Velocipede Patents (Class 188/344)
  • Patent number: 8424979
    Abstract: A reduction in size, weight and cost of a brake system of a motorcycle provided with a circulating-type ABS is achieved by a brake system provided with a circulating-type ABS and a by-wire-type brake system. In the brake system, solenoid valves, hydraulic pressure sensors, accumulators and pumps are integrated into a unit, and concurrently stroke simulators are attached to the unit as separate bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Tani
  • Patent number: 8408090
    Abstract: An actuator mounting, in particular, a clutch or brake mounting for a vehicle, includes a mounting housing (3) with an attachment shell (2) for attaching the mounting to a handlebar or a similar steering element, a hand lever (8) supported to rotate on the mounting housing (3), and a mechanical or hydraulic force transmission device arranged on the mounting housing (3). The actuator mounting includes a carrier plate (9) supported on the rotational bearing (7) in common with the hand lever (8) as an intermediate transmission element with multiple functions. The carrier plate (9) has contact points (16, 32, 34) for applying force to or tensioning the hand lever (8), the force transmission device, and the mounting housing stop (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Gustav Magenwirth GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Weiher
  • Patent number: 8393449
    Abstract: A brake actuation assembly for a hydraulic brake system of a handlebar-steered vehicle, the brake actuation assembly including a housing mountable to a handlebar of the vehicle and having a chamber formed therein. A piston assembly is received and axially guided within the chamber. A linkage is pivotally attached to the housing and the piston assembly and a lever blade is connected to the linkage to effect movement of the linkage, wherein movement of the linkage produces a variable rate of travel of the piston assembly relative to the travel of the lever blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Charles E. Dunlap
  • Publication number: 20130056318
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake clamp for bikes includes a clamp, two piston assemblies and a cap. The clamp has a brake disk room defined on the middle thereof so that a brake disk is received therein. An assembling room and a receiving room are respectively defined in two sides of the clamp. The brake disk room, the assembling room and the receiving room are in communication with each other. A connecting hole is defined through the clamp and communicates with the receiving room. The piston assemblies are assembled from the brake disk room to the assembling room and the receiving room. The cap is threaded into the receiving room via the connecting hole for sealing the receiving room and preventing the piston assemblies from dropping out from the connecting hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventor: Wayne-Ian Moore
  • Publication number: 20130048454
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic brake clamp includes a clamp, two piston assemblies and a separation board. The clamp has a first slot defined on the middle thereof so that a brake disk is received therein. A second slot and a third slot are respectively defined in two sides of the clamp. A through hole is defined through the clamp and communicates with the third slot. The separation board is fixedly engaged with the through hole via the first slot by a way of welding. The two piston assemblies are respectively installed in the second and third slots via the first slot. The separation board is securely engaged with the through hole so as not only to prevent the separation board from dropping from the clamp by exterior impact, but also to protect the separation board from being damaged by the exterior impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Wayne-Ian Moore
  • Patent number: 8365879
    Abstract: A brake actuating device has an actuator functionally connected between a piston and a brake pedal lever. The actuator is capable of varying the path length of a force-conducting connection between the brake pedal lever and the piston of the brake cylinder via a displaceable element. A spring element acts on the brake pedal lever. The spring force varies during the variation of the path length such that a sum of the spring force and a force acting on the brake pedal lever from the brake cylinder remains essentially unchanged. The spring element is fastened with one end to the displaceable element and with the other end to the brake pedal lever with the interposition of a tensioning mechanism, which is guided by a cam track provided on the brake pedal lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Roland Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20130025988
    Abstract: A sealing device for hydraulic brake lever assembly includes a seat having an oil tank defined therein for receiving oil. The oil tank has a connecting hole defined therein. The oil tank is conically tapered toward the bottom thereof. An elastomer is sealingly received in the oil tank. The elastomer has an U-shaped portion formed therein for providing a resilient force. The elastomer has a movable portion formed therein. A piston assembly is received in the oil tank and connected to the elastomer for actuating the elastomer. At least one oil seal is sleeved on the driving shank for preventing oil leakage. When braking, the piston assembly actuates the U-shaped portion to deform. The movable portion is pushed to pressing oil into the connecting hole. When an oil pressure is decreased, the U-shaped portion restores. The movable portion is pulled backward by the resilient force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: Wayne-Ian Moore
  • Patent number: 8342305
    Abstract: An oil guiding device for hydraulic brake lever assembly having a brake lever includes a seat connected to the brake lever. The seat has an oil reservoir disposed thereon. The oil reservoir has an oil chamber defined therein. An oil guiding base is disposed in the oil chamber. The oil guiding base has an oil inlet and an oil outlet defined therein. An oil guiding unit engages with the oil guiding base. The oil guiding unit has a pipe disposed thereon and an oil hole defined therein. The pipe and the oil hole are communicated with the oil outlet and the oil inlet respectively. A cover panel engages with the oil reservoir. The pipe sucks up the hydraulic oil gathered in the oil chamber and supplies the hydraulic oil through the oil outlet; the returned hydraulic oil flows into the oil chamber through the oil inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ashima Ltd.
