Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62K—CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
  • B62K21/00—Steering devices
  • B62K21/26—Handlebar grips

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a g ⁇ p suitable for being fixed to the handlebars of a bic ⁇ cle or similar means.
• the present invention relates to the handlebars for bicycles commonly referred to as "mountain bikes”.
• mountain bike handlebars have a handlebar support and a part, usually of tubular shape, with a substantially rectilinear longitudinal axis which is fixed to the handlebar support and onto which the grips, the brake levers and other well-known parts are mounted.
• Such handlebars in fact prove to be easier to use for the type of travel terrain for which mountain bikes are designed, i.e. terrain where there may be uphill paths which are often not tarmacked.
• handlebars allow a "wider grip" to be adopted thereon, with the hands being positioned further apart compared to the normally used handlebars. As a result of this position of the hands it is possible to ensure greater control of the bicycle when travelling downhill along bumpy paths.
• handlebar grips provided with lateral end members (so-called "bar ends") has become widespread
• end members consist of a cylindrical body which is fixed to each end of the handlebars so as to have its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the handlebars and inclined upwards by about 45° with respect to the direction of forward travel (A).
• end members are widely used because they allow one to have a better and more comfortable grip when riding uphill and at the same time allow one to have a longer body position when riding on flat terrain.
• end members of this type are fixed drrecdy onto the handlebars using screws or clamps.
• grips which are provided with end members which are not fixed drrecdy to the handlebars, but are fixed to the grips themselves.
• the particular mounting arrangement of these end members, described above, is such diat the handlebars may, for example, easily get caught up with
• a second drawback is that such end members, because of their position on the ends of the handlebars, do not allow one to have a "wide g ⁇ p" required, for example, when travelling along bumpy downhill paths
• a third drawback is that this t ⁇ pe of end member cannot be suitably ad j usted in order to meet the requirements of each individual user.
• end members which allow adjustment - albeit to a limited degree - of the angle of inclination of the end members with respect to the direction of travel.
• the ob j ect of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.
• a first task of the present invention is to provide an end member for handlebars which, if required, may be arranged in a configuration substantially parallel to the direction of the handlebars.
• a second task of the present invention is to provide an end member for handlebars which, if required, allows a wider gripping position on the handlebars.
• a further task of the present invention is to an end member for handlebars, the inclination of which may be easily adjusted.
• Figure 1 show a side view of a bicycle of given form
• Figure 2 show a top plan view of a bicycle of given form
• Fig. 3 shows a front view from the user side of a g ⁇ p according to the invention in a first configuration
• Fig. 4a shows a front view from the user side of a grip according to the invention in a second configuration
• Figure 4b shows a side view of the grip shown in Figure 4a according to the invention
• Fig. 5 shows a front view from the user side of a second mode of use of a g ⁇ p according to the invention in a first configuration
• Fig. 6a shows a front view from the user side of a second mode of use of a grip according to the invention in a second configuration
• Figure 6b shows a side view of the g ⁇ p shown in Figure 6a;
• Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show three possible types of connection between parts of a g ⁇ p according to the invention
• Fig 10 shows a front view from the user side of a grip according to the invention in a first configuration
• Fig 11 shows a front ⁇ lew from the user side of a g ⁇ p according to the im ention in a second configuration
• Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of a g ⁇ p according to the invention in a first configuration
• Fig 13 shows a perspective view of a grip according to the im ention in a second configuration
• Fig. 14 shows a front view from the user side of parts which form a grip according to one possible embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 15 shows a side view of parts which form a g ⁇ p according to one possible embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 16 shows a cross-sectional view, along the cross-sec ⁇ onal plane XVI-XVI of Figure 10, of parts which form the g ⁇ p according to one possible embodiment of the present invention
• Figs. 17 shows a perspective view of parts which form a g ⁇ p according to one possible embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 18a shows a cross-sectional view of an end member according to the invention in a first position
• Fig. 18b shows a cross-sectional view of the end member of Figure 18a in a second position.
