CONTROL DEVICES FOR OPERATING BICYCLE COMPONENTS

• US 20190315428A1
• Filed: 04/11/2018
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRAM LLC (SRAM International Corp.)
• Original Assignee: SRAM LLC (SRAM International Corp.)
• Inventors: SULLIVAN, DEVON, VAN ZYL, MICHAEL
• Granted Patent: US 10,689,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2025/047 with suspension locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/26 Handlebar grips twist grips B62K23/04
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/04 Twist grips
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/06 Levers
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/08 for front wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/286 the shock absorber being connected to the chain-stay via a linkage mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/30 pivoted on pedal crank shelf B62K25/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/04 hand actuated
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/08 Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/082 having safety devices, e.g. means for disengaging the control member from the actuated member
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/05 Means for returning or tending to return controlling members to an inoperative or neutral position, e.g. by providing return springs or resilient end-stops G05G5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/065 using a spring-loaded ball
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/18 by positive interengagement, e.g. by a pawl
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2011 with detent, recess, notch, or groove
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20438 Single rotatable lever [e.g., for bicycle brake or derailleur]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20636 Detents

Abstract

Example control devices for operating bicycle components are described herein. An example control device includes a housing having an opening to receive a handlebar of the bicycle and a rotating member rotatably coupled to the housing. The rotating member is rotatable about a first axis. The rotating member is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position to change an operating state of a component. The example control device includes a securing mechanism configured to lock the rotating member in the second position. The example control device also includes a release actuator coupled to the housing. The release actuator has an actuating surface to be engaged by a user and moved along a second axis that intersects the first axis. The release actuator is configured to, when actuated, unlock the securing mechanism to enable the rotating member to rotate back to the first position.

Claims

1. A control device for changing an operating state of a component of a bicycle, the control device comprising:

a housing having an opening to receive a handlebar of the bicycle;

a rotating member rotatably coupled to the housing, the rotating member rotatable about a first axis, the rotating member configured to rotate between a first position and a second position to change the operating state of the component between a first state and a second state, respectively;

a securing mechanism configured to lock the rotating member in the second position; and

a release actuator coupled to the housing, the release actuator having an actuating surface to be engaged by a user and moved along a second axis that intersects the first axis, the release actuator configured to, when actuated, unlock the securing mechanism to enable the rotating member to rotate back to the first position.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the rotating member is disposed within a cavity in the housing and a second portion of the rotating member extends axially outward from the housing.

3. The control device of claim 2, wherein, in the first position, the first portion of the rotating member is engaged with a first end wall in the cavity of the housing that prevents further rotation of the rotating member in a first direction and, in the second position, the first portion of the rotating member is near or engaged with a second end wall in the housing that prevents further rotation of the rotating member in a second direction opposite the first direction.

4. The control device of claim 3, wherein an angular rotation of the rotating member between the first position and the second position is 45°

or less.

5. The control device of claim 2, further including a grip coupled to an outer surface of the second portion of the rotating member.

6. The control device of claim 5, wherein the grip includes a keyed opening to mate with the first portion of the rotating member.

7. The control device of claim 2, wherein the opening is a first opening, and wherein the first portion of the rotating member includes a second opening extending between an outer surface and an inner surface of the rotating member, wherein the securing mechanism includes a securing member engaged with the inner surface of the first portion of the rotating member, and wherein, when the rotating member is in the second position, the securing member is biased into the second opening and prevents the rotating member from rotating to the first position.

8. The control device of claim 2, wherein the opening is a first opening, wherein the housing includes a second opening in an outer surface of the housing extending into the cavity, and wherein an outer surface of the first portion of the rotating member includes indicia, the indicia not viewable through the second opening when the rotating member is in the first position and the indicia being viewable through the second opening when the rotating member is in the second position.

9. The control device of claim 1, wherein the housing is deformable to clamp onto the handlebar of the bicycle.

10. The control device of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a threaded bore to receive a threaded fastener to deform the housing to clamp the housing onto the handlebar of the bicycle.

11. The control device of claim 1, further including a biasing element disposed within the housing and engaged with the rotating member to bias the rotating member toward the first position.

12. The control device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a wire guide having a groove to receive a cable wire of the component, an innermost surface of the groove being less than 15 mm from the first axis.

13. A control device for changing an operating state a component of a bicycle, the control device comprising:

a housing having a first opening to receive a handlebar of the bicycle;

a rotating member coupled to the housing, the rotating member movable between a first position and a second position to change the operating state of the component between a first state and a second state, respectively, the rotating member including a second opening extending between an inner surface and an outer surface of the rotating member;

a securing member disposed in the housing and biased toward the inner surface of the rotating member, the securing member to be disposed in the second opening when the rotating member is in the second position to lock the rotating member in the second position; and

a release actuator coupled to the housing, the release actuator to, when actuated, move the securing member out of the second opening to enable the rotating member to move back to the first position.

14. The control device of claim 13, wherein the housing includes a bore, the securing member disposed in and movable within the bore, and wherein, when the rotating member is in the second position, the second opening in the rotating member is aligned with the bore and, when the rotating member is in the first position, the second opening in the rotating member is not aligned with the bore.

15. The control device of claim 14, further including a biasing element disposed in the bore to bias the securing member toward the inner surface of the rotating member.

16. The control device of claim 13, wherein the rotating member includes a slot extending partially around a circumference of the rotating member and connected to the second opening, and wherein the release actuator includes a protrusion that extends through at least one of the slot or the second opening to engage the securing member.

17. The control device of claim 13, wherein the rotating member is rotatable about a first axis, and wherein the release actuator is moveable along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.

18. A suspension system for a bicycle, the suspension system comprising:

a suspension component operable between an unlocked state and a locked state;

a cable coupled to the suspension component; and

a control device to be coupled to a handlebar of the bicycle, the control device including;

a housing to be coupled around the handlebar;

a sleeve rotatably coupled to the housing, the sleeve having a first portion disposed within and rotatable within the housing, the sleeve having a second portion extending axially outward from a side of the housing, the first portion having a cable anchor hub, a cable wire of the cable coupled to the cable anchor hub, the sleeve rotatable between a first position and a second position to actuate the suspension component between the unlocked state and the locked state, respectively, by translating the cable wire;

a gripping surface extending along an axial length of the second portion of the sleeve to enable a rider to grip and rotate the sleeve between the first position and the second position;

a securing mechanism to lock the sleeve in the second position; and

a release actuator configured to disengage the securing mechanism to enable the sleeve to rotate back to the first position.

19. The suspension system of claim 18, wherein the cable anchor hub includes a first cable attachment portion and a second cable attachment portion, the cable wire coupled to the first cable attachment portion.

20. The suspension system of claim 19, wherein the suspension component is a first suspension component and the cable is a first cable, further including a second suspension component coupled to the second suspension component, a cable wire of the second cable coupled to the second cable attachment portion, the sleeve, when rotated, to actuate the second suspension component between an unlocked state and a locked state.

21. The suspension system of claim 18, wherein the gripping surface is formed by a grip disposed on the second portion of the sleeve, the grip coupled to and rotatable with the sleeve between the first and second positions.

22. The suspension system of claim 18, wherein the second portion of the sleeve is at least two inches in length.