Signals and indicators – Vehicle – Transmission indicator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-02
2001-06-12
Ackun, Jr., Jacob K. (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Vehicle
Transmission indicator
C116S284000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244207
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a bicycle gear shifting system, and more particularly to a gear shift indicating device of the bicycle gear shifting system to provide a bicyclist with an easy identification of the gear shift level.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The conventional bicycle gear shift indicating device is generally provided with a plurality of numerals which are intended to designate the gear shift levels and are printed or engraved on the rotary shell of the device. The marks of the shift numerals are susceptible to being gradually erased by the rubbing friction between the rotary shell and the hand of a bicyclist.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,270,481 discloses a lever operating device for the bicycle gear-shifting system. The device is not entirely effective in design in that the size of the gear shift indicating member is dependent on the rotating size, and that the indicating member can not be therefore seen with ease by the bicyclist. Such a structural deficiency as described above is overcome by an invention which is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,001. However, the latter invention is limited in design in that the size of the bicycle speed indicator is relatively large, and that the bicycle speed indicator is complexed in construction, and further that the bicycle speed indicator is prone to cause a visual error.
The U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,325,735 and 5,732,598 are intended to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art bicycle gear shift indicating devices as described above; nevertheless these two inventions are also not entirely effective in design in that the bicycle speed indicators of various sizes are required for different gear-shifting mechanisms and the indicating range of different speeds, thereby resulting in a substantial increase in cost of making the bicycle gear shift indicators as disclosed in the aforementioned two prior art references.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the primary objective of the present invention to provide a bicycle gear shift indicating device which enables a bicyclist to identify the gear shift level with ease.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a bicycle gear shift indicating device which is simple in construction and is cost-effective.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a bicycle gear shift indicating device which is compatible with various gear shift operating mechanisms of the bicycle.
In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objectives of the present invention are attained by a bicycle gear shift indicating device which is mounted on a bicycle handlebar which is in turn provided with an operating handle and a control cable. The device comprises a main body which is provided with a slide portion and a window. The device further comprises a cable reel, an actuating set, a link member, and a gear shift indicator. The cable reel is rotatably mounted in the main body such that the cable reel can be actuated by the operating handle to turn, and that the cable reel is connected with the control cable. The cable reel is provided with an inclined surface opposite to one side of the operating handle. The actuating set has a slide portion corresponding to the slide portion of the main body, a link portion and an action member urged by an elastic member to press against the inclined surface of the cable reel. The link member is located in the main body and actuated by the actuation set. The gear shift indicator is fastened with the link member and provided with a plurality of Arabic numerals designating the gear shift levels and corresponding in location to the window of the main body.
In operation, the operating handle is rotated so as to actuate the cable reel by the control cable. As a result, the actuation set is displaced to actuate the link member in such a manner that a gear shift numeral is seen through the window of the main body.
Preferably, the slide portion of the main body is a slide slot, whereas the slide portion of the actuation set is a slide rail.
The link portion of the actuation set is a rack. The link member is a gear which is engaged with the rack. The link portion of the actuation set may be a plastic strip, whereas the link member may be a friction wheel in contact with the plastic strip. The link portion of the actuation set may be a pivot while the link member is an arm which is fastened pivotally with the main body and the pivot of the actuation set. Moreover, the link portion of the actuation set may be a plastic strip, whereas the link member is a slide arm capable of cooperating with an idle wheel. The actuation set may be a spring.
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Ackun Jr. Jacob K.
Browdy & Neimark
Francis Faye
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