Bicycle Telescopic Apparatus

• US 20180079462A1
• Filed: 01/30/2017
• Published: 03/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: SHIRAI, Toyoto
• Granted Patent: US 11,136,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/08 Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 2001/085 Seat pillars having mechanisms to vary seat height, independently of the cycle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/20 Cycle computers as cycle accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/40 Sensor arrangements sensors for control of electrically assisted cycles B62M6/50; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/41 characterised by the type of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/044 Suspensions with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/045 Suspensions with ride-height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/04 for mounting axles resiliently on cycle frame or fork for sidecars, forecars or the like B62K27/06
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/08 for front wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/60 power-driven at axle parts

Abstract

A bicycle telescopic apparatus includes a first tube having a receiving space, a second tube telescopically received in the receiving space of the first tube, a position detector configured to detect a relative position between the first tube and the second tube in a longitudinal direction of the bicycle telescopic apparatus, and an output device configured to output a signal based on a detected result of the position detector. The signal can control a bicycle component other than the bicycle telescopic apparatus. A detecting point of the position detector is located in the receiving space of the first tube.

Claims

1. A bicycle telescopic apparatus comprising:

a first tube having a receiving space;

a second tube telescopically received in the receiving space of the first tube;

a position detector configured to detect a relative position between the first tube and the second tube in a longitudinal direction of the bicycle telescopic apparatus, wherein a detecting point of the position detector is located in the receiving space of the first tube; and

an output device configured to output a signal based on a detected result of the detector;

wherein

the signal is configured to control a bicycle component other than the bicycle telescopic apparatus.

2. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the position detector includes a first detector part and a second detector part;

the first detector part is located on one of one of the first tube and the second tube, and

the second detector part is located on the other of the first tube and the second tube.

3. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the first detector part and the second detector part has an elongated shape extending in the longitudinal direction.

4. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the second tube includes a seal located on an outer surface of the second tube;

and

the second detector part is located between the seal and a receiving opening of the first tube.

5. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the first detector part and the second detector part is located on an inner surface of the first tube.

6. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the one of the first detector part and the second detector part is located in a groove formed on the inner surface of the first tube.

7. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bicycle component includes at least one of a bicycle suspension, a bicycle drive unit and a bicycle shifting device.

8. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output device is located on an end of the first tube or an end of the second tube.

9. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output device includes a wireless unit configured to wirelessly output the signal.

10. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of an electrical cable port and an electrical cable, which is configured to be electrically connected to the bicycle component.

11. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning structure configured to relatively position the first tube and the second tube, wherein the output device is configured to output the signal to control the positioning structure.

12. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

the positioning structure includes a motor and a hydraulic unit including a valve to switch between an open state and a closed state of the hydraulic unit, and

the motor is configured to actuate the valve in accordance with the signal.

13. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bicycle telescopic apparatus is a height-adjustable seatpost assembly.

14. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bicycle telescopic apparatus is a suspension apparatus.

15. A bicycle telescopic apparatus control system comprising:

a controller configured to control a positioning structure to relatively position a first tube and a second tube of a bicycle telescopic apparatus in accordance with a signal, which includes information related to a relative position of the first tube and the second tube in a longitudinal direction of the bicycle telescopic apparatus, and

a position detector including a first detector part and a second detector part, wherein

the first detector part is located on one of the first tube and the second tube, and the second detector part is located on the other of the first tube and the second tube,

one of the first detector part and the second detector part has a longitudinal maximum length and a transverse maximum length that is smaller than the longitudinal maximum length,

the longitudinal maximum length is measured along the longitudinal direction of the bicycle telescopic apparatus, and

the transverse maximum length is measured along a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

16. An bicycle telescopic apparatus comprising:

a first tube having a receiving space;

a second tube telescopically received in the receiving space of the first tube to be adjustably movable with respect to the first tube in a longitudinal direction of the bicycle telescopic apparatus;

a hydraulic positioning structure configured to adjustably position the first tube and the second tube in the longitudinal direction, wherein the hydraulic positioning structure includes a hydraulic valve to open and close a hydraulic passage;

an electrical actuator configured to actuate the hydraulic positioning structure to close the hydraulic valve in accordance with a closing signal; and

a position detector configured to output the closing signal in response to a telescopic movement of the second tube toward a predetermined position relative to the first tube.

17. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

the position detector includes

a first detector part located on one of the first and second tubes, and

a second detector part located on the other of the first and second tubes.

18. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

one of the first detector part and the second detector part includes a switch to output the closing signal;

and

the other of the first detector part and the second detector part is configured to actuate the switch.

19. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a detecting point of the position detector defined between the first detector part and the second detector part is located in the receiving space.

20. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the first detector part and the second detector part is detachable from the bicycle telescopic apparatus.

21. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising an adjustment structure configured to adjust a longitudinal position of at least one of the first detector part and the second detector part so that the detecting point is selectively changed in the longitudinal direction.

22. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one of the first detector part and the second detector part is mounted to the first tube.

23. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the adjustment structure is accessible from an outside of the first tube to adjust the longitudinal position of the at least one of the first detector part and the second detector part.

24. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the position detector is configured to be selectively changed between an activated state, in which the position detector is capable of outputting the closing signal and an inactivated state, in which the position detector is incapable of outputting the closing signal.

25. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 16, wherein

the electrical actuator is configured to actuate the hydraulic positioning structure to open the hydraulic valve in accordance with a first opening signal that is based on a first state of a user operating device, and

the electrical actuator is configured to close the hydraulic passage in accordance with the closing signal in a state in which the electrical actuator has opened the hydraulic passage in accordance with the first opening signal.

26. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 25, wherein

the electrical actuator is configured to actuate the hydraulic positioning structure to open the hydraulic valve in accordance with a second opening signal that is based on a second state of the user operating device, and

the electrical actuator is configured to keep the hydraulic passage open in a state that the hydraulic passage has been opened in accordance with the second opening signal.

27. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the position detector is configured to wirelessly output the closing signal.

28. The bicycle telescopic apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the position detector is connected to the electrical actuator via an electrical cable.

29. An bicycle telescopic apparatus comprising:

a first tube having a receiving space;

a second tube telescopically received in the receiving space of the first tube to be adjustably movable with respect to the first tube in a longitudinal direction of the bicycle telescopic apparatus;

a positioning structure configured to adjustably position the first tube and the second tube in a longitudinal direction of the bicycle telescopic apparatus;

a position detector configured to detect a relative position between the first tube and the second tube in the longitudinal direction, wherein a detecting point of the position detector is located in the receiving space of the first tube, and the position detector outputs a signal related to the relative position between the first and second tubes in response to a telescopic movement of the second tube toward a predetermined position relative to the first tube,

an adjustment structure configured to adjust a longitudinal position of the position detector so that the predetermined position is selectively changed in the longitudinal direction.