USRE47492EActiveUtility

Bicycle control device for controlling an electric device

46
Assignee: SHIMANO KKPriority: Jan 31, 2012Filed: Dec 28, 2016Granted: Jul 9, 2019
Est. expiryJan 31, 2032(~5.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Kazuhiro FujiiAkinobu UnoTakuro Jinbu
B62M 25/08B62L 3/02Y10T74/20438B62K 23/06Y10T74/20396
46
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
21
References
28
Claims

Abstract

A bicycle control device that includes a bracket configured to be mounted to a handlebar, a first lever pivotally mounted to the bracket and defining a first pivot axis, a second lever that includes a first user contact part pivotally mounted to the first lever that pivots about a second axis, and a first electrical switch mounted to one of the first lever and the second lever. The first electrical switch is operated in response to pivotal movement of the second lever about the second axis. The first pivot axis is positioned between the second pivot axis and the first user contact part.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bicycle control device comprising:
 a bracket configured to be mounted to a handlebar; 
 a first lever for braking pivotally mounted to the bracket and defining a first pivot axis; 
 a second lever for shifting pivotally mounted to the first lever to pivot about a second axis, wherein the second lever includes a first user contact part; 
 a first electrical switch mounted to one of the first lever and the second lever and operated in response to pivotal movement of the second lever about the second axis, 
 wherein the first pivot axis is positioned between the second axis and the first user contact part;  
 a third lever for shifting pivotally mounted to the first lever to pivot about a third axis, wherein the third lever includes a second user contact part; and 
 a second electrical switch mounted to one of the first lever, second lever, and the third lever and operated in response to pivotal movement of the third lever about the third axis, 
 wherein the first pivot axis is positioned between the second axis and the second user contact part. 
 
     
     
       2. The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the second axis is non not parallel to the first pivot axis. 
     
     
       3. The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the first electrical switch is mounted to the first lever. 
     
     
       4. The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the second and third axes are non not parallel to the first pivot axis. 
     
     
       5. The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the first and second electrical switches are mounted to the first lever. 
     
     
       6. The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the second axis and the third axis are co-axial. 
     
     
       7. The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the second lever is pivoted relative to the first lever in a first direction to operate the first switch and the third lever is pivoted relative to the first lever in a second direction to operate the second switch, wherein the first and second directions extend parallel to one another. 
     
     
       8. The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the third lever is arranged such that the third lever is pivoted by the second lever when the second lever is pivoted about the second pivot axis relative to the first lever. 
     
     
       9. The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the first lever includes a front wall having a back surface, wherein the second lever is positioned between the first pivot axis and the back surface. 
     
     
       10. The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the first lever includes a front wall having a back surface, wherein the second lever and the third lever are positioned between the first pivot axis and the back surface. 
     
     
       11. The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the first pivot axis lies in a first plane and the second axis lies in a second plane, and wherein the second axis plane is approximately perpendicular to the first pivot axis plane. 
     
     
       12. The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the first pivot axis lies in a first plane, the second axis lies in a second plane and the third axis lies in a third plane, and wherein the second and third axes planes are approximately perpendicular to the first pivot axis plane. 
     
     
       13. A bicycle control device comprising:
 a bracket configured to be mounted to a handlebar; 
 a first lever pivotally mounted to the bracket and defining a first pivot axis, the first lever including a front wall having a back surface; 
 a second lever pivotally mounted to the first lever to pivot about a second pivot axis, wherein the second lever includes a first user contact part; and 
 a first electrical switch being operated in response to pivotal movement of the second lever about the second pivot axis, 
 wherein the first pivot axis is positioned between the second pivot axis and the first user contact part;  
 a third lever pivotally mounted to the first lever to pivot about a third pivot axis, wherein the third lever includes a second user contact part; and 
 a second electrical switch being operated in response to pivotal movement of the third lever about the third pivot axis, 
 wherein the first pivot axis is positioned between the second pivot axis and the second user contact part, and 
 wherein the second lever is positioned between the first pivot axis and the back surface. 
 
     
     
       14. The bicycle control device of  claim 13  wherein the third lever is positioned between the first pivot axis and the back surface. 
     
