A bicycle shift control device is provided which operates a shifting mechanism via a shift control cable, wherein the shift control device includes a control body rotatable about an axis for controlling the shift control cable, an operating body having an abutment in a position spaced apart from the control body and which is coupled to the shift control device for displacement between a home position and a shift position, a transmission including a plurality of ratchet teeth which converts the displacement of the operating body from the home position to the shift position into a rotational displacement of the control body, and an interface member movably mounted relative to the operating body. The interface member has an operating force receiving surface and an operating force applying surface, wherein the operating force receiving surface is adapted to receive an operating force from the rider, and wherein the operating surface applying surface applies the operating force to the abutment of the operating body for moving the operating body from the home position to the shift position.
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18. A bicycle shift control device which operates a shifting mechanism via a shift control cable, the shift control device comprising:
a control body rotatable about an axis (X) for controlling the shift control cable;
an operating body having an abutment in a position spaced apart from the control body and which is coupled to the shift control device for displacement between a home position and a shift position;
a transmission which converts the displacement of the operating body from the home position to the shift position into a rotational displacement of the control body, wherein the transmission includes a plurality of ratchet teeth; and
an interface member movably mounted relative to the operating body and having an operating force receiving surface and an operating force applying surface, wherein the operating force receiving surface is adapted to receive an operating force from a rider, and wherein the interface member pivots so that the operating force applying surface applies the operating force to the abutment of the operating body for moving the operating body from the home position to the shift position.
16. A bicycle shift control device which operates a shifting mechanism via a shift control cable, the shift control device comprising:
a control body rotatable about an axis (X) for controlling the shift control cable;
an operating body having an abutment in a position spaced apart from the control body and which is coupled to the shift control device for displacement between a home position and a shift position;
wherein the operating body includes a roller for controlling the operation of the control body;
a transmission which converts the displacement of the operating body from the home position to the shift position into a rotational displacement of the control body, wherein the transmission includes a plurality of ratchet teeth; and
an interface member movably mounted relative to the operating body and having an operating force receiving surface and an operating force applying surface, wherein the operating force receiving surface is adapted to receive an operating force from a rider, and wherein the operating force applying surface applies the operating force to the abutment of the operating body for moving the operating body from the home position to the shift position.
1. A bicycle shift control device which operates a shifting mechanism via a shift control cable, the shift control device comprising:
a control body rotatable about an axis (X) for controlling the shift control cable;
a mounting member adapted to mount the shift control device to a handlebar, wherein the mounting member defines a handlebar mounting axis (HB);
wherein the axis (X) is oriented substantially perpendicular to the handlebar mounting axis (HB);
an operating body having an abutment in a position spaced apart from the control body and which is coupled to the shift control device for displacement between a home position and a shift position;
wherein the operating body moves linearly in a straight line between the home position and the shift position;
a transmission which converts the displacement of the operating body from the home position to the shift position into a rotational displacement of the control body, wherein the transmission includes a plurality of ratchet teeth; and
an interface member movably mounted relative to the operating body and having an operating force receiving surface and an operating force applying surface, wherein the operating force receiving surface is adapted to receive an operating force from a rider, and wherein the operating force applying surface applies the operating force to the abutment of the operating body for moving the operating body from the home position to the shift position.
19. A bicycle shifter shift control device which operates a shifting mechanism via a shift control cable, the shift control device comprising:
a control body rotatable about an axis (X) for controlling the shift control cable;
a linear operating body which forms an abutment in a position spaced apart from the control body and which is coupled to the operating shift control device for linear displacement between a first home position and a first shift position;
an interface member movably mounted relative to the linear operating body and having a first finger contact and an operating force applying surface, wherein the interface member pivots so that the operating force applying surface applies the an operating force to the abutment of the linear operating body for moving the linear operating body from the first home position to the first shift position;
a second operating body which forms a second finger contact part in a position spaced apart from the control body and which is coupled to the operating shift control device for displacement between a second home position and a second shift position;
a first transmission which converts the linear displacement of the linear operating body from the first home position to the first shift position into a rotational displacement of the control body, wherein the first transmission includes a plurality of ratchet teeth disposed in a ratchet teeth plane (T);
a second transmission which converts the displacement of the second operating body from the second home position to the second shift position into a rotational displacement of the control body; and
wherein a path of movement of the linear operating body is substantially parallel to the ratchet teeth plane (T).
8. A bicycle shifter shift control device which operates a shifting mechanism via a shift control cable, the shift control device comprising:
a control body rotatable about an axis (X) for controlling the shift control cable;
a mounting member adapted to mount the shift control device to a handlebar, wherein the mounting member defines a handlebar mounting axis (HB);
wherein the axis (X) is oriented substantially perpendicular to the handlebar mounting axis (HB);
a linear operating body which forms an abutment in a position spaced apart from the control body and which is coupled to the operating shift control device for linear displacement between a first home position and a first shift position;
an interface member movably mounted relative to the linear operating body and having a first finger contact and an operating force applying surface, wherein the operating force applying surface applies the an operating force to the abutment of the linear operating body for moving the linear operating body from the first home position to the first shift position;
a second operating body which forms a second finger contact part in a position spaced apart from the control body and which is coupled to the operating shift control device for displacement between a second home position and a second shift position;
a first transmission which converts the linear displacement of the linear operating body from the first home position to the first shift position into a rotational displacement of the control body, wherein the first transmission includes a plurality of ratchet teeth disposed in a ratchet teeth plane (T);
a second transmission which converts the displacement of the second operating body from the second home position to the second shift position into a rotational displacement of the control body; and
wherein a path of movement of the linear operating body is substantially parallel to the ratchet teeth plane (T).