    Inventor: Wayne-Ian Moore
  • Patent number: 8336968
    Abstract: A brake apparatus for a two-wheeled vehicle includes a hydraulic brake, which receives a hydraulic force to thereby generate a braking force, and a braking force control unit, which controls the braking force by increasing or decreasing the hydraulic pressure. The two-wheeled vehicle includes an engine disposed between a front wheel and a rear wheel. The engine includes a crankcase disposed downward thereof and a cylinder extending upwardly from a front portion of the crankcase. The braking force control unit is disposed in a space surrounded by the cylinder at a position forward thereof and the crankcase at a position downward thereof, respectively. The brake apparatus for a two-wheeled vehicle is capable of promoting enhanced maneuverability, achieving sufficient durability performance, and improving electric connection performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Hariu, Koichi Ohta, Masahiro Yoshida, Fuyuki Hosakawa, Kunihiro Notsu
  • Patent number: 8328217
    Abstract: Conventional linkages between bicycle handlebar-mounted controls and rear brakes and gears are unable to accommodate unlimited rotation of the handlebars as is required on some so-called “freestyle” bicycles. A prior attempt to solve the problem employs a linkage comprising a bearing having two parts that are relatively rotatable about an axis. However this proposal is unable to handle situations where there are two or more mechanisms to be controlled e.g. a rear brake and a gear. The problem is solved by using multiple bearings (15, 16, 17) that share a common axis (X-X) of rotation but are located at different radial positions with respect to the axis. This avoids interference between the different linkages and makes it possible to locate the linkages around a stem on which the front wheel fork of the bicycle is mounted. A possible suitable location may be within a head tube of the bicycle frame. The invention is not limited to use with bicycles and can be employed in robotic and other machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventor: Graham Corbin
  • Publication number: 20120305355
    Abstract: A brake lever assembly includes a body connected to an oil pipe and includes a first room and a second room. A first path communicates between the storage space and the first room. A second path communicates between the first room and the second room. The oil pipe is connected to a hydraulic oil storage space in the body. A lever is pivotably connected to the body and includes a push portion. A first cylinder unit is located in the first room and connected between the oil pipe and the push portion. The first cylinder unit is operated a first travel. A second cylinder unit is located in the second room and has a first end contacting inside of the body and a second end connected to the push portion. The second cylinder unit is operated a second travel which is longer than the first travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: TEKTRO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: SZU-FANG TSAI
  • Patent number: 8322248
    Abstract: An adjusting screw (15) for a control lever device (1) for vehicles, wherein said adjusting screw (15) comprises a screw body (18) with a threaded shank (19) that can be screwed in a corresponding threaded hole (16) of the lever device (1) and a locking body (26) pivotally connected to the screw body (18). The locking body (26) comprises contact means (27) interacting with the screw body (28, 18) such as to counteract the rotation of the locking body (26) relative to the screw body (18) to a certain extent and anchoring means (29) engaging an anchoring seat (17) of the lever device (1) such as to prevent that the locking body (26) may rotate relative to the threaded hole (16) of the lever device (1). There are also provided means (25) for preventing that the locking body (26) may be displaced along the shank (19) of the screw body (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Freni Brembo S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Esposito, Gianangelo Pezzotta, Marcello Colombo
  • Patent number: 8281910
