Handlebar-mounted cable control

• US 4,966,047 A
• Filed: 03/23/1989
• Issued: 10/30/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alwin Krauer
• Original Assignee: Alwin Krauer
• Inventors: Krauer, Alwin, Frueh, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US07/327,758
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 74/488, 74/489, 74/99 A, 74/99 R, 74/502.2, 74/551.9, 74/558, 74/558.5
• US Class Current: 74/502.2
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/04 Twist grips
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 3/026 actuation by a turning handle or handlebar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20287 Flexible control element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20438 Single rotatable lever [e.g., for bicycle brake or derailleur]

Abstract

A handlebar-mounted cable control for a bicycle brake or the like, including a cable fitting fixed within the handlebar and having a throughbore and an angled surface facing an open end of the handlebar, a tubular handle member being inserted over and coaxially rotatable about the end of the handlebar, the handle member having an insert with a throughbore and an angled surface being generally complementary with the angled surface of the cable fitting. The brake cable is inserted in the throughbore and a cable end is fixed to the insert so that as the handle member is rotated, the brake cable is pulled, activating the brake.

Claims

1. A handlebar-mounted cable control for a bicycle brake cable or the like, comprising:

a cable fitting having a throughbore, a first end and a second angled end, said fitting being fixed within an open end of a handlebar so that said angled end faces the open handlebar end;

a handle member including a tubular body portion configured to telescopically slide over the open end of the handlebar and to coaxially rotate thereabout, said body portion having an outer end spaced from the open handlebar end;

an insert portion fixed within said body portion of said handle member and having a lug portion projecting into the interior of the handlebar, the lug portion having a throughbore and a first angled end being generally complementary with and configured to slidingly contact said angled end of said fitting;

said throughbores being generally coaxial, said insert portion having means for locking an end of the cable thereto;

where in coaxial rotation of said tubular body portion and said insert portion relative to said cable fitting in the handlebar causes axial displacement of said handle member from the end of the handle bar and exerts an axial pulling action on the cable as said angled end on said insert is rotatably reoriented relative to said angled end on said cable fitting.

2. The cable control as defined in claim 1 wherein said lug portion has a second end with a counterbore for receiving and securing an enlarged end of the cable.

3. The cable control as defined in claim 1 wherein said first end of said cable fitting is provided with a counterbore configured for receiving an end of a cable sheath.

4. The cable control as defined in claim 1 further comprising an endcap releasably fixed to said outer end of said tubular body portion and covering said insert.

5. The cable control as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular body portion is fabricated of resilient material.

6. The cable control as defined in claim 1 wherein said insert further includes a radially extending annular flange configured to functionally engage the interior of the tubular body portion.

7. A combination handlebar and cable control for a sheathed bicycle brake cable or the like, comprising:

a tubular handlebar having two ends, at least one of said ends having a fixed angled formation associated therewith;

a handle member including a tubular body portion configured to telescopically slide over said end having said angled formation and being coaxially rotatable about said end, said handle member having a lug portion with an angled end being generally complementary with said angled formation of said handlebar end;

means for accommodating passage of the cable through said handlebar and said handle member and for fixing an end of the cable to said handle member;

wherein rotation of said handle member relative to said handlebar end causes rotation of said angled end relative to said angled formation so as to axially displace said handle member from said handlebar end and exert an axial pulling force on the cable.

8. A combination handlebar cable and cable control, comprising:

a tubular handlebar having two ends, at least one of said ends having a fixed angled formation associated therewith;

a handle member including a tubular body portion configured to telescopically slide over said end having said angled formation and being coaxially rotatable about said end, said handle member having a lug portion with an angled end being generally complementary with said angled formation of said handlebar end;

a sheated bicycle brake cable;

means for accommodating passage of an end of said cable through said handlebar and said handle member and for fixing said end of said cable to said handle member;

wherein rotation of said handle member relative to said handlebar end causes rotation of said angled end relative to said angled formation so as to axially displace said handle member from said handlebar end and exert an axial pulling force on said cable.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said handle member is secured in operational relation to said handlebar only by said cable.