Clamping element for fastening components to bicycle handlebars, as well as a component with such clamping element

Abstract

A clamping element for fastening bicycle components, in particular brake/gearshift units, to bicycle handlebars, such as a racing bicycle handlebar, includes a first clamping part and a second clamping part. The first clamping part serves to be connected with the bicycle component, e.g. by a screw. The second clamping part is releasably connected with the first clamping part. Thereby, it is possible to configure the clamping element such that the clamping element is also suited for non-round handlebars and/or can be arranged in closed regions of a handlebar.

Claims

1. A clamping element for fastening a brake/gearshift lever unit to a bicycle handlebar, the clamping element comprising: a first clamping part adapted to be connected with the brake/gearshift lever unit, and a second clamping part releasably connected with the first clamping part, wherein the first clamping part and the second clamping part form a closed opening in which the handlebar is arranged in a mounted state, and wherein one of the first clamping part or the second clamping part comprises two lugs, each lug having a bolt hole for connection by bolts, said lugs engaging around an end part of the other of the first clamping part or the second clamping part, the end part having an opening which, for the insertion of a bolt, is in alignment with a respective one of the bolt holes.

2. The clamping element of claim 1, wherein the opening has a non-round inner contour.

3. The clamping element of claim 1, wherein the first clamping part comprises a connecting part for receiving a clamping member.

4. The clamping element of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first clamping part or the second clamping part is configured to be mirror-symmetrical in themselves.

5. The clamping element of claim 1, wherein the first clamping part or the second clamping part have two arms opposing each other, and wherein the two arms form at least one half of the opening.

6. The clamping element of claim 1, wherein the first and second clamping parts are connected with each other by two bolts.

7. The clamping element of claim 1, wherein the first and the second clamping parts are made of a high-strength material.

8. The clamping element of claim 1, wherein the first and the second clamping parts are made by laser sintering, wire erosion, CNC milling or MIM processes.

9. The clamping element of claim 1, wherein an adapter element is provided in the opening formed by the first and second clamping parts in the mounted state, the adapter element being provided for adapting the outer contour of the handlebar to the inner contour of the opening.

10. The clamping element of claim 9, wherein the adapter element is configured such that the adapter forms a circular outer contour together with the handlebar.

11. The clamping element of claim 9, wherein the adapter element has an inner part which in the mounted state is arranged completely inside the opening formed by the first and second clamping parts.

12. The clamping element of claim 11, wherein the adapter element has at least one elastically deformable outer part connected with the inner part, and wherein the outer part is arranged outside the opening formed by the first and second clamping parts in the mounted state.

13. The clamping element of claim 12, wherein the at least one outer part comprises a plurality of lamellae which in the mounted state extend perpendicularly to a direction of deformation.

14. A bicycle component for fastening to a bicycle handlebar comprising the clamping element of claim 1.

15. A clamping element for fastening a brake/gearshift lever unit to a bicycle handlebar, the clamping element comprising: a first clamping part adapted to be connected with the brake/gearshift lever unit, and a second clamping part releasably connected with the first clamping part, wherein the first clamping part and the second clamping part form a closed opening in which the handlebar is arranged in a mounted state, wherein an adapter element is provided in the opening formed by the first and second clamping parts in the mounted state, the adapter element being provided for adapting an outer contour of the handlebar to an inner contour of the opening, wherein the adapter element has an inner part which in the mounted state is arranged completely inside the opening formed by the first and second clamping parts, and wherein the adapter element has at least one elastically deformable outer part connected with the inner part, and wherein the outer part is arranged outside the opening formed by the first and second clamping parts in the mounted state.

16. The clamping element of claim 15, wherein the at least one outer part comprises a plurality of lamellae which in the mounted state extend perpendicularly to a direction of deformation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a clamping element,

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a clamping element according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a bicycle handlebar with a brake/gearshift lever unit mounted thereon,

(4) FIG. 4 is a schematic rear view of the brake/gearshift lever unit of FIG. 3, mounted on the bicycle handle bar,

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the mounted clamping element,

(6) FIG. 6 is a schematic top plan view of an adapter element, and

(7) FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the adapter element illustrated in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) In the first preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the clamping element comprises a first clamping part 10, as well as a second clamping part 20. The first clamping part 10 comprises a connecting part 12. The connecting part 12 has an opening 14 provided with a thread. A clamping means, such as a screw, can be screwed into the opening 14. This clamping means serves for the connection with a holding part of a bicycle component to be fastened.