    Abstract: A brake operating device for bicycles includes a hydraulic fluid cylinder secured to a housing, a parallel cylindrical member on the cylinder and comprising a hollow threaded fastener at one end, a rod in a right portion of the cylinder and having one end connected to a brake lever; a spring biased magnet in the right portion of the cylinder; a plunger interconnecting the magnet and the rod; a spring biased conductor in the cylindrical member and urged by the fastener; and an electric wire interconnecting the conductor and a connector which is connected to a brake lamp. For decreasing a turn-on time of the brake lamp a loosening of the fastener will push the conductor away from the brake lever to decrease a current generated on the conductor due to a movement of the conductor relative to the magnet. Tightening of the fastener can increase the turn-on time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Tektro Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Szu-Fang Tsai
  • Patent number: 8251461
    Abstract: To improve brake force in front and rear combined brake control, a brake control device includes a front wheel brake caliper having at least two front wheel cylinders, and a rear wheel brake caliper having a rear wheel cylinder. A front wheel brake conduit is disposed between a front wheel master cylinder and one of the front wheel cylinders, and a rear wheel brake conduit is disposed between a rear wheel master cylinder and the rear wheel cylinder. A pressure amplification conduit branches from a first position in the rear wheel brake conduit and merges with the rear wheel brake conduit at a second position downstream of the first position. A combined brake conduit branches from a third position in the rear wheel brake conduit positioned downstream of the first position and is coupled to the other of the front wheel cylinders. A first switch control valve is disposed between the first position and the third position in the rear wheel brake conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Atsushi, Tohru Masuno
  • Publication number: 20120199432
    Abstract: A brake operating device for bicycle is provided a housing mounted on a handlebar and including a channel; a hydraulic brake lever pivotably secured to the housing and including an push member at one end, the push member including a cavity; a brake transmission mechanism disposed in the channel and comprising a stepped-diameter piston including an annular first groove distal the cavity, an annular second groove proximate the cavity, an intermediate groove, a resilient ring member put on the first groove, a return spring biasing against one end of the piston, an O-ring sealingly put on the second groove, and a flat surface at the other end facing the cavity; and an actuating member rotatably contacting both the cavity and the flat surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventor: Szu-Fang Tsai
  • Publication number: 20120161420
    Abstract: A master device for a closed hydraulic system of handlebar-steered vehicles includes a basic body and a pressure chamber in which, in the event of actuation of the master device in order to actuate a slave device, hydraulic fluid is placed under pressure. The master device includes a hydraulic line connecting element having a connecting piece for connecting a hydraulic line and a thread section for screwing into the basic body. An air bleed opening bleeds the hydraulic system. The hydraulic line connecting element and the basic body form a valve that closes the connection between the pressure chamber and the air bleed opening when the hydraulic line connecting element is fully screwed in to the basic body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Hubert Eberlein, Joachim Hujer, Bernd Nenning
  • Publication number: 20120160625
    Abstract: A control assembly is mountable to a handlebar. The control assembly features a housing mountable to the handlebar and a brake actuation mechanism including a brake lever pivotally connected to a housing. The brake lever defines a fluid cavity inside the brake lever such that the fluid cavity pivots with the lever relative to the housing. A piston is provided in the fluid cavity and also pivots with the lever relative to the housing. Actuation of the lever causes the piston to move in the fluid cavity to provide compressive force to a fluid. The fluid cavity is in fluid communication with a hydraulic line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Jordan
  • Publication number: 20120152673
    Abstract: A brake master cylinder of the invention is to dispose a main oil cylinder and an oil storing space on a handlebar base. In addition, a sleeve engaged with the main oil cylinder is disposed in the oil storing space. The one end of the oil storing space has a fastening seat passed by a draw bar linked to the brake handlebar, and a positioning sheath of the fastening seat is utilized to engage with the sleeve. A leakage prevention component is disposed between the fastening seat and the handlebar base. A bushing integrally extended from the leakage prevention component is utilized to encapsulate the positioning sheath of the fastening seat and the sleeve. Accordingly, the brake master cylinder having convenient assembly and better sealing effect for hydraulic oil is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: CHUN-CHIN WANG
