US3863521A

US3863521A - Adjustable handlebars

Info

Publication number: US3863521A
Application number: US222931A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen L Gatsos; Roy F Abercrombie; Charles R Ford
Original assignee: Carlisle Corp
Current assignee: Carlisle Corp
Priority date: 1971-10-26
Filing date: 1972-02-02
Publication date: 1975-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-04

Abstract

Adjustable handlebars comprising a central, main body portion, hand-grip portions respectively at opposite sides of the main body portion, a device for connecting each hand-grip portion to the main body portion for movement from a high-speed running position to a low-speed resting position, and a manually-operable lock associated with each connecting device and arranged securely to hold its associated hand-grip portion alternatively in its running and resting positions. The connecting devices may preferably provide for pivotal movement of the hand-grip portions from lower positions to higher positions, the lower positions being the running positions and the higher positions being the resting positions.

Description

Unite States Patent [191 Gatsos et al. g

1 1 Feb. 4,1975

[ ADJUSTABLE HANDLEBARS [75] Inventors: Stephen L. Gatsos; Roy F.

Abercrombie; Charles R. Ford, all of Indianapolis, Ind.

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 191,988, Oct. 26,

1971, abandoned.

[52] U.S. .Cl. 74/551.4, 280/278 [51] Int. Cl B62k 21/16 [58] Field of Search 74/5513, 551.4, 551.5,

12/1969 Yoshikaw 74/5514 X 4/1970 Stone 74/551.4

3,795,379 3/1974 Gray 403/99 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,400,384 4/1965 France 403/103 Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William. R. Coffey [57] ABSTRACT Adjustable handlebars comprising a central, main body portion, hand-grip portions respectively at opposite sides of the main body portion, a device for connecting each hand-grip portion to the main body portion for movement from a high-speed running position to a low-speed resting position, and a manuallyoperable lock associated with each connecting device and arranged securely to hold its associated hand-grip portion alternatively in its running and resting positions. The connecting devices may preferably provide for pivotal movement of the handl-grip portions from lower positions to higher positions, the lower positions being the running positions and the higher positions being the resting positions.

16 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 41975 SHEET 2 [IF 2 ADJUSTABLE HANDLEBARS This is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 191,988 filed Oct. 26, 1971, now abandoned, for Adjustable Handlebars.

Bicycling has always been a highly accepted form of transportation, recreation and exercise. In the past few years, sales of bicycles have increased and more and more people, including adults, are riding bicycles as a form of recreation and exercise. The advantages of bicycle riding are well known.

More and more people are now turning to high performance bicycles ofthe type having multi-speed transmissions, narrow wheels, and racing handlebars. For. reasons well known, such racing handlebars are con ventionally arranged to cause the rider to bend over and lean forwardly with his arms extending downwardly. This position provides for greater driving power from the rider's legs. However, long sustained periods of riding in this highly efficient position is very tiring.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide adjustable handlebars which will permit the rider easily and manually, while riding, to shift the gripportions of the handlbars from their lower, high-speed running positions to their upper, relaxing positions.

Others have provided handlebars which may be adjusted with tools, for instance, to fit a particular rider.

Representative United States patents showing such devices are Nos. 540,879 issued in June, 1895; 578,180 issued in March, 1897; 611,668 issued in October, 1898; 613,014 issued in October, 1898; 3,481,218 issued in December, 1969; and 3,505,901 issued in 9 April, 1970.

The adjustable handlebars of the present invention constitute a significant improvement over such prior art handlebars for several reasons, the primary reason being that they are easily shifted between their highspeed running positions and their low-speed resting positions while riding. The handlebars bars of the present invention are extremely safe because they include locking means arranged securely to hold the hand-grip portions alternatively in their high-speed running positions and their low-speed resting positions. Yet, in accordance with the present invention, this locking means is constructed so that a rider can easily manually release each hand-grip portion for movement from one of its positions to the other of its positions. One illustrative locking means includes a locking member which is urged by a spring into its locking position and which may be moved by finger or thumb pressure against the urging of the spring to its releasing position. In another illustrative embodiment, the locking member, which is spring urged to its locking position, is moved to its releasing position by twisting the associated hand-grip on the handlebars. Another illustrative embodiment is such that the locking member is moved from its locking position to its releasing position by pulling the associated hand-grip portion to which the member is connected a short distance away from the central main body portion of the handlebars. In this last-mentioned embodiment, the hand-grip portions are shifted from their lower positions to their higher positions by pulling the hand-grip portions outwardly, pivoting them upwardly about their pivot axes, and then moving them downwardly to be locked in their upper positions.

