NL2016166B1 - Bicycle having a bicycle fork and bicycle fork. - Google Patents

Bicycle having a bicycle fork and bicycle fork. Download PDF

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Publication number
NL2016166B1
NL2016166B1 NL2016166A NL2016166A NL2016166B1 NL 2016166 B1 NL2016166 B1 NL 2016166B1 NL 2016166 A NL2016166 A NL 2016166A NL 2016166 A NL2016166 A NL 2016166A NL 2016166 B1 NL2016166 B1 NL 2016166B1
Authority
NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
cables
head tube
bicycle
steerer tube
fork
Prior art date
Application number
NL2016166A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Louis Jean Paul Amaury Vroomen Gerard
Original Assignee
Just Ride B V
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Just Ride B V filed Critical Just Ride B V
Priority to NL2016166A priority Critical patent/NL2016166B1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of NL2016166B1 publication Critical patent/NL2016166B1/en

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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
    • B62K19/00—Cycle frames
    • B62K19/30—Frame parts shaped to receive other cycle parts or accessories
    • B62K19/32—Steering heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
    • B62J11/00—Supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening specific devices to cycles, e.g. supports for attaching maps
    • B62J11/10—Supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening specific devices to cycles, e.g. supports for attaching maps for mechanical cables, hoses, pipes or electric wires, e.g. cable guides
    • B62J11/13—Supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening specific devices to cycles, e.g. supports for attaching maps for mechanical cables, hoses, pipes or electric wires, e.g. cable guides specially adapted for mechanical cables
    • 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
    • B62K19/00—Cycle frames
    • B62K19/30—Frame parts shaped to receive other cycle parts or accessories
    • B62K19/40—Frame parts shaped to receive other cycle parts or accessories for attaching accessories, e.g. article carriers, lamps
    • 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
    • B62K21/12—Handlebars; Handlebar stems

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Steering Devices For Bicycles And Motorcycles (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a bicycle, comprising a steering assembly and a head tube, wherein a steerer tube of the steering assembly has a recessed surface, which is rotatably mounted in the head tube and is configured to provide a cavity within the head tube. Cables, such as brake cables, are routed internally through the cavity from an actuator element 5 towards the to be actuated element. The cables thereby extend, adjacent the recessed surface, though an opening in an upper bearing in the head tube. The invention further relates to a bicycle fork, comprising one or more fork blades and a recessed surface on a steerer tube, wherein the recessed surface faces a frontal direction and wherein cables extend through the cavity in front of the steerer tube, wherein the cavity is configured to be arranged between the head tube of a bicycle frame and the recessed surface.

Description

Title: Bicycle having a bicycle fork and bicycle fork
The present invention relates to a bicycle. The invention further relates to a bicycle fork.
Recently, it has become common practice in the bicycle industry, in particular in the field of bicycle racing, to provide bicycles that are more aerodynamic, more aesthetically pleasing and more reliable. In order to do so, the industry wants to hide braking and/or shifting and/or other cables from the surroundings as much as possible, for example inside the bicycle frame and/or bicycle parts.
Such cables can be made of steel or any other material. Other cables may be configured to contain fluids for hydraulic actuation of components or electric cables for electric actuation of shifting and/or braking or any other function.
With the hiding of these cables, they are better protected to certain influences, for example when the bicycle falls, as compared to when they were exposed. They also no longer interrupt the airflow around the bicycle and they reduce the visual clutter.
Advantages of not having these cables exposed are that the bicycles become faster, e.g. for the same effort of the rider, the rider and bicycle will move faster; more robust, e.g. vulnerable features break down less often; and more visually appealing.
An example of a bicycle with hidden cables is known from US 2006/0145446 A1, wherein a bicycle is disclosed comprising a frame, a handlebar, a control lever and a cable and wherein the cable is guided from the lever, attached on the handlebar, through the handlebar, a stem, a fork and the frame towards a component that needs to be operated.
In such a bicycle, the cable is hidden from the surroundings, since it runs from the lever, entirely through hollow components, towards the component. A drawback of the known bicycle is however that the cable towards the front brake extends through a steerer tube of the bicycle fork. It thereby enters the steerer tube through a hole provided in a top portion of the steerer tube, around which the stem is mounted.
Cables that extend into the frame of the bicycle also enter the steerer tube through the hole and leave the steerer tube through a second hole in the back of the steerer tube, facing an entrance to an interior of the frame.
However, the top portion of the steerer tube is generally heavily loaded as the rider pushes and pulls on the handlebar. The handlebar is directly connected to the stem, so forces applied on the handlebar must be transmitted through the connection between the stem and the steerer tube. The presence of one or more holes in the top portion weakens the steerer tube considerably. The arrangement of one or more holes in the top portion of the steerer tube therefore requires strengthening of the remaining portion of the steerer tube, around the hole.
Furthermore, the rider position is adjusted by changing the position of the stem on the top portion of the steerer tube. A hole, connecting an interior of the stem with an interior of the steerer tube, needs to be relatively large since the desired position of the stem on the steerer tube is not known during standard manufacturing of the fork.
