Bicycle components

Abstract

A bicycle handlebar includes a central portion configured to be coupled to a bicycle steering tube, a first hand grip portion configured to be gripped by a human hand, and a first transition portion that couples the central portion to the first hand grip portion, wherein the first transition portion has an outer surface having a circular cross-sectional shape and an inner surface having an elliptical, non-circular cross-sectional shape.

Description

BICYCLE COMPONENTSBACKGROUNDTechnical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to components of bicycles.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0002] Embodiments described herein can improve strength, flexibility, overall performance, and / or economy of bicycle handlebars. Embodiments described herein can offer improvements in terms of controlling bicycle ride characteristics, including by controlling vertical deflection and / or horizontal deflection of bicycle handlebars or other components, and / or by providing vibration damping in such components.

[0003] In some embodiments, a bicycle handlebar may be summarized as comprising: a central portion configured to be coupled to a bicycle steering tube, a first hand grip portion configured to be gripped by a human hand, and a first transition portion that couples the central portion to the first hand grip portion, wherein the first transition portion has a first outer surface having a first circular cross-sectional shape and a first inner surface having a first elliptical, noncircular cross-sectional shape.

[0004] The bicycle handlebar may further comprise a second hand grip portion configured to be gripped by a human hand and a second transition portion that couples the central portion to the second hand grip portion, wherein the second transition portion has a second outer surface having a second circular cross-sectional shape and a second inner surface having a second elliptical, noncircular cross-sectional shape. The central portion may have a second outer surface having a second circular cross-sectional shape and a second inner surface having a third circular cross-sectional shape, and the first hand grip portion may have a third outer surface having a fourth circular cross- sectional shape and a third inner surface having a fifth circular cross-sectional shape.

[0005] The elliptical, non-circular shape may have a minor axis that is oriented vertically. The elliptical, non-circular shape may have a minor axis that is oriented at 10 or 30 degrees from vertical. The elliptical, non-circular shape may have a major axis and a minor axis and the first transition portion may have a wall thickness of 2.6 mm at locations along the minor axis and a wallthickness of 2. 1 mm at locations along the major axis. The handlebar may be made of carbon fiber and may be symmetrical. A central longitudinal axis of the central portion may extend at an oblique angle to a central longitudinal axis of the first hand grip portion. The central portion may have a first external diameter and the first hand grip portion may have a second external diameter that is smaller than the first external diameter. The transition portion may include at least one curve.

[0006] A bicycle component may be summarized as comprising a first portion having a first outer surface having a first circular cross-sectional shape and a first inner surface having a second circular cross-sectional shape, a second portion having a second outer surface having a third circular cross-sectional shape and a second inner surface having a fourth circular cross-sectional shape, and a transition portion that couples the first portion to the second portion, wherein the transition portion has a third outer surface having a fifth circular cross-sectional shape and a third inner surface having an elliptical, non-circular cross-sectional shape. The first portion, the second portion, and the transition portion may be formed integrally with one another. The bicycle component may be a bicycle seat post. The first circular cross-sectional shape, the third circular cross-sectional shape, and the fifth circular cross-sectional shape may be the same as one another.

[0007] A bicycle may be summarized as comprising a first portion having a first outer surface having a first circular cross-sectional shape and a first inner surface having a second circular cross-sectional shape, a second portion having a second outer surface having a third circular cross- sectional shape and a second inner surface having a fourth circular cross-sectional shape, and a transition portion that couples the first portion to the second portion, wherein the transition portion has a third outer surface having a fifth circular cross-sectional shape and a third inner surface having an elliptical, non-circular cross-sectional shape, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the transition portion are formed integrally with one another.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Some dimensions are indicated in the drawings, some of which carry units of millimeters.

[0009] Figure 1A illustrates a top plan view of a bicycle handlebar. A bottom view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figure 1 A would appear the same as the top plan view thereof.

[0010] Figure IB illustrates a front end view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figure1 A. A rear end view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figure IB would appear the same as the front end view thereof.

[0011] Figure 1C illustrates another front end view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figures 1A and IB.

[0012] Figure ID illustrates a cross-sectional view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figures 1A-1C taken along the line ID-ID in Figure 1C.

[0013] Figure 2A illustrates a top plan view of a bicycle handlebar. A bottom view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figure 2A would appear the same as the top plan view thereof.

[0014] Figure 2B illustrates a front end view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figure 2A. A rear end view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figure 2B would appear the same as the front end view thereof.

[0015] Figure 2C illustrates another front end view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B.

[0016] Figure 2D illustrates a cross-sectional view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figures 2A-2C taken along the line 2D-2D in Figure 2C.

[0017] Figure 3A illustrates a top plan view of a bicycle handlebar. A bottom view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figure 3A would appear the same as the top plan view thereof.

