GB2437741A

GB2437741A - Clamp structure for use on different diameter bars

Info

Publication number: GB2437741A
Application number: GB0619378A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kuo-Ping Ho
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-04
Filing date: 2006-10-02
Publication date: 2007-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 2026-10-02
Also published as: FR2900696B3; TWM298560U; DE202006015524U1; GB0619378D0; US20070258758A1; GB2437741B; FR2900696A3

Abstract

A clamp structure for use on different diameter bars (such as on a bicycle) includes upper 20 and lower 30 clamp pieces, a set of first spacers 42, 43 and a set of second spacers 62, 63. Grooves 26, 32 receive the first spacers 42, 43 and pins 44, 45 locate in apertures 27, 33 so that the clamp pieces 20, 30 which are pivoted at 22 and drawn together by bolt 43 engage a bar 51 (fig. 3). In order to engage a smaller diameter bar 51A (fig. 5) second spacers 62, 63 have posts 64, 65 which engage into apertures in the first spacers 42, 43. The arrangement shown is suitable for attaching to bicycle handlebars but a further arrangement is disclosed (figs. 7-10, not shown) for attachment to a bicycle rear carrier. A formation to engage the upper part of the carrier bars is linked by fixing bolts to a lower set of clamp members. The upper formation is shaped to engage the bars but has no spacers. Each lower jaw can receive a pair of spacers (as described above) to allow engagement with different diameter carrier bars.

Description

CLAMP STRUCTURE FOR USE ON DIFFERENT DIAMETER BARS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a clamp structure for use on different diameter bars, and more particularly to a clamp structure that enables clamping a clamp base to all types of front handlebars of a bicycle, or can be used on a rear carrier of a bicycle to fixedly clamp articles thereto.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

The increasing development of modern high technology drives the continued advancement of various types of vehicles, which correspondingly increases the convenience of life of modern people.

However, presently, the depletion of natural energy resources and worsening of environmental pollution has given rise to the popularity of the bicycle, it being a vehicle that does not consume energy resources and does not pollute the environment. Moreover, riding a bicycle also has the advantage of providing the body with healthy exercise.

Furthermore, the bicycle is not only a fitness exercise apparatus; moreover, it further provides an excellent transportation tool for employees. For example, a newspaper deliverer can ride a bicycle while delivering newspapers to every household, a postman can ride a bicycle while delivering the post along large streets and small lanes, a milk company delivery person can ride a bicycle while delivering dairy milk, a collection clerk can ride a bicycle while making house-to-house calls to notify to collect fees, and so on. The aforementioned are examples of specific personnel who commonly use a bicycle.

According to the aforementioned, because the people are using the bicycle as a means of transport, thus, a pack or a basket is naturally attached to the bicycle in order to deposit articles therein. However, the fixed means of traditional packs uses a method whereby the pack is simply hung on the bicycle and not effectively fixedly secured, thus, which has the unavoidable shortcoming of the pack swaying and destabilizing the center of gravity of the rider during the course of riding the bicycle.

Furthermore, the current popular trend of bicycles has resulted in the front handlebars of some of the bicycles being manufactured with a relatively large diameter, while the front handlebars of other bicycles are manufactured with a relatively small diameter. Hence, a fixed base clamping device cannot be used with a traditional pack or basket.

Moreover, if the fixed base clamping device of the traditional pack or basket is for use as a single size installation, then after a consumer has made his purchase and returns home, but discovers that his purchase is not suitable for use on his own bicycle, then it results in the inconvenience of having to exchange the purchase, thereby highlighting another shortcoming of prior art. In addition, if the manufacturer of the fixed base for the pack or basket manufactures and separately packages clamping structures for large diameter bars and small diameter bars, then this will result in higher manufacturing costs and annoyance of increased stock numbering.

In light of this, the motivation behind development of the present invention is to provide a clamp structure for use on different diameter bars which enables consumers to make a single purchase that is applicable for use with bars of different diameter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a clamp structure for use on different diameter bars with a clamp device that facilitates clamping to different diameter bars, and enables clamping on the front handlebars or rear carrier of a bicycle.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide the clamp structure for use on different diameter bars with the advantage of a DIV (do it yourself) reinstall fixture configuration that enables clamp structures to be used on both large diameter bars and small diameter bars, wherein ancillary spacers are used to line the clamp structures to form different sized apertures.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, the clamp structure for use on different diameter bars of the present invention is primarily structured to comprise upper clamp pieces, lower clamp pieces, a set of first spacers and a set of second spacers, wherein joining portions and through holes are located on the upper clamp pieces, and embedding grooves are defined in bottom edges of the upper clamp pieces.