     
       15. A bicycle control device comprising:
 a bracket configured to be mounted to a handlebar; 
 a brake lever pivotally mounted to the bracket and defining a first pivot axis, the brake lever including a front wall having a back surface; 
 a first shift lever pivotally mounted to the brake lever to pivot about a second axis, wherein the first shift lever includes a first user contact part; 
 a second shift lever pivotally mounted to the brake lever to pivot about the second axis, wherein the second shift lever includes a second user contact part, and wherein the second shift lever is pivoted when the first shift lever is pivoted about the second pivot axis relative to the first brake lever; 
 a first electrical switch being operated in response to pivotal movement of the first shift lever about the second axis, and 
 a second electrical switch being operated in response to pivotal movement of the second shift lever about the second axis; 
 wherein the first pivot axis lies in a first plane and the second axis lies in a second plane, wherein the second axisplane is approximately perpendicular to the first pivot axisplane, wherein the first pivot axis is positioned between the second pivot axis and the first and second user contact parts, and wherein the first and second shift levers are positioned between the first pivot axis and the back surface of the front wall of the brake lever. 
 
     
     
       16. The bicycle control device of  claim 15  wherein the first and second electrical switches are mounted to the brake lever. 
     
     
       17. A bicycle control device comprising:
 a bracket configured to be mounted to a handlebar;   a first lever pivotally mounted to the bracket and defining a first pivot axis;   a second lever pivotally mounted to the first lever to pivot about a second axis, wherein the second lever includes a first user contact part;   a first electrical switch mounted to one of the first lever and the second lever and operated in response to pivotal movement of the second lever about the second axis; and   a second electrical switch mounted to either the first lever or the second lever;   wherein the first pivot axis is positioned between the second pivot axis and the first user contact part,   wherein the first lever includes a front wall having a back surface, and   wherein the second lever is positioned between the first pivot axis and the back surface.   
     
     
       18. The bicycle control device of claim 17 wherein the first electrical switch is mounted to the second lever. 
     
     
       19. The bicycle control device of claim 18 wherein the second electrical switch is mounted to the second lever. 
     
     
       20. The bicycle control device of claim 19 wherein the first pivot axis is positioned between the second axis and the first and second electrical switches. 
     
     
       21. A method of using a bicycle control device, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining the bicycle control device, wherein the bicycle control device comprises a bracket configured to be mounted to a handlebar and at least first and second levers, wherein the first lever is pivotally mounted to the bracket and defines a first pivot axis, wherein the second lever is pivotally mounted to the first lever to pivot about a second axis, wherein the second lever includes a first user contact part, wherein the bicycle control device includes a first electrical switch mounted to one of the first lever and the second lever, wherein the first electrical switch is operated in response to pivotal movement of the second lever about the second axis, and wherein the bicycle control device includes a second electrical switch mounted to either the first lever or the second lever, wherein the first pivot axis is positioned between the second pivot axis and the first user contact part, wherein the first lever includes a front wall having a back surface, and wherein the second lever is positioned between the first pivot axis and the back surface;   contacting the first user contact part; and   pivoting the second lever about the second axis to operate the first electrical switch.   
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21 wherein the first electrical switch is mounted to the second lever. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 22 wherein the second electrical switch is mounted to the second lever. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 23 wherein the first pivot axis is positioned between the second axis and the first and second electrical switches. 
     
     
       25. A method of making a bicycle control device, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a bracket that is configured to be mounted to a handlebar;   mounting a first lever to the bracket, wherein the first lever is pivotal about a first pivot axis and includes a front wall having a back surface;   mounting a second lever to the first lever such that it is positioned between the first pivot axis and the back surface, wherein the second lever is pivotal about a second axis, and wherein the second lever includes a first user contact part, wherein the first pivot axis is positioned between the second pivot axis and the first user contact part;   mounting a first electrical switch to either the first lever or the second lever, wherein the first electrical switch is operated in response to pivotal movement of the second lever about the second axis; and   mounting a second electrical switch to either the first lever or the second lever.   
     
     
       26. The method of claim 25 wherein the first electrical switch is mounted to the second lever. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26 wherein the second electrical switch is mounted to the second lever. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 27 wherein the first pivot axis is positioned between the second axis and the first and second electrical switches.

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