Alternatively, such a hole would have to be made by the rider or bicycle shop. However, the necessary skills to safely arrange such a hole are not always present, leading to potentially dangerous situations following wrongly arranged holes.
It is an object of the invention to provide a bicycle that lacks the above-mentioned drawbacks or at least to provide an alternative.
The present invention provides a bicycle, as claimed in claim 1.
The bicycle comprises a frame, a steering assembly and one or more cables. The steering assembly is rotatably mounted on the frame, such that the direction of a front bicycle wheel, which is mounted on the steering assembly, can be rotated with respect to the frame, in order for the bicycle to change directions. The cables are configured to remotely operate certain functions of the bike, such as braking or shifting gear.
The frame comprises a head tube, which is arranged on a frontal portion of the frame, wherein the head tube comprises a channel. The channel is defined by at least one inner wall surface, such that a through opening is arranged between a top side of the head tube and a bottom side of the head tube.
The steering assembly comprises a fork with a stem mounted thereon, an upper bearing, a lower bearing and a handlebar, which is mounted on the stem. The fork has at least one blade, onto which a wheel can be mounted. The stem is mounted with one end thereof on the fork and extends in a forward direction of the bicycle, such that the handlebar, which is mounted on another end of the stem, is placed in front of the stem.
In an embodiment, the stem and handlebar are different parts, but in a different embodiment, the stem and handlebar are combined into the same part.
The fork comprises a steerer tube, which is connected to the at least one blade. The steerer tube of the fork extends into the frame of the bicycle, in particular in the channel of the head tube.
In an embodiment, the steerer tube is a hollow tube, extending along a longitudinal axis and having an interior.
The fork is mounted in the channel such that it can be rotated with respect to the frame around a longitudinal axis of the steerer tube. When the fork is rotated with respect to the frame, the entire steering assembly is rotated with respect to the frame, since the stem and the handlebar are fixedly connected to the fork.
An upper portion of the steerer tube is mounted in the upper bearing, wherein the upper bearing is mounted in an upper portion of the channel. An outer surface of the upper bearing is thereby mounted in the upper portion of the channel and an upper part of the outer surface of the steerer tube is thereby mounted in a cylindrical inner surface of the upper bearing. In an embodiment, the upper bearing is an upper ball bearing. A lower portion of the steerer tube is mounted in the lower bearing, wherein the lower bearing is mounted in a lower portion of the channel. An outer surface of the lower bearing is thereby mounted in the lower portion of the channel and a lower part of the outer surface of the steerer tube is thereby mounted in a cylindrical inner surface of the lower bearing. In an embodiment, the lower bearing is a lower ball bearing.
Generally, these bearings are circular bearings, in particular ball bearings. Such ball bearings comprise an outer ring and an inner ring, in between which balls are arranged. These balls provide a rolling contact between themselves and both rings and therefore allow for smooth rotational guiding.
The upper portion and the lower portion of the steerer tube are configured to be mounted in the inner ring of respectively the upper bearing and the lower bearing.
With upper portion and lower portion, relative positions are meant with respect to each other. It is remarked that upper portion and lower portion do not necessarily indicate absolute positions on the steerer tube.
The steerer tube comprises a recessed surface to provide a cavity between the recessed surface and the at least one wall surface of the head tube, and in between the recessed surface and the inner surface of the upper bearing. The recessed surface is arranged on at least a portion of the outer surface of the steerer tube.
The cavity thereby extends through an opening in the upper bearing, wherein it is defined by the recessed surface and at least a portion of the inner ring of the upper bearing.
The steerer tube has a substantially cylindrical shape, wherein the cylinder has a radius. At the recessed surface, the radius is smaller than the radius of the cylinder, such that a portion of the outer surface of the steerer tube is set inwardly, compared to the cylindrical portion.
The recessed surface stretches in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the steerer tube. The cavity is therefore provided along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the steerer tube.
In an embodiment, the recessed surface is a flattened portion, such that the cross section of the steerer tube comprises a substantially circular portion and a substantially flattened portion.
In another embodiment, the recessed surface is a groove, wherein at least a portion of the circumference is substantially bended in a radially inward direction. Such a groove might have, in a cross section, an at least partial circular shape or an at least partial rectangular shape.
It is remarked that when the steering assembly, and therefore the steerer tube, is rotated with respect to the frame, the cavity will rotate in the channel accordingly.
The cavity receives at least one of the one or more cables and thereby provides a passage for the cables through the head tube. This allows the cables to be arranged in a compartment that is separated from the surroundings.
The recessed surface is arranged on a frontal portion of the steerer tube, facing a forward direction of the bicycle. The at least one of the one or more cables that run through the cavity, thereby runs in front of the steerer tube.
This provides the advantage over prior art that the one or more cables, which extend through the stem and towards the steerer tube, do not have to run through the steerer tube in order to extend into the bicycle frame. Instead, the cables extend into the bicycle frame through an opening in the upper bearing, but not inside of the steerer tube. The steerer tube can therefore be produced without any holes arranged above the upper bearing, which would reduce the rigidity of the steerer tube.
