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US 7,882,763 B2Granted
Shift control device for a bicycle transmission
AssigneeShimano Inc.
InventorTatsuya Kawakami
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shift control device for a bicycle transmission comprises a mounting member adapted to mount the shift control device to a bicycle; a first lever operatively coupled to the mounting member such that the first lever stops at a plurality of positions corresponding to gear positions of the bicycle transmission, wherein the first lever moves in a first plane; and a second lever operatively coupled to the mounting member for movement in a second plane between a rest position and an operating position such that the second lever returns to the rest position after moving to the operating position. In this embodiment, the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane.
Claims78
A shift control device for a bicycle transmission comprising:
- a mounting member adapted to mount the shift control device to a bicycle;
- a first lever operatively coupled to the mounting member, wherein the first lever moves in a first plane;
- a second lever operatively coupled to the mounting member for movement in a second plane between a rest position and an operating position such that the second lever returns to the rest position after moving to the operating position;
- wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane;
- a positioning unit that rotates to and is maintained in a plurality of positions corresponding to gear positions of the bicycle;
- and
- a positioning member that moves relative to the second lever and that is controlled by the second lever to operate the positioning unit;
- wherein the first lever is operatively coupled to the positioning unit so that the first lever is maintained in a plurality of positions corresponding to gear positions of the bicycle transmission in addition to beginning and end positions of a range of motion of the first lever, wherein the beginning position is different from the end position.
5 more elements
A shift control device for a bicycle transmission comprising:
- a mounting member adapted to mount the shift control device to a bicycle;
- a first lever operatively coupled to the mounting member;
- a second lever operatively coupled to the mounting member for movement between a rest position and an operating position such that the second lever returns to the rest position after moving to the operating position;
- a positioning unit that rotates to and is maintained in a plurality of positions corresponding to gear positions of the bicycle;
- and
- a motion limiting member operatively coupled to the second lever to limit motion of the positioning unit during operation of the second lever;
- wherein the first lever is operatively coupled to the positioning unit so that the first lever is maintained in a plurality of positions corresponding to gear positions of the bicycle transmission in addition to beginning and end positions of a range of motion of the first lever, wherein the beginning position is different from the end position.
4 more elements
A shift control device for a bicycle transmission comprising:
- a mounting member adapted to mount the shift control device to a bicycle handlebar;
- a first lever operatively coupled to the mounting member;
- a second lever operatively coupled to the mounting member for movement between a rest position and an operating position such that the second lever returns to the rest position after moving to the operating position;
- a positioning unit that rotates to and is maintained in a plurality of positions corresponding to gear positions of the bicycle transmission in response to movement of one of the first lever and the second lever;
- wherein the first lever and the second lever are coupled to the mounting member such that the first lever and the second lever are located above the bicycle handlebar when the shift control device is mounted to the handlebar;
- and
- wherein the first lever is operatively coupled to the positioning unit so that the first lever is maintained in a plurality of positions corresponding to gear positions of the bicycle transmission in addition to beginning and end positions of a range of motion of the first lever, wherein the beginning position is different from the end position.
4 more elements
A bicycle control apparatus comprising:
- a mounting member adapted to mount the bicycle control apparatus to a bicycle;
- a positioning unit coupled to the mounting member for moving to a plurality of positions;
- and
- a positioning member that maintains the positioning unit in each of the plurality of positions,
- wherein the positioning member comprises a material that deforms in response to excessive force applied between the positioning member and the positioning unit to release the positioning unit from a maintained position;
- a first lever operatively coupled to the positioning unit so that the positioning unit moves in response to movement of the first lever;
- a second lever operatively coupled to the positioning unit so that the positioning unit moves in response to movement of the second lever;
- wherein the positioning unit moves in a first positioning unit direction in response to movement of the first lever;
- wherein the positioning unit moves in a second positioning unit direction opposite the first positioning unit direction in response to movement of the second lever;
- wherein the first lever moves in a first lever direction to move the positioning unit in the first positioning unit direction;
- wherein the second lever moves in a second lever direction to move the positioning unit in the second positioning unit direction;
- and
- wherein the first lever direction is the same as the second lever direction.
10 more elements
A shift control device for a bicycle transmission comprising:
- a mounting member adapted to mount the shift control device to a bicycle;
- a positioning unit coupled to the mounting member for moving to a plurality of positions;
- a first lever that moves in a first lever direction to move the positioning unit in a first gear position direction;
- a second lever that moves in a second lever direction to initiate movement of the positioning unit in a second gear position direction opposite the first gear position direction;
- wherein the first lever direction is the same as the second lever direction;
- a motion allowing member coupled to the mounting unit to allow movement of the positioning unit in the second gear position direction;
- and
- a motion limiting member retained to the second lever and moving in the second lever direction to limit motion of the positioning unit in the second gear position direction during operation of the second lever;
- wherein the motion allowing member moves relative to the second lever and is controlled by the second lever to initiate movement of the positioning unit.
6 more elements
A bicycle control apparatus comprising:
- a mounting member adapted to be mounted to a bicycle;
- a positioning unit coupled to the mounting member for moving to a plurality of positions;
- a positioning member that maintains the positioning unit in each of the plurality of positions;
- wherein the positioning member moves along a first path between an engagement position,
- where the positioning member engages the positioning unit, and a disengagement position where the positioning member is disengaged from the positioning unit;
- wherein the positioning unit causes the positioning member to move along a second path that is different from the first path;
- and
- wherein movement of the positioning member along the second path includes movement of the positioning member other than rotation of the positioning member.
5 more elements
A bicycle control apparatus comprising:
- a mounting member adapted to be mounted to a bicycle;
- a positioning unit coupled to the mounting member for moving to a plurality of positions;
- a positioning member that maintains the positioning unit in each of the plurality of positions;
- wherein the positioning member moves along a first path between an engagement position,
- where the positioning member engages the positioning unit, and a disengagement position where the positioning member is disengaged from the positioning unit;
- wherein the positioning member moves along a second path that is different from the first path;
- wherein movement of the positioning member along the second path includes movement of the positioning member other than rotation of the positioning member;
- wherein the positioning member rotates around an axis;
- and
- wherein the axis moves when the positioning member moves along the second path.
7 more elements
A bicycle control apparatus comprising:
- a mounting member adapted to be mounted to a bicycle;
- a positioning unit coupled to the mounting member for moving to a plurality of positions;
- a positioning member that maintains the positioning unit in each of the plurality of positions;
- wherein the positioning member moves along a first path between an engagement position,
- where the positioning member engages the positioning unit, and a disengagement position where the positioning member is disengaged from the positioning unit;
- wherein the positioning member moves along a second path that is different from the first path;
- wherein movement of the positioning member along the second path includes movement of the positioning member other than rotation of the positioning member;
- wherein the positioning member includes a projection that engages a corresponding opening disposed with the mounting member;
- and
- wherein the positioning member rotates around the projection to move between the engagement position and the disengagement position.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.