Abstract:
The device for securing a detachable cycle component, includes clamping elements including at least one clamping member ( 8 ) movable between a clamped position for securing the cycle component ( 1 ) and an unclamped position for releasing the cycle component, and tensioning elements ( 11, 12 ) acting on the clamping member for moving same toward the clamped and unclamped positions. The tensioning elements ( 11, 12 ) include a flexible element ( 11 ) connected to the clamping member, and a winding member ( 12 ) for winding the flexible element ( 11 ). This securing device may advantageously be used to secure a cycle component such as a seat post, a wheel or a handlebar to a cycle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a securing device intended for securing a detachable cycle component to a cycle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The cycle component in question is an attached component such as a seat post that can be secured in a seat tube of a cycle frame, a wheel that can be secured to a cycle frame or to a cycle fork, or a handlebar that may be secured to a cycle handlebar stem, itself connected to a steering tube mounted to rotate in a head tube of the cycle frame. 
         [0003]    The seat post has the function of connecting a saddle to a cycle frame and comprises, at a top end, a device for securing a saddle to the post and, at a bottom end, a device for securing the post to the frame. The device for securing the saddle to the post is not part of the invention and will not be described in detail. 
         [0004]    The device for securing the seat post to the frame comprises clamping means which, when unclamped, allow the seat post to slide inside a seat tube of the frame in order to adjust the height of the seat post. 
         [0005]    The clamping means may in the conventional way comprise a split clamping collar secured to the split top end of the seat tube. The ends of the clamping collar have ears which can be brought closer together using a nut and bolt connection in order thus to clamp the top end of the seat tube around the seat post in order to fix the latter at the desired height. 
         [0006]    Moreover, the split top end of the seat tube may act as a clamping collar on its own by being provided with two similar securing ears positioned one on each side of the slot in the seat tube. 
         [0007]    Other securing devices comprising clamping means associated directly with the seat post to act on the inside of the seat tube are also known. Thus, certain clamping means comprise a tensioning means in the form of a long screw extending down inside the seat post over practically the entire length thereof for collaborating with a clamping member positioned at the bottom end of the seat post. 
         [0008]    In an alternative, the clamping member is a chamfered end piece comprising a tapped central hole that accepts the screw. This end piece collaborates with the bottom end of the seat post, which is likewise chamfered, to form a wedge as the screw is tightened to be moved between a clamped position pressing against the interior face of the seat tube and an unclamped position. 
         [0009]    In another alternative form, the clamping member is a plate with a tapped central hole positioned at the bottom end of the seat post and collaborating with the screw. The seat post is surrounded by at least one and preferably several rings made of an elastically expandable material which, when they are compressed, grow wider laterally against the interior wall of the seat tube in order to secure the seat post. In order to use a number of rings of this kind, rigid annular spacers are preferably positioned between two successive rings. 
         [0010]    In order to obtain effective clamping, it is, however, necessary to use a screw which is not only very long but also of a large diameter. The consequence of this is that the weight of the screw is relatively high, this being a drawback in the overall trend to reduce the weight of cycle components as far as possible, particularly for competition cycles. 
         [0011]    A similar arrangement is used for the devices that secure the cycle wheels to a cycle frame or cycle fork. Thus, the wheel is usually clamped to the fork by a spindle passing through the wheel hub. At the threaded ends thereof, this spindle is provided with securing devices comprising clamping means in the form of a nut, or in the form of a cam for rapid clamping. 
         [0012]    A securing device is also used for securing other cycle components such as, for example, a handlebar which needs to be secured detachably to the front end of a cycle handlebar stem. 
         [0013]    However, the invention is not restricted to the cycle components mentioned hereinabove. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    It is an object of the invention to propose a securing device for detachably securing a cycle component which overcomes the disadvantages of the known securing devices of this kind while at the same time being highly lightweight, simple, easy to operate and providing reliable clamped securing. 
         [0015]    One subject of the invention is a device for securing a detachable cycle component to a cycle, comprising clamping means comprising at least one clamping member movable between a clamped position for securing the cycle component and an unclamped position for releasing the cycle component, and tensioning means comprising a flexible element acting on the said clamping member for moving same toward the said clamped and unclamped positions, characterized in that the said tensioning means further comprise a winding member for winding the flexible element to which member one end of the said flexible element is secured, the said winding member being able to be turned in a first direction to wind a length of the flexible element around the winding member and pull the said clamping member towards the clamped position, and turned in a second direction the opposite of the first direction in order to unwind the said length and cause the said clamping member to move towards the unclamped position. 
