Patents Assigned to Avid, L.L.C.
  • Publication number: 20040055840
    Abstract: A master cylinder for a hydraulic disc brake includes a housing defining a cylinder, the cylinder having a first and second end along its axis. A piston is received in the cylinder and has a radial seal between the piston and the cylinder. A lever is pivotably associated with the housing for pivoting between a rest position and an actuated position relative to the housing. A push rod is operatively associated with the piston and the lever to move the piston axially within the cylinder as the lever is actuated between the rest and actuated positions. A threaded engagement between a first end of the push rod and the lever is configured to cause movement of the rest position of the lever relative to the housing when a rotating force is applied to the push rod causing axial rotation of the push rod. An indexing structure is operatively associated with the push rod for providing index axial rotation of the push rod upon application of the rotating force to the push rod causing axial rotation of the push rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: Avid, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Wayne R. Lumpkin
  • Publication number: 20030192748
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake caliper includes a housing configured to be rigidly fixed to a bicycle frame containing a pair of opposing brake pad assemblies configured to reside on opposite sides of a disc operatively associated therewith. At least one of the brake pad assemblies is advanced and retracted relative to the disc by a drive mechanism along an advancement axis to effect braking. A pad wear compensation apparatus is operatively associated with at least one of the brake pad assemblies to advance the brake pad assembly along the advancement axis as it wears. The pad wear compensation apparatus includes an adjustment knob attached to the housing for rotation about a rotation axis and fixed against axial movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Avid, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Wayne R. Lumpkin, Michael T. Mayberry
  • Publication number: 20030121262
    Abstract: A master cylinder for a bicycle hydraulic disc brake includes a cylinder having a port in fluid communication with a hydraulic fluid reservoir. The port opens to the cylinder between first and second ends of the cylinder. A piston within the cylinder is movable between a select starting position with the seal between the first end of the cylinder and the port opening with the piston a select distance from the port opening and a pressurized position with the seal between the port opening and the second end of the cylinder. A dead-band adjustment structure is operatively associated with the piston for moving the select starting position to adjust the select distance between the port opening and the seal. A lever is pivotably attached to the housing and is operatively associated with the piston to move the piston between the select starting position and the pressurized position as the lever is pivoted between a rest position and a fully-actuated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Avid, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Wayne R. Lumpkin
  • Publication number: 20030121739
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic disc brake master cylinder includes a housing having a bar clamp at one end configured for fastening the housing to a bicycle handle bar, the bar clamp receiving the handle bar along a clamp axis. A handle is pivotably connected to the housing to pivot about a pivot axis in operative association with a piston train to impart a drive force on the piston train. The handle defines a finger receptacle receiving at least one finger of a user defining an effective force point at a select distance from a distal end of the handle. A select ideal finger actuation path for the at least one finger of a user begins at a start point at the effective finger force point with the handle at an engagement point where the handle begins to drive the piston train against operative fluid resistance and extends along a line from the start point at a select angle relative to the clamp axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Avid, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Wayne R. Lumpkin
  • Publication number: 20030121736
    Abstract: A master cylinder for a bicycle hydraulic disc brake includes a cylinder wall defining a cylinder interior and a cylinder exterior. A piston is received within the cylinder interior. A reservoir for hydraulic fluid is defined in part by a portion of the cylinder exterior, the portion of the cylinder exterior protruding into the reservoir. A port through the portion of the cylinder exterior which protrudes into the reservoir provides fluid communication between the reservoir and the cylinder interior. The port is located on the portion of the cylinder exterior which protrudes into the reservoir at a position which prevents air bubbles within the reservoir from entering the port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Avid, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Wayne R. Lumpkin
  • Patent number: 6527089
    Abstract: A caliper drive for a bicycle ball bearing mechanical disc brake caliper includes a first cam fixed against axial movement relative to an advancement axis during caliper actuation and a second cam moveably axially of the advancement axis relative to the fixed cam during caliper actuation. A plurality of ramped grooves reside between the first cam and the second cam and each ramped groove receives a ball bearing. The ramped grooves are configured to cause axial movement of the second cam relative to the first cam upon relative rotation of the cams about the advancement axis. Each ramped groove has a side wall defining a radially stable path for the ball bearing substantially preventing relative radial movement between the fixed and drive cams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Avid, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Wayne R. Lumpkin, Michael T. Mayberry
  • Patent number: 6520297
    Abstract: A cable actuated mechanical disc brake caliper includes a caliper housing and a cable guide rigidly fixed to the housing having a cable receiving bore extending along the guide axis for axially receiving a cable. A lever arm is pivotably attached to the caliper housing for pivoting about a pivot axis. The lever arm is operatively associated with the brake pad to move the brake pad between a retracted and an extended position as the lever arm is pivoted in the first direction from a non-actuated position to a fully actuated position. The lever arm has a cable clamp radially spaced from the pivotal attachment for fixedly attaching the cable to the lever arm in a select orientation relative to the lever arm and the attachment point. A guide surface is curved about the pivot axis and has a first portion attached to the lever arm with the attachment point essentially coincident therewith and a second portion circumferentially spaced from the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Avid, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Wayne R. Lumpkin, Michael T. Mayberry
  • Patent number: 6230849
    Abstract: An attachment structure for a caliper of a disc brake assembly consisting of a caliper and a rotor. The caliper is attached to a wheel supporting portion of a cycle frame which supports a wheel with the rotor fixedly attached to the wheel and the rotor lying in a fixed plane relative to the supporting portion of the frame. The supporting portion of the frame has a pair of attachment bores oriented to attach the caliper with the rotor received between a pair of brake pads advanced into and out of contact with the rotor by the caliper along a select axis. The attachment structure allows for infinite variation of the angle of incidence between the select axis and the plane of the rotor within a defined range. Attachment bolts secure the caliper to the frame with a select angle of incidence between the select axis and the plane of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Avid, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Wayne R. Lumpkin