Abstract:
A bicycle handle mounting member is provided for mounting a handlebar and a display unit thereto. The mounting member includes a stem portion configured to be coupled to a bicycle frame and a handlebar and display unit support portion movably coupled to the stem portion. The handlebar and display unit support portion includes a handlebar clamp and first and second mounting flanges. The handlebar clamp has the handlebar fixedly coupled thereto. The first and second mounting flanges are spaced apart to form a display receiving space with the display unit fixedly coupled therebetween. In the preferring embodiments, the handlebar and the display unit are mount to the bicycle handle mounting member such that the wiring between the display unit and control members mounted to the handlebar are completely concealed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention generally relates to a bicycle handle mounting member. More specifically, the present invention relates a bicycle handle mounting member that fixedly secures a handlebar and a display unit. 
     2. Background Information 
     Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the various components of the bicycle. 
     More specifically, bicycles are being made to be more user friendly and more convenient to operate. One area of the bicycle that is constantly being improved is the controls of the bicycle. The controls are being made to be easier to use, as well as being better designed. For example, bicycle displays are typically mounted on the handlebar as a separate element. These displays can often rotate on the handlebar and thus not be visible to the rider. Moreover, the display units are often offset to one side of the bicycle. Thus, the rider must look sideways in order to view a display unit that is offset to the side of the bicycle. Depending upon the function of the display unit, this may result in the rider frequently having to look for the display unit. Moreover, these display units often have their wires taped or strapped to the handlebars and various frame parts. These wires can often be inadvertently torn from the display unit. Moreover, these wires are often very unsightly. 
     In view of the above, there exists a need for a bicycle handle mounting member which supports a handlebar and a display unit, and which overcomes the above mentioned problems in the prior art. This invention addresses this need in the prior art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle handle mounting member that fixedly secures a handlebar and a display unit in an integrated fashion. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle handle mounting member in which the wiring between the display unit and the control device or switch is mounted on the handlebar. 
     The foregoing objects can basically be attained by providing a bicycle handle mounting member comprising a stem portion, and a handlebar and display unit support portion. The stem portion is configured to be coupled to a bicycle frame. The handlebar and display unit support portion is movably coupled to the stem portion. The handlebar and display unit support portion includes a handlebar clamp, and first and second mounting flanges. The and first and second mounting flanges are spaced apart to form a display receiving space therebetween. 
     The foregoing objects can also be attained by providing a bicycle handlebar assembly comprising a handlebar a display unit, and a mounting member. The mounting member includes a stem portion configured to be coupled to a bicycle frame and a handlebar and display unit support portion coupled to the stem portion. The handlebar and display unit support portion includes a handlebar clamp and first and second mounting flanges. The handlebar clamp has the handlebar fixedly coupled thereto. The first and second mounting flanges are spaced apart to form a display receiving space with the display unit fixedly coupled therebetween. 
     These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a bicycle with a bicycle handle mounting member in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bicycle handle mounting member illustrated in FIG. 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the bicycle handle mounting member illustrated in FIG. 2 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bicycle handle mounting member in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the bicycle handle mounting member illustrated in FIG. 4 in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bicycle handle mounting member in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the bicycle handle mounting member in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring initially to FIG. 1, a bicycle  10  is illustrated with a bicycle handle mounting member  12  with a handlebar  14  and a display unit  16  coupled thereto in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, as discussed below. Bicycle  10  and its various components are well known in the prior art, except for the handle mounting member  12 , handlebar  14  and display unit  16  of the present invention. Thus, bicycle  10  and its various components will not be discussed or illustrated in detail herein, except for the components that relate to the present invention. 
     As used herein, the following directional terms “forward, rearward, upward, above, downward, vertical, horizontal, below and transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a bicycle in its normal riding position, with the bicycle handle mounting member  12  attached thereto. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the bicycle handle mounting member  12  in the claims, should be interpreted relative to bicycle  10  in its normal riding position. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle mounting member  12  has a stem portion  20  that is pivotally coupled to a handle bar and display unit support portion  22  via a pivot bolt  24 . Preferably, the stem portion  20  and the handlebar and display unit support portion  22  are each constructed of a lightweight rigid material. For example, these elements can be constructed of a lightweight metallic material such as aluminum or titanium. 
     The stem portion  20  in the illustrated embodiment has a stem mounting post  28  with a flange  30  extending outwardly from the top end of the stem mounting post  28 . The stem portion  20  is pivotally coupled to the handle bar and display unit support portion  22  via the pivot bolt  24  passing through a hole (not shown) in the flange  30  of the stem mounting post  28  and holes  36  of the handle bar and display unit support portion  22 . Thus, when the pivot bolt  24  is tightened down, the handlebar display unit support portion  22  is held at a predetermined angle relative to the stem portion  20 . 
