Shift operating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9132886-B2
Application number	US-57482609-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2009
Priority date	Oct 7, 2009
Publication date	Sep 15, 2015
Grant date	Sep 15, 2015

Abstract

A shift operating device is basically provided with a bracket member, a support structure, a wire takeup member, a positioning mechanism, and a control member. The bracket member is mounted to a bicycle. The support structure is removably mounted to the bracket member. The wire takeup member is movably supported by the support structure. The positioning mechanism includes first and second positioning members supported by the support structure. The first positioning member integrally moves with the wire takeup member. The second positioning member engages the first positioning member such that the first positioning member has a plurality of operating positions. The control member has a first portion movably supported by the support structure inside the bracket member and a second portion disposed outside the bracket member. The control member is operatively coupled to the positioning mechanism for changing the operating position of the first positioning member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shift operating device comprising:
a bracket member configured to be mounted to a bicycle, the bracket member including a first end section, a second end section remotely disposed from the first end section, and a side portion extending between the first and second end sections, the side portion including upper and lower walls which oppose each other, and forward and rearward walls which oppose each other, such that the upper, lower, forward and rearward walls define a shift unit receiving recess in the side portion;
a support structure removably received in the shift unit receiving recess to mount to the bracket member such that the upper and lower walls exist above and below the support structure, and the forward and rearward walls exist forward and rearward of the support structure;
a wire takeup member movably supported by the support structure;
a positioning mechanism including a first positioning member movably supported by the support structure and configured to integrally move with the wire takeup member, and a second positioning member supported by the support structure and configured to engage the first positioning member such that the first positioning member has a plurality of operating positions; and
a control member having a first portion movably supported by and attached to the support structure at a location inside the bracket member and a second portion disposed outside the bracket member, the control member being operatively coupled to the positioning mechanism for changing the operating position of the first positioning member,
the bracket member further including a removable cover at least partially covering the shift unit receiving recess, with the support structure disposed inside the shift unit receiving recess of the bracket member and the removable cover overlying the support structure.

2. The shift operating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the support structure includes a support member and a main axle that are coupled together as a unit, with the wire takeup member mounted on the main axle.

3. The shift operating device according to claim 2 , wherein
the support member includes a first support portion coupled to the main axle and a second support portion coupled to the second positioning member.

4. The shift operating device according to claim 3 , wherein
the support member further includes a third support portion coupled to the main axle with the wire takeup member disposed on the main axle between the first and third support portions.

5. The shift operating device according to claim 4 , wherein
the wire takeup member, the first positioning member and the first portion of the control member are rotatably supported by the main axle between the first and third support portions of the support member.

6. The shift operating device according to claim 4 , wherein
the support member is a one-piece unitary member.

7. The shift operating device according to claim 2 , wherein
the control member moves between a rest position and a shift position for performing a shifting operation that changes the operating position of the first positioning member.

8. The shift operating device according to claim 7 , wherein
the support member includes a stop portion selectively contacting the control member for setting the rest position of the control member.

9. The shift operating device according to claim 8 , wherein
the control member includes a driving pawl for moving the wire takeup member in a wire pulling direction.

10. The shift operating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the support member is slidably removable from the bracket member.

11. The shift operating device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a second control member rotatably supported by the support structure, and operatively coupled to the positioning mechanism.

12. The shift operating device according to claim 11 , wherein
the second control member is a separate member from the control member, with the second control member rotating independently of the control member as the second control member operates the positioning mechanism.

13. The shift operating device according to claim 11 , wherein
the control member is coupled to the positioning mechanism and operates the positioning mechanism as the control member is operated in a shift operating direction to perform a winding operation, and
the second control member is coupled to the positioning mechanism and operates the positioning mechanism as the second control member is operated in the shift operating direction to perform a releasing operation.

14. The shift operating device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a brake lever pivotally supported by the bracket member, with the support structure, the wire takeup member, the positioning mechanism, the second positioning member and the control member being removably mounted on the bracket member such that the brake lever remains attached to the bracket member in a functionally operable state with the support structure removed.

15. The shift operating device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a brake lever pivotally attached to the bracket member, with the brake lever not being supported by the support structure.

16. The shift operating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the support structure is configured to removably enter the shift unit receiving recess in a direction transverse to an axis about which the wire takeup member rotates.

17. The shift operating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the support structure is configured to removably enter the shift unit receiving recess along a radial direction of the wire takeup member.

18. A shift operating device comprising:
a bracket member configured to be mounted to a bicycle;
a support structure removably mounted to the bracket member;
a wire takeup member movably supported by the support structure;
a positioning mechanism including a first positioning member movably supported by the support structure and configured to integrally move with the wire takeup member, and a second positioning member supported by the support structure and configured to engage the first positioning member such that the first positioning member has a plurality of operating positions;
a control member having a first portion movably supported by and attached to the support structure at a location inside the bracket member and a second portion disposed outside the bracket member, the control member being operatively coupled to the positioning mechanism for changing the operating position of the first positioning member, the first portion being pivotally connected to the second portion by a first hinge pin; and
a second control member rotatably supported by the support structure, and operatively coupled to the positioning mechanism, the second control member including first and second portions pivotally connected by a second hinge pin, with the first and second hinge pins defining offset pivot axes.

Assignees

• Kususe Takashi
• Miki Yoshimitsu
• Kawamura Shinji
• Matsushita Tatsuya
• Terada Takefumi
• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Kususe Takashi
• Miki Yoshimitsu
• Kawamura Shinji
• Matsushita Tatsuya
• Terada Takefumi

Classifications

• B62M25/04 Primary

  hand actuated · CPC title

• B60T7/102

  by means of a tilting lever · CPC title

• B62K23/06

  Levers · CPC title

• Y10T74/20438

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