Patent Publication Number: US-2023135779-A1

Title: Bicycle handlebar for a control device

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/272,793 filed Oct. 28, 2021, which is referenced herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a bicycle handlebar, and more particularly to a bicycle handlebar mounted with a control device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hand-actuated control devices may be mounted to a handlebar of a bicycle for controlling various types of mechanical or electromechanical components of the bicycle. Conventionally, the control devices may need additional brackets or holders to be attached to the handlebar. The attached control devices may generate raising surfaces on the handlebar, rendering the overall appearance of an assembly of the handlebar and the control devices unsmooth. In addition to visual defect, the unsmooth profile of the assembly of the handlebar and the control devices may be adverse to the bicycle in terms of aerodynamics. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a bicycle handlebar that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art. 
     According to an example of the disclosure, the bicycle handlebar includes a handlebar body and a recessed structure. The handlebar body has an outer surface. The recessed structure is recessed from the outer surface of the handlebar body, and has a mounting surface that is indented from the outer surface of the handlebar body and that is adapted for a control device to be mounted thereto. 
     According to another example of the disclosure, the bicycle handlebar assembly includes a handlebar body, a recessed structure and a control device. The handlebar body has an outer surface. The recessed structure is recessed from the outer surface of the handlebar body, and has a mounting surface that is indented from the outer surface of the handlebar body. The control device is mounted to the mounting surface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG.  1    is a side view illustrating a bicycle; 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded perspective view illustrating a bicycle handlebar; 
         FIG.  3    is a top view illustrating the bicycle handlebar; 
         FIG.  4    is a front view illustrating the bicycle handlebar; 
         FIG.  5    is a side view illustrating the bicycle handlebar; 
         FIG.  6    is a fragmentary side view illustrating the bicycle handlebar; 
         FIG.  7    is a fragmentary front view illustrating the bicycle handlebar; 
         FIG.  8    is a fragmentary side view illustrating the bicycle handlebar mounted with a control device; 
         FIG.  9    is a front view illustrating another example of the bicycle handlebar; 
         FIG.  10    is a bottom view illustrating the bicycle handlebar in  FIG.  9   ; 
         FIG.  11    is a fragmentary side view illustrating the bicycle handlebar in  FIG.  9   ; 
         FIG.  12    is partly exploded perspective view illustrating still another example of the bicycle handlebar; 
         FIG.  13    is a fragmentary, partly exploded perspective view illustrating the bicycle handlebar in  FIG.  12   ; 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view illustrating still another example of the bicycle handlebar; 
         FIG.  15    is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the bicycle handlebar in  FIG.  14   ; 
         FIG.  16    is a perspective view illustrating still another example of the bicycle handlebar; and 
         FIG.  17    is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the bicycle handlebar in  FIG.  16   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before the disclosure is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics. 
       FIG.  1    generally illustrates a bicycle  10  in which the bicycle handlebar according to the disclosure is used. The bicycle  10  includes a main frame  101 , a front wheel  102 , a rear wheel  103  and a drivetrain  104 . The front wheel  102  and the rear wheel  103  are rotatably connected to the main frame  101 . The drivetrain  104  includes a chain  107 , a front sprocket assembly  108  rotatably mounted to the main frame  101 , and a rear sprocket assembly  109  coaxially mounted to the rear wheel  103 . Each of the front sprocket assembly  108  and the rear sprocket assembly  109  includes at least one chainring. The bicycle  10  further includes a braking system that includes a front brake  105  and a rear brake  106  for respectively braking the front wheel  102  and the rear wheel  103 . The bicycle  10  may further include a shifting system that includes a front derailleur  110  and a rear derailleur  111  for moving the chain  107  respectively on the front sprocket assembly  108  and the rear sprocket assembly  109 . The braking system and the shifting system may be mechanically controlled or non-mechanically controlled. The bicycle  10  further includes a stem  112  that is rotatably mounted to the main frame  101 . The bicycle handlebar is attached to the stem  112 . The bicycle  10  further includes a seat post  113  that supports a saddle  114 . The direction of arrow “A” in  FIG.  1    indicates a forward direction of movement for the bicycle  10 . 
     In  FIG.  1   , the bicycle  10  is illustrated as a road bike. However, the bicycle handlebar according to the disclosure has applications to any kind of bicycles with/without a suspension system, and/or with a single-speed drivetrain or a multi-speed drivetrain. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , the bicycle handlebar is for being mounted with at least one control device  4 , and includes a handlebar body  2  and at least a recessed structure  3 . The handlebar body  2  has an outer surface  20 . The recessed structure  3  is recessed from the outer surface  20  of the handlebar body  2 . The control device may be configured to control the gear shifting of the front derailleur  110  and the rear derailleur  111  or the suspension system of the bicycle. The control device may also be configured to control the position of the seat post  113 , to control paring with other electronic components, or to control operational mode of the bicycle. 