The capability of being able to adjust the positions of the hand-grip portions whlie riding is extremely advantageous, especially when riding in groups or in crosscountry races. The ability to shift to and from the forwardly leaning running position every few minutes is extremely important for purposes of resting the riders back. In cross-country riding, using the handlebars of the present invention, a rider can easily and quickly shift to a comfortable resting position for coasting down hill.

Another advantage of the handlebars of the present invention is that the hand-grip portions are preferably connected for pivotal movement between their lower positions and their upper positions about axes extending generally horizontally and in the direction in which the bicycle is moving. In one embodiment. each connecting means providing this pivotal movement includes cooperating connector members having generally concentric circular flat faces engaged together to provide adequate bearing surfaces and through which concentrically extends a fastening element defining the pivot axis for the connecting means. In another embodiment, the connecting means providing this pivotal movement includes a sleeve'like member having diametrically opposed elongated slots in its end, a second member telescopically received in the sleeve-like member to be movable between an outer position in which it can be tilted upwardly to extend through said slots and an inner position in which it extends parallel to said sleeve-like member.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent as this description progresses.

To accomplishment ofthe above and related objects, the present invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view showing a bicycle and a rider in running position in solid lines and in resting position in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a view of the handlebars of the present invention looking from the front of the handlebars and showing, in solid lines, one hand'grip portion in its lower position and the other hand-grip portion in its upper position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top view showing one illustrative connecting means and locking means;

of the connecting means of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another connecting means and locking means;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 in FIG. Sand looking forwardly in the direction of movement of the bicycle;

FIG. 7 is another fragmentary sectional view showing still another connecting means and locking means;

FIG. 8 is a view of another embodiment of the present invention looking from the front of the handlebars;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing the hand-grip portion of the handlebars of FIG. 8 in their upper positions;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from FIG. 8 generally along the line 10-10;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the pivotal connection means of the handlebars of FIG. 8 taken along a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the same plane as FlG. 11 except showing the handgrip portion pivoted upwardly.

Turning now to the drawings and first to FIG. 1 it will be seen that there is illustrated a bicycle indicated generally by the reference numeral including a conventional frame 12, front wheel 14 and back wheel 16 with conventional handlebars 18. The rider is illustrated in two positions. In solid lines, the rider is shown leaning forwardly with his arms extending downwardly to grip the generally downwardly extending hand-grip portions of the handlebars 18. In this position, the rider is better able to apply driving power to the pedals of the bicycle. In order to stop the bicycle, the rider may actuate the conventionally located hand levers 20. The levers, of course, are pivotally connected to the hand-grip portions just above the usual rubber grips so that the rider may apply the brakes without removing his hands from the grips.

With such conventional handlebars, the rider may straighten his back some by gripping the handlebars at their main body portions right next to the conventional gooseneck clamp. While this will permit the rider to straighten up some to rest his back, it will not permit him to straighten up too much and it is not very safe because the riders hands are away from the brake actuating levers 20.

Turning now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the handlebars of the present invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 30, include a central, generally horizontally extending main body portion 32 provided with the usual, slightly enlarged and knurled portion 34. The handlebars 30 are connected to the bicycle by tightening the usual gooseneck clamp of the bicycle about the portion 34.

At each end of the main body portion 32 is a handgrip portion 36. lt will be appreciated that the illustrative handlebars 30 are symmetrical and that the handgrip portions 36 are allochirally related. A brake actuator lever 38 is connected to each hand-grip portion 36 by means such as the illustrated clamp 40 to be adjacent the conventional rubberlike hand-grip indicated at 41. In some cases, such rubber hand-grips are not used and the handlebars are wrapped with a tape which is ideal for gripping. Thus, the brake actuator levers 38 move with the hand-grip portions 36 always to be easily accessible to the rider. This is an important feature of the present invention.

