BICYCLE OPERATING DEVICE

• US 20180057104A1
• Filed: 08/26/2016
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: KOMATSU, Atsushi, NISHINO, Takafumi, NAKAJIMA, Takehiko
• Granted Patent: US 10,556,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/00 Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/06 Levers
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 3/023 acting on fluid pressure systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems

Abstract

A bicycle operating device comprises a base member, an operating member, a hydraulic unit, an electrical switch, a wireless communicator, and a power supply. The base member includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The operating member is pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis. At least part of the hydraulic unit is disposed closer to the second end than the first pivot axis when viewed from a first direction parallel to the first pivot axis. The power supply is electrically connected to the wireless communicator to supply electrical power to the wireless communicator. At least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply is at least partly disposed closer to the first end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

Claims

1. A bicycle operating device comprising:

a base member including

a first end to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar, and

a second end opposite to the first end;

an operating member pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis;

a hydraulic unit coupled to the operating member to operate a bicycle component in response to an operation of the operating member, at least part of the hydraulic unit being disposed closer to the second end than the first pivot axis when viewed from a first direction parallel to the first pivot axis;

an electrical switch to be activated by an input operation from a user;

a wireless communicator electrically connected to the electrical switch to wirelessly transmit a signal to an additional component in response to the input operation; and

a power supply electrically connected to the wireless communicator to supply electrical power to the wireless communicator, at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply being at least partly disposed closer to the first end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

2. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first pivot shaft pivotally coupling the operating member to the base member about the first pivot axis, wherein

the at least part of the hydraulic unit is disposed closer to the second end than the first pivot shaft, and

the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply is at least partly disposed closer to the first end than the first pivot shaft.

3. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the hydraulic unit includes

a cylinder bore, and

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, and

at least one of the cylinder bore and the piston is at least partly disposed closer to the second end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

4. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the hydraulic unit includes

a cylinder bore,

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, and

a hydraulic reservoir connected to the cylinder bore, and

at least one of the cylinder bore, the piston, and the hydraulic reservoir is at least partly disposed closer to the second end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

17. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the hydraulic unit is at least partly disposed in the base member.

18. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the hydraulic unit includes

a cylinder bore, and

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, and

the base member includes a hose passageway in which a hydraulic hose connected to the hydraulic unit is provided.

19. The bicycle operating device according to claim 18, wherein

the base member includes a base body and a hose cover attached to the base member to at least partly provide the hose passageway between the base body and the hose cover, the hose cover being a separate member from the base member,

the base body includes an accommodation space in which the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply is at least partly provided, the accommodation space including an outer opening, and

the hose cover is attached to the base body to at least partly cover the outer opening of the accommodation space.

20. The bicycle operating device according to claim 19, wherein

the hose cover is integrally provided as a one-piece unitary member.

21. The bicycle operating device according to claim 18, wherein

the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply is at least partly disposed below the hose passageway when viewed from the first direction in a mounting state where the bicycle operating device is mounted to the bicycle handlebar.

22. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply is at least partly disposed at the base member.

23. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the bicycle operating device is configured to be mounted on a bicycle having a transverse center plane,

the base member includes a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface,

the wireless communicator is disposed between the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface in the first direction, and

the first lateral surface is closer to the wireless communicator than the second lateral surface in the first direction.

24. The bicycle operating device according to claim 23, wherein

the first lateral surface is disposed closer to the transverse center plane than the second lateral surface.

25. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply is at least partly disposed at the operating member.

26. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an additional operating member movably coupled to the operating member, wherein

at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply is at least partly disposed at the additional operating member.

27. The bicycle operating device according to claim 26, wherein

the wireless communicator is at least partly disposed at the additional operating member, and

the power supply is at least partly disposed at the base member and is at least partly closer to the first end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

28. The bicycle operating device according to claim 27, further comprising:

a cable electrically connecting between the wireless communicator and the power supply.

29. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the power supply includes a battery and a battery holder, the battery being detachably mounted to the battery holder.

30. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the base member includes a mounting surface disposed at the first end, and

the mounting surface includes a curved shape corresponding to a drop-down handlebar.

31. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the base member includes a grip portion arranged between the first end and the second end.

32. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the base member includes a pommel portion disposed at the second end.

