US Patent 7131350 Bicycle stem with stress reducing handlebar clamp

A bicycle stem and front loading handlebar clamp having a pair of C-shaped cradles provided with handlebar contacting surfaces which have an edge to edge maximum extent in the direction of the handlebar greater than the inside diameter of the cradles and wherein the cradles are characterized by the absence of straight lines and sharp corners.. Handlebar clamping stress concentrations are reduced by the configuration of the contact surfaces and further by a configuration of a moveable one of the cradles somewhat in the form of a laterally elongated cross with smooth curves at the ends and at the corners of the cross.