Bicycle Control Apparatus

Abstract

A bicycle control apparatus configured to allow a rider to effect a release gear shift without releasing his grip from the handlebar. The bicycle control apparatus includes a brake lever and a shift lever wherein the shift lever is moveable in a first direction to perform a release shift operation and movable in a second direction toward the handlebar independently of the brake lever.

1 . A bicycle control apparatus comprising: 
 a housing mountable to a bicycle handlebar;    a brake lever assembly having a brake lever movable toward the handlebar; and    a shift lever assembly having a shift lever movable in a first direction to perform a cable-release operation and movable in a second direction toward the handlebar independently of the brake lever, the shift lever configured to move with the brake lever toward the handlebar during brake lever actuation.    
     
     
         2 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the shift lever is movable in the first direction toward a bicycle frame.  
     
     
         3 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the shift lever is rotatable about a first axis in the first direction to perform the shift operation, the shifter lever rotatable about a second axis in the second direction toward the handlebar independently of the brake lever.  
     
     
         4 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the second axis lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
     
     
         5 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the second axis is not lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
     
     
         6 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the brake lever is rotatable about a brake lever axis substantially parallel to the second axis of the shift lever.  
     
     
         7 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the shift lever includes first and second portions, the first and second portions movable in the first direction to perform the shift operation, the second portion movable in the second direction toward the handlebar.  
     
     
         8 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the first and second portions are rotatable about a first axis in the first direction, the second portion rotatable about a second axis in the second direction toward the handlebar.  
     
     
         9 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the second axis lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
     
     
         10 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the second axis is not lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
     
     
         11 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the brake lever is rotatable about a brake lever axis substantially parallel to the second axis.  
     
     
         12 . A bicycle control apparatus comprising: 
 a housing mountable to a bicycle handlebar;    a brake lever assembly having a brake lever movable toward the handlebar; and    a shift lever assembly including at least one shift lever movable in a first direction to perform a cable-release operation and movable in a second direction toward the handlebar independently of the brake lever, the shift lever configured to move with the brake lever toward the handlebar during brake lever actuation, the shift lever assembly operable in the same direction by a rider to perform a cable-pull operation and the cable-release operation.    
     
     
         13 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the shift lever is rotatable about a first axis in the first direction to perform the shift operation, the shifter lever rotatable about a second axis in the second direction toward the handlebar independently of the brake lever.  
     
     
         14 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the second axis lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
     
     
         15 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the second axis is not lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
     
     
         16 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the brake lever is rotatable about a brake lever axis substantially parallel to the second axis of the shift lever.  
     
     
         17 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the shift lever includes first and second portions, the first and second portions movable in the first direction to perform the shift operation, the second portion movable in the second direction toward the handlebar.  
     
     
         18 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the first and second portions are rotatable about a first axis in the first direction, the second portion rotatable about a second axis in the second direction toward the handlebar.  
     
     
         19 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the second axis lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
     
     
         20 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the second axis is not lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
     
     
         21 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the brake lever is rotatable about a brake lever axis substantially parallel to the second axis.  
     
     
         22 . A bicycle control apparatus comprising: 
 a housing mountable to a bicycle handlebar;    brake lever assembly means having brake lever means movable toward the handlebar; and    shift lever assembly means having shift lever means movable in a first direction to perform a cable-release operation and movable in a second direction toward the handlebar independently of the brake lever means, the shift lever means configured to move with the brake lever means toward the handlebar during brake lever actuation.    
     
     
         23 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the shift lever means is rotatable about a first axis in the first direction to perform the shift operation, the shifter lever means rotatable about a second axis in the second direction toward the handlebar independently of the brake lever means.  
     
     
         24 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the second axis lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
     
     
         25 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the second axis is not lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
     
     
         26 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the brake lever means is rotatable about a brake lever axis substantially parallel to the second axis of the shift lever means.  
     
     
         27 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the shift lever means includes first and second portions, the first and second portions movable in the first direction to perform the shift operation, the second portion movable in the second direction toward the handlebar.  
     
     
         28 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the first and second portions are rotatable about a first axis in the first direction, the second portion rotatable about a second axis in the second direction toward the handlebar.  
     
     
         29 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the second axis lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
     
     
         30 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the second axis is not lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
     
     
         31 . The bicycle control apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the brake lever means is rotatable a brake lever axis substantially parallel to the second axis of the shift lever means.