Bicycle gear changing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9302737-B2
Application number	US-201514822718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2015
Priority date	Mar 26, 2013
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A bicycle gear changing apparatus is basically provided with a controller including memory with a first prescribed shift route for upshifting and a second prescribed shift route for downshifting. The first prescribed shift route defines an order of actuation of at least one of a first gear changing device and a second gear changing device that is different from an order of actuation of at least one of the first and second gear changing devices that is defined by the second prescribed shift route. The controller controls a shifting operation of at least one of the first and second gear changing devices in response to a shift signal and in accordance with one of the first and second prescribed shift routes. The first prescribed shift route includes a least one user settable synchro-upshift point. The second prescribed shift route includes at least one user settable synchro-downshift point.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle gear changing apparatus comprising:
a controller including memory with a first prescribed shift route for upshifting and a second prescribed shift route for downshifting,
the first prescribed shift route defining an order of actuation of at least one of a first gear changing device and a second gear changing device that is different from an order of actuation of at least one of the first gear changing device and the second gear changing device that is defined by the second prescribed shift route;
the controller being configured to control a shifting operation of at least one of the first gear changing device and the second gear changing device in response to a shift signal and in accordance with one of the first and second prescribed shift routes,
the prescribed synchro-upshifting route including at least one user settable synchro-upshift point, and the prescribed synchro-downshifting route including at least one user settable synchro-downshift point,
the controller being configured to operate only one of the first gear changing device and the second gear changing device at the at least one user settable synchro-downshift point.

2. The bicycle gear changing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a cycle computer operatively coupled to the controller to select the at least one user settable synchro-upshift point and the at least one user settable synchro-downshift point that are used in controlling the first and second gear changing devices.

3. The bicycle gear changing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the cycle computer includes an input port configured to be attached to a computer to select the prescribed synchro-upshifting route and the prescribed synchro-downshifting route.

4. The bicycle gear changing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the prescribed first shift route changes a gear ratio established by the first and second gear changing devices in an ascending order, and
the second prescribed shift route changes the gear ratio established by the first and second gear changing devices in a descending order.

5. The bicycle gear changing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to operate only one of the first gear changing device and the second gear changing device at the at least one user settable synchro-upshift point.

6. The bicycle gear changing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first prescribed shift route is configured such that the controller is configured to operate both the first gear changing device and the second gear changing device at the at least one user settable synchro-downshift point.

7. The bicycle gear changing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first prescribed shift route is configured such that the controller is configured to operate both the first gear changing device and the second gear changing device at the at least one user settable synchro-upshift point.

8. The bicycle gear changing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the memory includes a plurality of pre-stored shift tables comprising the first prescribed shift route and the second prescribed shift route, and the pre-stored shift tables further comprising a third prescribed shift route for upshifting and a fourth prescribed shift route for downshifting.

9. The bicycle gear changing apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising
a first shift operating device comprising a first electrical switch and a second electrical switch, and
a second shift operating device comprising a third electrical switch and a fourth electrical switch.

10. The bicycle gear changing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein
the controller is configured to operate the first gear changing device and the second gear changing device in accordance with the first prescribed shift route in response to receiving shift signals from the first electrical switch,
the controller is configured to operate the first gear changing device and the second gear changing device in accordance with the second prescribed shift route in response to receiving shift signals from the third electrical switch,
the controller is configured to operate the first gear changing device and the second gear changing device in accordance with the third prescribed shift route in response to receiving shift signals from the second electrical switch, and
the controller is configured to operate the first gear changing device and the second gear changing device in accordance with the fourth prescribed shift route in response to receiving shift signals from the fourth electrical switch.

11. A bicycle gear changing apparatus comprising:
a controller including memory with a first prescribed shift route for upshifting and a second prescribed shift route for downshifting,
the first prescribed shift route defining an order of actuation of at least one of a first gear changing device and a second gear changing device that is different from an order of actuation of at least one of the first gear changing device and the second gear changing device that is defined by the second prescribed shift route;
the controller being configured to control a shifting operation of at least one of the first gear changing device and the second gear changing device in response to a shift signal and in accordance with one of the first and second prescribed shift routes,
the prescribed synchro-upshifting route including at least one user settable synchro-upshift point, and the prescribed synchro-downshifting route including at least one user settable synchro-downshift point,
the controller is configured to operate only one of the first gear changing device and the second gear changing device at the at least one user settable synchro-upshift point.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Kuroda Mao

Classifications

• B62M25/08

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title

• Y10T74/2003

  Electrical actuator · CPC title

• B62M25/04 Primary

  hand actuated · CPC title

• F16H59/044

  consisting of electrical switches or sensors · CPC title

• F16H61/0213

  characterised by the method for generating shift signals · CPC title