The following documents are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth: German Patent Application No. 10 2020 113 430.4, filed May 18, 2020.
The invention relates to a single-track land vehicle, which is designed, for example, as a bicycle, electric bike or electric scooter and has a vehicle frame and a vehicle fork, which has a fork steerer tube, which fork steerer tube is mounted pivotably in a head tube of the vehicle frame, wherein it is possible by means of a pivoting-angle brake or limiter to at least decelerate the pivoting in of the vehicle fork relative to the vehicle frame and/or to define the maximum pivoting-in angle.
Single-track land vehicles are known, for example, as bicycles, electric bikes or electric scooters in a very wide variety of embodiments. Such single-track land vehicles regularly have a vehicle frame which has a head tube. The fork steerer tube of a vehicle fork is pivotably mounted in the head tube of the vehicle frame. By means of a pivoting movement at the vehicle fork, the vehicle can be steered in one direction or the other.
The mobility of the vehicle fork can lead to problems when the vehicle is to be parked. This is because, when the vehicle is parked, there is the risk that the vehicle fork will also unintentionally pivot in, and the vehicle will be able to roll out of its parked position and tip over in this pivoted-in position of the vehicle fork.
Furthermore, there is the risk that the driver will fall during a fast and/or bumpy ride, causing the subassembly consisting of the vehicle fork, stem, handlebar and front wheel to pivot in too much and strike against the frame. If the subassembly consisting of the vehicle fork, stem, handlebar and front wheel is pivoted in to an excessive extent, there is also the risk that the brake lines or the shift forks will be pulled too tight. Stop contact of the handlebar when the vehicle fork is pivoted in can also occur during the repair or maintenance of the land vehicle.
Various pivoting-angle limiters have therefore also been created by means of which the pivoting-in angle of the vehicle fork relative to the vehicle frame can be defined or limited to a specific range. Thus, a pivoting-angle limiter is offered under the name “SteerStopper” (see website www.steerstopper.com), which can also be retrofitted to a bicycle if required. The previously known pivoting-angle limiter has a pivoted lever which is held so as to be pivotable in a vertical plane on the handlebar stem. This pivoted lever can be pivoted between a standby position and a use position, in which use position the free lever end of the pivoted lever is pivoted into a lever receptacle mounted in a fixed manner on the top tube of the bicycle frame. Since the pivoting angle is limited to zero in the position of use of this pivoting-angle limiter, this previously known pivoting-angle limiter does not prevent the problem that a cyclist may inadvertently exceed the pivoting-in angle when falling and therefore that the subassembly consisting of the vehicle fork, the stem, the handlebar and the front wheel may strike against the vehicle frame. Furthermore, there is the problem that, in the standby position, the pivoted lever is in the way of the cyclist while riding and can also accidentally engage into the position of use, with the result that the cyclist is prevented from making further steering and pivoting movements of the bicycle fork while riding.
DE 20 2012 008 119 U1 already discloses a steering stop for bicycle handlebars having a first stop element, which can be fixed to the head tube of a bicycle fork. This first stop element of the previously known steering stop interacts with a second stop element, which can be fastened to the bicycle frame, in particular to the top tube of the bicycle frame, in order to limit the turning of the handlebar. In this case, the first stop element is of annular design and serves as a covering ring of the upper steering head bearing. The second stop element, which is, in particular, produced from plastic, has two stop faces, against which the corresponding stop face of the first stop strikes in order to limit the steering angle. The second stop element is fixed, for example, by two fixing elements designed as screws. In order to avoid damage to the top tube or the head tube in the case of steering stop contact with great force, the two screws serving as fixing elements for the second stop element have a predetermined breaking point, which can be designed, for example, as an opening produced by hollow drilling. At this predetermined breaking point, the screws serving as fixing elements are weakened in such a way that, in the case of steering stop contact with excessive force, the screw connection of the second stop element is released and the previously known pivoting-angle limiter is rendered inoperative.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,890 A already describes a pivoting-angle limiter which comprises a stop element on the bicycle frame and a fork stop pin on the bicycle fork. When the bicycle fork is rotated beyond a predetermined position, the fork stop pin engages in the stop element, and further rotation of the bicycle fork is thereby prevented. This prevents the fork from hitting the bicycle frame. The stop element mounted on the head tube in the region of the lower steering head bearing and the fork stop pin are designed in such a way that they can also be retrofitted in a fixed manner on the relevant parts of the bicycle.
