Bicycle pedaling force detector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9581508-B2
Application number	US-201514603729-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2015
Priority date	Jan 23, 2015
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A bicycle pedaling force detector is basically provided with that basically includes a first sensor circuit, a wireless communicator and a first electrical connection member. The first sensor circuit is coupled to a first housing that is configured to be mounted to a crank assembly. The wireless communicator is coupled to a second housing that is configured to be detachably mounted to a crank assembly. The second housing is a separate member from the first housing. The first electrical connection member is configured to electrically connect the wireless communicator and the first sensor circuit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle pedaling force detector for a bicycle comprising:
a sensor circuit disposed in a housing that is configured to be mounted to a crank assembly;
a wireless communicator disposed in a housing that is configured to be detachably mounted to a sprocket mounting portion of the crank assembly, the housing of the wireless communicator being a separate member from the housing of the sensor circuit; and
an electrical connection member configured to extend through an inside space of the crank assembly and electrically connect the wireless communicator and the sensor circuit.

2. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 1 , wherein
the crank assembly includes a first crank arm.

3. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2 , wherein
the sensor circuit is configured to be mounted to the crank arm.

4. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 1 , wherein
the housing of the wireless communicator is configured to be disposed offset a longitudinal axis of the crank assembly.

5. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2 , wherein
the sensor circuit is configured to be mounted outside of the crank arm.

6. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2 , wherein
the sensor circuit is configured to be mourned inside of the crank arm.

7. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2 , further comprising
a plurality of strain sensors; and
the strain sensors are fixed to the crank arm, and are electrically connected to the sensor circuit.

8. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2 , wherein
the crank arm includes a fixing structure; and
the housing of the wireless communicator is configured to be detachably attached to the fixing structure.

9. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2 , further comprising
a plurality of strain sensors; and
the strain sensors are fixed to an exterior of the crank arm, and are electrically connected to the sensor circuit.

10. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2 , further comprising
a plurality of strain sensors fixed to an interior of the crank arm, and electrically connected to the sensor circuit.

11. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2 , wherein
the electrical connection member includes an electrical wire, and
the crank arm includes a hole with the electrical wire at least partially disposed in the hole.

12. A bicycle pedaling force detector comprising:
a sensor circuit disposed in a housing that is configured to be mounted to a crank assembly having a first crank arm;
a wireless communicator disposed in a housing that is configured to be detachably mounted to the crank assembly, the housing of the wireless communicator being a separate member from the housing of the sensor circuit; and
an electrical connection member configured to extend through an inside space of the crank assembly and electrically connect the wireless communicator and the sensor circuit, the electrical connection member including a first connector and a second connector, the first connector being configured to be mounted on the crank arm, the second connector being mounted on the wireless communicator and being detachably connected to the first connector when the wireless communicator is detachably mounted to the crank arm.

13. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 2 , further comprising
an additional sensor circuit; and
an additional electrical connection member electrical connecting the wireless communicator and the second sensor circuit;
the crank assembly further includes an additional crank arm, and a crankshaft connected to the crank arms;
one of the sensor circuits being fixed to one of the crank arms and the other of the sensor circuits being fixed to the other of the crank arms.

14. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 1 , wherein
the sensor circuit includes an amplifier circuit and a calculation circuit.

15. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 1 , wherein
the sensor circuit is configured to be permanently mounted to the crank assembly.

16. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 1 , wherein
the housing of the wireless communicator further includes a battery receiving structure.

17. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 1 , further comprising
a cadence sensor attached to one of the housing of the sensor circuit and the housing of the wireless communicator.

18. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 17 , wherein
the cadence sensor is mounted to the housing of the sensor circuit.

19. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 18 , wherein
the cadence sensor is mounted to the housing of the wireless communicator.

20. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 1 , wherein
the housing of the wireless communicator is configured to be disposed between a first sprocket mounting arm and a second sprocket mounting arm of the sprocket mounting portion.

21. The bicycle pedaling force detector according to claim 1 , wherein
the housing of the wireless communicator and the housing of the sensor circuit are configured to be disposed on opposite sides of an axle receiving hole of the crank assembly.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Tetsuka Toshio
• Yoshida Fumiaki
• Mori Shintarou

Classifications

• G01L25/003

  for measuring torque · CPC title

• G01L17/00

  Devices or apparatus for measuring tyre pressure or the pressure in other inflated bodies · CPC title

• B62M3/00 Primary

  Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot · CPC title

• B62M3/08

  Pedals · CPC title

• G01L5/225

  to foot actuated controls, e.g. brake pedals · CPC title