Bar-end electric actuation device of a bicycle gearshift
09958058 ยท 2018-05-01
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B62K27/08
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B62M25/08
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
H01H2009/066
ELECTRICITY
Y10T74/2003
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
International classification
B62K27/08
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
F16H59/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
The bar-end electric actuation device of a bicycle gearshift, comprising a body suitable for being mounted at an end of handlebars facing forwards in the direction of travel (X) of the bicycle and a first and a second electric actuation member acting on respective electrical contacts which are mounted in the body and are suitable for controlling gearshifting, upwards and downwards respectively. The first and the second electric actuation member are faced by said body according to a respective facing direction, angularly spaced apart by an angle () that is between 60 and 130. Moreover, the body is suitable for being positioned externally around the end of the handlebars, leaving free access to the inside of the end itself.
Claims
1. Bar-end electric actuation device of a bicycle gearshift, comprising: a body configured for being mounted at a forward facing free end of handlebars extending in a direction of travel (X) of said bicycle, said body extending forward in said direction of travel (X) when mounted, and two electric actuation members acting on respective electrical contacts which are mounted in said body for controlling gear shifting, upward or downward respectively, wherein said two electric actuation members are mounted on said body with respective facing directions that are perpendicular to a respective surface tangent to said body at a respective electric actuation member, said facing directions are angularly spaced apart by an angle () comprised between 60 and 130; wherein a first one of said two electric actuation members faces upwardly and substantially perpendicular to said direction of travel (X) of said bicycle, and the first one of said two electric actuation members is more forward in said direction of travel (X) of said bicycle than a second one of said two electric actuation members.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said angle () is comprised between 75 and 110.
3. Device according to claim 1, wherein one of said facing directions faces laterally, and substantially perpendicular to said direction of travel (X) of said bicycle.
4. Device according to claim 1, wherein one of said facing directions faces in said direction of travel (X) of said bicycle.
5. Device according to claim 1, wherein one of said facing directions faces downwards, and substantially perpendicular to said direction of travel (X) of the bicycle.
6. Device according to claim 1, wherein each of said electric actuation members is actuated from a neutral position to an actuation position according to a respective actuation direction by acting against a respective spring.
7. Device according to claim 6, wherein one of said electric actuation members is mounted on said body to slide in the respective actuation direction.
8. Device according to claim 6, wherein one of said electric actuation members is mounted on said body to rotate about a respective pin arranged so that said respective actuation direction substantially coincides with a respective facing direction of said body.
9. Device according to claim 6, wherein one of said electric actuation members is mounted on said body to rotate about a respective pin arranged so that said respective actuation direction is substantially perpendicular to a respective facing direction of said body.
10. Device according to claim 1, wherein said body further comprises a band for locking said device onto said end of said handlebars.
11. Device according to claim 1, wherein said body further comprises an expander for mounting in said end of said handlebars, and said expander comprising splayable sectors and a free angular space.
12. Device according to claim 1 further comprising a brake lever, rotatably supported by said body.
13. Device according to claim 1, wherein said angle () is comprised between 85 and 100.
14. Bar-end electric actuation device of a bicycle gearshift, comprising a body with a central opening extending between axial ends of the body that is configured to be mounted at an open tubular end of handlebars facing forwards in a direction of travel (X) of said bicycle and electric actuation members mounted on said body, each of said electric actuation members are configured to control gear shifting, upwards and downwards respectively, wherein said body defines a cylindrical through seat having an axis that, when the device is mounted on the open tubular end of the handlebars, extends in said direction of travel (X) of the bicycle, said cylindrical seat being configured to allow a positioning of said body on said open tubular end of said handlebars and retain free, uninterrupted access through a central opening of said body to an inside of said open tubular end.
15. Device according to claim 14, wherein said body extends in a direction of said axis of said cylindrical through seat substantially as far as said cylindrical through seat.
16. Device according to claim 14, wherein said body extends in a direction of said axis of said cylindrical through seat substantially farther than said cylindrical through seat, so as to be cantilevered.