[0018] Figure 3B illustrates a front end view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figure3 A. A rear end view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figure 3B would appear the same as the front end view thereof.

[0019] Figure 4A illustrates a top plan view of a bicycle handlebar. A bottom view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figure 4A would appear the same as the top plan view thereof.

[0020] Figure 4B illustrates a front end view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figure 4A. A rear end view of the bicycle handlebar illustrated in Figure 4B would appear the same as the front end view thereof.

[0021] Figure 5 illustrates a bicycle handlebar coupled to a bicycle steering tube.

[0022] Figure 6 illustrates a bicycle.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed embodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures associated with the technology have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments.

[0024] As used herein, terms of orientation or relative elevation such as “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” etc., are used in their conventional sense, that is, with respect to a direction of a force of gravity, such that gravity pulls objects downward. When referring to components of a bicycle, such terms are to be understood in the context of a bicycle resting on flat, level ground in its ordinary upright riding orientation, without a handlebar thereof turned to the left or the right, such that the bicycle and the two wheels thereof are aimed straight ahead.

[0025] As used herein, terms of orientation or relative location such as “front,” “rear,” etc., are used in their conventional sense with respect to a bicycle resting on flat, level ground, that is, such that a “front” end of the bicycle is the leading end of the bicycle and the “rear” end of the bicycle is the trailing end of the bicycle when the bicycle is ridden in an ordinary fashion. Such terms may also be understood in the context of a bicycle without a handlebar thereof turned to the left or right, such that the bicycle and the two wheels thereof are aimed straight ahead and configured to follow a straight path forward. In general, a forward-rearward axis is perpendicular to an upward-downward axis and is therefore level with respect to gravity.

[0026] As used herein, terms of orientation or relative location such as “left,” “right,” etc., are used in their conventional sense with respect to the perspective of a rider seated on the bicycle in an ordinary fashion. Such terms may also be understood in the context of a bicycle without a handlebar thereof turned to the left or right, such that the bicycle and the two wheels thereof are aimed straight ahead and configured to follow a straight path forward. In general, a leftward- rightward axis is perpendicular to both the forward-rearward axis and the upward-downward axis and is therefore level with respect to gravity.

[0027] Figures 1 A and IB illustrate a top plan view and a front end view, respectively, of a bicycle handlebar 100. As illustrated in Figures 1A and IB, the handlebar 100 is a single integral, monolithic, or one-piece component that has a generally tubular or hollow cylindrical shape thatextends substantially left-to-right. Figures 1 A and IB further illustrate that the handlebar 100 includes various portions having different dimensions and different orientations, such that portions of the handlebar 100 extend slightly in both forward-rearward and upward-downward directions.

[0028] The handlebar 100 includes a central portion 102 at a center thereof along its length extending from left to right. The central portion 102 extends linearly and only side-to-side or along a left-right axis, and is configured to be rigidly coupled to a steering post or steering tube of a bicycle by a stem clamp, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. The central portion 102 has a hollow cylindrical shape with an outer surface having a circular cross-sectional shape that may be constant or continuous along its length and an inner surface having a circular cross-sectional shape that may be constant or continuous along its length. The handlebar 100 also includes a pair of hand grip portions 104 at left and right ends thereof. The hand grip portions 104 extend linearly and generally side-to-side or along a left-right axis, but have central longitudinal axes that extend at an angle with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the central portion 102. Such angle can be rearward and upward and can appear to be 10 degrees rearward when the handlebar 100 is viewed from above and 5 degrees upward when viewed from in front. The hand grip portions 104 are configured to carry additional hand grip components and to be grasped by human hands, such as those of a person riding the bicycle of which the handlebar 100 is a part. The hand grip portions 104 each have a hollow cylindrical shape with an outer surface having a circular cross-sectional shape that may be constant or continuous along its length and an inner surface having a circular cross-sectional shape that may be constant or continuous along its length.

[0029] As illustrated in Figures 1 A and IB, the central portion 102 can have a larger diameter than the hand grip portions 104. In particular, the central portion 102 can have an outer diameter of 35 mm and each of the hand grip portions 104 can have an outer diameter of 22.2 mm. Due to the differences in the diameters of these portions of the handlebar 100, as well as the divergence of the central longitudinal axes of the hand grip portions 104 from a central longitudinal axis of the central portion 102, the handlebar 100 also includes a pair of transition portions 106, each of which couple a respective one of the hand grip portions 104 to the central portion 102. Each of the transition portions 106 can have a variable inner and outer cross-sectional shape and size that tapers from the size of the central portion 102 to the sizes of the hand grip portions 104, and each of the transition portions 106 can have one or more bends, which may curve about different axes, each designed with a specified radius of curvature, to accommodate the diverging central longitudinalaxes of the other portions of the handlebar 100. In particular, each of the transition portions 106 can appear to have a single bend or exactly one bend when viewed from above or below and can appear to have exactly two bends when viewed from any other angle, such as from in front or from behind.

