Bicycle operating device

• US 10,343,744 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Matsueda, Keiji, Kosaka, Kentaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazo, Thomas E
• Application Number:
  US15/162,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20170334508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/06 Levers
• CPC Class Codes: B62L 3/023 acting on fluid pressure systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/04 hand actuated

Abstract

A bicycle operating device comprises a base member, an operating member, and a hydraulic unit. The operating member is pivotally coupled to the base member about a pivot axis. The hydraulic unit is provided on the base member and comprises a hydraulic cylinder, a piston, and a hydraulic reservoir. The hydraulic cylinder includes a cylinder bore being at least partly provided above the pivot axis in a mounting state where the bicycle operating device is mounted to a bicycle. The piston is movably provided in the cylinder bore. The cylinder bore and the piston define a hydraulic chamber. The hydraulic reservoir includes a reservoir chamber connected to the hydraulic chamber. The reservoir chamber is provided above the cylinder bore without overlapping with the cylinder bore in a transverse direction parallel to the pivot axis in the mounting state.

Claims

1. A bicycle operating device comprising:

a base member;

an operating member pivotally coupled to the base member about a pivot axis; and

a hydraulic unit provided on the base member and comprising;

a hydraulic cylinder including a cylinder bore being at least partly provided above the pivot axis in a mounting state where the bicycle operating device is mounted to a bicycle;

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, the cylinder bore and the piston defining a hydraulic chamber; and

a hydraulic reservoir including a reservoir chamber connected to the hydraulic chamber, the reservoir chamber being provided to at least partially overlap from above the cylinder bore without overlapping with the cylinder bore in a transverse direction parallel to the pivot axis in the mounting state.

2. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the base member includes

a first end portion,

a second end portion opposite to the first end portion and configured to be mounted to a handlebar of the bicycle, and

a grip portion provided between the first end portion and the second end portion, and

the hydraulic reservoir is provided at the first end portion.

3. The bicycle operating device according to claim 2, wherein

the first end portion includes a pommel portion, and

the hydraulic reservoir is provided at the pommel portion.

4. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the base member includes

a first side surface,

a second side surface laterally opposite to the first side surface in the mounting state of the bicycle operating device, and

a fluid passageway connected to the hydraulic chamber,

the cylinder bore is disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface, and

the fluid passageway is disposed between the first side surface and the cylinder bore.

5. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the operating member extends downward from the base member in the mounting state of the bicycle operating device.

6. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the piston is movable relative to the hydraulic cylinder in a movement direction,

the reservoir chamber has a length defined in the movement direction, and

the length of the reservoir chamber is longer than a stroke of the piston.

7. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cover member attached to the base member to at least partly cover the base member, the cover member being at least partly made of an elastic material.

8. The bicycle operating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a shifting unit to operate a shifting device.

9. The bicycle operating device according to claim 8, wherein

the shifting unit includes a cable control member pivotally provided on the base member about a cable control axis.

10. The bicycle operating device according to claim 9, wherein

the piston is movable relative to the hydraulic cylinder in a movement direction,

the cylinder bore has a cylinder center axis extending in the movement direction, and

the cable control axis and the cylinder center axis are arranged to define a virtual plane together.

11. The bicycle operating device according to claim 10, further comprising:

an additional operating member pivotally provided on one of the operating member and the base member about an additional pivot axis, wherein

the cable control axis, the cylinder center axis, and the additional pivot axis are arranged to define the virtual plane together.

12. The bicycle operating device according to claim 11, wherein

the additional operating member is provided on the operating member.

13. The bicycle operating device according to claim 12, wherein

the operating member includes

a base portion pivotally coupled to the base member about the pivot axis, and

an operating portion pivotally provided on the base portion about the additional pivot axis.

14. A bicycle operating device comprising:

a base member;

an operating member pivotally coupled to the base member about a pivot axis; and

a hydraulic unit provided on the base member and comprising;

a hydraulic cylinder including a cylinder bore being at least partly provided above the pivot axis in a mounting state where the bicycle operating device is mounted to a bicycle;

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, the cylinder bore and the piston defining a hydraulic chamber; and

a hydraulic reservoir including a reservoir chamber connected to the hydraulic chamber, the reservoir chamber being provided above the cylinder bore without overlapping with the cylinder bore in a transverse direction parallel to the pivot axis in the mounting state, wherein

the operating member is pivotable relative to the base member about the pivot axis between a rest position and an operated position, and

the piston is configured to be pushed from an initial position to an actuated position in response to a movement of the operating member from the rest position toward the operated position to supply a hydraulic pressure toward at least one bicycle component.

15. A bicycle operating device comprising:

a base member;

an operating member pivotally coupled to the base member about a pivot axis; and

a hydraulic unit provided on the base member and comprising;

a hydraulic cylinder including a cylinder bore being at least partly provided above the pivot axis in a mounting state where the bicycle operating device is mounted to a bicycle;

a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore, the cylinder bore and the piston defining a hydraulic chamber; and

a hydraulic reservoir including a reservoir chamber connected to the hydraulic chamber, the reservoir chamber being provided above the cylinder bore without overlapping with the cylinder bore in a transverse direction parallel to the pivot axis in the mounting state, wherein

the piston is movable relative to the hydraulic cylinder in a movement direction,

the cylinder bore has a cylinder center axis extending in the movement direction, and

the cylinder bore is arranged without overlapping with the pivot axis as viewed in a direction perpendicular to the cylinder center axis.