Means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 42, are provided for connecting the hand-grip portions 36 respectively to the opposite ends of the main body portion 32. These connecting means 42 preferably provide for pivotal movement of their associated hand-grip portions 36 between their illustrated lower positions to their illustrated upper positions.

Each hand-grip portion 36 includes a portion 46 extending straight out from the connecting means 42, a portion 48 which is curved forwardly from the portion 46 and then rearwardly, and a generally straight portion 50 which extends rearwardly and slightly outwardly. The grips 41 are mounted on the distal ends of these straight portions 50. When both hand-grip portions 36 are in their lower positions, the handlebars 30 of the present invention have the same general appearance as the conventional handlebars 18, the primary difference being the appearance of the connecting means 42.

When both hand-grip portions 36 are in their upper positions, the rider of the bicycle can be in the position shown in dashed lines of FIG. 1. It will be appreceated that this is a much more comfortable position and that the brake actuator levers 38 are close to the rider's hands.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, one illustrative connecting means 42 will be discussed. The connecting means 42 includes a first connector member 56 rigidly connected to the main body portion 32 by a fastening element 58 and a second connector member 60 rigidly connected to the hand-grip portion 36 by a fastening element 62. Both illustrative connector members 56. 60 have reduced shank portions which extend. respectively, into the

tubular portions

32, 46 to provide a neat, smooth appearance. One or both of the illustrated

fastening elements

58, 62 may be of the type that can be easily removed to facilitate installation of the handlebars 30 on a bicycle. This may be advisable because the connecting means 42 may be larger in diameter than the span of the conventional gooseneck clamp.

The connector member 56 is formed to provide a flat face 64 defining a plane which includes the axis of the tubular main body portion 32. The other connector member 60 is formed to provide a mating flat face 66. Then, the two

connector members

56, 60 are provided with registering bores 68, the coinciding axes of which are perpendicular to the flat faces 64, 66 and perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of the main body portion 32. The connector member 56 is counterbored as indicated at 72 to receive the head 74 of a bolt 76 which extends through the bore 68 to be threaded into the bore 70. The bolt 76, therefore, defines the axis about which the connector member 60 pivots relative to the connector member 56. The

flat surface

64, 66 are generally circularly shaped and adjacent portions of the

connector members

56, 60 are generally spherically shaped so that the appearance of the illustrative connector means 42 is generally spherical. lllustratively, the

flat surfaces

64, 66 may have a diameter of l /2 inches so that the two mating surfaces provide a relatively large bearing surface, the purpose of which is to confine the connector member 60 to smooth pivotal movement about the axis of the bolt 76. When the bolt 76 is tightened and the two

surfaces

64, 66 are pulled into mating engagement, the resulting pivot joint is extremely stable and will not permit the hand-grip portion 36 to shake or rattle relative to the main body portion 32.

ln order to lock the connecting means 42 in a selected position, locking means including a locking member 84 (FIG. 4) is provided. The illustrative locking member 84 is formed with a bearing surface 86 engaging the fastening element 62 so that the member 84 can pivot about the axis of the fastening element 62 in an axially extending slot 88 formed in the connector member 60. A spring 90 is disposed as shown in FIG. 4 to urge the locking member 84 outwardly to its locking position. The locking member 84 includes a finger piece 92 which extends outwardly toward the rider of the bicycle and the locking portion 94.

the locking member 56 is provided with a pair of notches 96, 98 peripherally spaced apart about the axis of the bolt 76 to be engaged by the locking portion 94. The spring 90 urges the locking portion 94 into engagement with either the notch 96 or the notch 98. As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the locking member 84 is in its locking position, its locking portion 94 spans the plane defined by the mating faces 64, 66 to prevent pivotal movement of the connector member 60 relative to the connector member 56. The sides of the slot 88 are such that the locking member 84 can only move toward and away from the bottom of the slot. The notches 96, 98 are proportioned and designed snugly to receive the locking portion 94 so that the hand-gripportion 36 will be securely locked either in its lower position or upper position. The two notches 96, 98 are illustratively approximately 90 apart so that the hand-grip portion 36 moves approximately 90 from its lower position to its upper position.

