Patent ID: 8382133

Claim:
A foldable device for connecting a front fork to a handlebar of a bicycle, the bicycle including a bicycle frame which has a head tube, the front fork being received in the head tube and extending along a steering axis in an upright direction to terminate at a top end of the front fork, the handlebar extending along a handlebar line, said foldable device comprising: a lower hingeable flange adapted to be coupled with the top end, and extending radially relative to the steering axis, said lower hingeable flange having a bottom major surface that faces upwardly, and including a lower hingeable segment and a lower clampable segment that are angularly displaced from each other about the steering axis; a linking member defining a centerline that is parallel to the steering axis when the handlebar is in a position of use, and including a central region which is normal to the centerline, a first engaging region which is opposite to said central region radially relative to the centerline, and which is hingedly connected to said lower hingeable segment about a first hinge axis to permit said linking member to move between a first closed position, where said central region is close to said bottom major surface, and a first open position, where said central region is remote from said bottom major surface, and a second engaging region which is angularly displaced from said first engaging region about the centerline; an upper stem which defines a lengthwise line that is parallel to the steering axis when the handlebar is in the position of use, and which has a connected end and a coupling end that is adapted to be coupled with the handlebar; an upper hingeable flange which is connected to and which extends from said connected end of said upper stem radially relative to the lengthwise line, said upper hingeable flange having an overlying major surface which faces toward said bottom major surface when the handlebar is in the position of use, said upper hingeable flange including an upper hingeable segment which is hingedly connected to said second engaging region about a second hinge axis that is transverse to the first hinge axis to permit said upper hingeable flange to move between a second closed position, where said overlying major surface is close to said central region, and a second open position, where said overlying major surface is remote from said central region, and an upper clampable segment that is angularly displaced from said upper hingeable segment about the lengthwise line; and a clamping unit disposed to hold said upper and lower clampable segments tightly once said linking member and said upper hingeable flange are in the first and second closed positions, respectively.