Control device for a bicycle derailleur

• US 20070137388A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Inventors: Dal Pra, Giuseppe
• Granted Patent: US 8,424,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/502.200
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/06 Levers
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 3/02 for control by a hand lever hand levers for control of cycles in general B62K23/06
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/04 hand actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/12 Arrangements for transmitting movement to or from the flexible member
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/04 Controlling members for hand actuation by pivoting movement, e.g. levers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20287 Flexible control element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20438 Single rotatable lever [e.g., for bicycle brake or derailleur]

Abstract

The integrated control device (1) for driving the control cable (20) of the derailleur and the brake cable (16) of a bicycle is provided. The device having a support body (4) connectable to the handlebar (2) and that can be gripped by the cyclist'"'"'s hand, a cable-winding bush (19) about which the control cable (20) of the derailleur is wound/unwound and a first lever (9) rotatable with respect to the support body (4) about a first axis (X1) for actuating the brake cable (16) and rotatable about a second axis (X2) to drive the cable-winding bush (19) into rotation in a first direction of rotation (R2). An indexing mechanism (12) connected to the first lever (9) cooperates with the cable-winding bush (19) to define predetermined angular positions therefor. The support body (4) having a recess (25) for the passage of the control cable (20) of the derailleur.

Claims

1. Integrated control device for driving a control cable of a derailleur and for driving a brake cable of a brake of a bicycle, comprising:

a support body connectable at one side to a handlebar and having a part, projecting from said side, that can be gripped by a cyclist'"'"'s hand;

a cable-winding bush about which said control cable of the derailleur is wound/unwound; and

a first lever rotatable with respect to said support body about a first axis for actuating said brake cable and rotatable about a second axis for driving said cable-winding bush into rotation in a first direction of rotation;

wherein said support body comprises a recess for the passage of said control cable of the derailleur.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said recess is in proximity to said side of said support body connectable to the handlebar.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said recess extends in at least one portion of said projecting part of said support body.

4. Device according to claim 2, wherein said recess is open towards the outside.

5. Device according to claim 2, wherein said recess is suitable for receiving an outer sheath of said control cable.

6. Device according to claim 1, wherein said cable-winding bush is mounted on said support body.

7. Device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises an indexing mechanism connected to said first lever and cooperating with said cable-winding bush to define predetermined angular positions for said cable-winding bush.

8. Device according to claim 7, further comprising a transmission mechanism arranged between said indexing mechanism and said cable-winding bush.

9. Device according to claim 8, wherein said transmission mechanism comprises a sliding connection which allows the displacement of said indexing mechanism with respect to said cable-winding bush.

10. Device according to claim 9, wherein said transmission mechanism allows a rotation of said indexing mechanism about said first axis.

11. Device according to claim 9, wherein said sliding connection comprises at least one slot that slidably receives a projecting element associated with said cable-winding bush or with said indexing mechanism.

12. Device according to claim 9, wherein said sliding connection comprises at least two telescopic shafts.

13. Device according to claim 8, wherein said transmission mechanism comprises an intermediate shaft, a first cardan joint, and a second cardan joint, said first cardan joint connecting said intermediate shaft to said indexing mechanism, and said second cardan joint connecting said intermediate shaft to said cable-winding bush.

14. Device according to claim 1, wherein said second axis is substantially perpendicular to said first axis.

15. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a second lever rotatable with respect to said support body about a third axis which drives said cable-winding bush into rotation in a second direction of rotation opposite the first one.

16. Device according to claim 15, wherein said second lever is pivoted on said first lever.

17. Device according to claim 15, wherein said first lever and said second lever are actuated in the same direction to drive said cable-winding bush into rotation.

18. Device according to claim 15, wherein said first lever and said second lever are actuated in opposite directions to drive said cable-winding bush into rotation.

19. Device according to claim 1, wherein said support body comprises a second recess suitable for slidably receiving said brake cable.

20. Device according to claim 19, wherein said second recess is in proximity to said side of said support body.

21. Device according to claim 19, wherein said second recess is suitable for receiving the outer sheath of said brake cable.

22. Device according to claim 15, wherein said indexing mechanism comprises:

a) an indexer;

b) a first ratchet gear, associated with said first lever, for the rotation of said indexer in said first direction of rotation;

c) a second ratchet gear, associated with said second lever, for the rotation of said indexer in said second direction of rotation opposite the first.

