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US 5,964,123 AGranted
Twist-grip shifter bicycle transmissions
AssigneeMannesmann Sachs AG
InventorMarkus Arbeiter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shifter for the actuation of bicycle transmissions designed to be installed primarily on a handlebar of a bicycle. The shifter can have a stationary housing and a rotational housing that are connected together to form a single assembled unit. A traction cable having a nipple on one end can be inserted into t he first end of a passageway in the single assembled unit. The passageway is sized such that the nipple and the traction cable may both pass through the passageway. The nipple end and traction cable can be pushed through the passageway until the nipple end comes out of the other end of the passageway. The nipple can then be fastened to the rotational housing without having to dismantle the single assembled unit.
Claims20
A shifter, suitable for installation on a tube end to actuate a transmission on a bicycle, said shifter comprising:
- a stationary housing being configured to be connected to a tube end;
- said stationary housing having a longitudinal axis;
- a rotational housing being configured to be rotated by a hand of a rider;
- said rotational housing being fixed in position axially in relation to said stationary housing;
- said stationary housing and said rotational housing being connected together to form a single assembled unit;
- a traction cable being configured to be disposed in said stationary housing;
- said traction cable comprising a nipple;
- a passageway being disposed in said single assembled unit and configured to receive a traction cable;
- said passageway being configured to permit the insertion of said traction cable;
- said passageway comprising a first exit and a second exit disposed in said single assembled unit;
- said first exit being configured and disposed to permit receiving of said traction cable and said nipple into said passageway;
- said second exit being configured and disposed to permit exiting of said traction cable and said nipple from said passageway;
- said passageway and said exits being sized to permit said nipple and said traction cable to be pushed through said passageway and said exits;
- and
- said passageway and said second exit being configured and disposed to permit said nipple to be fastened to said rotational housing without having to dismantle said single assembled unit.
12 more elements
A shifter, suitable for installation on a tube end to actuate a transmission on a bicycle, said shifter comprising:
- a stationary housing being configured to be connected to a tube end;
- said stationary housing having a longitudinal axis;
- a rotational housing being configured to be rotated by a hand of a rider;
- said rotational housing being fixed in position axially in relation to said stationary housing;
- said stationary housing and said rotational housing being connected together to form a single assembled unit;
- said single assembled unit comprising a first side and a second side;
- said first side being disposed opposite said second side;
- said first side being configured to be disposed upon installation on a bicycle toward a tube end;
- said second side being configured to be disposed upon installation on a bicycle away from a tube end;
- said rotational housing having an outer surface;
- said outer surface comprising a circular circumference;
- said at least one lever comprising a first lever and a second lever;
- each of said first lever and said second lever being disposed to extend in a substantially radial direction away from the longitudinal axis of said stationary housing beyond the circular circumference of said rotational housing;
- said first lever being disposed about the longitudinal axis of said stationary housing;
- said first lever being configured to rotate substantially about the longitudinal axis of said stationary housing;
- said first lever being disposed adjacent said first side;
- said first lever being configured to be actuated by an index finger of a rider;
- said second lever being disposed about the longitudinal axis of said stationary housing;
- said second lever being configured to rotate substantially about the longitudinal axis of said stationary housing;
- said second lever being disposed adjacent said second side;
- and
- said second lever being configured to be actuated by a thumb of a rider.
19 more elements
A method of attaching a traction cable to a shifter, suitable for installation on a tube end to actuate a transmission on a bicycle, said shifter comprising:
- a stationary housing being configured to be connected to a tube end;
- said stationary housing having a longitudinal axis;
- a rotational housing being configured to be rotated by a hand of a rider;
- said rotational housing being fixed in position axially in relation to said stationary housing;
- said stationary housing and said rotational housing being connected together to form a single assembled unit;
- a traction cable being configured to be disposed in said stationary housing;
- said traction cable comprising a nipple;
- said nipple being disposed on an end of said traction cable;
- a passageway being disposed in said single assembled unit and configured to receive a traction cable;
- said passageway comprising a first exit and a second exit disposed in said single assembled unit;
- said first exit being configured and disposed to permit receiving of said traction cable and said nipple into said passageway;
- said second exit being configured and disposed to permit exiting of said traction cable and said nipple from said passageway;
- said passageway and said exits being sized to permit said nipple and said traction cable to be pushed through said passageway and said exits;
- and said passageway and said second exit being configured and disposed to permit said nipple to be fastened to said rotational housing without having to dismantle said single assembled unit;
- said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing the nipple into the first exit of the passageway by pushing on the traction cable;
- pushing the nipple with the traction cable with the nipple end first into the passageway;
- continuing the pushing of the traction cable until the nipple is deflected;
- pushing the traction cable until the nipple projects out of the second exit in the rotational housing;
- and
- fastening the nipple to the rotational housing without having to dismantle the single assembled unit.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.