In the case of these previously known pivoting-angle limiters, there is the problem that the pivoting-in angle to the left and to the right is already defined by the manufacturer and that essential components of these previously known pivoting-angle limiters are arranged in such a way as to be visible from the outside, where, however, they can impair the appearance of the land vehicle designed, for example, as a bicycle.
The objective to be achieved is therefore that of providing a single-track vehicle having a pivoting-angle brake or limiter which effectively prevents the driver from overdoing the steering and pivoting-in movements without this pivoting-angle brake or limiter significantly impairing the appearance of the land vehicle.
In the case of the single-track land vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset, the solution to meeting this objective according to the invention consists, in particular, in that the pivoting-angle brake or limiter has a tension element which is connected to the vehicle frame via a holding element held in the interior of the vehicle frame, and in that a holding counter-element is provided on the tension element at a distance from the holding element, which counter-element rests or strikes against the vehicle fork when the pivoting-angle brake and limiter are activated.
The land vehicle according to the invention, which can be designed, for example, as a bicycle, electric bike or, alternatively, as an electric scooter, also has a vehicle frame with a head tube, in which head tube a fork steerer tube of a vehicle fork is pivotably mounted. Since a running wheel of the vehicle is held in the vehicle fork in the usual manner, and since the vehicle fork can be pivoted about the head tube of the vehicle frame, the necessary steering movements can be carried out at the vehicle fork by pivoting the vehicle fork. The land vehicle according to the invention also has a pivoting-angle brake or pivoting-angle limiter, by means of which the pivoting-in of the vehicle fork relative to the vehicle frame can at least be decelerated. It is also possible for the pivoting-angle limiter or similar steering stop to define or limit the maximum pivoting-in angle of the vehicle fork relative to the vehicle frame. For this purpose, the pivoting-angle limiter of the land vehicle according to the invention has a tension element, which is connected to the vehicle frame via a holding element held, preferably in a fixed manner, in the interior of the vehicle frame. A holding counter-element is provided on the tension element at a distance from the holding element, which counter-element rests or strikes against the vehicle fork at the latest when the maximum pivoting-in angle is reached and activates the pivoting-angle brake or limiter of the land vehicle according to the invention. The pivoting-angle brake or limiter of the land vehicle designed according to the invention has a tension element which is preferably flexible in shape. This tension element is connected to the vehicle frame via a holding element held in the interior of the vehicle frame. A holding counter-element is provided on the tension element at a distance from the holding element, which counter-element rests or strikes against the vehicle fork at the latest when the maximum pivoting-in angle is reached. Since the tension element is designed to be flexible in shape, the tension element does not further impede the steering movements at the vehicle fork as long as the pivoting-angle brake or limiter is not activated and, for this purpose, the tension element is not tensioned between the holding element and the holding counter-element. At the latest when the pivoting-angle brake or limiter of the land vehicle according to the invention reaches the defined maximum pivoting-in angle, the tension element is tensioned between the holding element and the holding counter-element in such a way that further pivoting in of the vehicle fork is no longer readily possible. The pivoting-angle brake or limiter is activated when the holding counter-element engaging on the connecting element rests or strikes against the vehicle fork and, in particular, against the fork steerer tube thereof. While one end region of the tension element rests or strikes against the vehicle fork, the other end region of the tension element engages on the holding element, which is held, preferably in a fixed manner, in the interior of the vehicle frame, for example in the tube interior of the down tube of the bicycle frame or vehicle frame. Since, on the one hand, the tension element thus engages, for example, on the fork steerer tube guided rotatably in the interior of the head tube and, on the other hand, is connected to the holding element held in the interior of the vehicle frame, the components of the pivoting-angle brake or limiter used according to the invention can be accommodated virtually invisibly in the interior of the land vehicle according to the invention. If the land vehicle according to the invention has a pivoting-angle brake, a further pivoting movement at the bicycle fork is braked in good time before the maximum pivoting-in angle is reached, and therefore a braking force counteracting the pivoting-in movement signals the reaching of the maximum pivoting-in angle in good time in advance. For this purpose, at least one damping element can be provided in the operative connection between the holding element and the holding counter-element of such a pivoting-angle brake, which damping element becomes effective from a defined tensile force acting on the tension element.
A further solution to the objective stated above envisages, in the case of the single-track land vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset, that the pivoting-angle brake or limiter has a tension element which is connected to the vehicle frame via a holding element held on the vehicle frame, and that a holding counter-element is provided on the tension element at a distance from the holding element, which counter-element rests or strikes against the fork steerer tube when the pivoting-angle brake or limiter is activated.