     The handlebar and display unit support portion  22  is a substantially U-shaped member that has a base section  40  and a pair of leg sections or mounting flanges  42   a  and  42   b  that define a display receiving space  44  therebetween. The base section  40  has a pair of flanges  34  that have holes  36  (only one shown) for receiving pivot bolt  24  therein. The flange  30  is located between the flanges  34  and is provided with a serrated surface  31  that engages a corresponding serrated surface  37  of the handlebar and display unit support portion  22  for holding the handlebar and display unit support portion  22  at the desired angle relative to the stem portion  20 . Preferably, one of the flanges  34  is threaded so that the bolt  24  squeezes the flanges  34  together against the flange  30  located therebetween. 
     The free ends of the first and second mounting flanges  42   a  and  42   b  have handlebar receiving openings or bores  46   a  and  46   b  for mounting handlebar  14  thereto, as discussed below. The handlebar receiving bores  46   a  and  46   b  are split bores in which the diameter of the bore is adjusted by bolts  50   a  and  50   b  in a conventional manner. Accordingly, the handlebar receiving bores  46   a  and  46   b  and the bolts  50   a  and  50   b  form first and second clamping portions  52   a  and  52   b . In this embodiment, the handlebar receiving bores  46   a  and  46   b  have longitudinal center axes A that are axially aligned with each other. The handlebar receiving bores  46   a  and  46   b  also support the display unit  16 , as explained below. 
     The handlebar  14  in this embodiment is preferably constructed of two separate tubular sections  60   a  and  60   b . Preferably, the tubular sections  60   a  and  60   b  are substantially identical to each other, except for that they are minor images of each other. Tubular section  60   a  has a first attachment end  62   a  and a second free end  64   a . The attachment end  62   a  is clamped in first clamping portion  52   a , while the second free end  64   a  extends outwardly therefrom. The tubular section  60   a  is hollow and has an inner serrated surface  66   a  at the first attachment end  62   a . Preferably, the inner serrated surface  66   a  has a substantially truncated cone shape such that the diameter of the inner serrated surface  66   a  is widest at the opening of the first attachment end  62   a  and then gradually reduces as it extends into the tubular section  60   a . This serrated inner surface  66   a  is designed to non-rotatably hold the display unit  16 , as explained below. 
     The tubular section  60   a  is provided with an opening  68   a  that is normally covered by a switch or control device  70   a . This arrangement allows the display unit  16  to be wired to the switch or control device  70   a  without the wires  72   a  being exposed. In other words, the wires  72   a  are completely concealed within the interior of tubular section  60   a  between the display unit  16  and the switch or control device  70   a.    
     The tubular section  60   b  has a first attachment end  62   b  and a second free end  64   b . The attachment end  62   b  is clamped in second clamping portion  52   b , while the second free end  64   b  extends outwardly therefrom. The tubular section  60   b  is hollow and has an inner serrated surface  66   b  at the first attachment end  62   b . Preferably, the inner serrated surface  66   b  has a substantially truncated cone shape, similar to the inner serrated surface  66   a . This serrated inner surface  66   b  is designed to non-rotatably hold the display unit  16 , as explained below. 
     The tubular section  60   b  is provided with an opening  68   b  that is normally covered by a switch or control device  70   b . This arrangement allows the display unit  16  to be wired to the switch or control device  70   b  without the wires  72   b  being exposed. In other words, the wires  72   b  are completely concealed within the interior of tubular section  60   b  between display unit  16  and switch or control device  70   b.    
     Turning now to the display unit  16 , preferably, the display unit  16  is a cycle computer that provides various information to the rider and that is operated by one or more control devices  70   a  and/or  70   b . More preferably, the display unit  16  is a cycle computer that also operates electrically controlled derailleurs  78   a  and  78   b  via shift buttons  76   a  and  76   b . Of course, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the cycle computer and the control devices  70   a  and  70   b  can have a variety of configurations, as needed and/or desired. 
     Thus, the drive train of bicycle  10  is basically operated or electronically controlled by the display unit  16 . The display unit  16  preferably includes a microcomputer formed on a printed circuit board that is powered by a battery unit. The microcomputer of the display unit  16  includes a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory component (RAM), a read only memory component (ROM), and an I/O interface. The various components of the microcomputer are well known in the bicycle field. Therefore, the components used in the microcomputer of the display unit  16  will not be discussed or illustrated in detail herein. Moreover, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the display unit  16  can include various electronic components, circuitry and mechanical components to carryout the present invention. 
