Releasably locking device for a bicycle component, in particular for a wheel, and clamping element for the same

Abstract

A releasably locking device for securing a bicycle component to a bicycle frame, and a clamping element for such a device are described. The device comprises a traction rod associated with a rotation cam extending in a housing. The rotation of the cam is driven by a lever-operated manual actuation system between a clamping operating position and a release position. According to the invention, the rotation cam comprises two ends that can be commanded into synchronous rotation through said lever-operated manual actuation system.

1 . A releasably locking device for securing a bicycle component to a bicycle frame having aligned holes comprising:
 a traction rod configured to pass through said aligned holes of the component and of the bicycle frame, the traction rod having a first end equipped with an abutment widening at one end of said aligned holes and a second end having a through hole; and   a clamping element comprising:
 a housing having an abutment surface at the other one of said aligned holes, and two aligned through openings in a side of wall thereof; 
 a rotation cam extending between the through openings of the housing and the through hole of the second end of the traction rod, and comprising two end portions that can be commanded into synchronous rotation; and 
 a lever-operated manual actuation system that engages the end portions of the cam, commands into synchronous rotation the end portions of the cam—,—and that drives the cam between a clamping operating position wherein the traction rod forces the abutment widening and the abutment surface towards each other, and a release position wherein the traction rod forces the abutment widening and the abutment surface apart. 
   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the rotation cam comprises an eccentric central portion, two cylindrical portions adjacent to the eccentric portion, and said two end portions. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the clamping element comprises a pair of centering rings, each placed between said cylindrical portions of the rotation cam and said aligned openings of the side wall of the housing. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said lever-operated manual actuation system comprises a pair of levers, a first end of each lever and a respective end portion of the rotation cam being coupled for integrally rotating. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the levers are curved and have second ends closer to each other than the first ends when the first ends are matingly engaged to the end portions of the rotation cam. 
   
   
       6 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said lever-operated manual actuation system comprises a fork lever having at least two branches, each branch of the fork lever and a respective end portion of the rotation cam being coupled for integrally rotating. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein a connection between the at least two branches of the fork lever has a greater yield than a yield of the branches of the fork lever. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 11  wherein a locking pin extends between a pair of holes formed in an intermediate position of the branches of the single fork lever, the ends of the locking pin being riveted. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the single fork lever is rigid, a hole of a branch of the lever configured for coupling for integrally rotating with an end portion of the rotation cam being sized for the passage of the rotation cam and further comprising a means for axially securing the rotation cam to the single fork lever. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein end portions of the rotation cam have different cross-section sizes. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the axial securing means comprise at least one peripheral groove for housing a locking Seeger ring at least one end portion of the rotation cam. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the axial locking means further comprise an abutment edge at an end portion of the rotation cam. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the end portions of the rotation cam and the lever actuation system are coupled for integrally rotating using a means for coupling. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the means for coupling comprise a shape-fitted coupling selected from the group consisting of: a knurling, a polygonal cross section, and a circular cross section with a flattened portion. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the abutment widening at the first end of the traction rod comprises a nut-like clamping element screwed onto a threading at the first end of the traction rod. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the bicycle component is a wheel hub. 
   
   
       22 . A clamping element for a device for securing a bicycle component to a bicycle frame, comprising:
 a housing having a surface for abutment against an abutment wall and two aligned through openings in a side wall thereof;   a rotation cam extending between the through openings of the housing and a through hole of an end of a traction rod, and comprising two end portions of different cross-sectional share than an eccentric cam portion of the cam and that can be commanded into synchronous rotation; and   a lever-operated manual actuation system that commands into synchronous rotation the end portions of the cam and that drives the rotation cam between a clamping operating position wherein the traction rod forces the housing of the clamping element into abutment against said abutment wall, and a release position wherein the traction rod forces the housing of the clamping element away from said abutment wall.   
   
   
       23 . A releasably locking device for securing a bicycle component to a bicycle frame having aligned holes comprising:
 a traction rod configured to pass through said aligned holes of the component and of the bicycle frame, the traction rod having a first end equipped with an abutment widening at one of said aligned holes and a second end having a through hole; and   a clamping element comprising:
 a housing having an abutment surface at the other one of said aligned holes, and two aligned through openings in a side wall thereof; 
 a rotation cam extending between the through openings of the housing and the through hole of the second end of the traction rod, said rotation cam comprising:
 two end portions that can be commanded into synchronous rotation; 
 an eccentric central portion; and 
 two cylindrical portions adjacent to the eccentric portion; and 
 
 a lever-operated manual actuation system that drives the rotation of the end portions of the cam and drives the cam between a clamping operating position wherein the traction rod forces the abutment widening and the abutment surface towards each other, and a release position wherein the traction rod forces the abutment widening and the abutment surface apart. 
   
