Flexible Control Element Patents (Class 74/489)
  • Patent number: 6041895
    Abstract: A bicycle brake assembly is composed of a rotary handlebar having a grip tube. The grip tube is provided in the inner wall thereof with a protruded block capable of being actuated to trigger the bicycle brake cable at such time when the rotary handlebar is rotated. The bicycle brake assembly is further composed of an elastic ring for providing the rotary handlebar with an elastic force capable of causing the rotary handlebar to return to its original position after being rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventor: Chen Shou Mao
  • Patent number: 6039499
    Abstract: A supporting bracket is provided so that the braking pad may be readily controlled by a single braking cable and the steering angle of the handlebar will not be limited. The supporting bracket of the invention is specially suitable for terrain and acrobatic exercise applications. The present invention overcomes the difficulty or shortcoming of the conventional supporting bracket. The inventive bracket features a simplified configuration that may be readily constructed and assembled. Furthermore, the cost may be lowered, thus having economic value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventor: Douglas Chiang
  • Patent number: 6036221
    Abstract: A foldable rod linkage for connecting a handgrip to a front wheel of a foldable stroller includes a lower mount member having front lateral walls extending rearwardly from two ends of an upright front wall, an upward abutment wall between the left and right front lateral walls, an upright bore for receiving an upper end of a front rod, and rear lateral walls extending respectively from the front lateral walls. An upper slide body has a through-hole to permit extension of a handle rod such that a lower end of the latter is pivoted on the rear lateral walls, and a downward abutment wall to mate with the upward abutment wall when the linkage is in an unfolded position. An operating device is mounted movably on the handgrip, and includes a pull rod having a lower end mounted on the slide body such that upward pulling of the pull rod will result in disengagement of the slide body from the lower mount member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Inventor: Chih-Huang Yang
  • Patent number: 6032765
    Abstract: A brake control device is mounted on a handle of a walking frame used by a lame or elderly person as an aid in walking. The device includes a seat fastened at one end thereof with the handle, and a control handlebar fastened at one end thereof with the seat. The seat is provided with a control arm and a stop member. The control arm is fastened with the control handlebar and is connected with one end of a brake cable. The control arm is actuated by the control handlebar to swivel so as to pull the brake cable to bring about the braking action which can be sustained without having to keep holding the control handlebar. The control handlebar is made stationary temporarily by a rolling rod which is forced into a retaining recess of the stop member for sustaining the braking action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Larmine Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventor: Yang Hsi-Chia
  • Patent number: 6021688
    Abstract: The handlebar includes a base seat connected to a headset of the bicycle having a circular housing for receiving a displacement device and a tubular projection. The displacement device is composed of a tension ring rotatably engaged onto the tubular projection and has a retaining space for anchoring the large diameter end of a cable and an L-shaped slit for securing a spring plate, an arcuate plate anchored into a pair of slit abutting the side wall of the housing having a plurality of positioning slots engageable with an arcuate end of the spring plate. A handlebar rotatably coupling with the base seat including a pair of actuator plates for respectively actuating the tension ring and the spring plate to obtain the shifting of the spring plate on the positioning slots to adjust the speed for the derailleur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Inventor: Wen-Pin Chang
  • Patent number: 6006624
    Abstract: In order to enlarge a stroke of a movable piece displaced by pivoting a lever in upward and downward directions, a lever switch for a vehicle according to the present invention has a lever mounted pivotably on a case, and a movable piece moved by pivoting movement of the lever. An arm body is disposed between the case and the movable piece. In the arm body there are a shaft portion supported pivotably by the case at one end, a thrusting portion driving the movable piece at the other end, and a contacting portion brought into contact with the lever at an approximately central part. The arm body includes a first arm, at an extremity of which the shaft portion is disposed, a second arm, at an extremity of which the contacting portion is disposed, and a third arm, at an extremity of which the thrusting portion is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Niles Parts Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norio Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 5988008
    Abstract: A device for shifting bicycle gears. The device includes a housing part and a rotary element. The housing part has a circumferential surface and a plurality of notches formed in the circumferential surface. Each of the plurality of notches corresponds to a gear-shifting position. The rotary element has a circumferential wall and is selectively rotatable relative to the housing part, the housing part being disposed concentrically within the circumferential wall of the rotary element. The device further includes a detent spring configured as a wrap spring and arranged circumferentially around the housing part, the wrap spring having a wrap diameter and a wrap angle of between approximately 180.degree. and 360.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: SRAM Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Rau
  • Patent number: 5979266
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus for a bicycle. The appratus has a control lever operatively connected with a control cable for pulling the cable and a force transmission ratio adjuster mechanism for adjusting a force transmission ratio in association with an operation of the control lever. The force transmission ratio is defined as a ratio obtained by dividing an output force from the cable associated with application of a unit input force to a certain lever position of the control lever. With the appratus of the invention, this force transmission ratio is so determined as to have a maximum value at a position during an entire stroke of the lever between a stroke start end and a stroke finish end and the maximum value position is on the side of the finish end after a play stroke on the side of the start end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano Industrial, Co.
