Flexible Control Element Patents (Class 74/489)
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Patent number: 6810764Abstract: A bicycle speed change control device comprises a housing; a cable control set fastened pivotally with the housing and reversibly supported, the cable control set comprising a first toothed engagement portion, a second toothed engagement portion, and a third toothed engagement portion; a first lever fastened pivotally with the housing and reversibly supported, the first lever having a push member being forced into engagement with the third toothed engagement portion of the cable control set and to further turn the cable control set when the first lever is turned in one direction, the push member being disengaged from the third toothed engagement portion of the cable control set when the first lever reversed; and a second lever fastened pivotally with the housing and reversibly supported, the second lever having a tooth adapted to engage the first toothed engagement portion and second toothed engagement portion of the cable control set selectively.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2003Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Inventor: Chieh-Yuan Chen
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Patent number: 6792826Abstract: A combined gear change and brake control unit in a support body which can be fastened to a bicycle handlebar. The brake control lever and gear change control unit are carried by a support body. The gear change unit has a rotatable shaft attached to a pulley with an end portion of a derailler control cable wound thereon. The shaft is subject to a return torque that turns the shaft to release the cable. The unit has a gear change lever that controls the rotation of the shaft in a direction that winds the cable onto the pulley and a cable release button. The gear change control unit includes a ratchet mechanism that leaves the shaft free to turn by a predetermined amount in the release direction of the cable.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.Inventor: Giuseppe Dal Pra′
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Publication number: 20040099080Abstract: A magnetic speed controlling twist grip assembly includes a linear IC, first and second magnets, a stationary member; and a rotary handle turnably connected to the stationary member at an inward end. The linear IC is disposed in the stationary member. The first and second magnets are disposed at the inward end of the handle such that different magnetic poles thereof face respective ones of opposite sides of the linear IC. The magnetic field around the linear IC is changed when position of the magnets relative to the linear IC is adjusted with the user's hand turning the rotary handle, and in turn, electric currents passing through the linear IC is changed. A control device, to which the linear IC is electrically connected, will control electric power supplied from a storage battery to a motor accordingly, thus controlling speed of the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventor: Pei-Hsuan Hsu
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Patent number: 6729203Abstract: A shifting device including first and second shift control members, a takeup element, a holding member, and a release member. The takeup element configured for winding and unwinding a tensioned control cable. The first control member is rotatable about a handlebar and configured to rotate the takeup to at least pull or wind the control cable onto the takeup. The second control member is a return-to-neutral member for rotating the takeup to release the. The holding member is rotatable with the takeup and retains the takeup in select angular positions. The release member is operable for disengaging the holding member in response to the actuation or return stroke of the second control member for allowing the takeup to unwind the cable a sufficient amount to enable a single gear shift.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: SRAM CorporationInventors: Kevin F. Wesling, Christopher A. Shipman, John D. Cheever, James P. Orrico, Danny R. Smith, Jr., Georg K. Blaschke
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Patent number: 6725978Abstract: An auxiliary braking system for supplementing an existing bicycle braking system is disclosed. The brake wire of the auxiliary braking system is removably secured to an existing primary brake wire, so that the actuation of the auxiliary braking system causes the main brake wire to pull and activate the caliper brakes. The interconnection of the auxiliary brake wire to the main brake wire is achieved through a housing joiner which secures the auxiliary brake wire to the top tube of the bicycle frame and a bullet clamp which creates a secure connection between the main brake wire and the auxiliary brake wire.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2002Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Inventor: John Walter Karpowich
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Patent number: 6725740Abstract: A combined gear change and brake control unit for a bicycle is provided. The unit comprises a support body connected to a brake control lever pivoting around a first axis and a gear change control unit connected to the support body. This control unit comprises a gear change lever pivoting on a second axis, orthogonal with respect to the first axis, for shifting the gear. The gear change lever is arranged immediately behind the brake control lever and is free to oscillate in the same direction as the latter lever to prevent obstructing the brake control movement.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2002Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Campagnolo SrlInventor: Giuseppe Dal Pra′
