Electric control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles

Abstract

An electric control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles includes a supporting body fixed to a handlebar of a bicycle, a supporting body, a pair of electric switches to control the gear change carried by the supporting body, and a gear change lever that can be manually operated to control a first of said switches. The gear change lever comprises a first part connected to the supporting body so as to consent shift of the gear change lever between a position at rest and an operating position, and a second part hinged to the first part.

1. A control lever attached to a support body, mounted on a bicycle handlebar adjacent to a brake lever, for operating at least one switch of a bicycle electric device, said control lever is movable in at least two directions, and positioned so that movement in a first direction brings said lever into operating contact with said at least one switch and movement in a second direction has no operating influence on said at least one switch. 
     
     
       2. A control lever according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least two directions are substantially perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
       3. A control lever according to  claim 1 , wherein said lever is movable in a third direction and positioned so that movement of the lever in a third direction brings said lever into operating contact with a second switch. 
     
     
       4. A control lever according to  claim 1 , wherein said movement in the first direction for operating said first switch is performed by a first lever part and said movement in a second direction having no influence on said first switch is performed by a second lever part. 
     
     
       5. A control lever according to  claim 3 , wherein said movement in a third direction for bringing said lever into operating contact with said second switch is performed by a first lever part. 
     
     
       6. A control lever according to  claim 5 , wherein a second lever part is movable with respect to said first lever part. 
     
     
       7. A control lever according to  claim 6 , wherein said first lever part is fixed to a supporting body of said bicycle. 
     
     
       8. A control lever according to  claim 6 , wherein said second lever part is articulated on said first lever part around a pivoting axis. 
     
     
       9. A control lever attached to a support body, mounted on a bicycle handlebar adjacent to a brake lever, for operating at least one switch of a bicycle electric device, said control lever is movable in at least two directions, and positioned so that movement in a first direction brings said lever into operating contact with said at least one switch and movement in a second direction has no operating influence on said at least one switch;
 wherein said lever is movable in a third direction and positioned so that movement of the lever in a third direction brings said lever into operating contact with a second switch; 
 wherein said movement in a third direction for bringing said lever into operating contact with said second switch is performed by a first lever part; 
 wherein a second lever part is movable with respect to said first lever part; 
 wherein said second lever part is articulated on said first lever part around a first axis; and 
 wherein said first lever part acts on said first switch by pivoting around a second axis in the first direction, wherein the first axis and the second axis are offset from each other. 
 
     
     
       10. A control lever according to  claim 9 , wherein said first lever part acts on said second switch by pivoting around said second axis in a second direction. 
     
     
       11. A control lever attached to a support body, mounted on a bicycle handlebar adjacent to a brake lever, for operating at least one switch of a bicycle electric device, said control lever is movable in at least two directions, and positioned so that movement in a first direction brings said lever into operating contact with said at least one switch and movement in a second direction has no operating influence on said at least one switch,
 wherein said lever is movable in a third direction and positioned so that movement of the lever in a third direction brings said lever into operating contact with a second switch, 
 wherein a second lever part is movable with respect to a first lever part, 
 wherein said second lever part is articulated on said first lever part around a first axis, 
 wherein said first lever part acts on said second switch by pivoting around said second axis in a second direction, and 
 wherein said second axis is substantially perpendicular with respect to said first axis. 
 
     
     
       12. A control lever according to  claim 9  further comprising an articulation pin about which the control lever articulates, and a head on said pin for operating said first switch. 
     
     
       13. A control lever attached to a support body, mounted on a bicycle handlebar adjacent to a brake lever, for operating at least one switch of a bicycle electric device, said control lever is movable in at least two directions, and positioned so that movement in a first direction brings said lever into operating contact with said at least one switch and movement in a second direction has no operating influence on said at least one switch, comprising an articulation pin having a head for operating said first switch,
 wherein said lever is movable in a third direction and positioned so that movement of the lever in a third direction brings said lever into operating contact with a second switch, 
 wherein said movement in a third direction for bringing said lever into operating contact with said second switch is performed by a first lever part, 
 wherein a second lever part is movable with respect to said first lever part, 
 wherein said second lever part is articulated on said first lever part around a first axis, 
 wherein said first lever part acts on said first switch by pivoting around a second axis in the first direction, and 
 wherein said articulation pin has two opposite heads for operating, respectively, said first and said second switches, respectively. 
 
