Hydraulic brake apparatus for bicycles
First Claim
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1. An improved hydraulic brake apparatus for a bicycle, comprising:
- a means for actuating said brake apparatus;
a brake fluid reservoir;
a fluid outlet chamber, said fluid outlet chamber oriented vertically below said brake fluid reservoir, said fluid outlet chamber comprising;
an inlet providing fluid communication between said reservoir and said fluid outlet chamber;
an outlet providing fluid communication between said fluid outlet chamber and a brake line, said brake line being filled with brake fluid; and
a valve member, said valve member having a rest position and an actuated position, said valve member when in said rest position allowing flow of fluid from said brake fluid reservoir to said fluid outlet chamber through said inlet and when in said actuated position obstructing flow through said inlet;
said inlet, outlet and valve member oriented to prevent obstruction of said outlet by said valve member;
a master cylinder, said master cylinder in fluid communication with said brake fluid reservoir through said fluid outlet chamber, said inlet providing a single flow path between said brake fluid reservoir and said master cylinder;
a piston, slidable within said master cylinder, said piston inducing hydraulic pressure in said fluid outlet chamber upon displacement, said actuating means causing displacement of said piston, said hydraulic pressure displacing said valve member from said rest position to said actuated position; and
a brake means disposed proximate a wheel on said bicycle, said brake means upon actuation enforcing braking conditions on said wheel, hydraulic pressure in said brake line causing actuation of said brake means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved hydraulic brake apparatus for bicycles wherein brake pads are operably associated with both the front and rear wheels of the bicycle and manually actuated by a brake handle to enforce braking conditions. The improved brake apparatus includes an immersed valve member in a vertical hydraulic mechanism designed for simple and efficient performance, an improved linkage that provides increased mechanical advantage, self-adjusting retraction screws that allow for customary pad wear, an improved housing clamp for mounting the housing to the handlebar and an enhanced hose fitting that is likewise designed for simple, effective performance.
90 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An improved hydraulic brake apparatus for a bicycle, comprising:
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a means for actuating said brake apparatus; a brake fluid reservoir; a fluid outlet chamber, said fluid outlet chamber oriented vertically below said brake fluid reservoir, said fluid outlet chamber comprising; an inlet providing fluid communication between said reservoir and said fluid outlet chamber; an outlet providing fluid communication between said fluid outlet chamber and a brake line, said brake line being filled with brake fluid; and a valve member, said valve member having a rest position and an actuated position, said valve member when in said rest position allowing flow of fluid from said brake fluid reservoir to said fluid outlet chamber through said inlet and when in said actuated position obstructing flow through said inlet;
said inlet, outlet and valve member oriented to prevent obstruction of said outlet by said valve member;a master cylinder, said master cylinder in fluid communication with said brake fluid reservoir through said fluid outlet chamber, said inlet providing a single flow path between said brake fluid reservoir and said master cylinder; a piston, slidable within said master cylinder, said piston inducing hydraulic pressure in said fluid outlet chamber upon displacement, said actuating means causing displacement of said piston, said hydraulic pressure displacing said valve member from said rest position to said actuated position; and a brake means disposed proximate a wheel on said bicycle, said brake means upon actuation enforcing braking conditions on said wheel, hydraulic pressure in said brake line causing actuation of said brake means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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8. An improved hydraulic brake apparatus for a bicycle, comprising:
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a means for actuating said brake apparatus; a brake fluid reservoir; a fluid outlet chamber, said fluid outlet chamber oriented vertically below said brake fluid reservoir, said fluid outlet chamber comprising; an inlet providing fluid communication between said reservoir and said fluid outlet chamber; an outlet providing fluid communication between said fluid outlet chamber and a brake line, said brake line being filled with brake fluid; and a valve member having a rest position and an actuated position, said valve member when in said rest position allowing flow of fluid from said brake fluid reservoir to said fluid outlet chamber through said inlet and when in said actuated position obstructing flow through said inlet;
said inlet, outlet and valve member oriented to prevent obstruction of said outlet by said valve member;a master cylinder, said master cylinder in fluid communication with said brake fluid reservoir through said fluid outlet chamber, said inlet providing a single flow path between said brake fluid reservoir and said master cylinder; a piston, slidable within said master cylinder, said piston inducing hydraulic pressure in said fluid outlet chamber upon displacement, said actuating means causing displacement of said piston, said hydraulic pressure displacing said valve member from said rest position to said actuated position; a push rod, said actuating means causes displacement of said push rod, said push rod engaging said piston so as to cause displacement of said piston, wherein said push rod is displaced along an arcuate path about an axis of rotation, said push rod having a projecting portion which engages said piston so as to minimize wear between said push rod and said piston, said projecting portion tapering to a top having a small radius and a substantially elongate cylindrical curvature, a radius to length ratio being less than unity, and a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to said axis of rotation; and a brake means disposed proximate a wheel on said bicycle, said brake means upon actuation enforcing braking conditions on said wheel, hydraulic pressure in said brake line causing actuation of said brake means.
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14. An improved hydraulic brake apparatus for bicycles, said improved hydraulic brake apparatus comprising:
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a brake fluid reservoir; and a fluid outlet chamber, said fluid outlet chamber oriented below said brake fluid reservoir, said fluid outlet chamber comprising; an inlet providing fluid communication between said brake fluid reservoir and said fluid outlet chamber; an outlet providing fluid communication between said fluid outlet chamber and a brake line, said brake line being filled with brake fluid; and a master cylinder assembly, said master cylinder assembly vertically oriented below said brake fluid reservoir and said fluid outlet chamber to facilitate flow of fluid along a single path from said brake fluid reservoir through said inlet to said fluid outlet chamber and said master cylinder assembly.