Preferably, the handlebars 30 will be placed on the bicycle such that the pivot axes for the connector means 42 will extend generally horizontally and forwardly in the direction of movement of the bicycle. This means that the planes defined by the mating faces 64, 66 will be generally vertically and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the bicycle.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the present invention will be discussed. In this embodiment, the

connector members

56, 60 have generally the same configuration illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the exception that they are proportioned and designed to utilize another type of locking means. The bore 70 in the connector member 60 is elongated so that the connector member 60 can move laterally as well as pivotally relative to the axis of the bolt 76. Then, the connector member 60' is formed to provide a locking portion 102 which alternatively engages peripherally spaced apart

notches

104, 106 formed in the member 56. As shown in FIG. 6, in order to move the locking portion 102 from the notch106 to the notch 104, the connector member 60 is moved first in the direction of the arrow 108 to disengage the portion 102 from the notch 106 and then pivotally in the direction of the arrow 110 to engage the portion 102 with the notch 104. Since the sectional view of FIG. 6 is taken looking forwardly from the bicycle, the notch 104 defines the upper position of the hand-grip portion while the notch 106 defines the lower position of the handgrip portion.

The locking portion 102 is urged into its locking position by means of a spring 107 disposed in an opening 1070. When a rider desires to shift the position of the handgrip portion, he merely pulls it away from the bolt 76 and then pivots it from its position to its alternate position.

Turning now to FIG. 7, another embodiment of locking means and connecting means will be discussed, this embodiment including a locking member 114 carried for reciprocation in an opening 116 in the connector member 60 with a spring 118 disposed in that opening and urging the locking member 114 to its projected locking position engaging either the notch 104 or notch 106 in the connector member 56. A cable 120 is connected to the locking member 114 and extends through the tubular hand-grip portion 36 so that its opposite end is connected to the inwardly extending portion 124 of the hand-grip 41. An illustrative .cable connection is indicated at 126. The end of the tubular portion 50 is formed with a cam surface 128 and the grip 41 is formed to provide a protrusion 130 which rides on the cam surface. The cam surface 128 is proportioned and designed such that when the grip 41 is rotated about the portion 50, the grip moves axially outwardly to pull on the cable to move the locking member 114 to its releasing position. The locking means of the embodiment of FIG. 7 is, therefore, released by the rider twisting the hand-grip 41.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-12, another embodiment of the present invention will be discussed, this embodiment being indicated generally by the reference numeral 140. The embodiment includes a central, main body portion 142 knurled as indicated at 144 as discussed previously. Hand-

grip portions

146, 148 are disposed respectively at opposite sides of the main body portion 142. Means. indicated generally by

reference numerals

150, 152 are provided for respectively connecting the hand-

grip portions

146, 140 to the main body portion 142 for generally rectilinear shifting movement relative to the main body portion between inner and outer positions and for pivotal movement relative to the main body portion between lower positions and upper positions. The connecting means 150, 152 are proportioned and designed, as described hereinafter, such that the said pivotal movement can occur only when the hand-grip portions have been shifted outwardly or away from the main body portion 142.

In the illustrative embodiment, the main body portion 142 is sleeve-like, and provides, at each of its ends, sleevelike portions 154, the walls of which are flattened in generally vertical planes as illustrated. A fastening element, such as the illustrated rivet 156, extends through each portion 154 to provide a pivotal connection means as will be more fully described hereinafter. In the illustrative embodiment, the: rivets 156 also serve to fasten together the two halves of the main body portion 142.

In the illustrative embodiment 140, a connector member 158 is fixed to each hand-

grip portion

146, 148 by means of a fastening element, such as the illustrated rivet 160. In accordance with the discussion above, each end of the main body portion 142 may be considered the said first connector member while the connector member 158 may be considered the said second connector member.

Each connector member 158 is formed to provide a distal portion 162 having a cross-sectional shape such that it will telescopically fit into the adjacent sleeve-like portion 154 of the main body portion 142. This distal portion 162 is formed with axially elongated slots 164 in its vertical side walls, through which slots the rivet 156 extends. The diameter of the rivet 156 is substantially equal to the width of the slots 164. Thus, each connector member 158 can reciprocate or shift rectilinearly in its associated sleeve-like portion 154 from an inner position to an outer position. The extent of this shifting movement is determined by the length of the slots 164. The inner position, illustrated in FIG. 10, is also defined by the rivet 156 being against the righthand ends of the slots I64, and the outer position is defined by the rivet 156 being against the left-hand end of the slots.

