Bicycle Handlebar Stem

Abstract

For the connection to a bicycle handlebar, a bicycle handlebar stem comprises a receiving element at a front end or is formed integrally with the bicycle handlebar. Further, a receiving space is provided for receiving the steer tube. Using a fixing element, it is possible in particular to clampingly fix the steer tube to the bicycle handlebar stem, in particular in the receiving space. The receiving space is configured such that the steer tube can be connected to the bicycle handlebar stem at different positions without the steer tube protruding beyond an upper side with respect to the bicycle handlebar stem.

Claims

1. A bicycle handlebar stem comprising: a receiving element for a bicycle handlebar, provided at a front end; and a receiving space for receiving a steer tube and a fixing element for fixing the steer tube to the bicycle handlebar stem, wherein the receiving space is configured such that the steer tube can be connected to the bicycle handlebar stem in at least two different positions by means of the fixing element, in which positions the steer tube does not protrude beyond an upper side of the bicycle handlebar stem.

2. The bicycle handlebar stem according to claim 1, wherein a free end of the steer tube can be arranged in at least two different fixing positions inside the receiving space.

3. The bicycle handlebar stem according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element is configured as a clamping element so that the steer tube is clampingly fixed in particular by means of clamping means.

4. The bicycle handlebar stem according to claim 1, wherein the receiving space has an opening in the upper side of the bicycle handlebar stem, and wherein the opening can be closed with a cover.

5. The bicycle handlebar stem according to claim 4, wherein a tensioning means is accessible via the opening, the cover serving as an abutment element for the tensioning means.

6. The bicycle handlebar stem system comprising: a bicycle handlebar stem according to claim 1; a bearing retaining element adapted to be connected to the steer tube; and a distance element which is provided between the bearing retaining element and the bicycle handlebar stem.

7. The bicycle handlebar stem system according to claim 6, wherein the distance element is configured such that it can be mounted and/or removed in a mounted state of the steer tube.

8. The bicycle handlebar stem system according to claim 6, wherein the distance element has a lateral opening for setting the same onto the steer tube from the side.

9. The bicycle handlebar stem system according to claim 6, wherein the bearing retaining element is clampingly fixed to the steer tube, in particular by means of a clamping means.

10. The bicycle handlebar stem system according to claim 6, wherein the bicycle handlebar stem and/or the distance element and/or the bearing retaining element comprise positioning elements.

11. The bicycle handlebar stem system according to claim 6, wherein for the adjustment of different positions of the bicycle handlebar stem, the distance element is provided or omitted.

12. The bicycle handlebar stem system according to claim 6, wherein for the adjustment of different positions of the bicycle handlebar stem, the distance element has different thicknesses and/or a plurality of distance elements is provided.

13. The bicycle handlebar stem system according to claim 3, wherein the clamping means comprises screws.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the bicycle handlebar stem system,

[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the bicycle handlebar stem,

[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom view of the bicycle handlebar stem,

[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the bicycle handlebar stem,

[0024] FIG. 4a is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 with a steer tube in a lower fixing position,

[0025] FIG. 4b is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 with a steer tube in an upper fixing position, and

[0026] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a distance element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] A bicycle handlebar stem 10 is connected with a bicycle handlebar 16 at its front end 14 directed in the direction of travel 12. For connection, typically by clamping, a clamping element 15 (FIG. 2), which is not illustrated in detail, is arranged in the region of the front end 14. As an alternative, it is also possible to form the bicycle handlebar stem 10 integrally with the handlebar 16.

[0028] The bicycle handlebar stem 10 has a base body 18 extending in the longitudinal direction or the traveling direction 12, said base body having a fixing element 22 at the rear end 20 opposite to the front end 14 in the traveling direction 12. In the embodiment illustrated, the fixing element 22 is configured such that the bicycle handlebar stem has a slit 24 in its rear side, and the fixing element 20 is configured as a clamping element, the clamping being achieved using clamping means which are in the form of screws 26 in the embodiment illustrated.

