Patent Description:
A 'handlebar group' means a set of components comprising a handlebar and a handlebar attachment.

The handlebar attachment, also known as "stem", is the component that connects the handlebar with the fork tube of a bicycle.

Nowadays, the handlebar stems of the "ahead-set" type are prevalently widespread; a handlebar stem of the ahead-set type generally comprises:.

A handlebar attachment of the prior art is shown for example in the document <CIT>. This document shows an arrangement with a half circular shaped front body for clamping the handlebar, which front body is connected to the head tube by two threaded tension rods.

There are essentially two measurements for the handlebar stem: the length of the central extension and the angle of inclination between the axis of the fork tube and the direction of development of the central extension.

The length of the central extension is defined by the distance between the centre of the rear collar and the centre of the front head; stems with a length of between <NUM> and <NUM> are normally used, although there are smaller or larger sizes, in order to adapt the bicycle frame as far as possible to the morphology and ergonomics of the rider.

These handlebar stems, although widespread and popular, have some limitations and drawbacks.

A first limitation is due to the fact that, generally, the front head is also an openable collar, of the full opening type, that is to say, the front head comprises a removable front cover, or 'faceplate', the removal of which allows the insertion of the central section of the handlebar inside the front head, without having to dismount the brake levers and other elements already mounted on the handlebar, which is therefore a very convenient solution for mounting such elements; the front cover is generally fixed to the fixed portion of the front head, which is integral with the central extension, by means of two opposite pairs of screws.

This means that each time the handlebar has to be mounted to the handlebar stem or dismounted therefrom, four screws have to be manoeuvred, resulting in relatively long execution times in both mounting and dismounting steps.

A second limitation of the handlebar stems of known type lies in the fact that, similarly to the front head, the rear collar also has a clamping system for fixing the handlebar stem to the fork tube protruding from the headset.

This clamping system generally includes screwing, in the assembly step, or unscrewing, in the dismounting step, two screws, with relative execution times. A third limitation of the handlebar stems of known type is due to the fact that in order to change the length of the central extension of a handlebar stem it is necessary to remove the same handlebar stem and replace it with another handlebar stem having a central extension with different length; this replacement obviously involves a cost in terms of purchasing a new stem, and in terms of time, since it is necessary to remove the handlebar from the handlebar stem and the handlebar stem from the fork, and then to carry out the steps of mounting the new handlebar stem.

The task of the present invention is that of developing a handlebar group for bicycles able to overcome the mentioned drawbacks and limits of the prior art. In particular, an object of the invention is to develop a handlebar group that allows for a faster mounting of the handlebar to the handlebar stem and the relative dismounting therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to develop a handlebar group that allows for a faster mounting of the handlebar stem to the fork tube and the relative dismounting therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to develop a handlebar group in which the distance between the centre of the rear collar and the centre of the front head can be changed without having to replace the entire handlebar stem.

Still, an object of the invention is to develop a handlebar group that is no less robust and reliable than handlebar groups of known type.

The task as well as the aforementioned objects are achieved by a handlebar group for bicycles according to claim <NUM>.

Further characteristics of the handlebar group for bicycles according to claim <NUM> are described in the dependent claims.

The aforesaid task and objects, together with the advantages which will be mentioned hereinafter, are indicated by the description of an embodiment of the invention, which is given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, where:.

With reference to the cited figures, a handlebar group for bicycles according to the invention is indicated as a whole by number <NUM>.

The peculiarity of the handlebar group <NUM> according to the invention lies in the fact that the first fixing means <NUM> of the handlebar <NUM> comprise:.

The central section <NUM> of the handlebar <NUM> is therefore locked between the front part <NUM> of the front tubular body <NUM> and the front portion 17a of the central extension <NUM>, as clearly visible in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>.

The tightening rod <NUM> is positioned to longitudinally cross the central extension <NUM>, as visible in the sections of <FIG> and <FIG>, and is configured to connect the front tubular body <NUM> and the rear tubular body <NUM>.

The longitudinal direction is intended to be a direction from the front head to the rear collar.

The central extension <NUM> is therefore wedged between the front tubular body <NUM> and the rear tubular body <NUM>.

This central extension <NUM> is defined by a tubular body with longitudinal development.

