DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a handlebar group for bicycles.

A ‘handlebar group’ means a set of components comprising a handlebar and a handlebar attachment.

The handlebar attachment, also known as “stem”, is the component that connects the handlebar with the fork tube of a bicycle.

Nowadays, the handlebar stems of the “ahead-set” type are prevalently widespread; a handlebar stem of the ahead-set type generally comprises:

- a front fixing head for a handlebar;

- a rear fixing collar for a tube of a fork;

- a central extension, i.e. a central body that joins the front head to the rear collar.

There are essentially two measurements for the handlebar stem: the length of the central extension and the angle of inclination between the axis of the fork tube and the direction of development of the central extension.

The length of the central extension is defined by the distance between the centre of the rear collar and the centre of the front head; stems with a length of between 90 mm and 130 mm are normally used, although there are smaller or larger sizes, in order to adapt the bicycle frame as far as possible to the morphology and ergonomics of the rider.

These handlebar stems, although widespread and popular, have some limitations and drawbacks.

A first limitation is due to the fact that, generally, the front head is also an openable collar, of the full opening type, that is to say, the front head comprises a removable front cover, or ‘faceplate’, the removal of which allows the insertion of the central section of the handlebar inside the front head, without having to dismount the brake levers and other elements already mounted on the handlebar, which is therefore a very convenient solution for mounting such elements; the front cover is generally fixed to the fixed portion of the front head, which is integral with the central extension, by means of two opposite pairs of screws.

This means that each time the handlebar has to be mounted to the handlebar stem or dismounted therefrom, four screws have to be manoeuvred, resulting in relatively long execution times in both mounting and dismounting steps. A second limitation of the handlebar stems of known type lies in the fact that, similarly to the front head, the rear collar also has a clamping system for fixing the handlebar stem to the fork tube protruding from the headset.

This clamping system generally includes screwing, in the assembly step, or unscrewing, in the dismounting step, two screws, with relative execution times. A third limitation of the handlebar stems of known type is due to the fact that in order to change the length of the central extension of a handlebar stem it is necessary to remove the same handlebar stem and replace it with another handlebar stem having a central extension with different length; this replacement obviously involves a cost in terms of purchasing a new stem, and in terms of time, since it is necessary to remove the handlebar from the handlebar stem and the handlebar stem from the fork, and then to carry out the steps of mounting the new handlebar stem.

The task of the present invention is that of developing a handlebar group for bicycles able to overcome the mentioned drawbacks and limits of the prior art. In particular, an object of the invention is to develop a handlebar group that allows for a faster mounting of the handlebar to the handlebar stem and the relative dismounting therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to develop a handlebar group that allows for a faster mounting of the handlebar stem to the fork tube and the relative dismounting therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to develop a handlebar group in which the distance between the centre of the rear collar and the centre of the front head can be changed without having to replace the entire handlebar stem.

Still, an object of the invention is to develop a handlebar group that is no less robust and reliable than handlebar groups of known type.

The task as well as the aforementioned objects are achieved by a handlebar group for bicycles according to claim 1 .

Further characteristics of the handlebar group for bicycles according to claim 1 are described in the dependent claims.

The aforesaid task and objects, together with the advantages which will be mentioned hereinafter, are indicated by the description of an embodiment of the invention, which is given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, where:

- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a handlebar group according to the invention;

- Figure 2 represents a perspective cut-away view of the handlebar group according to the invention;

- Figure 3 represents a perspective exploded view of the handlebar group according to the invention;

- Figure 4 represents a perspective view in section according to a vertical longitudinal section plane of the handlebar group according to the invention, in assembled view;

- Figure 5 represents a perspective view in section according to a horizontal longitudinal section plane of the handlebar group according to the invention, in assembled view;

- Figure 6 represents a perspective view in section according to a vertical cross-sectional plane of the handlebar group according to the invention, in assembled view;

- Figure 7 represents an exploded perspective view of a set of components of the handlebar group according to the invention;

- Figure 8 represents a different perspective view of the exploded view of Figure 7.

With reference to the cited figures, a handlebar group for bicycles according to the invention is indicated as a whole by number 10.

