Bicycle sensor unit

• US 20060108183A1
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Watarai, Etsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,740,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 188/2.D
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/423 on or besides the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 1/12 the elements being mounted on levers pivotable about a common axis
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/002 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/07 Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication indicating working conditions of vehicles G07C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/487 delivered by rotating magnets

Abstract

A bicycle sensor unit is provided that comprises a bicycle brake part and a sensor fixedly attached to the bicycle brake part to detect rotational behavior of a bicycle wheel. The bicycle brake part is one of a bicycle brake attachment member configured to be non-movably coupled to a bicycle frame and a bicycle brake arm configured to support a bicycle brake pad for movement against a rim of the bicycle wheel. Preferably, the sensor unit is part of a bicycle brake device that comprises both the bicycle brake attachment member and the bicycle brake arm, a bicycle brake pad and the sensor.

Claims

1. A bicycle sensor unit comprising:

a bicycle brake part; and

a sensor fixedly attached to the bicycle brake part to detect rotational behavior of a bicycle wheel,

the bicycle brake part being one of a bicycle brake attachment member configured to be non-movably coupled to a bicycle frame and a bicycle brake arm configured to support a bicycle brake pad for movement against a rim of the bicycle wheel.

2. The bicycle sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein

the bicycle brake part is the bicycle brake attachment member.

3. The bicycle sensor unit according to claim 2, wherein

the bicycle brake attachment member includes a brake fixing bolt, and the sensor includes a mounting portion that is supported on the brake fixing bolt.

4. The bicycle sensor unit according to claim 3, wherein

the mounting portion of the sensor has a substantially U-shaped configuration with two ends coupled together with a fastening structure.

5. The bicycle sensor unit according to claim 1, wherein

the bicycle brake part is the bicycle brake arm.

6. The bicycle sensor unit according to claim 5, wherein

the bicycle brake arm is configured and arranged to be pivotally coupled to a bicycle brake fixing bolt that is fixedly coupled to the bicycle frame.

7. The bicycle sensor unit according to claim 6, wherein

the bicycle brake arm includes a brake pad fixedly coupled thereto, the sensor being separate from the brake pad.

8. The bicycle sensor unit according to claim 7, wherein

the sensor is coupled to the bicycle brake arm at a location radially outwardly of the brake pad relative to a center axis of the bicycle wheel when the bicycle brake arm is coupled to the bicycle frame.

9. A bicycle brake device comprising:

a bicycle brake attachment member configured to be non-movably coupled to a bicycle frame;

a bicycle brake arm coupled to the bicycle brake attachment member;

a bicycle brake pad attached to the bicycle brake arm, the brake pad being configured to be selectively pressed against a bicycle wheel rim; and

a sensor fixedly attached to either the bicycle brake attachment member or the bicycle brake arm to detect rotational behavior of a bicycle wheel.

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

the sensor is fixedly attached to the bicycle brake attachment member.

11. The bicycle brake device according to claim 10, wherein

the bicycle brake attachment member is substantially centrally located relative to a center plane of the bicycle wheel when the bicycle brake attachment member is coupled to the bicycle frame such that the sensor is located radially outwardly of the bicycle wheel relative to a center rotation axis of the bicycle wheel.

12. The bicycle brake device according to claim 11, wherein

the bicycle brake attachment member includes a brake fixing bolt, and the sensor includes a mounting portion that is supported on the brake fixing bolt.

13. The bicycle brake device according to claim 9, wherein

the sensor is fixedly attached to the bicycle brake arm.

14. The bicycle brake device according to claim 13, wherein

the bicycle brake attachment member includes a brake fixing bolt that is configured to be non-movably coupled to the bicycle frame, and the bicycle brake arm is configured and arranged to be pivotally coupled to the brake fixing bolt.

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

the bicycle brake arm is substantially located on one side of a center plane of the bicycle wheel when the bicycle brake arm is coupled to the brake fixing bolt and the brake fixing bolt is coupled to the bicycle frame.

16. The bicycle brake device according to claim 13, wherein

the sensor is a separate element from the brake pad.

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

the sensor is located radially outwardly of the brake pad relative to a center rotation axis of the bicycle wheel.

18. The bicycle brake device according to claim 9, wherein

the sensor is a separate element from the brake pad.

19. The bicycle brake device according to claim 9, further comprising

a bicycle computer unit electrically coupled to the sensor.

20. The bicycle brake device according to claim 19, further comprising

a bicycle wheel magnet configured to be coupled to the bicycle wheel.

21. The bicycle brake device according to claim 19, wherein

the bicycle computer unit includes a wire winding mechanism.

22. The bicycle brake device according to claim 21, wherein

the wire winding mechanism includes a spool member configured to have an electrical wire wound around the spool member, and a spool cap detachably coupled to the spool member to retain the electrical wire on the spool member.

23. The bicycle brake device according to claim 9, further comprising

a bicycle wheel magnet configured to be coupled to the bicycle wheel.

24. The bicycle brake device according to claim 23, wherein

the wheel magnet is configured to be coupled to the bicycle wheel at an area located radially outwardly of the wheel rim relative to a center rotation axis of the bicycle wheel.

25. The bicycle brake device according to claim 23, wherein

the wheel magnet is configured and arranged to be coupled to the tire of the bicycle wheel separately from the wheel rim of the bicycle wheel.