GB2416334A

GB2416334A - Bicycle handlebar assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2416334A
Application number: GB0416235A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stefan Buj
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-21
Filing date: 2004-07-21
Publication date: 2006-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-21
Also published as: GB0416235D0; GB2416334B

Abstract

The assembly comprises a mounting portion 24 for mounting on a bicycle; and handle bar portions 16,18 for use in steering a bicycle, in which the handle bar portions are releasable from the mounting portion, that they can be rotated between a first operative condition and a collapsed condition, wherein in the collapsed condition the overall width of handle bar assembly is less than in the first operative condition. The mounting portion 24 has respective four-sided tubes 26 tor receive complementary shaped parts 52 of the handle bar portions 16, 18 in either of the two conditions. The tubes have internal stop pins 40 and rapid-action clamps 34 together with apertures 42, 44 for receiving push buttons 54 of the parts 52 in either of the two conditions.

Description

Handle Bar Assembly The present invention relates to a handle bar

assembly, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a handle bar assembly for use on a bicycle. s

Bicycles are a popular means of transport. However, many people will typically use a bicycle to travel relatively short distances, such as to get to a local place of work or local amenity. For greater distances, it is not uncommon for a cyclist to travel on a bus or train with their bicycle, and to use their bicycle at either end of the bus or train journey. It is also common for people to transport their bicycles by car, so as to be able to use a bicycle at their destination, in particular for recreation.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of folding bicycles on the market, which have an advantage over conventional, nonfolding bicycles in that they are more easily accommodated on public transport, such as buses and trains. Folding bicycles are also easier to transport by car than conventional, non-folding bicycles.

Although folding bicycles have a space saving advantage over conventional, non- folding bicycles, the conventional bicycle still predominates It is an object of the invention to provide a handle bar assembly that is suitable for use on bicycles, which has a degree of space saving most commonly associated with folding bicycles.

According to the broadest aspect of the invention, there is provided a handle bar assembly for use on a bicycle, the assembly comprising a mounting portion for mounting the handle bar assembly on a bicycle; and handle bar portions for use in steering a bicycle, in which the handle bar portions are movably received by the mounting portion, so as to be adapted for movement between a first operative - 2 condition and a collapsed condition, wherein in the collapsed condition the overall width of handle bar assembly is less than in the first operative condition.

Preferably, to move to the collapsed condition, the handle bar portions are effectively rotated relative to the first operative condition, for example through 90 degrees.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle bar portions are removably received on the mounting portion.

Conveniently, the mounting portion is adapted for releasably clamping the handle bar portions in the first operative condition and the collapsed condition.

Preferably, each handle bar portion includes an end section adapted to be received in the mounting portion, and cam-operable clamp means may be provided for clamping the end section of the handle bar portions in the mounting portion.

The mounting portion may include tubular means for receiving cooperatively shaped end sections of the handle bar portions.

Preferably, the tubular means comprises a pair of split tubular members, each tubular member being adapted for receiving an end section of a respective handle bar portion.

The tubular members are preferably spaced apart from one another by brace means.

Preferably, the mounting portion includes stop means for limiting the extent to which the end sections of the handle bar portions can be received in the mounting portion.

Said end sections of the handle bar portions may include locating means adapted to be received in co-operatively formed formations on the tubular means for correctly locating the handle bar portions in the first operative or collapsed condition.

Preferably, the handle bar assembly is adapted to be mounted on a bicycle via a standard stem clamp.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a bicycle comprising a handle bar assembly in accordance with the broadest aspect of the invention.

Other preferred features of the invention will be readily apparent from the

following description and the dependent claims.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the invention fitted to the stem of a bicycle, in a fully operative configuration; Figure2 is a partially exploded schematic perspective view of the main components of the handle bar assembly shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing one of the handle bar portions in an unreleased position; and Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the handle bar assembly in a fully collapsed configuration.

Referring to Figure 1, a handle bar assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at 10, which is shown connected to the upper part of the front stem of a bicycle, indicated at 12. The handle bar assembly 10 is held in place by a stem clamp 14 of known construction.