     Display unit  16  has a pair of support tubes  80   a  and  80   b  that are received in handlebar receiving bores  46   a  and  46   b  and into the first attachment ends  62   a  and  62   b  of the tubular sections  60   a  and  60   b  of the handlebar  14 . More specifically, the first and second support tubes  80   a  and  80   b  have axially extending bores  84   a  and  84   b  and outer serrated surfaces  86   a  and  86   b , respectively. The outer serrated surfaces  86   a  and  86   b  have a substantially truncated cone shape that corresponds to the inner serrated surfaces  66   a  and  66   b  of the tubular sections  60   a  and  60   b . Thus, the inner serrated surfaces  66   a  and  66   b  mate with the outer serrated surfaces  86   a  and  86   b  to prevent relative rotation therebetween. Accordingly, the wires  72   a  and  72   b  from the display unit  16  extend outwardly through the internal bores  84   a  and  84   b , and into the interior of tubular sections  60   a  and  60   b . The wires  72   a  and  72   b  then extend out of the openings  68   a  and  68   b  of the tubular sections  60   a  and  60   b  where they are operatively coupled to the control devices  70   a  and  70   b , respectively. Accordingly, the wires  72   a  and  72   b  are completely sealed between the display unit  16  and the control devices  70   a  and  70   b.    
     SECOND EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the bicycle handle mounting member  12  is illustrated with a looped shaped handlebar  114  in accordance with a second embodiment and adapted to be mounted on bicycle  10  in a conventional manner. This second embodiment is substantially identical to the first embodiment, except that the handlebar  14  of the first embodiment has been replaced with the looped shaped handlebar  114 . In view of the similarities between the second embodiment and the first embodiment, this second embodiment will not be discussed or illustrated in detail herein. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that identical or similar structures of this embodiment operate in an identical or substantially identical manner as in the first embodiment. 
     The handlebar  114  in this embodiment is preferably constructed of two separate tubular sections  160   a  and  160   b . Preferably, the tubular sections  160   a  and  160   b  are substantially identical to each other, except for that they are mirror images of each other. The tubular section  160   a  has a first attachment end  162   a and a second end  164   a . Likewise, the tubular section  160   b  has a first attachment end  162   b  and a second end  164   b . In this embodiment, the second ends  164   a  and  164   b  are coupled together by a joining member  169 . 
     The attachment ends  162   a  and  162   b  are clamped in first and second clamping portions  52   a  and  52   b , respectively. The attachment ends  162   a  and  162   b  have inner serrated surfaces  166   a  and  166   b . Preferably, the inner serrated surfaces  166   a  and  166   b  have substantially truncated cone shapes. These serrated inner surface surfaces  166   a  and  166   b  are designed to non-rotatably hold the display unit  16 , in the same manner as the first embodiment. 
     The tubular sections  160   a  and  160   b  are provided with openings  168   a  and  168   b  that are normally covered by the switches or control devices  70   a  and  70   b . This arrangement allows the display unit  16  to be wired to the switches or control devices  70   a  and  70   b  without the wires  72   a and  72   b  being exposed. In other words, the wires  72   a  and  72   b  are completely concealed within the interior of tubular sections  160   a  and  160   a  between the display unit  16  and the switches or control devices  70   a  and  70   b.    
     THIRD EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a bicycle handle mounting member  212  is illustrated in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention and adapted to be coupled to bicycle  10  in a conventional manner. This third embodiment has modified mounting structures for supporting the handlebar  214  and the display unit  216 . In view of the similarities between this embodiment and the prior embodiment, this embodiment will not be discussed or illustrated in detail herein except to explain the differences between the two embodiments. 
     In this embodiment, the stem portion  220  is identical to stem portion  20  of the first embodiment, while the handlebar display unit support portion  222  is modified. The handlebar and display unit support portion  222  is modified such that the handlebar  214  and the display unit  216  are mounted in a different manner. More specifically, a separate clamping member  252  is fastened to the base section  240  of the handlebar and display unit support portion  222  via a pair of bolts  250 . Of course, the clamping member  252  could be made integral with the remaining portions of the base section  240 . Moreover, the handlebar and display unit support portion  222  is also provided with a pair of additional mounting flanges  255  for mounting other accessories, such as a safety pad, etc. In this embodiment the display unit  216  is attached to openings  246  via a pair of fasteners or bolts  247 . 
     The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. These terms should be construed as including a deviation of ±5% of the modified term if this would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies. 
     While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.