Bicycle motion sensing arrangement

• US 7,438,159 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• 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, PAMELA
• Application Number:
  US11/749,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20070209882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 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: 188/24.12
• 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 having an air valve stem extending radially inwardly of the rim with the air valve stem including a groove and a magnet disposed in the groove of the air valve stem with 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 includes a first bicycle brake arm with a first brake pad holder coupled to the first bicycle brake arm and a second bicycle brake arm with a second brake pad holder coupled to the second bicycle brake arm; and

a sensor fixedly attached to one of the first and second brake pad holders at a location to detect rotational behavior of the bicycle wheel by sensing the magnet mounted to the air valve stem.

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

the magnet includes a generally ring-shaped portion.

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

the generally ring-shaped portion is a split ring.

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

the generally ring-shaped portion is a continuous ring.

5. The bicycle motion sensing arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising

a bicycle computer unit electrically coupled to the sensor.

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

the first and second brake pad holders have a pair of longitudinal edges and a pair of end edges, and the sensor is disposed along one of the longitudinal edges.