Bicycle handlebar with an oval cross section and adapter piece

Abstract

The concept described herein relates to a bicycle handlebar (100) with a centrally arranged clamping portion (101) for clamping the bicycle handlebar (100) into a front structure (200), wherein at least parts of the clamping portion (101) have an oval cross section, and with an adapter piece (110) which is arranged on the outer side of the clamping portion (101), wherein the adapter piece (110) has a geometric shape which complements the oval cross section in such a way that the clamping portion (101) and the adapter piece (110) together form a circular cross section. According to the invention, the clamping portion (101) without the adapter piece (110) has an oval outer contour, whereas in contrast the clamping portion (101) with the applied adapter piece (110) has a circular outer contour.

Description

[0001] Bicycle handlebar with oval cross-section and adapter

[0002] Description

[0003] The innovative concept described herein relates to a bicycle handlebar. This handlebar has an oval cross-section to enable better flex behavior. To allow the oval handlebar to be installed in a standard stem, the invention provides an adapter piece that serves to give the handlebar a circular outer contour in the area of ​​the stem clamp.

[0004] A bicycle handlebar is mounted on a bicycle by clamping the handlebar into a stem. The stem is usually constructed in two parts. A front plate (facing the direction of travel) is removable, allowing the handlebar to be inserted into the stem. The plate is then reattached to the stem and screwed into place. This exerts a clamping force on the handlebar, securing it in the stem and preventing it from twisting.

[0005] The so-called clamp width indicates the radius of the handlebar at its clamping section, which is used to clamp the handlebar to the stem. At the same time, the clamp width also describes the radius of the complementary clamping surface of the stem into which the handlebar is inserted. To ensure compatibility between handlebars and stems from different manufacturers, a few different standards or dimensions have been established. For example, clamp widths of 25.4 mm, 31.8 mm, or 35 mm are quite common today.

[0006] To further ensure compatibility, handlebars and stems should have complementary geometric shapes at their respective clamping sections or surfaces. Therefore, currently available handlebars have a circular cross-section, and the stem mounting section is also essentially circular.

[0007] It is well known that a tube with a circular cross-section exhibits relatively high rigidity. On the one hand, this is desirable for making the handlebar as stable as possible. On the other hand, however, it results in the handlebar being very rigid or inflexible, meaning that vibrations and shocks that can occur while riding are transmitted to the rider largely unfiltered. This can quickly lead to fatigue. One approach is to make the handlebar flexible using special material mixtures or shapes. However, as soon as the shape of the handlebar deviates from the standardized circular outer contour, compatibility with standardized stems is no longer guaranteed. Specially designed stems must then be developed, which involves higher development and production costs.In addition, market acceptance is extremely low, as end customers are rarely willing to purchase a new stem even if they only want to replace the handlebars. In addition, many cyclists want to continue using their existing stem.

[0008] It would therefore be desirable to provide a flexible handlebar that is compatible with conventional standards. This is achieved according to the invention with a bicycle handlebar and a steering unit according to the independent claims.

[0009] The bicycle handlebar according to the invention has a centrally arranged clamping section by means of which the bicycle handlebar can be clamped into a stem. The clamping section has an oval cross-section at least in sections, i.e. the handlebar has an oval outer contour in the region of the clamping section. According to the invention, an adapter piece is provided which is arranged on the outside of the clamping section of the handlebar. According to the invention, the adapter piece has a geometric shape which complements the oval cross-section of the handlebar such that the clamping section and the adapter piece together form a circular cross-section. As a result, the handlebar has a circular outer contour in the region of the clamping section so that the handlebar, despite its oval cross-section, remains compatible with common standards and can be used with standard stems.

[0010] The invention further proposes a steering unit for a bicycle, wherein the steering unit comprises a bicycle handlebar according to the invention as described herein, as well as a stem, wherein the clamping portion of the bicycle handlebar, together with the adapter piece, can be clamped into the stem. The stem has a clamping width that corresponds to the radius of the circular outer contour formed by the clamping portion and the adapter piece.

[0011] The stem has a clamping surface that interacts with the clamping section of the bicycle handlebar in a force-fitting manner to clamp the bicycle handlebar in the stem. According to a further aspect of the invention, it is proposed that the stem have a toothing in the region of the clamping surface, and that the adapter piece has a complementary counter-toothing. The counter-toothing on the adapter piece is designed to engage with the toothing of the stem, thus securing the bicycle handlebar against twisting.

[0012] Embodiments of the steering unit provide that the toothing enables a gradual rotation of the handlebar in the stem in a rotation angle range between ± 1 ° and ± 10 °.