[0029] A receiving space 28 (FIG. 3) is formed within the bicycle handlebar stem. The receiving space 28 is surrounded by the fixing element 20. In the mounted state, a steer tube 30 (FIGS. 4a and 4b) is clampingly fastened at different positions by means of the fixing element 20.

[0030] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 1, a bearing retaining element 32 is provided below the bicycle handlebar stem 10 in the mounted state. The retaining element 32 surrounds the steer tube 30 and is clampingly connected with the same by means of a clamping means 34 which again is in the form of a screw. The bearing retaining element 32 serves to fix the bearings after the adjustment of the bearing clearance. Thereby, the steer tube is mounted in the head tube of the bicycle frame, then the bearing clearance is adjusted and thereafter the bearing retaining element 32 is clampingly fixed to the steer tube. Thus, it is possible to subsequently mount, displace or remove the bicycle handlebar stem without having to readjust the bearing clearance. Here, the displacement of the bicycle handlebar stem 10 is carried out in particular to adjust different handlebar positions in the longitudinal direction of the steer tube, i.e. upward or downward.

[0031] In the embodiment illustrated, a distance element 36 (FIG. 1) is arranged between the bearing retaining element 32 and the lower side of the bicycle handlebar stem 10, when in the mounted state. Thereby, it is possible to arrange the bicycle handlebar stem 10 at an upper or higher position. For example, the bicycle handlebar stem 10 can be arranged at a lower position by removing the distance element 36. For this purpose, first the two screws 26 are loosened, the distance element 36 is removed, the bicycle handlebar stem 10 is displaced downward until the lower side of the bicycle handlebar stem rests on an upper side of the bearing retaining element 32, and thereafter the handlebar stem 10 is again clampingly fixed to the steer tube by tightening the two screws 26.

[0032] By simply arranging or removing the distance element 36, the bicycle handlebar stem 10 can thus be connected to the steer tube 30 at different positions as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 4a and 4b. In both positions, an upper end of the steer tube 30 does not protrude beyond an upper side 38 (FIG. 4) of the handlebar stem 10.

[0033] Further, it is possible to provide an opening 40 in the upper side 38 of the bicycle handlebar stem 10, which can be closed with a cover 42. By opening the cover 42, e.g. a tensioning means 44 for adjusting the bearing clearance is accessible. Thus, for mounting, prior to the fixing of the bearing retaining element and the steer tube 30, the bearing clearance is adjusted using the tensioning means 44 supported at the cover 42 in the embodiment illustrated. Once the bearing clearance is adjusted, the bearing retaining element 32 is fixed using the clamping screw 34. Thereafter, the tensioning means 44 could be loosened or even removed, since this would no longer change the bearing clearance.

[0034] The distance element 36 in particular has the shape illustrated in FIG. 5. The distance element 36 has a central circular opening 40 which in the mounted state surrounds the steer tube and in particular is in contact with the same. The opening 40 is open in a region 42 so that it can be set laterally onto the steer tube, i.e. substantially vertically with respect to a steer tube longitudinal axis.

[0035] In the embodiment illustrated the distance element 36 is configured such that it has a non-round outer cross section. For this purpose, an inner part 44 of the distance element 36, which has the opening 40, is at least partially surrounded by an outer part 46. The outer part 46 thus has a non-round outer shape which in particular corresponds substantially to a non-round configuration of a head tube of a bicycle frame. The outer part 46 also has an opening 48 in the region of the opening 42.

[0036] Further, positioning elements 52, 54 are provided on an upper side 50 of the distance element 36. Here, the positioning element 52 is formed as a pin or a peg and the positioning element 54 is formed as an annular opening. Correspondingly complementary positioning elements are provided on an opposite lower side 56 of the distance element, on an upper side 58 of the bearing retaining element 32 (FIG. 1), as well as on a lower side 60 of the bicycle handlebar stem 10.