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Patent number: 6718844Abstract: A bicycle shift control device comprises a base member for attachment to the bicycle, a operating member rotatably supported relative to the base member for rotating in first and second directions, a transmission control member rotatably mounted relative to the base member for controlling the pulling and releasing of a transmission control element, a bracket for supporting a transmission control element diverting surface, and an intermediate member coupled for rotation with the transmission control member. The intermediate member rotates around a first axis, and the intermediate member can move in the direction of the first axis between an engagement position, in which the intermediate member engages the bracket, and a disengagement position, in which the intermediate member is disengaged from the bracket.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2002Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Masahiro Hanatani
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Patent number: 6708582Abstract: A bicycle gear shifting system includes a gear shifting derailleur, a rotatable shift member to be rotatably carried by handlebars of the bicycle and connected to the gear shifting derailleur, and a hand attachment to be carried by a hand of a rider. The rotatable shift member and the hand attachment may each have respective mating surfaces for positively engaging one another to facilitate gear shifting by the rider and are readily releasable to permit the rider to change hand positions. More particularly, the mating surfaces may include pairs of corresponding recesses and projections. The pairs of corresponding recesses and projections may also be tapered. Furthermore, the mating surfaces may engage in superposed relation upon radial squeezing of the hand of the rider. According to another embodiment, the mating surfaces may engage in side-by-side relation upon lateral positioning of the hand of the rider.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2001Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: L. H. Thomson Company, Inc.Inventors: Mark P. McJunkin, Loronzo H. Thomson, Brian H. Thomson
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Patent number: 6699085Abstract: A throttle control system eases operation of the throttle lever on a small watercraft to improve rider comfort. The small watercraft includes an internal combustion engine within an engine compartment and a steering mechanism for steering the watercraft. The steering mechanism includes a handlebar assembly. The engine includes an air induction system that supplies air to the engine and includes a throttle device configured for controlling the amount of air supplied to the engine. The control system includes a throttle operator, an operator position sensor, a controller and an actuator. The throttle operator is located on the handlebar assembly and the operator position sensor and the actuator are located within the engine compartment. The operator position sensor is configured to detect the position of the throttle operator and to communicate with the controller. The actuator is configured to adjust the throttle device in response to the controller.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2003Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshiyuki Hattori
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Patent number: 6698567Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2002Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: Campagnolo SrlInventor: Giuseppe Dal Pra'
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Patent number: 6694840Abstract: A bicycle shift operating device basically includes first operating member operatively coupled to a winding mechanism by a follower link and an operating link. A second operating member is also preferably operatively coupled to the winding mechanism. The cable winding mechanism is mounted on a first pivot axle and is configured to be selectively retained in a plurality of shift positions. In one shift operating device, the operating link is pivotally mounted on the first pivot axle. In an alternate shift operating device, the operating link is pivotally mounted on a second pivot axle that is spaced from the first pivot axle and parallel to the first pivot axle. The first operating member is preferably arranged to reciprocate in a first direction. The second operating member is preferably arranged to move in a second direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Tatsuya Kawakami
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Patent number: 6691591Abstract: A bicycle control device is disclosed having a control lever that is operable in a first direction to operate the brake control mechanism, a second direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the pulling direction and a third direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the release direction. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, when viewed from the perspective of a rider on the bicycle, the first direction is the direction of movement of the lever toward the handlebar. The second direction is the direction of movement of the control lever downward and the third direction is the direction of movement of the control lever upward. In a more preferred embodiment, the second and third directions are perpendicular to the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2003Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Akira Tsumiyama, Nobukatsu Hara
