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US 6,647,823 B2Granted
Bicycle control device
AssigneeShimano Inc.
InventorsAkira Tsumiyama, Nobukatsu Hara
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle control device is disclosed having a control lever that is operable in a first direction to operate the brake control mechanism, a second direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the pulling direction and a third direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the release direction. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, when viewed from the perspective of a rider on the bicycle, the first direction is the direction of movement of the lever toward the handlebar. The second direction is the direction of movement of the control lever downward and the third direction is the direction of movement of the control lever upward. In a more preferred embodiment, the second and third directions are perpendicular to the first direction.
Claims34
A bicycle control device, comprising:
- a brake control mechanism;
- a shift control mechanism having a pulling direction and a release direction;
- a control lever operatively connected to the brake control mechanism and the shift control mechanism;
- wherein the control lever is operable in a brake operating plane to operate the brake control mechanism;
- and
- wherein the control lever is operable in a shifting plane to operate the shift control mechanism in the pulling direction and in the release direction.
3 more elements
A bicycle control device, comprising:
- a brake control mechanism;
- a shift control mechanism having a pulling direction and a release direction;
- a control lever operatively connected to the brake control mechanism and the shift control mechanism;
- and
- wherein the control lever is operable in a first direction to operate the brake control mechanism, a second direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the pulling direction and a third direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the release direction.
2 more elements
A bicycle control device attachable to the bicycle handlebar, the bicycle control device comprising:
- a brake control mechanism;
- a shift control mechanism having a pulling direction and a release direction;
- a control lever operatively connected to the brake control mechanism and the shift control mechanism;
- wherein the control lever is pivotable about a first axis to operate the brake control mechanism;
- and
- wherein the control lever is pivotable about a second axis to operate the shift control mechanism in the pulling direction and in the release direction.
3 more elements
A bicycle control device, comprising:
- a brake control mechanism having a bracket, a brake lever base pivotably connected to the bracket, and a cable hook connected to the brake lever base, the cable hook configured to receive a brake cable;
- a shift control mechanism having:
- a support shaft fixedly connected to the brake lever base of the brake control mechanism;
- a pulling member rotatable in a pulling direction and in a release direction about the support shaft, the pulling member biased in the release direction and configured to receive a gear-shifting cable, wherein the gear-shifting cable is pulled when the pulling member is rotated in the pulling direction and released when the pulling member is rotated in the release direction;
- a winding mechanism comprising a winding latch and a winding pawl biased toward the winding latch and configured to cooperate with the winding latch to rotate the pulling member in a pulling direction;
- and
- a release and hold mechanism comprising a first latching plate having a first latching segment, a second latching plate having a second latching segment, a positioning pawl biased toward the first latching segment and configured to engage with the first latching segment, an interrupting pawl configured to engage with the second latching segment, wherein the interrupting pawl and positioning pawl alternately engage the corresponding second latching segment and first latching segment when the pulling member operates in the release direction;
- and
- a control lever operatively connected to the brake control mechanism and the shift control mechanism wherein the control lever is operable in a first direction to operate the brake control mechanism, a second direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the pulling direction and a third direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the release direction.
6 more elements
A method of operating a shift control mechanism and a brake control mechanism, comprising the steps of:
- providing a shift control mechanism operative in a pulling direction and a release direction, a brake control mechanism and a control lever;
- actuating the control lever in a first direction to operate the brake control mechanism;
- actuating the control lever in a second direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the pulling direction;
- and
- actuating the control lever in a third direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the release direction.
2 more elements
A bicycle control device, comprising:
- a brake control mechanism;
- a shift control mechanism having an operating plate, the operating plate operable in a pulling direction and a release direction;
- a control lever operatively connected to the brake control mechanism and the shift control mechanism;
- wherein the control lever is operable in a brake operating plane to operate the brake control mechanism;
- wherein the control lever is operable in a shifting plane to operate the shift control mechanism in the pulling direction and in the release direction;
- and
- wherein in a neutral position, the operating plate is held stationary using a detent assembly.
4 more elements
A bicycle control device, comprising:
- a brake control mechanism;
- a shift control mechanism having a pulling direction and a release direction;
- a bearing assembly operatively connected to the shift control mechanism to minimize friction and smoothly operate the shift control mechanism in the pulling and release directions;
- a control lever operatively connected to the brake control mechanism and the shift control mechanism;
- wherein the control lever is operable in a brake operating plane to operate the brake control mechanism;
- and
- wherein the control lever is operable in a shifting plane to operate the shift control mechanism in the pulling direction and in the release direction.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.