Bicycle brake mounting structure

• US 6,325,401 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Fujii, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): DePumpo, Daniel G.
• Application Number:
  US09/695,910
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 280/264, 280/274, 280/276, 280/279, 280/281.1, 280/284, 280/288, 188/24.11, 188/24.12, 188/24.21, 188/24.22, 188/24.14, 188/24.15, 188/24.16
• US Class Current: 280/274
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 1/00 Brakes back-pedalling brakes B62L5/00; Arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 1/14 the elements being mounted on levers pivotable about different axes

Abstract

A bicycle brake device is coupled to a bicycle frame section, which includes one or more bicycle brake mounting structures. The bicycle frame section can be either a portion of a front fork or rear fork of a bicycle. The brake device is preferably a caliper brake device such as a cantilever brake device, a side pull brake device, or a center pull brake device. The caliper brake device has a pair of brake arms, which are pivotally coupled to either the front fork or rear fork for selectively engaging the rim of the bicycle wheel. In certain embodiments, the bicycle brake mounting structures are U-shaped brackets, which are fixedly coupled to the frame member or members. In other embodiments, the bicycle brake mounting structures are formed by a pair of separate tubular frame members, which are fixedly coupled to the remainder of the bicycle frame section. In the case of cantilever brake devices and side pull brake devices, the bicycle brake mounting structure or structures support both ends of pivot pins, while in the case of center pull brake devices, the bicycle brake mounting structure or structures support both ends of the center mounting pin.

Claims

1. A bicycle brake mounting structure adapted to be coupled to a bicycle frame having at least one bicycle wheel lying in a center plane of the bicycle frame, said brake mounting structure being adapted to support a mounting portion of a brake device, said brake mounting structure comprising:

a first brake mounting portion having a first mounting flange with a first attachment flange extending outwardly therefrom to form a first mounting recess therebetween;

a second brake mounting portion having a second mounting flange with a second attachment flange extending outwardly therefrom to form a second mounting recess therebetween; and

a connecting member coupled between said first and second brake mounting portions to form a one-piece, unitary member with a brake device receiving recess located between said first and second brake mounting portions with said first and second mounting recesses arranged on opposite sides of said brake device receiving recess.

2. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second brake mounting portions are connected together by said connecting member to form a first substantially U-shaped member with said attachment flanges extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof.

3. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein

said first mounting flange has a first pin support and said second mounting flange has a second pin support, said first and second mounting flanges being spaced apart and configured to support opposite sides of the mounting portion of a brake device therebetween.

4. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 3, wherein

said first and second mounting flanges have first and second axially aligned holes, respectively, forming said first and second pin supports.

5. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 4, wherein

one of said first and second mounting flanges has a third hole.

6. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 5, wherein

said first and second attachment flanges are angled about 90 degrees relative to said first and second mounting flanges, respectively.

7. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 6, wherein

said connecting member is substantially parallel to said first and second attachment flanges.

8. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 7, wherein

said connecting member is offset from said first and second mounting flanges.

9. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 8, wherein

said first and second attachment flanges are arranged between said connecting member and said first and second axially aligned holes, respectively.

10. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 5, wherein

each of said first and second mounting flanges includes an outer section and an inner section with said first and second attachment flanges arranged therebetween.

11. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 10, wherein

said connecting member is coupled between said inner sections.

12. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 11, wherein

each of said inner sections is thicker than each of said outer sections.

13. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second attachment flanges are angled about 90 degrees relative to said first and second mounting flanges, respectively.

14. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 13, wherein

said connecting member is substantially parallel to said first and second attachment flanges.

15. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 14, wherein said connecting member is offset from said first and second mounting flanges.

16. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 15, wherein

said first and second attachment flanges have first and second axially aligned holes to form first and second pin supports, respectively.

17. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein

each of said first and second mounting flanges includes an outer section and an inner section with said first and second attachment flanges arranged therebetween.

18. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 17, wherein

said connecting member is coupled between said inner sections.

19. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 18, wherein

each of said inner sections is thicker than each of said outer sections.

20. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein

said first mounting flange has a first pin support and said second mounting flange has a second pin support, said first and second mounting flanges being spaced apart and configured to support opposite sides of the mounting portion of a brake device therebetween.

21. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second mounting flanges have first and second axially aligned holes to form first and second pin supports, respectively.

22. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein

said connecting member is offset from said first and second mounting flanges.

23. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 22, wherein

said first and second attachment flanges have first and second axially aligned holes to form first and second pin supports, respectively.

24. A bicycle brake mounting structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

first and second frame members rigidly coupled within said first and second mounting recesses, respectively.