  • Patent number: 8201670
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic brake actuation device includes a hydraulic master cylinder housing having a bore, a lever, a master piston and an adjuster. The lever is pivotally coupled to the hydraulic master cylinder housing for movement between an at rest position and a brake engagement position. The master piston is disposed within the bore and having an adjustment end. The adjuster is operably disposed between the adjustment end of the master piston and a portion of the lever. The adjuster is movable between a plurality of adjustment positions relative to the adjustment end such that with the lever in the at rest position, movement of the adjuster between the plurality of adjustment positions moves the master piston between a corresponding plurality of adjustment positions along an axial length of the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Toshio Tetsuka, Kenji Nakahara
  • Publication number: 20120145497
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake controller does not only dispose a first oil-return hole, which is connected to an oil storing space, at a stroke place of allowing a piston to reciprocate in a main oil cylinder, but also disposes a regulating screw, which stretches the first oil-return hole, on a controller main body. The speed of returning hydraulic oil to the oil storing space can be controlled by simply changing the degree of the regulating screw stretching the oil-return hole so that time of allowing the piston passing through the oil-return hole to completely impose the braking force on the brake pad can be extended or reduced, thereby achieving a goal of conveniently regulating the braking sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: CHUN-CHIN WANG
  • Patent number: 8167381
    Abstract: A brake fluid pressure control device for a bar handle vehicle has a front wheel brake system which imparts a braking force to a front wheel and a rear wheel brake system which imparts a braking force to a rear wheel. At least one of the brake systems has a master cylinder which generates brake fluid pressure in accordance with an operation amount of a brake operation element, first and second wheel cylinders both of which impart the brake force on one of the front and rear wheels, a first hydraulic path which communicates the master cylinder with the first wheel cylinder, a second hydraulic path which is branched from the first hydraulic path and connected to the second wheel cylinder and a boosting unit which boosts the brake fluid pressure in the second wheel cylinder without boosting the brake fluid pressure in the first wheel cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyasu Nakamura, Takayuki Hamanaka
  • Patent number: 8146716
    Abstract: Described herein is a hydraulic brake lever assembly that includes a clamp member that includes a handle bar opening, a housing extending outwardly from the clamp member, and a lever pivotally connected to the clamp member. The housing includes a cylinder defined therein that includes a master piston. The clamp member and the housing cooperate to define a reservoir having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is substantially located in the housing and extends substantially parallel to the cylinder and the second portion is substantially located in the clamp member between the handle bar opening and the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Keen Hoong Siew, Chan Jin Lim
  • Publication number: 20120048667
    Abstract: An oil guiding device for hydraulic brake lever assembly having a brake lever includes a seat connected to the brake lever. The seat has an oil reservoir disposed thereon. The oil reservoir has an oil chamber defined therein. An oil guiding base is disposed in the oil chamber. The oil guiding base has an oil inlet and an oil outlet defined therein. An oil guiding unit engages with the oil guiding base. The oil guiding unit has a pipe disposed thereon and an oil hole defined therein. The pipe and the oil hole are communicated with the oil outlet and the oil inlet respectively. A cover panel engages with the oil reservoir. The pipe sucks up the hydraulic oil gathered in the oil chamber and supplies the hydraulic oil through the oil outlet; the returned hydraulic oil flows into the oil chamber through the oil inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: ASHIMA LTD.
