WIRELESS BICYCLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20090315692A1
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: OOKUBO, Kazunori, MIKI, Yoshimitsu
• Granted Patent: US 7,760,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/432
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/02 hand actuated arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems

Abstract

A wireless bicycle communication device includes a bracket, an electronic switch, an antenna, a wiring assembly and a radio communication unit. The electronic switch is coupled to the bracket and configured to generate switching signals. The antenna is supported to an antenna receiving portion of the bracket. The wiring assembly electrically connects the antenna and a first connector. The radio communication unit is disposed within a radio unit receiving portion of the bracket and has a second connector configured to detachably mate with the first connector. The radio communication unit is configured to process switching signals from the electronic switch and broadcast corresponding radio signals via the antenna.

Claims

1. A wireless bicycle communication device comprising:

a bracket having a bicycle frame attachment portion, a radio unit receiving portion located at an upper portion of the bracket spaced apart from the bicycle frame attachment portion and an antenna receiving portion disposed at an inboard side of the bracket between the bicycle frame attachment portion and the radio unit receiving portion;

an electronic switch coupled to the bracket configured to generate switching signals;

an antenna supported to the antenna receiving portion;

a wiring assembly including a first connector disposed within the radio unit receiving portion of the bracket, the wiring assembly electrically connecting the antenna and the first connector;

a radio communication unit disposed within the radio unit receiving portion having a second connector configured to detachably mate with the first connector, the radio communication unit being configured to process switching signals from the electronic switch and broadcast corresponding radio signals via the antenna.

2. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the bracket includes a brake lever support portion and a brake lever operably supported to the brake lever support portion.

3. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 2, wherein

the antenna receiving portion is spaced apart from the brake lever support portion.

4. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 2, wherein

the electronic switch is an electronic shifting device supported to the brake lever and the switching signals include derailleur shifting signals.

5. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 4, wherein

the radio communication unit is configured to process the derailleur shifting signals from the electronic shifting device and broadcast corresponding radio signals via the antenna.

6. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna receiving portion is spaced apart from the bicycle frame attachment portion.

7. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna receiving portion includes a recess formed in the bracket dimensioned to receive and obscure the antenna.

8. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 7, wherein

the recess is located on an inboard surface of the bracket extending away from the bicycle frame attachment portion.

9. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 7, wherein

the bracket includes a channel that extends between the recess and the radio unit receiving portion with the wiring assembly disposed within the channel.

10. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the bracket includes a channel that extends between the antenna receiving portion and the radio unit receiving portion with the wiring assembly disposed within the channel.

11. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the antenna is a planar patch antenna.

12. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the radio unit receiving portion includes a trough dimensioned to receive and at least partially conceal the radio communication unit.

13. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the radio communication unit is removable from the bracket and re-installable to the bracket.

14. A wireless bicycle communication device comprising:

a central processing unit having a radio signal receiving portion and a bicycle frame attachment portion;

a bracket having a bicycle frame attachment portion, a radio unit receiving portion and a recess on an inboard side of the bracket;

an antenna supported to the bracket such that the antenna is obscured within the recess, with the recess and antenna being positioned such that the antenna faces the radio signal receiving portion of the central processing unit with the central processing unit and the bracket installed to a bicycle frame;

an electronic switch coupled to the bracket configured to generate switching signals; and

a radio communication unit disposed within the radio unit receiving portion configured to process the switching signals and broadcast corresponding radio signals via the antenna to the radio signal receiving portion of the central processing unit.

15. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 14, wherein

the radio communication unit and the recess are spaced apart from one another.

16. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 14, wherein

the radio communication unit is removable from the radio unit receiving portion.

17. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 16, wherein

the radio unit receiving portion includes a trough dimensioned to receive the radio communication unit,

the bracket includes a wiring assembly connected at a first end to the antenna and a second end with a first connector disposed within the trough, and

the radio communication unit includes a second connector dimensioned to releasably couple with the first connector.

18. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 14, wherein

the bracket includes a brake lever support portion having a brake lever supported to the brake lever support portion with an electronic shifting device being supported to the brake lever.

19. The wireless bicycle communication device according to claim 18, wherein

the electronic shifting device is configured to generate derailleur shifting signals and the radio communication unit is configured to process the derailleur shifting signals and broadcast corresponding radio signals via the antenna to the radio signal receiving portion of the central processing unit.