Bicycle control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10946928-B2
Application number	US-201816216506-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2018
Priority date	Mar 12, 2015
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

A bicycle control device for use with a road bicycle includes a hydraulic brake control device and also may include a shift control device. The brake and shift control devices are disposed within a housing. The brake control device includes a master cylinder arranged in the housing. A piston assembly includes a piston slidably disposed within the master cylinder. A brake lever is operatively coupled to the piston such that the brake lever pulls the piston from a rest position to an actuated position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle control device for use with a road bicycle, the bicycle control device comprising:
a housing configured to be attached to a handlebar of the road bicycle, the housing including a first side and a second side; and
a hydraulic brake control device including:
a master cylinder arranged in the housing,
a piston assembly including a piston slidably disposed within the master cylinder,
a brake lever operatively coupled to the piston such that the brake lever pulls the piston from a rest position to an actuated position, and
an outlet passageway in fluid communication with hydraulic cylinder and extending between a first opening on the first side of the housing and a second opening on the second side of the housing,

wherein the hydraulic brake control device further includes a tube connected to, and in fluid communication with, the outlet passageway at a first end of the tube, the tube including a hydraulic fitting on a second end of the tube.

2. The bicycle control device of claim 1 , wherein the tube is connected to the outlet passageway with a banjo fitting.

3. The bicycle control device of claim 1 , wherein the tube is connected to the outlet passageway at the first opening.

4. The bicycle control device of claim 3 , wherein an outlet plug is coupled to the outlet passageway at the second opening.

5. The bicycle control device of claim 1 , wherein the outlet passageway is disposed in an aperture of the housing.

6. The bicycle control device of claim 1 , wherein the brake lever is attached to the housing between the first side and the second side.

7. The bicycle control device of claim 1 , wherein the piston assembly includes a first seal between the piston and the master cylinder.

8. The bicycle control device of claim 7 , wherein the first seal is a cup seal.

9. The bicycle control device of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a horn portion including a hydraulic fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the master cylinder.

10. The bicycle control device of claim 9 , wherein the horn portion also includes the master cylinder.

11. The bicycle control device of claim 10 , further comprising:
a reservoir cap coupled to the horn portion to cover the hydraulic fluid reservoir; and
a diaphragm arranged between the hydraulic fluid reservoir and the reservoir cap.

12. A bicycle control device for use with a road bicycle, the bicycle control device comprising:
a housing configured to be attached to a handlebar of the road bicycle, the housing including a first side and a second side, an aperture extending between a first opening on the first side of the housing and a second opening on the second side of the housing; and
a hydraulic brake control device including:
a master cylinder arranged in the housing,
a piston assembly including a piston slidably disposed within the master cylinder,
a brake lever pivotably attached to the housing and operatively coupled to the piston such that the brake lever pulls the piston from a rest position to an actuated position, and
a fluid outlet passageway in the aperture, the fluid outlet passageway in fluid communication with the master cylinder and a tube connected to the fluid outlet passageway at a first end of the tube, and having a hydraulic fitting attached at second end thereof.

13. The bicycle control device of claim 12 , wherein the piston assembly includes:
a piston including a piston cap and a piston body coupled together; and
a piston rod having a first end coupled to the piston body and a second end coupled to an actuator, the first end of the piston rod spaced apart from the piston cap.

14. The bicycle control device of claim 12 , further comprising a fluid outlet passageway received in the housing; and
wherein the piston defines a piston axis, and
wherein the fluid outlet passageway is arranged substantially perpendicular to the piston axis.

15. The bicycle control device of claim 12 , further comprising a shift control device disposed in the housing.

16. The bicycle control device of claim 12 , further comprising a grip cover stretched over the housing.

17. The bicycle control device of claim 16 , wherein the housing includes a gripping portion and a horn portion, and the grip cover is stretched over the gripping portion and the horn portion.

18. The bicycle control device of claim 17 , wherein the master cylinder is disposed in the horn portion.

19. The bicycle control device of claim 18 , further comprising a fluid reservoir disposed in the horn portion and in fluid communication with the master cylinder.

Assignees

• Sram Llc

Inventors

• Swanson Neil
• Santurbane Mark

Classifications

• B62L3/023 Primary

  acting on fluid pressure systems · CPC title

• B62M25/08

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title

• B62L3/026

  actuation by a turning handle or handlebar · CPC title

• B62M25/04

  hand actuated · CPC title

• B62K23/06

  Levers · CPC title