Patent ID: 7407176

Claim:
A bicycle stem for connecting a bicycle handlebar to a bicycle steering tube, the bicycle stem comprising: a body portion having opposing first and second ends; a steering tube clamping portion connected to the first end of said body portion; a handlebar clamping portion connected to the second end of said body portion and defining a first part of a handlebar-receiving passageway, said handlebar clamping portion having a pair of spaced apart first ends defining a respective pair of spaced apart first clamp surfaces on opposite sides of the handlebar-receiving passageway; a handlebar clamp member defining a second part of the handlebar-receiving passageway, said handlebar clamp member having a pair of spaced apart second ends defining a respective pair of spaced apart second clamp surfaces on opposite sides of handlebar-receiving passageway; said first and second clamp surfaces defining at least one interlocking joint on each opposite side of the handlebar-receiving passageway, each interlocking joint comprising a recess and a projection therein arranged to block by physical interference relative sliding motion in a direction generally parallel to an axis of the handlebar-receiving passageway to thereby resist torsional loading; and a plurality of fasteners for securing said handlebar clamp member to said handlebar clamping portion.