Bicycle operating device

• US 10,513,307 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2016
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Komatsu, Atsushi, Nishino, Takafumi, Nakajima, Takehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanders, Howard J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prather, Gregory T
• Application Number:
  US15/247,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20180057102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/00 Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/06 Levers
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 3/023 acting on fluid pressure systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems

Abstract

A base member includes a first end to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar and a second end opposite to the first end. An operating member is pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis. A hydraulic unit is coupled to the operating member to operate a bicycle component in response to an operation of the operating member. At least part of the hydraulic unit is disposed closer to the first end than the first pivot axis when viewed from a first direction parallel to the first pivot axis. A wireless communicator is to wirelessly transmit a signal to an additional component in response to the input operation. A power supply is electrically connected to the wireless communicator. At least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply is disposed closer to the second end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

Claims

1. A bicycle operating device comprising:

a base member including a first end to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar and a second end opposite to the first end;

an operating member pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis;

a first pivot shaft pivotally coupling the operating member to the base member about the first pivot axis;

a hydraulic unit coupled to the operating member to operate a bicycle component in response to an operation of the operating member, at least part of the hydraulic unit being disposed closer to the first end than the first pivot axis when viewed from a first direction parallel to the first pivot axis;

an electrical switch to be activated by an input operation from a user;

a wireless communicator electrically connected to the electrical switch to wirelessly transmit a signal to an additional component in response to the input operation; and

a power supply electrically connected to the wireless communicator to supply electrical power to the wireless communicator, at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply being disposed closer to the second end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction, wherein

the operating member includes a proximal portion connected to the first pivot shaft and a distal portion opposite to the proximal portion in a radial direction around the first pivot axis, and

the wireless communicator is disposed closer to the distal portion than to the proximal portion.

2. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the wireless communicator is disposed at the operating member, and

the power supply is disposed closer to the second end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

3. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the hydraulic unit comprises:

a cylinder bore; and

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, and

at least one of the cylinder bore and the piston that is positioned when the operating member is at a rest position is at least partly disposed closer to the first end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

4. The bicycle operating device according to claim 3, wherein

at least one of a whole of the cylinder bore and a whole of the piston that is positioned when the operating member is at the rest position is disposed closer to the first end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

5. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the hydraulic unit comprises:

a cylinder bore;

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore; and

a reservoir tank connected to the cylinder bore, and

at least one of the cylinder bore, the piston that is positioned when the operating member is at a rest position, and the reservoir tank is at least partly disposed closer to the first end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

6. The bicycle operating device according to claim 5, wherein

at least one of a whole of the cylinder bore, a whole of the piston that is positioned when the operating member is at the rest position, and a whole of the reservoir tank is disposed closer to the first end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

7. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the base member includes a pommel portion at the second end, and

the electrical switch is disposed at the pommel portion.

8. The bicycle operating device according to claim 7, wherein

the power supply is disposed at the pommel portion.

9. The bicycle operating device according to claim 8, further comprising:

an additional operating member movably mounted to the base member.

10. The bicycle operating device according to claim 9, wherein

the additional operating member is movably coupled to the operating member.

11. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply is disposed at the base member.

12. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the base member includes a mounting surface at the first end, the mounting surface having a curved shape corresponding to a drop-down handlebar.

13. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the base member includes a grip portion arranged between the first end and the second end.

14. A bicycle operating device comprising:

a base member including a first end to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar and a second end opposite to the first end;

an operating member pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis;

a first pivot shaft pivotally coupling the operating member to the base member about the first pivot axis;

a hydraulic unit coupled to the operating member to operate a bicycle component in response to an operation of the operating member;

an electrical switch to be activated by an input operation from a user;

a wireless communicator electrically connected to the electrical switch to wirelessly transmit a signal to an additional component in response to the input operation; and

a power supply electrically connected to the wireless communicator to supply electrical power to the wireless communicator, at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply being disposed closer to the second end than the hydraulic unit when viewed from a first direction parallel to the first pivot axis, wherein

the operating member includes a proximal portion connected to the first pivot shaft and a distal portion opposite to the proximal portion in a radial direction around the first pivot axis, and

the wireless communicator is disposed closer to the distal portion than to the proximal portion.