   
   
       24 . A releasably locking device for securing a bicycle component to a bicycle frame having aligned holes comprising:
 a traction rod configured to pass through said aligned holes of the component and of the bicycle frame, the traction rod having a first end equipped with an abutment widening at one of said aligned holes and a second end having a through hole; and   a clamping element comprising:
 a housing having an abutment surface at the other one of said aligned holes, and two aligned through openings in a side wall thereof; 
 a rotation cam extending between the through openings of the housing and the through hole of the second end of the traction rod, said rotation cam comprising two end portions that can be commanded into synchronous rotation; and 
 a lever-operated manual actuation system that drives the rotation of the end portions of the cam and drives the cam between a clamping operating position wherein the traction rod forces the abutment widening and the abutment surface towards each other, and a release position wherein the traction rod forces the abutment widening and the abutment surface apart, said lever-operated manual actuation system comprising a pair of levers, a first end of each lever and a respective end portion of the rotation cam being coupled for integrally rotating. 
   
   
   
       25 . A releasably locking device for securing a bicycle component to a bicycle frame having aligned holes comprising:
 a traction rod configured to pass through said aligned holes of the component and of the bicycle frame, the traction rod having a first end equipped with an abutment widening at one of said aligned holes and a second end having a through hole; and   a clamping element comprising:
 a housing having an abutment surface at another one of said aligned holes, and two aligned through openings in a side wall thereof; 
 a rotation cam extending between the through openings of the housing and the through hole of the second end of the traction rod, said rotation cam comprising two end portions with identical cross section shape that can be commanded into synchronous rotation; and 
 a lever-operated manual actuation system that commands the rotation of the end portions of the cam and drives the cam between a clamping operating position wherein the traction rod forces the abutment widening and the abutment surface towards each other, and a release position wherein the traction rod forces the abutment widening and the abutment surface apart, said lever-operated manual actuation system comprising a fork lever having at least two branches, each branch) of the fork lever and a respective end portion of the rotation cam being coupled for integrally rotating. 
   
   
   
       26 . A releasably locking device for securing a bicycle component to a bicycle frame having aligned holes comprising:
 a traction rod configured to pass through said aligned holes of the component and of the bicycle frame, the traction rod having a first end equipped with an abutment widening at one end of said aligned holes and a second end having a through hole; and   a clamping element comprising:
 a housing having an abutment surface at the other one of said aligned holes, and two aligned through openings in a side of wall thereof; 
 a rotation cam extending between the through openings of the housing and the through hole of the second end of the traction rod, said rotation cam comprising two end portions that can be commanded into the synchronous rotation, wherein the end portions of the rotation cam and a lever actuation system are coupled for integrally rotating; 
 a lever-operated manual actuation system that engages the end portions of the cam, commands the rotation the end portions of the cam—,—and that drives the cam between a clamping operating position wherein the traction rod forces the abutment widening and the abutment surface towards each other, and a release position wherein the traction rod forces the abutment widening and the abutment surface apart. 
   
   
   
       27 . A quick-connect for a bicycle comprising:
 a traction rod comprising a first end that engages a nut, and a second end within a housing and defining a hole therethrough that aligns with the corresponding aligned openings defined by the housing; and   a cam having an eccentric central portion located within the hole, the cam having first and second end portions having a different cross section than the eccentric central portion extending from the eccentric central portion through the aligned openings, each end portion engaging a corresponding end of a first lever part and a second lever part of a lever actuation system;   wherein movement of the lever actuation system about an axis of the cam turns the end portions, which in turn cams the cam eccentric central portion within the hole, which in turn moves the traction rod second end within the housing, which in turn moves the housing closer to or further from the nut depending upon the direction of the lever movement.   
   
   
       28 . A quick-connect for a bicycle comprising:
 a traction rod that extends through a hub of the wheel and through openings defined in the fork, comprising a first end that threadingly engages a nut, and a second end within a housing and defining a hole therethrough that aligns with corresponding aligned openings defined by the housing; and   a cam having an eccentric central portion located within the hole, the cam having first and second end portions having a different cross section than the eccentric central portion extending from the eccentric central portion through the aligned openings, each end portion engaging a corresponding end of a first lever part and a second lever part that are joined to form a lever actuation system;   wherein movement of the lever actuation system about an axis of the cam turns the end portions, which in turn cams the cam eccentric central portion within the hole, which in turn moves the traction rod second end within the housing, which in turn moves the housing closer to or further from the nut depending upon the direction of the system movement.