    Inventor: Wayne-Ian Moore
  • Patent number: 8074774
    Abstract: A master cylinder for a bicycle hydraulic disc brake comprises a housing defining a cylinder, the cylinder having a first and a second end along its axis. A hydraulic fluid reservoir has a port between the hydraulic fluid reservoir and the cylinder, the port having an opening between the first and second cylinder ends. A piston having a seal resides in the cylinder with the seal between the piston and the cylinder. The seal has a leading seal edge with the leading seal edge being movable solely between the first cylinder and the port opening to vary the dead band distance between the leading seal edge and the port opening with the piston in a starting position. A lever is pivotably associated with the housing and operatively associated with the piston for moving the piston within the cylinder between the starting and a pressurized position as the lever is actuated between a rest position and an actuated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: SRAM LLC
    Inventor: Wayne R Lumpkin
  • Patent number: 8070236
    Abstract: A vehicular brake hydraulic pressure control device has a first operation unit T1 including a first brake operation element; a first brake system K1 for braking a first wheel brake R corresponding to the first operation unit T1; and a first control valve unit A and B for controlling brake hydraulic pressure in the first brake system. In the device, the first operation unit T1 and the first brake system K1 are separated so as not to flow a brake fluid, and the device further comprises a brake fluid tank 30 having a reservoir function for supplying the brake fluid to the separated first brake system K1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Tsuchida, Motoyasu Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110240425
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake lever apparatus is provided with a brake lever housing, a piston, a mounting structure, a brake lever, a fluid reservoir and a diaphragm. The brake lever housing includes a cylinder having the piston movably disposed within the cylinder. The mounting structure mounts the brake lever housing to a bicycle handlebar. The brake lever pivots relative to the brake lever housing to move the piston within the cylinder. The fluid reservoir fluidly communicates hydraulic fluid with the cylinder via a port. The fluid reservoir has a cylindrical shape and lies in a side by side relationship with the cylinder. The diaphragm is disposed within the fluid reservoir, and includes a substantial arrowhead shaped portion that allows the volume of the diaphragm to change smoothly while ensuring the volume of the hydraulic fluid chamber within the fluid reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki HIROSE, Shinichi TAKIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20110240426
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake lever apparatus is provided with a brake lever housing, a piston, a mounting structure, a brake lever and a fluid reservoir. The brake lever housing includes a cylinder having the piston movably disposed within the cylinder. The mounting structure mounts the brake lever housing to a bicycle handlebar. The brake lever pivotally is mounted to the brake lever housing and moves the piston within the cylinder in response to pivotal movement of the brake lever relative to the brake lever housing. The fluid reservoir fluidly communicates with the cylinder via a port that communicates hydraulic fluid therebetween. The fluid reservoir has a cylindrical shape and lies in a side by side relationship with the cylinder to prevent gas bubbles that have moves from the cylinder to the fluid reservoir via the port from flowing back to the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki HIROSE, Shinichi TAKIZAWA
  • Patent number: 7997389
    Abstract: A bicycle includes front and rear disk brake units. The rear disk brake unit includes a rear brake lever unit, a rear brake disk, a rear caliper device, and a rear brake oil tube interconnecting the rear brake lever unit and the rear caliper device and having a first inner diameter. The front disk brake unit includes a front brake lever unit, a front brake disk, a front caliper device, and a front brake oil tube interconnecting the front brake lever unit and the front caliper device and having a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter so as to allow for approximate simultaneous clamping of the front and rear caliper devices on the front and rear brake disks, respectively, when the front and rear brake lever units are operated simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: I-De Chen
  • Publication number: 20110192687
    Abstract: A brake lever assembly includes a handle mount having a fluid reservoir formed in a lever housing, a cylinder engaged into the lever housing and having one or more apertures communicative with a bore of the cylinder and the fluid reservoir of the lever housing for receiving a piston, a brake handle pivotally coupling to the lever housing with a pivot shaft and pivotally coupled to the piston with a link rod, the lever housing is made of lighter materials, such as plastic or composite materials with a molding process and with a decreasing manufacturing cost, the lever housing is molded onto the cylinder, or the cylinder is engaged into the lever housing after the lever housing is molded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventor: Lynn Allan Miles
  • Publication number: 20110162929
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake system includes a bicycle steering assembly having a head tube, a connecting member connected with the head tube and a handlebar mounted on the connecting member. The connecting member has a receiving portion disposed therein. A hydraulic device is mounted in the receiving portion. The hydraulic device includes a hydraulic braking mechanism and at least one connecting tube connected with the hydraulic braking mechanism. A braking device is adapted to mount on a wheel of the bicycle. The at least one connecting tube is connected with the braking device. Two brake levers are respectively mounted on two ends of the handlebar. Each brake lever has a brake cable connected therewith. The brake cable has one end connected to a corresponding brake lever and the other end connected to the hydraulic brake mechanism for relatively driving the brake device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: ASHIMA LTD.