By extending the one or more cables through the opening in the upper bearing, the entire steering assembly and the cables can move together. No relative movement between those components is therefore required. This relative movement can therefore not negatively affect the steering performance.
The cavity furthermore provides a protected space in which the cables can be received, which would therefore result in less wear of the cables, as compared to prior art bicycles, in which the cables were exposed or ran from the inside of the stem through the steerer tube.
In alternative embodiments, the steerer tube has a non-cylindrical shape, for example a triangular or rectangular shape in cross section. It is, however, remarked that these non-cylindrical steerer tubes must have dimensions, such that they can be firmly mounted in the opening in the upper bearing and the lower bearing.
In an embodiment, the stem is mounted on the upper portion of the steerer tube above the point where the upper bearing is mounted. In this embodiment, the upper bearing is arranged in the top-most portion of the channel in the head tube. Therefore, the stem is mounted on the steerer tube above the head tube.
In an embodiment, the stem is mounted on the steerer tube by means of clamping, wherein two portions of the stem are arranged around the circumference of the upper portion of the steerer tube and are pulled together, for example by means of a bolt element, thereby clamping around the upper portion of the steerer tube.
In an embodiment, the position of the stem on the steerer tube can be adjusted; in particular, the position of the stem can be adjusted along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the steerer tube. An eventual space between the top-most portion of the head tube and the stem, resulting from the adjustment of the stem, is filled with spacers.
Such spacers generally are plain discs, with a circular hole provided in a centre portion to receive the steerer tube.
In an embodiment, at least one of the one or more cables that are received in the cavity, comprise one or more front brake cables. Such front brake cables extend between a front brake element, which is mounted on the handlebar and a front braking element, which is mounted on one or more fork blades. In this embodiment, the front brake element is a front brake lever and the front braking element is a front calliper brake.
In an embodiment, at least one of the one or more cables that are received in the cavity, comprise one or more rear brake cables. Such rear brake cables extend between a rear brake element, which is mounted on the handlebar and a rear braking element, which is mounted on the frame. In this embodiment, the rear brake element is a rear brake lever and the rear braking element is a rear calliper brake.
In an embodiment, at least one of the one or more cables that are received in the cavity, comprise one or more shifting cables. Such shifting cables extend between a shifting actuator element, which is mounted on the handlebar and a shifter element, which is mounted on the frame. In this embodiment, the shifting actuator element is a gear shifter, in particular a mechanical gear shifter, and the shifting element is a bicycle derailleur.
In an embodiment, the at least one of the one or more cables runs from the front brake actuator element or the rear brake actuator element or the shifting actuator element, along the handlebar, through at least a part of an interior of the stem, to the cavity. Such that it is substantially protected from the surroundings, especially because it is arranged in the interior of the stem.
To receive the cables, the stem has a first opening and a second opening, which provide access to the interior of the stem, wherein the cables enter the interior of the stem through the first opening and leave the interior of the stem through the second opening.
In this embodiment, the stem is mounted on the steerer tube such that the cables, leaving the interior of the stem, face the recessed surface and enter the cavity directly. Therefore, the stem is mounted on the steerer tube such that the second opening of the stem is substantially aligned with the recessed surface of the steerer tube.
The cables thereby extend through the cavity, and in particular through the opening in the upper bearing, adjacent the recessed surface.
The one or more rear brake cables and the one or more shifting cables further extend, after having past the cavity, into an interior of a frame tube of the frame. The cavity and an additional space between the inner wall surface of the channel and the outer surface of the steerer tube thereby provide enough room to the cables so that they do not block rotation of the steerer tube in the head tube.
In an embodiment, an outer surface of the upper portion of the steerer tube comprises the recessed surface and the lower portion of the steerer tube has a substantially cylindrical shape.
The substantially cylindrical shape of the lower portion of the steerer tube in an embodiment of the bicycle provides a firm fit within the lower bearing, since the outer diameter of the steerer tube substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of the lower bearing. As a result of the substantially cylindrical shape of the lower portion of the steerer tube, the recessed surface does not extend through the lower bearing. Therefore in this embodiment, the cavity does not extend past the lower bearing.
In an alternative embodiment, both the upper portion and the lower portion of the steerer tube comprise the recessed surface, such that the recessed surface extends along the entire length of the steerer tube.
In this embodiment, the recessed surface extends along the steerer tube to a point below where the steerer tube is mounted in the lower bearing. Thereby, brake cables are permitted to extend along the recessed surface to a point below the lower bearing, such that the cavity extends through the opening in the lower bearing. The cables then extend both through the opening in the upper bearing and in the lower bearing, towards the front braking element, mounted on one or more fork blades.
It is remarked that with the recessed surface extending through the lower bearing, the steerer tube might need reinforcement to counteract for the reduced strength by the recessed surface.
In a further embodiment, a central portion of the steerer tube, in between the upper bearing and the lower bearing, does not comprise the recessed surface, whereas the portions inside the upper bearing and inside the lower bearing do comprise the recessed surface.