17. A combination comprising: forward facing bicycle handlebars with a forward facing free end extending in a direction of travel (X) of a bicycle; and, an electric actuation device for controlling a bicycle gear shift, said device having a body configured for mounting at the forward facing free end of said handlebars and extending forward in said direction of travel (X) when mounted, and two electric actuation members that are mounted on said body in respective facing directions that are perpendicular to a respective surface tangent to said body at a respective electric actuation member, wherein said facing directions are angularly spaced apart by an angle () comprised between 60 and 130; wherein said electric actuation members act on respective electrical contacts that control upward or downward gear shifting, wherein a first one of said two electric actuation members faces upwardly and substantially perpendicular to said direction of travel (X) of said bicycle, and the first one of said two electric actuation members is more forward in said direction of travel (X) of said bicycle than a second one of said two electric actuation members.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, made with reference to the attached drawings. In such drawings:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Introduction
(24) The bar-end electric actuation device of a bicycle gearshift comprises a body suitable for being mounted at an end of handlebars facing forwards in the direction of travel of the bicycle and two electric actuation members acting on respective electrical contacts that are mounted in the body and are suitable for commanding gear shifting, upward and downward respectively, and it is characterised in that the two electric actuation members are faced from the body in respective facing directions angularly spaced apart by an angle () between 60 and 130.
(25) In the present description and in the following claims, by the expression facing direction it is meant to indicate a direction perpendicular to the surface tangent to the body at the electric actuation member. If the extension of the actuation member is so great that the tangent plane varies significantly from one point to the other of the actuation member, the tangent plane must be considered at a barycentric position of the actuation member.
(26) As a result of this, advantageously, the two actuation members are sufficiently spaced apart as to be distinguishable and not able to be actuated accidentally, typically in the case of riding on uneven ground.
(27) Preferably, the angle between the two facing directions of the two electric actuation members by the body is comprised between 75 and 110, even more preferably between 85 and 100. Such an angle proved to be an excellent compromise: indeed, it proved to be small enough to ensure easy actuation, without requiring substantial variations in grip, but it is also big enough to reduce the risk of mistaken actuation.
(28) According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of said facing directions faces laterally, substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the bicycle.
(29) According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of said facing directions faces upwards, substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the bicycle.
(30) According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of said facing directions faces in the direction of travel of the bicycle.
(31) According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of said facing directions faces downwards, substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the bicycle.
(32) In a preferred embodiment, one of the two electric actuation members is in a facing direction facing laterally, substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the bicycle and the other of the two electric actuation members is in a facing direction facing upwards, substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the bicycle.
(33) In another preferred embodiment, one of the two electric actuation members is in a facing direction facing laterally, substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the bicycle and the other of the two electric actuation members is in a facing direction facing in the direction of travel of the bicycle.
(34) In yet another preferred embodiment, one of the two electric actuation members is facing upwards, substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the bicycle and the other of the two electric actuation members is facing in the direction of travel of the bicycle.
(35) In yet another preferred embodiment, one of the two electric actuation members is facing laterally, substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the bicycle and the other of the two electric actuation members is facing direction facing downwards, substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the bicycle.
(36) In all of the aforementioned embodiments, the cyclist can obtain gear shifting without much altering of the grip on the device, by simply slightly moving the same digit, preferably the thumb or the index finger, or using the thumb for one actuation member and the index finger for the other, so as to actuate one or the other of the two electric actuation members. Given their position, indeed, the electric actuation members cannot be actuated simultaneously by the same digit and this advantageously prevents their accidental actuation.
(37) Preferably, each of said electric actuation members can be actuated from a neutral position to an actuation position according to a respective actuation direction, in contrast to a respective spring.
(38) In a preferred embodiment, one of said electric actuation members is mounted on the body free to slide in the actuation direction.
(39) In a preferred embodiment, one of said electric actuation members is mounted on the body free to rotate about a respective pin arranged so that the actuation direction substantially coincides with the facing direction of the body.
(40) In a preferred embodiment, one of said electric actuation members is mounted on the body free to rotate about a respective pin arranged so that the actuation direction is substantially perpendicular to the facing direction of the body.
(41) In a preferred embodiment, the body comprises a band for locking onto the end of the handlebars.
