Electrical operating device for bicycles

• US 6,216,078 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1997
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Fukuda, Masahiko, Jinbo, Masahiko, Abe, Takeo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arthur, Gertrude
• Application Number:
  US08/991,260
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/22, 701/70, 701/71, 180/220, 180/221, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 280/208, 280/209, 188/24.11, 188/24.12, 745/511, 340/432, 340/427
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/06 Levers
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 3/02 for control by a hand lever hand levers for control of cycles in general B62K23/06
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems

Abstract

An electrical operating device for a bicycle includes a brake control device adapted to be mounted to a handlebar of the bicycle and a switching device integrated with the brake control device. The brake control device includes a first operating member that moves along a first path for controlling the operation of a brake, and the switching device outputs electrical signals in response to movement of the switching device along a second path different from the first path.

Claims

1. An electrical operating device for a bicycle comprising:

a brake control device adapted to be mounted to a handlebar of the bicycle, wherein the brake control device includes;

a brake control device housing for attachment to the bicycle;

a first operating lever pivotably mounted to the brake control device housing, wherein the first operating lever moves along a first path for controlling the operation of a brake; and

a switching device disposed in the brake control device housing, wherein the switching device outputs electrical signals in response to movement of the switching device along a second path different from the first path.

2. The electrical operating device according to claim 1 wherein the first operating lever forms part of the switching device and is structured for moving along the second path.

3. The electrical operating device according to claim 2 wherein the first operating lever is coupled to a brake rotary body that is mounted to the brake control device for rotation around a first axis, wherein rotation of the brake rotary body around the first axis controls the operation of the brake.

4. The electrical operating device according to claim 3 wherein the first operating lever is mounted to the brake rotary body for movement along the second path.

5. The electrical operating device according to claim 2 wherein the first operating lever rotates around a first axis for moving along the first path, wherein the first operating lever rotates around a second axis for moving along the second path, and wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.

6. The electrical operating device according to claim 2 further comprising a biasing mechanism for biasing the first operating lever to an initial position along the second path.

7. The electrical operating device according to claim 1 wherein the switching device includes a change gear device that is mounted integrally with the brake control device.

8. The electrical operating device according to claim 7 wherein the change gear device includes a rotating first member that rotates relative to a second member.

9. An electrical operating device for a bicycle comprising:

a brake control device adapted to be mounted to a handlebar of the bicycle, wherein the brake control device includes a first operating lever that moves alone a first path for controlling the operation of a brake;

a switching device integrated with the brake control device that outputs electrical signals in response to movement of the switching device along a second path different from the first path;

wherein the first operating lever forms part of the switching device and is structured for moving along the second path; and

wherein the first operating lever is coupled to a brake rotary body that is mounted to the brake control device for rotation around a first axis, wherein rotation of the brake rotary body around the first axis controls the operation of the brake;

wherein the first operating lever is mounted to the brake rotary body for movement along the second path; and

wherein the switching device further comprises;

a switching mechanism mounted to the brake rotary body for rotation around a second axis in response to movement of the first operating lever along the second path;

a first first side electrical contact coupled to one of the brake rotary body and the switching mechanism;

a first second side electrical contact coupled to the other one of the brake rotary body and the switching mechanism for selectively contacting the first first side electrical contact in response to rotation of the switching mechanism around the second axis; and

a second second side electrical contact coupled to the other one of the brake rotary body and the switching mechanism for selectively contacting the first first side electrical contact in response to rotation of the switching mechanism around the second axis.

10. The electrical operating device according to claim 9 wherein the switching device further comprises a positioning element coupled to the other one of the brake rotary body and the switching mechanism between the first second side electrical contact and the second second side electrical contact for selectively contacting the first first side electrical contact in response to rotation of the switching mechanism around the second axis.

11. The electrical operating device according to claim 10 wherein the first first side electrical contact is coupled to the brake rotary body, and wherein the first second side electrical contact, the second second side electrical contact, and the positioning element are couple to the switching mechanism.

12. The electrical operating device according to claim 11 further comprising a biasing mechanism for biasing the first operating lever to a position in the second path where the positioning element contacts the first first side electrical contact.

13. The electrical operating device according to claim 12 wherein the first axis intersects the second axis.

14. The electrical operating device according to claim 13 wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.

15. The electrical operating device according to claim 9 wherein the switching device outputs a different electrical signal when the first side electrical contact contacts each of the first second side electrical contact and the second second side electrical contact.

16. The electrical operating device according to claim 15 wherein the first second side electrical contact and second second side electrical contact comprise a resistive path.

17. An electrical operating device for a bicycle comprising:

a brake control device adapted to be mounted to a handlebar of the bicycle, wherein the brake control device includes a first operating lever that moves along a first path for controlling the operation of a brake;

a switching device integrated with the brake control device that outputs electrical signals in response to movement of the switching device along a second path different from the first path;

wherein the first operating lever forms part of the switching device and is structured for moving along the second path; and

wherein the first operating lever is coupled to a brake rotary body that is mounted to the brake control device for rotation around a first axis, wherein rotation of the brake rotary body around the first axis controls the operation of the brake;

wherein the first operating lever is mounted to the brake rotary body for movement along the second path; and

wherein the switching device further comprises;

a switching mechanism mounted to the brake rotary body for rotation around a second axis in response to movement of the first operating lever along the second path;

a first first side electrical contact coupled to one of the brake rotary body and the switching mechanism;

a second first side electrical contact coupled to the one of the brake rotary body and the switching mechanism;

a first second side electrical contact coupled to the other one of the brake rotary body and the switching mechanism for selectively contacting the first first side electrical contact in response to rotation of the switching mechanism around the second axis; and

a second second side electrical contact coupled to the other one of the brake rotary body and the switching mechanism for selectively contacting the second first side electrical contact in response to rotation of the switching mechanism around the second axis.