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Patent number: 6675672Abstract: A shift operating device for a bicycle is provided to change gears of the bicycle. The shift operating device is coupled to the front or rear derailleur via a shift cable. The shift operating device is also coupled to a gear indicator device via an indicator cable. The shift operating device has an attachment portion, a hand operating portion, and a take up member. The attachment portion is adapted to be coupled to a portion of a handlebar of the bicycle. The hand operating portion is coupled to the attachment portion to move between a plurality of shifting positions. The take up member is operatively coupled to the hand operating portion to move in response to movement of the hand operating portion. The take up member has a peripheral winding surface, a first cable attachment point and a second cable attachment point.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Kenji Ose
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Patent number: 6658965Abstract: An apparatus for throttling a vehicle equipped with an exterior throttle lever actuated near a handlebar, said throttling via actuation caused by rotation of said apparatus around the longitudinal axis of the handlebar rather than by direct personal actuation of the throttle lever, said rotational throttling apparatus including a finger-like projection extending from a rotatable sleeve near the throttle lever.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2002Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Inventor: Don A. Allen
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Publication number: 20030217612Abstract: A throttle sensor mounting structure by which a throttle sensor can be mounted so that shock resistance thereof is enhanced and detection errors are reduced. Fork portions of a front fork are connected to each other at upper end portions thereof through a top bridge and on the lower side thereof through a bottom bridge. The opening of a throttle grip, i.e., the throttle opening is transmitted to a throttle sensor as a displacement of a throttle cable. The throttle sensor has its base member screwed to bosses provided at two positions on the front side of the top bridge by screws whereby it is so fixed that its major portion including a sensor portion is disposed between the top bridge and the bottom bridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2003Publication date: November 27, 2003Inventor: Makoto Tanaka
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Patent number: 6651523Abstract: An automatic tension device of a brake includes a fixing base, a brake lever, a worm, a worm wheel, a gap adjusting screw, a pull hook, a cable guide seat, and a cable. The brake lever is pivotally mounted on the fixing base. The worm has one end having a periphery provided with one-direction ratchet teeth. The gap adjusting screw has a through hole for passage of the cable and has an outer thread screwed into the inner thread of the worm wheel. The pull hook is provided with an one-direction ratchet tooth that may be locked with one of the one-direction ratchet teeth of the worm. Thus, the automatic tension device may be used to adjust and shorten the braking gap between the brake pad and the tire automatically.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2002Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Inventor: Feng-Yao Chou
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Patent number: 6647825Abstract: A hand brake device for a wheeled cart includes a pivot pin, and a brake lever including a lever portion, a front lower portion with a rounded integral projection, and a curved slot unit for receiving the pin slidably. Upward movement of the lever portion about the pin can result in braking of the cart, which will be freed upon release of the lever portion. Downward movement of the lever portion about the projection can also result in the braking of the cart, which will be maintained unless an external force is applied to the lever portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2003Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Inventor: Ching-Hsu Lin
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Patent number: 6647824Abstract: A gear indicator for use on a bicycle is provided remotely from the shift operating device. The gear indicator is coupled to a shift operating device via an indicator cable. The gear indicator basically includes a housing with an indicator member slidably coupled to the indicator cable with in the housing. The location of the indicator member relative to the housing indicates a gear currently engaged by the chain. In the most preferred embodiments, an indicator member is frictionally mounted on the inner wire of the indicator cable for automatically adjusting of the indicator member in the event that the cable becomes elongated or the indicator member becomes misaligned. The housing has a biasing member coupled between one wall of an interior cavity and the first end of the inner wire of the cable indicator for biasing the indicator member to one of its end positions.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2002Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Etsuyoshi Watarai
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Patent number: 6647823Abstract: A bicycle control device is disclosed having a control lever that is operable in a first direction to operate the brake control mechanism, a second direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the pulling direction and a third direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the release direction. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, when viewed from the perspective of a rider on the bicycle, the first direction is the direction of movement of the lever toward the handlebar. The second direction is the direction of movement of the control lever downward and the third direction is the direction of movement of the control lever upward. In a more preferred embodiment, the second and third directions are perpendicular to the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Akira Tsumiyama, Nobukatsu Hara
