Cable-guide for bicycle handlebars and handlebars provided with cable-guide

Abstract

This cable-guide (10) for bicycle handlebars (1), in particular handlebars (1) having a recessed seat (8) for the passage of cables (6, 7) near to a fastening position of controls for the brake and the gearshift (4, 5), comprises a plate (11) for covering the recessed seat (8); the plate (11) is provided with a middle fin (21) projecting from a rear face (13) of the plate (11) intended to face towards the recessed seat (8). The two cables (6,7) are arranged in an optimal manner in the recessed seat (8), without undesired overlapping or movements being able to occur. Therefore, the grip of the hands on that portion of handlebars (1) is more regular and allows the cyclist to keep maximum concentration, without disturbances.

Claims

1. A cable-guide for bicycle handlebars having a recessed seat for passage of cables, the cable-guide comprising: a plate having an upper edge and a lower edge of predetermined lengths and side edges having lengths that are less than the predetermined lengths that is configured to cover the recessed seat, wherein the plate has a front face and a rear face, and a middle fin that projects from the rear face into the recessed seat, the middle fin includes an appendix that projects beyond one of the side edges of the plate, and the middle fin extends parallel to the upper edge and the lower edge and contacts both of the side edges; wherein the middle fin includes through holes for attaching the cable-guide to the bicycle handlebars by a fastener, and oblong weight-reduction grooves positioned between the through holes; wherein the rear face of the plate includes a chamfer at at least one of the side edges.

2. Bicycle handlebars, comprising a shaped tubular body, the recessed seat for passage of cables formed in the tubular body in a region of a fastening position of controls for a brake and a gearshift and a cable-guide according to claim 1 fixed onto the recessed seat for holding the cables in the recessed seat.

3. Bicycle handlebars comprising a shaped tubular body made from composite material, the recessed seat for passage of cables formed in the tubular body in a region of a fastening position of controls for a brake and a gearshift and a cable-guide according to claim 1 fixed onto the recessed seat for holding the cables in the recessed seat.

4. The cable-guide according to claim 1, wherein the middle fin has a height such that the middle fin rests on a bottom portion of the recessed seat, when the cable-guide is mounted.

5. Bicycle handlebars, comprising a shaped tubular body, the recessed seat for passage of cables formed in the tubular body in a region of a fastening position of controls for a brake and a gearshift and a cable-guide according to claim 4 fixed onto the recessed seat for holding the cables in the recessed seat.

6. Bicycle handlebars comprising a shaped tubular body made from composite material, the recessed seat for passage of cables formed in the tubular body in a region of a fastening position of controls for a brake and a gearshift and a cable-guide according to claim 4 fixed onto the recessed seat for holding the cables in the recessed seat.

7. The cable-guide according to claim 1, wherein the appendix has an arched shape.

8. Bicycle handlebars, comprising a shaped tubular body, the recessed seat for passage of cables formed in the tubular body in a region of a fastening position of controls for a brake and a gearshift and a cable-guide according to claim 7 fixed onto the recessed seat for holding the cables in the recessed seat.

9. The cable-guide according to claim 1, wherein the appendix has a decreasing width, from the one of side edges of the plate towards an end thereof.

10. Bicycle handlebars, comprising a shaped tubular body, the recessed seat for passage of cables formed in the tubular body in a region of a fastening position of controls for a brake and a gearshift and a cable-guide according to claim 9 fixed onto the recessed seat for holding the cables in the recessed seat.

11. The cable-guide according to claim 1, wherein the front face of the plate opposite the rear face is provided with a surface finish having a friction coating or a patterned surface.

12. Bicycle handlebars, comprising a shaped tubular body, the recessed seat for passage of cables formed in the tubular body in a region of a fastening position of controls for a brake and a gearshift and a cable-guide according to claim 11 fixed onto the recessed seat for holding the cables in the recessed seat.

13. Bicycle handlebars comprising a shaped tubular body made from composite material, the recessed seat for passage of cables formed in the tubular body in a region of a fastening position of controls for a brake and a gearshift and a cable-guide according to claim 11 fixed onto the recessed seat for holding the cables in the recessed seat.

14. The cable-guide according to claim 11, wherein the front face of the plate is milled, knurled or coated with rubber material.

