AEROBAR-MOUNTED ROTATIONAL TORQUE SURGE BRAKE FOR A BICYCLE

Abstract

A rotational torque surge brake assembly mounted to a bicycle aerobar that provides an ergonomic brake design allowing riders utilizing aerobars to brake using a natural supination motion of the forearm while remaining in the tucked, aerodynamic racing position. Braking is activated by supine radial rotation of an actuating handle grip (6) mounted rotatably about a base mounting member (7) that is itself affixed to an aerobar (9) mounted on the bicycle handlebar. The bicycle's brake cable is attached to the handle grip (6) in such a manner that radial motion of the handle (6) results in axial motion of the brake cable (10), relative to the axis of the bicycle frame.

Claims

1. For a bicycle having a forward and rearward wheel, a frame upon which the wheels are rotatably mounted, handle bars, a flexible cable operable braking device for at least one of the wheels, a pair of aerobar assemblies affixed to the handle bars and extending in the direction generally parallel to the path of travel of the bicycle, and a sheathed flexible brake cable assembly comprising a flexible brake cable and brake cable sheath connected to said braking device and extending therefrom to at least one of said aerobar assemblies, an aerobar-mounted rotational torque surge braking system comprising: one or more base mounting sheath bushings fixedly secured coaxially to at least one of said aerobar assemblies; at least one actuating handle grip having means for its mounting rotatably upon said base mounting sheath bushing coaxially therewith and rotatably thereabout; means of anchoring the end of at least one of said flexible brake cables to said actuating handle grip, so that the motion imparted to the end of said flexible brake cable in the radial direction relative to the axis of said flexible brake cable produces axial tensioning of said flexible brake cable relative to the direction of the bicycle's travel; and means of attaching a shifter cable transition piece and cable shifter lever to said aerobar assembly while still allowing supine radial rotation of said actuating handle grip.

2. For a bicycle having a forward and rearward wheel, a frame upon which the wheels are rotatably mounted, handle bars, a flexible cable operable braking device for at least one of the wheels, a pair of aerobar assemblies affixed to the handle bars and extending in the direction generally parallel to the path of travel of the bicycle, and a sheathed flexible brake cable assembly comprising a flexible brake cable and brake cable sheath connected to said braking device and extending therefrom to at least one of said aerobar assemblies, an aerobar-mounted rotational torque surge braking system comprising: one or more modified base mounting sheaths fixedly secured coaxially to at least one of said aerobar assemblies; at least one actuating handle grip having integrated bearings and means for its mounting rotatably upon said aerobar assemblies coaxially therewith and rotatably thereabout; means of anchoring the end of at least one of said flexible brake cables to said actuating handle grip, so that the motion imparted to the end of said flexible brake cable in the radial direction relative to the axis of said flexible brake cable produces axial tensioning of said flexible brake cable relative to the direction of the bicycle's travel; and means of attaching a shifter cable transition piece and a cable shifter lever to said aerobar assembly while still allowing supine radial rotation of said actuating handle grip.

3. The bicycle braking assembly of claim 1, wherein said anchoring means further comprises: a slotted brake cable endstop anchoring seat for said flexible brake cable formed within said actuating handle grip; and a radiused transition channel in said base mounting sheath bushing for said flexible brake cable; and an embedded seat to anchor the brake cable sheath into the proximate end of said base mounting sheath bushing.

4. The bicycle braking assembly of claim 2, wherein said anchoring means further comprises: a slotted brake cable endstop anchoring seat for said flexible brake cable formed within said actuating handle grip; and a radiused transition channel in said modified base mounting sheath for said flexible brake cable; and an embedded seat to anchor the brake cable sheath into the proximate end of said modified base mounting sheath.

5. The bicycle braking assembly of claim 1, wherein the degree of rotation of the grip assembly required for either scrubbing speed or full range of braking extends from approximately 5 to approximately 30 degrees.

6. The bicycle braking assembly of claim 2, wherein the degree of rotation of the grip assembly required for either scrubbing speed or full range of braking extends from approximately 5 to approximately 30 degrees.

7. The bicycle braking system of claim 1, further comprising: a means to allow an unobstructed channel within said braking assembly traversing along or through, and coaxially therewith, the axis of said aerobar assembly to allow for passage of a gear shifter cable along the axis of said aerobar assembly, without restricting said supine radial rotation of said actuating handle grip.

8. The bicycle braking system of claim 2, further comprising: a means to allow an unobstructed channel within said braking assembly traversing along or through, and coaxially therewith, the axis of said aerobar assembly to allow for passage of a gear shifter cable along the axis of said aerobar assembly, without restricting said supine radial rotation of said actuating handle grip.

9. The bicycle braking system of claim 1, further comprising: a shifter cable transition piece; and a fastening mechanism for attachment of a suitable shifter assembly to the distal end of said aerobar assembly.

10. The bicycle braking system of claim 2, further comprising: a shifter cable transition piece; and a fastening mechanism for attachment of a suitable shifter assembly to the distal end of said aerobar assembly.

11. The bicycle braking system of claim 1, wherein said flexible cable operable braking device further comprises a spring-loaded means forcing said braking device and said sheathed flexible brake cable assembly away from the braking position, and wherein the relative location upon said actuating handle grip of said joining means is selected so that said actuating handle grip is urged rotatably away from the braking position by said spring means.