    Inventor: Wayne-Ian Moore
  • Publication number: 20110155525
    Abstract: An adjustable brake lever assembly includes a handle mount having a lever housing, a piston of a brake device slidably engaged in the lever housing, a rotary member pivotally coupled to the lever housing, a brake handle includes a mounting arm connected to the rotary member for adjusting the brake handle relative to the rotary member and the lever housing, a barrel is pivotally fitted into the mounting arm, and a link rod is pivotally coupled to the piston of the brake device and includes a threaded segment engaged with the barrel for adjusting the brake handle relative to the brake device and the lever housing and for allowing the brake handle to be operated by adults or children of different hand or palm sizes or dimensions:
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventor: Falcon Yang
  • Publication number: 20110147149
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic brake actuation device includes a hydraulic master cylinder housing having a bore, a lever, a master piston and an adjuster. The lever is pivotally coupled to the hydraulic master cylinder housing for movement between an at rest position and a brake engagement position. The master piston is disposed within the bore and having an adjustment end. The adjuster is operably disposed between the adjustment end of the master piston and a portion of the lever. The adjuster is movable between a plurality of adjustment positions relative to the adjustment end such that with the lever in the at rest position, movement of the adjuster between the plurality of adjustment positions moves the master piston between a corresponding plurality of adjustment positions along an axial length of the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toshio TETSUKA, Kenji NAKAHARA
  • Patent number: 7963114
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake lever assembly includes a master cylinder, a master piston, and a floating piston. Both of the master piston and the floating piston are sealingly and movably received in the master cylinder. The master piston has a passage diametrically defined therein and extending therethrough for receiving a bias mechanism. The floating piston has a through hole for coaxially and sealingly receiving the master piston. The floating piston has two raceways radially and symmetrically extending from the through hole therein. The bias mechanism is movably disposed between the two raceways. Each raceway has a trough defined in a bottom thereof. The bias mechanism moves along the troughs and the raceways to provide the effort of multi-stage movement and different braking feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventor: Wayne-Ian Moore
  • Patent number: 7942250
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic brake device includes a housing having a master cylinder, a master piston movably mounted in the master cylinder, a brake operating member and an adjustment mechanism. The brake operating member is arranged to move between a rest position and a brake actuating position and to move the master piston in response to movement of the brake operating member to the brake actuating position. The adjustment mechanism is arranged to adjust the rest position and a free stroke of the brake operating member with an initial travel position of the master piston remaining unchanged. The adjustment mechanism includes a first adjustment member that adjusts a length of a free stroke and a second adjustment member that adjusts the rest position of brake operating member without changing the length of the free stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Kenji Nakahara
  • Patent number: 7938234
    Abstract: A hydraulic assembly for a hydraulic disc brake system that includes a housing defining a cylinder, a piston received in and moveable within the cylinder, a first lever operatively associated with one of the piston or the cylinder, and a second lever operatively associated with the other of the piston or the cylinder. Moving the first lever pushes one of the piston or the cylinder in a first direction, and moving the second lever pulls the other of the cylinder or the piston in a second direction. In a preferred embodiment, the piston has a non-actuated position and a fully actuated position, and the piston is biased towards the non-actuated position, and wherein the cylinder has a non-actuated and a fully-actuated position, and the cylinder is biased towards the non-actuated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiko Jinbo, Takeshi Takachi, Satoshi Shahana, Yoshitsugu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20110031079
    Abstract: A control lever including a body portion, a mounting portion, at least one mounting screw, and a lever portion. The body portion has a first section configured to fit within an interior of a bar opening, where the first section is configured to house at least a portion of a control mechanism and has an inclined surface on an outer surface thereof. The mounting portion is configured to slide on the inclined surface, and the mounting screw connects the mounting portion to the body portion. The lever portion is connected to the body portion and is configured to actuate the control mechanism. The mounting screw is configured to slide the mounting portion along the inclined surface so as to push the mounting portion and a side of the first section against an inner surface of the bar opening in order to mount the body portion to the bar opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Tatsuya MATSUSHITA
  • Publication number: 20110031078