15. Bicycle handlebars, comprising a shaped tubular body, the recessed seat for passage of cables formed in the tubular body in a region of a fastening position of controls for a brake and a gearshift and a cable-guide according to claim 14 fixed onto the recessed seat for holding the cables in the recessed seat.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

(1) Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following description of a cable-guide and of handlebars according to the invention, made with reference to the attached drawings. In such drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a view from below of handlebars according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlargement of a detail of the handlebars of FIG. 1, with a cable-guide according to the invention highlighted;

(4) FIG. 3 is a front view of the cable-guide of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a rear view of the cable-guide of FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 5 is a section view of the cable-guide of FIG. 2, according to the line V-V of FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is a section view of the cable-guide of FIG. 2, according to the line VI-VI of FIG. 4;

(8) FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the cable-guide of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

(9) FIGS. 1 and 2 show handlebars 1 of a racing bicycle, with a tubular body 2 provided at its opposite ends with two handgrips 3, for example of the curved type. The handlebars 1 are preferably made from composite material, for example carbon fibre incorporated in a matrix of polymeric resin. Near to each handgrip 3 there is a gearshift control 4 and a brake control 5. For example, the gearshift control 4 is of the electrical type whereas the brake control 5 is of the mechanical type; therefore, each gearshift control 4 is associated with an electric cable 6 and each brake control 5 is associated with a sheathed cable 7. The cables 6 and 7 start from the respective controls 4 and 5 and extend along the tubular body 2 of the handlebars 1, to then proceed along the bicycle frame up to the members respectively controlled by each control.

(10) The handlebars 1 comprise two recessed seats 8 for the passage of cables, formed in the tubular body 2 near to the fastening positions on the handlebars 1 of the gearshift controls 4 and the brake controls 5.

(11) Each recessed seat 8 is provided with a respective cable-guide 10, made from a suitable polymeric material. FIG. 1 illustrates two cable-guides 10, for the right recessed seat 8 and for the left one (with reference to the direction of travel of the bicycle), respectively, whereas FIGS. 2 to 7 illustrate just the right cable-guide 10 in greater detail; the left cable-guide 10 is indeed symmetrically the same as the right cable-guide 10, and hereafter it will not be described in a specific manner.

(12) The cable-guide 10 comprises a plate 11 for covering the recessed seat 8; therefore, the plate 11 has a flattened shape, curved so as to close the recessed seat 8 by evenly joining to the handlebars 1, and it thus has a front face 12 and a rear face 13, facing towards the recessed seat 8, as well as two longer edges, one upper 14 and one lower 15, and two shorter edges, one right 16 and one left 17 (with reference to the direction of travel of the bicycle on which the handlebars 1 are mounted).

(13) The plate 11 has an elongated shape in the direction of its longer edges 14 and 15 and it is provided with a middle fin 21, projecting from the rear face 13 of the plate 11, in a position that is indeed in the middle with respect to the two longer edges 14 and 15. The middle fin 21 has an extension (going away from the rear face 13 of the plate 11) substantially equal to the depth of the recessed seat 8, so as to rest on the bottom thereof, when the cable-guide 10 is mounted on the handlebars 1.

(14) The cable-guide 10 also comprises an appendix 22, projecting from the right edge 16 of the plate 11, at the middle fin 21. The middle fin 21 also extends over the appendix 22, where it has a width corresponding to it and extension always such as to allow resting on the bottom of the recessed seat 8. The appendix 22 has an arched shape, with convexity facing upwards in the mounting position on the handlebars 1, and is pointed, with decreasing width from the edge 16 of the plate 11 towards an end 23, which is pointed and rounded. The middle fin 21 extends parallel to the upper edge 14 and the lower edge 15 and the middle fin 21 extends substantially between the side edges 16, 17.

(15) At the middle fin 21, in the cable-guide 10 holes 25 are formed, for fastening to the handlebars through rivets 26; in the illustrated example, there are three holes 25. The holes 25 thus pass through both the plate 11 and the middle fin 21, so as to ensure the maximum solidity for the cable-guide 11 and for its attachment to the handlebars 1.

(16) The middle fin 21 is also provided with two weight-reduction grooves 27, extending along the middle fin 21, between the holes 25.

(17) The front face 12 of the plate 11 of the cable-guide 10 preferably has a surface finish having increased friction; this finish (not highlighted in the drawings) can be obtained through coating with a rubber material or through milling or knurling of the material of the plate 11 itself.

(18) The rear face 13 of the plate 11 can be provided with chamfers, at the edges 16 and/or 17, to facilitate the passage of the cables 6 and/or 7; in the illustrated example, a chamfer 28 is provided.

(19) As can be appreciated, particularly with reference to FIG. 2, the cable-guide 10 allows the cables 6 and 7 to be kept locked neatly in the predetermined position inside the recessed seat 8 on the handlebars 1. Moreover, the appendix 22 completes the correct positioning of the cables 6 and 7 even beyond the plate 11, also filling the space between the cables 6 and 7 themselves; in this way, the cyclist's grip on this area of the handlebars 1 is more regular, whether the area is then coated with adhesive tape to help gripping with the hands (as often occurs), or it is left free.