Each sleeve-like portion 154 is provided with an axially inwardly extending upper slot 166 and an axially inwardly extending lower slot 168. These two slots 166,

168 are diametrically opposed, and the width of the slots is such that the slots will receive the distal portion 162. As shown, the distal portion 162 of each connector member 158 is formed with parallel, vertically extending sides, and these sides engage respectively the axially extending side edges of the

slots

166, 168 when the hand-

grip portions

146, 148 are in their upper positions. The axially inner end of each slot 168 is disposed such that, when the associated connector member 158 is in its outer position, the axially inner end of the connector member outwardly from the axially inner end of the slot. This is why the connector member can pivot upwardly to its position shown in FIG. 9 when it is in its outer position. As shown in FIG. 11, when the connector member 158 is in its inner position, the axially inner end of the connector member is inwardly from the axially inner end of the lower slot 168 to prevent any pivotal movement about the axis of the rivet 156.

The hand-

grip portions

146, 148 are moved from their lower positions to their upper positions, therefore, by pulling outwardly on the hand-grip portions and then pivoting them upwardly about the axes of the rivets 156. Once a connector member 158 is in its upper position, it can be moved in the direction of its slots 164 downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 9, i.e., a position such that the connector member 158 is resting against the axially inner ends of the

slots

166, 168.

Each connecting means 150, 152 is stable in either of its positions. A connector member 158 is stable it its upper position since its slots 164 are of a width not significantly greater than the diameter ofthe rivet 156 extending therethrough and since the connector member is conformingly disposed in the

slots

166, 168 and against'the axially inner ends thereof. In its inner position as shown in FIG. 10, the connector member is stable because its distal portion 162 is conformingly received in the sleeve-like portion 154.

A locking member 176 is provided for locking each hand-

grip portion

146, 148 in its lower or upper position. The illustrative locking member 176, which includes a fingerengaging portion 178, is pivotal about the axis of the rivet 156. In other words, the locking member 176 stays with the rivet 156, but pivots about its axis. The distal portion 162 is provided with an aperture or notchl80 through which the finger-engaging portion 178 extends. A spring such as indicated at 182 is provided for yieldably urging the portion 178 out into engagement with the notch 180. As viewed in FIG. 11, when this finger-engaging portion 178 is pushed inwardly out of engagement with the notch 180, the connector member can be moved from its inner position to its outer position. It will be appreciated that this locking arrangement will work also to hold the connector member 158 in its position shown in FIG. 9. That is, the connector member 158 cannot be pivoted downwardly from its position shown in FIG. 9 until the connector member is shifted to its outer position in the direction of elongation of the slots 164. This shifting cannot take place until the portion 178 is pushed inwardly out of engagement with the notch 180.

It will be appreciated that other forms of locking arrangements may be used for locking each hand-

grip portion

146, 148 in its lower or upper position. Primarily, the objective is to provide a releasable locking member which will hold the connector member 158 either in its position shown in FIG. 9 or its position shown in FIG. 11, i.e., the position with the rivet 156 against the right-hand ends of the elongated slots 164. One alternative locking arrangement which has been effective is to provide a locking member which pivots about a fixed axis on the connector member 158 and which engages and hooks over the rivet 156 when the connector member is in its inner position. i.e., when the rivet is against the right-hand ends of the slots 164. This alternative locking arrangement is, therefore, merely a releasable hook means for engaging the rivet 156 and preventing the connector member from moving rectilinearly away from the rivet. The hook means may also include a finger engaging portion such as the portion 178 which extends through the aperture 180.

One significant advantage of the embodiment is that the handlebars can be completely assembled in the factory and subsequently installed on any bicycle having a conventional handlebar clamp. The connector means 150, 152 are small enough in diameter to pass through such a clamp.

It will be appreciated that the handlebars of the present invention are constructed such that one hand-grip portion at a time may be moved so that at least one of the rider's hands will always be available for actuating the brake.

