Hydraulic brake control device with handlebar proximal hose attachment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11912372-B2
Application number	US-202017121310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2020
Priority date	Dec 14, 2020
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

A control device for a hydraulic brake for a bicycle includes a reservoir for hydraulic fluid. The reservoir has a variable volume. The control device also includes a reservoir cover at least partially defining the reservoir, and a support that is attachable to a handlebar of the bicycle via an inner annular surface of the support. A handlebar proximity zone is radially outer relative to the inner annular surface of the support and is within two centimeters of the inner annular surface of the support. At least part of the reservoir cover is within the handlebar proximity zone.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control device for a hydraulic brake for a bicycle, the control device comprising:
a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, the reservoir having a variable volume;
a reservoir cover at least partially defining the reservoir;
a support that is configured to be attached to a handlebar of the bicycle via an inner annular surface of the support, wherein a handlebar proximity zone is radially outer relative to the inner annular surface of the support and is within two centimeters of the inner annular surface of the support; and
a bleed port in communication with the reservoir, the bleed port being within the handlebar proximity zone,
wherein the reservoir cover is within the handlebar proximity zone.

2. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir cover is a diaphragm or a seal made of an elastomeric material.

3. The control device of claim 2 , wherein the reservoir cover is a first reservoir cover,
wherein the control device further comprises a second reservoir cover, the second reservoir cover defining an outer surface of the control device and covering the first reservoir cover and the reservoir, and
wherein all of the second reservoir cover is within the handlebar proximity zone.

4. The control device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cylinder having an interior defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder extending along a cylinder axis, the interior of the cylinder being in communication with the reservoir; and
a piston positioned within the interior of the cylinder and configured to be moved within the cylinder and along the cylinder axis.

5. The control device of claim 4 , further comprising an outlet port in communication with the interior of the cylinder, the outlet port being configured to be connected to a hydraulic brake line of the bicycle,
wherein the outlet port has an outlet port axis, the outlet port axis being a central axis extending through the outlet port, and
wherein the inner annular surface defines a clamp surface axis, the clamp surface axis extending longitudinally along the inner annular surface.

6. The control device of claim 5 , wherein the cylinder axis is at a positive acute angle relative to the clamp surface axis.

7. The control device of claim 5 ,
wherein the bleed port is closer to the clamp surface axis than the cylinder axis is relative to the clamp surface axis.

8. The control device of claim 7 , wherein the bleed port is adjacent to the reservoir cover.

9. A brake control device for a bicycle, the brake control device comprising:
a housing including a support that is configured to be attached to a handlebar of the bicycle via an inner annular surface of the support, the inner annular surface defining a clamp surface axis and a clamp plane, the clamp surface axis extending longitudinally along the inner annular surface and the clamp plane being perpendicular to the clamp surface axis and intersecting the inner annular surface;
a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, the reservoir being within the housing;
a cylinder having an interior defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder extending along a cylinder axis, the interior of the cylinder being in communication with the reservoir;
a piston positioned within the interior of the cylinder, the piston being configured to be moved within the cylinder and along the cylinder axis;
an actuator pivotably attached to the housing, the actuator being operatively connected to the piston within the interior of the cylinder; and
an outlet port in communication with the interior of the cylinder, the outlet port being configured to be connected to a hydraulic brake line of the bicycle, wherein the outlet port has an outlet port axis, the outlet port axis being a central axis extending through the outlet port,
wherein the reservoir and the actuator are on opposite sides of the clamp plane, and
wherein the outlet port axis is different than the cylinder axis.

10. The brake control device of claim 9 , wherein the outlet port axis is different than the cylinder axis in that the outlet port axis is offset relative to the cylinder axis, such that the outlet port axis is not coaxial with the cylinder axis.

11. The brake control device of claim 9 , wherein the outlet port axis is different than the cylinder axis in that the outlet port axis is at a positive acute angle relative to the cylinder axis.

12. The brake control device of claim 9 , wherein the outlet port axis is at a positive acute angle relative to the clamp surface axis.

13. The brake control device of claim 9 , wherein the outlet port axis is parallel to the clamp surface axis.

14. The brake control device of claim 9 , further comprising a pivot, the actuator being pivotably attached to the housing via the pivot,
wherein the reservoir and the pivot are on opposite sides of the clamp plane.

15. A control device mountable to a handlebar of a bicycle, the control device comprising:
a housing including a support that is configured to be attached to the handlebar via an inner annular surface of the support, the inner annular surface defining a clamp surface axis, the clamp surface axis extending longitudinally along the inner annular surface of the support;
a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, the reservoir being within the housing;
a cylinder having an interior defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder extending along a cylinder axis, the interior of the cylinder being in communication with the reservoir;
a piston positioned within the interior of the cylinder, the piston being configured to be moved relative to the cylinder and along the cylinder axis; and
an outlet port in communication with the interior of the cylinder, the outlet port being configured to be connected to a hydraulic brake line of the bicycle,
wherein the outlet port has an outlet port axis, the outlet port axis being a central axis extending through the outlet port,
wherein the outlet port axis is at a first acute positive angle relative to the cylinder axis, the cylinder axis is at a second acute positive angle relative to the clamp surface axis, and the outlet port axis is at a third positive acute angle relative to the clamp surface axis, and
wherein the first positive acute angle, the second positive acute angle, and the third positive acute angle are different angles.

16. The control device of claim 15 , wherein the outlet port axis, the cylinder axis, and the clamp surface axis are coplanar.

17. The control device of claim 15 , wherein the cylinder axis and the clamp surface axis define a cylinder plane, and
wherein the outlet port axis is non-coplanar with the cylinder plane.

18. The control device of claim 17 , further comprising a bleed port in communication with the reservoir,
wherein the bleed port and the outlet port are on opposite sides of the cylinder plane.

19. The control device of claim 15 , further comprising:
an actuator that is operatively connected to the piston within the interior of the cylinder; and
a pivot, the actuator being pivotably attached to the support or the housing via the pivot and being pivotable relative to the support via the pivot about a pivot axis.

20. The control device of claim 19 , wherein the inner annular surface further defines a clamp plane, the clamp plane being perpendicular to the clamp surface axis and intersecting the inner annular surface,
wherein the reservoir and the pivot are on opposite sides of the clamp plane, and
wherein the pivot axis is offset relative to the clamp surface axis by a distance of 30 mm or less.

Assignees

• Sram Llc

Inventors

• Dunlap Charles
• Jordan Brian
• Snead Braden

Classifications

• B62L3/023 Primary

  acting on fluid pressure systems · CPC title

• F15B15/1414

  with non-rotatable piston · CPC title

• B62K23/06

  Levers · CPC title