[0013] Further advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0014] Some exemplary embodiments are shown in the drawing and explained below. They show:

[0015] Fig. 1A is a front perspective view of a handlebar with an adapter piece according to an embodiment,

[0016] Fig. 1 B is a rear perspective view of the handlebar with the adapter piece according to an embodiment,

[0017] Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a perspective view of a handlebar with an adapter piece according to an embodiment, and

[0018] Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a handlebar with an adapter piece according to an embodiment.

[0019] In the following, embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the figures, wherein elements with the same or similar function are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0020] Figures 1A and 1B each show perspective views of a bicycle handlebar 100 according to the invention, which is clamped into a standard stem 200. The handlebar 100 has a grip section 102 at each end. Between the grip sections 102, the handlebar 100 has a centrally arranged clamping section 101.

[0021] The clamping section 101 is clamped into the stem 200. For this purpose, a front plate 201 of the stem 200 can be removed. The handlebar 100 is then inserted into the opened stem 200 at its clamping section 101. The front plate 201 is then replaced so that the clamping section 101 is enclosed, and the plate 201 is tightened using screws 202. As a result, the clamping surfaces of the stem 200 exert a clamping force on the handlebar 100 or on the clamping section 101, so that the handlebar 100 is fixed in the stem 200 in a force-fitting and torsion-proof manner.

[0022] As can be seen in Figure 2, the bicycle handlebar 100 according to the invention has an adapter piece 110. The adapter piece 110 is clamped between the handlebar 100 and the stem 200. The function of the adapter piece 110 will be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 3.

[0023] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the handlebar 100, the stem 200, and the adapter piece 110. As can be seen here, the handlebar 100 has an oval cross-section in the region of the clamping section 101. For example, the clamping section 101 can have a circular section 103 with a first radius H in a first region. In an opposite second region, the clamping section 101 can have a flattened section 104 with a significantly larger second radius r2 compared to the circular section 103.

[0024] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the clamping section 101 has the circular section 103 at the top (i.e., facing away from the bicycle's contact surface), while the clamping section 101 has the flattened section 104 in the opposite lower part (i.e., facing the bicycle's contact surface). However, the reverse would also be conceivable.

[0025] Furthermore, the clamping section 101 can be divided into half the first area with the circular section 103, and half the second area with the flattened section 104. This means that one half of the clamping section 101 could be circular, while the other half of the clamping section 101 could be flattened. This would accordingly result in the oval outer contour of the clamping section 101 shown here. Other geometric subdivisions are also conceivable.

[0026] The oval outer contour or the oval cross-section of the clamping section 101 has the advantage that the handlebar 100 becomes more flexible. In the area of ​​the clamping or fastening on the stem 200, the oval handlebar 100 according to the invention has a significantly greater flex compared to conventional handlebars, which have a circular cross-section in the area of ​​the clamping section. This is best compared to a leaf spring. The oval shape of the clamping section 101 gives the handlebar 100 greater flexibility, which is expressed by a more pronounced oscillation behavior perpendicular to the surface of the flattened section 104. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the handlebar 100 would therefore be able to oscillate significantly more up and down (relative to the contact area of ​​the bicycle) than forwards or backwards. The flexibility of the handlebar 100 can be changed or adjusted by rotating the handlebar 100 within the stem 200.By rotating the handlebar 100, the orientation of the flattened section 104 also changes. Maximum flex can be achieved, for example, by aligning the flattened section 104 substantially parallel to the contact surface of the bicycle.

[0027] The desired flex behavior of the handlebar 100 can be determined using suitable methods, for example using the finite element method (FEM), in order to construct corresponding oval cross-sections.

[0028] The grip sections 102 previously mentioned with reference to Figures 1A and 1B can have a circular cross-section or a circular outer contour. This, in turn, allows the handlebar 100 to have less flexibility in the area of ​​the grip sections 102 compared to the oval clamping section 101.

[0029] As mentioned above, and as can best be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the handlebar 100 according to the invention can have at least one circular section 103. The radius of the circular section 103 can essentially correspond to the radius of the clamping surfaces of the stem 200, so that the circular section 103 can be inserted precisely into the stem 200. The circular section 103 is thus compatible with the circular clamping surfaces of a standardized stem 200. However, the flattened section 104 just mentioned deviates from the ideal circular shape. In this area, the handlebar 100 according to the invention is therefore initially incompatible with the circular clamping surfaces of standardized stems 200.

[0030] To accommodate this circumstance, the adapter piece 110 briefly mentioned above is provided according to the invention. The adapter piece 110 is arranged on the outside of the clamping section 101. According to the invention, the adapter piece 110 has a geometric shape that complements the oval cross-section of the clamping section 101 such that the clamping section 101 and the adapter piece 110 together form a circular cross-section.