     
     
       14. A control lever according to  claim 9  further comprising a torsional spring relatively associated between the first lever part and the second lever part. 
     
     
       15. A control lever according to  claim 8 , wherein the first lever part comprises an elastically deformable element. 
     
     
       16. A control lever attached to a support body, mounted on a bicycle handlebar adjacent to a brake lever, for operating at least one switch of a bicycle electric device, said cuntrul lever is movable in at least two directions, and positioned so that movement in a first direction brings said lever into operating contact with said at least one switch and movement in a second direction has no operating influence on said at least one switch;
 wherein said lever is movable in a third direction and positioned so that movement of the lever in a third direction brings said lever into operating contact with a second switch; 
 wherein said movement in a third direction for bringing said lever into operating contact with said second switch is performed by a first lever part; 
 wherein a second lever part is movable with respect to said first lever part; 
 wherein said second lever part is articulated on said first lever part around a first axis; 
 wherein the first axis and the second axis are offset from each other; and 
 wherein the first lever part acts on said first switch by a means for sliding the first lever part. 
 
     
     
       17. A control lever attached to a support body, mounted on a bicycle handlebar adjacent to a brake lever, for operating at least one switch of a bicycle electric device, said control lever is movable in at least two directions, and positioned so that movement in a first direction brings said lever into operating contact with said at least one switch and movement in a second direction has no operating influence on said at least one switch;
 wherein said lever is movable in a third direction and positioned so that movement of the lever in a third direction brings said lever into operating contact with a second switch; 
 wherein said movement in a third direction for bringing said lever into operating contact with said second switch is performed by a first lever part; 
 wherein a second lever part is movable with respect to said first lever part; 
 wherein said second lever part is articulated on said first lever part around a first axis; 
 wherein the first axis and the second axis are offset from each other; and 
 wherein the first lever part acts on said first switch by means of elastic means for biasing the first lever part away from the first switch. 
 
     
     
       18. A control lever according to  claim 3 , wherein the lever is provided with at least one operating portion for operating at least one of said switches. 
     
     
       19. A control lever according  claim 18 , wherein a second lever part is provided with at least one operating portion for operating at least one of said switches. 
     
     
       20. A control lever according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one switch controls the gear change of a bicycle. 
     
     
       21. A control lever according to  claim 1 , wherein said lever is positioned behind a bicycle brake lever. 
     
     
       22. A control lever according to  claim 21 , wherein said second movement which does not influence the switch is the braking movement of the brake lever. 
     
     
       23. An electric control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising a supporting body provided with means for fixing the supporting body to a bicycle handlebar and a first switch for controlling an upshift of a gear and a second switch for controlling a down shift of a gear, wherein both of said electric switches are operated by a single lever attached to the support body. 
     
     
       24. Electric control device according to  claim 23 , wherein said single lever presents a central rest position in which none of said electric switches is operated. 
     
     
       25. Electric control device according to  claim 24 , wherein said single lever operates one of said electric switches when moved in a first direction and operates the other of said electric switches when moved in the substantially opposed direction. 
     
     
       26. Electric control device according to  claim 23 , wherein said single lever is hinged on said supporting body. 
     
     
       27. Electric control device according to  claim 23 , wherein said single lever is hinged on a bicycle brake control lever. 
     
     
       28. Electric control device according to  claim 23 , wherein said single lever is a control lever positioned behind a bicycle brake control lever. 
     
     
       29. Electric control device according to  claim 26 , wherein said single lever is a push button lever positioned substantially perpendicular to a brake control lever of the bicycle. 
     