    Inventor: Masashi Nagano
  • Patent number: 5970816
    Abstract: A gear selection device, especially for a bicycle including a train of driving plates, a train of driven pinions connected by a chain, a gearshift associated with the plates and a gearshift associated with the pinions, a first cable for controlling the gearshift associated with the plates and a second cable for controlling the gearshift associated with the pinions, the gearshifts moving between two extreme positions and including elastic recall for moving from one of the extreme positions to the other, wherein the gear selection device includes a single rotary control handle with a fixed portion forming a pan for linking with the cycle and equipped with a barrel integral with the handle and including two tracks for receiving pins fixed to the ends of the first and second control cables, the tracks having profiles to ensure a positioning with a sufficient tolerance to exaggerate the movement and accurate return of the cables corresponding to the plate/pinion pairings of the selected successive gears, as well a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Societe EGS
    Inventor: Franck Savard
  • Patent number: 5966993
    Abstract: A clutch cable lever operating system having a cable adjusting mechanism including a clamp for mounting the system on the handlebars of a motorcycle. The clutch cable lever fulcrum mounting flange to allow more or less free travel when the cable operating lever is used. The clutch cable adjusting mechanism is comprised of a coarse sleeve threaded into a cable adjusting cylinder that abuts the end of a cable outer sleeve. A manually adjusted threaded star nut or thumb wheel is fitted in a slot in the cable adjusting cylinder and threads on the coarse threaded sleeve. Rotation of the threaded star nut or thumb wheel incrementally extends or retracts the coarse threaded sleeve abutting the end of cable to adjust the slack that occurs when clutch plates expand due to heat. A resilient washer in an annulus intersecting the threads in the star nut or thumb wheel prevents free movement of the star nut on the coarse threaded sleeve to maintain the adjusted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: David L. Ekins
  • Patent number: 5964123
    Abstract: A shifter for the actuation of bicycle transmissions designed to be installed primarily on a handlebar of a bicycle. The shifter can have a stationary housing and a rotational housing that are connected together to form a single assembled unit. A traction cable having a nipple on one end can be inserted into t he first end of a passageway in the single assembled unit. The passageway is sized such that the nipple and the traction cable may both pass through the passageway. The nipple end and traction cable can be pushed through the passageway until the nipple end comes out of the other end of the passageway. The nipple can then be fastened to the rotational housing without having to dismantle the single assembled unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Markus Arbeiter
  • Patent number: 5957002
    Abstract: A derailleur gear unit includes a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted around a pivot base and formed with a plurality of teeth. A retaining disk is fixedly mounted around the pivot base, and a shank extends from an outer periphery of the retaining disk and is formed with a catch. A first shifting lever includes a first end portion, a mediate portion rotatably mounted around the pivot base, and a second end portion. A pawl member is pivotally mounted on the first end portion of the first shifting lever and includes an arcuate guiding track slidably abutting on the catch, and a detent meshing with one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel. A second shifting lever includes a first end portion pivotally mounted around the pivot base and a second end portion. A pushing rod located radially opposite to the detent of the pawl member is mounted on the first end portion of the second shifting lever and meshes with one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Industrial Development Bureau
    Inventor: Ti-Li Ueng
  • Patent number: 5953962
    Abstract: A cable controller is formed by a housing having a cavity into which one end of a handle is received and mounted for a pivotal movement on a pivot pin extending across the housing. The pivot pin is received within a L-shaped slot adjacent to one end and the top of the handle and an abutment is provided projecting outwardly from the bottom of the handle in position to engage the rim of the cavity. A control cable is connected to the handle positioned about midway between the abutment and the slot. The slot and the abutment are positioned so that movement of the handle in a first direction pivots the handle about the pivot pin and extends the cable and movement of the handle in the opposite direction pivots the handle about the point of contact between the abutment and the rim of housing to move the pin along the slot into a short section of the L-shaped slot to thereby extend the cable now lock the handle in a parking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: 1029894 Ontario Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford Bruce Hewson
  • Patent number: 5954161
    Abstract: The braking system of a rehabilitation trolley is controlled by a grasp member having a root portion disposed within a receiving groove of a fixing seat that is attached to the handle of the trolley. The root portion includes upper and lower portions engageable with corresponding upper and lower portions of the groove to permit the grasp member to be rotated upwardly or downwardly about corresponding fulcrum points and pulling a braking wire extending through the fixing seat and secured to the root portion. The grasp member may also engage a portion of the groove to secure the member in a braking mode when the member is pulled downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Apex Care Industry Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Lee