(9) Two bolts 16 are provided for connecting the first clamping part 10 with the second clamping part 20. For a fastening by means of bolts 16, two opposing arms 18 of the first clamping part 10 each have two lugs 22, 23 at their ends, which lugs are arranged facing each other and are preferably formed integrally with the arms 18.

(10) Both lugs 22, 24 have a bolt hole 26, respectively, the two bolt holes 26 respectively being coaxial with each other. The second clamping part 20 has an opening 30 in the two end parts 28, respectively. For the mounting of the two clamping parts 10, 20, the end parts 28 are inserted between the two lugs 22, 24 so that the bolt holes 26 are aligned with the openings 30. Then, the two bolts 16 are inserted for fixation.

(11) In the mounted state, i.e. when the first clamping part 10 is connected with the second clamping part 20 by means of the bolt 16, the two clamping parts 10, 20 form an opening 32. In a preferred embodiment, the same has a non-round inner contour which is preferably adapted to the outer contour of that region of the handlebar in which the bicycle component is to be fixed.

(12) In the second preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, similar parts are identified by the same reference numerals. Thus, a first clamping part 10 also comprises a connecting part 12 which has an opening 14 provided in particular with a thread. In this embodiment, the second clamping part 20 has two opposing arms 34.

(13) In this embodiment, the connection of the two clamping parts 10, 20 is made by frictional engagement. For this purpose, the first clamping part 10 has two opposing lugs 36. In the mounted state, these abut on inner sides 38 of the two arms 34 of the second clamping part 20, which inner sides also oppose each other.

(14) In a preferred embodiment, the two lugs 36 comprise two protrusions 40 in order to prevent the two arms 34 from being pushed apart. In the mounted state, the protrusions 40 engage in recesses 42 provided in the upper end regions of the two arms 34.

(15) In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, two opposing adjusting noses 46 are provided at outer sides of the connecting part 12, which noses engage in adjusting openings 47. The adjusting openings 47 are arranged at the opposing ends of the two arms 34. Due to the adjusting noses 46 engaging in the adjusting openings 47, a displacement of the two clamping parts 10, 20 in the longitudinal direction 48 is prevented.

(16) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a bicycle component in the form of a brake/gearshift unit in combination with the clamping element illustrated in FIG. 1 in the mounted state.

(17) The racing bicycle handlebar has an upper crossbar 50, as well lower crossbar 52 substantially parallel thereto. The lower crossbar 52 is connected with the stem 54 or, as in the embodiment illustrated, is formed integrally therewith. In a closed region 56 of the handlebar, the clamping element 58 of the present invention with the two clamping parts 10, 20 is arranged. The clamping element 58 serves to clampingly hold a brake/gearshift unit 60. The same comprises at least one correspondingly pivotable and rotatable lever 62 with which, on the one hand, a braking operation and, on the other hand, a shifting operation can be performed. The lever 62 is pivotably and rotatable fixed to a housing 66. Further, a corresponding gearshift mechanism is arranged in the housing 66. Moreover, a holding part (FIG. 5) is arranged in the housing 66, which is e.g. designed as a web 64. The same has an opening or a throughbore through which a screw can be inserted from above. For fixation, this screw 68 is then screwed into the opening 14 of the connecting part 12 of the first clamping part 10.

(18) FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate a handlebar having a non-round outer contour in the region in which the clamping element 58 is arranged (FIG. 7). Since, in the embodiment illustrated, a clamping element is used which has a circular inner contour in the mounted state, an adapter element 70 (FIG. 7) according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is provided in this embodiment. The adapter element 70 completes the outer contour of the handlebar to form circular outer contour. Thus, it is possible to also use a clamping element 58 having a round inner contour on a non-round handlebar 56.

(19) In the embodiment illustrated, the adapter element 70 comprises an inner part 72 and two adjoining outer parts 74. The inner part 72 has an outer contour that is segment-shaped, so that the same corresponds to the inner contour of the clamping element 58 or the second clamping part 20 (FIG. 5).

(20) In the embodiment illustrated, the two outer parts 74 comprise a plurality of lamellae 75, so that a certain elasticity is given. Thus, the outer parts 74 can adapt to curved regions of the handlebar (see FIG. 3). In the embodiment illustrated, the lamellae 76 extend perpendicularly to the direction of deformation or vertically to the curvature of the handlebar.