5. A bicycle operating device comprising:

a base member including

a first end to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar, and

a second end opposite to the first end;

an operating member pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis;

a hydraulic unit coupled to the operating member to operate a bicycle component in response to an operation of the operating member, at least part of the hydraulic unit being disposed above the first pivot axis when viewed from a first direction parallel to the first pivot axis in a mounting state where the bicycle operating device is mounted to the bicycle handlebar;

an electrical switch to be activated by an input operation from a user;

a wireless communicator electrically connected to the electrical switch to wirelessly transmit a signal to an additional component in response to the input operation; and

a power supply electrically connected to the wireless communicator to supply electrical power to the wireless communicator, at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply being at least partly disposed below the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction in the mounting state of the bicycle operating device.

6. The bicycle operating device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a mounting clamp to be coupled to the bicycle handlebar, the mounting clamp having an annular shape, the annular shape having a clamp center axis, wherein

the operating member has a free end farthest from the first pivot axis in the operating member when viewed from the first direction,

the at least part of the hydraulic unit is disposed above the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction in a reference state where the clamp center axis is disposed along a vertical direction and where the free end is disposed below the mounting clamp, and

the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply is at least partly disposed below the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction in the reference state of the bicycle operating device.

7. The bicycle operating device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a first pivot shaft pivotally coupling the operating member to the base member about the first pivot axis, wherein

the at least part of the hydraulic unit is disposed above the first pivot shaft when viewed from the first direction in the mounting state of the bicycle operating device, and

the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply is at least partly disposed below the first pivot shaft when viewed from the first direction in the mounting state of the bicycle operating device.

8. The bicycle operating device according to claim 5, wherein

the hydraulic unit includes

a cylinder bore, and

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, and

at least one of the cylinder bore and the piston is at least partly disposed above the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction in the mounting state of the bicycle operating device.

9. The bicycle operating device according to claim 5, wherein

the hydraulic unit includes

a cylinder bore,

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, and

a hydraulic reservoir connected to the cylinder bore, and

at least one of the cylinder bore, the piston, and the hydraulic reservoir is at least partly disposed above the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction in the mounting state of the bicycle operating device.

10. A bicycle operating device comprising:

a base member including

a first end to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar, and

a second end opposite to the first end;

an operating member pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis, the operating member having a free end farthest from the first pivot axis in the operating member when viewed from a first direction parallel to the first pivot axis;

a hydraulic unit coupled to the operating member to operate a bicycle component in response to an operation of the operating member, at least part of the hydraulic unit being disposed farther from the free end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction;

an electrical switch to be activated by an input operation from a user;

a wireless communicator electrically connected to the electrical switch to wirelessly transmit a signal to an additional component in response to the input operation; and

a power supply electrically connected to the wireless communicator to supply electrical power to the wireless communicator, at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply being at least partly disposed closer to the free end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

11. The bicycle operating device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a first pivot shaft pivotally coupling the operating member to the base member about the first pivot axis, wherein

the at least part of the hydraulic unit is disposed farther from the free end than the first pivot shaft when viewed from the first direction, and

the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply is at least partly disposed closer to the free end than the first pivot shaft when viewed from the first direction.

12. The bicycle operating device according to claim 10, wherein

the hydraulic unit includes

a cylinder bore, and

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, and

at least one of the cylinder bore and the piston is at least partly disposed farther from the free end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

13. The bicycle operating device according to claim 10, wherein

the hydraulic unit includes

a cylinder bore,

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, and

a hydraulic reservoir connected to the cylinder bore, and

at least one of the cylinder bore, the piston, and the hydraulic reservoir is at least partly disposed farther from the free end than the first pivot axis when viewed from the first direction.

14. A bicycle operating device comprising:

a base member including

a first end to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar, and

a second end opposite to the first end;

an operating member pivotally coupled to the base member about a first pivot axis;

a hydraulic unit coupled to the operating member to operate a bicycle component in response to an operation of the operating member;

an electrical switch to be activated by an input operation from a user;

a wireless communicator electrically connected to the electrical switch to wirelessly transmit a signal to an additional component in response to the input operation; and

a power supply electrically connected to the wireless communicator to supply electrical power to the wireless communicator, the hydraulic unit being at least partly disposed closer to the second end than at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply when viewed from a first direction parallel to the first pivot axis.

15. The bicycle operating device according to claim 14, wherein

the hydraulic unit includes

a cylinder bore, and

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, and

at least one of the cylinder bore and the piston is at least partly disposed closer to the second end than the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply when viewed from the first direction.

16. The bicycle operating device according to claim 14, wherein

the hydraulic unit includes

a cylinder bore,

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, and

a hydraulic reservoir connected to the cylinder bore, and

at least one of the cylinder bore, the piston, and the hydraulic reservoir is at least partly disposed closer to the second end than the at least one of the wireless communicator and the power supply when viewed from the first direction.