Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Hand operated
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-03
2004-12-14
Joyce, William C. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Hand operated
C074S501600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06829963
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a handlebar shifter for operating bicycle derailleur system. A plate is connected to the rotatable member of the shifter device and has a plurality of notches so as to be engaged with the resilient member. Both of the plate and the resilient member are made of metal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional handlebar shifter device for operating bicycle derailleur system is shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
and generally includes a fixed piece
60
fixedly connected to the handlebar of a bicycle and a tube
601
extends from an end surface of the fixed piece
60
. A recess
602
is defined in the end surface of the fixed piece
60
so as to receive a resilient member
62
therein which has an index peak
621
. A rotatable member
70
is rotatably mounted to the tube
601
and includes a tubular portion
701
on which a grasp of the handlebar is mounted. A curve plate
702
extends from an end surface of the rotatable member
70
and a slot defined in an outer surface of the curve plate
702
. A derailleur cable
61
has one end connected to the derailleur system (not shown) and the other end is fixed in the slot. A plurality of notches
703
are defined in an inner periphery of the curve plate
702
so that the index peak
621
of the resilient member
62
is engaged with one of them. When rotating the rotatable member
70
, the derailleur cable
61
is pulled or loosened and the position of the notches
703
are rotated to allow the peak
621
to be engaged with one notch
703
. By this way, the derailleur cable
61
is operated and set in position. Nevertheless, the curve plate
702
is made of plastic material and the resilient member
62
is made of metal, the plastic made curve plate
702
is worn out by the metal made resilient member
62
so that the index peak
621
of the resilient member
62
cannot well engaged with the notches
703
such that the movement of the derailleur cable
61
is not precisely operated and the chain of the derailleur system become dull.
The present invention intends to provide a handlebar shifter device that has a metal plate co-rotatably connected to the rotatable member and the index peak of the resilient member is engaged with the notches of the plate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handlebar shifter device for operating bicycle derailleur system and the device comprises a fixed piece connected to a bicycle handlebar and a tube extends from an end surface of the fixed piece so that a rotatable member is rotatably mounted to the tube. A recess is defined in the end surface of the fixed piece and a resilient member is received in the recess. The resilient member has an index peak. A cable retaining hole is defined in the fixed piece for receiving a derailleur cable therein.
The rotatable member has an annular flange extending from an end surface thereof and two blocks extend from the second end surface of the rotatable member. One of the blocks has a slot for receiving an end piece on the derailleur cable.
A plate has a hole for being mounted on the annular flange two protrusions extend from an outer periphery of the plate and respectively contact the two blocks on the rotatable member. A plurality of notches are defined in an outer periphery of one of the protrusions and the index peak of the resilient member is engaged with one of the notches.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a handlebar shifter that has a metal plate located between the fixed piece and the rotatable member so that the resilient member is engaged with the plate and the plate is durable to precisely position the index peak of the resilient member.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5241877 (1993-09-01), Chen
patent: 6021688 (2000-02-01), Chang
patent: 6209413 (2001-04-01), Chang
patent: 6343524 (2002-02-01), Lien
patent: 6494112 (2002-12-01), Chen
patent: 6532890 (2003-03-01), Chen
patent: 2002/0000136 (2002-01-01), Feng et al.
patent: 2002/0152830 (2002-10-01), Chang
patent: 2003/0221506 (2003-12-01), Wesling et al.
Joyce William C.
Kamrath Alan D.
Nikolai & Mersereau , P.A.
Yung Sung Lin
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