Method to conceal bicycle control cables within the handlebars, stem and frame |
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申请号 | US11299423 | 申请日 | 2005-12-12 | 公开(公告)号 | US07891687B2 | 公开(公告)日 | 2011-02-22 |
申请人 | John Schmider; | 发明人 | John Schmider; | ||||
摘要 | A bicycle is provided including a tubular frame having interconnected tubes defining hollow passageways. A curvilinear hollow handlebar is operatively coupled to the frame. The handlebar includes at least one aperture and an opening providing access to the passageways in the frame. A control lever is operatively mounted to the handlebar for controlling a component of the bicycle. A control cable has a first end fixedly secured to the control lever and a second end adapted to be secured to the component of the bicycle for actuation thereof. The control cable extends through the aperture into the handlebar and through the opening of the handlebar into the passageways of the frame between the first and second ends to conceal the control cable within the frame and the handlebar. | ||||||
权利要求 | What is claimed is: |
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说明书全文 | This application claims priority to and all the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/634,846, filed on Dec. 10, 2004 and entitled “Method To Conceal Bicycle Control Cables Within The Handlebars, Stem And Frame.” 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a bicycle and, more particularly, to a bicycle and method of concealing control cables within the handlebars, stem and frame of the bicycle. 2. Description of the Related Art Bicycles include control cables, which are used to control front and rear wheel braking systems and front and rear shifting mechanisms, such as front and rear derailleurs. Typically, the control cables are routed from brake and shift levers to the braking systems and derailleurs, using one of two possible methods or a combination thereof. In a first method, the control cables exit the brake and/or shift levers mounted to a handlebar and are routed along the handlebar. The portion of the control cables routed along the handlebar is concealed underneath padding of the handlebar. At a point, slightly ahead of the point where the handlebar is affixed to a stem, the control cables are exposed and routed directly to attachment points on the frame of the bicycle. Typically, clips, bosses or other means are used to affix the control cables to the frame. A generally large loop of control cable runs between the handlebar and frame, to allow for turning of the handlebar. In a second method, similar to the first, the control cables exit the brake and/or shift levers and are routed directly to the cable attachment points on the frame. In this methodology, there is no attempt made to conceal the control cables along the handlebar. In either method, the exposed portion of the control cables detracts from the overall aesthetics of the bicycle, as well as potentially obscuring any artwork or graphics applied to the bicycle. Additionally, the exposed cable segments are susceptible to snagging, fouling and corrosion, while adversely contributing to the overall aerodynamic drag on the bicycle. Current bicycle designs do not address the aforementioned problems. Some bicycles do provide for routing of the control cables through the frame, but maintain the exposed segments of cable between the handlebar and the cable attachment points on the frame. Systems incorporating variants of this methodology are detailed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,478,100, 4,768,798, and 4,974,864. According to one aspect of the invention, a bicycle is provided including a tubular frame having interconnected tubes defining hollow passageways. A curvilinear hollow handlebar is operatively coupled to the frame. The handlebar includes at least one aperture and an opening providing access to the passageways in the frame. A control lever is operatively mounted to the handlebar for controlling a component of the bicycle. A control cable has a first end fixedly secured to the control lever and a second end adapted to be secured to the component of the bicycle for actuation thereof. The control cable extends through the aperture into the handlebar and through the opening of the handlebar into the passageways of the frame between the first and second ends to conceal the control cable within the frame and the handlebar. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided, a method of concealing a control cable within a handlebar, stem, fork and frame of a bicycle, the method comprising the step of routing the cable into the handlebar and through the handlebar, stem, fork and frame, to conceal the cable within an envelope of the primary structural components of the bicycle. Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: Referring to Referring to Referring to Referring to Referring to Referring to Referring to The rear brake cable 28, and the front and rear derailleur cables 26, 30 exit the fork steerer tube 110 through a rear slot 134 in the fork steerer tube 110. The rear brake, front and rear derailleur cables 28, 26, 30 are then routed along a flat rear face 136 of the fork steerer tube 110, through the upper headset bearing assembly 112, into the head tube 82 of the frame 14. The rear brake, front and rear derailleur cables 28, 26, 30 are then routed into the frame 14 via a passage 138, which communicates between the head tube 82 and the down tube 86. The rear brake cable 28 exits the down tube 86 via an opening 140 to be secured to the rear brake 64, as shown in This method allows the control cables 24, 26, 28, 30 to pass through the handlebar 12, stem 68, and frame 14 in a manner, which is unhindered and does not hinder the bicycle's steering mechanism, as shown in The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. |