Threadless fork compression system and method for kick style scooter
OwnerAndrew David Broussardinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compression coupler is described that provides a robust and simple mechanism to couple threadless tubes in bicycles and/or scooters. Particularly, the handlebar/stem tube-to-fork joint is coupled with a compression sleeve. The coupler provides more surface area for binding and is tightened along a slot on the length of the coupler. The coupler can include a headtube bearing preloading mechanism , a keyway for aligning the handlebar/stem tube to the fork, and shims to accommodate different sized tubings.
Claims18
A bicycle or scooter compression clamp adapted to bind a handlebar stem to a fork tube using a headset bearing such that the headset bearing can be preloaded via tightening of a compression mechanism, comprising:
- a longitudinal compression sleeve body;
- a first bore of a first diameter disposed at an end of the body, adapted for engaging the handlebar stem;
- a second bore of a smaller second diameter disposed at an other end of the body, adapted for engaging the fork tube, wherein the first bore and the second bore are substantially inline and coaxial to each other and meet within the body to form a circular lip defined by a difference in the first diameter and second diameter;
- a compression washer having a diameter greater than the second diameter, disposed upon the lip;
- a compression bolt with threads coupled to the compression washer, the threads within the second bore of the body;
- a gripping element adapted to couple to the threads of the compression bolt, such that as the compression bolt is tightened, the fork tube is axially pulled towards the compression washer to preload the headset bearing;
- a longitudinal slot along the entire body, providing a gap from the first and second bore to an exterior of the body;
- and
- a rotation preventing tightening mechanism disposed about a portion of the body on opposing sides of the longitudinal slot, such that as the tightening mechanism is tightened, the longitudinal slot is compressed and the handlebar stem and the fork tube are secured to the body and prevented from rotating separately from the body.
A bicycle or scooter compression clamp adapted to bind a handlebar stem to a fork tube using a headset bearing such that the headset bearing can be preloaded via tightening of a compression mechanism, comprising:
- a longitudinal compression sleeve body;
- a first bore of a first diameter disposed at an end of the body, adapted for engaging the handlebar stem;
- a second bore of a smaller second diameter disposed at an other end of the body, adapted for engaging the fork tube using a headset bearing, wherein the first bore and the second bore are substantially inline and coaxial to each other and meet within the body to form a circular lip defined by a difference in the first diameter and second diameter;
- means for gripping, adapted to grip the fork tube, inserted into the second bore of the body;
- means for tightening coupled to the means for gripping, a head portion of the means for tightening resting on the circular lip, such that as the means for tightening is tightened it compresses the gripped fork tube towards the first bore of the body, thereby preloading the headset bearing of the fork tube;
- a longitudinal slot disposed along the entire body, providing a gap from the first and second bore to an exterior of the body;
- and
- means for rotation prevention and securing disposed about a portion of the body on opposing sides of the longitudinal slot, wherein as the means for rotation prevention and securing is tightened, the longitudinal slot is compressed and the handlebar stem and the inserted fork tube are secured to the body and prevented from rotating separately from the body.
A bicycle or scooter clamping system binding a handlebar stem to a fork tube using a headset bearing such that the headset bearing can be preloaded via tightening of a compression mechanism, comprising:
- a handlebar stem;
- a fork tube using a headset bearing;
- and
- a longitudinal compression sleeve body, comprising:
- a first bore of a first diameter disposed at an end of the body, engaging the handlebar stem inserted therein;
- a second bore of a second diameter disposed at an other end of the body, adapted for engaging the fork tube inserted therein, wherein the first bore and the second bore are substantially inline and coaxial to each other and meet within the body to form a circular lip defined by a difference in the first diameter and second diameter;
- a compression washer having a diameter greater than the second diameter, disposed upon the lip;
- a compression bolt with threads coupled to the compression washer, the body and the threads within the second bore of the body;
- a gripping element adapted to couple to the threads of the compression bolt, such that as the compression bolt is tightened, the fork tube is axially pulled towards the compression washer to preload the headset bearing;
- a longitudinal slot along the entire body, providing a gap from the first and second bore to an exterior of the body;
- and
- a rotation preventing tightening mechanism disposed about a portion of the body on opposing sides of the longitudinal slot, such that as the tightening mechanism is tightened, the longitudinal slot is compressed and the handlebar stem tubing and the fork tubing are secured to the body and prevented from rotating separately from the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.