L.h. Thomson Company, Inc.

Brian Thomson

Loronzo H Thomson

Mark P McJunkin

Robert J DeRose

An object clamp includes first and second clamp portions having recesses therein defining a generally circular cylindrical opening for receiving an object to be clamped. The first and second opposing clamp portions have at least one pair of opposing ends when in a preclamped state and at least one fastener for urging the ends towards each other when in a clamped state. At least one relief area is formed in the recesses and is deflected into engagement with the object when the object clamp is in the clamped state. The object to be clamped may be a bicycle steering tube, a bicycle handle bar, or a bicycle seat tube, for example.

Object clamp, such as for bicycle component, having at least one relief area and related methods

A bicycle stem includes a handlebar clamping portion and handlebar clamping member having respective first and second clamp surfaces defining interlocking joints. Each interlocking joint may include a recess and a projection therein to resist relative sliding motion in a direction generally parallel to an axis of a handlebar-receiving passageway to thereby resist torsional loading. A plurality of fasteners may secure the handlebar clamp member to the handlebar clamping portion.

Bicycle stem with interlocking joint in the handlebar clamp and associated methods

A bicycle stem may include a body portion and a handlebar clamping portion connected thereto, and a handlebar clamping member cooperating with the handlebar clamping portion to clamp the bicycle handlebar. The handlebar clamping member and the handlebar clamping portion may each have a cavity in a respective medial portion thereof to accommodate an enlarged diameter portion of the handlebar. The handlebar clamping member may have a generally rectangular shape with a recess therein defining with the cavity a pair of spaced apart contact areas for contacting the handlebar. The handlebar clamping member may also be completely removable from the handlebar clamping portion in some embodiments, to facilitate installation of the handlebar. The handlebar clamping portion may also have a recess therein defining with the cavity a pair of spaced apart contact areas for contacting the handlebar. The body portion may also have a tubular shape with a hollow interior, and the cavity of the handlebar clamping portion may have an opening therein in communication with the hollow interior of the body portion.

Bicycle stem for enlarged handlebar portions and associated methods

A bicycle stem includes a steering tube clamp with a pair of cooperating clamp members defining an imaginary cylinder and a recess therein for the steering tube. Each clamp member may also have at least one fastener receiving passageway therein offset a predetermined distance from an axis defined by the imaginary cylinder. The stem may include a body portion having opposing first and second ends, a handlebar clamping portion connected to the first end of the body portion, and a steering tube clamping portion connected to the second end of the body portion. The steering tube clamping portion may have a tubular shape defining a steering tube receiving passageway therethrough, and a clamp receiving passageway transverse to the steering tube receiving passageway and in communication therewith. The steering tube clamp may also include at least one fastener extending between corresponding fastener receiving passageways of the pair of clamp members for urging the clamp members together to engage the steering tube and thereby secure the bicycle stem to the steering tube. The at least one fastener may be a plurality of fasteners. The fastener receiving passageways may also be canted at a predetermined angle from parallel to the axis of the imaginary cylinder. The recess for the steering tube may also extend for greater than about 90 degrees.

Bicycle stem including enhanced clamp and associated methods

A bicycle gear shifting system includes a gear shifting derailleur, a rotatable shift member to be rotatably carried by handlebars of the bicycle and connected to the gear shifting derailleur, and a hand attachment to be carried by a hand of a rider. The rotatable shift member and the hand attachment may each have respective mating surfaces for positively engaging one another to facilitate gear shifting by the rider and are readily releasable to permit the rider to change hand positions. More particularly, the mating surfaces may include pairs of corresponding recesses and projections. The pairs of corresponding recesses and projections may also be tapered. Furthermore, the mating surfaces may engage in superposed relation upon radial squeezing of the hand of the rider. According to another embodiment, the mating surfaces may engage in side-by-side relation upon lateral positioning of the hand of the rider.

Bicycle rider hand attachment and cooperating gear shift actuator and associated methods

Bicycle stem

A clamp includes an object clamping portion having a tubular shape defining an object receiving passageway therethrough, and a clamp receiving passageway transverse to the object receiving passageway and in communication therewith. An object clamp is received in the clamp receiving passageway, and may include a pair of cooperating clamp members defining an imaginary cylinder and a recess therein for the object. Each clamp member may also have at least one fastener receiving passageway therein offset a predetermined distance from an axis defined by the imaginary cylinder. The object clamp may also include at least one fastener extending between corresponding fastener receiving passageways of the pair of clamp members for urging the clamp members together to engage the object. The at least one fastener may be a plurality of fasteners. The fastener receiving passageways may also be canted at a predetermined angle from parallel to the axis of the imaginary cylinder. The recess for the object may also extend for greater than about 90 degrees, for example.

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Warner Robins, GA, United States of America

Brian Thomson