Bicycle crank assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9771126-B2
Application number	US-201514722662-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2015
Priority date	May 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A bicycle crank assembly is basically provided with a bicycle crank arm and an electrical unit. The bicycle crank arm includes a crank portion and a sprocket mounting portion. The sprocket mounting portion includes at least one sprocket mounting arm having a distal end part forming a sprocket mounting structure. The electrical unit includes a first attachment part that is disposed on a first sprocket mounting arm of the at least one sprocket mounting arm at the sprocket mounting structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle crank assembly comprising:
a bicycle crank arm including a crank portion and a sprocket mounting portion, the sprocket mounting portion including at least one sprocket mounting arm having a distal end part forming a sprocket mounting structure;
an electrical unit including a first attachment part that is disposed on a support surface of a first sprocket mounting arm of the at least one sprocket mounting arm at the sprocket mounting structure; and
a bicycle sprocket mounted on the sprocket mounting structure at a connection point, the bicycle sprocket having a radially facing surface with respect to a center rotational axis of the crank arm,
the first attachment part of the electrical unit being disposed between the support surface and the radially facing surface of the sprocket with the first attachment part, the support surface and the radially facing surface being located at one side of the connection point such that the first attachment part, the support surface and the radially facing surface are radially aligned with the center rotational axis of the crank arm.

2. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first attachment part of the electrical unit is fixed to the first sprocket mounting arm by a fastener.

3. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 2 , wherein
the support surface receives the fastener.

4. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
the first attachment part has a fastener opening and the support surface of the first sprocket mounting arm has a second fastener opening that is aligned with the fastener opening, the fastener being received in the first and second fastener openings.

5. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the support surface of the at least one sprocket mounting arm has a recess in which the first attachment part is disposed.

6. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 5 , wherein
the distal end part of the sprocket mounting structure defines a sprocket support surface that is substantially perpendicular with respect to the support surface of the first sprocket mounting arm.

7. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the support surface of the first sprocket mounting arm has an electrical connection opening.

8. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 7 , further comprising
an electrical conductive member connected to the electrical unit extending through the electrical connection opening.

9. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the electrical unit further includes a housing, the housing including the first attachment part and supporting at least one electrical component.

10. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the at least one sprocket mounting arm includes a plurality of sprocket mounting arms,
the at least one sprocket mounting arm further having a second sprocket mounting arm located adjacent to the first sprocket mounting arm,
the housing further includes a second attachment part that is disposed on the second sprocket mounting arm at the sprocket mounting structure.

11. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the at least one electrical component includes a wireless communication unit.

12. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the at least one electrical component includes a battery unit.

13. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 9 , further comprising
a sensor circuit mounted on the crank portion of the bicycle crank arm, the sensor circuit being electrically connected to the at least one electrical component.

14. A bicycle crank assembly comprising:
a bicycle crank arm having a crank portion and a sprocket mounting portion, the sprocket mounting portion including at least one sprocket mounting arm having a distal end part forming a sprocket mounting structure, the distal end part of the sprocket mounting structure defining a sprocket support surface having a sprocket mounting hole, a first sprocket mounting arm of the at least one sprocket mounting arm having a support surface with an opening, the support surface and the sprocket support surface being perpendicularly arranged with respect to each other, the support surface of the first sprocket mounting arm having a recess on which the opening is disposed.

15. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 14 , further comprising
an electrical unit including a first attachment part that is disposed on the first sprocket mounting arm, and an electrical conductive member connected to the electrical unit and extending through the opening.

16. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the opening of the first sprocket mounting arm is located at the distal end part and disposed radially inward of the sprocket mounting structure.

17. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the opening of the first sprocket mounting arm is located radially between the sprocket mounting structure and the crank arm portion.

18. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 15 , further comprising
a bicycle sprocket mounted on the sprocket mounting structure, the first attachment part of the electrical unit being disposed between the first sprocket mounting arm and the bicycle sprocket.

19. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 18 , wherein
the first attachment part of the electrical unit is fixed to the first sprocket mounting arm by a fastener.

20. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 19 , wherein
the support surface supports the first attachment part and receives the fastener.

21. A bicycle crank assembly comprising:
a bicycle crank arm having a crank portion and a sprocket mounting portion, the sprocket mounting portion including at least one sprocket mounting arm having a distal end part forming a sprocket mounting structure, the distal end part of the sprocket mounting structure defining a sprocket support surface having a sprocket mounting hole, a first sprocket mounting arm of the at least one sprocket mounting arm having a support surface with an opening, the support surface and the sprocket support surface being perpendicularly arranged with respect to each other;
an electrical unit including a first attachment part that is disposed on the first sprocket mounting arm, and an electrical conductive member connected to the electrical unit and extending through the opening;
a bicycle sprocket mounted on the sprocket mounting structure, the first attachment part of the electrical unit being disposed between the first sprocket mounting arm and the bicycle sprocket and being fixed to the first sprocket mounting arm by a fastener, the support surface supporting the first attachment part and receiving the fastener, the first attachment part having a fastener opening and the support surface of the first sprocket mounting arm having a second fastener opening that is aligned with the fastener opening, the fastener being received in the first and second fastener openings.

22. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the first attachment part is disposed in the recess of the first sprocket mounting arm.

23. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the first sprocket mounting arm includes one of a female connector and a male connector that is disposed at the opening, the electrical conductive member of the electrical unit being the other of a female

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Tetsuka Toshio

Classifications

• B62J6/015

  using electrical power not supplied by the cycle motor generator, e.g. using batteries or piezo elements · CPC title

• B62M3/00 Primary

  Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot · CPC title

• B62M3/16

  Accessories · CPC title

• B62J45/20

  Cycle computers as cycle accessories · CPC title

• G01L1/00

  Measuring force or stress, in general (measuring force due to impact G01L5/00) · CPC title