  • Patent number: 5946978
    Abstract: A cable adjustment device changes the effective length or tension of a control cable which extends between an actuating mechanism and a device to be operated thereby. In the case of a bicycle, the cable adjustment device is coupled to a bicycle actuating mechanism such as a brake lever or a shifter to control a brake or a derailleur. The actuating mechanism has a base or stationary member and a movable member coupled to the base member for moving the control cable. In the preferred embodiment, the cable adjustment device is coupled to the base member. Specifically, a cable guide portion with an internal threaded bore is integrally formed with the base member. This bore threadedly receives an adjusting member which engages the outer casing of the control cable. A torsion spring is coupled between the adjusting member and the cable guide portion to overridably restrict rotational movement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5941125
    Abstract: A first shifting control device is located at a first position on the bicycle, and a second shifting control device is located at a second position on the bicycle. The first shifting control device includes a first shifting lever for causing the first shifting control device to pull and release a first transmission element, and the second shifting control device includes a second shifting lever for causing the second shifting control device to pull and release a second transmission element. An interlocking mechanism interlocks the first shifting lever and the second shifting lever so that movement of either the first shifting lever or the second shifting lever causes the bicycle shifting control apparatus to shift the bicycle transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Etsuyoshi Watarai, Kenji Ose, Noriaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5941127
    Abstract: A device for controlling the operation of a clutch in a motorcycle, the device being capable of changing the point wherein the clutch operating cable is fixed to the clutch lever in the handle bar of the motorcycle, to vary the characteristics of lever operation and the relationship between the lever movement and the resulting cable movement, the clutch lever comprising more than one anchoring points to fix the cable thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Juan Gerardo Hayd
  • Patent number: 5927441
    Abstract: A device for trolley of the type which is provided with four mounting brackets and each of which is mounted with a caster socket. Each caster socket is rotationally mounted with a caster. The trolley frame is further provided with a pair of hand grips at both sides for moving the trolley forward by exerting a forward force to the trolley through the hand grips. The braking device is mounted at the hand grip and includes a housing which is attached to the hand grip. A pulling rod is pivotally mounted at one end of the housing A cable is connected to the other end of the pulling rod. The pulling rod is provided with a first recess, a second recess and a boss. The housing is pivotally mounted with a braking handle which is provided with a biasing tab and a positioning tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Chung-I Luo
  • Patent number: 5924328
    Abstract: The braking device of the present invention is equipped with a resistance element which acts so that, when the brake device is operated by pulling a brake lever to a set operating position where the wheel braking force produced by brake shoes reaches a certain set value, a discretely increased force resists operation of the brake lever so that further operation of said brake lever is inhibited until a pulling force which is greater than the resistance force is thereafter applied to the brake lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Masanori Sugimoto, Kazuhisa Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5921140
    Abstract: An index shifter (1) for a bicycle transmission is placed on a handle bar (3). The index shifter has a housing (2) and a notch element (4) with notches (5), which notch element is connected with a rotatable handgrip and with one of the ends of a control cable (7). The housing has an oblong annular space in which a combination notch spring (20) is placed. This spring supports itself on the housing with two feet (24) and acts in concert with the notch element (4) through a projection (23). The combination notch spring (20), composed of a form spring (21) and a leaf spring (22), permits quiet shifting and supplies sufficiently high pre-tension spring power throughout the service life of the combination notch spring (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventor: Nico Lemmens
  • Patent number: 5921139
    Abstract: A bicycle shift control device includes a first member; a second member rotatably mounted relative to the first member for rotation in first and second directions; a third member rotatably mounted relative to the first member for controlling the pulling and releasing of a transmission control element; and a fourth member disposed between the second member and the third member. If desired, the first member may be structured to immovably fix the shifting device relative to the bicycle handlebar, and the fourth member may function as a takeup element for pulling and releasing a control cable. The fourth member rotates around the first axis integrally with the third member. The fourth member also moves in the direction of the first axis between an engagement position in which the fourth member engages the first member and a disengagement position in which the fourth member is disengaged from the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Takuro Yamane