23. Device according to claim 22, wherein said indexer comprises a main shaft rotating about said second axis, a first toothed sector and a second toothed sector adjacent and coaxial to said main shaft along said second axis.

24. Device according to claim 22, wherein said first ratchet gear comprises a first pawl having an interference tooth suitable for engaging said indexer.

25. Device according to claim 22, wherein said second ratchet gear comprises a second pawl provided with an interference tooth suitable for engaging said indexer.

26. Device according to claim 22, wherein said second ratchet gear comprises a third pawl having a retention tooth suitable for engaging said indexer.

27. Device according to claim 22, wherein said first and second ratchet gears allow the free rotation of said indexer in said second direction of rotation.

28. Device according to claim 22, wherein said first and second ratchet gears allow the rotation by pushing of said indexer in said second direction of rotation.

29. Integrated control device for driving a control cable of a derailleur and for driving a brake cable of a brake of a bicycle, comprising:

a) a support body connectable at one side to handlebars and having a part, projecting from said side, that can be gripped by the cyclist'"'"'s hand;

b) a cable-winding bush about which said control cable of the derailleur is wound/unwound; and

c) a first lever rotatable with respect to said support body about a first axis for actuating said brake cable and rotatable about a second axis for driving said cable-winding bush into rotation in a first direction of rotation;

wherein the device further comprises an indexing mechanism connected to said first lever and cooperating with said cable-winding bush to define predetermined angular positions for said cable-winding bush and wherein a transmission mechanism comprising an intermediate shaft, a first cardan joint connecting said intermediate shaft to said indexing mechanism, and a second cardan joint, connecting said intermediate shaft to said cable-winding bush, is arranged between said indexing mechanism and said cable-winding bushand wherein said support body comprises a recess for the passage of said control cable of the derailleur.

30. Integrated control device for driving a control cable of a derailleur and for driving a brake cable of a brake of a bicycle, comprising:

a) a support body connectable at one side to handlebars and having a part, projecting from said side, that can be gripped by the cyclist'"'"'s hand;

b) a cable-winding bush about which said control cable of the derailleur is wound/unwound;

c) a first lever rotatable with respect to said support body about a first axis for actuating said brake cable and rotatable about a second axis for driving said cable-winding bush into rotation in a first direction of rotation; and

d) a second lever rotatable with respect to said support body about a third axis for driving said cable-winding bush into rotation in a second direction of rotation opposite the first one;

wherein said support body comprises a recess for the passage of said control cable of the derailleur and wherein said first lever and said second lever are actuated in opposite directions to drive said cable-winding bush into rotation.

31. Integrated control device for driving a control cable of a derailleur and for driving a brake cable of a brake of a bicycle, comprising:

a) a support body connectable at one side to handlebars and having a part, projecting from said side, that can be gripped by the cyclist'"'"'s hand;

b) a cable-winding bush about which said control cable of the derailleur is wound/unwound; and

c) a first lever rotatable with respect to said support body about a first axis for actuating said brake cable and rotatable about a second axis for driving said cable-winding bush into rotation in a first direction of rotation;

d) a second lever rotatable with respect to said support body about a third axis for driving said cable-winding bush into rotation in a second direction of rotation opposite the first one; and

e) an indexing mechanism connected to said first lever and cooperating with said cable-winding bush to define predetermined angular positions for said cable-winding bush, the indexing mechanism comprising an indexer, a first ratchet gear, associated with said first lever, for the rotation of said indexer in said first direction of rotation, and a second ratchet gear, associated with said second lever, for the rotation of said indexer in said second direction of rotation opposite the first bush;

wherein said support body comprises a recess for the passage of said control cable of the derailleur.

32. Integrated control device for driving a control cable of a derailleur and for driving a brake cable of a brake of a bicycle, comprising:

a) a support body connectable at one side to handlebars and having a part, projecting from said side, that can be gripped by the cyclist'"'"'s hand;

b) a cable-winding bush about which said control cable of the derailleur is wound/unwound; and

c) a first lever rotatable with respect to said support body about a first axis for actuating said brake cable and rotatable about a second axis for driving said cable-winding bush into rotation in a first direction of rotation;

d) a second lever rotatable with respect to said support body about a third axis for driving said cable-winding bush into rotation in a second direction of rotation opposite the first one; and

e) an indexing mechanism connected to said first lever and cooperating with said cable-winding bush to define predetermined angular positions for said cable-winding bush, the indexing mechanism comprising an indexer and a first ratchet gear, associated with said first lever, for the rotation of said indexer in said first direction of rotation, and a second ratchet gear, associated with said second lever, for the rotation of said indexer in said second direction of rotation opposite the first bush;

wherein said support body comprises a recess for the passage of said control cable of the derailleur and wherein said first and second ratchet gears allow the free rotation of said indexer in said second direction of rotation.