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake control apparatus including a body portion, a hydraulic brake control mechanism, and a lever portion. The body portion has a first section configured to fit within an interior of a bar opening and a second section configured to be mounted outside of the interior of the bar opening. The hydraulic brake control mechanism includes a hydraulic brake pressure cylinder having a piston chamber therein, where at least a portion of the hydraulic brake control mechanism is housed within the first section of the body portion. The lever portion connected to the body portion and configured to actuate the hydraulic brake control mechanism. The body portion includes a port fluidly connected to the piston chamber by a conduit. The port is provided on the second section in order to allow bleeding of air from within the piston chamber when the body portion is mounted to the bar opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuya MATSUSHITA, Daisuke Nago
  • Publication number: 20110017560
    Abstract: A cover for a hydraulic master cylinder. The cover includes an interface configured to sealingly engage with a master cylinder body to jointly define a hydraulic fluid reservoir. An electronic display unit is positioned at least partially within the cover and viewable from outside the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Van Dyke, Benjamin P. Davis, Jeffary R. Sonnentag
  • Patent number: 7857112
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake includes a body defining a cylinder, a piston disposed within the cylinder, a brake lever disposed pivotally on the body, a first pivot disposed rotatably on the brake lever, and a push rod unit connected between the piston and the brake lever and including a sleeve member and a first adjustment rod. The sleeve member has a first end confined in the cylinder, a second end connected pivotally to the first pivot, and an adjustment hole extending from the first end to the second end and in spatial communication with a through hole in the first pivot. The first adjustment rod engages threadably the adjustment hole, and has an inner end in contact with the piston, and an outer end disposed outwardly of the through hole. The first adjustment rod is threadable within the sleeve member to vary a starting position of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Elite Sewing Maching Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peng-Hsi Tsai, Tan-Kuei Lou
  • Patent number: 7832531
    Abstract: A bicycle component fixing band is provided with a first base part, a second base part, a hinge structure, a releasable connecting structure and a lock pin. The base parts are pivotally connected together at their pivot ends by the hinge structure. The releasable connecting structure releasably couples fastening ends of the base parts together. The lock pin is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position. The lock pin is engaged with both of the pivot ends of the base parts when the lock pin is in the locking position to prevent relative movement of the base parts. The lock pin is disengaged from one of the pivot ends of the base parts when the lock pin is in the unlocking position to permit relative movement of the base parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hirose, Osamu Kariyama
  • Patent number: 7757821
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic brake actuation device includes a hydraulic master cylinder housing having a bore, a master piston and a radial seal received in the bore a push rod and a lever. The push rod is configured to move the master piston and the radial seal between a neutral position and a braking position. The lever is pivotally attached to the housing for pivotal movement between an at rest position and a brake actuation position. The lever includes a contact surface configured and arranged to move the push rod as the lever is pivoted between the at rest position and the brake actuation position. Further, the push rod includes at least one roller configured to contact to the contact surface of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Toshio Tetsuka, Osamu Kariyama, Shinichi Takizawa, Shinya Hirotomi
  • Patent number: 7722130
    Abstract: An improved brake system is provided for a vehicle including at least front and rear wheels. The brake system comprises a braking force generating mechanism, a brake lever assembly and a foot-operated brake pedal. The brake force generating mechanism applies a braking force to at least a front wheel or a rear wheel of the vehicle. The brake lever assembly includes a hand-operated lever and a force actuator. The force actuator moves between at least first and second positions so as to selectively actuate the brake force generating mechanism to produce a braking force. The force actuator interacts with the hand-operated lever such that movement of the hand-operated lever moves the force actuator from the first position to at least the second position. The force actuator also interacts with the brake pedal, which are coupled together by a cable. Movement the brake pedal also moves the force actuator from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7682292
    Abstract: A flywheel-type variable resistance generating device for an exercising apparatus includes two actuating arms disposed outboard of a flywheel, a pulling cord having two anchoring ends coupled with a tightening-force adjusting member and a lever, and two pull-activating members connected to the pulling cord so as to move the actuating arms. The actuating arms are movable among a starting position where they are disengaged from the flywheel, an adjusted position where they are partially engaged with the flywheel, and a braking position where they are fully engaged with the flywheel. When the lever is operated to move one anchoring end with a braking force, the other anchoring end of the pulling cord is pulled back to its initial locus to move the actuating arms to the starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Hai Lo
  • Publication number: 20100051400