15. The bicycle operating device according to claim 14, wherein

the wireless communicator is disposed at the operating member, and

the power supply is disposed closer to the second end than the hydraulic unit when viewed from the first direction.

16. The bicycle operating device according to claim 14, wherein

the hydraulic unit comprises:

a cylinder bore; and

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, and

at least one of the cylinder bore and the piston that is positioned when the operating member is at a rest position is at least partly disposed closer to the first end than the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply when viewed from the first direction.

17. The bicycle operating device according to claim 16, wherein

at least one of a whole of the cylinder bore and a whole of the piston that is positioned when the operating member is at the rest position is disposed closer to the first end than the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply when viewed from the first direction.

18. The bicycle operating device according to claim 14, wherein

the hydraulic unit comprises:

a cylinder bore;

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore; and

a reservoir tank connected to the cylinder bore, and

at least one of the cylinder bore, the piston that is positioned when the operating member is at a rest position, and the reservoir tank is at least partly disposed closer to the first end than the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply when viewed from the first direction.

19. The bicycle operating device according to claim 18, wherein

at least one of a whole of the cylinder bore, a whole of the piston that is positioned when the operating member is at the rest position, and a whole of the reservoir tank is disposed closer to the first end than the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply when viewed from the first direction.

20. A bicycle operating device comprising:

a base member including a first end to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar and a second end opposite to the first end;

an operating member pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis;

an additional operating member movably mounted to the base member;

a hydraulic unit coupled to the operating member to operate a bicycle component in response to an operation of the operating member, at least part of the hydraulic unit being disposed closer to the first end than the first pivot axis when viewed from a first direction parallel to the first pivot axis;

an electrical switch to be activated by an input operation from a user;

a wireless communicator electrically connected to the electrical switch to wirelessly transmit a signal to an additional component in response to the input operation; and

a power supply electrically connected to the wireless communicator to supply electrical power to the wireless communicator, at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply being disposed closer to the second end than the hydraulic unit when viewed from the first direction, wherein

the wireless communicator is disposed in the additional operating member, and

the power supply is disposed closer to the second end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

21. The bicycle operating device according to claim 20, wherein

the additional operating member is movably coupled to the operating member.

22. A bicycle operating device comprising:

a base member including a first end to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar and a second end opposite to the first end;

an operating member pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis;

an additional operating member movably mounted to the base member;

a hydraulic unit coupled to the operating member to operate a bicycle component in response to an operation of the operating member;

an electrical switch to be activated by an input operation from a user;

a wireless communicator electrically connected to the electrical switch to wirelessly transmit a signal to an additional component in response to the input operation; and

a power supply electrically connected to the wireless communicator to supply electrical power to the wireless communicator, at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply being disposed closer to the second end than the hydraulic unit when viewed from a first direction parallel to the first pivot axis, wherein

the wireless communicator is disposed in the additional operating member, and

the power supply is disposed closer to the second end than the hydraulic unit when viewed from the first direction.

23. The bicycle operating device according to claim 22, wherein

the additional operating member is movably coupled to the operating member.

24. A bicycle operating device comprising:

a base member including a first end to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar and a second end opposite to the first end, the second end having a mounting portion and a pommel portion;

an operating member having a proximal portion which is coupled to the mounting portion of the base member pivotally about a first pivot axis, the operating member projecting from the base member away from the pommel portion of the base member;

a hydraulic unit provided in the base member to be coupled to the operating member at a connection portion so that a bicycle component is operated via the hydraulic unit by pivoting the operating member about the first pivot axis in a pivot direction, the proximal portion of the operating member being provided between the pommel portion and the connection portion in the pivot direction;

a wireless communicator to wirelessly control an additional bicycle component; and

a power supply electrically connected to the wireless communicator to supply electrical power to the wireless communicator, at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply being provided in the pommel portion.