NL2023644B1 - Bicycle handle stem linkage device - Google Patents

Abstract

The handle stem linkage device according to the invention is adapted for being coupled between a stem and a front fork tube. The linkage device comprises a stem seat, at least one holder member, a tightening member and a tightening part. The upper end portion of the stem seat includes a pivotal portion adapted for connection to the stem. The at least one holder member is arranged to pass through a hoop seat located at the lower end of the stem seat, thereby holding the front fork tube in position. The tightening member and tightening part located below the stem seat are adapted to abut against the headset of the bicycle. All of the structural arrangements above constitute a linkage device that may connect the front fork tube to the handle stem of the bicycle and may be secured at a fixed position above the headset in a quick and stable manner.

Description

BICYCLE HANDLE STEM LINKAGE DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a linkage device that is applicable to a bicycle, and more particularly to a linkage device that connects the front fork tube to the handle stem of a bicycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Bicycles are a type of commonly used transporta- tion vehicles powered by human pedaling. They do not need electricity or gasoline, and they are very environmentally friendly and very suitable for use as general vehicles or leisure sports devices. Further, since bicycles have the advantages of energy-saving and functioning as an exercise tool, more and more people in modern times use bicycles as a means of transportation. In a conventional bicycle, headsets are coupled between the front fork and the frame, thereby constitute a steering mechanism. In particular, the front fork tube is sleeved within the head tube, and the head tube is provided at its upper and lower ends with a headset, respectively. The headsets are connected at their upper end to a handle stem to ensure smooth steering with the handlebar. The headsets are loaded with balls, rollers or bear- ings, and a fastening mechanism is used to mount the headsets on the upper and lower ends of the head tube.

[0003] Due to the structural differences between the so- called “threaded” and “threadless” front forks, the fastening mechanisms for securing the headsets vary from one another in terms of structural arrangement. For example, R.0.C. Patent Publication No. 354957, entitled “Structural Improvement for Threaded Front Fork and Headset Combination,” discloses a con- ventional “threaded” headset fastening mechanism, in which a locking seat is directly screwed on the threads formed on top of the front fork. During the screwing, the lower portion of the locking seat gradually pushes the headset arranged underneath, so that the bearings or balls are pressed appropriately.

[0004] The conventional Y“threadless” headset fastening mechanisms can be further classified into two types in terms of the ways by which they are secured, i.e., the “star fangled nut” type and the “expansion plug” type. These fastening mechanisms employ elastic claws or sockets adapted for abutment against the inner wall of the front fork tube. By virtue of tightening the claws or the sockets with upper cover screws, the headset ar- ranged underneath is pushed gradually, so that the bearings or balls are pressed appropriately. The so-called “star fangled nut” type headset fastening mechanism may be exemplified by that disclosed in R.0.C. Patent Publication No. 544424, entitled “Headset,” and the “expansion plug” type headset fastening mech- anism can be seen from, for example, R.0.C. Patent Publication No. 443274, However, the conventional mechanisms described above have the drawbacks of complicated procedures for assem- bling the constituting parts, high precision requirements for manufacturing the constituting parts and high manufacture cost resulting therefrom, and heavy weight due to the large quantity of constituting parts. These conventional mechanisms cannot meet the market demand for light-weight bicycles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In view of this, a primary object of the invention is to provide a linkage device applicable to a bicycle, and more particularly to a linkage device that connects the front fork tube to the handle stem.

[0006] The bicycle handle stem linkage device disclosed herein is adapted for being coupled between a stem and a front fork tube. The linkage device comprises: a stem seat, formed at its upper end portion with a pivotal portion for connection to the stem and provided at its lower end portion with a hoop seat, wherein the hoop seat is configured centrally with a sleeve port for receiving the front fork tube, and wherein the stem seat is further formed with a cut groove, so that the hoop seat is formed with at least two lug clips; at least one holder member, ar- ranged to pass through the two lug clips of the hoop seat; a tightening member, sleeved on the front fork tube and adapted for abutting at its lower end against a headset of the bicycle; and a tightening part, arranged between a lower end of the hoop seat and the tightening member, wherein the tightening part is connected at its upper end portion to the hoop seat and inserted at its lower end portion into a space between the tightening member and the front fork tube.

