Bicycle headset assembly with multi-material compression ring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12515758-B2
Application number	US-202217902226-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2022
Priority date	Sep 3, 2021
Publication date	Jan 6, 2026
Grant date	Jan 6, 2026

Abstract

A bicycle includes a frame, a front fork, a fixed stop member fixed in relation to the frame, a bearing member that supports the front fork relative to the frame for rotation about a steering axis, and a compression ring. The compression ring includes a body portion between the bearing member and the front fork and a stop portion rotationally aligned with the fixed stop member to inhibit over-rotation of the front fork relative to the frame. The stop portion comprises a second material harder than the first material of the body portion. The stop portion can include a contact surface that contacts the fixed stop member when the front fork is sufficiently rotated, and the contact surface can comprise the second material. The second material can comprise one or more of aluminum, titanium, ceramic, and steel. The body portion can be formed as an overmold on the stop portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bicycle comprising:
a front wheel and a rear wheel; a frame supported by the front wheel and the rear wheel; a front fork; a fixed stop member fixed in relation to the frame; a bearing member that supports the front fork relative to the frame for rotation about a steering axis; and a compression ring that rotates with the front fork and provides axial preload on the bearing member in a direction substantially parallel to the steering axis, the compression ring including:
a body portion between the bearing member and the front fork to maintain a spacing between the bearing member and the front fork, the body portion comprising a first material, and
a stop portion rotationally aligned with the fixed stop member to inhibit over- rotation of the front fork relative to the frame, wherein the stop portion comprises a second material that is harder than the first material of the body portion;
wherein the body portion is not rotationally aligned with the fixed stop member.

2 . A bicycle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises a polymer.

3 . A bicycle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a metal.

4 . A bicycle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stop portion includes a contact surface that contacts the fixed stop member when the front fork is sufficiently rotated, and wherein the contact surface comprises the second material.

5 . A bicycle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises one or more of aluminum, titanium, ceramic, and steel.

6 . A bicycle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the front fork comprises a steerer tube, and wherein the bicycle further comprises a clamp member secured to the steerer tube and rotationally fixed to the compression ring.

7 . A bicycle as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the body portion includes a gap that facilitates compression of the compression ring onto the steerer tube, and wherein the compression ring further includes a flexible web spanning the gap.

8 . A bicycle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the compression ring comprises an aperture and wherein the bicycle further includes a control line positioned through the aperture.

9 . A bicycle as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising a headset cover positioned axially over the compression ring and including an opening, the control line being positioned through the opening.

10 . A bicycle as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the headset cover is positioned axially over the fixed stop member throughout an entire range of motion of the front fork relative to the frame.

11 . A bicycle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the body portion is formed as an overmold on the stop portion.

12 . A bicycle headset bearing assembly adapted to be mounted between a bicycle frame and a front fork, the bearing assembly comprising:
a fixed stop member adapted to be fixed in relation to the frame; a bearing member adapted to support the front fork relative to the frame for rotation about a steering axis; and a compression ring adapted to rotate with the front fork and provide axial preload on the bearing member in a direction substantially parallel to the steering axis, the compression ring including:
a body portion adapted to maintain a spacing between the bearing member and the front fork, the body portion comprising a first material, and
a stop portion rotationally aligned with the fixed stop member to inhibit over-rotation of the front fork relative to the frame, wherein the stop portion comprises a second material that is harder than the first material of the body portion;
wherein the body portion is not rotationally aligned with the fixed stop member.

13 . A bicycle headset bearing assembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the first material comprises a polymer.

14 . A bicycle headset bearing assembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the second material comprises a metal.

15 . A bicycle headset bearing assembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the stop portion includes a contact surface adapted to contact the fixed stop member when sufficiently rotated, and wherein the contact surface comprises the second material.

16 . A bicycle headset bearing assembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the second material comprises one or more of aluminum, titanium, ceramic, and steel.

17 . A bicycle headset bearing assembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the body portion includes a gap that facilitates compression of the compression ring, and wherein the compression ring further includes a flexible web spanning the gap.

18 . A bicycle headset bearing as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the body portion is formed as an overmold on the stop portion.

19 . A bicycle headset bearing assembly adapted to be mounted between a bicycle frame and a front fork, the bearing assembly comprising:
a fixed stop member adapted to be fixed in relation to the frame; a bearing member adapted to support the front fork relative to the frame for rotation about a steering axis; and a compression ring adapted to rotate with the front fork and provide axial preload on the bearing member in a direction substantially parallel to the steering axis, the compression ring including:
a body portion adapted to maintain a spacing between the bearing member and the front fork, the body portion comprising a first material, and
a stop portion rotationally aligned with the fixed stop member to inhibit over-rotation of the front fork relative to the frame, wherein the stop portion comprises a second material that is harder than the first material of the body portion;
wherein the body portion includes a gap that facilitates compression of the compression ring, and wherein the compression ring further includes a flexible web spanning the gap.

Assignees

• Specialized Bicycle Components Inc

Inventors

• Mcdonald Jason Scott
• Sanchez David Alfredo Reyes
• Davies Jack Ervin

Classifications

• B62K2201/00

  Springs used in cycle frames or parts thereof · CPC title

• B62K21/06

  Bearings specially adapted for steering heads (bearings in general F16C) · CPC title

• B62K21/20 Primary

  resilient · CPC title

• B62J11/13 Primary

  specially adapted for mechanical cables · CPC title