Hydraulic Brake Mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017036734-A1
Application number	US-201615294239-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2016
Priority date	Jan 16, 2012
Publication date	Feb 9, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hydraulic brake mechanism is mountable to a bicycle handlebar. The hydraulic brake mechanism includes a housing having a base portion and an extension portion, the base portion including first and second ends, the base portion including a handlebar clamp at the first end, the base portion extending generally horizontally and the extension portion extending forwardly of the base portion at the second end and angled generally upwardly from the base portion when the hydraulic brake mechanism is mounted to the bicycle handlebar, the housing sized and shaped to be grasped by a user's hand, the housing having a fluid outlet port in the extension portion. The hydraulic brake mechanism may include a fluid line attached to the fluid outlet port and disposed in a groove formed along a length of the extension portion and the base portion of the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A hydraulic brake mechanism mountable to a bicycle handlebar, the hydraulic brake mechanism comprising:
a housing having a base portion and an extension portion, the base portion including first and second ends, the base portion including a handlebar clamp at the first end, the base portion extending generally horizontally and the extension portion extending forwardly of the base portion at the second end and angled generally upwardly from the base portion when the hydraulic brake mechanism is mounted to the bicycle handlebar, the housing sized and shaped to be grasped by a user's hand, the housing having a fluid outlet port in the extension portion; a shift device disposed in the housing; a fluid chamber disposed in the extension portion of the housing in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir and the fluid outlet port; a piston movably disposed within the fluid chamber; a lever pivotally disposed at the second end of the base portion, the lever operatively connected to the piston to slidably displace the piston within the fluid chamber; and a fluid line attached to the fluid outlet port and disposed in a groove formed along a length of the extension portion and the base portion of the housing.

2 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the fluid line is constrained to the base portion of the housing.

3 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the fluid line is constrained by a cover part attached to the housing.

4 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the fluid line is constrained at a position on the base portion of the housing closer to the handlebar clamp than the extension portion.

5 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a hood cover configured to be fitted over the fluid line.

6 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the groove is formed at a side surface of the housing.

7 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the groove is formed at an intersection of the side surface and a top surface of the housing.

8 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the fluid chamber.

9 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 8 , further comprising a bleed port in fluid communication with the fluid chamber.

10 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the housing is formed one piece and the fluid reservoir is formed in the housing.

11 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the fluid reservoir is disposed in the extension portion of the housing.

12 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the housing further comprises a fluid passageway formed in the housing, the fluid passageway extending laterally between the fluid chamber and the fluid reservoir.

13 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the housing is further configured to include a space for the shift device.

14 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 13 , further comprising a hood cover configured to be fitted over the fluid line and shift device.

15 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 14 , further comprising a hood cover made of an elastomeric material, the hood cover being configured and arranged to at least partially cover the base portion.

16 . The hydraulic brake mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir is located in the extension portion and the lever is pivotally disposed below the fluid reservoir while the hydraulic brake mechanism is mounted to the bicycle handlebar.

17 . A housing for a hydraulic brake mechanism sized and shaped to be grasped by a user's hand and mountable to a bicycle handlebar, the housing comprising:
a base portion including first and second ends, the base portion including a handlebar clamp at the first end, the base portion extending generally horizontally; an extension portion extending forwardly of the base portion at the second end and angled generally upwardly from the base portion when the housing is mounted to the bicycle handlebar; a fluid outlet port in the extension portion; a shift device space configured for the inclusion of a shift device; a fluid reservoir; a fluid outlet port; a fluid chamber configured to include a piston movably disposed therein, the fluid chamber disposed in the extension portion of the housing and in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and the fluid outlet port; a lever attachment portion disposed at the second end of the base portion, the lever attachment portion configured to be operatively connected to the piston to slidably displace the piston within the fluid chamber; and a groove formed along a length of the extension portion configured to house a fluid line attached to the fluid outlet port.

Assignees

• Sram Llc

Inventors

• Dunlap Charles E
• Feuerstein Paul

Classifications

• B60T7/102

  by means of a tilting lever · CPC title

• B60T11/16

  Master control, e.g. master cylinders (master cylinders associated with vacuum boosters B60T13/565) · CPC title

• B60T11/224

  with pressure-varying means, e.g. with two stage operation provided by use of different piston diameters including continuous variation from one diameter to another · CPC title

• B60T11/236

  Piston sealing arrangements · CPC title

• B62L3/023 Primary

  acting on fluid pressure systems · CPC title