Handlebar structure for a collapsible bicycle

Claim 1

A locking mechanism for the handlebar structure of a collapsible bicycle of the type including an upper tube having a flange at its lower end and a lower tube having a flange at its upper end, the mechanism comprising: a) a pressing lever; b) means connecting the pressing lever to the flanges of the upper and lower tubes for permitting the tubes to pivot relative to each other and the pressing lever to pivot relative to the flanges about a common pivot axis; c) a U-shaped member for detachably clamping the flanges together and provided with a bolt hole therethrough; d) a first bolt having front and rear ends, the first bolt extending through the bolt hole of the U-shaped member, the front end being coupled to the U-shaped member and the rear end being coupled to the pressing lever, with the common pivot axis defining a pivot point and the coupling point of the front end with the pressing lever defining a fulcrum; and e) whereby when the upper and lower tubes are mounted in an upright position with the flanges together, the pressing lever may be pivoted upwardly towards the upper tube and cause the first bolt to draw the U-shaped member into clamping engagement with the flanges and maintain the tubes in the upright position, and release of the U-shaped member may be realized by pivoting the pressing lever downwardly towards the lower tube.