Corresponding positions of the lower clamp pieces are similarly disposed with through holes and binding embedding grooves. The embedding grooves enable the first spacers to embed therein, and the second spacers can be selectively disposed on and thereby block up the first spacers. Clamping spaces are thus formed between the upper clamp pieces and the lower clamp pieces after lining the joining portions with the first spacers, which enable clamping a bar of relatively large diameter. Clamping spaces formed between the upper clamp pieces and the lower clamp pieces after additionally lining the joining portions with the second spacers enable clamping a bar of relatively small diameter. A clamp base enables fixedly joining a backpack (or basket) to the front handlebars of a bicycle, and a joining bottom plate enables fixedly joining a pack to a rear carrier of a bicycle.

To enable a further understanding of said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, brief description of the drawings is provided below followed by detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded structural view of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the first embodiment used on large diameter handlebars of a bicycle according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 used on large diameter handlebars of a bicycle according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded structural view of the first embodiment configured with a second spacer according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 used on small diameter handlebars of a bicycle according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a second application of the first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded structural view of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows an exploded structural view of the second embodiment additionally configured with a second spacer according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment used on a carrier having large diameter bars according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment used on a carrier having small diameter bars according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, which shows a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein clamp structures suitable for use on bar members of different diameters are joined to a clamp base 10. Clamp structures (A, B) are configured on two sides of the clamp base 10, and the clamp structures (A, B) are respectively configured with an upper clamp piece 20, a lower clamp piece 30, a set of first spacers (41, 42) and a transverse hook piece 50. Arc recesses (21, 31) are respectively formed -7-.

in mutually close surfaces of the upper clamp pieces 20 and the lower clamp pieces 30. A shaft fitting end 23 provided with a shaft hole 22 able to fit a shaft is configured at an end of each of the upper clamp pieces 20, and a another end of each of the upper clamp pieces 20 is configured with a joining end 25 provided with a long bolt hole 24. Shaft pins 35 are used to respectively pin join the shaft holes 22 and corresponding shaft holes 36 of the lower clamp pieces 30, thereby joining the upper clamp pieces 20 to the lower clamp pieces 30.

Furthermore, an embedding groove 26 (see FIG. 3) and an embedding groove 32 (see FIG. 3) are defined in arc recess sections between the upper clamp pieces 20 and the lower clamp pieces 30 respectively, and embedding holes (27, 33) are further defined in the binding embedding grooves (26, 32) respectively, thereby enabling the first spacers 41 of the embedding grooves 26 and the first spacers 42 of the embedding grooves 32 to respectively embed therein. Two protruding posts 44, 45 are located on bottom portions of the first spacers (41, 42) respectively, and the protruding posts 44, 45 embed into the embedding holes 27, 33.

A plurality of embedding grooves (46, 47) are respectively defined in surfaces of the first spaces (41, 42). A bolt 43 downwardly penetrates each of the long bolt holes 24 of the joining ends 25 of the upper clamp pieces 20, and extends out a bolt hole 34 of each of the lower clamp pieces 30, thereby joining the upper clamp pieces 20 to the lower clamp pieces 30, and thus forming the clamp structures (A, B) having clamping spaces therebetween. In an embodiment of the present invention, after the aforementioned bolts 43 have penetrated the bolt holes 34, then the transverse hook piece 50 is configured between the bolt holes 34 of the two lower clamp pieces 30, and ends of the bolts 43 after penetrating the bolt holes 34 penetrate through through-holes 55 of the transverse hook piece 50, whereupon nuts 54 are used to tighten down on the ends of the bolts 43, thereby enabling the transverse hook piece 50 to support a bottom portion of a central stem 52 of front handlebars 51 of a bicycle, thus ensuring that a change in pitch angle will not result when a heavy article is hung on a front end of the clamp base 10.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, when the bolts 43 on the clamp structures (A, B) configured on the two sides the clamp base 10 are loosened, the joining ends 25 can be separated from the bolt holes 34 of the lower clamp piece 30, thereby enabling the clamp base 10 can be disposed at an intersection of the front handlebars 51 and the central stem 52 of the bicycle, and after packing the spacers (41, 42) within inner sides of the upper clamp pieces 20 and the lower clamp pieces 30, enclosed spaces between the two spacers (41, 42) form inner apertures of relatively large size sufficient to firmly clamp the front handlebars 51 of a bicycle, thus enabling position of the clamp base 10 to be firmly fixed on a front end of the bicycle. The clamp base 10 is also able to clamp to a joining piece 61 having a backpack 60 disposed thereto, thereby enabling the backpack 60 to be firmly joined to the front handlebars 51 of a bicycle.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, which show an embodiment of the present invention, wherein if the front handlebars 53 of a bicycle are designed with a relatively small diameter, then additional second spacers 62 can be embedded into the embedding grooves 46 used to join the first spaces 41 of the upper clamp pieces 20, and additional second spacers 63 can be similarly embedded into the embedding grooves 47 used to join the first spaces 42 of the lower clamp pieces 30.

