The present application relates to a handlebar particularly for sports bicycles. Background Art

Currently, during bicycle races, swiftness in changing the components of bicycles that have undergone malfunctions or have suffered accidents or simply to find an ideal setting has become very important.

Handlebars for sports bicycles are thus known which have the classic dropped shape and thus are composed for example of a central element, which is approximately transverse with respect to the central plane of the bicycle with an approximately horizontal position, or of a single horizontal bar, which can be connected centrally to the frame of the bicycle and have, at the ends, two curved grip wings for the cyclist. The cyclist may also grip directly the central element as well.

Below the central element, adjacent to the two curved wings, there are seats at which a single tubular element or two mutually adjacent tubular elements are welded, such seats allowing the passage of the sheaths of the actuation cables for example of the brakes and of the gearshift, Those tubular elements, also known as cable holders, allow to direct and guide the cables and the sheaths toward the frame of the bicycle; moreover, they prevent cables and sheaths from interfering with the hands of the cyclist when he grips the handlebar in that region, without having to cover the handlebar with adapted tape. This background art, however, has drawbacks: in fact if one wishes to replace the handlebar it is necessary to disconnect the ends of the cables from the brake and form the gearshift in order to then slide off the sheaths.

Extracting the cables very often entails changing them with new ones, because new cables, generally, have tin-plated and sharp ends in order to prevent them from fraying and facilitate their insertion in the sheath. In fact, after mounting the gearshift and brake assemblies, the cables are cut to size and the interrupted end thus tends to fray, making subsequent reassembly difficult.

The need to disassemble the sheath and the cables also entails the subsequent need to readjust the gearshift and the brakes, with a further expenditure of time.

The adoption of new electronic gearshifts reveals another incompatibility with current handlebars: the electrical connections are composed of electrical cables that are thinner than the mechanical ones but the hermetic jacks used as junctions are bulky and do not pass through current cable holders. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above noted technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited background art, by devising an invention that allows to replace the handlebar quickly and easily.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a handlebar that is easily replaceable while avoiding the extraction of the cables from the respective sheaths. Another object is to provide a handlebar that allows, when replaced, to avoid the need to adjust the gearshift.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handlebar that allows to accommodate electrical cables connected to bulky jacks, which cannot be installed easily on current handlebars. Another object of the invention is to obtain a handlebar that is structurally simple, can be manufactured with low costs and can be provided with ordinary known plants.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a handlebar, particularly for sports bicycles, comprising at least one central element provided with two curved lateral wings for user grip and for the anchoring of actuation devices for a gearshift and/or brakes, characterized in that inspectable supporting and/or guiding means for sheaths and/or cables that can be connected to said actuation devices are associable with said central element in a lower region, Brief description of the Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of a handlebar according to the invention;

Figures 2 to 18 are sectional views of the handlebar, taken along the line H-II of Figure 1. Ways of carrying out the Invention

In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer. With reference to the figures, reference numeral 1 designates a handlebar, particularly for sports bicycles, which comprises at least one central element or a single bar 2, which is arranged approximately transversely with respect to the mid-plane of the bicycle with an approximately horizontal position, from which a sleeve 3 protrudes, approximately in the central region and downward, for connection to the bicycle frame, such sleeve dividing the central element or bar 2 into two portions, designated by the reference numerals 2a, 2b.

The solution according to the present application can be applied obviously on any type of handlebar; thus, for example, the handlebar might not have an integrated coupling and the sleeve 3 might thus of the integrated or removable type.

The central element or bar 2 has, at its ends, two curved lateral wings 4a, 4b for user grip and for the anchoring of actuation devices for a gearshift and/or brakes 5. At each portion 2a, 2b of the central element or bar 2, inspectable supporting and/or guiding means 6 for sheaths and/or cables 7 that can be connected to such actuation devices are associated, or removably associable, with such central element in a lower region.

Hereinafter, the means 6 will be illustrated in relation to only one of the portions 2a, 2b, since they are identical for both.

Means 6 comprise a seat 8 obtained preferably during the production of the handlebar, if it is made of carbon, or by deformation of the material, if it is made of metal, such seat having an approximately inverted U-shaped transverse cross-section which is open toward the lower part of the handlebar.

