Device for monitoring gear lever position

• US 6,571,726 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sunrace Roots Enterprise Co, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sunrace Roots Enterprise Co, Ltd.
• Inventors: Tsai, Jimmy, Wu, Shang-Fei, Ou, Bou-Yi, Chiang, Chi-Liang
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): Courson, Tania C.
• Application Number:
  US09/842,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20020157594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 744/731.4, 744/89, 116/28.1, 116/284, 116/299, 116/305, 116/309
• US Class Current: 116/28.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/04 Twist grips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2014 Manually operated selector [e.g., remotely controlled device, lever, push button, rotary dial, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20287 Flexible control element

Abstract

A device for monitoring a gear lever position includes one internal tube, one external tube, one adjust handle, one cover and one flexible piece. The internal tube has one ring-shape outer rim, one slot formed on the outer rim and one hollow and axial sheath. A convex fish-shaped lens is located on an imagine line from a rider'"'"'s eyes to the position ring, the imagine line not being perpendicular to the axial sheath. Via the design of the convex fish-shaped lens, the position symbols are enlarged. The window only shows single position symbol in use. Thus, rider easily monitors and knows the actual gear lever position.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a gear lever position, which can be installed on bike, the device comprising:

an internal tube, including a ring-shaped outer rim, a slot being formed on the outer rim, and a hollow and axial sheath adapted for fixing the device to a bike handle, wherein, an outer diameter of the sheath is smaller than an inner diameter of the outer rim so as to form a storage space between the sheath and the outer rim;

a window passing through and connecting the slot and the storage space; and

a light source, an electrical source and a switch connected between the electrical source and the light source to turn the light source on and off;

a hollow external tube surrounding the sheath, so as to rotate relative to the sheath, and including a position ring for showing a gear lever position located in the storage space, aligned with the window; and

a cover mounted in the slot on the internal tube, the cover having a convex fish-shaped lens eccentrically mounted thereon so as to be located on line S from a rider'"'"'s eyes to the position ring, the line S forming an angle with a line Z passing through the window and perpendicular to an axial direction of the sheath of between 25 and 70 degrees.

2. The device for monitoring a gear lever position as cited in claim 1, wherein, a plurality of position symbols are on the position ring, the position symbols printed on a strip sticker that is adhered to the position ring.

3. The device for monitoring a gear lever position as cited in claim 1, wherein, a plurality of fluorescent position symbols are formed on the position ring.

4. The device for monitoring a gear lever position as cited in claim 1, wherein, a side surface of the cover toward the slot has a printed diagram.

5. The device for monitoring a gear lever position as cited in claim 1, wherein a shielding piece is located between the cover and the slot, with a diagram printed on the shielding piece.

6. The device for monitoring a gear lever position as cited in claim 1, wherein, the light source is a LED.

7. The device for monitoring a gear lever position as cited in claims 1, further comprising rims of the cover and the slot have engaging positioning structures whereby the cover only fits into the slot in a single direction.

8. A device for monitoring a gear lever position, which can be installed on bike, the device includes:

an internal tube, including a ring-shaped outer rim, a slot being formed on the outer rim, and a hollow and axial sheath adapted for fixing the device to a bike handle, wherein, an outer diameter of the sheath is smaller than an inner diameter of the outer rim so as to form a storage space between the sheath and the outer rim;

a window passing through and connecting the slot and the storage space;

a hollow external tube surrounding the sheath so as to rotate relative to the sheath and including a position ring for showing a gear lever position located in the storage space aligned with the window; and

a cover mounted in the slot in the internal tube, the cover having a convex fish-shaped lens eccentrically mounted thereon so as to be located on line S from a rider'"'"'s eyes to the position ring, the line S forming an angle with a line Z passing through the window and perpendicular to an axial direction of the sheath of between 25 and 70 degrees.

9. The device for monitoring a gear lever position as cited in claim 8, wherein a plurality of position symbols are formed on the position ring.

10. The device for monitoring a gear lever position as cited in claim 8, wherein a plurality of fluorescent position symbols are formed on the position ring.

11. The device for monitoring a gear lever position as cited in claim 8, wherein, a side surface of the cover toward the slot has a printed diagram.

12. The device for monitoring a gear lever position as cited in claim 8, wherein a shielding piece is located between the cover and the slot, with a diagram printed on the shielding piece.

13. The device for monitoring a gear lever position as cited in claim 8, further comprising rims of the cover and the slot have engaging positioning structures whereby the cover only fits into slot in a single directions.