Bicycle motion sensing arrangement

• US 7,490,700 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Watarai, Etsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Pam
• Application Number:
  US11/142,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20060272903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 188/24.11, 188/24.12, 188/24.21, 188/24.22, 324/160, 324/166, 324/173, 324/174, 324/207.21, 324/207.22, 324/207.25, 324/226, 324/262, 280/281.1, 280/288.4
• US Class Current: 188/24.11
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/423 on or besides the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/20 Information-providing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/487 delivered by rotating magnets

Abstract

A bicycle motion sensing arrangement is provided has a bicycle wheel, a bicycle brake and a sensor. The bicycle wheel includes an air valve stem and a magnet mounted to the air valve stem. The bicycle brake is configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame. The sensor is fixedly attached to the bicycle brake at a location to detect rotational behavior of a bicycle wheel by sensing the magnet mounted to the air valve stem.

Claims

1. A bicycle motion sensing arrangement comprising:

a bicycle wheel including a rim, an air valve stem extending radially inward from the rim with the air valve stem including a groove, and a magnet disposed in the groove of the air valve stem, the magnet having a center opening with a diameter that is smaller than a maximum diameter of the air valve stem between the groove and a free end of the air valve stem to retain the magnet on the air valve stem;

a bicycle brake configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame, the bicycle brake including a pair of brake pads; and

a sensor fixedly attached to the bicycle brake at a location radially inward of the brake pads to detect rotational behavior of the bicycle wheel by sensing the magnet mounted to the air valve stem, when the bicycle motion sensing arrangement is mounted to a bicycle.

2. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein

the bicycle brake includes a pair of bicycle brake arms and a pair of a brake shoes with one of the brake shoes fixedly coupled to each of the bicycle brake arms.

3. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein

the sensor is mounted on a sensor connecting portion that is secured to the bicycle brake as a separable member that is detachable and re-attachable to the bicycle brake.

4. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 3, wherein

the bicycle brake includes a brake pad fixing bolt with the sensor connecting portion being supported on the brake pad fixing bolt.

5. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 4, further comprising

a bicycle computer unit electrically coupled to the sensor.

6. A bicycle motion sensing arrangement comprising:

a bicycle wheel including an air valve stem and a magnet mounted to the air valve stem;

a bicycle brake configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame; and

a sensor fixedly attached to the bicycle brake at a location to detect rotational behavior of the bicycle wheel by sensing the magnet mounted to the air valve stem,

the air valve stem including a groove with the magnet disposed in the groove of the air valve stem, the magnet having a center opening with a diameter that is smaller than a maximum diameter of the air valve stem between the groove and a free end of the air valve stem to retain the magnet on the air valve stem.

7. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 6, wherein

the magnet includes a generally ring-shaped portion.

8. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 7, wherein

the generally ring-shaped portion is a continuous ring.

9. A bicycle motion sensing arrangement comprising:

a bicycle wheel including an air valve stem and a magnet mounted to the air valve stem, the air valve stem including a groove with the magnet disposed in the groove of the air valve stem, the magnet including a split ring as a generally ring-shaped portion having a center opening with a diameter that is smaller than a maximum diameter of the air valve stem between the groove and a free end of the air valve stem to retain the magnet on the air valve stem;

a bicycle brake configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame; and

a sensor fixedly attached to the bicycle brake at a location to detect rotational behavior of the bicycle wheel by sensing the magnet mounted to the air valve stem.

10. A bicycle motion sensing arrangement comprising:

a bicycle wheel including a rim, an air valve stem extending radially inward from the rim, and a magnet mounted to the air valve stem, the magnet having a center opening surrounding an outer periphery of the air valve stem;

a bicycle brake configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame, the bicycle brake including a pair of brake pads; and

a sensor fixedly attached to the bicycle brake at a location radially inward of the brake pads to detect rotational behavior of the bicycle wheel by sensing the magnet mounted to the air valve stem, when the bicycle motion sensing arrangement is mounted to a bicycle,

the bicycle brake including a pair of bicycle brake arms and a pair of brake shoes with one of the brake shoes fixedly coupled to each of the bicycle brake arms,

the sensor being a separate element from the brake shoes such that the sensor is detachable and re-attachable by a brake pad fixing bolt of one of the brake shoes.