     Referring further to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the bicycle handlebar may be configured as a drop-type handlebar. For example, the handlebar body  2  has a left straight portion  21 , a right straight portions  22 , a left drop portion  23  and a right drop portion  24 . 
     In one embodiment shown in  FIG.  3   , the left and right straight portions  21 ,  22  are respectively located at two opposite sides of a longitudinal vertical plane (V) that extends in the longitudinal direction of the bicycle  10  and that has a normal vector (N) extending in a left-right direction. The left drop portion  23  is connected to a leftmost end of the left straight portion  21  that is distal from the right straight portion  22 . The left drop portion  23  may curl downwardly and extend rearwardly. The right drop portion  24  is connected to a rightmost end of the right straight portion  22  that is distal from the left straight portion  21 . The right drop portion  24  may curl downwardly and extend rearwardly. Each of the left and right straight portions  21 ,  22  has an outer surface portion  210 ,  220  that serves as a portion of the outer surface  20  of the handlebar body  2 . Each of the left and right drop portions  23 ,  24  has an outer surface portion  230 ,  240  that serves as a portion of the outer surface  20  of the handlebar body  2 . The recessed structure  3  may be recessed from the outer surface portion  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240  of one of the left straight portions  21 , the right straight portions  22 , the left drop portion  23  and right drop portion  24  of the handlebar body  2 . 
     Specifically, in  FIG.  4   , the outer surface portion  230  of the left drop portion  23  has an inboard surface portion  2301  facing the right drop portion  24 , and an outboard surface portion  2302  facing away from the right drop portion  24 . The outer surface portion  240  of the right drop portion  24  has an inboard surface portion  2401  facing the left drop portion  23 , and an outboard surface portion  2402  facing away from the left drop portion  23 . The recessed structure  3  may be recessed from the inboard surface portion  2301 ,  2401  or the outboard surface portion  2302 ,  2402  of one of the left and right drop portions  23 ,  24 . 
     Referring further to  FIGS.  5  and  6   , in one embodiment, each of the left and right drop portions  23 ,  24  has an upper portion  231 ,  241  curling downwardly from the respective one of the left and right straight portions  21 ,  22 , and a lower portion  232 ,  242  extending rearwardly from the upper portion  231 ,  241 . With further reference to  FIG.  3   , a first reference plane (R 1 ) in which the lower portion  232  of the left drop portion  23  resides may be oblique to the longitudinal vertical plane (V). A second reference plane (R 2 ) in which the lower portion  242  of the right drop portion  24  resides may be oblique to the longitudinal vertical plane (V). In one embodiment, the left straight portions  21  may extend along a first axis (S 1 ) that is oblique to the normal vector (N) of the longitudinal vertical plane (V). The right straight portions  22  may extend along a second axis (S 2 ) that is oblique to the normal vector (N) of the longitudinal vertical plane (V). 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , in one embodiment, the recessed structure  3  is formed in the inboard surface portion  2301  of the left drop portion  23 , and has a mounting surface  31  that is indented from the inboard surface portion  2301  of the left drop portion  23  and that is for a control device to be mounted thereto. In one embodiment, a maximum offset distance (D 1 , see  FIG.  7   ) between the mounting surface  31  and the inboard surface portion  2301  of the left drop portion  23  ranges from 1 to 5 millimeters. In one embodiment, the recessed structure  3  is spaced apart from a horizontal plane (H) in which the left straight portion  21  resides. In one embodiment, the mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3  extends along the left drop portion  23  of the handlebar body  2 . 
     In one embodiment, the recessed structure  3  further has a transition zone between the mounting surface  31  and the inboard surface portion  2301  of the left drop portion  23 . For example, the recessed structure  3  has a transition zone  32  that surrounds the mounting surface  31 . In one embodiment, the transition zone  32  may be configured as a rounded edge. In one embodiment, the inboard surface portion  2301  of the left drop portion  23  may be configured as a curved surface, and the radius of curvature of the transition zone  32  is smaller than the radius of curvature of the inboard surface portion  2301  of the left drop portion  23 . 
     In one embodiment, the recessed structure further has two curved surfaces. For example, the recessed structure  3  further has two curved surfaces  33  respectively connected to two opposite ends of the mounting surface  31 . An assembled surface consisting of the mounting surface  31  and the curved surfaces  33  is smooth. 
     Referring further to  FIG.  8   , in one embodiment, the control device may be an electronic control device. For example, the control device  4  includes a casing  41 , and a press lever or pushbutton  42  mounted to the casing  41 . The casing  41  has a mounting surface  411  that is mounted to the mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3  and that is distal from the pushbutton  42 . The left drop portion  23  of the handlebar body  2  has a distal portion  239  that is opposite the control device  4  in a transverse direction (T) perpendicular to the extending direction of the left drop portion  23  of the handlebar body  2 . A distance (D 2 ) between the distal portion  239  of the handlebar body  2  and a distal end of the pushbutton  42  that is distal from the mounting surface  411  ranges from 20 to 50 millimeters. As such, the control device  4  can be operated with minimized physical effort and discomfort. 
