Abstract:
A Telescopic and Variable Tilt Bicycle Gooseneck handlebar system designed for bicycles of all types. A pivot base, pivot arm, hollow stem and truss axle allow for easy adjustment of bicycle handlebars. The design implemented herein allows for the bicycle handlebars to be raised and lowered as well as tilted towards or away from a rider of the bicycle. Raising the handlebars is accomplished by raising and lowering the hollow stem through an opening in the pivot arm. The handlebars are tilted by disengaging the truss axle thereby allowing the pivot arm to rotate laterally with respect to the mounted pivot base.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an adjustable bicycle handlebar stem, commonly known as a “gooseneck”, for bicycles of all types including, but not limited to, standard, racing and mountain bikes. The gooseneck disclosed herein is capable of being adjusted to raise and lower the handlebars and is further capable of being adjusted to tilt the handlebars toward or away from the rider of the bicycle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Bicycles have been utilized as a means of transportation for over a hundred years and continue to grow in popularity. The mountain bike is one type of bike that has become more and more popular in recent years. Bike riders desire bikes that can be used to traverse residential streets while also being capable of exploring off road areas. Racing bikes are similarly growing in popularity as they can be used for speed as well as leisure touring. 
     Several problem areas are quickly recognizable with the old-fashioned stationary handlebar and stem bicycle configuration. The problems range from health concerns to children outgrowing their bikes to lack of riding options. 
     As people ride their bikes more and more they soon realize that there are health problems associated with constant bike riding. Common ailments associated with bike riding are lower back pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain and wrist pain. The aforementioned ailments are a function of the crouched body position necessary during bike riding. 
     Parents not only observe the health ailments they also notice the financial expenses related to bicycle purchases for their children. Parents must buy larger bicycles as their children continue to grow to adulthood. Additionally, many children will have one bike for touring and one bike for off road activities requiring their parents to purchase two or more bikes on a regular basis. Purchasing bikes in such numbers can become very expensive with the sophisticated bikes on the market. 
     The problems described and others can be easily and inexpensively solved by utilizing the present invention. The present invention can be adjusted to allow the rider to assume a comfortable position thereby alleviating the health concerns and can further be adjusted to accommodate a growing child. 
     Many issued patents claim bicycle handlebars or stems that can be adjusted in one manner or another. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,133,224, 5,273,302, 5,456,135, 5,727,427 and 5,737,967 describe various systems for adjusting bicycle handlebars or bicycle stems. However, unlike the issued patents, the present invention describes an apparatus that allows a much larger range of positions for the bicycle handlebars throughout two different planes of motion. The handlebars can be raised and lowered and also be tilted resulting in numerous possible positions for the bicycle handlebars. Additionally, the present invention is easy to use and requires no tools to accomplish its objective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses and solves the aforementioned problems, by allowing the bicycle user to lower and raise the bicycle gooseneck thereby raising and lowering the bicycle handlebars and further allows the bicycle user to tilt the gooseneck thereby tilting the bicycle handlebars toward and away from the user&#39;s riding position. The present invention accomplishes its two functions through two independent mechanical objectives, (1) Raising and lowering of the gooseneck and; (2) Tilting of the gooseneck. 
     Accordingly, the bicycle gooseneck assembly of the present invention comprises a hollow stem having a first end and a second end, the first end suitable to receive a circular member of lessor diameter than the hollow stem, said circular member being a handlebar post. A pivot aim including a circular opening through which the hollow stem is inserted, a means for securing and adjusting the hollow stem within the circular opening, a means for pivoting the pivot arm with respect to a pivot base. A means for mounting the pivot base on a bicycle frame. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG.  1 . is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG.  2 . is a cross-sectional top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG.  3 . is a cross-sectional top view of the preferred embodiment illustrating the present invention in an adjusted state; 
     FIG. 4. a perspective view of the truss axle device; 
     FIG.  5 . is a fragmentary side view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG.  6 . is a fragmentary side view of the first embodiment illustrating the present invention in an adjusted state; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  2  &amp;  3 , the preferred embodiment of an adjustable bicycle gooseneck assembly according to the present invention is shown to comprise a hollow stem  10 , a pivot arm  20  and a pivot base  50 . 
     The hollow stem  10  includes a first end  11  and a second end  12 , said first end  11  suitable to receive a circular member of lessor diameter than the hollow stem  10 , the hollow stem  10  includes a series of apertures  13  equidistance apart along its length, the hollow stem  10  further includes a notch  15  along its length capable of receiving a caddy  23 . 
     The pivot arm  20  includes a pivot arm opening  21  through which the hollow stem  10  is inserted. The pivot arm  20  further includes means to secure the position of the hollow stem  10  with respect to the pivot arm  20 , the securing means may comprise any suitable means, but in the preferred embodiment this securing means comprises a caddy bolt  22  screwed through an outer edge of the pivot arm  20  at a position radially adjacent to the pivot arm opening  21  such that the caddy bolt  22  extends into the pivot arm opening  21  where a caddy  23  is attached to the caddy bolt  22 , said caddy  23  fits into the notch  15  in the hollow stem  10  such that the hollow stem  10  is capable of moving lengthwise along the notch  15  but is unable to rotate. 