By means of such a structure, the handlebar group <NUM> according to the invention, by mounting and screwing only the tightening rod <NUM>, allows to lock both the first fixing means <NUM>, and thus to tighten the front head <NUM> on the central section <NUM> of the handlebar <NUM>, and the second fixing means <NUM>, and thus to tighten the rear collar <NUM> around the tube C of a fork.

The front head <NUM> is intended to comprise the front tubular body <NUM> and the front portion 17a of the central extension <NUM>.

The rear collar <NUM> is intended to comprise the rear tubular body <NUM> and the rear portion 17b of the central extension <NUM>.

In particular, in the embodiment described herein by way of non-limiting example of the invention, the tightening rod <NUM> comprises a hooking head and a shank.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the tightening rod <NUM> consists of a screw, the head of which defines the first end 23a of the tightening rod <NUM> and the shank of which comprises the second end 23b of the same tightening rod <NUM>; the head of the screw is housed inside the front tubular body <NUM>.

The front tubular body <NUM> has, at the rear part <NUM> thereof, a rear opening 22a shaped to allow the passage of the shank of the tightening rod <NUM>.

This rear opening 22a is obviously shaped in such a way as to prevent the passage of the hooking head of the tightening rod <NUM>, i.e. of the first end 23a of the tightening rod <NUM>.

The handlebar group <NUM> according to the invention also comprises an anti-unscrewing locking device <NUM> for the tightening rod <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, this anti-unscrewing locking device <NUM> comprises, inside the front tubular body <NUM>:.

The central extension <NUM> comprises, at each of the locking grub screws <NUM>, a lateral through-hole <NUM> for the passage of a screwing tool for screwing and unscrewing the locking grub screws <NUM>.

The central section <NUM> of the handlebar <NUM> has a first longitudinal through-hole <NUM>, configured to allow the passage of a tool for screwing the tightening rod <NUM>. The front part <NUM> of the front tubular body <NUM> has a second longitudinal through-hole <NUM>, arranged coaxial to the longitudinal through-hole <NUM> of the central section <NUM> of the handlebar <NUM>; this second longitudinal through-hole <NUM> is also configured to allow the passage of a tool for screwing the tightening rod <NUM>.

In the embodiment described herein, the tightening rod <NUM> has a cylindrical head with a recessed hexagon; for screwing and unscrewing this tightening rod <NUM>, a correspondingly sized Allen key is introduced through the first longitudinal through-hole <NUM> and the second longitudinal through-hole <NUM>.

The second longitudinal through-hole <NUM> can advantageously be closed by a plug <NUM>.

The handlebar group <NUM> also comprises a front bracket <NUM> configured to support an accessory between the lateral gripping sections <NUM> of the handlebar <NUM>.

Said front bracket <NUM> comprises, for example, a supporting appendage <NUM>, fixed at the front to the front tubular body <NUM>, for example by means of a screw <NUM> screwed to a corresponding hole defined on the plug <NUM> for closing the second longitudinal through-hole <NUM>.

The supporting appendage <NUM> can also be fixed below the front tubular body <NUM>, for example by means of a second screw <NUM>.

The supporting appendage <NUM> in turn supports a fixing plate <NUM>, shaped for coupling with a hooking element for fixing an on-board computer, the latter being of a known type.

The fixing plate <NUM> is fixed to the supporting appendage <NUM> by means of, for example, a front screw <NUM>.

The front portion 17a of the central extension <NUM> has two lateral recesses <NUM> that are counter-shaped with respect to the surface of the rear face 12b of the central section <NUM> of the handlebar <NUM>.

The same front portion 17a also has an upper recess <NUM> and a lower recess <NUM>, each of which is shaped for coupling with a corresponding stepped portion <NUM> and <NUM> defined on the front tubular body <NUM>; these details are indicated in <FIG>.

In the embodiment described herein by way of non-limiting example of the invention, the rear tubular body <NUM> comprises a rear part 24a shaped like a cylindrical arc.

The front part 24b is defined by a truncated conical relief developing in the forward direction, having a threaded hole <NUM> configured for screwing with the shank of the tightening rod <NUM>.

The front part 24b is connected to the rear part 24a by two lateral portions 24c of the rear tubular body <NUM>.