     In one embodiment, an extent of the mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3  is larger than a dimension of the casing  41  of the control device  4 . As such, the location of the control device  4  on the mounting surface  31  is adjustable for ergonomic consideration. In one embodiment, the mounting surface  31  is configured as a planar surface. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  9  and  10   , in one embodiment, the bicycle handlebar may includes a plurality of recessed structures formed in the handlebar body  2  for respectively mounted with a plurality of control devices. For example, the bicycle handlebar includes a plurality of recessed structures  3  respectively formed in the left straight portions  21 , the right straight portions  22 , the left drop portion  23  and right drop portion  24  of the handlebar body  2 . In one embodiment, the recessed structures  3  are spaced apart from the longitudinal vertical plane (V). In one embodiment, the mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3  that is formed in the left straight portions  21  extends along the left straight portions  21 . The mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3  that is formed in the right straight portions  22  extends along the right straight portions  22 . 
     Referring further to  FIG.  11   , in one embodiment, the mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3  that is formed in the right straight portions  22  may be configured as a planar surface. The mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3  may be oblique to a horizontal plane (H) in which the right straight portions  22  resides. In one embodiment, the mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3  may face downwardly. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  12  and  13   , the bicycle handlebar may further include an integration cover  5  that covers the mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3 . The integration cover  5  has an outer surface  50  that is opposite to the recessed structure  3  and that cooperates with the outer surface  20  of the handlebar body  2  to form a smooth profile. In one embodiment, the integration cover  5  is mounted to a bottom side of the handlebar body  2 . 
     In one embodiment, the mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3  may be shaped to fit the contour of the mounting surface  411  of the casing  41  of the control device  4  that is mounted to the mounting surface  31 . 
     In one embodiment, the integration cover  5  is formed with at least one through hole  51  through which the pushbutton  42  of the control device  4  is accessible. 
     Referring back to  FIG.  2   , in one embodiment, the integration cover  5  may permit a bracket  6  to be mounted thereto for supporting a computer  7 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  14  and  15   , in one example, the handlebar body  2  has left and right straight portions  21 ,  22 . Each of the left and right straight portions  21 ,  22  has an outer surface portion  210 ,  220  that serves as a portion of the outer surface  20  of the handlebar body  2 . The mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3  is indented from the outer surface portion  210 ,  220  of one of the left and right straight portions  21 ,  22  for being mounted with the control device  4 . In one embodiment, the recessed structure  3  further has a transition zone  32  that is connected between the mounting surface  31  and the outer surface portion  210  of the left straight portion  21  and that surrounds the mounting surface  31 , and two curved surfaces  33  that are respectively connected to two opposite ends of the mounting surface  31 . An assembled surface consisting of the mounting surface  31  and the curved surfaces  33  is smooth. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  16  and  17   , in one example, the handlebar body  2  has left and right straight portions  21 ,  22 . Each of the left and right straight portions  21 ,  22  has an outer surface portion  210 ,  220  that serves as a portion of the outer surface  20  of the handlebar body  2 . The mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3  is indented from the outer surface portion  210 ,  220  of one of the left and right straight portions  21 ,  22  for being mounted with the control device  4 . In one embodiment, the recessed structure  3  further has two transition zone  32  that that are respectively connected to two opposite ends of the mounting surface  31 . In one embodiment, the mounting surface  31  is configured as a curved surface. In one embodiment, the mounting surface  31  extends about the one of the left and right straight portions  21 ,  22 . For example, the mounting surface  31  may be configured as an annular curved surface. 
     In practice, the control device  4  may be adhered to the mounting surface  31  by adhesive, double-sided tape or the like, and wrapped by a handlebar tape so as to be attached to the bicycle handlebar. 
     In summary, by virtue of the mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3  that is indented from the outer surface  20  of the handlebar body  2 , the control device  4  may be attached to the bicycle handlebar without additional brackets or holders, and the overall appearance of a handlebar assembly consisting of the bicycle handlebar and the control device(s) is smooth, so as to enhance the appearance of a handlebar assembly and to streamline the handlebar assembly. In addition, by virtue of the mounting surface  31  of the recessed structure  3  that is indented from the outer surface  20  of the handlebar body  2 , the thickness of a grip portion of the handlebar assembly at which the control device is located is kept in a range of 20 to 50 millimeters, so that the control device is operated with minimized physical effort and discomfort. 
     In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects, and that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure. 
     While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiments, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.