In an embodiment, the recessed surface comprises a hole, which is arranged on a portion of the recessed surface between the upper bearing and the lower bearing and wherein the hole provides access to an interior of the fork. This portion between the upper bearing and the lower bearing is, in an embodiment, a transition portion, wherein the shape of the steerer tube gradually changes from comprising the recessed surface to being substantially cylindrical and vice versa.
The transition portion is not highly loaded, in particular not as high as compared to the portion of the steerer tube in, and below, the lower bearing or the portion of the steerer tube above the upper bearing. The arrangement of a hole, with which the structure of the steerer tube is generally weakened, will therefore not substantially harm the rigidity of the steerer tube when provided in the transition portion.
In an embodiment, the interior of the fork is formed by the steerer tube, which is a hollow tube and comprises a steerer tube interior, and the at least one fork blade, which is hollow as well and of which an interior is connected to the steerer tube interior.
In an embodiment, the interior of the fork receives the at least one of the one or more cables. Therefore, the at least one cable towards the front braking element can be received by the interior of the fork and can therefore be extended internally in the fork, rather than outside of the fork, where it is more vulnerable.
The front braking element is fixedly mounted to the steering assembly and therefore rotates together with it. The at least one front brake cable is solely arranged on the steering assembly and attached to the front brake element. It only extends through the cavity, but is not mounted to any component that is fixedly connected to the frame. The at least one front brake cable will therefore not block rotation of the steering assembly by, for example, getting stuck between the frame and the steering assembly.
In this embodiment, the one or more rear brake cables and the one or more shifting cables extend through at least a portion of the cavity towards the interior of the frame tube. The cavity and a remaining space between the inner wall surface of the head tube and the steerer tube thereby provides a space for the accommodation of movement of them which could result from relative rotation between the steering assembly and the frame.
In an embodiment, the at least one of the one or more cables enter the interior of the fork through the hole. The cables therefore further extend, after leaving the interior of the stem, into the cavity, along the recessed surface, into the interior of the fork, through the hole that is arranged in the steerer tube.
Since the front brake cables, which extend into the interior of the fork, are not intended to move with respect to the steerer tube, the hole can be made small. Therefore, the rigidity of the steerer tube is decreased less as compared to when a large hole were to be arranged.
With a hole provided between the upper bearing and the lower bearing, cables no longer need to enter the steerer tube above the upper bearing, in the relative highly-loaded top portion of the steerer tube.
Furthermore, it is no longer needed to provide a large hole, in order for cables to enter the steerer tube with the stem mounted in different position, as was the case in prior art. In this embodiment of the bicycle, according to the present invention, the hole is arranged at the same position for every stem position, which provides for easier manufacturing. Additionally, the part of the steerer tube between the upper bearing and the lower bearing is loaded to a lower extent and the rigidity of the steerer tube is decreased to a lower extent when a hole were to be arranged in it.
The invention further provides a bicycle fork, as claimed in claim 11.
The bicycle fork is configured to be rotatably mounted in a head tube of a bicycle and comprises at least one fork blade and a steerer tube. The steerer tube is a substantially elongate tube and comprises a recessed surface, wherein the cross section of the recessed surface of the steerer tube has an irregular shape, for example by a rectangular or circular recess.
The recessed surface extends at least along a portion of the steerer tube in a direction that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the steerer tube. The recessed surface is arranged on a frontal portion of the steerer tube, wherein a frontal portion of the steerer tube is defined as the portion of the steerer tube facing a forward direction of the bicycle.
In an embodiment, the recessed surface is a flattened portion of the steerer tube, wherein the cross section of the steerer tube is substantially circular, but intermitted in a frontal portion with a substantially flat portion.
In an embodiment, the steerer tube has an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is configured to be mounted in an upper bearing, which is mounted in an upper portion of a channel in the head tube. An outer surface of the upper portion of the steerer tube thereby has dimensions that substantially correspond to the inner dimensions of an opening in the upper bearing. The outer surface of the upper portion at least has dimensions that allow for a firm connection of the steerer tube within the inner ring of the upper bearing.
In this embodiment, the lower portion of the steerer tube is configured to be mounted in a lower bearing, which is mounted in a lower portion of the channel. Similarly to the upper bearing, the dimensions of an outer surface of the lower portion of the steerer tube substantially correspond to the inner dimensions of an opening in the lower bearing. The outer surface of the lower portion at least has dimensions that allow for a firm fit of the steerer tube in an opening in the lower bearing.
In an embodiment, the upper bearing and the lower bearing are configured to be mounted in the channel of head tube and the steerer tube is configured to be respectively mounted with the upper portion and the lower portion in the opening in the upper bearing and the opening in the lower bearing.
In an alternative embodiment, the steerer tube does not have a substantially circular cross section, but a triangular or rectangular cross section or any other shape, wherein the dimensions of those cross sections correspond to the diameter of the openings in the upper bearing and the lower bearing, such that a firm fit of the steerer tube in the upper bearing and the lower bearing is obtained.
