SAFETY DEVICE FOR RACING BICYCLES PROVIDED WITH BRAKING OPERATING AERODYNAMIC SWINGING HANDLES

Abstract: A safety device for racing bicycles is characterized in that it is provided with braking operating aerodynamic swinging handles (11) rigid with the brake levers (3) and designed for partially swinging about a pivot pin (5) applied to the support (1) of the brake levers.

Description: 0/69712 Description PCT/IT00/00190 SAFETY DEVICE FOR RACING BICYCLES PROVIDED WITH BRAKING OPERATING AERODYNAMIC SWINGING HANDLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved safety device to be applied to the handlebars of racing bicycles. The device is specifically designed for allowing the racing competition cyclists to assume a frontward projecting positions, in which the cyclist forearms are abutted on the central portion of the handlebar while the cyclist hands grip a handle rigid with the brake lever. The mentioned handle can partially swing about a pivot pin, housed in the support of the brake lever and of the speed change gear. At present, the cyclists participating to collective racing competitions, in order to assume an effectively aerodynamic position, abut their forearms on a central top portion of the handlebar, and grip by their hands the sheath portions of the change gear cables, which portions are arranged at a frontward projecting position and extend from the brake bodies. This, position, on the other hand, is a very dangerous one, since the directional handling of the bicycle is very poor, because of the excessive flexibility of the sheath portions. To overcome the above mentioned problem, fixed lugs have been designed for application to the handlebar of the racing bicycles, including closely spaced handles, allowing the cyclist to assume a frontward projecting position, and, accordingly, much more aerodynamic . The mentioned handles can be adjusted to allow the cyclist to find a suitable position depending on his body and his racing characteristics. However, prior fixed handles or lugs are affected by the great drawback of dangerously delaying the braking operation, emergency cases, since the cyclist must necessarily remove his hands from the handles fixed to the brake levers . Thus, as the cyclists are racing in very closed positions to one another, the reaction time would prevent a timely braking to be effectively performed. Because of the above mentioned reasons, the above fixed handles on the bicycle handlebar have been prohibited by the Sports Organizations, with the exception of the chronometer racings, in which the cyclist is individually engaged in his racing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to allow lugs or aerodynamic handles to be used even in collective racings, without any dangerous braking delays, as required for gripping by the hands the brake body and levers . In order to achieve the above mentioned object, the subject braking handles are applied on the bodies supporting the brake-change gear levers . Actually, the brake levers can usually operate also the change gear assembly, but the safety handles according to the invention do not interfere against the change gear drives. Said handles, moreover, allow to operate the brake by providing a downward directing pushing force on the handles . Thus, the cyclist can assume an aerodynamic position, while properly controlling the direction of the bicycle, and this also in a braking situation. Another main object of the present invention is to provide a safety device, for application to a racing bicycle handlebar, including aerodynamically operating handles . The mentioned handles are rigid with the brake levers and, in a braking event, they are designed for swinging about a pivot pin applied to the support of the brake levers and change gear . According to one aspect of the present invention the above mentioned aims are achieved by a device providing for application, to the supports of the brake levers and change gear, of auxiliary safety handles, comprising levers pivoted to said supports and arranged at the front portion of the curved arms of the sports handlebar. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above mentioned and other characteristics, of functional and constructional nature, of the improved device according to the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the figures of the accompanying drawings, illustrating, by way of an exemplary, but not limitative, example, the inventive device, in which: Figure 1 is a detail view illustrating the left braking handle; Figure 2 is a further detail view illustrating the left braking handle, as seen from a different angle; Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a bicycle handlebar and the braking handles applied to said handlebar; Figure 4 is a side view illustrating the device according to the invention, with the braking handle applied thereto and as partially cross- sectioned; Figure 5 illustrated a braking lug, as seen from the front thereof; Figure 6 is a side view of the handle, and clearly shows the downward displacement both of the brake-change gear lever and of the handle, shown in cross-section, for performing the braking operation; and Figure 7 is a front perspective view illustrating the handlebar of a sports bicycle, to which the device according to the present invention has been applied. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the number references of the accompanying drawing figures , the device according to the present invention comprises a support element 1 for supporting the brake and change gear levers, respectively indicated by the reference numbers 3 and The support element 1 for supporting the brake levers 3 and the change gear levers 4 is provided with a pivot pin 5 , thereabout the handle 5 can partially swing or turn, said handle 11 being operated by the cyclist in assuming, during the racing, a more aerodynamic position, and as the cyclist must perform a braking operation. Said handles 11 are connected by screws or other clamping elements to the support element 1 supporting the brake levers 3 and change gear levers 4 and being rigid or connected to the brake lever 3. Thus, the cyclist while holding his hands on the handle 11, can perform a required braking operation, by causing said handles 11 to partially turn or swing. Actually, since the handles 11 are rigid with or coupled to the brake levers 3 , as they are downward pushed, they will cause the racing bicycle to be braked, while allowing the cyclist to hold his hands on the handles 11, to allow in turn the bicycle to be driven and steered, even in an emergency condition. The reference number 6 indicates the front portion of the brake-change gear system, including a spring 7, provided for operating the change gear, being driven by the lever 4. The change gear lever 4 is rotatively supported on the axle 8. More specifically, the front portion of the brake-change gear system is connected to the rotary axle 8 by a screw, passing through the hole 8 or fixedly engaged in