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Patent number: 6622587Abstract: A wheeled walker brake lever mounting arrangement is constructed to include a mounting base frame fixedly fastened to one handlebar of a wheeled walker, a brake cable inserted through the mounting base frame and connected to a brake assembly at rear wheels of the wheeled walker, and a brake lever coupled to the mounting base frame by a slip joint and connected to the brake lever and turned relative to the mounting base frame between a first position where the brake lever is firmly secured in position to pull up the brake cable and to hold the brake cable in the braking position, a second (the neutral) position where the brake lever is loosened, and a third position where the brake lever holds the brake cable temporarily in the braking position.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2002Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Inventor: David Wu
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Patent number: 6619154Abstract: An electrical control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles. The control device has a supporting body adapted for attachment to the handlebars of a bicycle; a brake lever is mounted on the supporting body so that it can oscillate. A pair of electrical switches, for controlling gear change, are carried by the supporting body on a supporting plate which is mounted on the supporting body. Preferable the switches are pre-assembled on supporting plate before it is mounted on the supporting body.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Campagnolo Srl.Inventor: Valentino Campagnolo
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Patent number: 6609768Abstract: A trailer brake control system comprises a trailer. The trailer has brakes. The trailer also has a secondary electrical receiver. A towing vehicle is also provided. The vehicle has a steering wheel. The vehicle also has a secondary electrical transmitter. A steering wheel cover having a primary wireless signal transmitter is provided. The signal transmitter has a power source and a flexible torus-shaped tube. The tube has a hollow bore. Secured within the bore are a pair of wires, one flat and one toothed, offset from each other. Both wires are electronically coupled to the primary signal transmitter. A trailer brake processor is provided next. The brake processor has a trailer brake actuating switch. The actuating switch is electrically coupled with the brakes of the trailer. A primary signal receiver is coupled to the actuating switch and adapted to receive signals from the primary signal transmitter. A manual switch is also coupled to the actuating switch.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2002Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Inventor: Donald E. Frank
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Patent number: 6607056Abstract: A brake apparatus for a bicycle capable of applying a higher braking force on the front wheel (3) and a lower braking force on the rear wheel (4) given the same force exerted on the levers (7, 8) controlling the front brake (5) and the rear brake (6) so to prevent early locking of the rear wheel of the bicycle during braking while leaving the cyclist the possibility to separately control the front brake (5) and the rear brake (6).Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2001Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Campagnolo SrlInventor: Valentino Campagnolo
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Patent number: 6604440Abstract: A switch for actuating a gear on a bicycle includes a housing with an inner toothing formation, a grip part and a rotary part with a cable drum for a fraction cable. The grip part having an integrally formed section for actuating an elastic element on the rotary part so that when the grip part is rotated in a switching direction which releases the traction cable the elastic element is pretensioned until a disengagement member on the grip part disengages a pawl on the rotary part which interacts with the inner tooting formation in the housing. Both the pawl and the elastic element are connected integrally to the rotary part resulting in advantage in terms of the production and assembly of the switch.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2001Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: SRAM Deutschland GmbHInventors: Robert Wessel, Georg Blaschke
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Patent number: 6571726Abstract: A device for monitoring a gear lever position includes one internal tube, one external tube, one adjust handle, one cover and one flexible piece. The internal tube has one ring-shape outer rim, one slot formed on the outer rim and one hollow and axial sheath. A convex fish-shaped lens is located on an imagine line from a rider's eyes to the position ring, the imagine line not being perpendicular to the axial sheath. Via the design of the convex fish-shaped lens, the position symbols are enlarged. The window only shows single position symbol in use. Thus, rider easily monitors and knows the actual gear lever position.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Sunrace Roots Enterprise Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jimmy Tsai, Chi-Liang Chiang, Bou-Yi Ou, Shang-Fei Wu