         [0016]    According to other features of the invention:
       the said winding member is incorporated into the said cycle component;   the said winding member is a cylindrical body;   the flexible element extends over a pulley block comprising at least one return member secured to the said at least one clamping member;   the said winding member is associated with a locking device positioned at an end referred to as the outer end of the winding member and allowing the winding member to be locked in the said clamped position;   the said locking device is a ratchet device;   the said ratchet device comprises a notched ring mounted to rotate as one with the winding member and able to engage with a notched recess provided in an end support of the winding member so as to lock the latter in the said clamped position;   the said notched ring is constantly urged axially by an elastic means into engagement with the said notched recess, the said elastic means bearing firstly against a flange of the winding member and secondly against a rear face of the said notched ring;   the said elastic means is a spring;   the said notched ring can be moved axially from its engagement with the said notched recess by a bearing force applied by a user to the front face of the said notched ring so as to compress the said elastic means;   the said outer end of the winding member has a key socket able to accept a key for applying the said bearing force to a transverse element borne by the notched ring; and   the said transverse element is a pin the ends of which are housed in two diametrically opposed accommodating recesses of the notched ring and extending into a longitudinal slot passing radially through the said key socket of the winding member.       
 
         [0028]    Another subject of the invention is a use of the securing device in which the cycle component is any cycle component that needs to be secured detachably to a cycle. Such a cycle component is, for example, a seat post that is to be secured to a seat tube of a cycle frame, or in which the cycle component is a wheel that is to be secured to a cycle frame or to a cycle fork, or alternatively in which the cycle component is a handlebar that is to be secured to a cycle handlebar stem. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a number of nonlimiting embodiments of the invention, with reference to the attached figures in which: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a seat post provided with the detachable securing device according to the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a view in longitudinal section of the seat post of  FIG. 1  and of a seat tube illustrating a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a view in longitudinal section of the seat post of  FIG. 1  and of a seat tube illustrating an alternative form of the first embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a view in longitudinal section of the seat post of  FIG. 1  and of a seat tube illustrating another alternative form of the first embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a view in longitudinal section of a seat post and of a seat tube illustrating an alternative form of the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a view in longitudinal section of a seat post and of a seat tube illustrating yet another alternative form of the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a winding member for winding a flexible element and a locking device according to the invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the winding member of  FIG. 7  separately; 
           [0038]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating the winding member and the locking device of  FIG. 6 , after assembly; 
           [0039]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a locking device according to the invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a winding member for winding a flexible element and an alternative form of the locking device of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating the winding member and the locking device of  FIG. 11 , after assembly; 
           [0042]      FIGS. 13 to 16  are perspective views illustrating a second embodiment of the securing device for a cycle wheel; and 
           [0043]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of the device for securing a handlebar to the front end of a cycle handlebar stem. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0044]    In the figures, elements that are identical or equivalent will bear the same reference signs. 
         [0045]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a seat post  1  provided with a securing device according to the invention. The seat post  1  carries a saddle  2  and, in the example illustrated, several rings  3  made of an expandable material, such as an elastomer, are threaded onto the bottom part of the seat post  1 , which has a smaller cross section. 
         [0046]    An annular spacer made of a rigid material  4  is positioned between two successive rings  3  and a third spacer is positioned between an upper ring  3  and an end stop on the body of the seat post  1 . 
         [0047]    Towards the bottom, the seat post  1  ends in a clamping member  8  formed of a plate which on its face that faces towards the rings  3  bears an annular shaping  9  pressing against the bottom ring  3 . 
         [0048]    The assembly formed by the seat post  1 , the rings  3 , the spacers  4  and the clamping member  8  is inserted into a seat tube  10  (see  FIG. 2 ) to be secured therein at a height chosen by the cyclist. 
         [0049]    To this end, the clamping member  8  can be moved between a clamped position for securing the cycle component which therefore in this instance is the seat post, and an unclamped position for releasing this cycle component. 
         [0050]    The clamping member  8  can be moved towards the clamped position by being pulled upwards by means connected to the clamping member, thereby compressing the rings  3  which therefore widen laterally over their entire periphery against the interior wall of the seat tube  10  so as to secure the seat post  1  at the desired height. 
         [0051]    According to one important feature of the invention, the tensioning means comprise a flexible element  11  and a winding member  12  which is mounted to rotate with respect to the seat post  1  and onto which the second end of the flexible element  11  can be wound. The winding member  12  may be turned in order to wind a length of the flexible element  11  so as to pull the clamping member  8  upwards, thereby compressing the rings  3 . 
         [0052]    The flexible element  11  according to the invention may be formed of a cable, a band or a cord made of an inextensible material, such as aramid for example. 