     The pivot arm  20  further includes a means to adjust the vertical position of the hollow stem  10  with respect to the pivot aim  20 , the adjusting means may comprise any suitable means, but in the preferred embodiment this adjusting means comprises a position pin  24  inserted through a bored hole  27  through an outer edge of the pivot arm  20  at a position radially adjacent to the pivot arm opening  21  such that a first end of the position pin  24  extends into the pivot arm opening  21  and further extends into the apertures  13  in the hollow stem  10  thereby securing the hollow stem  10  in position, a second end of the position pin  24  is attached to a lever arm  30  positioned at an outside edge of the pivot arm  20 , a first end of the lever arm  30  being rotatably connected to a mounting pin  31  extending from within the pivot arm  20 , a second end of the lever arm  30  being held in place by a coil spring  32 , a first end of the coil spring  32  is attached to the second end of the lever arm  30  and a second end of the coil spring  32  is attached to a bolt  35  screwed into the pivot arm  20  as a position radially adjacent the pivot arm opening  21 . Adjusting the position of the hollow stem  10  with respect to the pivot arm  20  is accomplished by a rod  61  with a first end of the rod  61  connected to the lever arm  30  at a point near the second end of the lever arm  30 , a second end of the rod  61  connected to a first knob handle  64  that when pulled upon laterally rotates the lever arm  30  thereby extracting the pivot rod  24  from the aperture  13  in the hollow stem  10  allowing the hollow stem  10  to move along its length for adjustment. Once the hollow stem  10  is in position, the first knob handle  64  is released causing the coil spring  32  to force the lever arm  30  back to its original position thereby causing the position pin  24  to enter the selected aperture in the hollow stem  10 . 
     A reservoir  36  to hold lubricant is positioned on an upper plane of the pivot arm  20  radially adjacent the pivot arm opening  21 , the reservoir  36  includes, a bore  38  drilled through the pivot arm  20  leading to a circular groove  40  cut radially along an inner edge of the pivot arm opening  21  such that lubricant contacts the circumference of the hollow stem  10  when the hollow stem  10  is in place. The lubricant is dispensed as the hollow stem  10  is adjusted as previously set forth. A threaded cap  41  is secured over an opening of the reservoir  36  by grooves positioned along an outer top edge of the reservoir  36 . 
     A means for engaging a U-shaped pivot base  50  to the pivot arm  20 , the engaging means may comprise any suitable means, but in the preferred embodiment the engaging means comprises a truss axle  42  that extends through an opening  75  in a first leg  76  of the U-shaped pivot base  50  continuing through an opening  77  in the pivot arm  20  continuing through an opening  78  in a second leg  79  of the U-shaped pivot base  50 , said truss axle  42  having a first end connected to a second knob handle  70  and a second end fitted to a truss axle gear  82  that locks into a gear assembly  84  incorporated in the opening  78  in the pivot base  20 , the truss axle gear  82  and gear assembly  84  operate to secure the pivot arm  20  in place with respect to the pivot base  50 , the pivot base  50  is secured to a bicycle at a point aft of the legs of the U-shaped pivot base  50  by a nut  51  and bolt  52  assembly. 
     Rotating the pivot arm  20  with respect to the pivot base  50  is accomplished by pushing upon the second knob handle  70  thereby disengaging the truss axle gear  82  from the gear assembly  84 , releasing the second knob handle  70  causes a tension spring  86  enclosed in the opening  75  in the first leg  76  of the U-shaped pivot base  50  to force the truss axle  42  and truss axle gear  82  back into their permanent position once the desired rotation is achieved. 
     FIG. 4 shows the truss axle  42  which is utilized to accomplish rotation of the pivot arm  20  with respect to the pivot base  50 . The truss axle  42  is comprises three sections including a first rod  95  permanently joined to a first end of an elongated square section  96 , the length of the side of the elongated square section  96  is greater than the diameter of the threaded rod  95 , a second end of the elongated square section  96  is permanently joined to a second rod  97  with a diameter identical to that of the hypotenuse of the elongated square section  96 , the first rod  95  is threaded to receive the second knob handle  70 , the second rod  97  is threaded to be fitted with the truss axle gear  82 . 
     FIG. 5 clearly depicts the truss axle  42  fitted with the truss axle gear  82  locked into the gear assembly  84  while the pivot aim  20  and pivot base  50  are in the same plane. 
     FIG. 6 depicts the pivot arm  20  at various angles of rotation with respect to the pivot base  50  and also shows the hollow stem  10  in various adjusted positions with respect to the pivot arm  20 .