Aerodynamic brake system

• US 8,079,609 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Felt Racing, LLC (Chartreuse et Mont Blanc SAS)
• Original Assignee: Felt Racing, LLC (Chartreuse et Mont Blanc SAS)
• Inventors: Bell, Richard, Lane, Timothy Saul, Duehring, William, Felt, James Michael, Soucek, Jeffrey A., Buckenberger, David Tyson
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, TASHIANA R
• Application Number:
  US12/695,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20110181015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 280/279, 280/281.1, 188/24.12, 188/24.21
• US Class Current: 280/279
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 11/13 specially adapted for mechanical cables
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/38 for attaching brake members
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 21/02 Front wheel forks or equivalent, e.g. single tine

Abstract

An aerodynamic braking system is disclosed herein. In particular, the brake arms may define an aerodynamic leading portion or edge and may be integrated into the legs of the front fork. Also, the brake arms may be disposed behind the bottom bracket shell to take the rear brake out of the air flow path and reduce aerodynamic drag. The rear brake arms are tapered so that the brake arms remain sufficient stiff to provide sufficient brake response times. The rear brake arms may be matched to recesses formed on an underside of chain stays.

Claims

1. A bicycle having an aerodynamic brake system, the bicycle comprising:

left and right cantilever brake arms having an aerodynamic teardrop shape leading portion; and

a front fork having left and right legs, each of the legs defining a leading edge and a trailing edge with an aerodynamic teardrop shape cross section, each of the legs having a recess at a leading portion of the leg with the left and right cantilever brake arms disposed within the recesses of the left and right legs wherein the exterior surfaces of the left and right cantilever brake arms and exterior surfaces of the left and right legs collectively have a teardrop aerodynamic cross sectional configuration.

2. The bicycle of claim 1 wherein the left and right cantilever brake arms are thicker at pivoting portions compared to actuation portions of the left and right cantilever brake arms for providing additional stiffness to the left and right cantilever brake arms.

3. The bicycle of claim 1 wherein the recesses are shallower closer to a crown of the fork for stiffening the crown of the fork.

4. A bicycle having an aerodynamic brake system, the bicycle comprising:

left and right cantilever brake arms, each of the left and right cantilever brake arms define a pivoting portion and an actuation portion with the pivoting portion being stiffer than the actuation portion; and

a frame defining a bottom bracket shell and left and right chain stays, each chain stay having a recess at a bottom side of the chain stays, the recess sized and configured to receive the left or right cantilever brake arm and match a profile of the left or right cantilever brake arm so that the left and right cantilever brake arms are entirely behind the bottom bracket shell and out of the air flow as the bicycle is moving forward;

bolts attached to both the left and right cantilever brake arms for pivotally securing the left and right cantilever brake arms to the left and right chain stays.

5. The bicycle of claim 4 wherein the pivoting portions of the left and right cantilever brake arms are thicker compared to the actuation portions of the left and right cantilever brake arms for providing a sufficiently stiff brake arms to allow for responsive brakes.

6. A bicycle having an aerodynamic brake system, the bicycle comprising:

left and right cantilever brake arms, each of the left and right cantilever brake arms define a pivoting portion and an actuation portion with the pivoting portion being stiffer than the actuation portion; and

a frame defining a bottom bracket shell and left and right chain stays, each chain stay having a recess at a bottom side of the chain stays, the recess sized and configured to receive the left or right cantilever brake arm and match a profile of the left or right cantilever brake arm so that the left and right cantilever brake arms are substantially or entirely behind the bottom bracket shell and out of the air flow as the bicycle is moving forward;

wherein the pivoting portions of the left and right cantilever brake arms are pivotally mounted within the recesses of the left and right chain stays, and a first depth of the recesses adjacent the pivoting portions is greater than a second depth of the recesses adjacent to the actuation portions to provide for sufficiently stiff chain stays.

7. A bicycle haying an aerodynamic brake system, the bicycle comprising:

left and right brake arms, each of the left and right brake arms defining a pivoting portion and an actuation portion; and

a front fork having left and right legs, each of the legs having a recess for receiving the left and right brake arms, the recesses being closer to a crown of the leg than front dropouts, the left and right brake arms disposed within the recesses of the left and right legs, a first depth of the recesses adjacent the pivoting portions is greater than a second depth of the recesses adjacent to the actuation portions to provide for a sufficiently strong fork crown.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the recesses are located at leading portions of the left and right legs.

9. A bicycle having an aerodynamic brake system, the bicycle comprising:

left and right brake arms, each of the left and right brake arms define a pivoting portion and an actuation portion; and

left and right chain stays, each of the chain stays having a recess for receiving the left and right brake arms, the recesses being closer to a bottom bracket shell than rear dropouts, the left and right brake arms disposed within the recesses of the left and right legs, a first depth of the recesses adjacent the pivoting portions is greater than a second depth of the recesses adjacent to the actuation portions to provide for a sufficiently strong fork crown.

10. The bicycle of claim 9 wherein the recesses are located underneath the chain stays.