Switch guide for a bicycle control panel

• US 6,400,564 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Nishimoto, Naohiro, Masui, Takuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US09/661,974
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/610-625, 361/641-645, 340/692, 340/427, 340/432, 340/456, 340/438, 340/441, 340/884, 744/89, 745/022, 744/731, 745/519, 368/10, 368/69, 368/74, 368/82, 368/188.22, 188/2.D, 188/24.11, 188/24.15, 188/24.22, 318/286, 318/283, 318/293, 318/466, 318/468, 318/2, 180/218, 180/219, 180/221, 702/33, 702/36, 345/102, 345/63, 345/211, 600/500, 600/502, 600/503, 200/5.A, 200/5.R, 200/6.R, 200/5.E, 200/293, 200/294, 200/296, 200/310-317, 200/341, 200/345, 200/333, 200/512, 200/517, 200/561
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/02 hand actuated arrangements of controls on handle-bars of engine-driven cycles B62K11/14
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/068 with switches mounted on a handlebar, e.g. for motorcycles, fork lift trucks, etc.

Abstract

A switch guide located between a pair of switches on a computerized bicycle control panel is disclosed for guiding a bicycle rider'"'"'s thumb to a proper switch on a bicycle handle bar. The switch guide is preferably a protrusion dimensioned to be detected by the bicycle rider'"'"'s thumb. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the height of the switch guide is greater than the height of the switch. In an alternative embodiment, the height of the switch guide is greater than the height of the switch, when the switch is activated. The switch guide is located in sufficient proximity to the switches to allow the rider'"'"'s thumb to access one of the switches by moving the thumb to one side of the switch guide and the other switch by moving the thumb to the other side of the switch guide.

Claims

1. A computerized bicycle control panel, comprising:

a pair of switches; and

a protrusion positioned between the switches.

2. A bicycle control panel in accordance with claim 1, wherein each switch has a switch height, the protrusion has a protrusion height, and the protrusion height is greater than the switch height.

3. A bicycle control panel in accordance with claim 1, wherein each switch defines an first height when the switch is at an initial rest position and a second height when the switch is at an activated position, and wherein the protrusion has a protrusion height that is greater than the second height of the switch when the switch is at the activated position.

4. A bicycle control panel in accordance with claim 1 wherein the protrusion has a rectangular cross-section.

5. A bicycle handle, comprising:

a control panel;

a pair of switches on the control panel; and

a protrusion located between the switches on the control panel.

6. A method of guiding a bicycle rider'"'"'s thumb to a proper switch on a bicycle handle bar, comprising the steps of:

providing a protrusion on the bicycle handle bar, wherein the protrusion is dimensioned to be detected by the bicycle rider'"'"'s finger;

providing a first switch positioned on a first side of the protrusion and a second switch positioned on a second side of the protrusion, such that the protrusion is located between the first switch and the second switch; and

wherein the first and second switches are located in sufficient proximity to the protrusion to allow the thumb to access the first switch or the second switch by moving the thumb to the first side or the second side of the protrusion, respectively.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

manipulating the bicycle rider'"'"'s thumb to contact the first switch or the second switch by moving the thumb to the first side or the second side of the protrusion, respectively.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, further comprising the steps of activating either the first switch or the second switch.