Bicycle handle assembly

Claim 2

A bicycle handle assembly comprising a pair of side clamps provided on a handle stem, the side clamps being disposed substantially symmetrically around the stem, the stem being located on the longitudinally axis of a bicycle, and a pair of separate half handlebars respectively supported by said side clamps, wherein: each half handlebar is made of a single integral piece, each half handlebar includes a straight mounting portion extending longitudinally of the bicycle, on either side of said longitudinally axis, each mounting portion being held by a corresponding side clamp, a rest portion located behind said corresponding side clamp and extending laterally outward from said mounting portion to serve also as a first grip portion, and a second grip portion extending forward from said mounting portion to be located ahead of said corresponding side clamp, said second grip portion being grasped by a rider's hand while said rest portion support a rider's elbow, and said mounting portion is adjustable in position relative to said corresponding side clamp so that said rest portion and said second grip portion are simultaneously adjusted in position longitudinally of the bicycle, wherein each half handlebar further includes a third grip portion extending downward from said rest portion to provide a dropped grip.

Claim 3

The handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second grip portion extends forwardly upward from said mounting portion.

Claim 4

The handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said rest portion is surrounded by a substantially cylindrical cushion pad.

Claim 5

The handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein each side clamp is formed with a through-bore to receive said mounting portion as well as with an opposed pair of divided portions to cause diametrical contraction and expansion of said through-bore by means of a clamping bolt.

Claim 6

The handle assembly according to claim 1, wherein said handle stem has a forwardly extending handle lug to which said pair of side clamps are removably mounted.

Claim 7

The handle assembly according to claim 5, wherein said handle lug has an integral central clamp which is formed with a lateral bore extending perpendicularly to said mounting portion as well as with an opposed pair of divided portions to cause diametrical contraction and expansion of said lateral bore by means of a clamping bolt, and each side clamp has a mounting projection insertable into said lateral bore.

Claim 8

The handle assembly according to claim 6, further comprising a tie bolt penetrating through said pair of side clamps and said lateral bore for engagement with a nut to prevent unexpected detachment of said pair of side clamps from said central clamp.

Claim 9

A bicycle handle assembly comprising a pair of side clamps provided on a handle stem, and a pair of separate half handlebars respectively supported by said side clamps, wherein: each half handlebar is made of an integral piece, each half handlebar includes a straight mounting portion extending longitudinally of the bicycle and held by a corresponding side clamp, a rest portion located behind said corresponding side clamp and extending laterally outward from said mounting portion to serve also as a first grip portion, and a second grip portion extending forward from said mounting portion to be located ahead of said corresponding side clamp, said second grip portion being grasped by a rider's hand while said rest portion supports a rider's elbow, and said mounting portion is adjustable in position relative to said corresponding side clamp so that said rest portion and said second grip portion are simultaneously adjusted in position longitudinally of the bicycle, wherein each half handlebar further includes a third grip portion extending downward from said rest portion to provide a dropped grip, further comprising a main brake control assembly arranged at said third grip portion, and an auxiliary brake control assembly arranged at said second grip portion, wherein one of the two brake control assemblies is connected to one end of a control cable while the other of the two brake control assemblies is connected to an intermediate portion of said control cable.

Claim 10

A bicycle handle assembly comprising a pair of side clamps provided on a handle stem, and a pair of separate half handlebars respectively supported by said side clamps, wherein: each half handlebar is made of an integral piece, each half handlebar includes a straight mounting portion extending longitudinally of the bicycle and held by a corresponding side clamp, a rest portion located behind said corresponding side clamp and extending laterally outward from said mounting portion to serve also as a first grip portion, and a second grip portion extending forward from said mounting portion to be located ahead of said corresponding side clamp, said second grip portion being grasped by a rider's hand while said rest portion supports a rider's elbow, and said mounting portion is adjustable in position relative to said corresponding side clamp so that said rest portion and said second grip portion are simultaneously adjusted in position longitudinally of the bicycle, wherein each half handlebar further includes a third grip portion extending downward from said rest portion to provide a dropped grip, further comprising a main brake control assembly arranged at said third grip portion, and an auxiliary brake control assembly arranged at said second grip portion, wherein one of the two brake control assemblies is connected to one end of a control cable while the other of the two brake control assemblies is connected to an intermediate portion of said control cable.

Claim 11

The handle assembly according to claim 8, wherein said control cable comprises an inner cable, and an outer cable surrounding said inner cable and divided at an intermediate portion thereof to provide a pair of divided ends, one divided end of said outer cable being arrested by a fixed part of said other brake control assembly, the other divided end of said outer cable being caught by a manually movable part of said other brake control assembly.

Claim 12

The handle assembly according to claim 9, wherein said fixed part of said other brake control assembly is in the form of a brake bracket while said manually movable part is in the form of a brake lever pivoted to said bracket.

