of the bicycle frame and passing through said head tube;

a bearing assembly including a lower race connected to said head tube, an upper race connected to said steerer tube, and a plurality of ball bearings enclosed between said lower and upper races to permit relative rotation therebetween, the upper race having an inner diameter that is greater than an external diameter of said steerer tube, thereby forming a clearance between the upper race of said bearing assembly and said steerer tube;

a compression member disposed in the clearance of the bearing assembly;

a mounting stem for connecting a handle bar of the bicycle frame to said steerer tube, said mounting stem being disposed on said compression member and around said steerer tube;

a C-shaped resilient member being press-fitted into said steerer tube and having an inner tapered wall;

a truncated cone-shaped inserter inserted into said C-shaped resilient member, said inserter having an axially extending threaded bore; and

a threaded bolt with a head provided on said steerer tube above said mounting stem and connected threadedly to said truncated con-shaped inserter in the threaded bore, radially expanding said C-shaped resilient member expanding radially when said threaded bolt is tightened so as to abut against said steerer tube and simultaneously force said mounting stem to compress said compression member against the upper race of the bearing assembly and said steerer tube, thereby retaining the compression member between said bearing assembly and the steerer tube to support the steerer tube vertically.

2. The steering bearing assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said C-shaped resilient member has a knurled external surface to increase friction between said steerer tube and said resilient member.