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake lever device includes a cylinder housing for attaching to a handlebar of a bicycle and having a chamber for receiving a hydraulic oil and a piston and a spring member, a level handle has a block pivotally attached to the cylinder housing and having one end engageable with the cylinder housing, an actuating member is attached to the other end of the block for selectively forcing the piston onto the spring member, and an adjusting member threaded to the block and extendible out of the block for engaging with the cylinder housing and for adjusting the movement between the level handle and the handlebar and for allowing the level handle to be suitably operated by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Falcon Yang
  • Patent number: 7654366
    Abstract: A brake lever assembly for actuating a hydraulic system is shown and described. The brake lever assembly comprises a housing, a master cylinder disposed in the housing, and a master piston disposed in the master cylinder. The master piston has an adjustable dead band. A lever is connected to the housing and has an adjustable reach. The lever is pivotable about a first axis to adjust the reach and is pivotable about a second axis to actuate the master piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Matsushita
  • Patent number: 7617913
    Abstract: A method of varying a rest position and a length of an actuation arc of a lever in a hydraulic disc brake system. The hydraulic disc brake system comprises a master cylinder including a cylinder having a first end and second end and a port communicating with a hydraulic fluid reservoir between the first and the second cylinder ends. A piston is received in the cylinder. The piston has a seal between the cylinder and the piston and the piston is movable within the cylinder by a lever operatively associated therewith to selectively pressurize hydraulic fluid within the cylinder by moving the seal between the port and the second end of the cylinder. The hydraulic disc brake system further comprises a caliper in fluid communication with the master cylinder. The caliper has a pair of brake pads operatively associated with a disc received therebetween. The caliper is actuated by movement of the lever in an actuation arc between a rest position and an engagement point with the pads in engagement with the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Wayne R Lumpkin
  • Patent number: 7578375
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake lever includes a body having a bladder chamber, a cavity and a flexible separator mounted between the bladder chamber and the cavity. The flexible separator holds hydraulic oil in a front section of the body and prevents a rear section of the body from contacting with the pressurized hydraulic oil. A cylinder is mounted in the cavity of the body and accommodates a piston set. Thus, a high pressure is kept in the cylinder and is not applied directly on the body. Due to the separating design, the hydraulic oil applied a low pressure on the body. Thus, manufacturing the body is less limited and a manufacturing cost is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Lee Chi Enterprises Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Hsien Lin, Shih-Ching Ke
  • Patent number: 7575105
    Abstract: A method of varying a rest position of a one-piece lever in a hydraulic brake system. The hydraulic brake system comprises a master cylinder including a cylinder and a port, a piston received in the cylinder, the piston having a radial seal between cylinder and the piston, the piston being movable within the cylinder by a one-piece lever operatively associated therewith to selectively pressurize hydraulic fluid within the cylinder by closing the port. The hydraulic brake system further comprises a caliper in fluid communication with the master cylinder, the caliper having a pair of brake pads operatively associated with the disc received therebetween. The caliper is actuated by movement of the one-piece lever in an arc between a rest position and an engagement point with the pads in engagement with the disc. The length of the arc is variable by movement of the engagement point relative to the rest position along the arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Wayne R Lumpkin
  • Patent number: 7559414
    Abstract: A hydraulic disc brake master cylinder having a bar clamp attached to a master cylinder housing allowing the attachment of the master cylinder to a handle bar along a longitudinal clamp axis. The master cylinder also includes a cylinder wall associated with the master cylinder housing extending axially along the cylinder axis. The cylinder axis is not parallel to the longitudinal clamp axis. This embodiment further includes a reservoir for hydraulic fluid which includes a first wall which first wall includes only a radial portion of the cylinder exterior. The reservoir also includes an elastomeric diaphragm. The cylinder axis and the longitudinal clamp axis lie in a plane substantially bisecting the first wall. Thus, the symmetric master cylinder lever may be disposed on either the right or left portion of a handle bar without effecting operation of the master cylinder lever by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Wayne R Lumpkin
  • Patent number: 7549710
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle-use brake device capable of performing a by-wire-method control of high accuracy in response to an inner pressure in a passage by using a pressure sensor possessing high resolution while causing no trouble in view of pressure proof performance. A master cylinder and a brake caliper are connected with each other by a main brake passage and a normally-open solenoid open/close valve V1 is provided to the passage. A reaction simulator is connected to the passage closer to the master cylinder side than the open/close valve V1 by way of a branch passage. A hydraulic modulator is connected to the passage closer to the brake caliper side than the open/close valve V1 by way of a supply/discharge passage. A normally-closed solenoid open/close valve V2 is provided to the branch passage, while a normally-closed solenoid open/close valve V3 is provided to the supply/discharge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Takenouchi, Yutaka Nishikawa, Masaie Kato, Kazuhiko Tani, Shinii Takayanagi