Displacement Compensating Transition Element

Abstract

A transmission element for arrangement between a handlebar stem and an upper headset includes a cover ring which, in the mounted state, covers an upper headset. An intermediate ring surrounding a head tube is arranged above the cover ring. To compensate for clearance changes of the headsets, a pretensioning element is arranged between the cover ring and the intermediate ring.

Claims

1. A transmission element for arrangement between a handlebar stem and, in particular, an upper headset, comprising a cover ring covering an upper headset in the mounted state, an intermediate ring surrounding a head tube, preferably completely, in the mounted state, and a pretensioning ring arranged between the cover ring and the intermediate ring.

2. The transmission element according to claim 1, wherein the pretensioning element comprises at least one spring element.

3. The transmission element according to claim 1, wherein the pretensioning element is annular in shape.

4. The transmission element according to claim 1, wherein the pretensioning element comprises at least one corrugated disk.

5. The transmission element according to claim 1, wherein the cover ring has a protrusion on an upper side facing to the pretensioning element.

6. The transmission element according to claim 1, wherein the cover ring has a planar lower side facing to the upper headset.

7. The transmission element according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate ring has a groove or recess for receiving the pretensioning element, said groove or recess being formed in a lower side (18) facing to the pretensioning element.

8. The transmission element according to claim 1, wherein in the fully pretensioned position, the intermediate ring laterally covers the cover ring at least partly.

9. The transmission element according to claim 7, wherein the groove or recess has a depth that is deeper than the thickness of the fully pretensioned pretensioning element.

10. The transmission element according to claim 7, wherein the cover ring comprises a mark which is covered by the intermediate ring when the pretensioning element is fully pretensioned, and is visible when the pretensioning element is only partly pretensioned.

11. The transmission element according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate ring is positively connected to a handlebar stem.

12. The transmission element according to claim 1, wherein an upper side of the intermediate ring is inclined with respect to a lower side of the intermediate ring facing to the pretensioning element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In the following, the invention is described in more detail by means of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] In the Figs.:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the components of the transmission element,

[0023] FIG. 2a shows a schematic side view of the assembled transmission element in a fully pretensioned state,

[0024] FIG. 2b shows a schematic side view of the assembled transmission element in a partly released state,

[0025] FIGS. 3a and 3b are illustrations corresponding to FIGS. 2a and 2b, with the intermediate ring being shown in section for clarity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] In the embodiment illustrated, the transmission element has an intermediate ring 10 as well as a cover ring 12. A pretensioning ring 14 is arranged between the intermediate ring 10 and the cover ring 12. In the embodiment illustrated, the pretensioning element 14 comprises a plurality of stacked corrugated disks. The cover ring 10 may also be designed as a cover cap, depending on the design of the stem and the type of pretensioning of the headsets.

[0027] In the embodiment illustrated, the intermediate ring 10 is trapezoidal or wedge-shaped in side view, so that an upper side 16 of the intermediate ring 10 is inclined with respect to a lower side 18 of the intermediate ring 10. The distance between the surfaces 16, 18 decreases in the traveling direction 20 (FIG. 2a).

[0028] For receiving the pretensioning element 14 comprising a plurality of corrugated disks, the intermediate ring has a groove or recess 22 in its lower side 18 (FIG. 3a). Further, in the embodiment illustrated, the intermediate ring has an adjustment pin 24 on the upper side 16, which engages into an opening of the stem 26, not illustrated, for a positive connection with the stem 26.

[0029] The cover ring 12 has an upper side 28 facing to the pretensioning ring 14. In the mounted state (FIGS. 3a and 3b), the pretensioning element 14 rests on the same at least in part. In the embodiment illustrated, the upper side 28 of the cover ring 12 further has a protrusion 30 for adjusting and/or pretensioning the pretensioning element 14. Further, the cover ring 12 is stepped and thus has a larger ring on an lower side 32. The lower side 32 rests on the upper headset, possibly with interposition of distance rings (spacers). In the mounted state, the pretensioning element 14 rests, on the one hand, on the upper side 28 of the cover ring 12 and on the other hand, in the abutment surface 34 formed by the groove or recess 22 (FIG. 3a).

[0030] For assembly, the stem 26, which is connected to a head tube 36 via clamping elements or the like, not illustrated, is loosened. Thereafter the bearing clearance can be adjusted by means of a screw extending in particular in the longitudinal direction of the head tube 36 and abutting an upper region 38 of the stem 26.

[0031] After the headsets have been adjusted or pretensioned, the handlebar stem 26 is clampingly fixed to the head tube 36 again.

[0032] In the folly pretensioned position (FIGS. 2a and 3a), the pretensioning element 14 is compressed. The cover ring 12 has a small distance from the intermediate ring 10, if any. If the bearing clearance increases, the same is compensated by the pretensioning element, with the position of the pretensioning element 14 changing to the position illustrated in FIGS. 2b and 3b, for example. Thereby, the distance between the cover ring 14 and intermediate ring 10 becomes larger, so that a mark 40, which in the embodiment illustrated is a color mark, becomes visible (FIG. 2b).