(42) In another preferred embodiment, the body comprises an expander for mounting on the end of the handlebars inside it, said expander comprising splayable sectors and a free angular space.
(43) In a second aspect, the invention concerns a bar-end electric actuation device of a bicycle gearshift, comprising a body suitable for being mounted at a tubular end of handlebars facing forwards in the direction of travel of the bicycle and electric actuation members mounted on the body, each of said members being suitable for commanding gearshifting, and characterised in that the body comprises a cylindrical through seat having an axis that when the device is mounted on the handlebars extends in the direction of travel of the bicycle, said cylindrical seat being configured so as to allow the positioning of the body externally around the tubular end of the handlebars and to leave free access to the inside of the tubular end itself.
(44) It is thus possible to use a device according to the invention for the actuation of the gearshift, together with an independent braking device.
(45) In a preferred embodiment, the body extends in the direction of the axis (S) of the cylindrical through seat substantially as far as the cylindrical seat itself. Alternatively, the body extends in the direction of the axis (S) of the cylindrical through seat substantially farther than the cylindrical seat itself, so as to be canti-levered. A cyclist may prefer the first or the second of these embodiments according to the cyclist's hand size; clearly, the first is more suitable for cyclists with large hands, the second for cyclists with small hands, given the possibility of mounting the braking device closer to the actuation members of the actuation device of the gearshift.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
(46) It should be noted that the devices described and illustrated are intended for the left end of handlebars; symmetrically identical devices (not illustrated) are provided for the right end of the same handlebars.
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(48) The device 100 is a so-called bar-end device, mounted on the end M of bicycle handlebars of the type used on competition bicycles, and even more in particular specialized bicycles for time trials; in such handlebars, the end M faces forwards, with respect to the direction of travel X of the bicycle. The same handlebars will also normally be provided with conventional ends, i.e. not facing forwards, to also give the cyclist the possibility of a traditional grip.
(49) The device 100 comprises a body 110, configured for being mounted at the end M of handlebars, and an electric actuation unit 120 housed in the body 110. The body 110 also carries a band 190 for fixing the device 100 to the end M of the handlebars.
(50) With particular reference to
(51) The plate 123 and the support plate 131 are coupled on the body 110 of the device 100 with screws 139 (
(52) A pair of springs 142 is mounted between the first electric actuation member 141 and the support plate 131, to keep the first electric actuation member 141 elastically in a neutral position thereof, when not biased by the cyclist for gear shifting. In particular, each spring 142 is housed in a respective seat 143 formed in a corresponding projection 144 extending from the support plate 131, on the opposite side to that for coupling with the plate 123. Each projection 144, with the spring 142 associated with it, is suitable for being received in a respective cavity 145 formed in the first electric actuation member 141.
(53) In the first electric actuation member 141 there is a further cavity 146, preferably arranged between the pair of cavities 145, suitable for receiving a first abutment 147 acting on the respective electrical contact 121 through an opening 148 formed on the support plate 131 to command gear shifting.
(54) The second electric actuation member 151 comprises a slide 152 suitable for sliding inside a guide seat 153 also extending on the support plate 131 on the opposite side to that for mounting on the plate 123.
(55) A spring 154 is mounted between the second actuation member 151, see
(56) The slide 152 also has an inclined projection 157, suitable for acting on a second abutment 158, which is slidably mounted on the support plate 131, extends from the support plate 131 towards the plate 123 and is active on the respective electrical contact 122, to command gear shifting.
(57) As shown in
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(59) The electric actuation unit 220, in totally the same way as the electric actuation unit 120, comprises the two electrical contacts 121 and 122, mounted on the plate 123 and connected to the multi-conductor electric cable 124 (
(60) With reference to
(61) With reference to
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(65) The device 300 comprises a body 310, suitable for being mounted at the end M of handlebars, and an electric actuation unit 320 fixed inside the body 310 with screws 339 and comprising a first and a second electric actuation member, 341 and 361 respectively. The body 310 carries a band 390 for fixing the device 300 to the end M of the handlebars.