         [0053]    The winding member  12  illustrated in this example is a cylindrical body, but can also take the form of a cam (not depicted) so as to achieve clamping and unclamping in a single turn, weaker to start off with and stronger towards the end, with levels following the profile of the cam. 
         [0054]    In the embodiment relating to a seat post  1 , the winding member  12  is incorporated into this seat post by running transversely in the upper part thereof. 
         [0055]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the flexible element  11  extends over a pulley block  13  which, in this example, comprises two return members  14  fixed to the clamping member  8  and one return member  15  fixed into the seat post  1 . The flexible element  11  at one of its ends is fixed to a fixing point  15 ′, likewise provided on the inside of the seat post  1 . Thus, the tensioning force and therefore the clamping force are increased. 
         [0056]      FIG. 3  shows a simplified alternative form of the pulley block of  FIG. 2 , with just one return member  14  fixed to the clamping member  8 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 4  also shows an alternative form of the pulley block of  FIG. 2 , where likewise just one return member  14  is fixed to the clamping member  8 , while the two ends of the flexible element  11  are fixed to the winding member  12 , making a loop. 
         [0058]    In the absence of such a pulley block, one of the ends of the flexible element  11  can be fixed directly to the clamping member  8  by any appropriate means, for example using a knot, crimping, bonding, splicing. 
         [0059]      FIG. 5  shows an alternative form of the embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 2 . In this alternative form, an end piece made of an expandable material  16 , similar to the rings  3  of  FIG. 2 , is positioned at the bottom end thereof, closing off the inside of the seat post at the bottom. As an alternative, this end piece may be annular. 
         [0060]    The clamping member is formed by a rigid plate  17  pressing against the outer face of the end piece and to which one of the ends of the flexible element  11  is secured by any appropriate means, for example a knot, crimping, bonding, splicing. 
         [0061]    Both the end piece  16  and the plate  17  are suited to the interior shape of the seat tube  10  so that they can be inserted thereinto, along with the seat post  1 . 
         [0062]    The flexible element  11  can be wound onto the winding member  12  in such a way as to pull the plate  17  upwards to compress the expandable end piece  16  against the annular end face of the seat post. The end piece  16  therefore widens laterally over its entire periphery against the interior wall of the seat tube  10  thereby fixing the seat post  1  thereto. 
         [0063]      FIG. 6  shows yet another alternative form of the embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 2 . In this alternative form, the clamping member is formed by an end piece made of a rigid material  18  positioned at the bottom end of the seat post and having a chamfered face bearing against the end of the seat post, which is likewise chamfered. 
         [0064]    One of the ends of the flexible element  11  is fixed to the end piece  18  by any suitable means so as to apply a tensile force thereon when the flexible element  11  is wound onto the winding member  12 . The end piece  18  therefore acts as a wedge, sliding against the chamfered end surface of the seat post  1  to wedge the seat post inside the seat tube  10 . 
         [0065]    The winding member  12  is mounted so that it can rotate between two end supports  19 ,  20  (see  FIGS. 7 and 10  in particular). The end supports  19 ,  20  are housed in a notch  21  provided at the top end of the seat post  1  (see  FIG. 1 ). The end supports  19 ,  20  are connected to one another by respective L-shaped eccentric protrusions  22 ,  23  which respectively bear a female member  24  and a male member  25  collaborating one with the other in order to assemble the end supports (see  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0066]    The end supports  19 ,  20  act as bearers for a respective bearing  19 ′,  20 ′ slipped over a respective end of the winding member  12  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0067]      FIGS. 7 to 10  furthermore show a locking device that allows the winding member  12  to be locked when the clamping member  8  is in a clamped position and the flexible element  11  is therefore taut. 
         [0068]    In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 7 to 10 , the locking device is a ratchet device comprising a notched ring  26  (see  FIGS. 7 and 9 ) that rotates as one with the winding member  12  because of complementing shapes. To this end, the notched ring  26  in the example illustrated has a hexagonal central hole  27  collaborating with a hexagonal shaping  28  provided on the winding member  12 . 
         [0069]    The notched ring  26  is constantly urged outwards by an elastic means to make it engage with a notched coaxial recess  29  (see  FIG. 7 ) and thus lock the rotation of the winding member  12  with respect to the end pieces  19 ,  20 . 
         [0070]    In the example illustrated, this elastic means comprises a crinkle washer  30  bearing on one side against the notched ring  26  and on the other side against one ( 31 ) of the two flanges  31 ,  32  that delimit a winding zone on the winding member  12 . This winding zone has a through-hole  33  via which to secure the flexible element  11 . 
