Patent ID: 7806421

Claim:
A handle stem for a bicycle having a handle bar and a fork with a shaft, the handle stem comprising: a body and a clamping ring, wherein the clamping ring includes tightening means for causing the clamping ring to constrict, and the clamping ring, which includes the tightening means, is formed separately from the body; the body at least partially defines a handle bar receptacle for receiving the handle bar; the body defines a slot that extends toward the handle bar receptacle, and the slot is for receiving the clamping ring; the body includes an opening to the slot, and the opening is for receiving the shaft of the fork; and the clamping ring and the body are cooperatively adapted so that the clamping ring is for being inserted into the slot of the body, the clamping ring and the opening are for simultaneously being in receipt of the shaft of the fork while the clamping ring is within the slot, and the clamping ring, the body and the shaft of the fork are for being fixedly connecting to one another in response to the tightening means of the clamping ring causing the clamping ring to both constrict onto the shaft of the fork and press against the body while the clamping ring is in the slot and the shaft of the fork is in both the clamping ring and the opening, so that the clamping ring pushes against the shaft of the fork, and the shaft of the fork presses against the body.