18. The electrical operating device according to claim 17 wherein the switching mechanism comprises:

a first switching rotary body for rotating around the second axis; and

a second switching rotary body for rotating around the second axis independently of the first switching rotary body.

19. The electrical operating device according to claim 18 wherein the first operating lever is coupled to the first switching rotary body for rotating the first switching rotary body around the second axis.

20. The electrical operating device according to claim 19 further comprising a second operating member coupled to the second switching rotary body for rotating the second switching rotary body around the second axis.

21. The electrical operating device according to claim 20 wherein the second operating member comprises a second operating lever.

22. The electrical operating device according to claim 19 wherein the switching device further comprises:

a first positioning element coupled to the other one of the brake rotary body and the switching mechanism for selectively contacting the first first side electrical contact in response to rotation of the switching mechanism around the second axis; and

a second positioning element coupled to the other one of the brake rotary body and the switching mechanism for selectively contacting the second first side electrical contact in response to rotation of the switching mechanism around the second axis.

23. The electrical operating device according to claim 22 wherein the first first side electrical contact and the second first side electrical contact are coupled to the brake rotary body, wherein the first second side electrical contact and the first positioning element are coupled to the first switching rotary body, and wherein the second second side electrical contact and the second positioning element are coupled to the second switching rotary body.

24. The electrical operating device according to claim 23 further comprising:

a first biasing mechanism for biasing the first operating lever to a position in the second path where the first positioning element contacts the first first side electrical contact; and

a second biasing mechanism for biasing the second operating lever to a position in the second path where the second positioning element contacts the second first side electrical contact.

25. The electrical operating device according to claim 24 wherein the first axis intersects the second axis.

26. The electrical operating device according to claim 25 wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.

27. The electrical operating device according to claim 17 wherein the switching mechanism comprises a switching rotary body that rotates around the second axis, and further comprising a first clutch disposed between the first operating lever and the switching rotary body for causing rotation of the switching rotary body in a first direction in response to movement of the first operating lever along the second path.

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

a second operating member for movement along a third path; and

a second clutch disposed between the second operating member and the switching rotary body for causing rotation of the switching rotary body in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to movement of the second operating member along the third path.

29. The electrical operating device according to claim 28 wherein the second opera zing member comprises a second operating lever.

30. The electrical operating device according to claim 29 wherein the first first side electrical contact and the second first side electrical contact are coupled to the switching rotary body, and further comprising:

a plurality of the first second side electrical contacts extending in a circumferential direction on the brake rotary body; and

a plurality of the second second side electrical contacts extending in a circumferential direction on the brake rotary body radially outwardly from the plurality of first second side electrical contacts.

31. The electrical operating device according to claim 30 further comprising:

a first biasing mechanism for biasing the first operating lever to an initial position; and

a second biasing mechanism for biasing the second operating lever to an initial position.

32. The electrical operating device according to claim 31 wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.

33. The electrical operating device according to claim 31 wherein the first axis intersects the second axis.

34. An electrical operating device for a bicycle comprising:

a brake control device adapted to be mounted to a handlebar of the bicycle, wherein the brake control device includes a first operating member that moves along a first path for controlling the operation of a brake;

a switching device integrated with the brake control device that outputs electrical signals in response to movement of the switching device along a second path different from the first path;

wherein the switching device includes a change year device that is mounted integrally with the brake control device;

wherein the change gear device includes a rotating first member that rotates relative to a second member;

wherein the switching device further comprises;

a first first side electrical contact coupled to one of the first member and the second member;

a first second side electrical contact coupled to the other one of the first member and the second member for selectively contacting the first first side electrical contact in response to rotation of the first member relative to the second member; and

a second second side electrical contact coupled to the other one of the first member and the second member for selectively contacting the first first side electrical contact in response to rotation of the first member relative to the second member.

35. The electrical operating device according to claim 34 wherein the switching device outputs a different electrical signal when the first side electrical contact contacts each of the first second side electrical contact and the second second side electrical contact.

36. The electrical operating device according to claim 35 wherein the first second side electrical contact and second second side electrical contact comprise a resistive path.

37. The electrical operating device according to claim 35 wherein the first operating member comprises a first operating lever that rotates around a first axis for moving along the first path, and wherein rotation of the first operating lever around the first axis controls the operation of the brake.

38. The electrical operating device according to claim 37 wherein the switching device further comprises a second operating lever coupled to the first member, wherein the second operating lever moves along the second path for rotating the first member around a second axis.

39. The electrical operating device according to claim 38 wherein the first member rotate integrally with a winding drum for a cable.

40. The electrical operating device according to claim 38 wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.

41. The electrical operating device according to claim 38 further comprising:

a first biasing mechanism for biasing the first operating lever to an initial position along the first path; and

a second biasing mechanism for biasing the second operating lever to an initial position along the second path.