     
       30. An electric control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising: a supporting body provided with means for fixing it to a bicycle handlebar, a pair of electric switches to control the gear change, carried by the supporting body, and a gear change lever that can be operated manually to control at least one of said switches, wherein the gear change lever comprises: a first part connected to the supporting body in order to allow shift of the gear change lever between a position at rest and an operating position of said first switch, and a a second part hinged to the first part about a pin, with the first part and second parts contacting a torsion spring that is mounted on the pin.  
     
     
       31. Device according to  claim 30 , wherein said first part is hinged to the supporting body around an axis orthogonal or substantially orthogonal in relation to a pivotal axis of the pin. 
     
     
       32. Device according to  claim 30 , wherein said first part comprises an elastically deformable element. 
     
     
       33. An electric control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising:
 a supporting body provided with means for fixing it to a bicycle handlebar, 
 a pair of electric switches to control the gear change, carried by the supporting body, and 
 a gear change lever that can be operated manually to control at least one of said switches. 
 wherein the gear change lever comprises: 
 a first part connected to the supporting body in order to allow shift of the gear change lever between a position at rest and an operating position of said first switch, and 
 a second part hinged to the first part, 
 wherein said first part comprises an elastically deformable element comprising a metal lamina with a base fixed to the supporting body and an elastically deformable branch hinged to which is the second part. 
 
     
     
       34. An electric control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising:
 a supporting body provided with means for fixing it to a bicycle handlebar, 
 a pair of electric switches to control the gear change, carried by the supporting body, and 
 a gear change lever that can be operated manually to control at least one of said switches, 
 wherein the gear change lever comprises: 
 a first part connected to the supporting body in order to allow shift of the gear change lever between a position at rest and an operating position of said first switch, and 
 a second part hinged to the first part, 
 wherein said first part comprises a block mounted slibably in relation to the supporting body along a rectilinear direction. 
 
     
     
       35. Device according to  claim 34 , wherein said block is mounted slidably on guide means carried by the supporting body. 
     
     
       36. Device according to  claim 35  further comprising elastic means tending to push said block towards a rest position. 
     
     
       37. An elastic control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising:
 a supporting body provided with means for fixing it to a bicycle handlebar, 
 a pair of electric switches to control the gear change, carried by the supporting body, and 
 a gear change lever that can be operated manually to control at least one of said switches, 
 wherein the gear change lever comprises: 
 a first part connected to the supporting body in order to allow shift of the gear change lever between a position at rest and an operating position of said first switch, and p 1  a second part hinged to the first part about a pin, with the first part and second parts contacting a torsion spring that is mounted on the pin, 
 wherein said first part is hinged to the supporting body around an axis orthogonal or substantially orthogonal in relation to a pivotal axis of the pin, and 
 wherein one of said axes is parallel or substantially parallel to and offset from the pivotal axis of a brake control lever. 
 
     
     
       38. Device according to  claim 37 , wherein the pivotal axis between the first and the second part is parallel or substantially parallel to a pivotal axis of the bicycle brake control lever. 
     
     
       39. Device according to  claim 30 , wherein the pin has at least one head facing and capable of contacting at least one of said switches. 
     
     
       40. Device according to  claim 30 , wherein the second part of the gear change lever has an operating portion facing and capable of contacting at least one of said switches. 
     
     
       41. Device according to  claim 30 , wherein the first part of the gear change lever has an operating portion facing and capable of contacting at least one of said switches. 
     
     
       42. Device according to  claim 30  further comprising a return spring operatively positioned between the supporting body and the first part of the gear change lever. 
     
     
       43. Device according to  claim 42  further comprising a second return spring operatively positioned between the first and the second part of the gear change lever. 
     
     
       44. Device according to  claim 30 , further comprising a third electric switch suitable to control operation of a cycle computer. 
     
     
       45. Device according to  claim 30 , wherein said electric switches are mounted on a supporting plate in contact with the supporting body. 
     
