Quick release stem
OwnerAlejandro Lacreuinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stem connecting the handlebars and steerable fork of a cycle has one tube attached to the handlebars and another tube attached to the steerable fork with the tubes capable of being rotated and locked with respect to one another. This arrangement allows for various configurations of the handlebars and fork including the typical riding configuration as well as an alternate configuration where the handlebars are ‘folded’ with respect to the fork. Change in configuration is accomplished without tools by way of a biased locking arrangement for the tubes.
Claims18
A cycle stem having handlebars attached adjacent a first end thereof, a fork attached adjacent a second end thereof and an adjustable quill between the first end and second end, the adjustable quill comprising:
- an inside tube comprising an inside tube axis and an inside tube disc, the inside tube disc having formed therein at least one inside tube aperture radially spaced from the inside tube axis;
- an outside tube comprising an outside tube axis and an outside tube disc, the outside tube disc having formed therein at least one outside tube aperture radially spaced from the outside tube axis;
- and
- at least one locking element selectively disposed in one of an unlocked position and a locked position, the unlocked position characterized in that the locking element is disposed in only one of the outside tube aperture or the inside tube aperture and the locked position characterized in that the locking element is disposed in both the outside tube disc aperture and the inside tube disc aperture.
An adjustable quill of a cycle comprising:
- a first tube attached to a handlebar of the cycle;
- a second tube attached to a wheel fork of the cycle;
- and
- a locking device for selectively locking and unlocking the first tube and the second tube in rotational relationship with one another, the locking device comprising:
- at least one locking element,
- a first tube disc having first tube disc apertures therein,
- a second tube disc having second tube disc apertures therein, and
- wherein the locking element is disposed, in an unlocked position, only in the first tube disc apertures and, in a locked position, in both the first and second tube disc apertures.
A folding cycle stem having handlebars attached to a top thereof, a fork attached to a bottom thereof and a quill allowing the relative arrangement of the handlebars and fork to be adjusted without tools, the quill comprising:
- an inside tube comprising an inside tube disc, the inside tube disc having formed therein an aperture;
- an outside tube comprising an outside tube disc, the outside tube disc having formed therein an aperture;
- a locking element selectively disposed in one of an unlocked position and a locked position, the unlocked position characterized in that the locking element is disposed in only one of the outside tube aperture or the inside tube aperture and the locked position characterized in that the locking element is disposed in both the outside tube aperture and the inside tube aperture;
- and
- a biasing element applying a force on at least one of the inside tube and the outside tube and urging the quill into the locked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.