33. An integrated derailleur/brake control device for a bicycle, the device comprising:

a) a housing having a mounting portion mountable to a bicycle handlebar;

b) a first control lever connected to the housing and pivotable about a first axis for rotating in a first direction a derailleur cable bush, about which a derailleur cable is wound and unwound; and

c) a second control lever connected to the housing and generally pivotable about the first axis to actuate the derailleur cable bush in a direction opposite the first direction, said second control lever also pivotable about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis, for actuating a brake cable, wherein the housing comprises a first opening for receiving a derailleur cable and a second opening for receiving a brake cable.

34. The integrated derailleur/brake control device of claim 33, wherein the housing is mountable to a curved handlebar at a curved portion thereof.

35. The integrated derailleur/brake control device of claim 33, wherein the openings are generally parallel to each other.

36. The integrated derailleur/brake control device of claim 33, wherein the openings are proximate the mounting portion.

37. The integrated derailleur/brake control device of claim 33, wherein the cables are routed along the handlebar.

38. The integrated derailleur/brake control device of claim 33, wherein the derailleur cable bush is housed within the housing proximate the mounting portion.

39. The integrated derailleur/brake control device of claim 33, further comprising an indexer connected to the derailleur cable bush, the indexer regulating the angular movement of the derailleur cable bush in pre-defined increments.

40. The integrated derailleur/brake control device of claim 33, wherein the derailleur cable bush is mechanically connected to the control levers by a slidable linkage.

41. The integrated derailleur/brake control device of claim 40, wherein the slidable linkage comprises a double cardan joint.

42. An integrated derailleur/brake control device for a bicycle, the device comprising:

a) a housing having a mounting portion mountable to a bicycle handlebar;

b) a first control lever connected to the housing and pivotable about a first axis for rotating in a first direction a derailleur cable bush, about which a derailleur cable is wound and unwound; and

c) a second control lever connected to the housing and generally pivotable about the first axis to actuate the derailleur cable bush in a direction opposite the first direction, said second control lever also pivotable about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis, for actuating a brake cable, wherein the housing comprises a first opening for receiving the derailleur cable and a second opening, generally parallel to the first opening, for receiving the brake cable.

43. An integrated derailleur/brake control device for a bicycle, the device comprising:

a) a housing having a mounting portion mountable to a bicycle handlebar;

b) a first control lever connected to the housing and pivotable about a first axis for rotating in a first direction a derailleur cable bush, about which a derailleur cable is wound and unwound; and

c) a second control lever connected to the housing and generally pivotable about the first axis to actuate the derailleur cable bush in a direction opposite the first direction, said second control lever also pivotable about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis, for actuating a brake cable, wherein the housing comprises a first opening for receiving a derailleur cable and a second opening, generally parallel to the first opening, for receiving a brake cable, said openings proximate the mounting portion.

44. Integrated control device for a derailleur control cable and a brake cable, the device comprising:

a) a support body configured at one side for attachment to a handlebar and at another opposed side for attachment of a control group;

b) a cable-winding bush, about which said derailleur control cable is wound/unwound, mounted within said support body for rotation about an axis extending between said handle bar side and said control group side; and

c) a lever pivoted at said control group side that controls one of said winding and said unwinding of said cable and;

d) a passage extending from said handle bar side to said cable winding bush.

45. The integrated control device of claim 44, wherein the support body is mountable to a curved handlebar at a curved portion thereof.

46. The integrated control device of claim 44, further comprising a second passage generally parallel to the first passage.

47. The integrated control device of claim 46, wherein the passages are proximate the attachment side.

48. The integrated control device of claim 44, wherein the cables are routed along the handlebar.

49. The integrated control device of claim 44, wherein the cable-winding bush is housed within the support body proximate the attachment side.

50. The integrated control device of claim 44, further comprising an indexer connected to the cable-winding bush, the indexer regulating the angular movement of the cable-winding bush in pre-defined increments.

51. The integrated control device of claim 44, wherein the cable-winding bush is mechanically connected to the control levers by a slidable linkage.

52. The integrated control device of claim 51, wherein the slidable linkage comprises a double cardan joint.