Folding steering column for collapsible bicycle, comprises upper and lower tubes connected via attachment, control ring and socket part

摘要

The column (20) comprises upper and lower tubes, an attachment (30) fitted onto and extending upwards in an axial direction from the lower tube (22), a control ring (40) and a socket part (50) extending downwards in an axial direction from the upper tube (21). The attachment includes a ring (33) and a number of ball holes (31) for locating a ball (32). The control ring includes a neck section (42) and a ring-shaped slanting guide (43) and can be resiliently secured to the ring part of the attachment. The socket part has grooves (51) in its periphery and when it is inserted into a cavity (34) in the attachment, the ball snap-fits into these grooves. When the control ring is not actuated, the neck section of this ring is in contact with the ball so that the latter extends slightly into the attachment cavity. When the control ring is pulled downwards and the socket part is pulled upwards, the ball protrudes slightly above the outer wall of the ring in the attachment and is in contact with the slanting guide, preventing the ball from falling out.