Bicycle motion sensing arrangement

• US 20060272903A1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Watarai, Etsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,490,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 188/24.110
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/423 on or besides the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/20 Information-providing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/487 delivered by rotating magnets

Abstract

A bicycle motion sensing arrangement is provided has a bicycle wheel, a bicycle brake and a sensor. The bicycle wheel includes an air valve stem and a magnet mounted to the air valve stem. The bicycle brake is configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame. The sensor is fixedly attached to the bicycle brake at a location to detect rotational behavior of a bicycle wheel by sensing the magnet mounted to the air valve stem.

Claims

1. A bicycle motion sensing arrangement comprising:

a bicycle wheel including an air valve stem and a magnet mounted to the air valve stem;

a bicycle brake configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame; and

a sensor fixedly attached to the bicycle brake at a location to detect rotational behavior of the bicycle wheel by sensing the magnet mounted to the air valve stem.

2. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein

the air valve stem includes a groove with the magnet disposed in the groove of the air valve stem.

3. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 2, wherein

the magnet includes a generally ring-shaped portion.

4. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 3, wherein

the generally ring-shaped portion is a split ring.

5. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 3, wherein

the generally ring-shaped portion is a continuous ring.

6. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein

the bicycle brake includes a pair of bicycle brake arms and a pair of a brake shoes with one of the brake shoes fixedly coupled each of the bicycle brake arms.

7. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein

the sensor is mounted on a sensor connecting portion that is secured to the bicycle brake as a separable member.

8. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 7, wherein

the bicycle brake includes a brake pad fixing bolt with the sensor connecting portion being supported on the brake pad fixing bolt.

9. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 8, further comprising

a bicycle computer unit electrically coupled to the sensor.

10. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 6, wherein

the sensor is a separate element from the brake shoes.

11. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 6, wherein

each of the brake shoes has a brake pad holder with the sensor being fixedly attached to one of the brake pad holders.

12. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 11, further comprising

a bicycle computer unit electrically coupled to the sensor.