The rear portion 17b of the central extension <NUM> has two lateral recesses <NUM> each of which shaped for coupling with a corresponding stepped portion 24d defined at a lateral portion 24c of the rear tubular body <NUM>.

The same rear portion 17b also has an upper recess <NUM> and a lower recess <NUM>, each of which is shaped like an arc of a circle, i.e. configured to rest against the front face C2 of the tube C.

The handlebar group <NUM> can also be intended to comprise one or more spacers <NUM> and <NUM> for the rear collar <NUM>.

The handlebar group <NUM> comprises a cover <NUM> for the rear collar <NUM> and a locking screw <NUM> for locking the cover <NUM> and for expanding the expander element located inside the rear collar <NUM>, said expander element not being depicted as it is to be understood as being of a known type.

It has in practice been established that the invention achieves the intended task and objects.

In particular, with the invention, a handlebar group has been developed which allows for a faster mounting of the handlebar to the handlebar stem and to the fork tube and relative dismounting from them, thanks to the first fixing means for the front head and the second fixing means for the rear collar, which are both operated by means of a single same tightening rod, which allows both to be opened and closed at the same time.

Furthermore, with the invention, a handlebar group has been developed which allows the central extension to be mounted and dismounted, which can then be selected at the length most suitable for the user from a plurality of central extensions that are technically equivalent and consistent with the present invention.

Thus, the invention has developed a handlebar group in which the distance between the centre of the rear collar and the centre of the front head can be changed without having to replace the entire handlebar stem, as only the central extension needs to be replaced.

In addition, the invention has developed a handlebar group that is no less robust and reliable than handlebar groups of known type.

Further, with the invention a particularly aerodynamically efficient handlebar group has been developed, since, thanks to the absence of the four front tightening screws and the absence of a front cover provided with as many angles arranged to receive the head of said screws, and thanks to the single tightening rod located inside the handlebar stem and therefore irrelevant in aerodynamic terms, the front part of the handlebar stem head can be shaped in a more aerodynamic and performing way than the handlebar stem heads of known type.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the appended claims; moreover, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the components and materials used, as well as the dimensions and shapes, as long as they are compatible with the specific use, can be any according to requirements and the state of the art.

Claim 1:
Handlebar group (<NUM>) for bicycles, comprising:
- a handlebar (<NUM>), comprising a central section (<NUM>), for fixing to a handlebar stem (<NUM>), and two lateral gripping sections (<NUM>);
- a handlebar stem (<NUM>) comprising in turn:
- a front head (<NUM>), comprising first fixing means (<NUM>) configured for locking said handlebar (<NUM>);
- a rear collar (<NUM>), comprising second fixing means (<NUM>) configured for fixing to a tube of a fork;
- a central extension (<NUM>), for connection between said front head (<NUM>) and said rear collar (<NUM>);
characterized in that said first fixing means (<NUM>) of the handlebar (<NUM>) comprise:
- a front tubular body (<NUM>) shaped to accommodate said central section (<NUM>) of said handlebar (<NUM>), said front tubular body (<NUM>) comprising a front part (<NUM>) shaped to surround a front face (12a) of said central section (<NUM>), and a rear part (<NUM>) shaped to couple with a first end (23a) of a tightening rod (<NUM>),
- and a front portion (17a) of said central extension (<NUM>), shaped to rest on a rear face (12b) of said central section (<NUM>) of said handlebar (<NUM>);
said central section (<NUM>) of said handlebar (<NUM>) being locked between said front part (<NUM>) of said front tubular body (<NUM>) and said front portion (17a) of said central extension (<NUM>);
said second fixing means (<NUM>) comprising:
- a rear tubular body (<NUM>) shaped to accommodate an end section of a tube of a fork, said rear tubular body (<NUM>) comprising a rear part (24a) shaped to surround a rear face of said end section of a tube of a fork, and a front part (24b) shaped to couple with a second end (23b) of said tightening rod (<NUM>),
- and a rear portion (17b) of said central extension (<NUM>), shaped to rest on a front face of said end section of said tube;
said tightening rod (<NUM>) being positioned to longitudinally cross said central extension (<NUM>), and being configured to connect said front tubular body (<NUM>) and said rear tubular body (<NUM>).