BICYCLE CRANK ARM WITH AN INPUT FORCE PROCESSING APPARATUS

• US 20130233126A1
• Filed: 04/20/2012
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Tetsuka, Toshio
• Granted Patent: US 8,800,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/594.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/41 characterised by the type of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/421 at the pedal crank
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 3/00 Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 3/003 Combination of crank axles and bearings housed in the bottom bracket bottom bracket frame details B62K19/34
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/225 to foot actuated controls, e.g. brake pedals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2164 Cranks and pedals

Abstract

A bicycle crank arm comprises a first crank arm member having a first sensor-mounting surface and a second crank arm member having a second sensor-mounting surface. A first sensor is mounted to the first sensor-mounting surface, and a second sensor mounted to the second sensor-mounting surface.

Claims

1. A bicycle crank arm comprising:

a first crank arm member having a first sensor-mounting surface;

a first sensor mounted to the first sensor-mounting surface;

a second crank arm member having a second sensor-mounting surface; and

a second sensor mounted to the second sensor-mounting surface.

2. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 wherein the crank arm is hollow along its entire length.

3. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 wherein the first sensor-mounting surface faces the second sensor-mounting surface.

4. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 wherein the first crank arm member and the second crank arm member are bonded together.

5. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 wherein the first crank arm member and the second crank arm member are permanently attached together.

6. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 wherein one of the first crank arm member and the second crank arm member is configured as a panel that is attached to the other of the first crank arm member and the second crank arm member.

7. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 6 wherein the panel is disposed on an inner side frame attachment surface of the crank arm.

8. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 wherein the bicycle crank arm has a crank axle attachment portion and a pedal attachment portion, and wherein at least either the first sensor or the second sensor is disposed between the crank axle attachment portion and pedal attachment portion.

9. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 wherein the first crank arm member is configured as a longitudinal half of the crank arm.

10. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 wherein the first crank arm member is configured to be an inner side portion of the bicycle crank arm, and wherein the second crank arm member is configured to be an outer side portion of the bicycle crank arm.

11. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 wherein the first crank arm member has a longitudinal side wall, and wherein the second crank arm member has a longitudinal second side wall that overlaps the longitudinal side wall of the first crank arm member.

12. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 11 wherein the second crank arm member has a sprocket attachment portion.

13. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 wherein the bicycle crank arm has an inner space, and wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are disposed in the inner space.

14. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 13 wherein the bicycle crank arm includes an inner side portion, an outer side portion, a first coupling portion which couples the inner side portion and the outer side portion, and a second coupling portion which is separate from the first coupling portion and which couples the inner side portion and the outer side portion;

wherein the first sensor-mounting surface is on one of the inner side portion and the outer side portion; and

wherein the second sensor-mounting surface is on the other of the inner side portion and the outer side portion.

15. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 14 wherein the first coupling portion has a third sensor-mounting surface, wherein the second coupling portion has a fourth sensor-mounting surface, and further comprising:

a third sensor mounted to the third sensor-mounting surface; and

a fourth sensor mounted to the fourth sensor-mounting surface.

16. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 15 wherein the third sensor-mounting surface and the fourth sensor-mounting surface are disposed on one of the first crank arm member or the second crank arm member.

17. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 13 further comprising:

a first electrical wire member coupled to the first sensor; and

a second electrical wire member coupled to the second sensor;

wherein the first electrical wire member and the second electrical wire member are disposed in the inner space.

18. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 17 wherein the first electrical wire member and the second electrical wire member are connected to a circuit board which is disposed inside of the crank arm.

19. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 17 wherein the first electrical wire member and the second electrical wire member are connected to a circuit board which is disposed outside of the crank arm.

20. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 19 wherein the circuit board includes a wireless transmitter.

21. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 20 wherein a box is disposed on the inner side surface of the crank arm, and wherein the circuit board is disposed in the box.

22. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 21 further comprising a battery disposed in the box.