Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element
Patent
1988-08-17
1990-03-20
Herrmann, Allan D.
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element
745022, 745024, 745026, 74526, B62K 2306, B62L 302, G05G 518
Patent
active
049090941
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a brake lever device for use on the handlebar of a bicycle.
BACKGROUND ART
FIG. 21 shows a conventional brake lever device, which comprises a bracket 42 mounted on a handlebar 41, and a brake lever 43 mounted on the bracket and pivotally movable about an axis 0. The bracket 42 has a portion 44 for holding the outer wire of a Bowden cable 49, and the brake lever 43 is provided with a portion 45 for holding the inner wire of the cable (see Examined Japanese Utility Model Publication SHO 60-3383).
With the above conventional brake lever device, the center 0 of movement of the brake lever 43 is at a large distance S from the central axis C of the handlebar 41 radially outwardly of the bar as illustrated. Accordingly, the brake lever device is projected radially outward from the handlebar 41 by an amount corresponding to the distance. The portions 44, 45 for holding the Bowden cable 49 are therefore projected from the handlebar 41 radially outward, so that the Bowden cable 49 is correspondingly likely to become engaged with an obstacle or the like while the bicycle is driven, hence hazardous. Moreover, the device in its entirety undesirably has a large size involving waste of materials.
Further if the distance L between the brake lever 43 and the handlebar 41 is definite, the brake becomes difficult to operate depending on the size of the rider's hand. Accordingly, an adjusting bolt 46 screwed through the bracket 42 in bearing contact with the brake lever 43 is turned and thereby moved axially thereof to alter the position of contact of the bolt 46 with the brake lever 43 and vary the opening distance L for the brake lever 43 for adjustment (see Examined Japanese Utility Model Publication SHO 56-14424).
With the conventional brake lever device described, the adjusting bolt 46 is positioned in a narrow space between the Bowden cable 49 and the handlebar 41 and is therefore difficult to move for adjustment. The arrangement is further unsightly.
The spacing between the wheel rim of the bicycle and the brake shoes, which must be maintained at the proper value, varies if the brake shoe wears or the opening distance L of the brake lever 43 is altered. In such a case, there arises a need to adjust the length of the inner wire, whereas the conventional device is not provided with means for readily adjusting the length of the inner wire, which therefore requires a cumbersome adjusting procedure.
The object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing problems.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To solve the problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a brake lever device for bicycles which includes a bracket 2 mountable on a handlebar 1 and a brake lever 3 pivotally movably mounted on the bracket, the bracket 2 having a portion for holding the outer wire of a Bowden cable 19, the brake lever 3 having a portion for holding the inner wire of the cable. First, the device is characterized in that the bracket 2 has a bore 5 for removably inserting the handlebar 1 therethrough, a pivot 4 being positioned substantially perpendicular to the central axis C of the inserting bore 5, the brake lever 3 being mounted on the pivot 4 and movable about the axis thereof.
In addition to the first feature, the device has the second feature that the outer wire holding portion 2B is provided with a screw tube 18 movable axially thereof by turning an adjusting nut 15 screwed thereon for adjusting the opening width of the brake lever, the adjusting screw tube 18 having the inner wire 16 inserted therethrough, the adjusting screw tube 18 being in contact at its one end with the end of the inner wire holding portion 3E opposed to the outer wire holding portion 2B.
In addition to the first feature, the device has the third feature that the inner wire holding portion 3E is provided with an inner wire adjusting screw 25 movable axially thereof by turning an adjusting nut 27 screwed thereon, the adjusting screw 25 having the inner wire 16 inserted therethrough and engaging the i
REFERENCES:
patent: 3948361 (1976-04-01), Carlson
patent: 4066154 (1978-01-01), Ross
patent: 4088040 (1978-05-01), Ross-Hyring
Herrmann Allan D.
Yoshigai Kikai Kinzoku Kabushiki Kaisha
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