Switch guide for a bicycle control panel

Abstract

A switch guide located between a pair of switches on a computerized bicycle control panel is disclosed for guiding a bicycle rider's thumb to a proper switch on a bicycle handle bar. The switch guide is preferably a protrusion dimensioned to be detected by the bicycle rider's thumb. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the height of the switch guide is greater than the height of the switch. In an alternative embodiment, the height of the switch guide is greater than the height of the switch, when the switch is activated. The switch guide is located in sufficient proximity to the switches to allow the rider's thumb to access one of the switches by moving the thumb to one side of the switch guide and the other switch by moving the thumb to the other side of the switch guide.

1. A computerized bicycle control panel, comprising:
 a control panel base having a rounded outer surface, the control panel base being adapted for attachment to a handlebar;  
 at least one pair of switches for shifting bicycle gears, each switch extending from the outer surface of the control panel base; and  
 a single protrusion associated with each pair of switches, the protrusion having a height that is always greater than the highest height of its associated pair of switches, the protrusion being positioned between the  its associated pair of switches and extending from the outer surface of the control panel base.  
 
     
     
       2. A  The bicycle control panel in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each switch has a switch height  length that extends along the handlebar, the protrusion has a protrusion height  length, and the length of the protrusion height is greater than the switch height  is substantially equal to the length of the switches and is accessible to at least one finger of the rider's hand so that a switch can be activated by the rider without requiring the rider to look at the control panel. 
     
     
       3. A  The bicycle control panel in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each switch defines an  first height when the switch is at an initial rest position and a second height when the switch is at an initial rest position and a second height when the switch is at an activated position, and wherein the protrusion has a protrusion  height that  is greater than the second height of the switch when the switch is at the activated position. 
     
     
       4. A bicycle control panel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the protrusion has a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
       5. A control panel for a bicycle handle  rider, comprising:
 a control panel base having a rounded outer surface, the control panel base adapted for attachment to a handlebar;  
 at least one pair of switches on  for shifting bicycle gears, each switch extending from the outer surface of the control panel base; and  
 a single protrusion associated with each pair of switches, the protrusion having a height that is always greater than the highest height of its associated pair of switches, the protrusion being located between the  its associated pair of switches on  and extending from the outer surface of the control panel base, the protrusion defining a pair of distances between the protrusion and each of its associated switches, wherein each distance is less than the width of the bicycle rider's thumb.  
 
     
     
       6. A method of guiding a bicycle rider's thumb to a proper switch on a bicycle handle  bar, comprising the steps of:
 providing a control panel having a base with a rounded outer surface, the control panel base being attached to a bicycle handlebar;  
 providing a single protrusion on the bicycle handle bar  of a certain height extending from the outer surface of the control panel base, wherein the protrusion is dimensioned to be detected by the bicycle rider's finger;  
 providing a first switch for shifting bicycle gears positioned on a first side of the protrusion and a second switch for shifting bicycle gears positioned on a second side of the protrusion, such that the protrusion is located between the first switch and the second switch; and  the first and second switches extending from the outer surface of the control panel base wherein the first and second switches are located in sufficient proximity to the protrusion to allow the thumb to access the first switch or the second switch by moving the thumb to the first side or the second side of the protrusion, respectively, and wherein the first side of the protrusion and the first switch define a first distance between the first side of the protrusion and the first switch, the second side of the protrusion and the second switch define a second distance between the second side of the protrusion and the second switch, and the first and second distances are less than the width of the bicycle rider's thumb, the first and second switches having a first height when in an initial rest position and a second height when in an activated state; and the protrusion has a height that is greater than the second height of the first and second switches.  
 
     
     
       7. A method in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:
 manipulating the bicycle rider's thumb to contact the first switch or the second switch by moving the thumb to the first side or the second side of the protrusion, respectively.  
 
     
     
       8. A method in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising the steps of activating either the first switch or the second switch. 
     
     
       9. The bicycle control panel of  claim 1 , wherein the control panel further comprises a rounded inner surface. 
     
     
       10. The bicycle control panel of  claim 9 , wherein the rounded inner surface is shaped to conform to the shape of a round handlebar. 
     
     
       11. The control panel of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has a dome- shaped upper section.   
     
     
       12. The control panel of  claim 5 , wherein the control panel base further comprises a rounded inner surface. 
     
     
       13. The control panel of  claim 11 , wherein the rounded inner surface is shaped to conform to the shape of a bicycle handlebar. 
     
     
       14. The control panel of  claim 5 , wherein each switch having a length that extends across the base of the control panel and the protrusion having a length that is substantially equal to the length of the switches. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second switches are configured to have a length that extends across the control panel base along the handlebar; and the protrusion is configured to have a length that is substantially equal to the length of the switches.