Cycle gear selector

In combination with a gear selector for a cycle assisted by an electric motor and a gear mechanism wherein rotation of the input member of said gear mechanism is caused to cease during a change of gears caused by manual operation of the gear selector, the gear selector including a body member secured to the frame of the cycle, a manually operable lever pivotally mounted to the body member and mechanically connected to the gear mechanism whereby movement of the lever relative to the body member causes a change in gear ratio between input and output members of said gear mechanism, a cam movable with the lever relative to the body member, a cam follower engaging the cam and being movable with movement of the lever to first positions whereby gears in the gear mechanism are caused to be engaged in varying gear ratios, the cam follower further being movable with movement of the lever to second positions whereby the gears in the gear mechanism are disengaged from effective mechanical contact with ground-engaging rotary portions of the cycle, an electrical energization circuit including the motor and a source of electrical energy, the improvement comprising:

• switch means carried by the body member for controlling the flow of electrical current within the energization circuit, the switch means including electrical contact members normally positioned to permit the flow of electrical energy through the energization circuit, at least one of the electrical contact members being displaced by the movement of the cam follower when said cam follower moves into one of said second positions to cause interruption of the flow of electrical energy through the energization circuit, said displaced electrical contact member returning to normal position when the cam follower returns to one of said first positions, movement of the lever effecting a gear ratio change in the gear mechanism and at the same time sequentially interrupting and then re-establishing the flow of electrical energy to the energization circuit.