[0007] In the invention, the upper end portion of the stem seat is adapted to be pivotally connected to the stem, and the at least one holder member is arranged to pass through the hoop seat at the lower end of the stem seat to thereby hold the front fork tube in position, and the tightening member and tight- ening part located below the stem seat are adapted to abut against the headset of the bicycle. All of the structural ar- rangements above constitute a linkage device that is useful to connect the front fork tube to the handle stem of the bicycle and to be secured at a fixed position above the headset in a quick and stable manner, without the necessity of assembling a star fangled nut or an expansion plug. As an advantageous re- sult, the overall number of constituting parts, as well as the time consumption required for assembling the parts, are reduced considerably. The manufacture and material costs are reduced accordingly.

[0008] According to the technical features above, the tightening part is integrally formed with bottom of the hoop seat.

[0009] According to the technical features above, the tightening part is configured in the form of an annular ring.

[0010] According to the technical features above, the tightening part is formed at its lower end portion with a tapered force-receiving ring, and wherein the tightening member com- prises a tightening ring which is formed at its upper end portion with a tapered force-applying ring complementary in shape to the tapered force-receiving ring.

[0011] According to the technical features above, the tightening ring is formed with a gap around which two attachment flanges are formed, and wherein the attachment flanges are adapted for being tightened by a bolt.

[0012] According to the technical features above, the cut groove extends from one side of the pivotal portion to bottom of the sleeve port.

[0013] According to the technical features above, the hoop seat comprises an upper clamping section and a lower clamp- ing section and is divided into two lug clips by the cut groove along the upper clamping section and the lower clamping section.

[0014] According to the technical features above, the device further comprises a buckle ring mounted beneath the tight- ening ring and formed at its upper end portion with a tapered force-receiving ring, and wherein the tightening ring is formed at its lower end portion with a tapered force-applying ring complementary in shape to the tapered force-receiving ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG.1 shows a structural perspective view of the linkage device according to the invention; FIG.2 shows a structural exploded view of the linkage device according to the invention; FIG.3 shows a structural schematic diagram of the linkage device according to the invention;

FIG.4 shows a schematic diagram of the tightening part ac- cording to another embodiment of the invention; and FIG.5 shows a schematic diagram of the tightening member according to another embodiment of the invention. 5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Unless specified otherwise, the following terms as used in the specification and appended claims are given the following definitions. It should be noted that the indefinite article “a” or “an” as used in the specification and claims is intended to mean one or more than cone, such as “at least one,” “at least two,” or “at least three,” and does not merely refer to a singular one. In addition, the terms “comprising/com- prises,” “including/includes” and “having/has” as used in the claims are open languages and do not exclude unrecited elements. The term "or" generally covers "and/or", unless otherwise spec- ified. The term "about" used throughout the specification and appended claims is used to describe and account for small fluc- tuations or slight changes that do not materially affect the nature of the invention.

[0017] FIG.1 is a structural perspective view of the handle stem linkage device according to the invention, FIG.2 is a structural exploded view of the linkage device according to the invention, and FIG.3 is a structural schematic diagram of the linkage device according to the invention. Firstly, the linkage device according to the invention is applicable to a bicycle and adapted for being coupled amongst the front fork tube 11, the handlebar 12 and the stem 15. The linkage device mainly comprises: a stem seat 20, at least one holder member, a tightening member 30 and a tightening part 40.

[0018] The stem seat 20 is formed at its upper end por- tion with a pivotal portion 21 for connection to the stem 15 and provided at its lower end portion with a hoop seat 22. The hoop seat 22 is configured centrally with a sleeve port 23 for re- ceiving the front fork tube 11. The stem seat 20 is further formed with a cut groove 24 so that the hoop seat 22 is formed with at least two lug clips 25. According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the cut groove 24 extends from one side of the pivotal portion 21 to the bottom of the sleeve port 23. The hoop seat 22 may be considered to include an upper clamping section 221 and a lower clamping section 222, and the hoop seat 22 may be divided into two lug clips 25 by the cut groove 24 along the upper clamping section 221 and the lower clamping section 222.

[0019] At least one holder member is arranged to pass through the two lug clips 25 of the hoop seat 22. In a preferred embodiment, a first holder member 51 and a second holder member 52 are provided to pass through the two lug clips 25 in the upper clamping section 221 and the lower clamping section 222, respec- tively. According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the first holder member 51 and the second holder member 52 can in- dependently be a fastener adapted for being locked on one of the lug clips 25. Alternatively, the first holder member 51 and the second holder member 52 can independently be a quick-release connector or other like structures for fastening purposes.

[0020] The tightening member 30 is sleeved on the front fork tube 11 and adapted for abutting at its lower end against the headset 13 of the bicycle. According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the tightening member 30 includes a tightening ring 31. The tightening ring 31 is formed with a gap 311 around which two attachment flanges 312 are formed. A bolt 32 may be used to tighten the attachment flanges 312.

