Bicycle disc brake

Abstract

A bicycle disc brake is provided in which a support member movably couples the brake caliper to the frame of the bicycle. The bicycle disc brake caliper has a caliper housing with a single piston unit. The piston unit is movably coupled to the housing between a release position, in which the piston unit is spaced from a disc brake mounted to a wheel of a bicycle, and a braking position, in which the piston unit engages the disc brake of the bicycle wheel. The piston unit has a first friction member movably coupled between a release position and a braking position and a second friction member arranged substantially parallel to the first friction member to form a disc brake receiving space between the first and second friction members. In one embodiment, the caliper housing is movably coupled to the support member by a pivot pin. In another embodiment, the caliper housing is movably coupled to the support member by a linkage assembly.

1. A disc brake comprising:
 a supporting member having an attachment portion adapted to be coupled to a portion of a vehicle;  
 a caliper housing pivotally coupled relative to said support member about a pivot axis, said caliper housing including first and second housing portions fixedly, but releasably coupled together; and  
 a piston unit including a first friction member movably coupled relative to said first housing portion between a release portion and a braking position, and a second friction member coupled to said second housing portion and arranged substantially parallel to said first friction member to form a disc brake rotor receiving space between said first and second friction members,  
 said first and second housing portions being pivotally coupled relative to each other in opposite directions about said pivot axis to separate of  said first and second friction members.  
 
     
     
       2. A disc brake according to  claim 1 , wherein said caliper housing is movably coupled to said support member by a pivot pin located along said pivot axis. 
     
     
       3. A disc brake according to  claim 2 , wherein said pivot pin extends substantially parallel to said disc brake rotor receiving space between said first and second friction members. 
     
     
       4. A disc brake according to  claim 2 , wherein said second friction member is a stationary member that is fixedly coupled to said second caliper housing. 
     
     
       5. A disc brake according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener coupled between said first and second housing portions to hold said second friction member substantially parallel to said first friction member. 
     
     
       6. A disc brake according to  claim 5 , wherein said fastener includes a bolt that extends between said first and second housing portions. 
     
     
       7. A disc brake according to  claim 6 , wherein said second friction member is a stationary member that is fixedly coupled to said second caliper housing. 
     
     
       8. A disc brake comprising:
 a support member having an attachment portion adapted to be coupled to a portion of a vehicle; and    a caliper housing pivotally coupled relative to said support member, said caliper housing including a piston unit with a first friction member movably coupled between a release position and a braking position and a second friction member arranged substantially parallel to said first friction member to form a disc brake receiving space between said first and second friction members,    said caliper housing being pivotally coupled to said support member by a linkage assembly that forms a four bar linkage between said support member said caliper housing, said linkage assembly including at least one pivot pin having a pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to said disc brake receiving space between said first and second friction members.    
     
     
       9. A disc brake comprising:
 a supporting member having an attachment portion adapted to be coupled to a portion of a vehicle; and    a caliper housing pivotally coupled relative to said support member, said caliper housing including a piston unit with a first friction member movably coupled between a release position and a braking position and a second friction member arranged substantially parallel to said first friction member for form a disc brake receiving space between said first and second friction members;    said caliper housing being pivotally coupled to said support member by a linkage assembly that forms a four bar linkage between said support member said caliper housing.    
     
     
       10. A disc brake according to  claim 9 , wherein
 said second friction member is a stationary member that is fixedly coupled to said caliper housing.    
     
     
       11. A disc brake according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said second friction member is a stationary member that is fixedly coupled to said caliper housing.