Folding Handlebar

A folding handlebar includes a stem, a pair of handles pivotally connected the stem, an abutting member, and a clamping device. The stem includes a fixing portion having a first abutting face, and an extending portion having a receiving space interconnected to a first bore. Each handle includes first and second joint faces. The abutting member includes a second abutting face abuttable against the first abutting face and one of the first and second joint faces, and a second bore aligned with the first bore. The clamping device includes a rod assembly inserted into the first and second bores, a fastener received into the receiving space and engageable with the rod assembly, and an eccentric member abuttable against the abutting member to selectively abut against the stem for providing a reliable engagement between the abutting member and the stem.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a handlebar and, more particularly, to a folding handlebar, which can be used in a folding vehicle.

Taiwan Utility Patent No. M270112 discloses a foldable handlebar (10), which comprises a base (20), first and second grasp rods (30and40) respectively pivotally connected to the base (20) to be capable of pivoting with respect to the base (20) between a folded position and a usage position, and fixed means for positioning the first and second grasp rods (30and40) in the folded position or the usage position. The base (20) is provided with a plurality of concave holes (244and264), and the first and second grasp rods (30and40) respectively includes a plurality of convex portions (344and444) that can engage into the concave holes (244and264) such that the first and second grasp rods (30and40) are positioned in the folded position or the usage position, respectively.

However, the engagement between the concave holes (244and264) and the convex portions (344and444) is poor in structural strength. Further, the concave holes (244and264) and the convex portions (344and444) are easy to be deformed to cause that the first and second grasp rods (30and40) can not to be positioned in the folded position or the usage position when the handlebar is suffered an accidental impact.

Thus, a need exists for a novel folding handlebar to mitigate and/or obviate the above disadvantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY

This need and other problems in the field of folding handlebars are solved by a folding handlebar including a stem, a pair of handles pivotally connected the stem, an abutting member, and a clamping device. The stem includes a fixing portion and an extending portion connected with each other. The fixing portion has a first abutting face opposite to the extending portion, and the extending portion has a receiving space interconnected to a first bore extending through the first abutting face. Each handle includes first and second joint faces. The abutting member includes a second abutting face abuttable against the first abutting face and one of the first and second joint faces, and a second bore extending therethrough and aligned with the first bore. The clamping device includes a rod assembly inserted into the first and second bores, a fastener received into the receiving space and engageable with the rod assembly, and an eccentric member abuttable against the abutting member to selectively abut against the stem for providing a reliable engagement between the abutting member and the stem.

Illustrative embodiments will become clearer in light of the following detailed description described in connection with the drawings.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the illustrative embodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings have been read and understood.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-8show a folding handlebar according to the present invention. The folding handlebar includes a stem10adapted to mounted on a fork of a folding vehicle, a pair of handles20pivotally connected two opposite ends of the stem10, an abutting member30adapted to abut against the stem10and the pair of handles20, and a clamping device40extending through the stem10and the abutting member30for selectively clamping the stem10, the pair of handles20and abutting member30. The folding handlebar can be operated between a usage position and a folded position, so that the folding handlebar applied to the folding vehicle can be convenient to carry out and also does not occupy the space.

The stem10including a fixing portion11and an extending portion12connected with each other. The fixing portion11has a first abutting face111opposite to the extending portion12. The extending portion12has a receiving space121interconnected to a first bore101extending through the first abutting face111. In the embodiment, the first abutting face111is substantially an H-shaped plane. The fixing portion11including two recesses112arranged at two opposite ends thereof. Each recess112has a first through-hole1121extending therethrough, and a bottom surface1122perpendicular to the first abutting face111of the stem10.

Each handle20includes first, second, and third joint faces21,22, and23. The first abutting face111and one of the first and second joint faces21and22is located in the same plane when the folding handlebar is in the usage position or the folded position. The third joint face23is arranged between the first and second joint faces21and22.

Further, each handle20is pivotally engaged with each respective recess112and has a second through-hole24extending therethrough and aligned with the first through-hole1121. Two pin50each are inserted into the respective first and second through-holes1121and24. In the embodiment, the first, second, and third joint faces21,22, and23are substantially flat and respectively parallel to the second through-hole24.