In this embodiment, the cavity is created by a space in between the noncorresponding cross section of the circular opening, in the upper bearing and the lower bearing, and the cross section of the triangular or rectangular steerer tube.
In an embodiment, the outer surface of the upper portion comprises the recessed surface and the lower portion of the steerer tube has a substantially cylindrical shape. The recessed surface does thereby not extend along the entire length of the steerer tube but terminates at an intermediate part of the steerer tube, which is arranged, when the steerer tube is mounted in the upper bearing and the lower bearing, between the upper bearing and the lower bearing.
In an embodiment, the intermediate part forms a transition zone, in which the outer surface of the steerer tube gradually changes from comprising the recessed surface in the upper portion towards the substantially cylindrical shape in the lower portion.
In another embodiment, the recessed surface extends along the entire length of the steerer tube, such that, when the fork is mounted in the bicycle, the cavity extends through the opening in the upper bearing and the opening in the lower bearing. The cables thereby extend, adjacent the recessed surface, through the opening in the upper bearing and through the opening in the lower bearing.
In another embodiment, the recessed surface is solely arranged on the portions of the steerer tube that are surrounded by the upper bearing and the lower bearing, when the fork mounted in the head tube of the bicycle. No recessed surface is thereby arranged on the intermediate part. The cables, however, can still extend through a space that is arranged between an inner wall surface of the head tube and the outer surface of the intermediate part.
In another embodiment, the upper portion of the steerer tube that is arranged in the upper bearing comprises the recessed surface on a frontal portion. However, the lower portion of the steerer tube, or at least the portion of the steerer tube that is surrounded by the lower bearing, has the recessed surface on one or more sides of the steerer tube.
In an embodiment, the recessed surface comprises a hole, which is arranged on the intermediate part and wherein the hole provides access to an interior of the fork. The hole is, in an embodiment, configured to provide access to the interior of the fork in order for one or more cables, such as front brake cables, to extend into the interior of the fork.
An advantage of the above-mentioned bicycle fork is that it can be mounted in the channel of an existing bicycle. The bicycle can therefore be made suitable, with the mounting of such a fork, for internal cable routing through for example the fork, a bicycle frame and/or handlebar. With respect to prior art bicycle forks, it is no longer needed to provide large holes in the steerer tube, which would dramatically reduce the rigidity.
Furthermore, on the above-mentioned bicycle fork, many existing bicycle stems can be mounted, in particular stems that are suited for internal cable routing through an interior.
Further characteristics and advantages of the bicycle and the bicycle fork according to the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to embodiments, which are illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:
Figure 1 schematically depicts an embodiment of the bicycle according to the invention, wherein cables are routed through an interior of a steering assembly;
Figure 2 schematically depicts an isometric image of a portion of an embodiment of the bicycle, comprising a head tube and a steering assembly;
Figure 3 schematically depicts a side-view of the embodiment of figure 2;
Figure 4 schematically depicts a bicycle fork according to the invention;
Figure 4A schematically depicts a cross section of the upper portion of the steerer tube of figure 4;
Figure 4B schematically depicts a cross section of the lower portion of the steerer tube of figure 4;
Figure 4C schematically depicts a cross section of the transition portion of the steerer tube of figure 4.
Throughout the figures, the same reference numbers are used to refer to corresponding components or components which have a corresponding action.
Figure 1 discloses a schematic representation of a bicycle according to the invention, denoted by reference numeral 1. The bicycle 1 comprises a frame 10 with a steering assembly 20 mounted thereon and one or more cables 40. The frame 10 comprises a head tube 11, which is arranged on a frontal portion of the frame 10 and is, in the shown embodiment, an integral part of the frame 10.
The steering assembly 20 comprises a fork 21 with a stem 22 mounted thereon and a handlebar 23, which is mounted on the stem 22. The stem 22 is mounted on the steerer tube above the head tube 11 and is mounted such that the handlebar 23 substantially extends in front of the head tube 11. The fork 21 comprises two fork blades 25 onto which a front wheel 26 is mounted.
The one or more cables 40 comprise a front brake cable 41, which extends between a front brake actuator 42, which is mounted on the handlebar 23, and a front brake 43, which is mounted on the fork blades 25. The front brake cable 41 extends from the handlebar 23, through an interior 27 of the stem 22, towards the steerer tube 24.
The one or more cables 40 further comprise a rear brake cable 44, which extends, partially adjacent the front brake cable 41, between a rear brake actuator 45 and a rear brake 46 through the interior 27 of the stem 22.
The head tube 11 comprises a channel 12 that extends through the head tube 11 and is under an angle with respect to the vertical direction, as can be seen in figure 3. The fork 21 comprises a steerer tube 24, which extends into the channel 12 and is rotatably mounted in the channel 12, such that it can only be rotated around the longitudinal axis of the steerer tube 24.
Figures 2 and 3 depict a portion of the embodiment of the bicycle 1, wherein the frame 10 and the head tube 11 are shown partially transparent and which provide a view on the channel 12 with the steerer tube 24 mounted therein. The steerer tube 24 comprises a recessed surface 28 to provide a cavity 29 between the recessed surface 28 and an at least one inner wall surface 15, which defines the channel 12 in the head tube 11.