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15. An improved hydraulic brake apparatus for bicycles, said hydraulic brake apparatus comprising:
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a brake handle, said brake handle manually displaced from a rest position to an actuated position; a master cylinder assembly, said master cylinder assembly having a piston, said piston inducing hydraulic pressure when said brake handle is displaced from said rest position to said actuated position; a mechanical linkage, said mechanical linkage for transmitting force from said brake handle to said piston, said mechanical linkage comprising; a cam roller, said cam roller connected to said brake handle; a cam lever, said cam lever engaged by said cam roller, said cam lever having a surface with a steep initial slope and a shallower following slope, said brake handle when in said rest position having a large mechanical advantage provided by said steep initial slope causing a large displacement of said piston, said shallower following slope progressively providing an increased mechanical advantage.
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16. An improved hydraulic brake apparatus for bicycles, said hydraulic brake apparatus comprising:
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a brake handle, said brake handle manually displaced from a rest position to an actuated position; a master cylinder assembly, said master cylinder assembly having a piston, said piston inducing hydraulic pressure when said brake handle is displaced from said rest position to said actuated position; and a mechanical linkage, said mechanical linkage for transmitting force from said brake handle to said piston, said mechanical linkage comprising; a cam roller, said cam roller connected to said brake handle; a cam lever, said cam lever engaged by said cam roller, said cam lever having a surface with a steep initial slope and a shallower following slope, said brake handle when in said rest position having a large mechanical advantage provided by said steep initial slope causing a large displacement of said piston, said shallower following slope progressively providing an increased mechanical advantage; and a push rod, said cam lever causes displacement of a push rod, said push rod engaging said piston so as to cause displacement of said piston, wherein said push rod is displaced along an arcuate path about an axis of rotation, said push rod having a projecting portion tapering to a tip having a small radius and a substantially elongate, cylindrical curvature, and a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to said axis of rotation.
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17. An improved hydraulic brake apparatus for a bicycle, comprising:
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a means for actuating said brake apparatus; a brake fluid reservoir; a fluid outlet chamber, said fluid outlet chamber having an inlet which provides fluid communication between said brake fluid reservoir and said fluid outlet chamber and an outlet which provides fluid communication between said fluid outlet chamber and a brake line, said brake line being filled with brake fluid; a valve member disposed within said fluid outlet chamber such that when said brake apparatus is at rest said valve member allows fluid flow from said brake fluid reservoir to said fluid outlet chamber through said inlet and when said brake apparatus is actuated said valve member obstructs fluid flow through said inlet;
said inlet, outlet and valve member oriented to prevent obstruction of said outlet by said valve member;a master cylinder assembly having a master cylinder in fluid communication with said brake fluid reservoir through said fluid outlet chamber, said inlet providing a single flow path and a piston slidable within said master cylinder, said piston inducing hydraulic pressure in said fluid outlet chamber upon displacement caused by said actuating means; and a brake means disposed proximate a wheel on said bicycle, said brake means upon actuation enforcing conditions on said wheel, hydraulic pressure in said brake line causing actuation of said brake means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An improved hydraulic brake apparatus for bicycles, comprising:
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a primary arm for actuating said brake apparatus; a master cylinder assembly, said master cylinder assembly actuated by said primary arm; and a mechanical linkage for transmitting displacement of said primary arm to said master cylinder assembly, said mechanical linkage comprising; a rotatable secondary lever, said secondary lever being driven by said primary arm, wherein said primary arm is displaced along a path substantially perpendicular to a central axis through said master cylinder assembly, thereby facilitating increased leverage. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An improved brake apparatus for bicycles, comprising:
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a handle, said handle manually displaced from a rest position to an actuated position; means for transmitting displacement of said handle to a caliper which causes braking; and a cam roller which is displaced upon actuation of said handle, causing said cam roller to engage and displace a cam lever which in turn actuates said transmitting means, said cam lever having a steep initial slope and shallower following slope, said brake handle when in said rest position having a large mechanical advantage provided by said steep initial slope transmitting a large displacement through said transmitting means, said shallower following slope progressively providing an increased mechanical advantage. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. An improved hydraulic brake apparatus for a bicycle, comprising:
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a means for actuating said brake apparatus; a brake fluid reservoir; a fluid outlet chamber, said fluid outlet chamber oriented vertically below said brake fluid reservoir, said fluid outlet chamber comprising; an inlet providing fluid communication between said reservoir and said fluid outlet chamber; a master cylinder opening providing fluid communication between said fluid outlet chamber and a master cylinder; an outlet providing fluid communication between said fluid outlet chamber and a brake line, said brake line being filled with brake fluid, said outlet oriented substantially perpendicular to said inlet and said master cylinder opening; a valve member positioned within said fluid outlet chamber and capable of movement freely within said chamber, said valve member having a rest position and an actuated position, said valve member biased by gravity to said rest position, said valve member when in said rest position allowing flow of fluid from said brake fluid reservoir to said fluid outlet chamber through said inlet and also from said master cylinder to said fluid outlet chamber through said master cylinder opening, said valve member when in said actuated position obstructing flow through said inlet, said inlet, outlet and master cylinder opening oriented such that when in said rest position said valve member positioned substantially below said outlet to prevent obstruction of said outlet and when in said actuated position said valve member positioned substantially above said outlet to prevent obstruction of said outlet; a piston slidable within said master cylinder, said piston inducing hydraulic pressure in said fluid outlet chamber upon displacement, said actuating means causing displacement of said piston, said hydraulic pressure displacing said valve member from said rest position to said actuated position; and a brake means disposed proximate a wheel on said bicycle, said brake means upon actuation enforcing braking conditions on said wheel, hydraulic pressure in said brake line causing actuation of said brake means.
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Specification