12. The bicycle braking system of claim 2, wherein said flexible cable operable braking device further comprises a spring-loaded means forcing said braking device and said sheathed flexible brake cable assembly away from the braking position, and wherein the relative location upon said actuating handle grip of said joining means is selected so that said actuating handle grip is urged rotatably away from the braking position by said spring means.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In the drawings, which represent the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention,

[0018] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the rotational torque surge brake assembly;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a top view of the rotational torque surge brake assembly;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a side view of the rotational torque surge brake assembly;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the rotational torque surge brake assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, provides a novel and inventive rotational torque surge brake assembly that is capable of being attached to commercially available aerobars mounted on a suitable bicycle. The invention allows the operator of the bicycle to reduce speed or stop in a controlled fashion without leaving the racing aero position made possible by the aerobars, and without moving hand, finger or arm position on the aerobar grips, thereby increasing the level of stability and control for the rider, while also maintaining all of the aerodynamic advantages of the aerobars and the areo position.

[0023] The invention includes two primary components, a base mounting sheath, and an actuating handle, and optionally, a shifter cable transition piece, and comprises at least the following individual components:

[0024] 1. A flexible cable operable braking device for at least one of the wheels.

[0025] 2. A sheathed flexible cable 10 connected to the wheel's braking device(s) and extending therefrom to at least one aerobar assembly 9 mounted to the bicycle's handle bars.

[0026] 3. A base mounting sheath bushing 7 fixedly secured to and coaxial with the aerobar assembly 9, secured by means of a pliable bushing 8 and a suitable fastener 11.

[0027] 4. A brake cable guiding channel formed within the proximate end of the base mounting sheath bushing 7.

[0028] 5. At least one actuating handle grip 6 having means for its mounting rotatably and coaxially upon the base mounting sheath bushing 7.

[0029] 6. A means of anchoring the end of the sheathed flexible brake cable 10, which ultimately connects to the wheel braking device itself, to the actuating handle grip 6 so that motion imparted to the end of the end of the flexible brake cable 10 in the radial direction produces axial tensioning of the brake cable along the axis of the bicycle frame via a radiused transition channel in the base mounting sheath bushing 7. The anchoring means includes: an attachment point for the flexible brake cable 10 formed within the actuating handle grip 6, in the form of a slotted brake cable endstop seat, and a suitable means for the flexible brake cable sheath 10 to seat into the proximal end of the base mounting sheath bushing 7.

[0030] Optionally, the invention further comprises a commercially available aerobar gear shifting device 1 is attached to the shifter cable transition piece 3 with a threaded fastener 4. The shifter cable transition piece 3 is fastened to the aero bar through a combination of a roll pin 5 that holds the cable transition piece in place, and alternating tabs that mesh with corresponding slots located at the distal end of the base mounting sheath bushing 7, This method of attachment of the cable transition piece 3 to the base mounting sheath bushing 6 firmly affixes the cable transition piece 3 to the base mounting sheath bushing 6, while still allowing the necessary free rotational motion of the actuating handle grip assembly 6.

[0031] With reference to FIG. 1, a suitable gear shifting lever assembly 1 is attached to the shifter cable transition piece 3 by a threaded fastener 4 at distal end of the aerobar assembly. A suitable longitudinal transition channel allows clearance for unrestricted passage of a gear shift cable 2 through rotational torque surge brake assembly and the central cavity within the aerobar 9. The gear shift cable 2 passes longitudinally through the cavity in the center of the aerobar assembly 9 and ultimately passes outside the aerobar cavity to the bike's gear shifting mechanism.

[0032] The base mounting sheath bushing 7 is affixed to the aerobar assembly 9 through utilization of an integrated mounting clamp formed on the proximal end of the base mounting sheath bushing 7, a pliable bushing 8 inserted within the integrated mounting clamp, and a suitable fastener, such as a two-piece threaded fastener 11.

[0033] Alternating tabs at the distal end of the base mounting sheath bushing 7 mate with the shifter cable transition piece and retain the actuating handle grip 6 while still allowing radial rotation of the actuating handle grip about the longitudinal axis of the aerobar assembly.

[0034] A slotted brake cable endstop anchoring seat located within the actuating handle grip 6 serves as the attachment point for the distal end of the flexible brake cable 10, which connects proximally to the braking device of the bicycle. The sheathing of the flexible break cable assembly 10 is positioned within a cable-guiding seat formed with the proximal end of the base mounting sheath bushing 7.

[0035] In one embodiment of the invention, the degree of rotation of the actuating handle grip 6 required for either scrubbing speed or full range of braking can range from approximately 1 to approximately 90 degrees.

[0036] In another embodiment of the invention, the rotational torque surge brake can be mounted on either right or left aerobar assembly 9, and brake either the back or the front wheel. Additionally a brake can be mounted on both left and right aerobar assemblies 9 for braking control of both wheels.

[0037] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the wheel braking device includes a spring loading means forcing the braking device and connecting cable away from the braking position, and the relative location upon the actuating handle grip 6 of the joining means is selected so that the actuating handle grip 6 is urged rotatably away from the braking position by the spring force.

[0038] In another embodiment of the invention, the base mounting sheath bushing may alternatively be replaced by other suitable bushing or bearing systems that allow the actuating handle grip 6 to be smoothly rotated around the aerobar assembly 9.

[0039] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the base mounting sheath bushing 7 and the actuating handle grip 6 components may be constructed of materials offering suitable strength and wear resistance while minimizing weight to the brake assembly, including, but not limited to plastic materials, including thermoset, thermoplastics, elastomer materials, and combinations of plastics with aluminum and/or composite materials such as carbon fiber.

[0040] It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary construction. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used in another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. It is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.