         [0071]    The winding member  12  at its end directed towards the notched recess  29  is provided with a key socket in the form of a central hole  34  forming a key socket which, in the example illustrated, is defined as being a hexagon socket hole (see  FIGS. 7 and 9 ) forming a key socket able to accept a key of complementary shape (not depicted). Thus, by turning the winding member  12  in the clockwise direction, in this instance, the spring  30  is temporarily compressed by the notches sliding over one another to allow a rotation from one notch to the next in the notched recess  29  in order thus to tension the flexible element  11  so as to move the clamping member  8  into its clamped position. 
         [0072]    In order subsequently to unwind the flexible element  11  from the winding member  12  by turning the latter in the opposite direction, the spring  30  needs to be kept compressed so that the notched ring  26  can entirely break its engagement with the notched recess  29  for long enough to rotate in the opposite direction. 
         [0073]    To this end, the spring  30  may be kept compressed using a key or similar tool introduced into the key socket  34  for applying a bearing force to a transverse element  35  borne by the notched ring. 
         [0074]    According to one embodiment of the locking device, the transverse element  35  comprises a pin  35  (see  FIG. 9 ) the ends of which are housed in two diametrically opposed accommodating recesses  36  on the outer face of the notched ring  26  and just one of which is shown in  FIG. 9 . The pin  35  extends across a slot  37  extending diametrically in the winding member  12 , passing through the hexagon hole  34  so as to be accessible to the hexagon operating key (not depicted) that needs to be introduced into that hole for adjusting the clamping. 
         [0075]    Thus, when the operating key is inserted into the hexagon hole  34  of the winding member  12 , it comes into contact with the pin  35  and can then cause the winding member to turn for clamping. For unclamping, all that is required is for the key to apply a force to the pin  35  to move it along the slot  37 , pushing back the notched ring  26  so as to compress the spring  30  and for the spring to be kept compressed while turning the winding member in the opposite direction. 
         [0076]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show an alternative form of the locking device in which the transverse element  35  takes the form of a rod  35 ′ made as one piece with the notched ring  26 . The rod  35 ′ extends diametrically in the central hole  27  of the notched ring  26 . 
         [0077]    In order to allow the notched ring  26  to be slipped over the winding member  12 , the diametral slot  37  in this alternative form is extended as far as the corresponding end of the winding member  12 . 
         [0078]    The rod  35 ′ is used in exactly the same way as the pin  35 , but because the rod is made as one with the notched ring it acts directly thereon, being pushed back along the slot  37  by a tool introduced into the socket  27  to unlock the locking device. 
         [0079]      FIGS. 13 to 16  illustrate another use of the detachable securing means according to the invention for securing a cycle wheel  38 , in this instance a front wheel, to a cycle fork  39 . The securing device may of course also be used in the same way for securing a rear wheel. 
         [0080]    In this use of the securing device according to the invention, the conventional clamping means comprising a spindle extending through the hub of the cycle and bearing securing means at each end have been replaced by a flexible element  11 ′ passing through the cycle hub and a first of the ends of which is connected to a clamping member  8 ′ and the second end of which is fixed to a winding member  12 ′ comprising a cylindrical body mounted such that it can rotate in a second clamping member  8 ′ of the same kind. 
         [0081]    The clamping members  8 ′ are arranged on the outside of one of the respective branches of the fork  39 . The winding member  12 ′ for winding the flexible element  11 ′ is positioned inside the body of one of the clamping members  8 ′. 
         [0082]    To lock the winding member  12 ′ in a desired position in order to secure the wheel  38  by clamping, use may be made of a simplified locking device, such as one for example that uses a bolt and nut  41 . 
         [0083]      FIG. 17  illustrates another use of the securing device of the invention for detachably securing a handlebar (not depicted) to one of the ends of a cycle handlebar stem  42 .  FIG. 17  shows a perspective and longitudinal section view of a handlebar stem which at its front end bears means for the securing of the handlebar. These securing means comprise a flexible element  11 ″ in the form of a band one of the ends of which is fixed to the handlebar stem by securing means  43  comprising a small cylinder held inside the handlebar stem, and the other end of which is fixed to a cylindrical winding member  12 ″ extending in the transverse direction of the handlebar stem body and which according to the invention is mounted so as to rotate therein so that it can also act as a clamping member. 
         [0084]    To immobilize the winding member  12 ″ in a desired position in order to secure a handlebar by clamping, it is possible likewise in this case to use a simplified locking device, such as one that uses a nut and a bolt for example. 
         [0085]    Of course, the invention is not restricted to the examples illustrated and described but can be used for securing other cycle components.