Means 6 are also constituted by at least one inspectable element adapted to define the temporary closure of the seat 8: in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, such inspectable element has a box-like shape and is constituted by a base 9, which is shaped approximately complementarily and can be accommodated stably or detachably within the closed upper part of the seat 8, the base 9 thus having an approximately inverted U-like shape.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base 9 is coupled preferably by adhesive bonding.

A cover 10 is associated with the base 9 in a fixed or removable manner and in this last case by snap action, or rotatably, or by means of a screw coupling or by way of means known by the trademark Velcro.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the removable cover 10 is shaped like a letter C, at the elastically deformable ends of which there are, like the corresponding ends of the base 9, adapted protrusions l la, l ib and 12a, 12b that allow mutual and temporary snap connection. Therefore, a compartment 13 for accommodating the sheaths and/or cables 7 is formed.

In the embodiment shown, the cover 10 is engaged externally with the base 9. Figure 3 illustrates a variation at the seat 108 provided below the portion 102a of the handlebar; a base 109, again having the shape of an inverted letter U whose ends 114a, 114b are slightly folded so as to face each other, is again associated, for example by adhesive bonding.

By way of the elastic deformation of the ends 114a, 114b, it is possible to arrange between the ends 1 14a, 1 14b a removable cover 110 that has a substantially flat transverse cross-section and such dimensions as to accommodate and be supported between the ends 114a, 1 14b.

Figure 4 illustrates a further embodiment, wherein a base 209 shaped like an inverted letter U and a removable cover 210, which is similarly shaped but is slightly wider, so as to allow the ends 214a and 214b thereof to wrap partially and externally around the corresponding ends of the base 209, are still coupled at the seat 208 provided below the portion 202a of the handlebar.

In this case also, a compartment 213 is formed for the sheaths and/or cables 207.

Figure 5 illustrates a further embodiment, in which there is again a base 309 coupled below the portion 302a of a handlebar, the base 309 following the shape of the seat 308.

Moreover, a temporary coupling means, such as a band 315 known commercially by the trademark Velcro, is associated with the base 309, and the upper surface of a tubular element 316 cooperates with such band and forms internally a compartment 313 for accommodating the sheaths and/or cables 307.

In Figure 5, the tubular element 316 is of the closed type, while in Figure 6 it is of the open type: in this last version it is possible to remove only partially the tubular element, which thus remains partially attached to the base 309.

Figure 7 illustrates a further embodiment, in which a base 409 is again associated at the seat 408 provided below the portion 402a of the handlebar, is shaped approximately like an inverted letter U and has, at one end, a protrusion 41 1a and, at the other end, a hinge-like connection 417 for the end of a cover 410 that has, at the free end, a protrusion 412a for temporary engagement with the protrusion 411a of the base 409.

The temporary closure of the cover 410 allows to form the inspectable compartment 413 for accommodating the sheaths and/or cables 407.

Figure 8 illustrates a further embodiment, in which a single element constituted by a shell 518 of the open type is coupled at the seat 508 provided below the portion 502 of the handlebar and has an approximately elliptical transverse cross-section, with the ends 519a, 519b that are mutually adjacent and can be divaricated elastically so as to form again an inspectable compartment 513 for accommodating the sheaths and/or cables 507, and thus can be accessed easily simply by gripping the end 519b and forcing it downward to separate from the overlying end 519a that is adjacent and jointly connected to the handlebar. Figure 9 illustrates a further embodiment, in which the seat 808 provided at the portion 802a of the handlebar has again an inverted U-like shape, which forms however, proximate to its ends, two step-like regions 830a, 830b, at which it is possible to arrange by snap action a single elastically deformable element constituted by a cover 810, which thus forms an inspectable compartment 813 for the sheaths and/or cables 807.

The removable cover 810 is elastically compressible at its ends and can be inserted within the seat 808, resting its ends at the step-like discontinuities 830a, 830b.

Figure 10 illustrates a further embodiment in which the sheaths or cables 607 are arranged directly at the seat 608, said seat 608 forming the inspectable compartment for such sheaths and/or cables in order to use a single element constituted by a shell 618 of the open type, which is substantially C-shaped and has such dimensions that its ends 619a, 619b wrap externally around the lateral surfaces of the portion 602a of the handlebar.