• a handlebar g ⁇ p according to the present invention is denoted in its entirety by die reference number 20
• the g ⁇ p 20 according to the present im ention comp ⁇ ses a main body 22 with a hole
• the g ⁇ p 20 for mounting on handlebars 26 so that its longitudinal axis (m) is parallel to die longitudinal axis (M) of the handlebars 26.
• the g ⁇ p 20 also comprises an end member 24 with a longitudinal axis (t) which is rotatably connected to the main body 22 by means of a fastening system 28.
• the g ⁇ p 20 is charactenzed in that the fastening system 28 defines an axis of rotation (r) which is inclined with respect to die longitudinal axis (m) of die main body 22 at an angle ( ⁇ ) which is between 100° and 260°.
• the vertex of the angle ( ⁇ ) is defined by the intersection between the longitudinal axis (m) of the main body 22 and the axis of rotation (r).
• the angle ( ⁇ ) ranges between 120° and 150°
• the main bodv 22 of the grip 20 has the form of a cylinder ha ⁇ 'ing one end 30, opposite to the end for mounting on the handlebars, formed by a side surface 32 inclined with respect to the direction of the axis (m) of the g ⁇ p 20 and perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation (r) of the end member 24
• the end member 24 has an end formed b ⁇ an inclined surface 36 1 ⁇ ing in a plane which is inclined with respect to the direction of the axis (t) of the end member 24 and also perpendicular to the axis of rotation (r) of the end member 24
• the connection between the main body 22 and the end member 24 is performed along the side surface 32 of the main bodv 22 and the inclined surface 36 of the end member 24
• the end member 24 forms die following characteristic angles
• the angle of inclination between the longitudinal axis (m) and the side surface 32 of the main body 22 must coincide with the angle of inclination between the longitudinal axis (t) and the inclined surface 36 of the end member 24
• Figures 7, 8 and 9 show three examples of how rotation about the axis (r) of rotation between end member 24 and main body 22 ma ⁇ be ensured
• Figure 7 shows a first embodiment of the fastening system 28 consisting of a cylindrical pin 30 pro j ecting in a perpendicular direction from the side surface 32 of the main body 22
• the pin 30 is designed to be inserted inside a corresponding seat 34 which is cylinder shaped and formed in die inclined surface 36 of the end member 24
• the seat 34 is arranged with the axis of the cylinder perpendicular to the inclined surface 36 of the end member 24
• the end member 24 is able to rotate about the axis of the pin 30 which coincides with the axis of rotation (r)
• Locking of the pin 30 inside the seat 34 so as to prevent the pin from coming out of the seat in the axial direction may be performed in a known manner using deformable plastic connections (not shown) formed for example on the head of the pin 30
• fixing is performed b) means of a screw 38
• the end member 24 is provided with a hole 40 having its axis coinciding with the axis of the seat 34 and therefore of the pin 30 when the latter is inserted inside said seat 34
• the hole 40 in the ⁇ icinm of the seat 34 has a constriction 42 which creates a shoulder for the head of the screw 38
• the hole 40, the constriction 42 and the seat 34 form a through channel which connects the inclined surface 36 of the end member 24 to the gripping surface 37 of the end member 24.
• Fixing is obtained b ) screwing the screw 38 onto the pin 30
• the main body 22 is without a pin 30. I he fastening 28 is therefore ensured soleh b ⁇ the screw 38 which is screwed directly into the side surface 32 of the main bod> 22.
• the particular form of the grip 20 is such that by rotating the end member about the axis of rotation (r) (see Figures 3, 4a and 4b) it can be arranged in at least two positions-
• FIG. 4b is a side view of the grip according to Figure 4a
• the end member 24 is arranged upwards and slightly inclined forwards in a manner of the known end members of this type.
• the angle of inclination ( ⁇ ) with respect to the direction of forward travel (A) may be between 0° and 90°, preferably between 30° and
• the value of the angle ( ⁇ ) may be adjusted in two ways:
• a first way consists in rotating the main body 22 with respect to the handlebars 26;
• FIG. 5, 6a and 6b illustrates a configuration of the grip with end members directed downwards and inclined towards the user.
