Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-14
2001-05-22
Hurley, Kevin (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234506
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bicycle handlebar stem and front fork mounting arrangement, and more specifically to an improved structure of headset for positively securing the handlebar stem of a bicycle handlebar to a bicycle front fork.
In a bicycle, a headset is installed to secure the handlebar stem of the handlebar and the front fork together. The headset comprises a check member mounted inside the front fork, and a screw bolt rotated to move the check member between the locking position and the unlocking position. This structure of headset is not satisfactory in function because the check member wears quickly with use. The check member tends to be damaged or permanently deformed when fastening up the screw bolt. There is known another structure of headset designed to eliminate the aforesaid problem. This structure of headset comprises a locating member, a tightening up member, and a screw bolt rotated to move the tightening up member between the locking position and the unlocking position. This structure of headset is still not satisfactory in function. When rotating the screw bolt, the locating member and the tightening up member may be simultaneously rotated with the screw bolt, causing a locking error. Further, when the user loosening the screw bolt, the locating member and the tightening member may fall to the inside of the front fork.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished to provide a bicycle handlebar stem and front fork mounting arrangement, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. According to one aspect of the present invention, the bicycle handlebar stem and front fork mounting arrangement comprises a front fork, a head tube mounted on the front fork, a ball bearing mounted on the front fork and supported on the head tube, a ball bearing cap mounted on the front fork and covered on the ball bearing, a tapered rubber ring mounted in a tapered locating groove in the ball bearing cap at the top, a gasket ring mounted on the rubber ring and retained between a top flange of the rubber ring and the front fork, a handlebar stem coupled to the front fork and supported on the gasket ring, and a headset installed in an inner diameter of the front fork and fastened tight to the front fork to secure the handlebar stem to the front fork, the headset including a screw cap threaded into a screw hole in the front fork, a tightening up member and an expansible positioning ring, a screw bolt, and a pressure member threaded onto the screw bolt and moved to compress the tightening up member and the expansible positioning ring and to force the tightening up member and the expansible positioning ring against the inside wall of the front fork when the screw bolt is fastened tight. According to another aspect of the present invention, the screw cap has a polygonal head convenient for turning with a wrench.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5387255 (1995-02-01), Chiang
patent: 5442973 (1995-08-01), Liao
patent: 5657670 (1997-08-01), Lin
patent: 5678836 (1997-10-01), Chen
patent: 5737974 (1998-04-01), Chen
Hurley Kevin
Pro-Techtor Inter-national Services
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