Brakes – Vehicle – Velocipede
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-13
2001-10-30
Butler, Douglas C. (Department: 3613)
Brakes
Vehicle
Velocipede
C188S024120, C188S024210, C188S073320
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308806
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to wheel brakes and is directed more particularly to a caliper-type wheel brake assembly for a cycle.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
Caliper-type brake assemblies for bicycles, and the like, are known in the art. The present invention is an improvement of the invention for “Brake Assembly for A Cycle” disclosed and claimed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,207, issued Sep. 8, 1998. The information disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,207 is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
The brake assembly invention described and claimed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,207 offers the advantages of the brake caliper arms being largely housed in frame portions of a cycle, so that the brake assembly detracts minimally from the cycle aerodynamics and the braking load is smoothly transferred to the frame of the cycle without substantial vibration. The invention disclosed in my prior patent offers additional advantages as follows: (1) the brake assembly is substantially protected from dirt and other road contaminants, (2) the brake assembly comprises identical caliper arms, so that only one form of arm need be manufactured, (3) “tolerance stack-up” is essentially eliminated and (4) changing of brake pads is a relatively simple and quick operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a brake assembly for a cycle which improves upon the brake assembly disclosed and claimed in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,207.
A more specific object of the invention is to provide a caliper-type brake assembly which improves upon the brake assembly disclosed in my prior patent by eliminating any tendency of the caliper arms to apply a torsional force to the brake actuating mechanism, or vice versa, when the brake is actuated.
A further object of the invention is to provide a brake assembly of the type described which is characterized by an improved arrangement for mounting the brake arms to a fork crown of a cycle and an improved replaceable brake unit, the new arrangement and brake unit offering the advantages of reducing frictional forces on the caliper brake arms, simplifying the task of assembling and disassembling the brake assembly, and reducing weight and manufacturing and assembling costs.
A further object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary spring means that operates to keep the brake caliper arms in non-braking position when it is desired to remove and replace the brake pads.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement for guiding the cable that operates the brake assembly, so as to facilitate operation of the brake assembly.
Still another object of the invention is to provide brake pads which can be reversed, i.e., re-oriented, to alter the position of the brake pads with respect to the cycle wheel which they are intended to engage for braking purposes.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel brake pad design which makes their replacement easy and also extends their useful life.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a hand-operated caliper-type brake assembly which incorporates a hydraulic cylinder arrangement for operating the brake arms.
The foregoing objects, and other objects disclosed or rendered apparent by the following description, are achieved by providing a brake assembly for a cycle which comprises a pair of caliper brake arms each provided with a pocket for receiving a portion of a brake pad, and a brake pad unit engaged with the brake arms, the brake pad unit comprising two brake pads carried by a spring which acts against the two brake arms so as to bias those brake arms in a direction to move the brake pads away from one another and the wheel which they are intended to engage. The brake assembly is installed in a novel fork crown which is shaped internally so as to accommodate and support the caliper brake arms. The fork crown is adapted to be attached to a steerer tube or to a tube forming part of a cycle frame, with the fork crown providing a passageway for a cable-operated mechanism for applying a force to the caliper brake arms that causes the latter to pivot in a direction that causes the brake pads to move toward one another for engagement with a wheel, whereby to effect braking of the cycle.
Still other features and advantages of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combination of parts and changes thereto, are more particularly described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the particular devices embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention, and that the principals and features of the invention may be employed by other various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention herein disclosed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4469205 (1984-09-01), Stoka et al.
patent: 5803207 (1998-09-01), Nielsen
Butler Douglas C.
Pandiscio & Pandiscio
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