Patent Publication Number: US-2007104405-A1

Title: Bearing device for bicycles

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a bearing device on each of two ends of the head tube of a bicycle and the bearing device is easily to be assembled and disassembled.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      In order to allow the handlebar stem to be rotatable relative to the head tube of the bicycle frame, a bearing device is mounted on a top end of the head tube and mounted to the handlebar stem so that the handlebar stem is rotatable relative to the head tube. Similarly, another bearing device is connected to a lower end of the head tube and the steerer tube extends through the bearing device on the lower end of the head tube so that the front wheel connected to the steerer tube can turn relative to the head tube. The conventional bearing device generally includes a bush which is pressed to combine all of the parts of the bearing device. Although the bush combine the parts of the bearing device to prevent the parts from being separated from each other. The bush also limits the user to maintain the bearing device because the bush is installed to the bearing device by pressing so that it is difficult to maintain the beads in the bearing device when needed or to remove dust or sand in the bearing device.  
      The present invention intends to provide a bearing device when is easily to be assembled and includes a sealing ring to prevent sand or dust form entering the bearing device.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a bearing device for bicycles and the bearing device comprises a first race having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion has a first groove defined in an inner periphery thereof and an annular engaging recess is defined in an inner periphery of the second portion. A support ring has a second groove defined in an outer periphery thereof and located in a space enclosed by the first race so as to receive a plurality of beads connected by a ring in a space enclosed by the first groove and the second groove. A second race has an L-shaped cross section and includes a horizontal flange and a vertical flange which is engaged with the annular engaging recess and the support ring is in contact with the horizontal flange.  
      The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view to show the bearing device of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view to show the bearing device, partly remved, of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  shows that two bearing devices of the present invention are connected to two ends of the bicycle head tube;  
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view to show that the bearing device is connected with another head tube, and  
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view to show that the bearing device is connected with yet another head tube. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , the bearing device  10  of the present invention comprises a first race  11  having a first portion  12  and a second portion  13  which is integrally connected to the first portion  12 . The first portion  12  has a first groove  14  defined in an inner periphery of the first portion  12  and an annular engaging recess  15  is defined in an inner periphery of the second portion  13 . The first portion  12  has an inclined outer periphery so that the assembler can easily identify the direction of installation.  
      A support ring  31  has a second groove  32  defined in an outer periphery thereof and the support ring  31  is located in a space enclosed by the first race  11 . A plurality of beads  22  connected by a ring  21  are received in a space enclosed by the first groove  14  and the second groove  31 . A second race  41  has an L-shaped cross section and includes a horizontal flange and a vertical flange which is engaged with the annular engaging recess  15  and the support ring is in contact with the horizontal flange. By the second race  41 , the beads  22  are well positioned in the space between the first groove  14  and the second groove  31 .  
      A plastic seal ring  411  is located between the horizontal flange of the second race  41  and the support ring  31  so as to prevent foreign objects such as sands from entering the space where the beads  22  are received.  
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show that the bearing device  10  of the present invention can be cooperated with different types of head tubes wherein the first race  11  is made integrally with the head tubes.  
      The inclined outer periphery of the first portion  12  provides an easy and obvious way to identify the orientation of the bearing device  10  and there is no bush as described in the conventional bearing device used in the bearing device  10  of the present invention so that the bearing device  10  can be easily assembled and dis-assembled for maintenance. The seal ring  411  effectively prevents the beads  22  from being in contact with sands or water so that the bearing device  10  has a longer term of use.  
      While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.