  • Patent number: 5921138
    Abstract: A bicycle shifter operating device for operating a shifting mechanism via a transmission element includes a control body for mounting to a bicycle in close proximity to a handlebar for controlling a pulling and releasing of the transmission element. A first lever is mounted to the control body for movement which causes the control body to effect pulling of the transmission element, and a second lever is mounted to the control body for movement which causes the control body to effect releasing of the transmission element. One lever may be pivotally coupled to the control body, and the other lever may be coupled for linear movement relative to the control body. The lever structured for linear movement may be coupled to a transmission mechanism for operating the control body in such a way that very little linear movement is needed to operate the control body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Masao Kojima, Kenji Ose
  • Patent number: 5913943
    Abstract: A brake lever assembly device is provided that can be mounted on the handlebars of a bicycle. The brake lever has a rear brake body that is coupled to at least one end of the handlebars and a front brake body that is pivotally connected to the rear brake body. The front brake body is moveable between an idle position in which the brake is not applied, and an engaged position in which the brake is fully applied. The front brake body is biased towards the idle position, so that the brake is not applied when no downward force is applied to the front brake body. Further, the front brake body is mechanically coupled to the bicycle brake so that pivoting the front brake body into the engaged position causes the brake to be fully applied. Still further, the front brake body and the rear brake body are coupled in-line with at least one end of the handlebars so that the rear brake body and the front brake body extend outwardly along a central axis of the end of the handlebars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Inventor: Barry J. Viola
  • Patent number: 5910193
    Abstract: A brake lever device includes a handle having a lever pivotally coupled to the base. The lever includes a groove and two or more notches communicating with the groove. A cable coupler includes a rod slidably engaged in the groove and to be engaged with either of the notches. A post is rotatably engaged in the lever and has a notch for allowing the rod to be moved to engage with the other notch when the notch is faced toward the notches. The rod may be stably retained in the notches when the notch of the post is faced away from the notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Tektro Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Zen Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 5904069
    Abstract: A gear-change switch, particularly a stepping switch for controlling gears on bicycles or similar vehicles, has a fixed housing and an actuating element rotatably mounted for rotation in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions to tension or release a traction cable for controlling the bicycle gears. The actuation element comprises a thumb-operated gear-change switch or a twist-grip gear-change switch. The advantage of the switching device lies in the considerable simplification of the design and in the production of the components in plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Johannes Rau, Bernhard Johanni, Markus Arbeiter
  • Patent number: 5896779
    Abstract: A manually operated brake actuator for a wheeled walker and the like. For normal braking, a handle is manually moved from a neutral first position towards a second position for rotating a cable link to progressively pull on a brake cable to engage a wheel brake. When the handle is released, it returns to the first position. When the handle is manually moved from the first position to a third position, a parking link is rotated to push on and rotate the cable link to engage the brake. The parking link is rotated to a stable position when the handle is in the third position, wherein pull on the brake cable cannot release the brake until the handle is manually moved back to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Sunrise Medical HHG Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin C. Biersteker, Alfredo R. Nuno
  • Patent number: 5894759
    Abstract: A bicycle shift control device includes a first downshift control device and a first upshift control device. The first downshift control device is spaced apart from the first upshift control device. When used with a handlebar having an intermediate handlebar stem attachment portion, the first downshift control device may be mounted on one side of the handlebar stem attachment portion, and the first upshift control device may be mounted on an opposite side of the handlebar stem attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5893573
    Abstract: A rotary handle gearshift actuator for operating bicycle gears. The gearshift actuator includes a rotatable housing and a stationary housing. The rotatable housing has a planar surface and including an outer cylinder extending outwardly from the planar surface, the outer cylinder having an inside wall and a recess defined axially in the inside wall. The stationary housing has a planar surface and an inner cylinder extending outwardly from the planar surface of the stationary housing. The inner cylinder has a distal end and a bayonet hook extending radially outwardly from the distal end, the bayonet hook being configured for sliding engagement with the recess of the outer cylinder of the rotatable housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: SRAM Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Arbeiter
  • Patent number: 5887486