The cavity 29 is configured to receive the front brake cable 41 and the rear brake cable 44 out of the interior 27 of the stem 22. The recessed surface 28 of the steerer tube 24 is arranged on a frontal portion thereof, such that the cavity 29 is arranged substantially in front of the steerer tube 24. The one or more cables 40, extending from the interior 27 of the stem 22, thereby run through the cavity 29 in front of the steerer tube 24.
The fork 21 is rotatably mounted in the head tube 11 with an upper bearing 50 and a lower bearing 51. An upper portion 30 of the steerer tube 24 is mounted in the upper bearing 50 and a lower portion 31 of the steerer tube 24 is mounted in the lower bearing 51, wherein, in this embodiment, the upper bearing 50 and the lower bearing 51 are respectively mounted in an upper portion 13 of the channel 12 and a lower portion 14 of the channel 12.
An outer surface of the upper portion 30 of the steerer tube 24 comprises the recessed surface 28, which is a flat portion of the outer surface. The cross section of the upper portion 30 therefore comprises a substantially circular portion and a substantially flattened portion.
The diameter of the substantially circular portion corresponds to an inner diameter of an opening in the upper bearing 50, in order to allow for a tight fit between the upper portion 30 of the steerer tube 24 and the upper bearing 50. A second portion of the cavity 32, which is connected to the cavity 29, is arranged between the recessed surface 28 and the upper bearing 50, such that a through passage is arranged in the opening of the upper bearing 50. The one or more cables 40 thereby extend through the second portion of the cavity 32.
An outer surface of the lower portion 31 of the steerer tube 24 has a substantially cylindrical shape, wherein the diameter of the outer surface of the lower portion 31 corresponds to an inner diameter of an opening in the lower bearing 51.
The steerer tube 24 comprises a hole 33, through which access is provided to an interior 34 of the steerer tube 24. The hole 33 is arranged on a transition portion 35 of the steerer tube 24, on which the outer surface of the steerer tube 24 changes gradually from comprising the recessed surface 28 at the upper portion 30 to the substantially cylindrical shape at the lower portion 31.
The hole 33 receives the front brake cable 41, which extends from the cavity 29, through the hole 33, into the interior 34 of the steerer tube 24, after which it runs through an interior of the fork 21 to the front brake 43.
The rear brake cable 44 integrally runs from the cavity 29, past the steerer tube 24 towards an interior of the frame 1 and finally towards the rear brake 45.
In figure 4, a bicycle fork 21 according to the invention is shown, which is configured to be mounted in a head tube 11 of a bicycle 1. The fork 21 comprises two fork blades 25 and a steerer tube 24. The steerer tube 24 is a substantially elongate hollow shaft and comprises a recessed surface 28, wherein the recessed surface 28 is arranged on a frontal portion of the steerer tube 24. Thereby, the recessed surface 28 faces a frontal direction when the fork 21 is mounted in a bicycle 1.
The steerer tube 24 has an upper portion 30 and a lower portion 31, wherein the upper portion 30 is configured to be mounted in an upper bearing 50 and wherein the lower portion 31 is configured to be mounted in a lower bearing 51, wherein the upper bearing 50 and the lower bearing 51 are configured to be mounted in a channel 12 in the head tube 11.
The recessed surface 28 is arranged on the upper portion 30 of the steerer tube 24.
At the recessed surface 28, the outer surface of the steerer tube 24 comprises a substantially flat portion. A cross section of the upper portion 30 of the steerer tube 24, along line A - A, comprising the recessed surface 28, can be seen in figure 4A. The outer surface of the upper portion 30 comprises a substantially circular portion 301 and a substantially flat portion 302. An inner ring of the upper bearing 50 is depicted with a dashed line, wherein the cavity is 29 can be found between the substantially flat portion 302 and the inner ring of the upper bearing 50.
The lower portion 31 of the steerer tube 24 has a cylindrical shape 311, as can be seen in figure 4B, in which a cross section of the lower portion 31 along line B - B is displayed.
The recessed surface 28 comprises a hole 33, as can be seen in figure 4C, in which a cross section of the transition portion 35 along line C - C is displayed.
Through the hole 33, access is provided to an interior of the fork 21, or in particular to an interior of the steerer tube 24. The hole 33 is arranged on the recessed surface 28 between the upper portion 30 and the lower portion 31. In this embodiment of the fork 21, the hole 33 is arranged in the transition portion 35 in which the outer surface of the steerer tube 24 changes from comprising a recessed surface 28 towards a substantially cylindrical shape 311.