In the land vehicle equipped in accordance with this alternative solution, the pivoting-angle brake is mounted between the top tube and the fork steerer tube. In this case, the pivoting-in angle brake can also be protected under a cover and arranged virtually invisibly.
In order to accommodate the tension element virtually invisibly in the interior of the land vehicle according to the invention, it may be advantageous if the tension element is guided or arranged in the interior of the vehicle frame. In this case, the tension element can be guided or arranged in the tube interior of the head tube, of the down tube and/or of the top tube, for example.
To ensure that the tension element does not further impair the steering movements at the vehicle fork while the tension element is not tensioned between the holding element and the holding counter-element, it is advantageous if the tension element is designed to be flexible in shape.
In order to be able to mount the holding element in the interior of the vehicle frame in a simple manner, it is advantageous if the holding element can be fixed in the interior of the vehicle frame by means of a quick-release fastener.
Here, a preferred embodiment according to the invention envisages that the quick-release fastener has a shank which is integrally connected to the holding element and which carries a flange, and that the holding element can be fastened in an insertion opening, in particular a keyhole-shaped insertion opening, in the vehicle frame by means of the flange, preferably in a releasable manner. The quick-release fastener provided for fastening the holding element thus has a shank which is integrally connected to the holding element. This shank carries a flange by means of which the holding element can be fastened in an insertion opening, in particular a keyhole-shaped insertion opening, in the vehicle frame. Since the holding element will be exposed to great tensile forces, especially when the tension element is tensioned between the holding element and the holding counter-element, it may be sufficient if the flange which can be fastened in the keyhole-shaped insertion opening is produced from magnetic material. If the flange is produced from magnetic material, it is held securely and sufficiently firmly in the insertion opening in the vehicle frame in the no-load position.
A particularly simple but sufficiently stable embodiment according to the invention envisages that the holding counter-element is designed as a clamp which is preferably adjustable and fixable on the tension element. Since the clamp is preferably adjustable and can be fixed on the tension element in the selected position, the maximum pivoting-in angle of the pivoting-angle limiter according to the invention can also be changed and defined subsequently.
To ensure that the tension element with the pivoting-angle limiter used according to the invention can be designed to be sufficiently stable but nevertheless flexible in shape, it is advantageous if the tension element is designed as a cable, in particular as a wire or plastic cable. Here, a preferred embodiment according to the invention envisages that the tension element designed as a plastic cable is produced from PE-UHMW (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene).
A particularly simple and compact embodiment according to the invention envisages that the tension element passes through a fastening opening in the fork steerer tube, and that the holding counter-element engages on the partial region of the tension element which projects into the tube interior of the fork steerer tube.
In order to make the steering movements more difficult when the pivoting-in angle at the vehicle fork comes into the range of the defined maximum value without abruptly ending the pivoting-in movement when the maximum pivoting-in angle is reached, it is advantageous if at least one damping element is provided in the operative connection between the holding element and the holding counter-element, which damping element becomes effective from a defined tensile force acting on the tension element.
Here, a particularly advantageous embodiment according to the invention envisages that at least one rubber- or spring-elastic damping element is provided between the holding element and a partial region of the tension element which projects beyond the holding element, and/or between the fork steerer tube and the holding counter-element. If the damping element is of rubber- or spring-elastic design, it is also possible to dispense with an oil/grease damper.
In order to reduce the risk of the single-track land vehicle falling when the maximum pivoting-in angle is reached, because the steering movements are abruptly prevented by the pivoting angle limiter, and in order to prevent components of the land vehicle according to the invention from being damaged as a result, it is advantageous if a predetermined breaking point is provided in the operative connection between the holding element and the holding counter-element, which breaking point is activated when a maximum tensile force acting on the tension element is exceeded.
For this purpose, a preferred exemplary embodiment according to the invention envisages that the tension element has a predetermined breaking point in its partial region arranged between the holding element and the holding counter-element, which breaking point breaks when a maximum tensile force acting on the tension element is exceeded.
Further developments according to the invention will be found in the following description in conjunction with the claims and the drawing. The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment.