The handle bar assembly 10 includes left and right handle bar portions 16, 18.

Conventional handle grips 20 and brake lever mountings 22 are provided on the handle bar portions 16, 18.

The main components of the handle bar assembly 10 are best described with reference to Figure 2.

In addition to the handle bar portions 16,18, the handle bar assembly 10 includes Is a mounting portion, indicated generally at 24. The mounting portion has a pair of split mounting tubes 26 of generally rectangular construction. Each tube 26 has a longitudinal slot 28 along its length, so as to define two opposing L-shaped members indicated at 30, 32.

A quick release clamp 34 of known construction is provided on each mounting tube 26. The clamps 34 are of known construction, having a camlever arm 36 in operative cooperation with a pin (not visible in the drawings) received between two bushings 38. As will be understood from the further description of the invention, each clamp 34 is mounted on its respective mounting tube 26 so as to be able to reduce or increase the width of the slot 28 between the opposing arms 30, 32 of said tube 26.

A stop pin 40 is fitted adjacent the lower end of each mounting tube 26, and circular locating apertures 42, 44 are also provided in two of the sides of each mounting tube 26, above the position of the respective stop pin 40. The purpose of the stop pins and locating apertures 42, 44 will be described below. - s -

The mounting tubes 26 are maintained in a spaced apart relationship by upper and lower members 46, 48, as viewed in Figure 2. The upper member 46 is in the form of a tube of circular cross-section, which is configured to be received and held in place between the jaws of a bicycle stem clamp, for example as shown in Figure 1. The lower member 48 is in the form of a rigid plate, which acts as a strengthening brace for the mounting portion 24.

Looking now in more detail at the left and right handle bar portions 16, 18, these consist of elongate upper shaft members 50 of generally circular cross-section connected to lower shaft members 52 of generally rectangular cross section. A spring-loaded button clip 54 is provided adjacent the lower end of the shaft members 52.

As will be apparent from Figures 1 to 4, the shaft members 52 are both configured to be received in the mounting tubes 26. Also, the button clip 54 on each shaft member 52 is configured so as to be receivable in the apertures 42, 44 in the mounting members 26.

The handle bar assembly 10 is adapted for movement between a normal operative condition shown in Figure 1 and a collapsed condition shown in Figure 4. Operation of the handle bar assembly 10 will now be described.

In the position shown in Figure 1, the handle bar portions 16, 18 are shown received on the mounting portion 24, with the shaft members 52 shown in a first locked position in the mounting tubes 26. As can be seen, in this first position, the button clips 54 each received in a respective front aperture 44 in the mounting tubes 26. The stop pins 40 serve to prevent the shaft members 52 from extending through the bottom end of the mounting tubes 26, as viewed in Figure 1. The lever arms 36 on the clamps 34 are shown in a 'clamped' position, whereby it will be appreciated that the handle bar portions 16, 18 are held securely in place on the mounting portion 24, with the shaft members 52 clamped between the L-shaped members 30, 32 of the mounting tubes 26. Hence, in this - 6 position the handle bar assembly 10 can be used in a conventional manner on a bicycle, with the upper member 46 of the mounting portion 24 received in the stem clamp 14, as shown in Figure 1.

To move one of the handle bar portions 16, 18 from its first locked position, the lever arm 36 on the respective clamp 34 is moved to an open or unclamped position, as shown in Figure 3. This action releases the shaft member 52 from its clamped condition in its respective mounting tube 26. Thereafter, the button clip 54 on the handle bar portion 16 is depressed and the handle bar portion 16 is raised out from its mounting tube 26, as illustrated in Figure 3.

The handle bar portion 16 is then moved such that the shaft member 52 is effectively rotated inwardly through 90 degrees, before being slotted back down into the mounting tube 26, to the position shown in Figure 4, generally orthogonal to the normal operative position shown in Figure 1. As the shaft member 52 is received between the arms 30, 32, the button clip 54 is depressed until it meets the aperture 42 in the side of the arm 30, whereby it pops out through the aperture 42 to correctly locate the handle bar portion 16 in its collapsed position.