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Patent number: 6564670Abstract: A bicycle speed control apparatus for controlling a gear transmission mechanism via a drive cable connected to a bicycle is disclosed. The bicycle speed control apparatus includes a first seat connected to a bicycle handlebar and a second seat having a shaft used to connect to the first seat. A cylindrical sleeve member is used to connect to the drive cable and provided with first teeth, second teeth and third teeth in parallel. A first shifting lever and a second shifting lever are provided to pivot on the shaft. A first pawl and a second pawl are provided to movably mount on the first shifting lever and the second shifting lever, respectively. A resilient member is used to position on the shaft so as to engage the third teeth and disengage the first pawl from the first teeth and disengage the second pawl from the second teeth.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2001Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: National Science CouncilInventors: Chan-Hua Feng, Jen-Ji Wang
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Patent number: 6557435Abstract: A shift operating device for a bicycle is provided to change gears of the bicycle. The shift operating device is coupled to the front or rear derailleur via a shift cable. The shift operating device is also coupled to a gear indicator device via an indicator cable. The shift operating device has an attachment portion, a hand operating portion, and a take up member. The attachment portion is adapted to be coupled to a portion of a handlebar of the bicycle. The hand operating portion is coupled to the attachment portion to move between a plurality of shifting positions. The take up member is operatively coupled to the hand operating portion to move in response to movement of the hand operating portion. The take up member has a peripheral winding surface, a first cable attachment point and a second cable attachment point.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2002Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Kenji Ose
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Patent number: 6553862Abstract: An emergency brake lever system for a recreational vehicle with a lever-actuated braking mechanism for precluding movement of the recreational vehicle upon the actuation thereof. Also included is a tether for wearing by a rider of the recreational vehicle. A release mechanism is coupled to the braking mechanism and the tether for actuating the braking mechanism upon the rider inadvertently falling off of the recreational vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2002Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Inventor: Steven L. Caple
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Patent number: 6551153Abstract: A throttle control system eases operation of the throttle lever on a small watercraft to improve rider comfort. The small watercraft includes an internal combustion engine and a steering mechanism for steering the watercraft. The steering mechanism includes a handlebar assembly. The engine includes an air induction system that supplies air to the engine and includes a throttle device configured for controlling the amount of air supplied to the engine. The control system includes a throttle operator, an operator position sensor, a controller and an actuator. The throttle operator is located on the handlebar assembly. The operator position sensor is configured to detect the position of the throttle operator and to communicate with the controller. The actuator is configured to adjust the throttle device in response to the controller.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2000Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshiyuki Hattori
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Patent number: 6516682Abstract: A brake lever is adjustably positionable relative to a handlebar of a motorcycle. The lever includes a base, a lever, and an adjustment mechanism. The base is adapted to be pivotally coupled to a master cylinder coupled to the handlebar, and the lever is pivotally coupled to the base. The adjustment mechanism controllably positions the lever relative to the base to control spacing between the lever and the handlebar. The adjustment mechanism includes a cylinder and a pin. The cylinder is rotatable about a longitudinal axis, is coupled to one of the base and the lever, and has a first and second bore hole extending radially therein for first and second preselected distances, respectively. The pin is coupled to the other of the base and the lever, is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, and is alternately engageable with the first and second bore holes.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2001Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignee: Jay Brake EnterprisesInventor: Jay Brainard
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Patent number: 6510757Abstract: A shift lever is used to remotely operate the change of gear in a set of bicycle gears. The shift lever comprises a housing part and a cable winder with a cable guide which the bicycle user can operate in a winding rotational direction to wind a cable, or in a releasing rotational direction to release the cable. One end of the cable connects interactively with the cable winder, at least in one of the two rotational directions. The housing part has a bar with a guiding edge which together with the cable guide form a cable channel for the cable, from which the cable cannot deviate, if the cable winder is actuated in the releasing rotational directional this occurs if the other end of the cable is not pulled or taken up by the set of gears.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2001Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Sram Deutschland GmbHInventor: Robert Wessel