In the drawings:
The pivoting-angle brake or limiter 6 of the bicycle 1 illustrated here has a tension element 7, which is here designed to be flexible in shape. The tension element 7 can be designed as a chain or can have at least two subsections which are connected to one another in an articulated manner. However, the embodiment shown here, in which the tension element 7 is designed as a cable and, in particular, as a wire or plastic cable, is preferred. Here, a tension element 7 designed, for example, as a plastic cable can be produced from PE-UHMW (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene). The tension element is connected to the vehicle frame 2 via a holding element 8, which is held in the interior of the vehicle frame 2, preferably in a fixed manner. A holding counter-element 9 is provided on the tension element 7 at a distance from the holding element 8, which counter-element rests or strikes against the vehicle fork 5 and, in particular, against the fork steerer tube 4 thereof, at least when the maximum pivoting-in angle is reached.
Since the tension element 7 of the pivoting-angle limiter 6 is here designed to be flexible in shape, the tension element 7 does not further impede the steering movements of the rider at the vehicle fork 5 as long as the pivoting-angle limiter is not activated and the tension element 7 is not tensioned between the holding element 8 and the holding counter-element 9. If the pivoting-angle limiter 6 of the land vehicle 1 reaches the defined maximum pivoting-in angle of the vehicle fork 5 relative to the vehicle frame 2, the tension element 7 is tensioned between the holding element 8 and the holding counter-element 9 in such a way that further pivoting in of the vehicle fork 5 is no longer readily possible. In this case, the holding counter-element 9 engaging on the tension element 7 rests or strikes against the vehicle fork 5 and, in particular, against the fork steerer tube 4 thereof.
In the detail longitudinal section shown in
The holding element 8 is held in the interior of the vehicle frame 2 and here in the tube interior of a down tube 11 of the vehicle frame 2, preferably in a fixed manner. Since the tension element 7 is guided in the tube interior of the head tube 3 and of the down tube 11, the components of the pivoting-angle limiter 6 can be accommodated virtually invisibly in the interior of the bicycle 1.
Looking at
A holding counter-element 9 is provided on the tension element 7 at a distance from the holding element 8, which counter-element rests or strikes against the vehicle fork 5 and, in particular, against the fork steerer tube 4 thereof, at least when the maximum pivoting-in angle is reached.
Since the tension element 7 of the pivoting-angle limiter 6 is designed to be flexible in shape, the tension element 7 does not further impede the steering movements of the rider at the vehicle fork 5 as long as the tension element 7 is not tensioned between the holding element 8 and the holding counter-element 9. If the pivoting-angle limiter 6 of the land vehicle 1, which in this case is designed as a bicycle, reaches the defined maximum pivoting-in angle of the vehicle fork 5 relative to the vehicle frame 2, the tension element 7 is tensioned between the holding element 8 and the holding counter-element 9 in such a way that further pivoting in of the vehicle fork 5 is no longer readily possible. In this case, the holding counter-element 9 engaging on the tension element 7 rests or strikes against the vehicle fork 5 and, in particular, against the fork steerer tube 4 thereof.
In the detail longitudinal section shown in
The holding element 8 is held in the interior of the vehicle frame 2 and here in the tube interior of a down tube 11 of the vehicle frame 2, preferably in a fixed manner. Since the tension element 7 is guided in the interior of the vehicle frame 2 and, in this case, in the tube interior of the head tube 3 and of the down tube 11, the components of the pivoting-angle limiter 6 can be accommodated virtually invisibly in the interior of the bicycle 1 serving as a land vehicle.
The exemplary embodiment illustrated in more detail in
In
A predetermined breaking point can be provided in the operative connection between the holding element 8 and the holding counter-element 9, which predetermined breaking point is activated when a tensile force acting on the tension element 7 is exceeded. This predetermined breaking point can be provided, for example, in the partial region of the tension element 7 which is arranged between the holding element 8 and the holding counter-element 9. However, it is also possible for the tension element 7 to be released from the holding counter-element 9 or from the holding element 8 and its slide 16 when a defined maximum tensile force is exceeded, the connection point between the tension element 7 and the holding element 8 or the holding counter-element 9 thus forming the predetermined breaking point.
In the detail longitudinal section in
In the land vehicle illustrated in
In contrast, an alternative embodiment shown in the partially sectioned detailed view according to
1 bicycle
2 vehicle frame
3 head tube
4 fork steerer tube
5 vehicle fork
6 pivoting-angle limiter
7 tension
8 holding element
9 holding counter-element
10 fastening opening
11 down tube
12 damping element
13 helical spring
14 base
15 anchor element
16 slide
17 top tube
18 upper steering head bearing
19 lower steering head bearing
20 running or front wheel
21 insertion opening
22 flange
23 shank
24 damper
25 first chamber
26 second chamber
27 piston
28 locking element
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
102020113430.4 | May 2020 | DE | national |