Bicycle operating device

• US 10,696,354 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2019
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• 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): Knutson, Jacob D
• Application Number:
  US16/528,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20190351969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 334 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
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 7/08 Input units; Master units

Abstract

A bicycle operating device comprises a base member including a first end to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar and a second end opposite to the first end. A hydraulic unit is operatively coupled to an operating member to operate a bicycle component in response to an operation of the operating member. An electrical switch is to be activated by an input operation from a user. A wireless communicator is electrically connected to the electrical switch 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 to supply electrical power to the wireless communicator. At least part of the hydraulic unit is disposed closer to the free end of the operating member than at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply 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, the operating member having a free end farthest from the first pivot axis viewed from a first direction parallel to the first pivot axis;

a hydraulic unit operatively 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 part of the hydraulic unit being disposed closer to the free end of the operating member than at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply when viewed from the first direction.

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

the at least part of the hydraulic unit overlaps with the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply when viewed from the above in a mounting state of the bicycle operating device.

3. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mounting clamp to be coupled to the bicycle handlebar, the mounting clamp having an annular shape, the annular shape having a clamp center axis, wherein

the at least part of the hydraulic unit overlaps with the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply when viewed from a handle tangential direction parallel to the clamp center axis.

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

the hydraulic unit has a hydraulic unit center axis, and

the at least part of the hydraulic unit overlaps with the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply when viewed from a hydraulic unit based vertical direction perpendicular to the first pivot axis and the hydraulic unit center axis.

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

the hydraulic unit comprises:

a cylinder bore having a center axis defining the hydraulic unit center axis; and

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, the piston being configured to move in a direction in which the hydraulic unit center axis extends.

6. 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.

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

the hydraulic unit comprises:

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore; and

a reservoir tank connected to the cylinder bore.

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

the at least part of the hydraulic unit is disposed below the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction in a mounting state of the bicycle operating device.

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

the at least part of the hydraulic unit is disposed within the base member.

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

the at least part of the hydraulic unit is disposed at the operating member.

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

the wireless communicator is disposed at the operating member, and

at least part of the hydraulic unit is disposed below the power supply in a mounting state of the bicycle operating device.

12. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an additional operating member movably mounted to the base member, wherein

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

at least part of the hydraulic unit is disposed below the power supply in a mounting state of the bicycle operating device.

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

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

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

the bicycle operating device is configured to be mounted on a bicycle having a transverse center plane,

the base member includes a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface, the wireless communicator being disposed between the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface in the first direction, the first lateral surface being closer to the wireless communicator than the second lateral surface in the first direction, and

the first lateral surface is disposed closer to the transverse center plane than the second lateral surface in the first direction.

15. 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.

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

the base member includes a pommel portion at the second end.

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

at least one of the power supply and the electrical switch is disposed at the pommel portion.

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

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

19. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first pivot shaft pivotally coupling the operating member to the base member about 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 shaft, and

at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply is disposed closer to the proximal portion than to the distal portion.

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, the operating member having a free end farthest from the first pivot axis when viewed from a first direction parallel to 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, the hydraulic unit having a hydraulic unit center axis defining;

a lower side including the free end of the operating member when viewed from the first direction; and

an upper side opposite to the lower side with respect to the hydraulic unit center axis when viewed from the first direction;

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 in the upper side.

21. A bicycle operating device comprising:

a base member including a first end to be mounted to a drop-down handlebar and a second end opposite to the first end;

an operating member pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis, the operating member having a free end farthest from the first pivot axis viewed from a first direction parallel to the first pivot axis;

a hydraulic unit operatively 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 part of the hydraulic unit being disposed closer to the free end of the operating member than at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply when viewed from the first direction, wherein

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