Cycle computer system and protective cable
OwnerConstant G. Vlakancicinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle brake or derailleur cable including at least one signal transfer pathway, such as a pair of electrical conductors or a fiber optic. In one embodiment the cable structural members are electrically conductive and form at least one signal transfer pathway. Use of the cable with a cycle computer permits the wires between a wheel rotation sensor and the computer to be protected from damage and provides for an improved appearance.
Claims20
A cycle computer system for use on a bicycle having a brake of the type wherein a pair of opposing brake pads are pressed against a wheel rim when a brake lever is operated, the brake being connected to the brake lever via a cable assembly, the system comprising:
- a magnetic sensor incorporated into one of the brake pads and producing an output signal proportional to a rate of change of a varying magnetic field;
- at least one magnet being located within the wheel rim such that when the wheel rotates, the at least one magnet will pass between the brake pads thereby exposing the sensor to a varying magnetic field proportional to a rate of wheel rotation;
- a pair of electrical conductors incorporated into the cable assembly, one end of the conductors being connected to receive the sensor output signal;
- a cycle computer connected to the other end of the conductors for receiving the sensor output signal, the cycle computer converting the signal to a manually selected function of wheel rotation and time, the computer including means for displaying the result of the conversion and for selecting said function.
A control cable of the type comprising an elongated flexible outer control member having an axial opening extending from a first end to a second end, and including a flexible inner control member being slidably disposed within the axial opening and extending beyond the first and second ends, the outer member being enclosed by a protective covering, the outer and inner control members being adapted for cooperating in receiving a force applied in the axial direction relative to one control member with respect to the other at one end and for transferring the force to the other end, said cable including communication means for transferring a signal from the first end to the second end, the communication means being enclosed by the protective covering.
A performance measurement and display system for use with a bicycle having mechanical control cables for brakes and/or derailleurs, said system comprising:
- rotation sensor means being operatively associated with a bicycle rotating member for producing a periodic output signal representative of bicycle operation;
- cycle computer means for receiving the output signal, and for converting it to a selected function of distance and time for display, said computer means being responsive to at least one function selection signal;
- display means connected to receive and display the selected function;
- manually operated signalling means for generating the at least one function selection signal;
- and
- output signal communication means having a sensor end connected to receive the sensor output signal and a computer end connected to deliver the signal to the computer means, said communication means being integrated into one of the mechanical control cables.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.