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Title:
DUAL CLAMP BICYCLE STEM FACE PLATE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2006/001811
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A dual clamp bicycle stem face plate assembly for use in combination with a bicycle steering system includes a dual clamp face plate member attachable to the outside end of the extension arm of a bicycle steering assembly and which further includes an auxiliary or second clamp for retaining and gripping a second handle bar or pair of handles.

Inventors:
JOHNSON LANCE E (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2004/026983
Publication Date:
January 05, 2006
Filing Date:
August 19, 2004
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
XYZ AERO INC (US)
JOHNSON LANCE E (US)
International Classes:
B62K21/12; (IPC1-7): B62K1/00
Foreign References:
US5163339A1992-11-17
US5429013A1995-07-04
US5509328A1996-04-23
US5568958A1996-10-29
US6467372B22002-10-22
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Nelson, Jon O. (10 South Wacker Drive, Suite 300, Chicago Illinois, US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS What is Claimed is;
1. A dual clamp bicycle stem face plate assembly for use in combination with a bicycle steering system having a steering tube and a steering arm extension connected to the steering tube, said arm extension projecting generally laterally from the steering tube, said arm extension including an outside end for engaging a first handle bar in combination with a face plate attachable to the outside end, said dual clamp bicycle stem face plate assembly comprising: a clamp face plate attachable to the ami extension outside end to engage and retain a first handle bar by clamping a first handle cross bar element thereof transverse to the steering tube, said face plate clamp member including a secondary clamp section for clamping a second handle bar with a cross bar element spaced from the first cross bar element.
2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the clamp face plate member includes a primary clamp element attachable to the arm extension, said primary clamp element including a recess for clamping the first handle bar cross bar element and a bracket extension with an end having a recess for receipt of a second handle bar cross bar element, and said face plate clamp member further including a fastening element for the bracket extension to retain the second handle bar cross element.
3. The face plate assembly of claim 1 in combination with a first handle bar and a second handle bar.
4. The face plate assembly of claim 2 in combination with a first handle bar and a second handle bar.
5. The face plate assembly of claim 3 wherein the handle bar cross bar elements are generally parallel.
6. The face plate assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastening element comprises an auxiliary clamping member.
7. The face plate assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastening element comprises a fastener.
8. The face plate assembly of claim 1 wherein the outside end of the arm extension includes a first arcuate recess for receipt of the first handle bar cross bar element and wherein the clamp face plate member includes a second arcuate recess for receipt of the first handle bar cross bar element in combination with the ami extension outside end first arcuate recess.
9. The face plate assembly of claim 8 wherein the clamp face plate member secondary clamp section includes a third arcuate recess for receipt of a second handle bar cross bar element.
10. The face plate of claim 9 wherein the clamp face plate member secondary clamp section includes a detachable fastening element.
Description:
DUAL CLAMP BICYCLE STEM FACE PLATE

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This international application claims priority to U.S. patent application serial No. 10/864,995, entitled "Dual Clamp Bicycle Stem Face Plate" and filed on June 10, 2004, which claims priority to U.S. patent application serial No 60/478,473 entitled "Dual Clamp Bicycle Stem Face Plate" filed June 12, 2003 which are incorporated herewith by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to an assembly used in combination with the steering system of a bicycle which enables utilization of at least two handle bars for the steering system. Biking enthusiasts seek to incorporate into their bicycles the most recent technology which will enable them to enjoy their bicycle for recreational as well as sporting purposes. Among the features which biking enthusiasts may employ or desire are handle bar constructions which facilitate steering of the bicycle comfortably and efficiently. Often bicyclists find that a certain handle bar construction is beneficial with respect to certain terrain conditions whereas an alternative handle bar construction is desirable in alternative situations. Alternative weather, environmental or terrain situations may thus require alternative handle bar arrangements when using the bike in order to improve comfort, avoid fatigue or to improve streamlining in the event of sport biking. Thus, there has developed a need for a means to incorporate alternative handle bar assemblies or handle bars in sporting bikes, racing bikes and the like. The present invention is directed to such an objective and further to the objective of enabling biking enthusiasts to incorporate multiple handle bar constructions on a single bicycle in a simplified and efficient manner while avoiding the addition of significant weight and avoiding other encumbrances to the use of the bicycle. Of course, the technology may apply to bicycles having two or more wheels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention comprises a dual clamp bicycle stem face plate assembly for use in combination with a bicycle steering system. Typically, a bicycle steering system includes a generally vertical steering tube associated with the front wheel of the bicycle and mounted so as to rotate about its axis in a manner which will enable directional movement of the front wheel. The top of the steering tube typically includes a steering arm extension which may be manipulated by turning handle bars attached to the steering arm extension. The steering arm extension in combination with the handle bars thus provides a mechanical advantage which enables operation of the steering tube by rotation thereof in a highly efficient manner. The invention contemplates a steering arm extension which includes a dual clamp bicycle stem face plate assembly attached thereto. The face plate assembly incorporates a bracket extension which attaches to the steering arm extension and which, in combination therewith, enables attachment of a first set of handle bars. The bracket extension further includes an outer end or a secondary clamp section which in combination with a fastening element enables the attachment of a second handle bar or handle bars. