Bicycle control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9469380-B2
Application number	US-201314094718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2013
Priority date	Dec 26, 2012
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A bicycle control device includes a housing member, a control lever member, a shift-operating mechanism and a hydraulic fluid pressure generator. The housing member has an attachment part for attachment to a handlebar, and a grip part extending longitudinally between first and second ends of the grip part. The shift-operating mechanism includes a cable take-up member rotatably mounted around a cable take-up axis. The cable take-up member has a control cable attachment part that is configured to be coupled to a shifting device by a control cable. The hydraulic fluid pressure generator has a cylinder and a piston movably that is disposed within the cylinder by movement of the control lever member to generate fluid pressure for controlling a braking device. The cylinder defines a cylinder axis that forms an angle of greater than or equal to 20° and less than or equal to 50° with the cable take-up axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle control device comprising:
a housing member having an attachment part configured to be attached to a handlebar, and a grip part extending longitudinally between a first end of the grip part and a second end of the grip part, the attachment part being provided on the first end of the grip part;
a control lever member pivotally provided with respect to the housing member;
a shift-operating mechanism provided in the housing member, the shift-operating mechanism including a cable take-up member rotatably mounted around a cable take-up axis, the cable take-up member having a control cable attachment part that is configured to be coupled to a shifting device by a control cable; and
a hydraulic fluid pressure generator having a cylinder and a piston movably disposed within the cylinder by movement of the control lever member to generate fluid pressure for controlling a braking device,
the cylinder being disposed in the housing member at a position closer toward the second end of the grip part than the shift-operating mechanism to the second end of the grip part, the cylinder defining a cylinder axis that forms an angle of greater than or equal to 20° and less than or equal to 50° with the cable take-up axis.

2. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control lever member includes
a first operating lever that pivots around a first axis relative to the housing member for operating the piston, and
a second operating lever that pivots around a second axis for operating the cable take-up member of the shift-operating mechanism, the second axis being different from the first axis relative to the housing member.

3. The bicycle control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the cable take-up axis and the second axis are coaxial.

4. The bicycle control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the cable take-up axis and the second axis are non-coaxial axes.

5. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the cylinder has a cylindrical shape defining the cylinder axis.

6. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the cylinder having an open end on a piston side and a closed end on a side opposite the open end, the open end being in a lower position than the closed end when the bicycle control device is in an installed position.

7. The bicycle control device according to claim 6 , wherein
the closed end of the cylinder is sealed shut by a sealing member.

8. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the angle formed between the cylinder center axis and the cable take-up axis is greater than or equal to 25° and less than or equal to 40°.

9. The bicycle control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the grip part includes: a first housing section on a side of the first end, and a second housing section on a side of the second end.

10. The bicycle control device according to claim 9 , wherein
the grip part includes: a first bracket disposed between the first housing section and the second housing section, and a second bracket housed by the second housing section.

11. The bicycle control device according to claim 9 , wherein
the first housing section houses the shift-operating mechanism.

12. The bicycle control device according to claim 9 , wherein
the hydraulic fluid pressure generator is disposed above the second housing section.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Watarai Etsuyoshi
• Kariyama Osamu
• Matsushita Tatsuya
• Nakakura Masahiro

Classifications

• B62M25/00

  Actuators for gearing speed-change mechanisms specially adapted for cycles (rider operated controls for cycles in general B62K23/00; gearing speed change mechanisms F16H) · CPC title

• B62L3/023

  acting on fluid pressure systems · CPC title

• B62K23/06 Primary

  Levers · CPC title

• Y10T74/20438

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

• B62M25/04 Primary

  hand actuated · CPC title