    Abstract: A locking device for use in a bicycle brake system in order to retain a hand-operated brake lever thereof in a braked state includes a locking member of resilient material, and a bearing device for bearing the locking member on the brake lever. The brake system includes a mounting seat fixed on a bicycle handlebar for connecting a brake cable to the brake lever. The brake lever has a first end mounted pivotally to the mounting seat and turnable about a first axis. The locking member includes a pressure bearing portion, a pair of spaced bracing arm portions which extend traversely and respectively from two ends of the pressure bearing portion, and a pair of leg portions which extend inwardly and respectively from the bracing arm portions. The bearing device includes a pair of pivot holes formed in two opposite lateral walls of the brake lever to receive the leg portions therein such that the pressure bearing portion and the leg portions of the locking member are generally parallel to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Ah-Ping Lin
    Inventors: Ah-Ping Lin, Jung-Hua Li, Kun-Ju Lai
  • Patent number: 5881602
    Abstract: A dual derailleur bicycle gearshift comprises a first cable pull member pivotally secured to a support for rotation about a first axis and a second cable pull member pivotally secured to the first cable pull member for rotation about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the second cable pull member defines a single actuator that is centered on both axes for pivotal movability within a first arc located within a first plane that extends axially of and contains the first axis to rotate the second cable pull member about the second axis and pivotal movability within a second arc located within a second plane that extends axially of and contains the second axis to rotate the first cable pull member about the first axis. In a handlebar mounted embodiment the first cable pull member rotates about a longitudinal axis of the bicycle's handlebar and the actuator is a yoke centered on both axes and having one end defining the second cable pull member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventor: Salvatore Cirami
  • Patent number: 5878625
    Abstract: An actuating device comprising a bracket and an operating device is provided. The front end portion of the operating device is provided with an anchoring portion and a first operating portion. The first operating portion defines a first, a second and a third edge which are connected with each other. The bracket is provided with a first post which passes through the receiving chamber. The operating device can be moved such that the first operating portion is contacted with the first post. Wherein when the operating device is moved upward, a temporary braking function is effected; and when the operating device is moved downward, a continuous braking function is effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Fong Hsiang Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nai Shing Hu
  • Patent number: 5865065
    Abstract: The hand brake includes a main frame fixedly mounted on a handlebar of the walker, a control lever pivotally connected to the main frame, a brake member pivotally connected to the control lever to locate in a working space of the control lever, and a steel cable connected to the brake member. With changes in positions of the control lever, the brake member is caused to change its position in the working space of the control lever to pull the steel cable and thereby to either brake the wheeled walker, to brake and park the wheeled walker, or to return the walker to a non-brake state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Valentine International Limited
    Inventor: Johnny J.T. Chiu
  • Patent number: 5865062
    Abstract: A speed control method and device for a bicycle, aimed at synchronously controlling both front and rear derailleurs to achieve predetermined sequential combinations of front and rear gears of front and rear gear systems, respectively, for a gradual and smooth increase/decrease of speed of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventor: Chaim Lahat
  • Patent number: 5865064
    Abstract: A brake lever arm is mounted to a base member, with the base member fixed to a bicycle handlebar. The lever arm is pivotal about a pivot point on the base. The lever arm includes an adjusting mechanism that adjusts the position of the lever arm when the lever arm is in a brake dis-engaged position. The adjusting mechanism is slideable in grooves in the lever arm such that the adjusting mechanisms may be moved to positions that are differing distances away from the pivot point. The adjusting mechanism includes a contact member that engages a brake cable connected to the lever arm when the lever arm is moved from the brake dis-engaged position toward a brake engagement position. The position of the contact member with respect to the pivot point determines the effect movement of the lever arm has on the cable. In this manner, the adjusting mechanism adjusts the length of the stoke or travel of the lever arm from the brake dis-engaged position to the brake engagement position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Yamashita, Osamu Kariyama
  • Patent number: 5862713
    Abstract: A throttle lever device for an engine having a decreased number of parts and capable of facilitating an assembling operation. An operation grip for controlling an engine of a mowing machine or the like is provided on opposite sides thereof with a throttle lever and a lock lever engageable with the throttle lever, respectively. A lock button is arranged in proximity to the lock lever so as to hold the throttle lever at a half throttling position. The throttle lever, lock lever and lock button are arranged so as to be pushable in toward a center of the operation grip. The lock lever and lock button are formed integrally with each other and constantly urged by an elastic member so as to be projected outwardly of the operation grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Starting Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuhei Tsunoda, Minoru Shibasaki, Yukinobu Tomaru, Hidenobu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5862709