     
       46. An electric control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising:
 a supporting body provided with means for fixing it to a bicycle handlebar, 
 a pair of electric switches to control the gear change, carried by the supporting body, and 
 a gear change lever that can be operated manually to control at least one of said switches, 
 wherein the gear change lever comprises: 
 a first part connected to the supporting body in order to allow shift of the gear change lever between a position at rest and an operating position of said first switch, and 
 a second part hinged to the first part, 
 wherein said electric switches are positioned and mounted on opposite faces of a supporting plate in turn mounted on the supporting body. 
 
     
     
       47. Device according to  claim 30 , wherein said gear change lever is movable in a first direction to operate a first switch and in a second direction to operate a second switch. 
     
     
       48. An electric control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising:
 a supporting body provided with means for fixing it to a bicycle handlebar, 
 a pair of electric switches to control the gear change, carried by the supporting body, and 
 a gear change lever that can be operated manually to control at least one of said switches, 
 wherein the gear change lever comprises: 
 a first part connected to the supporting body in order to allow shift of the gear change lever between a position at rest and an operating position of said first switch, and 
 a second part hinged to the first part about a pin, with the first part and second parts contacting a torsion spring that is mounted un the pin; 
 wherein said switches are mounted on opposite sides with respect to the gear change lever. 
 
     
     
       49. Device according to  claim 48 , wherein said switches are mounted on respective plates facing each other. 
     
     
       50. Device according to  claim 30 , wherein said gear control lever is positioned behind a brake control lever hinged to the supporting body. 
     
     
       51. A control lever attached to a support body, mounted on a bicycle handlebar adjacent to a brake lever, for operating at least one switch of a bicycle electric device, said control lever is movable rotatable about in at least two directions separate axes, independently of the brake lever, and positioned so that movement in rotation of said control lever about a first direction axis brings said lever into operating contact with said at least one switch, while movement rotation of said control lever about in a second direction axis has no operating influence on said at least one switch, and movement in rotation about said second direction axis does not move said at least one switch. 
     
     
       52. An electric control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles, comprising:
 a supporting body provided with means for fixing it to a bicycle handlebar, 
 a pair of electric switches to control a gear change, fixed to the supporting body, and 
 a gear change lever that can be operated manually to control at least one of said pair of switches, 
 wherein the gear change lever comprises: 
 a first part connected to the supporting body in order to allow shift of the gear change lever between a position at rest and an operating position of said first at least one of said pair of switches, and 
 a second part hinged to the first part about a pin, wherein movement of the second part about an axis of the pin has no effect on either of the pair of switches. 
 
     
     
       53. A control lever attached to a support body, mounted on a bicycle handlebar adjacent to a brake lever, for operating at least one a first switch of a bicycle electric device, said control lever is movable in at least two directions, and positioned so that movement in a first direction brings said lever into operating contact with said at least one first switch and movement in a second direction has no operating influence on said at least one first switch, comprising an articulation pin having a head for operating said first switch,
 wherein said lever is movable in a third direction and positioned so that movement of the lever in a third direction brings said lever into operating contact with a second switch, 
 wherein said movement in said third direction for bringing said lever into operating contact with said second switch is performed by a first lever part, 
 wherein a second lever part is movable with respect to said first lever part, 
 wherein said second lever part is articulated on said first lever part around a first axis, 
 wherein said first lever part acts on said first switch by pivoting around a second axis in the first direction, and 
 wherein said articulation pin has two opposite heads for operating at least one of said first and said second switches. 
 
     
     
       54. A control lever attached to a support body mounted on a bicycle handlebar, said support body including a brake lever arranged adjacent to said control lever, said control lever being rotatable about at least two separate axes, independently of the brake lever, for operating at least one switch associated with a bicycle electric device, and said at least one switch is fixed in position relative to said support body so that rotation of said control lever about one of said at least two separate axes brings said control lever into operating contact with said at least one switch and rotation about another of said at least two separate axes has no operating influence on, and does not move, said at least one switch.