the rear portion, or by other known means . The reference number 9 indicates the outlet duct of the change gear sheath portions, and the reference number 9' indicates the change gear cable. The reference number 10 indicates the starting cylindric portion of the handle, which is rigid with the front portion of the brake-change gear system. Thus, as the handle 11 is downward pushed, said handle is caused to partially turn or swing about the pivot pin 5 of the brake, thereby operating the corresponding brake assembly. On the other hand, the levers on the change gear axles 8 and 12 are not affected, and, accordingly, the change gear will continue to operate in an independent manner. In the aerodynamic position assumed owing to the subject handles, a portion of the cyclist weight will be discharged on the cyclist forearms, abutted on the central top portion 13 of the handlebar 2. Under such a condition, no braking operation is performed, which, on the contrary, will be carried out by displacing downward the cyclist wrist portions. In this connection it should be pointed out that the aerodynamic handle according to the present invention can be adjusted by a counter-nut 14 or by any other suitable adjusting means, in order to arrange said handles in a desired position. The attachment means can be variously designed, depending on the type of the used levers. In a case of a lever provided for performing exclusively a braking operation, the handles 11 can be fixed to said lever 3. Said levers, moreover, could include therein the lugs 10 and the handles 11. The above disclosed handle 11 is arranged at a frontward displaced position from the pivot pin 5, thereby, in order to carry out a braking operation, said handle 11 must be downward pushed. In this connection it should moreover be pointed out that the support of the brake-change gear levers is applied at the curved front portion of the racing bicycle handlebar. Actually, the handles 11 inward project with respect to the main arms of the handlebar, at the front portion of the latter, thereby allowing the cyclist to hold a lowered aerodynamic position. The above disclosed device is designed for application to the arms 20 of the bicycle handlebar by the clamping band 21. While the safety device according to the present invention has been disclosed and illustrated by way of a merely exemplary embodiment, it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiment is susceptible to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the scope of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A safety device for application to a racing bicycle handlebar, characterized in that said device comprises aerodynamic handles made rigid with the brake levers and adapted to partially swing about a pivot pin applied to the support of the brake and change gear levers . 2. A safety device, according to Claim 1, characterized in that said brake and change gear lever support is applied to the front portion of the two curved arms of the racing bicycle handlebar and that said handles are directed toward the inner portion of said handlebar, transversely of the bicycle longitudinal axis . 3. A safety device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said brake, change gear and swinging aerodynamic handle support is applied to a curved arm of the racing bicycle handlebar, by a clamping band. 4. A safety device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said aerodynamic handles are applied at the front portion of said brake lever support. 5. A safety device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device comprises moreover adjusting elements and handles applied transversely of the front portion of the brake-change gear bodies, at such a position not interfering against the change gear lever, and allowing the operation of exclusively the brakes, by a partial swinging of said levers about said pivot pin, as the handles are downward pushed. 6. A safety device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said 5 device comprises a braking handle having a configuration corresponding to that of the front portion of the brake-change gear system and connected to an axle. 7. A safety device, according to one or more 0 of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device provides that the change gear cable outlet is either separated or not with respect to the handle assembly. 8. A safety device, according to one or more 5 of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aerodynamic braking handle is connected to the front portion of the brake-change gear body, and does not constitute a part of the front portion of said brake- change gear body, said aerodynamic braking handle o being applied above said brake-change gear body and being fixed by said axle. 9. A safety device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device comprises a reinforcement sleeve, engaged on 5 the outlet duct of the change gear cable and connected to the starting portion of the handle. 10. A safety device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said handle is made as a single piece with the front 0 portion of said brake-change gear assembly and that said handle is contoured as said portion or is made so as to overlap the front portion of the brake-change gear system. 11. A safety device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said handles can be adjusted by a counter-nut or by other suitable adjusting means, to be arranged at a desired position. 12. A safety device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device comprises a lever for exclusively performing the braking operations, said handle being fixed or coupled to said lever. 13. A safety device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said said device comprises brake levers including lugs for applying said handles. 14. A safety device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two right and left handles can be coupled to one another by any suitable coupling means, thereby ' providing an integral braking simultaneously on the rear and front wheel of the bicycle. 15. A safety device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said handle is arranged behind said pivot pin, thereby, for providing a braking operation, said handle must be upward pulled. 16. A safety device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device is provided with particular characteristics, of functional and constructional nature, and as broadly disclosed in the preceding disclosure and as illustrated in the figures of the drawings accompanying the present Industrial Invention Patent Application.

Inventors: AGABITI GABRIELE, CORSI DARIO, PONSELE MICHELE, AGABITI, GABRIELE, CORSI, DARIO, PONSELE', MICHELE
Applicants: AGABITI GABRIELE, CORSI DARIO, PACIFIC ELECTRONIC INSTR S A, PONSELE MICHELE, AGABITI, GABRIELE, CORSI, DARIO, PACIFIC ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS S.A., PONSELE', MICHELE
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B62L3
IPC codes: B62K23, B62L3