WO2015052411A1

WO2015052411A1 - Folding handle bars

Info

Publication number: WO2015052411A1
Application number: PCT/FR2014/052504
Authority: WO
Inventors: Celine VENET; Cathal Loughnane; Guillaume MATISSART
Original assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa
Priority date: 2013-10-08
Filing date: 2014-10-02
Publication date: 2015-04-16
Also published as: FR3011527B1; FR3011527A1

Abstract

The invention relates to handle bars (1) comprising a bar (2) designed to be mounted on a stem, the bar (2), comprising a U-shaped part at the ends (6) and (7) of which steering hand grips (8,9) are mounted, characterized in that said steering hand grips (8,9) are mounted in the continuation of the axis of the end of the U-shaped part of the bar (2) and in that at least one of the steering hand grips is able to pivot in the plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the bar (2) so as to allow the handle bars (1) to be folded.

Description

REPLIABLE HANDLEBAR

[οοοΐ] The invention relates to a handlebar with a hanger and 2 handles in the field of folding scooter.

It is known to have scooters or folding scooters with a handlebar, a stem and a board on which the user places a foot to give the impulses, or 2 feet when the scooter is at the speed sufficient to maintain the balance. The user directs the scooter in motion, by directing the handlebars that it grips by at least one of the handles disposed at the ends of the handlebar handlebar, in the open position, that is to say in the directional handlebar position. The steering is transmitted by the stem, from handlebar to the wheel or wheels placed (s) at the front of the board. The user can slow down with possibly a braking device that usually acts on the wheel or wheels placed (s) at the rear of the board. When the user no longer wants to move with the scooter, it is cumbersome. Also many scooters are collapsible, for example the handles can rotate to be folded, the stem can be folded to the board or vice versa.

To reduce clutter when the scooter is in the folded position, the handlebar is usually short and with handles very close to each other, which impairs driving comfort. On the other hand, even if the driving comfort is improved, a handlebar with handles more spaced apart from each other, is not only more bulky but also can be an inconvenience when handling the folded scooter.

In addition, when the handles are not in the directional handlebar position, when they are folded, the pivoting handles remain free of movement in three dimensions. They represent a danger that can cause injury and exceed the other elements of the scooter when it is folded.

It is known, from JP3167353, a handlebar whose handles can be folded to come in a position parallel to the stem, essentially in the extension thereof. But the gain in width is at the cost of a footprint in length of the folded scooter. A scooter with a gallows that folds in a movement along the board, and equipped with this handlebar, will remain bulky, the handles of the handlebar solidarized still beyond the other elements of the scooter in its folded position, so that the scooter can not be stowed in a vehicle trunk or in a transport bag for example. In addition, this longer length can become embarrassing when carrying the scooter to cross a staircase for example.

There is therefore a need for a handlebar adapted to a folding scooter to minimize the size of the scooted scooter while ensuring good driving comfort.

This problem is solved according to the invention by a handlebar having a hanger adapted to be mounted on a bracket, on which are mounted pivoting directional handles, one at each of its ends, and characterized in that the hanger comprises a U-shaped portion and in that at least one of the directional handles pivots in the plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the hanger.

The invention relates to a handlebar comprising a hanger, adapted to be mounted on a bracket, hanger having a U-shaped portion at the ends of which are mounted directional handles, characterized in that said directional handles are mounted in the extension. of the axis of the end of the U part of the hanger and in that at least one of the directional handles is pivotable in the plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the hanger to allow folding the handlebar.

The folded handle, that is to say, pivoted to be again in the plane of the hanger but with its free end closer to the end of the hanger carrying the second handle, frees the space it occupied initially and is housed between the 2 ends of the hanger. The pivoted handle no longer protrudes from the handlebars and therefore from other scooter elements. Advantageously, the pivoting handle thus positioned can be used to grip the uncreased scooter in the manner of a transport handle.

[Ooi o] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handlebar has a hanger, adapted to be mounted on a bracket, at the ends of which are mounted directional handles, and having a U-shaped portion with at least one directional handles, pivotable in the plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the hanger to allow folding the handlebars.

[001 1] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handlebar has two directional handles pivotally mounted. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handlebar has directional handles which have complementary shapes together when they are joined together.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handlebar has directional handles which comprise tabs and grooves adapted to fit one into the other.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handlebar has directional handles that are L-shaped.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handlebar has a folded directional handle which constitutes a transport handle.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handlebar has a (or at least one) folded directional handle which comprises immobilization means.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handlebar has immobilization means which are magnetic.

The invention also proposes a vehicle which has a handlebar as described above.

The invention is described in more detail below and with reference to the figures schematically showing the system in its preferred embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a handlebar according to the invention with the directional handles in the open position.

Figure 2 shows the handlebar of Figure 1 with the directional handles in semi-open position.

Figure 3 shows the handlebar of Figure 1 with the directional handles in the folded position according to a first preferred embodiment.

[0023] Figure 4 shows a section of a handle according to one embodiment of the invention. Figure 5 shows the handlebar of Figure 1 with the directional handles in the folded position according to a second preferred embodiment.

[0025] Figure 1 shows according to the invention, a handlebar 1 with a hanger 2 respectively carrying at each end 6 and 7, a directional handle 8 and 9.

The hanger 2 is adapted to be mounted at the end of a bracket 16, and for this may comprise a rod, not shown here which can for example slide in the bracket 16 and be maintained in a position adapted to the driver size by a pin or pin or any other suitable holding means.