What is claimed is:

1. Adjustable handlebars for a bicycle comprising a central main body portion, hand-grip portions respectively at opposite sides of said main body portion, means for connecting each hand-grip portion to said main body portion for movement between a high-speed running position and a low speed resting position, and manually-operable means for releasably locking each said connecting means securely to hold its associated hand-grip portion alternatively in its running and resting positions, said connecting means including a first connector member at the adjacent end of said main body portion and a second connector member fixed to said hand-grip portion, said second connector member being engaged with and connected to the adjacent first connector member for generally rectilinear movement only relative to said first connector member between an inner position and an outer position, and pivot means for connecting said second connector member to said first connector member for pivotal movement, when said second connector member is in said outer position, between a lower position corresponding to said running position and an upper position corresponding to said resting position, said pivotal movement being about an axis extending forwardly in the direction of movement of said bicycle, said connector members being disengaged to permit such pivotal movement when said second connector member is in said outer position.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which said first connector members are provided by the opposite end portions of said main body portion, said end portions being sleeve-like telescopically to receive their associated second connector members.

3. The invention of claim 2 in which each said sleeve portion is provided with diametrically opposite axially extending slots in its end, the associated second connector member extending through said slots as said member pivots from its lower position to its upper position.

4. Adjustable handlebars comprising a central main body portion, hand-grip portions respectively at opposite sides of said main body portion, means for connecting each hand-grip portion to said main body portion.

for movement from a lower position to an upper position, and hand-operated means for releasably locking each said connecting means securely to hold its associated hand-grip portion alternatively it its lower and upper positions, said central main body portion providing, at each of its ends, a sleeve-like portion providing a first connector member, each said connecting means including a second connector member fixed to said hand-grip portion, said second connector member being telescopically disposed in the adjacent first connector member for rectilinear shifting movement by hand between an inner position and an outer position, and pivot means connecting said second connector member to said first connector member for pivotal movement, when said second connector member is in said outer position, between said lower position and said upper position, said pivotal movement being about an axis perpendicular to the direction of said rectilinear movement.

5. The invention of claim 4 in which each said second connector member is provided with a slot elongated in the direction of such shifting movement, each said pivot means including a pivot pin carried by its associated first connector member to extend through said slot, the extent of such shifting movement being determined by the length of said slot.

6. The invention ofclaim 4 in which said first connector member of each connecting means is provided with diametrically opposite axially extending upper and lower slots in its outer end, the associated second connector member extending through said slots as said member pivots from its lower position to its upper position.

7. The invention of claim 6 in which each said second connector member is provided with a slot elongated in the direction of such shifting movement, each said pivot means including a pivot pin carried by its associated first connector member to extend through said slot, the extent of such shifting movement being determined by the length of said slot.

8. Adjustable handlebars for a bicycle, said handlebars comprising a central main body portion, handgrip portions respectively at opposite ends of said main body portion, means for connecting each hand-grip portion to said main body portion for pivotal movement from a lower position to an upper position, and means for releasably locking each said hand-grip portion alternatively in its lower and upper positions, said locking means being manually operable by the rider of such a bicycle while riding, said main body portion pro viding, at each of its ends, a sleeve, each said connecting means including a connector member fixed to the adjacent hand-grip portion, said connector member being reciprocably received in the adjacent sleeve for shifting movement between an inner position and an outer position, said connector member being provided with an elongated slot, and a pivot pin carried by said sleeve to extend through said slot, the extent of such shifting movement being determined by the length of said slot, said sleeve and said connector member being proportioned and designed such that said connector member is pivotally movable about said pin only in its said outer position.

9. The invention of claim 8 in which the outer end of said sleeve is provided with upper and lower axially inwardly extending slots, said second connector member being proportioned such that, when it is in its said outer position, its axially inner end is outwardly from the inner end of said lower slot and movable through said lower slot as said connector member pivots into said upper slot.

10. The invention of claim 9 in which said locking means includes means for preventing said connector member from moving from its inner position to its outer position.

11. The invention of claim 8 in which said locking means includes means for preventing said connector member from moving from its inner position to its outer position.