(66) The device 300 differs from the device 100, and from its variants 101 and 102, for the different facing directions of the electric actuation members 341 and 361 from the body 310. In particular, in the mounted position of
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(68) The device 400 comprises a body 410, suitable for being mounted at the end M of handlebars, and an electric actuation unit 420 fixed inside the body 410 with screws 439 and comprising a first and a second electric actuation member, 451 and 461 respectively. The body 410 carries a band 490 for fixing the device 400 to the end M of the handlebars.
(69) The device 400 differs from the device 100, and from its variants 101 and 102, for the different facing directions of the electric actuation members 451 and 461 from the body 410. In particular, in the mounted position of
(70) With reference to
(71) A cyclist who wants to carry out upward or downward gearshifting will act, with his digit, typically the thumb or the index finger, alternatively on the electric actuation members.
(72) In the case in which the device 100 mounts the electric actuation unit 120 illustrated and described with reference to
(73) The movement of the first electric actuation member 141 from the neutral position to the actuation position causes a compression of the springs 142 and a consequent movement of the first abutment 147, which acts on the electrical contact 121, which in turn transmits an electric upward gearshifting signal. The ways of managing this signal to obtain gearshifting are per se known in the field and will not be described.
(74) Differently, to command downward gear shifting, the cyclist exerts pressure on the second electric actuation member 151, causing it to move from the neutral position to an actuation position according to an actuation direction substantially coinciding with the facing direction A2 of the second electric actuation member 151 from the body 110.
(75) The movement of the second electric actuation member 151 from the neutral position to the actuation position causes sliding of the slide 152 in the guide seat 153, with consequent compression of the spring 154 and action of the projection 157 on the second abutment 158. The abutment 158 in turn acts on the electrical contact 122, which transmits an electric downward gearshifting signal. The ways of managing this signal to obtain gearshifting are per se known in the field and will not be described.
(76) In the case in which the device 100 mounts the electric actuation unit 220 illustrated and described with reference to
(77) The rotation of the first actuation member 241 between the neutral position and the actuation position causes a movement of the first abutment 147, which acts on the electrical contact 121, which in turn transmits the electric upward gearshifting signal. The ways of managing this signal to obtain gearshifting are per se known in the field and will not be described.
(78) Differently, to command downward gear shifting, the cyclist acts on the second electric actuation member 251, causing it to rotate around the second pin 254 between the neutral position and an actuation position; the actuation direction of the second electric actuation member 251 is substantially perpendicular to the facing direction A2 of the same second electric actuation member 251 from the body 110.
(79) The rotation of the second actuation member 241 between the neutral position and the actuation position causes a movement of the second abutment 256, which acts on the electrical contact 122, which in turn transmits an electric downward gearshifting signal.
(80) Thanks to the particular operation of the device 100 (or 101 or 102 or 300 or 400), the cyclist can, using the same digit, for example the thumb, command upward or downward gearshifting maintaining an aerodynamically favourable position of the grouping of the hand and the device. Moreover, the cyclist can substantially maintain such a position during any gearshifting, because to obtain the desired gearshifting, it will be sufficient to slightly rotate the thumb so as to take it to the first or second actuation member, pressing it or rotating it to obtain the desired gearshifting.
(81) Moreover, since the two actuation members are sufficiently spaced apart, they are advantageously distinguishable and cannot be actuated accidentally, typically in the case of riding on uneven ground.
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(83) The device 500 comprises a body 510, suitable for being mounted on the end M of handlebars, and an electric actuation unit 520 fixed inside the body with screws 539 and comprising electric actuation members 541 and 551. The body 510 carries a band 590 for fixing the device 500 to the end M of handlebars.
(84) The device 500 differs from the device 100 in that the body 510 comprises a cylindrical through seat 511, see
(85) Thanks to this particular configuration of the body 510, it is possible to mount an independent brake lever 595 inside the end M. For this purpose, the brake lever 595 comprises a substantially cylindrical body 596 on which an expander 597 (per se known and not described in detail) is mounted for the insertion and fixing inside the end of handlebars M.
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(87) Thanks to this particular configuration of the body 610, it is possible to mount a brake lever 695 inside the tubular end M, so that the brake lever 695 is partially adjacent to the body 610 of the device 600.