Bicycles with electronic shifting systems and methods
AssigneeSram, LLC
InventorBrian Jordan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electronic shifting systems, mechanisms and methods of using and/or controlling the systems to operate a bicycle that allows front and rear gear changer mechanisms to be controlled with only two switches. The switches can be arranged so that each hand is only required to operate one switch to shift the bicycle.
Claims10
An electronic shifting system for a bicycle, comprising:
- a first shift unit including:
- a first brake support,
- a first brake lever pivotally mounted to the first brake support, and
- a first switch mechanism mounted to the first brake support;
- a second shift unit including:
- a second brake support, the first and second brake supports configured to be mounted separately to a bicycle handlebar,
- a second brake lever pivotally mounted to the second brake support, and
- a second switch mechanism mounted to the second brake support;
- and
- a control unit in communication with and responsive to first and second signals from the first and second switch mechanisms, respectively,
- wherein actuating the first switch mechanism sends the first signal to the control unit which is configured, in response to the first signal, to send a first command signal to a rear gear shift mechanism to perform an upshift, and wherein actuating the second switch mechanism sends the second signal to the control unit which is configured, in response to the second signal, to send a second command signal to the rear gear shift mechanism to perform a downshift.
A method of shifting a bicycle with an electronic gear shifting system, wherein the electronic gear shifting system comprises a first shift unit including a first brake support, a first brake lever pivotally mounted to the first brake support and a first switch mechanism mounted to the first brake support;
- a second shift unit including a second brake support, a second brake lever pivotally mounted to the second brake support and a second switch mechanism mounted to the second brake support;
- a control unit in communication with and responsive to first and second signals from the first and second switch mechanisms, respectively;
- and a rear gear shift mechanism in communication with and responsive to command signals from the control unit, comprising:
- actuating the first switch mechanism to perform an upshift with the rear gear shift mechanism;
- and
- actuating the second switch mechanism to perform a downshift with the rear gear shift mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.