    Abstract: A bicycle shift control device comprises a guide member for mounting relative to an axis of a structural member of a bicycle. A rotatable shift member is guided by the guide member for rotation about an axis, wherein the axis of rotation of the rotatable shift member is inclined relative to the axis of the guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc
    Inventor: Tomohiko Kageyama
  • Patent number: 5860326
    Abstract: The combined speed shifter and brake handle assembly is for a multispeed bicycle. The assembly comprises a handlebar bracket to secure the assembly on a bicycle handlebar, a rotative speed shifter mechanism for pulling and releasing a speed control cable, and a brake bracket projecting from the handlebar bracket, to pivotally receive an end of a brake lever at a predetermined distance from the bicycle handlebar. The speed shifter mechanism has a shifter lever with an annular member rotatably mounted on a rim member fixed to the handlebar bracket, for rotation about the bicycle handlebar, and held in place thereon by a cap member. Friction elements provide a predetermined frictional contact that opposes against rotation of the annular member relative to the cap member and the rim. The speed control cable is guided toward the speed shifter lever, to which it is fastened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Corporacion Resentel S.A. De C.V.
    Inventor: Clement Lussier
  • Patent number: 5857385
    Abstract: A snowmobile having a lightweight fabricated frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a number of reinforcing elements, some of which comprise heat exchangers for the liquid cooling system of the engine, so as to provide high rigidity and light weight. The engine of the snowmobile is provided with an exhaust system that permits a relatively short effective length, but minimizes pulse-back effects by forming internal expansion chambers around the exhaust branch pipes. The drive for the snowmobile includes a reversing transmission and a brake assembly associated therewith in addition to a main brake assembly for the snowmobile. Furthermore, there is provided a parking brake assembly that is easy to operate and which will provide the operator with a visual and physical warning of its condition so that the operator will not attempt to operate the snowmobile with the parking brake engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 5857387
    Abstract: Nubbed grips for hand-rotatable bicycle gear shifters have longitudinally elongated groups of nubs (50) that are angularly spaced apart by valley regions (44). Preferably, the elastomeric nubs are formed both on a cylindrical portion and an adjacent flanged portion of the grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: SRAM Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Larson, Andrew J. Caron, John David Cheever, Tymme A. Laun, Tyler D. Duston
  • Patent number: 5850761
    Abstract: An attachment assembly for a bicycle handle bar provides an extension bar as well as a brake operating device therefor. The extension bar, together with the handle bar, provides a pair of gripping portions, while the brake operating device provides a pair of hand portions for operating a brake. The brake operating device is coupled to the free end of the extension bar and provides a pair of hand portions such that the rider can grasp the first hand portion from the extension bar and the second hand portion from the grip portion formed on the primary handle bar. In a first embodiment, the brake operating device is integrally formed as a one-piece, unitary member with a part of the extension bar, while in another embodiment, the brake operating device is formed as a separate unit which is releasably coupled to the extension bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Masanori Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 5848555
    Abstract: An auxiliary shift lever assembly for use with a bicycle shift device includes a support for supporting the auxiliary shift lever on the bicycle, an auxiliary shift lever body pivotably coupled to the support, one or more lever engaging parts disposed on the auxiliary shift lever body for contacting corresponding shift levers of the shift device, and one or more operating parts disposed on the auxiliary shift lever body. The operating parts are typically disposed at one or more remote locations and are structured to be manipulated by a user for pivoting the auxiliary shift lever body. This, in turn, causes the lever engaging parts to rotate the corresponding shift levers of the shift device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Etsuyoshi Watarai
  • Patent number: 5845539
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a braking lever assembly, more particularly, to a braking mechanism assembly for a motorcycle or bicycle in which the braking mechanisms of both the front and rear wheels can be simultaneously and synchronously actuated to ensure a safe and effective braking. As a result, driving safety can be properly ensured. The braking lever assembly generally comprises a mounting socket and a braking lever which is pivotally attached to the mounting socket. The mounting socket is provided with a pair of guiding holes for the braking cables. The braking lever is pivotally connected with a pulling rod by a 8-shape plate and the pulling rod in turn is provided with a pair of positioning holes for pivotally attaching the anchoring head of the braking cables therein. Wherein when the braking lever is depressed, the 8-shape plate together with the pulling rod are pulled backward such that the braking cables are pulled backward to actuate the braking mechanism for both the front and rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Han-Chen Huang