[0030] Figure ID illustrates a cross-sectional view of a transition portion 106 of the handlebar 100 at a location indicated by line ID-ID in Figure 1C. In particular, Figure ID illustrates that the transition portions 106 of the handlebar 100 can each have a hollow cylindrical shape with an outer surface having a circular cross-sectional shape and an inner surface having an elliptical, non-circular cross-sectional shape. When such shapes of transition portions 106 are described herein, such elliptical, non-circular shapes of the inner surface exist on a common plane with the circular cross-sectional shape of the outer surface (that is, they are seen in a common cross-sectional view). More specifically, Figure ID illustrates that the inner surfaces of the transition portions 106 can have elliptical shapes defined by ellipses having a short or minor axis that is oriented at zero degrees from a vertical axis (that is, vertically) and a long or major axis that is oriented perpendicular to the minor axis and at zero degrees from a horizontal axis (that is, horizontally). As a result, the transition portions 106 have larger wall thicknesses at locations along the minor axes of such ellipses and smaller wall thicknesses at locations along the major axes of such ellipses. In particular, the transition portions 106 can have wall thicknesses of 2.6 mm at locations along the minor axes of the ellipses and wall thicknesses of 2.1 mm at locations along the major axes of the ellipses.

[0031] As illustrated in Figures 1A-1D, the bicycle handlebar 100 can be symmetrical about a plane defined by the forward-rearward and upward-downward axes.

[0032] Figures 2A-2D illustrate views comparable to those of Figures 1A-1D of another handlebar 200, which can have some dimensions, including radius of curvature dimensions, that are different than comparable dimensions in handlebar 100. Figures 3 A and 3B illustrate views comparable to those of Figures 1A-1D and 2A-2D of another handlebar 300, which can have some dimensions, including a diameter of its central portion, that are different than comparable dimensions in handlebar 100. For example, the handlebar 300 may have a central portion having an outer diameter of 31.8 mm and hand grip portions having an outer diameter of 22.2 mm. Figures 4A and 4B illustrate views comparable to those of Figures 1A-1D, 2A-2D, and 3A-3B of another handlebar 400, which can have some dimensions, including radius of curvature dimensions and a diameter of its central portion, that are different than comparable dimensions in handlebar 100.

[0033] As described elsewhere herein, inner surfaces of transition portions can have elliptical shapes defined by ellipses having a short or minor axis that is oriented vertically and a long or major axis that is oriented horizontally. In some alternative embodiments, the inner surfaces of transition portions of a handlebar can have elliptical shapes defined by ellipses having a short or minor axis that is oriented at 10 degrees from a vertical axis and a long or major axis that is oriented perpendicular to the minor axis and at 10 degrees from a horizontal axis. In some alternative embodiments, the inner surfaces of transition portions of a handlebar can have elliptical shapes defined by ellipses having a short or minor axis that is oriented at 30 degrees from a vertical axis and a long or major axis that is oriented perpendicular to the minor axis and at 30 degrees from a horizontal axis.

[0034] In some alternative embodiments, the inner surfaces of transition portions of a handlebar can have elliptical shapes defined by ellipses having a short or minor axis that is oriented at greater than zero, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 degrees from a vertical axis and / or at less than 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 degrees from the vertical axis. Such inner surfaces of transition portions of a handlebar can have elliptical shapes defined by ellipses having a long or major axis that is oriented perpendicular to the minor axis and at greater than zero, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 degrees from a horizontal axis and / or at less than 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 degrees from the horizontal axis. In some specific embodiments, these angles, which may be referred to as “clocking angles,” may be between 0 and 10 degrees, between 0 and 30 degrees, or between 10 and 30 degrees. In some specific embodiments, these angles may be 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 degrees.

[0035] In some embodiments, clocking angles as described herein are measured by rotation “toward the rider” relative to vertical / horizontal axes. Thus, looking at a handlebar from the right side, clocking angles are measured in a counter-clockwise direction, and looking at the handlebar from the left side, clocking angles are measured in a clockwise direction. In other embodiments, clocking angles as described herein are measured by rotation “away from the rider” relative to vertical / horizontal axes. Thus, looking at a handlebar from the right side, clocking angles are measured in a clockwise direction, and looking at the handlebar from the left side, clocking angles are measured in a counter-clockwise direction.

