Bicycle control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9090303-B2
Application number	US-201213475033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2012
Priority date	May 18, 2012
Publication date	Jul 28, 2015
Grant date	Jul 28, 2015

Abstract

A bicycle control device is provided with a mounting bracket, a first lever and an adjustment arrangement. The first lever is pivotally arranged relative to the mounting bracket about a first-axis and about a second axis being non-parallel to the first axis. The first lever is configured relative to the mounting bracket such that a free end of the first lever moves closer to the mounting bracket as the first lever pivots about the first axis from a rest position to an operated position. The adjustment arrangement adjusts the rest position of the first lever relative to the mounting bracket around the second operating axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle control device comprising:
a mounting bracket;
a first lever pivotally arranged relative to the mounting bracket about a first axis to operate a first device and about a second axis to operate a second device, the second axis being non-parallel to the first axis, the first lever being configured relative to the mounting bracket such that a free end of the first lever moves closer to the mounting bracket as the first lever pivots about the first axis from a rest position to an operated position;
an adjustment arrangement configured to adjust the rest position of the first lever relative to the mounting bracket around the second axis without changing a position of the first axis and a position of the second axis relative to the mounting bracket;
a second lever pivotally arranged relative to the mounting bracket about a third axis and about a fourth axis being non-parallel to the third axis, the second lever being configured relative to the mounting bracket such that a free end of the second lever moves closer to the mounting bracket as the second lever pivots about the third axis from a rest position to an operated position; and
a shift unit provided in the mounting bracket and operatively coupled to the second lever, the second lever being operatively coupled to the shift unit to operate a bicycle gear changing device to any one of a plurality of gear positions in response to pivotal movement of the second lever around the fourth axis.

2. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the mounting bracket has a handlebar clamp, the free end of the first lever moves closer to the handlebar clamp as the first lever pivots about the first axis from the rest position to the operated position.

3. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first lever includes a support portion pivotally attached to the mounting bracket around the first axis and a lever portion being pivotally supported on the support portion around the second axis; and
the adjustment arrangement includes a setting screw that is screwed into the support portion and selectively contacts the lever portion to adjust the rest position of the first lever relative to the mounting bracket around the second axis.

4. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first lever is operatively coupled to the shift unit to operate the bicycle gear changing device to any one of a plurality of gear positions in response to pivotal movement of the first lever around the second axis.

5. The bicycle control device according to claim 4 , wherein
the shift unit includes a winding member pivotally mounted relative to the mounting bracket, the first lever operates the shift unit such that the winding member pivots in a first pivot direction, and the second lever operates the shift unit such that the winding member pivots in a second pivot direction being opposite to the first pivot direction.

6. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first axis of the first lever corresponds to the third axis of the second lever.

7. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second axis of the first lever corresponds to the fourth axis of the second lever.

8. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first lever moves along a first plane as the first lever is pivoted around the first axis, the second lever moves along a second plane as the second lever is pivoted around the fourth axis, and the first and second planes form an angle therebetween in a range of fifty degrees to ninety degrees.

9. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first lever pivots the second lever around the third axis as the first lever is pivoted around the first axis.

10. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first lever pivots the second lever around the fourth axis as the first lever is pivoted around the second axis.

11. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first lever remains stationary as the second lever is pivoted around the fourth axis.

12. The bicycle control device according to claim 4 , wherein
the first lever includes a brake cable attachment structure that pulls an inner wire of a brake cable as the first lever pivots about the first axis.

13. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first lever includes a brake cable attachment structure that pulls an inner wire of a brake cable as the first lever pivots about the first axis.

14. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the adjustment device is configured to pivot the entire first lever about the second axis.

Assignees

• Fukao Kazutaka
• Matsushita Tatsuya
• Yoshikawa Makoto
• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Fukao Kazutaka
• Matsushita Tatsuya
• Yoshikawa Makoto

Classifications

• B62M25/04

  hand actuated · CPC title

• Y10T74/20438

  Single rotatable lever [e.g., for bicycle brake or derailleur] · CPC title

• Y10T74/20396

  Hand operated · CPC title

• B62L3/02

  for control by a hand lever (hand levers for control of cycles in general B62K23/06) · CPC title

• B62M25/08

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title