Moreover, protruding posts 64 are located on a back surface of the second spacers 62, and protruding posts 65 are located on a back surface of the second spacers 63. The protruding posts (64, 65) enable the second spacers 62, 63 to fixedly insert into the embedding grooves 46, 47 respectively. After the second spacers (62, 63) have been additionally disposed into the first spacers (41, 42), then the clamping space formed therebetween is correspondingly reduced in diameter, -10-thereby enabling the front handlebars 53 having relatively small diameter to be firmly clamped therewith. Referring to FIG. 6, which shows the joining piece 61 joined to a basket 66. Hence, joining of the clamp base 10 to the joining piece 61 or separating therefrom enables the backpack 60 or the basket 66 to be movably disposed on a bicycle.

A pack of a general bicycle that can not be disposed on the front handlebars can be disposed on a rear carrier 90 of the bicycle.

Referring to FIGS. 7 -9, which show a rear carrier of a bicycle configured with a joining bottom plate 70, a surface of which is defined with a plurality of clasp grooves 71 that enable jointing to corresponding hooks 68 configured on a bottom portion of a pack 67. Moreover, joining holes 72 and concavities 73 are defined on two sides and bottom edges of the joining bottom plate 70 respectively. The concavities 73 are defined to correspond with retaining members 80, a side of each of which is defined with a joining hole 81, and another side has at least one embedding groove 82. Each of the retaining members 80 of the embodiment of the present invention is configured with two of the embedding grooves 82 to enable a first spacer 83 to embed therein.

Protruding posts 84 are located on a bottom portion of each of the first spacers 83, and embedding holes 85 are defined in a top portion of the first spacers 83. When the joining bottom plate 70 is disposed on the rear carrier 90 of a bicycle, the concavities 73 are aligned and disposed on bars 91 of relatively large diameter of the rear carrier 90, and then the retaining members 80 are upwardly aligned with the respective concavities 73 and disposed on lower portions of the relatively large diameter bars 91 of the rear carrier 90, whereafter bolts 86 are used to penetrate through the joining holes 72 and the joining holes 81, and then nuts 87 are respectively bolted down tight thereon, thereby achieving joining of the joining bottom plate 70 to the retaining members 80, and firmly clamping the relatively large diameter bars 91 of the rear carrier 90 by means of the concavities 73 of the joining bottom plate 70 and the first spacers 83 of the retaining members 80.

If bars 92 of a rear carrier of a bicycle are of relatively small diameter, after the first spacers 83 have been embedded in the retaining members 80, then the joining bottom plate 70 and the retaining members 80 are still unable to firmly clamp to the bars 92 of the rear carrier. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 10, after the first spacers 83 have been embedded in the retaining members 80, then the embedding holes 85 defined in the upper portion of the first spacers 83 are used to enable protruding posts 89 of second spacers 88 to embed therein, thereby narrowing the -12-clamping space between the concavities 73 of the joining bottom plate and the retaining members 80, and enabling the joining bottom plate to be firmly clamped to a rear carrier of a bicycle.

According to the aforementioned it can be appreciated that the structural device of the present invention is provided with the following practical advantages: 1. Clamping of the upper clamp pieces 20 and the lower clamp pieces enables the clamp base 1 0 to be joined to the front handlebars of a bicycle, and a backpack or basket correspondingly configured with the joining piece 61 can be joined to a bicycle, thereby achieving effectiveness of convenient storing of articles.

2. Size of the clamping spaces formed between the upper clamp pieces 20 and the lower clamp pieces 30 can be changed by using the first spacers (41, 42) and the second spacers (62, 63), thereby facilitating joining to bars of different outer diameters at non-specific positions.