Claims (15)

1. Fiets, omvattende een frame, een stuursamenstel gemonteerd aan het frame en een of meer kabels, waarbij het frame een balhoofdbuis omvat en waarbij het stuursamenstel een voorvork met een stuurpen daaraan gemonteerd, een bovenlager, een onderlager en een stuur, gemonteerd aan de stuurpen omvat, waarbij de balhoofdbuis een kanaal omvat, dat door ten minste een binnenwandoppervlak wordt afgebakend, waarbij de vork een binnenbalhoofdbuis omvat, die zich in het kanaal van de balhoofdbuis uitstrekt, waarbij een bovengedeelte van de binnenbalhoofdbuis is gemonteerd in het bovenlager, dat is gemonteerd in een bovengedeelte van het kanaal en waarbij een ondergedeelte van de binnenbalhoofdbuis is gemonteerd in het onderlager, dat is gemonteerd in een ondergedeelte van het kanaal, waarbij de binnenbalhoofdbuis een teruggeplaatst oppervlak omvat om een holte te voorzien tussen het teruggeplaatste oppervlak en het ten minste ene binnenwandoppervlak van de balhoofdbuis en/of tussen het teruggeplaatste oppervlak en een binnenoppervlak van het bovenlager om ten minste een van de een of meer kabels te ontvangen, met het kenmerk dat het teruggeplaatste oppervlak is aangebracht op een voorgedeelte van de binnenbalhoofdbuis zodat de ten minste een van de een of meer kabels voor de binnenbalhoofdbuis langs door de holte loopt.A bicycle, comprising a frame, a handlebar assembly mounted on the frame and one or more cables, the frame comprising a head tube and wherein the handlebar assembly includes a front fork with a stem mounted thereto, an upper bearing, a lower bearing and a handlebar mounted on the includes a steering pin, the head tube comprising a channel delimited by at least one inner wall surface, the fork comprising an inner head tube extending into the channel of the head tube, an upper portion of the inner head tube being mounted in the upper bearing, which is mounted in an upper portion of the channel and wherein a lower portion of the inner head tube is mounted in the lower bearing, which is mounted in a lower portion of the channel, wherein the inner head tube includes a recessed surface to provide a cavity between the replaced surface and the at least one inner wall surface of the head tube and / or between the back Last surface and an inner surface of the upper bearing to receive at least one of the one or more cables, characterized in that the replaced surface is arranged on a front part of the inner head tube so that the at least one of the one or more cables for the inner head tube passes through the cavity. 2. Fiets volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de stuurpen boven het bovenlager aan het bovengedeelte van de binnenbalhoofdbuis is gemonteerd.The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the handlebar pin is mounted above the upper bearing on the upper portion of the inner head tube. 3. Fiets volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de een of meer kabels een of meer voorremkabels omvatten, die zich uitstrekken tussen een voorremactuator, die op het stuur is gemonteerd, en een voorrem, gemonteerd op een of meer vorkbladen.A bicycle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more cables comprise one or more front brake cables, which extend between a front brake actuator mounted on the handlebar and a front brake mounted on one or more fork blades. 4. Fiets volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de een of meer kabels een of meer achterremkabels omvatten, die zich uitstrekken tussen een achterremactuator, die op het stuur is gemonteerd, en een achterrem, gemonteerd op het frame.A bicycle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more cables comprise one or more rear brake cables extending between a rear brake actuator mounted on the handlebar and a rear brake mounted on the frame. 5. Fiets volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de een of meer kabels een of meer schakelkabels omvatten, die zich uitstrekken tussen een schakelactuator, die op het stuur is gemonteerd, en een schakelelement, gemonteerd op het frame.A bicycle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more cables comprise one or more shift cables, which extend between a shift actuator mounted on the handlebar and a shift element mounted on the frame. 6. Fiets volgens een van de conclusies 3-5, waarbij de ten minste een van de een of meer kabels vanaf de voorremactuator of de achterremactuator of de schakelactuator, langs het stuur, door tenminste een deel van een binnenste van de stuurpen naar de holte lopen.A bicycle according to any of claims 3-5, wherein the at least one of the one or more cables from the front brake actuator or the rear brake actuator or the shift actuator, along the handlebar, through at least a part of an interior of the handlebar stem to the cavity walk. 7. Fiets volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij een buitenoppervlak van het bovengedeelte van de binnenbalhoofdbuis het teruggeplaatste oppervlak omvat en waarbij het ondergedeelte van de binnenbalhoofdbuis een in hoofdzaak cilindrische vorm heeft.A bicycle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an outer surface of the upper portion of the inner head tube comprises the replaced surface and wherein the lower portion of the inner head tube has a substantially cylindrical shape. 8. Fiets volgens een van de conclusies 1 - 6, waarbij het teruggeplaatste oppervlak zich door een opening in het onderlager uitstrekt.The bicycle of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the replaced surface extends through an opening in the lower bearing. 