In this case the fact that the shell is removable allows to access the sheaths and/or cables.

Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment that is similar to the preceding one and in which the ends 619a, 619b of the shell 618 are arranged at appropriately provided recesses 620a, 620b formed on the lateral surfaces of the portion 602a of the handlebar.

Figure 12 illustrates a still further embodiment, in which a base 709 is associated at the seat 708 provided below the portion 702a of the handlebar, a foot or rib 721 protruding downward and approximately at a central region, its height being lower than, and its length being approximately equal to, the height and length of the seat 708, for the axial and detachable interconnection of at least one appropriately provided self-tapping screw

722, or other equivalent means, adapted to allow the stable interconnection of a cover 710, which blocks the entire seat 708, which is however inspectable.

Advantageously, the base 709 has, in a transverse cross-section, an approximately M-like shape, so as to accommodate separately the sheaths and/or cables 707.

In Figure 13 the base 709 instead has two feet or ribs 721a, 721b at its lateral ends, one or more pairs of self-tapping screws 722a, 722b, or other equivalent means for the interconnection of the cover 710, being associated on each of such feet or ribs.

In this case also, the base 709 can have, in a transverse cross-section, an M-like shape in order to form an inspectable compartment 713, which keeps the sheaths and/or cables 707 separate. Figures 14 and 15 illustrate two further embodiments, in which at the inspectable seat 908, obtained at the portion 902a of the handlebar, there is an expansion 932, at the fiat surface 931, with which the threaded stem of an adapted screw 922, or other equivalent means, can interact and cooperates with a cover 910 that allows to fasten, in an inspectable manner, between the latter and the flat surface 931, the sheaths and/or cables 907.

In Figure 15, a plug or insert is designated by the reference numeral 932c and is arranged so as to be jointly connected within the portion 902a of the handlebar, a self-tapping screw 922, or other equivalent means, interacting with such plug, its stem passing through an appropriately provided hole formed in the flat surface 931.

Figure 16 illustrates a variation in which two expansions 932a, 932b are provided at the surface 931 , the threaded stems of a pair of screws 922a, 922b, or other equivalent means, being able to interact with such expansions, such screws or other means being adapted to fasten an appropriately provided cover 910, which again forms an inspectable compartment 913 for accommodating the sheaths and/or cables 907.

In a manner similar to what has been shown in Figure 15, it is possible to provide for the presence of one or more plugs or inserts which are arranged and jointly connected within the portion 902a of the handlebar, self-tapping screws, or other equivalent means, interacting with such one or more plugs, their stem passing through an appropriately provided hole formed in the flat surface.

Figures 17 and 18 illustrate two final embodiments, which use, at the seat 1008, a single element constituted by a cover 1010, which is substantially flat and is wider than the seat 1008, its width being such that the ends are coupled, for example by means of appropriately provided screws 1022a, 1022b or other equivalent means, at the lower edges 1033a, 1033b of the portion 1002a of the handlebar. An inspectable compartment for accommodating the sheaths and/or cables 1007 is thus formed.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 18, the ends of the cover 1010 are interconnected at the edges 1033a, 1033b of the portion 1002a of the handlebar by way of removable retention systems such as for example the ones known by the trademark Velcro and designated by the reference numeral 1015a, 1015b.

In practice it has been found that the invention has fully achieved the aim and objects cited above, a solution having been obtained which allows the replacement of the handlebar quickly and easily, avoiding the extraction of the cables from the respective sheaths and the need to adjust the gearshift.

Moreover, the invention allows to associate with the handlebar easily and detachably electric cables connected to bulky jacks, the solution being structurally simple and having low manufacturing costs.

Of course, the materials used, as well as the dimensions of the individual components of the invention may be more pertinent according to specific requirements.

The various means for performing certain different functions need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are not illustrated. The characteristics described as advantageous, appropriate or the like can also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

Thus, for example, the supporting and/or guiding means 6 for sheaths and/or cables 7 can also have one or more regions in which a removal of the material is obtained, in order to lighten the total weight thereof. The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2009A0001 15 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.