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Patent number: 6510758Abstract: A speed controller has a body, a collar interference fit in the through hole of the body, a rotation element having an arcuate extension formed to correspond to an arcuate passage and provided with multiple notches, a sleeve formed to mate with an elongated extension and an elongated protrusion. A user rotates the sleeve to drive the rotation element to accomplish the speed change. Friction between the body and the cable is reduced by removing the lining of the body, so that the force required to operate the speed controller is greatly reduced.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2001Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: Mei Lin Tai-Yen Industrial Co. Ltd.Inventor: Chen Shu Jen
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Patent number: 6488130Abstract: An apparatus for the application of a braking force to a wheel of a wheelbarrow, hand cart or other type of a cargo portage device includes a twist grip mechanism with a latching type of a ratchet attached to the handlebar of the device. As the twist grip mechanism is rotated a progressive braking force is applied to the wheel by tightening a brake band that extends around a drum that is attached to the wheel. A cable is attached at one end to the twist grip mechanism and to the brake band at its remaining end. The ratchet maintains the braking force that is applied until a thumb release lever is depressed which disengages a ratchet dog from contact with any of a plurality of ratchet teeth.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2001Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Inventor: John Karl Bermel
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Patent number: 6487928Abstract: A shift operating device for a bicycle is provided to change gears of the bicycle. The shift operating device is coupled to the front or rear derailleur via a shift cable. The shift operating device is also coupled to a gear indicator device via an indicator cable. The shift operating device has an attachment portion, a hand operating portion, and a take up member. The attachment portion is adapted to be coupled to a portion of a handlebar of the bicycle. The hand operating portion is coupled to the attachment portion to move between a plurality of shifting positions. The take up member is operatively coupled to the hand operating portion to move in response to movement of the hand operating portion. The take up member has a peripheral winding surface, a first cable attachment point and a second cable attachment point.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2002Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Kenji Ose
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Patent number: 6484603Abstract: A selector for a bicycle gear mechanism. The selector has a housing fastened to a portion of a bicycle frame, a cable inlet, and a rotatable drum having a control cable wound onto for effecting cable travel. The selector also includes a rotary bushing for operating the selector and a mechanism for superimposing a correction or overshift travel on the cable travel. The mechanism includes a pivoting lever for guiding the control cable and a correction cam having a profile configured to provide the requisite correction travel for each gear stage as the rotatable drum is rotated.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2001Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: SRAM Deutschland GmbHInventors: Robert Wessel, Markus Arbeiter, Bernhard Johanni
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Patent number: 6467368Abstract: A hand operated bicycle gear transmission device. The device includes a handle bar fixing base, a cover fixing base, a rubber cover, a positioning plate, positioning protuberances, saucer shaped springs, a circular fixing hole for a steel cable head, a steel cable guide groove and a stroke compensating device. The device utilizes cooperative function of positioning recessed slots formed around a rigid positioning plate. The positioning protuberances are provided at the rear of the cover fixing base and the saucer shaped springs are adjacent to the positioning plate to provide mutual engagement force therebetween so as to achieve an excellent positioning effect of gear transmission even under the worst riding environment. As a result, the device can be conveniently operable with a small applied force to perform speed change smoothly, the device having a simplified and easy looking appearance constructed with a small number of components, and being able to easily be assembled and repaired.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1999Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: National Science Council of Republic of ChinaInventors: Chan-Hua Feng, Chun-Yu Li
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Patent number: 6457377Abstract: A renovated brake structure for an auxiliary moving device comprises a grip, a cover, a brake wire and a handle. The cover is secured to the handle and the grip is pivoted to the cover. The grip is secured to one end of the brake wire with a stud, whereas the other end of the brake wire having a spring to urge the grip to resume to original position. The grip comprises a pair of linking rods with a rail and a connecting pin on each rod. Each linking rod is connected at one end to a stud which is to secure with on end of a brake wire. A pair of holes are formed at the front respective ends of the grip for insertion of the pins. An arc trough is formed at one end of the grip with an elastic stopper at one end and a locating hole at the other end. A stop pin extending from the cover is inserted through the arc trough of the grip to secure the grip to the cover.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2001Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignees: Apex Medical Corp.Inventor: Chun-Shan Hsu
