The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 21, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 21, 1996
Richard J Adams, Boulder, CO (US);
Mark N Pippin, Golden, CO (US);
Schwinn Cycling & Fitness Inc., Boulder, CO (US);
Abstract
A steering control safety mechanism is provided for a bicycle having a cylindrical head tube, a hollow steerer tube rotatably positioned in the head tube, a fork, and a stem releasably attachable to an upper end of the steerer tube for rigidly fixing a handlebar to the steerer tube. The safety mechanism includes a cylindrical torque transfer member positioned in the steerer tube, a wedge member positioned in the steerer tube below the torque transfer member, and a bolt rotationally positioned in the passageway of torque transfer member, supported on the torque transfer member, and aligned to laterally offset the wedge member from the torque transfer member and cause the torque transfer member and the wedge member to form a jam fit. A first steering control path is defined in the steering mechanism by connections between the handlebar, stem, steerer tube and fork. A second steering control path is defined in the steering mechanism by connections between the handlebar, stem, torque transfer member, wedge member, steerer tube and fork. The second steering control path is utilized upon the failure of the steerer tube. A method of maintaining steering control of a bicycle is also disclosed in which a bicycle having a handlebar, stem, steerer tube, fork, and connections thereamong is provided with a backup steering control system which is operative upon failure of the steerer tube.