Bicycle and bicycle speed change operation assembly

• US 6,042,132 A
• Filed: 11/06/1996
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sakae Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sakae Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Iwasaki, Yoshihisa, Suenaga, Tomonori
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US08/737,274
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 280/236, 280/238, 280/260, 280/259, 280/261, 74/551.8, 74/551.9, 74/502.2, 74/502.4, 74/502.6, 74/504, 74/508, 474/81
• US Class Current: 280/260
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/04 Twist grips
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2025/003 with gear indicating means, e.g. a display
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/04 hand actuated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20438 Single rotatable lever [e.g., for bicycle brake or derailleur]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20462 Specific cable connector or guide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20822 Attachments and accessories

Abstract

A bicycle comprises a front speed shifter having a plurality of speed stages, a rear speed shifter having at least three speed stages, a front speed change operation assembly 1A connected to the front speed shifter, and a rear speed change operation assembly 1B connected to the rear speed shifter. There are a plurality of designated groups of combinations for combining the speed stages of the front speed shifter with the speed stages of the rear speed shifter, and indication means 50a through 50c, 51a through 51c, and 59B for identifying each of these groups are provided for each of the front speed change operation assembly 1A and the rear speed change operation assembly 1B.

Claims

1. A bicycle comprising;

a front speed shifter having a plurality of speed stages, a rear speed shifter having at least three speed stages, a front speed change operation assembly connected to the front speed shifter, and a rear speed change operation assembly connected to the rear speed shifter,

wherein there are a plurality of designated groups of combinations for combining the speed stages of the front speed shifter with the speed stages of the rear speed shifter, and

wherein indication means for identifying each of these groups is provided for each of the front speed change operation assembly and the rear speed change operation assembly;

wherein the indication means comprises a first group of differently colored indicator marks each corresponding to a respective speed stage of the front speed shifter, and a second group of differently colored indicator marks each corresponding to plural speed stages of the rear speed shifter;

the color of each indicator mark in the first group being similar to the color of one indicator mark in the second group for showing recommended combinations of each speed stage of the front speed shifter with a plurality of speed stages of the rear speed shifter.

2. A bicycle speed change operation system comprising:

a front speed change operation assembly connected to a front speed shifter having a plurality of speed stages, and a rear speed change operation assembly connected to a rear speed shifter having at least three speed changes,

wherein there are a plurality of designated groups of combinations for combining the speed stages of the front speed shifter with the speed changes of the rear speed shifter; and

wherein indication means for identifying each of these groups is provided for each of the front speed change operation assembly and the rear speed change operation assembly;

wherein each of the front speed change operation assembly and the rear speed change operation assembly is mounted around a bicycle handlebar and comprises;

a housing having a protecting wire-guide portion for guiding an inner wire of a control cable, and

a wire reel fitted around the handlebar for rotation relative to the housing and having an engaging recess for retaining a nipple provided at an end of the inner wire,

the housing having a through-hole for allowing insertion of the inner wire longitudinally of the handlebar,

the housing further having a through-slit penetrating from one side to an opposite side of the housing and communicating with the through-hole, thereby allowing the nipple of the inner wire to enter into the retaining recess of the wire reel, and

the wire-guide portion having a guide groove for introducing a portion of the inner wire inserted through the through-hole into the wire-guide portion.

3. A bicycle speed change operation assembly comprising;

a housing fitted around a bicycle handlebar and having a projecting wire-guide portion for guiding an inner wire of a control cable, and

a wire reel fitted around the handlebar for rotation relative to the housing and having an engaging recess for retaining a nipple provided at an end of the inner wire,

wherein the housing has a through-hole for allowing insertion of the inner wire longitudinally of the handlebar,

the housing further having a through-slit penetrating from one side to an opposite side of the housing and communicating with the through-hole, thereby allowing the nipple of the inner wire to enter into the retaining recess of the wire reel, and

the wire-guide portion having a guide groove for introducing a portion of the inner wire inserted through the through-hole into the wire-guide portion;

wherein the through-hole is sized for allowing passage of the nipple of the inner wire, and the guide groove being formed along the entire length of the wire-guide portion.

4. The bicycle speed change operation assembly according to claim 3, wherein the retaining recess of the wire reel has a wall facing the head of the nipple retained by the retaining recess.

5. The bicycle speed change operation assembly according to claim 3, wherein the wire-guide portion is curved to extend longitudinally of the handlebar so that an end portion of the inner wire partially guided by the wire-guide portion is elastically urged toward retaining recess for retention therein.

6. A bicycle comprising;

a front speed shifter having a plurality of speed stages, a rear speed shifter having at least three speed stages, a front speed change operation assembly connected to the front speed shifter, and a rear speed change operation assembly connected to the rear speed shifter,

wherein there are a plurality of designated groups of combinations for combining the speed stages of the front speed shifter with the speed stages of the rear speed shifter;

wherein indication means for identifying each of these groups is provided for each of the front speed change operation assembly and the rear speed change operation assembly; and

wherein each speed change operation assembly comprises a grip operation member rotatably mounted at an end portion of a handlebar.

7. The bicycle according to claim 6, wherein the grip operation member of the front speed change operation assembly and the grip operation member of the rear speed change operation assembly are designed such that when they are rotated in the same direction, the front speed shifter and the rear speed shifter are equally shifted to either one of a higher speed stage and a lower speed stage.