• This mode of use of the present invention can be obtained by performing a rotation of the main body 22, for example through 180°, with respect to the previous configuration with the end member 24 directed upwards
• Figure 10 shows a grip 20 according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention
• the main body 22 comprises a rigid structure 44 and a soft structure 47.
• the rigid structure 44 is made for example of a metal such as steel or aluminium.
• the ⁇ gid structure 44 ma ⁇ be made, for example, of carbon, magnesium, composite materials or plastic.
• This rigid structure shown in Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17 is composed essentially of a cylinder 60 Projections 62 ma ⁇ be provided on the outer surface of this cylinder in order to impro ⁇ e adhesion between the ⁇ gid structure 44 and soft structure 47.
• the soft structure 47 is made, for example, of a polymer of the ttpe used in known grips or more generally known g ⁇ pping systems Said soft structure 47 ma; , for example, be glued onto said ⁇ gid structure 44 or, according to a particular embodiment of the present invention, said soft structure 47, if formed by a polymer, is injected directly onto the ⁇ gid structure 44 In dns connection, holes 63 may be provided on the ⁇ gid structure for introduction of the polymer du ⁇ ng the in j ection step, which polymer, once solidified, creates a contact surface 67 inside the main body 22 which ensures adhesion between ngid structure 44 and soft structure 47.
• the end member 24 is formed in a similar way by means of a ⁇ gid structure 45 and a soft structure 49.
• the ⁇ gid structure 45 in this case may have any shape, depending on the final form, i.e. with the soft structure mounted.
• a fixing collar 46 for relative locking in position of handlebars 26 and main body 22 is provided at the end of the main body 22 intended for mounting on the handlebars 26.
• the collar 46 is of the known type used for example for locking the saddle to the bicycle frame.
• the collar 46 is provided with a radial incision 48 having a certain thickness and a certain length in the longitudinal direction.
• Two tightening ends 50 and 52 are therefore defined in the zones adjacent to the incision 48 Said ends 50 and 52 are provided witli a seat 53 for a tightening screw 54 such that it may be engaged with the two ends and, when screwed, move the two tightening ends 50, 52 towards each other.
• the side surface 32 of the main body 22 has, formed therein, a se ⁇ es of projections 56 arranged in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation (r) of the end member 24 and situated on a circular ⁇ m having its centre on the axis of rotation (r) of the end member 24.
• Recesses 58 are formed in a similar manner and in a corresponding position on the inclined surface 36 of the end member 24. Said recesses 58 have a radial progression and radial extension substantially equivalent to the extension of the projections 56 Mating between said projections 56 and said recesses 58 when the screw 38 is tightened ensures locking in position of the end member 24 and main bod ⁇ 22, preventing relative slipping of these two parts
• Figures 18a and 18b show an alternative embodiment of the fastening s ⁇ stem 28 which allows displacement of the end member 24 from the horizontal configuration into the configuration where the end member 24 is extracted, without the use of tools and whilst riding
• the fastening system 28 comprises a stem 70 having a first end rigidly fixed to the main body 22 and the second end inserted through a hole 72 formed on the inclined surface
• a cam 74 is fixed in an eccentric position by means of a pin 76 onto the second end of the stem 70.
• a lever 78 is fixed to the cam 74 and is able to move the cam 74 between at least two positions.
• the lever 78 when located in the second position, does not represent an obstacle for the grip of the end member 24 since it is located inside the same.
• an embodiment may be envisaged where the end member is fixed directly to the handlebars in a similar manner to that described above, therefore correspondingly modifying the end of the handlebars.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Steering Devices For Bicycles And Motorcycles (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
• Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=41716512

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

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Family Cites Families (5)

• 2009
  • 2009-08-19 IT ITTV2009A000163A patent/IT1395295B1/it active
• 2010
  • 2010-08-10 EP EP10754568A patent/EP2477880A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-08-10 WO PCT/IB2010/053615 patent/WO2011021132A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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