[0031] The clamping section 101 of the handlebar 100 initially has an oval outer contour without the adapter piece 110. However, as soon as the adapter piece 110 is applied to the clamping section 101, the clamping section 101 and the attached adapter piece 110 together have a circular outer contour. As a result, the clamping section 101, which is given a circular outer contour by the mounted adapter piece 110, can be clamped into the circular clamping surfaces of standardized stems 200. The handlebar 100 according to the invention is thus compatible with standardized stems.

[0032] As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the adapter piece 110 can have a concave indentation 130 on a side facing the clamping section 101. The concave indentation 130 can have a radius that substantially corresponds to the larger second radius r2 of the flattened partial section 104. In other words, the concave indentation 130 can have an outer contour that is complementary to the outer contour of the flattened second partial section 104. Thus, the adapter piece 110 can be arranged with a precise fit on the second partial section 104 of the clamping section 101.

[0033] Expressed more generally, the adapter piece 110 may have a surface on a side facing the clamping section 101 that is complementary to a surface of the clamping section 101 at that same location.

[0034] The adapter piece 110 can have a convex bulge 140 on a side facing away from the clamping section 101. The convex bulge 140 can have a radius that essentially corresponds to the first radius n of the circular partial section 103, so that the convex bulge 140 of the adapter piece 110, together with the circular first partial section 103 of the clamping section 101, forms the circular outer contour.

[0035] The handlebar 100 and the adapter piece 110 can thus be clamped together in the stem 200 or between the clamping surfaces of the stem 200 to secure the handlebar 100 in the stem 200. Since the mounted adapter piece 110 gives the clamping section 101 of the handlebar 100 a circular outer contour, the handlebar 100 can be clamped firmly into the circular clamping surfaces of standardized stems. The handlebar 100 according to the invention thus becomes standard-compatible by means of the adapter piece 110 according to the invention, i.e., the oval handlebar 100 according to the invention can be used with standard-compliant stems.

[0036] However, it is also conceivable for the handlebar 100 to be combined with a special stem 200. A further aspect of the present invention accordingly relates to a steering unit 300 comprising the oval handlebar 100 described herein, together with the adapter piece 110, as well as a stem 200 described in more detail below. Referring again to Figures 2 and 3, the stem 200 can have a toothing 150, for example, in the region of the clamping surfaces that interact with the clamping section 101 of the handlebar 100 in a force-fitting manner. The toothing 150 in the stem 200 can, as shown by way of example, have a row of teeth with several teeth and several tooth gaps arranged between them.

[0037] The adapter piece 110 can have a complementary counter-toothing 151. The counter-toothing 151 can, for example, consist of a single tooth, as shown purely by way of example in Figure 2. The counter-toothing 151 provided on the adapter piece 110 is designed to engage with the toothing 150 of the stem 200, so that the bicycle handlebar 100 is positively secured against rotation. For example, the individual tooth of the counter-toothing 151 of the adapter piece 110 can engage with one of the tooth gaps of the toothing 150 of the stem 200.

[0038] Alternatively, it would be conceivable for the toothing 150 on the stem 200 to have only a single tooth, and for the counter-toothing 151 on the adapter piece 110 to have a corresponding row of teeth with several teeth and several tooth gaps arranged between them. Regardless of the specific design, the toothing 150 and the counter-toothing 151 always form a tooth arrangement.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the toothing 150 on the stem 200 and the counter-toothing 151 on the adapter piece 110 can be configured such that the handlebar 100 can be rotated step by step, i.e., tooth by tooth, by means of the tooth arrangement 150, 151. Advantageously, the handlebar 100 can be rotated step by step within a rotation angle range between ± 1° and ± 10°. In a further embodiment, the handlebar 100 can be rotated step by step within a rotation angle range between ± 1° and ± 6°. This means that the handlebar 100 can be rotated up or down within these ranges. Optionally, a scale can be provided on the handlebar 100 and / or on the stem 200 and / or on the adapter piece 110, which allows the corresponding angle to be read off.

[0040] The adjustability of bicycle handlebars 100 is generally desirable, but often not easily achieved. Many handlebars have a so-called backsweep, i.e., a backward bend (relative to the direction of travel of the bicycle), and / or an upsweep, i.e., an upward bend. Added to this is the so-called rise, i.e., the elevation of the grip sections 102 relative to the clamping section 101. All of these factors can vary from handlebar to handlebar. The handlebar can be adjusted depending on these factors. However, this can only be achieved by rotating the handlebar 100 in the stem 200. This means that rotating the handlebar 100 changes the backsweep (if present) and the upsweep (if present) equally. Depending on the handlebar model, rotating just a few degrees can make a significant difference. The handlebar 100 is adjusted according to the manufacturer's specifications or according to personal preference.

[0041] It's difficult for the end user to find the exact zero position as the starting point from which the 100 handlebar should be rotated by the desired number of degrees. Scales printed on the 100 handlebar are often incompatible with scales printed on 200 stems from other manufacturers. Furthermore, with continuous adjustability, due to the purely force-locking clamping of conventional stems, it cannot be guaranteed that the end user will set the exact desired number of degrees, especially if the rotation is to be accurate to within 1 degree.