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second handle bars are arranged so that they include parallel crossbar elements retained in alignment by the face plate assembly of the invention. The separate handle bar constructions may thus include unique arrangements of the handles to enable the user of the bike to engage in alternative positions for gripping and holding and steering the bicycle. Various alternative arrangements of the face plate assembly are disclosed, each one being directed to the means for attaching the first and second handle bars to the steering arm extension associated with the steering tube of the bicycle. The handle bars, of course, may be single bar constructions or two part handle bar constructions. For example, the second handle bar may comprise a right hand and a left hand handle and cross bar elements. The invention contemplates a stem face plate assembly which will accommodate such a construction. Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved stem face plate assembly for use in combination with a bicycle steering system to enable incorporation of at least two sets of handle bars for use with the steering system. It is a further object of the invention to provide mechanically straight forward, yet highly efficient face plate assembly that can be adopted to attach first and second handle bars to the steering mechanism of a bicycle. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a face plate assembly for use in combination with a bicycle which can be utilized in combination with preexisting steering assemblies for bicycles without significant modification or altering of the steering assembly. Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanically efficient, highly reliable and reasonably priced stem face plate assembly for incorporation of two handle bar units in combination with a steering assembly for a bicycle. These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawings comprised of the following figures: Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of a first embodiment of the invention ; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of an element of the assembly associated with the embodiment of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a top plan view of the element depicted in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a top plan view of the element depicted in Figure 3; Figure 6 illustrates an alternative construction of the invention; Figure 7 is a side elevation of another alternative embodiment of the invention Figure 8 is an isometric view of an additional or other alternative embodiment of the invention; and Figure 9 is a side view of a traditional prior art bicycle stem assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the figures and in particular Figures 1-5, there is illustrated a first embodiment of the invention. The invention is incorporated in a bicycle wherein the front wheel of the bicycle 10 may be turned in response to a rotation of a journaled steering tube 12 about its axis of rotation 14. Rotation of the steering tube 12 in an appropriate bearing housing or housing (not shown) may be effected by manipulating an arm extension or stem extension 16. The stem extension 16 includes an outside or distal end 18 to which a primary or first handle bar 20 may be affixed. As depicted in prior art Figure 9, extension 16 may have attached thereto a handle bar 20 by means of a primary clamp 21 attached by fasteners 23 to the outer end 18 of the extension 16. The handle bar 20 may then be pivoted or rotated about an axis 25 and retained in a desired rotational position by tightening of the fasteners 23 so as to engage the clamp 21 tightly against the handle bar 20. The present invention contemplates removal of the plate or primary clamp 21 and replacement thereof with a specially constructed clamp face plate member 26. In the embodiment of Figures 1-5 the clamp face plate member 26 includes an arcuate recess 28 for fitting against a first handle bar 20. Oppositely projecting arms or tabs 30 and 32 are designed to cooperate with fasteners 34 and 36 so as to enable attachment of the claim face plate member 26 to the outside end 18 of the stem extension or arm extension 16, to thereby retain, between the arcuate face 28 and an arcuate face of the ami extension 16 a first handle bar 20. It is to be noted that the first handle bar 20 includes a center element or cross bar element 38 which is generally transverse to the stem extension or arm extension 16. The cross bar element 38 defines an axis of rotation 25. In the embodiment of Figures 1-5 the clamp face plate member 26 further includes first and second spaced and generally parallel bracket extension arms 40 and 42 which are spaced from one another and connected together by a plate member 44. Each of the bracket extension arms 40 and 42 define a generally circular aperture or opening 46 adapted to receive a secondary or second handle bar 50 such as depicted in Figure 2 and a further handle bar 52, again as depicted in Figure 2. The clamp face plate members 40 and 42 include a fastening element which in the embodiment of Figures 1-5 comprises a bolt fastener 60 and 62, respectively, which tighten the opposite opposed jaws 64 and 66 of the clamp face plate members 40, 42 so as to retain the secondary or second handle bars 50 and 52. Note that each of the secondary handle bars 50 and 52 include a cross bar element 51 and 53, respectively, which define an axis 61 and 63, respectively. The axes 61 and 63 are coincident axes and are generally parallel to the axis 25 associated with the first cross bar element 38; namely, axis 25. The clamp face plate member 40 and 42 may be constructed so as to provide for offset of the axes 61 and 63. The axes 61, 62 may be offset vertically, horizontally angled with respect to each other, or some combination thereof. Additionally, the utilization of independent bracket members 40 and 42 enables independent adjustment of the second handle bars 50 and 52. Thus, the handle bars 50 and 52 may be rotated independently about their respective axes 61 and 63. The entire assembly may be attached to the arm extension 16 so that, as depicted in Figure 1, the bicycle steering mechanism will include first and second handle bars. The construction of Figures 1-5 exemplifies the invention inasmuch as first and second handle bars are attached to a single arm extension 16 with the handle bars being independently adjustable and one set of handle bars being set in front of the other set and not attached one to the other. Various alternative constructions are illustrated by the additional figures. For example, in Figure 6 there is illustrated an arm extension 16 with a clamp face plate member 70 attached to the end 18 of the arm extension 16 by means of fasteners 71 and 73. The clamp face plate member 70 includes or defines a secondary clamp which enables attachment of a second handle bar to the extension 70. A single fastener 75 is used to compress a closed arm 76 and 77 of the bracket extension. Figure 7 illustrates another alternative embodiment wherein a bracket extension 80 cooperates with a separate or separable secondary face plate or fastening element 82 attached by means of fasteners 84 and 85 to engage and hold a second handle bar. Figure 8 illustrates yet another embodiment wherein the clamp face plate member 90 is attached to an arm extension 92. The clamp face plate member 90 includes spaced or bifurcated sets of arms 94 and 96 which independently grip separate second handle bars 98 and 100, respectively. While there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.