Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Hand operated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-27
2001-03-13
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Hand operated
C074S107000, C074S109000, C074S473140, C074S489000, C074SDIG007, C116S028100, C116S284000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199446
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to control devices for bicycle transmissions and, more particularly, to an indicator unit for a bicycle shift control device.
Many bicycle shift control devices have indicators associated with them to indicate the currently selected gear of the bicycle transmission. Derailleur operated transmissions usually have a front derailleur shift control device and a rear derailleur shift control device, so one indicator is usually mounted on the front derailleur shift control device to indicate the currently selected gear for the front derailleur, and another indicator is usually mounted to the rear derailleur shift control device to indicate the currently selected gear for the rear derailleur. Since the shift control devices are usually mounted on opposite sides of the bicycle handlebar, the user must inconveniently look to opposite ends of the handlebar to ascertain the state of both bicycle transmissions.
One attempt to overcome the inconvenience noted above is shown in JP 61-5348. That publication shows a combined front and rear shift control device that is integrally formed with the handlebar stem extension. The combined shift control device includes indicators for indicating the state of each bicycle transmission, but the unit is highly specialized and can not be used with existing shift control devices. Another attempt to overcome the inconveniences noted above is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,033. That publication shows a separate indicator unit for centrally indicating the state of both the front and rear bicycle transmissions, wherein the indicator unit may be used with existing shift control devices. However, the indicator unit uses a pair of rotating wheels with numbers printed on them to indicate the currently selected gears. This requires the rider to directly look at the indicator unit and read each number to determine the currently selected gear, which can be inconvenient in a racing environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an indicator unit for a bicycle shift control device wherein the currently selected speed stage for both front and rear bicycle transmissions may be ascertained from a centralized location and without having to directly read numbers. In one embodiment of the present invention, an indicator unit is provided for engaging a first control cable connected to a first bicycle shift control device and for engaging a second control cable connected to a second bicycle shift control device. The indicator unit includes a housing; a handlebar attachment member for attaching the housing to a handlebar, a first intermediate member; a first coupling member coupled to the first intermediate member for coupling the first intermediate member for movement with the first control cable; and a separate first indicating member viewable from outside the housing, wherein the first indicating member engages the first intermediate member so that movement of the first intermediate member causes movement of the first indicating member. The indicator unit also includes a second intermediate member; a second coupling member coupled to the second intermediate member for coupling the second intermediate member for movement with the second control cable; and a separate second indicating member viewable from outside the housing, wherein the second indicating member engages the second intermediate member so that movement of the second intermediate member along the guide surface causes movement of the second indicating member. A first biasing mechanism is provided for biasing the first intermediate member in a first direction, and a second biasing mechanism is provided for biasing the second intermediate member in a second direction. The first direction may be different from the second direction to accommodate control cables that do not move in the same direction.
In a more specific embodiment, movement of the first and second intermediate members cause movement of the first and second indicating member to different viewable positions along the housing. This allows the state of each bicycle transmission to be sensed without having to read numbers or other indicia In the case of indicating members that rotate in response to movement of the intermediate members, this may be facilitated by exposing the indicating members for viewing in a direction of the rotational axis of the indicating members, especially if the indicating members are formed as elongated members.
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Bucci David A.
Deland James A.
Kim Chong H.
Shimano Inc.
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