Reach Adjust for a Handlebar-Mounted Lever Assembly

• US 20080229863A1
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRAM LLC (SRAM International Corp.)
• Original Assignee: SRAM Corporation (SRAM International Corp.)
• Inventors: Orrico, James, Morris, Matt, Feurstein, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,459,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/491
• 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: Y10T 74/20396 Hand operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20438 Single rotatable lever [e.g., for bicycle brake or derailleur]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/206 Adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20624 Adjustable

Abstract

A reach-adjustable lever assembly mounted to a handlebar for actuating one of a gear-change and braking device. The lever assembly generally including a support member, a lever pivotably connected to the support member and a reach adjust mechanism. The reach adjust mechanism includes a follower, a cam and a cam seat for retaining the cam in a current user-selectable position. The follower is fixedly supported on one of the support member and the lever and the cam is rotatably supported on the other of the support member and the lever. The cam has a plurality of user-selectable positions. The lever is rotatably biased toward a rest position to position the cam against the follower. The cam and the follower are configured to provide a different rest position of the lever for each of the user-selectable positions.

Claims

1. A reach-adjustable lever assembly mountable to a handlebar for actuating one of a gear-change and braking device, the reach-adjustable lever assembly comprising:

a support member;

a lever pivotably connected to the support member; and

a reach adjust mechanism including;

a follower fixedly supported on one of the support member and the lever;

a cam rotatably supported on the other of the support member and the lever, the cam having a plurality user-selectable positions; and

a cam seat for retaining the cam in a current user-selectable position,

the lever rotatably biased toward a rest position to position the cam against the follower, the cam and the follower configured to provide a different rest position of the lever for each of the user-selectable positions.

2. A reach-adjustable lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein the follower is fixedly supported on the support member and the cam is rotatably supported on the lever.

3. A reach-adjustable lever assembly according to claim 2, wherein the cam seat includes a post supported on the lever and having an engaging portion and a non-engaging portion, the cam is positionable on the post between the engaging and non-engaging portions, the engaging portion retaining the cam in the current user-selectable position, the non-engaging portion permitting rotation of the cam between the user-selectable positions, the cam biased toward the engaging portion.

4. A reach-adjustable lever assembly according to claim 3, wherein the cam includes a non-circular inner surface matingly engageable with a complimentary-shaped non-circular outer surface of the engaging portion of the post to prevent relative rotation between the cam and the post.

5. A reach-adjustable lever assembly according to claim 4, wherein a spring biases the cam toward the engaging portion of the post.

6. A reach-adjustable lever assembly according to claim 5, wherein a retaining ring retains the cam on the post.

7. A reach-adjustable lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein the follower is fixedly supported on the lever and the cam is rotatably supported on the support member.

8. A reach-adjustable lever assembly according to claim 7, wherein the cam seat includes a post supported on the support member and having an engaging portion and a non-engaging portion, the cam is positionable on the post between the engaging and non-engaging portions, the engaging portion retaining the cam in the current user-selectable position, the non-engaging portion permitting rotation of the cam between the user-selectable positions, the cam biased toward the engaging portion.

9. A reach-adjustable lever assembly according to claim 8, wherein the cam includes a non-circular inner surface matingly engageable with a complimentary-shaped non-circular outer surface of the engaging portion of the post to prevent relative rotation between the cam and the post.

10. A reach-adjustable lever assembly according to claim 9, wherein a spring biases the cam toward the engaging portion of the post.

11. A reach-adjustable lever assembly according to claim 10, wherein a retaining ring retains the cam on the post.