12. Adjustable handlebars for a bicycle, said handlebars comprising a central main body portion providing opposite end portions, hand-grip portions respectively at opposite sides of said main body portion, a connector member fixed to each hand-grip portion, means for connecting each said connector member to the adjacent opposite end portion for generally rectilinear shifting movement relative to said end portion between an inner position and an outer position and for pivotal movement, when said connector member is in said outer position, relative to said end portion between a lower position and an upper position, said pivotal movement being about a generally horizontal axis extending perpendicularly to the direction of such rectilinear shifting movement and generally forwardly in the direction of movement of said bicycle.

13. The invention ofclaim 12 including means for releasably locking each said connector member in its said inner position, said locking means being manually releasable by the rider of such a bicycle while riding.

14. The invention of claim 12 in which said opposite end portions are sleeve-like to receive said connector members, each end portion being provided with upper and lower axially inwardly extending slots through which its associated connector member extends when pivoted upwardly.

15. The invention of claim 14 in which said associated connector member is proportioned such that, when it is in its said outer position, its axially inner end is disposed outwardly from the inner end of said lower slot and, when it is in its said inner position, its axially inner end is disposed inwardly from the inner end of said lower slot.

16. The invention of claim 15 in which said associated connector member is disposed against the axially inner ends of said upper and lower slots when said connector member is in its inner position and its said upper position.

Claims

1. Adjustable handlebars for a bicycle comprising a central main body portion, hand-grip portions respectively at opposite sides of said main body portion, means for connecting each hand-grip portion to said main body portion for movement between a highspeed running position and a low speed resting position, and manually-operable means for releasably locking each said connecting means securely to hold its associated hand-grip portion alternatively in its running and resting positions, said connecting means including a first connector member at the adjacent end of said main body portion and a second connector member fixed to said hand-grip portion, said second connector member being engaged with and connected to the adjacent first connector member for generally rectilinear movement only relative to said first connector member between an inner position and an outer position, and pivot means for connecting said second connector member to said first connector member for pivotal movement, when said second connector member is in said outer position, between a lower position corresponding to said running position and an upper position corresponding to said resting position, said pivotal movement being about an axis extending fOrwardly in the direction of movement of said bicycle, said connector members being disengaged to permit such pivotal movement when said second connector member is in said outer position.

4. Adjustable handlebars comprising a central main body portion, hand-grip portions respectively at opposite sides of said main body portion, means for connecting each hand-grip portion to said main body portion for movement from a lower position to an upper position, and hand-operated means for releasably locking each said connecting means securely to hold its associated hand-grip portion alternatively it its lower and upper positions, said central main body portion providing, at each of its ends, a sleeve-like portion providing a first connector member, each said connecting means including a second connector member fixed to said hand-grip portion, said second connector member being telescopically disposed in the adjacent first connector member for rectilinear shifting movement by hand between an inner position and an outer position, and pivot means connecting said second connector member to said first connector member for pivotal movement, when said second connector member is in said outer position, between said lower position and said upper position, said pivotal movement being about an axis perpendicular to the direction of said rectilinear movement.

6. The invention of claim 4 in which said first connector member of each connecting means is provided with diametrically opposite axially extending upper and lower slots in its outer end, the associated second connector member extending through said slots as said member pivots from its lower position to its upper position.

8. Adjustable handlebars for a bicycle, said handlebars comprising a central main body portion, handgrip portions respectively at opposite ends of said main body portion, means for connecting each hand-grip portion to said main body portion for pivotal movement from a lower position to an upper position, and means for releasably locking each said hand-grip portion alternatively in its lower and upper positions, said locking means being manually operable by the rider of such a bicycle while riding, said main body portion providing, at each of its ends, a sleeve, each said connecting means including a connector member fixed to the adjacent hand-grip portion, said connector member being reciprocably received in the adjacent sleeve for shifting movement between an inner position and an outer position, said connector member being provided with an elongated slot, and a pivot pin carried by said sleeve to extend through said slot, the extent of such shifting movement being determined by the length of said slot, said sleeve and said connector member being proportioned and designed such that said connector member is pivotally movable about said pin only in its said outer position.

13. The invention of claim 12 including means for releasably locking each said connector member in its said inner position, said locking means being manually releasable by the rider of such a bicycle while riding.