3. The present invention is also applicable for use on rear carriers of a bicycle, wherein the joining bottom plate 70 is first disposed on the rear carrier, then the clasp grooves 71 defined on the joining bottom plate 70 enable the hooks 68 located on the bottom portion of a pack to insert -13 -therein. Moreover, the joining holes 72 and the concavities 73 are defined on two sides and the bottom edges of the joining bottom plate respectively to correspond with the retaining members 80. The joining hole 81 defined in one side of each of the retaining members 80 and the embedding grooves 82 defined in the other side, thereby, when the first spacers 83 are inserted into the embedding grooves 82, then the second spacers 88 can be additionally respectively inserted onto the first spacers 83, thus similarly achieving effectiveness to clamp to bars of different diameter.

In conclusion, the present invention assuredly achieves anticipated objectives of the invention by enabling the clamp structures (A, B) to be used on bicycles having different diameter bars, thereby providing the present invention with practical value. Accordingly, a new patent application is proposed herein.

Is It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

-14 -What is claimed is: 1. A clamp structure for use on different

diameter bars, comprising: relatively configured upper clamp pieces and lower clamp pieces, wherein arc recesses are respectively formed in mutually close surfaces of the upper clamp pieces and the lower clamp pieces, a shaft fitting end provided with a shaft hole is configured at an end of each of the upper clamp pieces, and a another end of each of the upper clamp pieces is configured with a joining end provided with a long bolt hole; shaft pins are used to respectively pin join the shaft holes and corresponding shaft holes of the lower clamp pieces, thereby joining the upper clamp pieces to the lower clamp pieces; embedding grooves are respectively defined in arc recess sections between the upper clamp pieces and the lower clamp pieces, which enable first spacers to embed therein; a set of first spacers, a top surface of each of which is defined with at least one embedding hole, and protruding posts are located on a bottom portion of each of the first spacers, which function in coordination with binding embedding grooves of the upper clamp pieces and the lower clamp pieces; a set of second spacers, which function in coordination with the -15-embedding grooves of the first spacers, and protruding posts are located on a back surface of each of the second spacers; whereby bolts are used to penetrate long bolt holes of the upper clamp pieces, and nuts are tightened down on ends of the bolts after penetrating the long bolt holes, thereby forming clamp structures after joining the upper clamp pieces to the lower clamp pieces, moreover the first spacers and the second spacers enable adjusting clamping space formed by the clamp structures, thus facilitating joining to different diameter bars.

2. The clamp structure for use on different diameter bars according to claim 1, wherein embedding holes are defined in the embedding grooves defined in the upper clamp pieces and the lower clamp pieces, thereby enabling the protruding posts located on the bottom portions of the first spacers to respectively embed into the embedding holes.

3. The clamp structure for use on different diameter bars according to claim 1, wherein the clamp structures formed by the upper clamp pieces and the lower clamp pieces is joined to a clamp base, and a joining piece disposed on a front end of the joining base enables indirectly fixedly connecting to a backpack.

-16 - 4. A clamp structure for use on different diameter bars, comprising: a joining bottom plate, a surface of which is defined with a plurality of clasp grooves, and joining holes and concavities are defined on two sides and bottom edges of the joining bottom plate respectively; a plurality of retaining members, a side of each of which is defined with joining holes, and another side has at least one embedding groove; a plurality of first spacers, a bottom portion of each of which is provided with protruding posts, and embedding holes are defined in a top portion of each of the first spacers; the protruding posts are able to embed into the embedding grooves of the retaining members; a plurality of second spacers, a bottom portion of each of which is provided with protruding posts, which are able to embed into the embedding holes of the first spacers; whereby when the joining bottom plate is disposed on a rear carrier of a bicycle, the concavities are aligned and disposed on bars of the rear carrier, and then the retaining members disposed with the first spacers are attached to the bars of the rear carrier, whereupon bolts are used to penetrate through the joining holes of the joining bottom plate and joining holes of the retaining members, whereafter nuts are respectively bolted down tight thereon, thereby forming clamp structures.

5. The clamp structure for use on different diameter bars according to claim 1, wherein the second spacers are respectively disposed on upper surfaces of the first spacers, thereby enabling the protruding posts on the back surfaces of the second spacers to embed into embedding grooves of the first spacers.

6. Clamp structure for use on different diameter bars substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.