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Patent number: 6457378Abstract: The control lever equipment for a bar handle vehicle enables smooth pivoting of a grip allowance adjusting mechanism for a control lever with respect to a grip. In this equipment, the control lever is composed essentially of two pieces, i.e., a lever piece and an operating piece, which pivot coaxially independent of each other on a support shaft attached to a holder fixed to the handle bar. An adjusting pin for widening and narrowing the grip allowance between the control lever and the grip of the handle bar is attached either to the lever piece or to the operating piece pivotally on an axis parallel to the support shaft. A resilient piece is interposed between the adjusting pin and a bearing for bearing the shaft end of the adjusting pin, formed either on the lever piece or the operating piece, to be coaxial with the adjusting pin.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2000Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignees: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Genichi Hatakoshi, Naoki Kobayashi
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Patent number: 6453766Abstract: A force transfer unit is provided for engaging a control cable connected to a hand operated shift control unit. The force transfer unit includes a handlebar attachment member and a cable diverting member for changing a direction of the control cable, wherein the force transfer unit is separate from the shift control unit. A gear indicator may be formed with the force transfer unit or instead of the force transfer unit so that the gear indicator may be located remotely from the shift control unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1998Date of Patent: September 24, 2002Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Kenji Ose
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Publication number: 20020124679Abstract: Combined gear change and brake control unit for a bicycle comprising, a support body (12) which can be fastened to the handlebar of the bicycle, a brake control lever (14) pivotally mounted on the support body (12) around a first axis (16), a gear change control unit (18) carried by the support body (12), comprising a shaft (20) turning around a second axis (22), either orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to said first axis (16), in which the shaft (20) carries a pulley (24) on which an end portion of a control cable of a derailleur is destined to be wound, and in which said shaft (20) is subject to a return torque tending to turn the shaft towards a direction (28) in which the cable is released, a gear change lever (30) arranged behind the brake control lever (14) for controlling the rotation of said shaft (20) in a direction of most winding of the cable (26) and a button lever (32) arranged on a side of said support body (12) for controlling the rotation of said shaft (20) in the release direction of theType: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2002Publication date: September 12, 2002Applicant: CAMPAGNOLO SrlInventor: Giuseppe Dal Pra
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Patent number: 6443027Abstract: A brake operating device (30) is configured such that actuation of the brake lever (34) around the lever pivot (36) displaces the cable (38) in a direction transverse to the cable length toward the lever pivot (36), as the user is actuating the brake lever (34). This provides at least a 33% increase in mechanical advantage over the actuation range of the brake lever (34).Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 1998Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: SRAM CorporationInventors: John D. Cheever, Michael W. Larson, Andrew J. Caron, Scott A. McLaughlin, David Zimberoff
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Patent number: 6439077Abstract: A cable feed for a cable actuated bicycle includes a housing and an actuator residing within the housing operatively associated with the cable. The cable feed consists of a mount attached to the housing having a mount orifice along a guide axis. A cylindrical ferrule having an axial bore extending between first and second ferrule ends includes a barb at the first end and a stop near the second end. The ferrule is axially inserted within the first end leading into the mount orifice with the stop halting axial insertion of the ferrule into the mount orifice. A minor elastic boot having a first end with an inwardly extending angular flange mates with the attachment barb and has an outer diameter at the first end large enough to prevent axial withdraw of the ferrule from the mount orifice.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2000Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: Avid LLCInventors: Wayne R. Lumpkin, Michael T. Mayberry
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Patent number: 6431326Abstract: A braking power modulator is coupled to the brake lever of a brake operating device for easy adjustment and viewing. The braking power modulator is preferably adjustable to provide different braking powers for different riders or different road conditions. The braking power modulator basically includes a mounting member, a brake lever, a biasing member, a modulating member and an adjusting member. The mounting member is adapted to be coupled to a handlebar of a bicycle, and has a cable passageway with a first abutment and a second abutment. The brake lever is pivotally coupled to the mounting member, and has a cable attachment portion. The biasing member is disposed in the cable passageway, and has first and second portions with the first portion of the biasing member being operatively coupled to the first abutment.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Shinichi Takizawa