Said handlebar group 10 comprises:

- a handlebar 11, comprising in turn a central section 12, for fixing to a handlebar stem 14, and two lateral gripping sections 13;

- a handlebar stem 14 comprising in turn:

- a front head 15, comprising first fixing means 18 configured for locking the handlebar 11;

- a rear collar 16, comprising second fixing means 19 configured for fixing to a tube of a fork; a tube of a fork is exemplified in Figures 4, 7 and 8 and is indicated therein by the letter C;

- a central extension 17, for connection between the front head 15 and the rear collar 16.

The peculiarity of the handlebar group 10 according to the invention lies in the fact that the first fixing means 18 of the handlebar 11 comprise:

- a front tubular body 20 shaped to accommodate the central section 12 of the handlebar 11; said front tubular body 20 comprises a front part 21 shaped to surround a front face 12a of the central section 12, and a rear part 22 shaped to couple with a first end 23a of a tightening rod 23,

- and a front portion 17a of the central extension 17, shaped to rest on a rear face 12b of the central section 12 of said handlebar 11.

The central section 12 of the handlebar 11 is therefore locked between the front part 21 of the front tubular body 20 and the front portion 17a of the central extension 17, as clearly visible in Figures 2, 4 and 5.

The second fixing means 19 comprise:

- a rear tubular body 24 shaped to accommodate an end section of a tube C of a fork, the latter being schematically illustrated in Figures 4, 7 and 8; the rear tubular body 24 comprises a rear part 24a shaped to surround a rear face C1 of said end section of a tube C of a fork, and a front part 24b shaped to couple with a second end 23b of the tightening rod 23, as clearly visible in Figures 4 and 5,

- and a rear portion 17b of the central extension 17, shaped to rest on a front face C2 of the end section of said tube C.

The tightening rod 23 is positioned to longitudinally cross the central extension 17, as visible in the sections of Figures 4 and 5, and is configured to connect the front tubular body 20 and the rear tubular body 24.

The longitudinal direction is intended to be a direction from the front head to the rear collar.

The central extension 17 is therefore wedged between the front tubular body 20 and the rear tubular body 24.

This central extension 17 is defined by a tubular body with longitudinal development.

By means of such a structure, the handlebar group 10 according to the invention, by mounting and screwing only the tightening rod 23, allows to lock both the first fixing means 18, and thus to tighten the front head 15 on the central section 12 of the handlebar 11, and the second fixing means 19, and thus to tighten the rear collar 16 around the tube C of a fork.

The front head 15 is intended to comprise the front tubular body 20 and the front portion 17a of the central extension 17.

The rear collar 16 is intended to comprise the rear tubular body 24 and the rear portion 17b of the central extension 17.

In particular, in the embodiment described herein by way of non-limiting example of the invention, the tightening rod 23 comprises a hooking head and a shank.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the tightening rod 23 consists of a screw, the head of which defines the first end 23a of the tightening rod 23 and the shank of which comprises the second end 23b of the same tightening rod 23; the head of the screw is housed inside the front tubular body 20.

The front tubular body 20 has, at the rear part 22 thereof, a rear opening 22a shaped to allow the passage of the shank of the tightening rod 23.

This rear opening 22a is obviously shaped in such a way as to prevent the passage of the hooking head of the tightening rod 23, i.e. of the first end 23a of the tightening rod 23.

The handlebar group 10 according to the invention also comprises an antiunscrewing locking device 25 for the tightening rod 23.

In the present embodiment, this anti-unscrewing locking device 25 comprises, inside the front tubular body 20:

- at the rear part 22 of the front tubular body 20, a seat 26 for housing a transverse insert 27;

- a transverse insert 27 comprising a longitudinal through-hole 27a having a cross-section such as to be crossed by the shank of the tightening rod 23 and to define an abutment edge for the head of the tightening rod 23; said transverse insert 27 also comprises at least one transverse threaded hole 27b which develops until it opens onto the longitudinal through-hole 27a; preferably, the transverse insert 27 comprises two opposite transverse threaded holes 27b, which develop until they open onto the longitudinal through-hole 27a;

- at least one locking grub screw 28, configured to be screwed into a corresponding transverse threaded hole 27b until intercepting the shank of the tightening rod 23; preferably, the anti-unscrewing locking device 25 comprises two opposite locking grub screws 28, configured to be screwed into a corresponding transverse threaded hole 27b until intercepting the shank of the tightening rod 23.

The central extension 17 comprises, at each of the locking grub screws 28, a lateral through-hole 29 for the passage of a screwing tool for screwing and unscrewing the locking grub screws 28.