Furthermore, each handle20includes a stop protrusion25arranged adjacent to the first joint face21and having a stop face connected with a side of the first joint face21opposite to the second joint face22. An included angle of less than90degrees is formed between the stop face and the first joint face21. A first arc face D is disposed between the stop face and the first joint face21. In the embodiment, the stop face of the stop protrusion25is substantially flat and respectively parallel to the second through-hole24. A fillet26is formed between the second and third joint faces22and23to facilitate a smooth pivotment between the stem10and the pair of handles20. The bottom surface1122is abuttable against one of the second and third joint faces22and23and the fillet26when the folding handlebar is operated between the usage position and the folded position.

The abutting member30includes a second abutting face31abuttable against the first abutting face111and one of the first and second joint faces21and22for providing a reliable engagement, and a second bore32extending therethrough and aligned with the first bore101. In the embodiment, the second abutting face31is substantially a rectangular plane. The abutting member30further includes a stop wall33disposed therearound and abuttable against the respective stop protrusion25, and a concave arc face34at one side thereof opposite to the second abutting face31. A second arc face D1is disposed between the second abutting face31and the stop wall33, and corresponds to and abuttable against the first arc face D.

The clamping device40includes a rod assembly41inserted into the first and second bores101and32, a fastener42received into the receiving space121and engageable with the rod assembly41, an eccentric member43abuttable against the abutting member30, and a biasing member44received into the receiving space121and detachably mounted to the rod assembly41. The rod assembly41includes a first rod member411and a second rod member412detachably connected with each other. In the embodiment, the fastener42is hexagon nut. The eccentric member43includes a lever section431adapted to be operated by a user, and an eccentric section432disposed opposite to the lever section431. The eccentric section432extends along a central axis A and is pivotally connected to the rod assembly41to be abuttable against the concave arc face34of the abutting member30. Further, the eccentric section432includes an arc face4321opposite to the lever section431, and an orifice4322extending along an eccentric axis B spaces from the central axis A. A distance C is formed between the central and eccentric axes A and B. The eccentric section432further includes a gap4323interconnected with the orifice4322. The second rod member412is located within the gap4323and is inserted through the first and second bores101and32. The second rod member412has a first end and a second end spaced from each other. The first end is threadedly connected to and arranged perpendicular to the first rod member411, and the second end is threadedly connected to the fastener42. The biasing member44is received into the receiving space121and is mounted around the second rod member412to be disposed between and connects to an inner wall of the receiving space121and the fastener42.

When the folding handlebar is located in the usage position (shown inFIGS. 3 and 4), the first abutting face111and the first joint faces21of the pair of handles20is located in the same plane. Moreover, the second abutting face31abuts against the first abutting face111and the first joint faces21of the pair of handles20for providing a reliable and stronger engagement to suffer an accidental impact. The stop wall33abuts against the respective stop protrusion25of the pair of handles20.

When the folding handlebar is folded from the usage position to the folded position (shown inFIGS. 5, 6, and 7), a user can turn the lever section431of the eccentric member43to cause the arc face4321spaced from the concave arc face34of the abutting member30. Thus, the biasing member44biasing against the stem10and the fastener42causes that the second abutting face31spaces from the first abutting face111and the first joint faces21of the pair of handles20to permit the pair of handles20pivotable in relation to the stem10. Pivoting the pair of handles20compresses the biasing member44and causes that the third joint faces23of the pair of handles20abuts against the bottom surface1122. Then, the user can turn the lever section431of the eccentric member43again to cause the arc face4321abutting against the concave arc face34of the abutting member30. The abutting member30slides through the second rod member412under a restoring force of the biasing member44to cause the second abutting face31abuts against the second joint faces22of the pair of handles20to helps the user fold it fast.

When the folding handlebar is located in the folded position (shown inFIG. 7), the first abutting face111and the second joint faces22of the pair of handles20is located in the same plane. Moreover, the second abutting face31abuts against the first abutting face111and the second joint faces22of the pair of handles20for providing a reliable and stronger engagement to suffer an accidental impact.

Thus since the illustrative embodiment disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.