Claim 13

The handle assembly according to claim 9, wherein said fixed part of said other brake control assembly is in the form of a fixed ring while said manually movable part is in the form of a substantially cylindrical grip member which is manually rotatable relative to said fixed member.

Claim 14

The handle assembly according to claim 8, wherein said control cable comprises an inner cable, and an outer cable surrounding said inner cable and divided at an intermediate portion thereof to provide a pair of divided ends, both divided ends of said outer cable being arrested by a fixed part of said other brake control assembly, said inner cable being connected to a manually movable part of said other brake control assembly at a position between said pair of divided ends of said outer cable.

Claim 15

A bicycle handle assembly comprising a pair of side clamps provided on a handle stem, a pair of separate half handlebars respectively supported by said side clamps, and brake control means mounted on at least one of said half handle bars, wherein: each half handlebar includes a straight mounting portion extending longitudinally of the bicycle, a rest portion extending laterally outward from said mounting portion to serve also as a first grip portion, a second grip portion disposed ahead of said rest portion to be grasped by a rider's hand while said rest portion supports a rider's elbow, and a third grip portion extending downward from said rest portion to provide a dropped grip, said mounting portion is held by a corresponding side clamp but adjustable in position relative thereto, longitudinally of the bicycle, said brake control means comprises a main brake control assembly arranged at said third grip portion, and an auxiliary brake control assembly arranged at said second grip portion, one of the two brake control assemblies being connected to one end of a control cable, the other of the two brake control assemblies being connected to an intermediate portion of said control cable.

Claim 16

A bicycle handle assembly comprising a pair of side clamps provided on a handle stem, a pair of separate half handlebars respectively supported by said side clamps, and brake control means mounted on at least one of said half handle bars, wherein: each half handlebar includes a straight mounting portion extending longitudinally of the bicycle, a rest portion extending laterally outward from said mounting portion to serve also as a first grip portion, a second grip portion disposed ahead of said rest portion to be grasped by a rider's hand while said rest portion supports a rider's elbow, and a third grip portion extending downward from said rest portion to provide a dropped grip, said mounting portion is held by a corresponding side clamp but adjustable in position relative thereto, longitudinally of the bicycle, said brake control means comprises a main brake control assembly arranged at said third grip portion, and an auxiliary brake control assembly arranged at said second grip portion, one of the two brake control assemblies being connected to one end of a control cable, the other of the two brake control assemblies being connected to an intermediate portion of said control cable.

Claim 17

The handle assembly according to claim 13, wherein said second grip portion extends forwardly upward from said mounting portion.

Claim 18

The handle assembly as defined in claim 13, wherein said second grip portion extends forwardly inward from said third grip portion.

Claim 19

The handle assembly according to claim 13, wherein said rest portion is surrounded by a substantially cylindrical cushion pad.

Claim 20

The handle assembly according to claim 13, wherein each side clamp is formed with a through-bore to receive said mounting portion as well as with an opposed pair of divided portions to cause diametrical contraction and expansion of said through-bore by means of a clamping bolt.

Claim 21

The handle assembly according to claim 13, wherein said handle stem has a forwardly extending handle lug which is formed integrally with said pair of side clamps.

Claim 22

The handle assembly according to claim 13, wherein said handle stem has a forwardly extending handle lug to which said pair of side clamps are removably mounted.

Claim 23

The handle assembly according to claim 19, wherein said handle lug has an integral central clamp which is formed with a lateral bore extending perpendicularly to said mounting portion as well as with an opposed pair of divided portions to cause diametrical contraction and expansion of said lateral bore by means of a clamping bolt, and each side clamp has a mounting projection insertable into said lateral bore.

Claim 24

The handle assembly according to claim 20, further comprising tie bolt penetrating through said pair of side clamps and said lateral bore for engagement with a nut to prevent unexpected detachment of said pair of side clamps from said central clamp.

Claim 25

The handle assembly according to claim 13, wherein said control cable comprises an inner cable, and an outer cable surrounding said inner cable and divided at an intermediate portion thereof to provide a pair of divided ends, one divided end of said outer cable being arrested by a fixed part of said other brake control assembly, the other divided end of said outer cable being caught by a manually movable part of said other brake control assembly.

Claim 26

The handle assembly according to claim 22, wherein said fixed part of said other brake control assembly is in the form of a brake bracket while said manually movable part is in the form of a brake lever pivoted to said bracket.

Claim 27

The handle assembly according to claim 22, wherein said foxed part of said other brake control assembly is in the form of a fixed ring while said manually movable part is in the form of a substantially cylindrical grip member which is manually rotatable relative to said fixed member.

Claim 28

The handle assembly according to claim 13, wherein said control cable comprises an inner cable, and an outer cable surrounding said inner cable and divided at an intermediate portion thereof to provide a pair of divided ends, both divided ends of said outer cable being arrested by a fixed part of said other brake control assembly, said inner cable being connected to a manually movable part of said other brake control assembly at a position between said pair of divided ends of said outer cable.