9. Fiets volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het teruggeplaatste oppervlak een gat omvat, dat is aangebracht op een gedeelte van het teruggeplaatste oppervlak tussen het bovenlager en het onderlager en waarbij het gat toegang tot een inwendige van de voorvork voorziet.A bicycle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the replaced surface comprises a hole provided on a portion of the replaced surface between the upper bearing and the lower bearing and wherein the hole provides access to an interior of the front fork. 10. Fiets volgens conclusie 9, waarbij het inwendige van de voorvork de ten minste een van de een of meer kabels ontvangt.The bicycle of claim 9, wherein the interior of the front fork receives the at least one of the one or more cables. 11. Fiets volgens conclusie 10, waarbij de ten minste een van de een of meer kabels het inwendige van de voorvork ingaan door het gat.The bicycle of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the one or more cables enters the interior of the front fork through the hole. 12. Voorvork van een fiets, omvattende ten minste een vorkblad en een binnenbalhoofdbuis, waarbij de binnenbalhoofdbuis is ingericht om roteerbaar te worden gemonteerd in een balhoofdbuis van een fiets en een teruggeplaatste oppervlak omvat, met het kenmerk dat het teruggeplaatste oppervlak is aangebracht op een voorgedeelte van de binnenbalhoofdbuis.A front fork of a bicycle, comprising at least one fork blade and an inner head tube, the inner head tube being adapted to be rotatably mounted in a head tube of a bicycle and comprising a repositioned surface, characterized in that the repositioned surface is arranged on a front portion of the inner head tube. 13. Voorvork volgens conclusie 11, waarbij de binnenbalhoofdbuis een bovengedeelte en een ondergedeelte heeft, waarbij het bovengedeelte is ingericht om te worden gemonteerd in een bovenlager, dat is gemonteerd in een bovengedeelte van een kanaal in de balhoofdbuis en waarbij het ondergedeelte is ingericht om te worden gemonteerd in een onderlager, dat is gemonteerd in een ondergedeelte van het kanaal.The front fork of claim 11, wherein the inner head tube has an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being adapted to be mounted in an upper bearing mounted in an upper portion of a channel in the head tube and the lower portion being adapted to be mounted in a lower bearing mounted in a lower portion of the channel. 14. Voorvork volgens conclusie 13, waarbij een buitenoppervlak van het bovengedeelte het teruggeplaatste oppervlak omvat en waarbij het ondergedeelte een in hoofdzaak cilindrische vorm heeft.The front fork of claim 13, wherein an outer surface of the upper portion comprises the replaced surface and wherein the lower portion has a substantially cylindrical shape. 15. Voorvork volgens conclusie 13 of 14, waarbij het teruggeplaatste oppervlak een gat omvat, dat is aangebracht op een gedeelte van het teruggeplaatste oppervlak tussen het bovenlager en het onderlager en waarbij het gat toegang tot een inwendige van de voorvork voorziet.The front fork of claim 13 or 14, wherein the replaced surface includes a hole disposed on a portion of the replaced surface between the upper bearing and the lower bearing and wherein the hole provides access to an interior of the front fork.
NL2016166A 2016-01-27 2016-01-27 Bicycle having a bicycle fork and bicycle fork. NL2016166B1 (en)

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE1027937A1 (en) 2019-12-30 2021-07-28 Belgian Cycling Factory Nv A BIKE AND A FORK FOR A BIKE
EP4124551A1 (en) * 2021-07-30 2023-02-01 Canyon Bicycles GmbH Bicycle fork and bicycle fork system
IT202100024450A1 (en) * 2021-09-23 2023-03-23 Gruppo S R L BICYCLE WITH SHAPED FRONT FORK
US11794848B2 (en) 2020-12-14 2023-10-24 Sram, Llc Hydraulic brake control device with handlebar proximal hose attachment
US11912372B2 (en) 2020-12-14 2024-02-27 Sram, Llc Hydraulic brake control device with handlebar proximal hose attachment

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US20060145446A1 (en) * 2004-12-10 2006-07-06 John Schmider Method to conceal bicycle control cables within the handlebars, stem and frame
DE102015202483A1 (en) * 2014-03-17 2015-09-17 Shimano Inc. BICYCLE STEM
WO2015180756A1 (en) * 2014-05-27 2015-12-03 Bmc Switzerland Ag Bicycle fork, bicycle frame and bicycle

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060145446A1 (en) * 2004-12-10 2006-07-06 John Schmider Method to conceal bicycle control cables within the handlebars, stem and frame
DE102015202483A1 (en) * 2014-03-17 2015-09-17 Shimano Inc. BICYCLE STEM
WO2015180756A1 (en) * 2014-05-27 2015-12-03 Bmc Switzerland Ag Bicycle fork, bicycle frame and bicycle

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE1027937A1 (en) 2019-12-30 2021-07-28 Belgian Cycling Factory Nv A BIKE AND A FORK FOR A BIKE
US11794848B2 (en) 2020-12-14 2023-10-24 Sram, Llc Hydraulic brake control device with handlebar proximal hose attachment
US11912372B2 (en) 2020-12-14 2024-02-27 Sram, Llc Hydraulic brake control device with handlebar proximal hose attachment
EP4124551A1 (en) * 2021-07-30 2023-02-01 Canyon Bicycles GmbH Bicycle fork and bicycle fork system
IT202100024450A1 (en) * 2021-09-23 2023-03-23 Gruppo S R L BICYCLE WITH SHAPED FRONT FORK

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