Bicycle hose structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9994208-B2
Application number	US-201414186049-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2014
Priority date	Feb 21, 2014
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

A bicycle hose structure comprises a tubular main body and a first electrical conductor. The tubular main body defines a through-hole, an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface. The through-hole is configured to arrange a force transmitting element provided so as to transmit operating force. The first electrical conductor is provided at least radially inwardly of the outer peripheral surface and has an end portion configured to be electrically connected to a bicycle component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle hose structure comprising:
a tubular main body defining a through-hole, an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the through-hole being configured to arrange a force transmitting element provided so as to transmit operating force, the tubular main body having a center axis;
a first electrical conductor provided at least radially inwardly of the outer peripheral surface and having an end portion configured to be electrically connected to a bicycle component, the first electrical conductor extending along the center axis of the tubular main body; and
an attachment member configured to be attached to an end portion of the tubular main body and to be electrically connected to the first electrical conductor, wherein
the attachment member includes an insertion portion and a flange portion,
the insertion portion is provided in the through-hole of the tubular main body to be in direct contact with the end portion of the first electrical conductor,
the flange portion is provided at an end of the insertion portion, the flange portion extends radially outward beyond an outermost circumferential surface of the insertion portion, the flange portion having a first axial end and a second axial end facing in opposite directions along the center axis, the first axial end being in direct contact with the end of the insertion portion, the flange portion is provided outside of the through-hole of the tubular main body along an axial direction defined along the center axis of the tubular main body, and
the flange portion has an end surface on the second axial end to be in direct contact with an additional conductive member of the bicycle component such that the end portion of the first electrical conductor is electrically connected to the bicycle component via the end surface.

2. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first electrical conductor is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular main body.

3. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the first electrical conductor is bonded to the inner peripheral surface.

4. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 2 , wherein
the first electrical conductor comprises a first conductive film provided on the inner peripheral surface to cover the inner peripheral surface.

5. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a second electrical conductor radially outwardly provided with respect to the first electrical conductor to be electrically insulated from the first electrical conductor by the tubular main body.

6. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 5 , wherein
the second electrical conductor is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular main body.

7. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 5 , wherein
the second electrical conductor comprises a second conductive film provided on the outer peripheral surface to cover the outer peripheral surface.

8. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first electrical conductor is at least partially embedded in the tubular main body.

9. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first electrical conductor comprises a tubular member, and
the tubular main body is configured to radially outwardly cover the first electrical conductor.

10. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the through-hole comprises a fluid passageway through which hydraulic fluid is to transmit the operating force as the force transmitting element.

11. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 10 , wherein
the attachment member includes an interior passageway configured to fluidly communicate with the fluid passageway in a state where the attachment member is attached to the end portion of the tubular main body.

12. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the through-hole comprises a wire passageway through which a mechanical operation wire is to extend to transmit the operating force as the force transmitting element.

13. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first electrical conductor is at least partially exposed from the inner peripheral surface of the tubular main body to the through-hole of the tubular main body.

14. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the end surface is farther from the tubular main body than the end portion of the first electrical conductor in the axial direction.

15. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the flange portion is integrally provided with the insertion portion as a one-piece unitary member.

16. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the insertion portion is in direct contact with the inner peripheral surface of the tubular main body.

17. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 16 , wherein
the first electrical conductor is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the tubular main body.

18. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the first electrical conductor is provided on an innermost surface of the tubular main body.

19. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an insulating member provided directly sandwiched between the flange portion and the end portion of the first electrical conductor.

20. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 19 , wherein
the insulating member is provided on a surface on the first axial end of the flange portion and extends radially from an inner peripheral edge of the flange portion to an outer peripheral edge of the flange portion.

21. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the end surface of the flange portion is a furthest terminal end of the attachment member along the axial direction defined along the center axis.

22. The bicycle hose structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the end surface of the flange portion extends in a radial direction and is configured to abut directly against a radially extending surface of the first electrical conductor.

23. A bicycle hose structure comprising:
a tubular main body defining a through-hole, an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface, the through-hole being configured to arrange a force transmitting element provided so as to transmit operating force, the tubular main body having a center axis;
a first electrical conductor provided at least radially inwardly of the outer peripheral surface and having an end portion configured to be electrically connected to a bicycle component, the first electrical conductor extending along the center axis of the tubular main body; and
an attachment member configured to be attached to an end portion of the tubular main body and to be electrically connected to the first electrical conductor, wherein
the attachment member includes an insertion portion and a flange portion,
the insertion portion is provided in the through-hole of the tubular main body to be in direct contact with the end portion of the first electrical conductor,
the flange portion is provided at an end of the insertion portion, the flange portion extends radially outward beyond an outermost circumferential surface of the insertion portion, the flange portion having a first axial end and a second axial end facing in opposite directions along the center axis, the first axial end being in direct contact with the end of the insertion portion,

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Nakakura Masahiro

Classifications

• B62J45/00

  Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B62J11/13

  specially adapted for mechanical cables · CPC title

• F16L11/127

  electrically conducting · CPC title

• B60T17/043 Primary

  Brake line couplings, air hoses and stopcocks · CPC title

• B62L3/00

  Brake-actuating mechanisms {(for back-pedalling brakes B62L5/00)}; Arrangements thereof · CPC title