WO2013021156A1

WO2013021156A1 - Handlebar adjustment mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2013021156A1
Application number: PCT/GB2012/000644
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerard Kool
Original assignee: Gerard Kool
Priority date: 2011-08-08
Filing date: 2012-08-08
Publication date: 2013-02-14
Also published as: GB2493608A; GB201212737D0; GB201113635D0

Abstract

An adjustable clamp for a handlebar stem which allows the angle of the stem to be adjusted to alternate between the desired offset easily and efficiently. The clamp has a main portion for receiving the handlebar in a horizontal position and means to connect the clamp to the vehicle. The main portion has a base having at least two recesses for selectively receiving the handlebar. The main part also has a removable lid part that extends in use over the base part and including a recess off set from its center. Adjustment means are transferable between the areas of the first and second recesses in the base to such that the handlebar is retained securely in a predetermined position between the adjustment means the selected base recess and the lid recess.

Description

Handlebar adjustment mechanism

Field of invention

The present invention relates to a handlebar adjustment mechanism. More especially the invention relates to an adjustment mechanism for a bicycle stem or motorcycle bar mount .

Background to the invention

A large proportion of the world's population own and/or use bicycles regularly. The majority of people only have one bike which they use for many different purposes such as general commuting but also for social and sporting activities such as cross-country and mountain biking.

Different activities, however, require different stem lengths and adjustment of the offset distance at which the user holds the handlebars for comfort and safety. Use of a single bike for each activity often means changing the height of the stem of the bicycle (usually from 50 mm to 70 mm) , re-seating the headset bearings and re-aligning the forks. This can be an arduous task, particularly if done many times.

The present invention seeks to alleviate the aforementioned problems existing in current handlebar arrangement by providing an adjustable clamp for a handlebar stem which allows the angle of the stem to be adjusted to alternate between the desired offset easily and efficiently. Statement of invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an adjustable clamp for a handlebar of a ridden vehicle, the clamp comprising a main portion for receiving the handlebar in a horizontal position and means to connect the clamp to the vehicle, the main portion comprising a base part having first and second curved recesses for selectively receiving the handlebar, a removable lid part that extends in use over the base part and including a recess off set from its center, and adjustment means transferable between the areas of the first and second recesses in the base to such that the handlebar is retained securely in a predetermined position between the adjustment means the selected base recess and the lid recess.

By ridden vehicle is it meant any vehicle that has a handlebar in which is held by a user riding the vehicle and used to steer the vehicle. This includes for example and without limitation, bicycles, motorcycles, quad bikes or the like. The adjustment means may be formed as a separate piece, one surface of which follows the same curved profile of the base recesses.

The adjustment means may alternatively be formed integral with one side of the lid. The adjustment means may be transferable between recesses by reversing the position of the lid during use. The adjustment means may be .piv.otal.ly-attached to one side of the lid.

The adjustment mechanism may comprise two or more clamps 5 spaced apart. Alternatively it may comprise a single elongated clamp connected to two or more base units.

Brief description of the drawings

10 One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which :

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable clamp 15 constructed in accordance with a first embodiment the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the main portion of the clamp of figure 1;

20

Figure 3 is a side view of an adjustable clamp constructed in accordance with a second embodiment the invention;

Figure 4 is a side view of an adjustable clamp constructed 25 in accordance with a third embodiment the invention;

Figure 5 is a side view of an adjustable clamp constructed in accordance with a fourth embodiment the invention;

30 Figure 6 is a side view of an adjustable clamp constructed in accordance with a fifth embodiment the invention;

Figure 7 is a side view of an adjustable clamp constructed in accordance with a fourth embodiment the invention; and Figure 8 is a side view of an adjustment member of the adjustable clamp. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Referring first to figures 1 and 2, an adjustable clamp 2 constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention comprises a main portion 4 which, in use, receives a horizontal handlebar (not shown) of a ridden vehicle such as a bicycle or motorcycle, and a side portion 6, extending from the main portion 4, which, in use, receives the stem of the vehicle. The side portion comprises to two arms 8 with opposing curved recesses 10 which clamp around the stem, in use.

The main portion A has a base part 12 the floor of which has two neighbouring co-planar crescent-shaped recesses 14, 16. Each recess has the same radius, equivalent to that of a standard handlebar diameter.