Again, the stop pin 40 prevents the shaft member 52 from extending through the bottom end of the mounting tube 26. The lever arm 36 on the clamp 34 is then returned to its 'clamped' position whereby the cam action of the lever arm 36 acts to clamp the walls of the shaft member 52 between the arms 30, 32 of the mounting tube 26.

The same operation is then carried out on the other handle bar portion 18.

In this embodiment, the overall width of the handle bar assembly 10 in the collapsed condition is less than 50% of the extended configuration shown in Figure 1. As will be appreciated, in the collapsed condition shown in Figure 4, the handle bar assembly 10 can still be used to steer the bicycle to which it is fitted. - 7

To return the handle bar portions 16, 18 to the first condition shown in Figure 1, it will be understood that the above described operations are simply reversed.

In addition to positively locating the handle bar portions 16, 18 in position, the location of the button clips 54 in the apertures 42, 44 also serves as a safety feature in preventing the handle bar portions 16, 18 being accidentally withdrawn from the mounting tubes 26 in use. For example, should a user inadvertently forget to move the lever arm 36 to the clamped position or in the event that the clamp 34 works lose for any reason, the handle bar portions will be retained in the mounting tubes 26 by virtue of the button clips 54 engaging with the apertures, at least for a limited time.

The components of the handle bar assembly 10 can be produced using any suitable materials and methods, as will be readily apparent to the skilled person.

The handle bar assembly according to the invention is also advantageous in that it is not dependent upon an integral handlebar and stem arrangement and is a suitably robust construction It will be appreciated that the invention is not only suitable for use on conventional, non- folding bicycles, but is readily suited for use on folding bicycles.

Although the lower shaft members on the handle bar portions have been described as being of rectangular cross-section, it will be appreciated that they could be of any other suitable polygonal cross-section or circular.

Claims

Claims A handle bar assembly for use on a bicycle, the assembly

comprising: a mounting portion for mounting the handle bar assembly on a bicycle; and handle bar portions for use in steering a bicycle, in which the handle bar portions are movably received by the mounting portion, so as to be adapted for movement between a first operative condition and a collapsed to condition, wherein in the collapsed condition the overall width of handle bar assembly is less than in the first operative condition.
2. A handle bar assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which, to move to the collapsed condition, the handle bar portions are effectively rotated relative to the first operative condition.
3. A handle bar assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which the handle bar portions are effectively rotated through 90 degrees.
4. A handle bar assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the handle bar portions are raised before being rotated.
5. A handle bar assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the handle bar portions are removably received on the mounting portion.
6. A handle bar assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the mounting portion is adapted for releasably clamping the handle bar portions in the first operative condition and the collapsed condition.
7. A handle bar assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each handle bar portion includes an end section adapted to be received in the mounting portion
8. A handle bar assembly as claimed claim 7, in which cam-operable clamp means are provided for clamping the end section of the handle bar portions in the mounting portion.
9. A handle bar assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the mounting portion includes tubular means for receiving co-operatively shaped end sections of the handle bar portions.

lo
10. A handle bar assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which the tubular means comprises a pair of split tubular members, each tubular member being adapted for receiving an end section of a respective handle bar portion.
11. A handle bar assembly as claimed in claim 10, in which the tubular members are spaced apart from one another by brace means.
12. A handle bar assembly as claimed in any of claims 6 to 11, in which the mounting portion includes stop means for limiting the extent to which the end sections of the handle bar portions can be received in the mounting portion.
13. A handle bar assembly as claimed in any of claims 6 to 12, in which the end sections of the handle bar portions include locating means adapted to be received in co-operatively formed formations on the tubular means for correctly locating the handle bar portions in the first operative or collapsed condition.
14. A handle bar assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which the handle bar assembly is adapted to be mounted on a bicycle via a standard stem clamp. - 10
15. A bicycle comprising a handle bar assembly in accordance with any preceding claim.
16. A folding-type bicycle comprising a handle bar assembly in accordance with any preceding claim.
17. A handle bar assembly as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 and Figures 2 and 3.