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Patent number: 6431020Abstract: A method of supporting first and second indicators for a bicycle is provided, which involves mounting an indicator holder to a mounting portion of the bicycle; slidably supporting a first housing of the first indicator on the indicator holder for sliding adjustment along a first longitudinal axis of the indicator holder; and slidably supporting a second housing of the second indicator on the indicator holder for sliding adjustment along a second longitudinal axis that is parallel to the first longitudinal axis on a second surface of the indicator holder. In one embodiment, the step of mounting the indicator holder includes mounting the indicator holder on a handlebar that forms the mounting portion of the bicycle.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Yoshihide Iteya, Masao Kojima
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Patent number: 6422353Abstract: A brake device includes a brake lever, a brake shoe, a tube, a stem rotatably secured in the tube, two followers pivotally secured to the stem and the tube for supporting two brake cables, and a bearing coupling the followers together. The followers are rotatably secured to the stem and the tube and are sliding in concert with each other relative to the tube and the stem and are rotated relative to each other for allowing the cables to be operated and to be prevented from being twisted relative to each other when the stem is rotated relative to the tube.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2001Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Inventor: Chang Hui Lin
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Publication number: 20020078789Abstract: A brake lever for cycles includes a handle, and a hand grip detachably secured onto the handle with one or more fasteners for allowing the hand grip to be disengaged from the handle and to be replaced or changed with the other hand grips and for changing a new or decorative hand grip. The hand grip has a cover for facilitating the holding or grasping of the users. The hand grip is preferably U-shaped and has a ridge extended from a curved middle portion to form a peripheral shoulder between the handle and the ridge for solidly engaging with the hand grip.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: June 27, 2002Inventor: Zen Ming Chen
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Publication number: 20020069813Abstract: A gear indicator for a bicycle that includes first and second control cables connected to first and second shift actuators, respectively. The gear indicator includes a housing mounted onto the control cables. The housing is spaced apart from the shift actuators and is not attached to the handlebars. First and second pulleys are disposed in the housing and are rotatable by a displacement of the first and second control cables, respectively. First and second gear display elements are movable in response to the rotation of the first and second pulleys. The first and second display elements indicate the currently selected gears of the bicycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2000Publication date: June 13, 2002Inventors: Andrew J. Caron, Kent Solberg, Stacey Chang, Jacob Brauer, John Lake
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Patent number: 6393935Abstract: A brake lever includes a metal body and a connection end is on one of two ends of the body so as to be connected to a handlebar of a bicycle. A longitudinal groove is defined in the body located between two ridges of the body. Each ridge has a lot of notches defined in an inside thereof. The longitudinal groove and the notches are filled with plastic material.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2000Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Inventor: Tse-Min Chen
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Patent number: 6393933Abstract: A throttle lever device mounted in the vicinity of a grip at one end of a handlebar of a water jet bike or a snowmobile. The throttle lever device has an operation lever 3 with a front end portion that is movable vertically relative to a bracket 1. The operation lever 3 actuates a throttle cable 6 by virtue of gripping operations.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1999Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Asahi Denso Co., Ltd.Inventor: Naotoshi Shirayanagi
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Patent number: 6389920Abstract: A control mechanism of a bicycle gearshifting device is composed essentially of a body set provided with a hollow cylindrical portion over which a cable-locating wheel set and a rotator set are fitted. The cable-locating wheel set is provided with a fastening seat for fastening the cable head of a gearshifting cable, and a control arcuate segment for disposing the elastomer. The rotator set is provided with an arcuate protrusion for actuating the cable-locating wheel set to turn at the time when the bicycle handlebar is rotated, thereby activating the gearshifting cable and a derailleur of the bicycle.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1999Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: ADInventor: Chieh-Yuan Chen