  • Patent number: 5845537
    Abstract: A device for controlling a bicycle derailleur comprises a control member which is rotatably mounted on the handlebar adjacent to a fixed handgrip. The various operative positions of the rotatable control member are defined by indexing means comprising a toothed wheel which is rigidly connected to said rotatable control member and a plurality of resilient engagement members carried by said supporting body and able to selectively engage the vanes between the teeth of the toothed wheel. The supporting body has a C-shaped configuration with two wings which can be clamped by a screw which is also used to rotatably support a pulley on which the flexible control cable actuated by the rotatable control member is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Valentino Campagnolo
  • Patent number: 5832782
    Abstract: A combined brake and shifting control device includes a brake lever housing, a brake lever pivotably coupled to the brake lever housing, a speed change housing, a ratchet mechanism disposed within the speed change housing, one or more shift levers coupled to the ratchet mechanism so that the ratchet mechanism rotates in response to movement of the shift lever(s), and a shaft coupled to the ratchet mechanism for rotation therewith. The speed change housing is attached to a brake lever housing so that the shaft extends outside the speed change housing and into the brake lever housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Kawakami
  • Patent number: 5829313
    Abstract: An apparatus for operating a bicycle transmission shifting device having an operating component for mounting to a bicycle in close proximity to a brake operating unit for alternately pulling and releasing a transmission element, a first lever is mounted to the operating component for movement which causes the operating component to pull the transmission element and second lever is mounted to the operating component for movement which cause the operating component to release the transmission element. The first lever and the second lever are mounted to the operating component so that the brake operating unit is disposed between the first lever and the second lever when the shifting device is mounted to the bicycle. In order to be able to construct the shifting device with only a single pawl for the release mechanism the takeup element for the transmission element includes a control member having a plurality of large and small position retaining teeth for engaging the single release pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Shahana
  • Patent number: 5823058
    Abstract: A twist-grip shifter for bicycles having a twist grip or grip part which is actuated by the rider's hand to change the gears of the bicycle, and a cable winding mechanism or coil wind-up mechanism. The twist grip and the cable winding mechanism of the twist-grip shifter can be connected to one another by providing claws or projections on a tubular extension of the cable winding mechanism, and by providing corresponding recesses inside the twist grip, in which recesses the claws can be engaged. One of the claws and one of the recesses can be configured differently from the other claws and recesses, in order to simplify the assembly of the two parts with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Markus Arbeiter
  • Patent number: 5819589
    Abstract: A brake operating device includes a bracket for attachment to the bicycle, an operating lever pivotally supported on the bracket about a pivot point, and a guide having a path that extends toward the pivot point. An anchoring member is connected to the force transmission element and is disposed for movement along the path of the guide during operation of the operating lever. An adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting a range of movement of the anchoring member along path of the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuji Nakashima, Tsuyoshi Sakashita
  • Patent number: 5810104
    Abstract: A device for controllably moving a vehicle that includes a drive wheel. The device includes a drive motor that provides energy for moving the drive wheel, a steering tiller conjoined to the drive wheel for changing vehicle direction and a control grip attached to the steering tiller for increasing and decreasing power to the drive motor. The present invention also includes a control grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Patient Easy Care Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter M. Campbell
  • Patent number: 5806372
    Abstract: A control device for a bicycle derailleur includes a rotor for winding a flexible cable for controlling the derailleur, and springs means interposed between the rotor and a support body of the device and able to oppose the return action of the spring of the derailleur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Campagnolo Srl
    Inventor: Valentino Campagnolo
  • Patent number: 5802927
    Abstract: A rotary driving mechanism for brake device which mainly includes: a brake device, a base seat, and a rotary member, a linking member, a guiding block, and a torque spring. Therefore, the invention provides a rotary driving mechanism which is fitted to a handle of the bicycle for driving a brake device. A pulling travel of the steel cord for driving the brake device is elongated and the abrasion of the section against which the steel cord is pulled is avoided. Also, a torque spring is used to achieve a better restoring effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventors: Yung-Jung Yu, Chiu-Hsia Chien Wang, Ming-Huang Chen