Mirror assembly for a handlebar of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11420701-B2
Application number	US-201916597602-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2019
Priority date	Jan 31, 2019
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

A mirror assembly for a handlebar of a vehicle has a stem assembly and a mirror connect to the stem assembly. The stem assembly includes a base, a stem connected to the base, and a clamp connected to and extending from the base. The clamp is adapted for being disposed inside a handle of the handlebar. The base, the stem and the clamp are integral. The clamp defines a ramp. A threaded fastener inserted through the base and extends in part in the clamp. A nut engages the threaded fastener, and at least a portion of the nut abuts the clamp. Translating the nut toward the base by rotating the fastener causes the nut to move over the ramp thereby deflecting the ramp.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handlebar assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a handlebar adapted for connection to a steering column of the vehicle, the handlebar having first and second handles,
the first and second handles being disposed at opposite ends of the handlebar,
the first handle having an inner surface, the inner surface defining a cavity in the first handle;

a stem assembly including:
a base engaging an end of the first handle;
a stem having a first end connected to the base and a second end, the stem extending away from the base; and
a clamp extending inside the cavity, the clamp defining a ramp, the ramp tapering as the ramp extends away from the base,
the base, the stem and the clamp being formed as unit such that the base the stem and the clamp are integral;

a threaded fastener inserted through the base and extending in part in the cavity;
a nut disposed in the cavity, the nut engaging the threaded fastener, and at least a portion of the nut abutting the clamp, the nut being rotationally fixed relative to the clamp,
the nut having at least a first position and a second position relative to the ramp rotation of the threaded fastener translating the nut between the first and second positions along an axis, the nut being closer to the base in the second position than in the first position,
in the first position of the nut, the stem assembly being rotatable relative to the first handle,
in the second position of the nut, the nut abutting the ramp and causing deflection of the ramp such that the clamp applies pressure against the inner surface of the first handle, and friction between the clamp and the inner surface of the first handle opposing rotation of the stem assembly relative to the first handle; and
a mirror connected to the second end of the stem.

2. The handlebar assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the clamp has a first end connected to the base and a second free end; and
in the first position of the nut, the second free end of the clamp is radially spaced from the inner surface of the first handle.

3. The handlebar assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the base defines a groove; and
the end of the first handle is received in the groove.

4. The handlebar assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the ramp includes a first ramp surface and a second ramp surface;
the first ramp surface being at a first angle relative to the axis;
the second ramp surface being at a second angle relative to the axis;
the second angle being greater than the first angle;
the nut having a third position relative to the ramp;
the third position of the nut being intermediate the first and second positions of the nut;
in the third position of the nut, the nut abutting the first surface of the ramp; and
in the second position of the nut, the nut abutting the second surface of the ramp.

5. The handlebar assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first angle is between 5 degrees and 10 degrees.

6. The handlebar assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second angle is between 30 degrees and 85 degrees.

7. The handlebar assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the clamp includes at least one lip extending from the ramp; and
the nut abuts the at least one lip.

8. The handlebar assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the ramp is a first ramp;
the clamp defines at least one second ramp, the at least one second ramp tapering as the at least one second ramp extends away from the base; and
in the second position of the nut, the nut abutting the at least one second ramp and causing deflection of the at least one second ramp.

9. The handlebar assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first ramp and the at least one second ramp are disposed circumferentially about the axis and are circumferentially spaced from each other.

10. The handlebar assembly of claim 8 , wherein:
the at least one second ramp is a single second ramp;
the first and second ramp are disposed on opposite sides of a plane passing through the axis; and
the nut is held between the first and second ramps.

11. The handlebar assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mirror is connected to the second end of the stem via a ball joint.

12. The handlebar assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a grip disposed around the first handle, the clamp extending inside the grip.

13. The handlebar assembly of claim 12 , wherein the grip is spaced from the base; and
further comprising:
a first handguard connector connected to the first handle between the base and a first end of the grip;
a second handguard connector connected to the first handle, the grip being disposed between the first and second handguard connectors; and
a handguard connected to the first and second handguard connectors and being radially spaced from the grip.

14. The handlebar assembly of claim 13 , wherein:
the first handguard connector defines a first recess and a second recess;
at least a portion of the base is received in the first recess; and
at least a portion of the grip is received in the second recess.

15. The handlebar assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the second position of the nut is a position of the nut being the closest to the base;
in the second position of the nut, the nut being spaced from the base; and
the second position of the nut is a position of the nut causing maximum deflection of the ramp.

16. The handlebar assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the clamp has a first end connected to the base and a second free end; and
in a second position of the nut, a distance between the nut and the first end of the clamp is greater than a distance between the nut and the second free end.

17. The handlebar assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clamp has:
a first end connected to the base;
a second free end;
a first portion extending between the first end and the ramp; and
a second portion extending between the ramp and the second free end.

18. The handlebar assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the stem assembly is made of plastic having a first hardness; and
the nut is made of a material having a second hardness,
the second hardness being greater than the first hardness.

19. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body;
a steering column operatively connected to the vehicle body; and
a handlebar assembly according to claim 1 connected to the steering column.

20. A mirror assembly for a handlebar of a vehicle comprising:
a stem assembly including:
a base adapted for engaging an end of a handle of the handlebar;
a stem having a first end connected to the base and a second end, the stem extending away from the base; and
a clamp having a first end connected to the base and a second free end, the clamp extending from the base, the clamp being adapted for being disposed inside a cavity defined by an inner surface of the handle, the clamp defining a ramp, the ramp tapering as the ramp extends away from the base,
the base, the stem and the clamp being formed as unit such that the base, the stem and the clamp are integral;

a threaded fastener inserted through the base and extending in part in the clamp;
a nut engaging the threaded fastener, and at least a portion of the nut abutting the clamp, the nut being rotationally fixed relative to the clamp,
the nut having at least a first position and a second position relative to the ramp, rotation of the threaded fastener translating the nut between the first and second positions along an axis, the nut being closer to the base in the second position than in the first position,
in the first position of the nut, the second free end of the clamp being at a first

Assignees

• Bombardier Recreation Products Inc
• Bombardier Recreational Products Inc

Inventors

• Driant Thomas
• Cyrenne Kevin

Classifications

• B62J23/00

  Other protectors specially adapted for cycles · CPC title

• B62K21/12

  Handlebars; Handlebar stems · CPC title

• B62J29/00 Primary

  Adaptations or arrangements of mirrors for use on cycles · CPC title

• B62K21/00

  Steering devices · CPC title