Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-23
2001-08-21
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element
C074S502200, C074S506000, C474S080000, C474S166000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276227
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to bicycle shift control devices and, more particularly, to a shift control device having a compact design to facilitate mounting the shift control device in close proximity to other structures.
Twist-grip shift control devices are sometimes used to control various types of bicycle transmissions. Examples of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,437 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,927. Each device disclosed in those patents includes a rotatable handgrip mounted around the handlebar coaxially with the handlebar axis, a pulley inclined relative to the rotatable handgrip for winding a transmission cable, and a motion transmitting structure for transmitting motion of the rotatable handgrip to the pulley. In the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,437, the motion transmitting member is a pair of bevel gears formed by the peripheral surfaces of the rotatable handgrip and the pulley. The device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,927 also employs a pair of bevel gears formed by the peripheral surfaces of the rotatable handgrip and the pulley. Alternatively, that device may employ a connecting cable connected between the rotatable handgrip and the pulley.
When a connecting cable is used to transmit motion between the rotatable handgrip and the pulley, the pulley typically must have two winding grooves-one for the cable controlling the bicycle transmission and another one for the cable coupling the pulley to the rotatable handgrip. The winding grooves usually are located on an outer peripheral surface of the pulley. The end of each cable is fitted with a terminating nipple that is fitted within a recess formed in the pulley. The pulley ordinarily has a thickness sufficient to accommodate two nipples aligned end to end, even though the two nipples are not always positioned adjacent to each other, in order to provide sufficient support and rigidity for the two cable nipples. However, such a thickness increases the size of the shift control device, thus making the shift control device aesthetically unappealing, and it makes it difficult to mount the shift control device in close proximity to other devices, such as a brake lever assembly.
Another problem with conventional twist-grip shifting devices is that the overall structure of such devices does not allow other control devices to be efficient mounted adjacent to them because the housing of the shifting device usually extends perpendicular to the handlebar, and the pulley is located almost immediately adjacent to the handlebar. As a result, the other control device must be located laterally of the pulley, far away from the rider's hand, which makes the control device difficult if not impossible to operate. Some devices may be mounted adjacent to the housing, but this, too, tends to locate the other control device further from the rider's hand than is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a bicycle shift control device which has a rotatable handgrip mounted around the handlebar coaxially with the handlebar axis, a pulley inclined relative to the rotatable handgrip for winding a transmission cable, and a motion transmitting structure for transmitting motion of the rotatable handgrip to the pulley. In a twist-grip shifting device constructed according to the present invention the pulley is thinner than conventional pulleys, and the shifting device has a clamping apparatus which clamps the shift control device to the bicycle handlebar in a maimer which allows other control devices to be mounted adjacent to the shifting device very efficiently.
In one embodiment of the present invention directed to the pulley, the pulley includes a pulley body having an outer peripheral surface, a first winding groove formed on the outer peripheral surface for winding a first transmission element, and a second winding groove formed on the outer peripheral surface for winding a second transmission element. The first winding groove is inclined relative to the second winding groove. In a more specific embodiment, the pulley has a mounting portion so that the pulley rotates around a rotational axis, wherein the first winding groove is inclined relative to the second winding groove in the direction of the rotational axis. In an even more specific embodiment, the first winding groove includes a first groove segment that is inclined relative to the second winding groove and a second groove segment that is parallel to the second winding groove. This structure allows any terminating nipple on the first transmission element to be placed closer to the second winding groove, thus decreasing the thickness of the pulley over prior art structures.
In an embodiment of the invention directed to a clamping apparatus which clamps the shift control device to the bicycle handlebar in a manner which allows other control devices to be mounted adjacent to the shifting device very efficiently, the clamping apparatus includes a clamping unit and a housing attached to the clamping unit. In a specific embodiment of the clamping unit, the clamping unit includes a clamp member structured to mount to a handlebar around a first axis coaxial with the handlebar, a clamp arm member coupled to the clamp member and extending in a radial direction from the clamping member, and a housing mounting member disposed on the clamp arm member and spaced apart from the clamp member. The housing includes a base member structured to mount to the handlebar around the first axis, a housing arm member coupled to the base member and extending in the direction of the clamp arm member, and a pulley coupling member disposed on the housing arm member and spaced apart from the base member, wherein the pulley coupling member is fixed to the housing mounting member. A pulley is coupled to the pulley coupling member for rotation around a second axis that usually is oriented differently from the first axis.
In a more specific embodiment of the clamping unit, the housing mounting member is laterally offset from a lateral edge of the clamp arm member, and the housing mounting member defines a housing fastener opening offset from the lateral edge of the arm member for receiving a housing fastener therethrough. The fastener is used to mount the housing to the housing mounting member. The offset positioning of the housing mounting member allows other bicycle control devices to be mounted in the recess formed by the offset housing mounting member and the lateral edge of the clamp arm member. This, in turn, provides for a more ergonomic relationship between the shift control device and the other control device. To make the structure even more ergonomic and compact, the base member of the housing may surround at least a portion of the clamp member, and the housing arm member may extend along the clamp arm member.
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Bucci David A.
Charles Marcus
Deland James A.
Shimano Inc.
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