A lid part 18 is connectable in use over the base part 8. The lid part 18 and base part 12 have generally the same profile and both have flanges 20, 22 projecting outwardly from each side of the base 12 and lid 18. The flanges 20, 22 have bores extending therethrough to receive connecting means 24, such as for example a nut and bolt, to clamp the base 12 and lid 18 together (as best seen in figure 1) .

The arms 8 of the side portion clamp 6 are also clamped together through a nut and bolt or similar connecting means 26 received through apertures at their ends. The lid 18 of the main portion 4 has a crescent shaped- recess 28 in its ceiling which has the same radii as the recesses 14, 16 in the base 12. The recess 28 is offset from the centre of the lid 18 such that the recess 28 aligns directly over the first or second recess 14, 16 of the base 12, depending on which way round the lid 18 is located over the base 12. A semi-crescent shaped adjustment member 30 is located within the other base recess not aligned with lid recess 28.

The recess 28 in the lid 18 and the selected recess 14 or 16 of the base 12 when aligned, together with the adjustment member 30 form a spherical aperture through which the handlebar is located and retained. Through clamping. As can be seen in Figure 8/ the adjustment member 30 may have an outwardly extending tab 32 that is clamped between the flanges 20, 22 of the lid 18 and base 12.. To this end the tab 32 has an aperture to receive the associated connection means 24.

Figure 3 illustrates an adjustable clamp having a single mounting plate 34 for use on a bicycle with triple clamp forks . Referring now to the embodiment in figure 4, in this embodiment the adjustment member is formed as an integral extension 36 to one side of the lid 18. The figure shows the lid recess 28 aligned with the second recess 16 of the base 12. To align the lid recess 28 with the first recess 14 of the base 12 the ueer simply disengages with lid 18 with the 'base 12 by unconnecting the connecting means 24 and rotating the lid 180 degrees in the horizontal plane.^' The lid 18 can then be simply connected back onto the base 12.

Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention. This embodiment does not require an adjustment member. Instead the part of the lid adjacent to one side of the recess 28 forms an inward protrusion preventing the handlebar, when located between the lid 28 and one base recesses from slipping across to the other base recess.

In the embodiment of figure 6 the adjustment member 30 is pivotally attached to a corner of the lid 18. To this end, the adjustment member 30 has curved recess 36 to accommodate the pivot mechanism and is rear cut to enable it to pivot rearwards to allow access to the handlebars into the recesses.

Figure 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention. Here the clamp base 12 of includes single bolt attachment 38 for connection, in use, to a motorcycle triple clamp fork yoke. The clamp 2 is able to rotate about the bolt attachment 38 to thereby provide a third position for the handlebars. Further positions could be provided through locating the bolt attachment 38 at different positions along the base 12. It will be understood, that the various embodiments described herein have been described by way of example only and that modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. An adjustable clamp for a handlebar of a ridden vehicle, the clamp comprising a main portion for receiving the handlebar in a horizontal position and means to connect the clamp to the vehicle, the main portion comprising a base part having first and second curved recesses for selectively receiving the handlebar, a removable lid part that extends in use over the base part and including a recess off set from its center, and adjustment means transferable between the areas of the first and second recesses in the base to such that the handlebar is retained securely in a predetermined position between the adjustment means the selected base recess and the lid recess .

2. A clamp according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment means is formed as a separate piece, one surface of which follows the same curved profile of a or both base recesses.

3. A- clamp according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment means is formed integral with one side of the lid.

4. A clamp according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment means may be pivotally attached to one side of the lid.

5. A clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the adjustment means may be transferable between recesses by reversing the position of the lid during use.

6. A clamp according to any preceding claim wherein the base recesses and lid recess are crescent shaped and have the same or similar radii.

7. A method of adjusting location of a handlebar of a ridden vehicle using the adjustable clamp of any of claims 1 to 6, the method comprising, disengaging the lid part from the base part, moving the handlebar to a selected recess in the base part, rotating the lid part 180 degrees in the horizontal plane, and connecting the lid part to the base part.

8. A adjustable clamp as hereinbefore described and referred to in the accompanying figures.

9. A method of adjusting the location of a handlebar or a ridden vehicle as substantially hereinbefore described and referred to in the accompanying figures .