[0021] The tightening part 40 is arranged between the lower end of the hoop seat 22 and the tightening member 30. The tightening part 40 is connected at its upper end portion to the hoop seat 22 and inserted at its lower end portion into a space between the tightening member 30 and the front fork tube 11.

[0022] According to the embodiment shown in the draw- ings, the tightening part 40 is integrally formed with the bottom of the hoop seat 22 and further formed at its lower end portion 5 with a tapered force-receiving ring 41. The tightening ring 31 is formed at its upper end portion with a tapered force-applying ring 313 which is complementary in shape to the tapered force- receiving ring 41.

[0023] The handle stem linkage device is adapted for connection to a bicycle front fork (not shown) provided with a front fork tube 11. A head tube 14 is mounted outside of the front fork tube 11 and is provided at its upper end and lower end with a headset 13, respectively. The front fork tube 11 is inserted within the hoop seat 22 through the sleeve port 23. The first holder member 51 and second holder member 52 are arranged to pass through the two lug clips 25 of the hoop seat 22, so that the front fork tube 11 is held in position within the hoop seat 22, while the tightening member 30 is disposed between the hoop seat 22 and the headset 13 located atop the head tube 14. At the time, the force-applying ring 313 of the tightening ring 31 abuts against the force-receiving ring 41 of the tightening part 40. When the gap 311 of the tightening ring 31 is gradually reduced as the bolt 32 is being tightened, the tightening part 40 is pressed by the tightening ring 31 concurrently. At this time, as the hoop seat 22 is secured on the front fork tube 11, the pressing force generated by the tightening ring 31 will be indirectly applied on the headset 13 for fixation.

[0024] In another preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the tightening part 40 may be configured in the form of an annular ring. In a further preferred embodiment shown in FIG.5, a buckle ring 33 is mounted beneath the tightening ring 31 and formed at its upper end portion with a tapered force-receiving ring 331, while the tightening ring 31 is formed at its lower end portion with a tapered force-applying ring 313 which is complementary in shape to the tapered force-receiving ring 331. By virtue of the structural arrangement, the tightening member 30 can tighten the linkage device on the headset 13 and meanwhile firmly secure the device on the front fork tube 11.

[0025] In summary, this invention provides a better and more feasible linkage device for a bicycle. While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments above, it should be recognized that the preferred embodiments are given for the purpose of illustration only and are not in- tended to limit the scope of the present invention and that various modifications and changes, which will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

CONCLUSIONS A bicycle stem connecting device adapted to be coupled between a pin and a front fork tube of a bicycle, the connecting device comprising: a pin seat formed at the upper end portion thereof with a pivot portion for connection with the pin and at the lower end portion thereof is provided with a ring seat, the ring seat being centrally formed with a bus port for receiving the fork tube, and the pin seat further having a cutting groove such that the ring seat is formed with at least two bail clamps; at least one retaining member adapted to extend through the two hoop clamps of the ring seat; a fastener which encases the fork tube and is adapted to abut its lower end against a headset of the bicycle; and a fastening member located between a lower end of the ring seat and the fastening member, the fastening member having its upper end portion connected to the ring seat and having its lower end portion inserted into a space between the fastening member and the fork tube . The bicycle stem connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the fastening member is integral with a bottom of the ring seat. The bicycle stem connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the fastening member is formed in the form of an annular ring. The bicycle stem connecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fastening member is provided with a tapered force-absorbing ring at the lower end thereof, and the fastening member comprises a fastening ring provided at the upper end portion thereof. of a tapered force-applying ring dua shape complementary to the tapered force-absorbing ring. The bicycle handlebar stem connecting device according to claim 4, wherein the fixing ring has an opening around which two fixing flanges are formed, and wherein the fixing flanges are adapted to be fixed by a bolt. The bicycle stem connecting device according to claim 4, wherein the cutting groove extends from one side of the hinge portion to the bottom of the bus port. The bicycle stem connecting device according to claim 4, wherein the ring seat comprises an upper clamping section and a lower clamping section and is divided into two bracket clamps along the cutting groove along the upper clamping section and the lower clamping section. The bicycle stem connecting device according to claim 4, further comprising a washer mounted below the fastening ring and having a tapered force-receiving ring at the upper end portion thereof, and the fastening ring having a tapered ring on the lower end portion thereof. force-applying ring that is complementary in shape to the tapered force-absorbing ring.