The hanger 2 has a substantially U-shaped. The middle portion 3 of the U may be more or less rounded, see angular. In this case, the shape will be closer to that in V.

The directional handle 8 is essentially L-shaped with on the one hand a gripping zone 12 on the part of the L shape of larger size and on the other hand on the side of the smaller part of a portion. connecting zone with the branch 4 of the hanger 2. The handle is designed to pivot about the axis 14 parallel to one of the branches of the U. This axis defines the axis of rotation 14 around which the gripping zone 12 of the directional handle 8 pivots. Blocking and unlocking means of the directional handle 8 are partially represented by the press button 10.

The choice made here preferably is a handle that enters a hollow hanger. A variant with a handle that caps a 6 or 7 end of the hanger 2 is equally conceivable.

Symmetrically, the directional handle 9 comprises a gripping zone 13 and a not shown shaft penetrating into the branch 5 of the hanger 2. This axis defines the axis of rotation 15 around which the gripping zone 13 of the handle directional 9 rotates. Locking means and unlocking of the directional handle 9 are partially represented by the press button 1 January.

And the directional handles 8 and 9 can rotate in the plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the two branches of the hanger 2 in other words, in a plane substantially parallel to the ground when the scooter is used as a means of transport by the user. When one of the directional handles is folded, it is a handle particularly suitable for transporting the scooted scooter, that is to say when the board is folded along the stem. It can also be a hook to suspend the scooter for storage.

In the preferred embodiment shown here, the two handles are pivotally mounted. To reconcile the desire for a wide handlebar and a minimum size of the folded handlebar, it is advantageous to have directional handles with complementary shapes, able to form the same transport handle. The directional handles 8 and 9 have embedding devices designated respectively by the references 18 and 17. In the preferred embodiment of Figure 1, these embedding devices are not present on the same side of the plane containing the hanger, which allows to maintain a good rigidity.

Figure 2 shows the handlebar 1 described in Figure 1 in an intermediate position during the pivoting of the directional handles 8 and 9. The handles 8 and 9 rotate in the plane perpendicular to the plane containing the branches 4 and 5, in the same direction of rotation or not.

Figure 3 shows the handlebar 1 with the directional handles 8 and 9 together, forming a transport handle 19.

In a more particularly preferred embodiment, shown in Figure 4, the two directional handles 8 and 9 have complementary shapes such that they fit together, interlocking one into the other. The recessed devices 17 and 18 are in the form of tongues and grooves. The spaces between the tongues 20 of the handle 8 define the grooves of the handle 8. Similarly, the tongues 21 of the handle 9 define the grooves of the handle 9. The tongues of one of the handles and the grooves of the other handle, and vice versa, interpenetrate to form a single solid section handle with a reduced footprint.

In another variant not shown, the carrying handle 19 may have a plane of symmetry which defines two equivalent portions of the carrying handle 19. These two parts of the transport handle thus defined each constitute one of the directional handles. 8 and 9. In another variant shown in Figure 5, the two directional handles 8 and 9 complement each other when the handles are in the folded position, so as to constitute a single carrying handle, in a plane parallel to the ground. In a preferred embodiment, the gripping zone 12 of the directional handle 8 is further away from the end 6 of the hanger 2 than the gripping zone 13 of the directional handle 9 with respect to the end 7 of the hanger. 2. It is possible that the handle 9 is T-shaped with the gripping zone 13 corresponding to the larger part of the T, and with the part of the T comprising the locking / unlocking means actuated by the push button 1 1 is vis-à-vis with the handle 8 to increase the rigidity of the handle 9 in the directional position or in the folded position, and the carrying handle 19.

One can also have immobilization means for locking the two handles in the folded position. These immobilization means may be at the handles or hanger. They may for example be associated with the locking / unlocking means actuated by the press buttons 10 and 11.

These immobilization means may for example include magnetic means, such as magnets.

The invention thus proposes a device offering multiple advantages. It is thus possible to have a carrying handle by folding only one directional handle or the two directional handles, to immobilize them. It is possible to have a carrying handle that has the same size as one of the 2 directional handles.

The invention has been described more specifically in the case of a handlebar for scooters or scooters, but the invention can also extend to the field of folding bike, travel luggage, golf cart, trolley to commissions or any other area that can use a handle to move an item that has one or more wheels and that must be able to be compacted, folded.

Claims

1. Handlebar (1) comprising a hanger (2), adapted to be mounted on a bracket, hanger (2) having a U-shaped portion at the ends (6) and (7) of which directional handles (8, 9), characterized in that said directional handles (8,9) are mounted in line with the axis of the end of the U-section of the hanger (2) and in that at least one of the directional handles is pivotable in the plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the hanger (2) to allow folding the handlebar (1).

2. Handlebar (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two directional handles (8,9) are pivotally mounted.

3. Handlebar (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the directional handles (8,9) have complementary shapes together when they are joined.

4. Handlebar (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the handles (8,9) comprise tabs (20) and (21) and grooves adapted to fit one into the other.

5. Handlebar (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the handles (8,9) are L-shaped.

6. Handlebar (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said folded directional handle or at least one of them, is a carrying handle (19).

7. Handlebar (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said folded directional handle (8,9) comprises immobilization means (10,1 1).

8. Handlebar (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the immobilizing means (10,1 1) are magnetic.

9. Vehicle characterized in that it comprises a handlebar (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.