[0042] The steering unit 300 according to the invention, on the other hand, allows a precise rotation of the handlebar 100 within the stem 200 by means of the aforementioned tooth arrangement 150, 151. According to one embodiment, the toothing 150 and the counter toothing 151 can be designed to have a 1 o-wise rotation of the handlebar 100 in the stem 200, i.e., the handlebar 100 is rotated by exactly 1° per tooth. This allows the end customer to easily determine by how many degrees the handlebar 100 is rotated.

[0043] Furthermore, a specific tooth gap in the row of teeth of the tooth arrangement 150, 151 can define a zero position. With reference to Figure 2, for example, the lowest tooth gap or the highest tooth gap could define the zero position. It would also be conceivable for the middle tooth gap to define the zero position. In this case, the link 100 could be rotated incrementally in both a positive and a negative direction of rotation, i.e., the link 100 could be rotated both incrementally forward and incrementally backward within the tooth arrangement 150, 151.

[0044] The above-described embodiments merely illustrate the principles of the innovative concept described herein. It is understood that modifications and variations of the arrangements and details described herein will be apparent to others skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the concept described herein be limited only by the scope of the following claims and not by the specific details presented in the description and explanation of the embodiments herein.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Bicycle handlebar (100) comprising: a centrally arranged clamping section (101) for clamping the bicycle handlebar (100) in a stem (200), wherein the clamping section (101) has an at least partially oval cross-section, and an adapter piece (110) which is arranged on the outside of the clamping section (101), wherein the adapter piece (110) has a geometric shape which complements the oval cross-section such that the clamping section (101) and the adapter piece (110) together form a circular cross-section, wherein the clamping section (101) without the adapter piece (110) has an oval outer contour, and wherein the clamping section (101) with the attached adapter piece (110) has a circular outer contour.

2. Bicycle handlebar (100) according to claim 1, wherein the clamping section (101) has a circular partial section (103) with a first radius in a first region, and wherein the clamping section (101) has a flattened partial section (104) with a significantly larger second radius r2 in an opposite second region compared to the circular partial section (103).

3. Bicycle handlebar (100) according to claim 2, wherein the clamping section (101) is divided into one half each into the first region with the circular section (103), and into another half each into the second region with the flattened section (104).

4. Bicycle handlebar (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the flattened section (104) of the clamping section (101) is aligned substantially parallel to the contact surface of the bicycle when the bicycle handlebar (100) is mounted. Bicycle handlebar (100) according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the first radius n of the circular section (103) corresponds to the radius of the stem (200). Bicycle handlebar (100) according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the adapter piece (110) has a concave indentation (130) on a side facing the clamping section (101), said concave indentation (130) having a radius that corresponds to the larger second radius r2 of the flattened section (104), so that the adapter piece (110) can be arranged with a precise fit on the second section (104) of the clamping section (101).Bicycle handlebar (100) according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the adapter piece (110) has a convex bulge (140) on a side facing away from the clamping section (101), wherein this convex bulge (140) has a radius that corresponds to the first radius of the circular partial section (103), so that the convex bulge (140) of the adapter piece (110) together with the circular first partial section (103) of the clamping section (101) forms the circular outer contour. Bicycle handlebar (100) according to one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the bicycle handlebar (100) has grip sections (102) that each extend laterally away from the clamping section (101), and wherein these grip sections (102) have a circular cross-section.Steering unit (300) for a bicycle, comprising: a bicycle handlebar (100) according to one of the preceding claims, and a stem (200) in which the clamping section (101) of the bicycle handlebar (100) can be clamped together with the adapter piece (110), wherein the stem has a clamping width which corresponds to the radius of the circular outer contour which the clamping section (101) forms together with the adapter piece (110).

10. Steering unit (300) according to claim 9, wherein the stem (200) has a clamping surface which cooperates with the clamping section (101) of the bicycle handlebar (100) in a force-fitting manner in order to clamp the bicycle handlebar (100) in the stem (200), wherein the stem (200) has a toothing (150) in the region of the clamping surface, and wherein the adapter piece (110) has a complementary counter-toothing (151) which is designed to engage in the toothing (150) of the stem (200) so that the bicycle handlebar (100) is positively secured against twisting.

11. Steering unit (300) according to claim 10, wherein the toothing (150) and the counter-toothing (151) are designed to allow a step-wise rotation of the handlebar (100) in the stem (200) in a rotation angle range between ± 1° and ± 10°.

12. Steering unit (300) according to claim 10, wherein the toothing (150) and the counter-toothing (151) are designed to have a 1 o -wise rotation of the handlebar (100) in the stem (200).

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