Bicycle electrical system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10029754-B2
Application number	US-201615010329-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2016
Priority date	Mar 6, 2015
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A bicycle electrical system is provided with a first electric component, a second electric component, a first wireless communication unit, a first power source, and a second wireless communication unit. The first wireless communication unit and the first power source are electrically connected to at least the first electric component. The second wireless communication unit is electrically connected to at least the second electric component. The first electric component can communicate with the first wireless communication unit. The second electric component can communicate with the second wireless communication unit. At least the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit are attached to the bicycle without interposing the first electric component and the second electric component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle electrical system comprising:
a first electric component;
a second electric component, the first and second electric components each having a mounting part that is configured to be mounted to a bicycle;
a first wireless communication unit;
a first power source; and
a second wireless communication unit;
the first wireless communication unit and the first power source being electrically connected to at least the first electric component,
the second wireless communication unit being electrically connected to at least the second electric component,
the first electric component configured to communicate with the first wireless communication unit,
the second electric component configured to communicate with the second wireless communication unit, and
at least the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit having another mounting part that is configured to be attached to the bicycle.

2. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the first wireless communication unit is electrically connected to the first electric component via a first signal line, and
the second wireless communication unit is electrically connected to the second electric component via a second signal line.

3. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the first power source is configured to be attached to the bicycle without interposing the first electric component and the second electric component.

4. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 3 , wherein
the first power source, the first wireless communication unit, and the second wireless communication unit are configured to be attached to different positions of the bicycle.

5. The bicycle electrical system as recited in the claim 3 , wherein
the first power source as well as the first wireless communication unit, and the second wireless communication unit are configured to be attached to different positions of the bicycle.

6. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 1 , wherein
the first power source is attached to the first electric component or the second electric component.

7. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 6 , wherein
the first power source is attached to the first electric component, and
the first power source is electrically connected to the second electric component.

8. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising
a second power source that is electrically connected to at least the second electric component.

9. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 8 , wherein
the second power source is configured to be attached to the bicycle without interposing the first electric component and the second electric component.

10. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 9 , wherein
the first power source, the second power source, the first wireless communication unit, and the second wireless communication unit are configured to be attached to different positions of the bicycle.

11. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 9 , wherein
the first power source as well as the first wireless communication unit, and the second power source as well as the second wireless communication unit are configured to be attached to different positions of the bicycle.

12. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 8 , wherein
the second power source is attached to the first electric component or the second electric component.

13. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 5 , comprising:
a first housing that houses at least a part of at least the first wireless communication unit and at least a part of the first power source; and
a second housing that houses at least a part of at least the second wireless communication unit;
the first housing and the second housing being configured to be attached to the bicycle without interposing the first electric component and the second electric component.

14. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 13 , wherein
the first wireless communication unit comprises a first connecting part and a first housing portion,
the first power source comprises a second connecting part and a second housing portion, and
the first connecting part and the second connecting part are joined to supply power from the first power source to the first wireless communication unit, and the first housing includes the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

15. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 14 , further comprising
a second power source electrically connected to at least the second electric component, and
the second housing houses at least the second wireless communication unit and the second power source.

16. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 15 , wherein
the second wireless communication unit comprises a third connecting part and a third housing portion,
the second power source comprises a fourth connecting part and a fourth housing portion, and
the third connecting part and the fourth connecting part are joined to supply power from the second power source to the second wireless communication unit, and the second housing includes the third housing portion and the fourth housing portion.

17. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 13 , wherein
the first housing and the second housing have substantially the same shape.

18. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 13 , wherein
at least one of the first housing and the second housing is configured to be attached to a frame main body of the bicycle.

19. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 18 , wherein
at least one of the first housing and the second housing is configured to be attached to a chain stay of the bicycle.

20. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 18 , wherein
at least one of the first housing and the second housing is configured to be attached to a seat tube of the bicycle.

21. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 13 , wherein
at least one of the first housing and the second housing is configured to be attached to a seatpost of the bicycle.

22. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 13 , wherein
at least one of the first housing and the second housing is configured to be attached to a front fork of the bicycle.

23. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 13 , wherein
at least one of the first housing and the second housing is configured to be attached to a hub assembly of the bicycle.

24. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 13 , wherein
at least one of the first housing and the second housing is configured to be attached to a suspension device of the bicycle.

25. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 13 , wherein
the first housing and the second housing are configured to be detachably attached to the bicycle.

26. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 13 , wherein
the first housing and the second housing are configured to be attached to the bicycle by an attaching member.

27. The bicycle electrical system as recited in claim 26 , wherein
the attaching member comprises at least one of an adhesive, a screw, a cable tie, or a double-sided tape.

28. A bicycle electrical system comprising:
a first electric component; and
a first wireless

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Watarai Etsuyoshi
• Toyoshima Takashi
• Kurotobi Tadaharu

Classifications

• B62J45/00

  Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B62J2099/004

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B62J99/00 Primary

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• H02J50/00

  Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power · CPC title

• B62M25/08 Primary

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title