Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-28
2001-11-27
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C074S551100, C403S370000, C384S517000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322092
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a steering structure of a bicycle or scooter, more particularly to an improved structure for a steering spindle securing device of a bicycle or scooter.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, the steering mechanism of a conventional scooter in general follows the design of steering mechanisms of bicycles. The structure thereof generally includes a steering spindle
60
. Referring to
FIG. 1
, the outer side of the body of the steering spindle
60
has an outer thread, the bottom end having a wheel frame
62
for mounting pivotally a front wheel. The steering spindle
60
is accommodated within a spindle sleeve
70
. The spindle sleeve
70
has upper and lower ends provided with two bearings
71
. The outer ring
711
of the two bearings
71
are in tight fit with the spindle sleeve
70
, while the inner ring
712
is in tight fit with the spindle
60
. A press element
81
is threadedly coupled to the outer thread
61
of the steering spindle
60
, and has a bottom end having a generally wedge-shaped press portion
811
for vertically pressing against the inner ring
712
of the bearing
71
. An adjusting nut
82
is threadedly coupled to the outer thread
61
of the steering spindle
60
and located above the press element
81
. By turning the adjusting nut
82
to adjust the size of the pressure exerted by the press element
81
on the inner ring
712
of the bearing
71
, smooth rotation of the spindle
60
can be controlled. Besides, the press element
81
can be prevented from rotation relative to the outer thread
61
of the steering spindle
60
. Finally, a control rod
90
is connected to the outer end of the spindle
60
, and a positioning element is used to secure the control rod
90
and the spindle
60
to thereby enable the user to turn the control rod
90
for control steering of the scooter.
In the above steering structure, during assembly of the components, since the press element
81
and the adjusting nut
82
are threadedly coupled to the outer thread
61
of the spindle
60
and since the outer thread
61
of the spindle
60
is formed by the use of a special lathe, the manufacturing process is troublesome and costs are high.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to provide an improved structure for a steering spindle securing device which provides an alternative pivotal connection between a steering spindle and a spindle sleeve of a conventional bicycle or scooter, the connection being simpler in construction.
In order to achieve the above object, an improved structure for a steering spindle securing device of this invention includes a movable fitting element mounted on a steering spindle of a conventional bicycle or scooter and having a notch extending axially along a peripheral wall thereof, one end of the movable fitting element having a generally wedge-shaped press portion for abutting against an inner ring of a bearing of a front head bowl of the bicycle or scooter, an outer annular wall thereof being provided with an outer thread; a generally tubular fixed fitting element having a notch extending axially along the peripheral wall thereof, a retaining hole extending transversely through the notch, and an inner thread for engaging at least a portion of the outer thread on the movable fitting element; and a retaining element that extends through the retaining hole to secure the fixed fitting element on the steering spindle at a predetermined position such that the movable fitting element, when rotated, displaces along the axis of the steering spindle of the bicycle or scooter.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4593924 (1986-06-01), Cabeza
patent: 5267485 (1993-12-01), Chi
patent: 5303611 (1994-04-01), Chi
patent: 5332245 (1994-07-01), King
patent: 5454281 (1995-10-01), Chi
patent: 5496126 (1996-03-01), Lin
Browdy and Neimark
Melton International, LLC
Swann J. J.
Zeender F.
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