The central section 12 of the handlebar 11 has a first longitudinal through-hole 30, configured to allow the passage of a tool for screwing the tightening rod 23. The front part 21 of the front tubular body 20 has a second longitudinal through-hole 31, arranged coaxial to the longitudinal through-hole 30 of the central section 12 of the handlebar 11; this second longitudinal through-hole 31 is also configured to allow the passage of a tool for screwing the tightening rod 23.

In the embodiment described herein, the tightening rod 23 has a cylindrical head with a recessed hexagon; for screwing and unscrewing this tightening rod 23, a correspondingly sized Allen key is introduced through the first longitudinal through-hole 30 and the second longitudinal through-hole 31.

The second longitudinal through-hole 31 can advantageously be closed by a plug 32.

The handlebar group 10 also comprises a front bracket 36 configured to support an accessory between the lateral gripping sections 13 of the handlebar 11

Said front bracket 36 comprises, for example, a supporting appendage 37, fixed at the front to the front tubular body 20, for example by means of a screw 38 screwed to a corresponding hole defined on the plug 32 for closing the second longitudinal through-hole 31.

The supporting appendage 37 can also be fixed below the front tubular body 20, for example by means of a second screw 39.

The supporting appendage 37 in turn supports a fixing plate 40, shaped for coupling with a hooking element for fixing an on-board computer, the latter being of a known type.

The fixing plate 40 is fixed to the supporting appendage 37 by means of, for example, a front screw 41.

The front portion 17a of the central extension 17 has two lateral recesses 50 that are counter-shaped with respect to the surface of the rear face 12b of the central section 12 of the handlebar 11.

The same front portion 17a also has an upper recess 51 and a lower recess 52, each of which is shaped for coupling with a corresponding stepped portion 53 and 54 defined on the front tubular body 20; these details are indicated in Figure 7.

In the embodiment described herein by way of non-limiting example of the invention, the rear tubular body 24 comprises a rear part 24a shaped like a cylindrical arc.

The front part 24b is defined by a truncated conical relief developing in the forward direction, having a threaded hole 60 configured for screwing with the shank of the tightening rod 23.

The front part 24b is connected to the rear part 24a by two lateral portions 24c of the rear tubular body 24.

The rear portion 17b of the central extension 17 has two lateral recesses 70 each of which shaped for coupling with a corresponding stepped portion 24d defined at a lateral portion 24c of the rear tubular body 24.

The same rear portion 17b also has an upper recess 71 and a lower recess 72, each of which is shaped like an arc of a circle, i.e. configured to rest against the front face C2 of the tube C.

The handlebar group 10 can also be intended to comprise one or more spacers 80 and 81 for the rear collar 16.

The handlebar group 10 comprises a cover 82 for the rear collar 16 and a locking screw 83 for locking the cover 82 and for expanding the expander element located inside the rear collar 16, said expander element not being depicted as it is to be understood as being of a known type.

It has in practice been established that the invention achieves the intended task and objects.

In particular, with the invention, a handlebar group has been developed which allows for a faster mounting of the handlebar to the handlebar stem and to the fork tube and relative dismounting from them, thanks to the first fixing means for the front head and the second fixing means for the rear collar, which are both operated by means of a single same tightening rod, which allows both to be opened and closed at the same time.

Furthermore, with the invention, a handlebar group has been developed which allows the central extension to be mounted and dismounted, which can then be selected at the length most suitable for the user from a plurality of central extensions that are technically equivalent and consistent with the present invention.

Thus, the invention has developed a handlebar group in which the distance between the centre of the rear collar and the centre of the front head can be changed without having to replace the entire handlebar stem, as only the central extension needs to be replaced. In addition, the invention has developed a handlebar group that is no less robust and reliable than handlebar groups of known type.

Further, with the invention a particularly aerodynamically efficient handlebar group has been developed, since, thanks to the absence of the four front tightening screws and the absence of a front cover provided with as many angles arranged to receive the head of said screws, and thanks to the single tightening rod located inside the handlebar stem and therefore irrelevant in aerodynamic terms, the front part of the handlebar stem head can be shaped in a more aerodynamic and performing way than the handlebar stem heads of known type.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the components and materials used, as well as the dimensions and shapes, as long as they are compatible with the specific use, can be any according to requirements and the state of the art.

If the features and techniques mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, such reference signs are to be intended for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and, consequently, such reference signs have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by these reference signs.