Patent Publication Number: US-2007116389-A1

Title: Roller bearing device for bicycles

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a roller bearing device for bicycles and the bearing device generates less noise and prevents foreign objects from entering the bearing device.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      A conventional bearing device for bicycles is connected to each of two ends of the head tube of the bicycle frame so that the handlebar stem and the steerer tube respectively extend through the two bearing devices and are rotatable relative to the head tube. However, the conventional bearing devices each include many parts which are small and easily to lost. Besides, it takes a lot of time to assemble the bearing devices. When installing the bearing devices to the bicycle frames, the assemblers often install the bearing device in wrong direction because the conventional bearing devices look very similar in two ends. Furthermore, foreign objects such as sands easily enter into the bearing devices and affect the operation of the bearing devices.  
      The present invention intends to provide a bearing device with rollers and the first race has an inclined outer periphery so that the assemblers easily identify the orientation when installing the bearing devices to the bicycle frames.  
      Furthermore, the bearing device has a race with noise absorbing material which absorbs noise when the bearing device is in.operation status.  
     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 which is integrally connected to the first portion. The first portion has a first inclined surface 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 inclined surface defined in an outer periphery thereof. A roller set has a plurality of rollers rotatably connected with a retaining frame and the rollers are located at an angle relative to a horizontal plane. The roller set is located between the first race and the support ring. The rollers are in contact with the first and second inclined surfaces. 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. A noise absorbing material is coated on an outer periphery of each of the horizontal flange and the vertical flange of the second race.  
      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, partly removed to show the bearing device of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the bearing device of the present invention;  
       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  for bicycles 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 inclined surface  120  defined in an inner periphery thereof and an annular engaging recess  14  is defined in an inner periphery of the second portion  13 . The first portion  12  has an inclined outer periphery and an annular lip  15  extends inward from a lower end of the second portion  13 .  
      A support ring  31  has a second inclined surface  32  defined in an outer periphery thereof and the support ring  31  located in a space enclosed by the first race  11 . The support ring  31  includes an annular notch  33  defined in an inner periphery thereof.  
      A roller set  21  has a plurality of rollers  23  rotatably connected with a retaining frame  22  and the rollers  23  are located at an angle relative to a horizontal plane. The roller set  21  is located between the first race  11  and the support ring  31 . The rollers  23  are in contact with the first and second inclined surfaces  120 ,  32 .  
      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  14 . The annular lip  15  of the first race  11  is engaged with an underside of the horizontal flange of the second race  41  so as to well position the second race  41 . An inner periphery of the horizontal flange of the second race  41  is engaged with the annular notch  33 . A noise absorbing material  42  is coated on an outer periphery of each of the horizontal flange and the vertical flange of the second race  41 .  
      The second race  41  prevents foreign objects such as. sands or water from entering the gaps between the rollers  23  so that the bearing device  10  of the present invention can be used for longer period of time. The noise absorbing material  42  can absorb the noise due to impact between the metal parts such as the first and second races  11  and  41 .  
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show that the bearing device of the present invention is connected with two different head tubes respectively.  
      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.