[0036] As described elsewhere herein, a central portion can have an outer diameter of 35 mm or 31.8 mm and hand grip portions can have outer diameters of 22.2 mm. In alternative embodiments, a central portion can have an outer diameter of at least 25 mm, 26 mm, 27 mm, 28mm, 29 mm, 30 mm, or 31 mm, and no more than 35 mm, 36 mm, 37 mm, 38 mm, 39 mm, or 40 mm, and hand grip portions can have outer diameters of at least 17 mm, 18 mm, 19 mm, 20 mm, 21 mm, or 22 mm, and no more than 23 mm, 24 mm, 25 mm, 26 mm, 27 mm, or 28 mm.

[0037] As described elsewhere herein, transition portions can have wall thicknesses of 2.6 mm at locations along the minor axes of the ellipses and wall thicknesses of 2.1 mm at locations along the major axes of the ellipses. In alternative embodiments, transition portions can have wall thicknesses of at least 1.0 mm, 1.25 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.75 mm, 2.0 mm, 2.25 mm, or 2.5 mm, and no more than 2.75 mm or 3.0 mm at locations along the minor axes of the ellipses and wall thicknesses of at least 1.0 mm, 1.25 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.75 mm, or 2.0 mm, and no more than 2.25 mm, 2.5 mm, 2.75 mm or 3.0 mm at locations along the major axes of the ellipses.

[0038] In some alternative embodiments, the features described herein, including hollow tubular bicycle components having circular outer surfaces and elliptical inner surfaces, can be used in bicycle components other than handlebars, including seat posts, chain stays, or other bicycle frame components.

[0039] The bicycle handlebars or other components described herein can be made of any suitable materials, such as carbon fiber. In some embodiments, such components may be made of metallic, plastic, or other materials.

[0040] Aspects of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bicycle handlebar, comprising: a central portion configured to be coupled to a bicycle steering tube; a first hand grip portion configured to be gripped by a human hand; and a first transition portion that couples the central portion to the first hand grip portion, wherein the first transition portion has a first outer surface having a first circular cross-sectional shape and a first inner surface having a first elliptical, non-circular cross-sectional shape.

2. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1, further comprising: a second hand grip portion configured to be gripped by a human hand; and a second transition portion that couples the central portion to the second hand grip portion, wherein the second transition portion has a second outer surface having a second circular cross- sectional shape and a second inner surface having a second elliptical, non-circular cross-sectional shape.

3. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1, wherein: the central portion has a second outer surface having a second circular cross-sectional shape and a second inner surface having a third circular cross-sectional shape; and the first hand grip portion has a third outer surface having a fourth circular cross-sectional shape and a third inner surface having a fifth circular cross-sectional shape.

4. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1 wherein the elliptical, non-circular shape has a minor axis that is oriented vertically.

5. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1 wherein the elliptical, non-circular shape has a minor axis that is oriented at 10 degrees from vertical.

6. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1 wherein the elliptical, non-circular shape has a minor axis that is oriented at 30 degrees from vertical.

7. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1, wherein the elliptical, non-circular shape has a major axis and a minor axis and the first transition portion has a wall thickness of 2.6 mm at locations along the minor axis and a wall thickness of 2.1 mm at locations along the major axis.

8. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1, wherein the handlebar is made of carbon fiber.

9. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1, wherein the handlebar is symmetrical.

10. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the central portion extends at an oblique angle to a central longitudinal axis of the first hand grip portion.

11. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1, wherein the central portion has a first external diameter and the first hand grip portion has a second external diameter that is smaller than the first external diameter.

12. The bicycle handlebar of claim 1, wherein the transition portion includes at least one curve.

13. A bicycle component, comprising: a first portion having a first outer surface having a first circular cross-sectional shape and a first inner surface having a second circular cross-sectional shape; a second portion having a second outer surface having a third circular cross-sectional shape and a second inner surface having a fourth circular cross-sectional shape; and a transition portion that couples the first portion to the second portion, wherein the transition portion has a third outer surface having a fifth circular cross-sectional shape and a third inner surface having an elliptical, non-circular cross-sectional shape.

14. The bicycle component of claim 13, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the transition portion are formed integrally with one another.

15. The bicycle component of claim 13, wherein the bicycle component is a bicycle seat post.

16. The bicycle component of claim 13, wherein the first circular cross-sectional shape, the third circular cross-sectional shape, and the fifth circular cross-sectional shape are the same as one another.

17. A bicycle, comprising: a first portion having a first outer surface having a first circular cross-sectional shape and a first inner surface having a second circular cross-sectional shape; a second portion having a second outer surface having a third circular cross-sectional shape and a second inner surface having a fourth circular cross-sectional shape; and a transition portion that couples the first portion to the second portion, wherein the transition portion has a third outer surface having a fifth circular cross-sectional shape and a third inner surface having an elliptical, non-circular cross-sectional shape; wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the transition portion are formed integrally with one another.

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