17. A bicycle shifter shift control device which operates a shifting mechanism via a shift control cable, the shift control device comprising:
a control body rotatable about an axis (X) for controlling the shift control cable;
a mounting member adapted to mount the shift control device to a handlebar and defining a handlebar mounting axis (HB);
wherein the axis (X) is substantially perpendicular to the handlebar mounting axis (HB);
a linear operating body which forms an abutment in a position spaced apart from the control body and which is coupled to the operating shift control device for linear displacement between a first home position and a first shift position;
wherein the linear operating body includes a roller for controlling the operation of the control body;
an interface member movably mounted relative to the linear operating body and having a first finger contact and an operating force applying surface, wherein the operating force applying surface applies the an operating force to the abutment of the linear operating body for moving the linear operating body from the first home position to the first shift position;
a second operating body which forms a second finger contact part in a position spaced apart from the control body and which is coupled to the operating shift control device for displacement between a second home position and a second shift position;
a first transmission which converts the linear displacement of the linear operating body from the first home position to the first shift position into a rotational displacement of the control body, wherein the first transmission includes a plurality of ratchet teeth disposed in a ratchet teeth plane (T);
a second transmission which converts the displacement of the second operating body from the second home position to the second shift position into a rotational displacement of the control body; and
wherein a path of movement of the linear operating body is substantially parallel to the ratchet teeth plane (T).
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The present invention is directed to a bicycle shift control device which operates a shifting mechanism via a shift control cable, and specifically concerns a device in which a take-up body that takes up the shift control cable is caused to rotate in the take-up direction by means of a first shift lever which freely returns to a home position, and is caused to rotate in the pay-out direction by means of a second shift lever which freely returns to a separate home position.
A bicycle shift control device of the type noted above for operating a shifting mechanism via a shift control cable is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,138. The shift control device includes a control body for mounting to a bicycle in close proximity to a handlebar for controlling a pulling and releasing of the shift control cable. A first lever is mounted to the control body for movement which causes the control body to effect pulling of the shift control cable, and a second lever is mounted to the control body for movement which causes the control body to effect releasing of the shift control cable. One lever is pivotally coupled to the control body, and the other lever is coupled for linear movement relative to the control body. The lever structured for linear movement is 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. The transmission mechanism includes a plurality of ratchet teeth disposed in a common plane, wherein the path of movement of the linear operating body is parallel to the plane of the ratchet teeth.
Since the linearly moving lever moves in a direction perpendicular to the handlebar, for optimum operation the rider must position his or her thumb directly in front of the linearly operating lever and press the lever in the direction perpendicular to the handlebar. However, during competitive riding the rider usually does not want to worry about having to precisely position the thumb to operate the shifting device. Thus, it is desirable to have a shift control device of the kind noted above wherein the rider does not have to precisely position the thumb in front of the linearly operating lever for optimum operation.
The present invention is directed to a bicycle shift control device which allows the shifting operation to be performed without requiring precision placement of the rider's hand. In one embodiment of the present invention, a bicycle shift control device is provided which operates a shifting mechanism via a shift control cable, wherein the shift control device includes a control body rotatable about an axis for controlling the shift control cable, an operating body having an abutment in a position spaced apart from the control body and which is coupled to the shift control device for displacement between a home position and a shift position, a transmission including a plurality of ratchet teeth which converts the displacement of the operating body from the home position to the shift position into a rotational displacement of the control body, and an interface member movably mounted relative to the operating body. The interface member has an operating force receiving surface and an operating force applying surface, wherein the operating force receiving surface is adapted to receive an operating force from the rider, and wherein the operating surface applying surface applies the operating force to the abutment of the operating body for moving the operating body from the home position to the shift position.
A pivoting operating body 130 of the shift control device 105 also extends below the handlebar 101. A finger contacting part 132 of operating body 130, in the form of a button, is disposed beneath and to the right of operating tab 202. As a result, operation of both operating bodies is possible with the thumb of the hand gripping the handlebar 101.
As is shown in
The take-up body 170 is equipped with a drum part 169 which is constructed so that the shift control cable 104 from a shifting mechanism (not shown) on the front or rear of the bicycle is taken up along a wire groove 174. By rotating in the forward direction or reverse direction with respect to the supporting shaft 108, the take-up body 170 takes up or pays out the shift control cable 104. Take-up body 170 is coupled to a drive plate 171 for integral rotation therewith. As shown in
Sliding operating body 220 includes a pawl pushing roller 250 rotatably mounted between roller support ears 254 and 256 disposed at a pawl operating end 258 of sliding operating body 220 through a pivot shaft 260 and a C-clip 270, wherein pivot shaft 260 extends through openings 264 and 266 in mounting ears 254 and 256, respectively. Sliding operating body 220 is slidingly mounted to intermediate bracket 227 between a release plate 274, slide shims 276 and 278, and a release plate bushing 280, all of which are mounted to intermediate bracket 227 through bolts 282 (only one such bolt is shown in
Release plate 274 includes a spring coupling abutment 298. One end of a return spring 300 is attached to spring coupling abutment 298, and the other end of return spring 300 is attached to mounting ear 256 in sliding operating body 220 through an opening 304. Return spring 300 biases sliding operating body 220 toward a home position HP1 shown in
The first ratchet mechanism 150 comprises a first pawl 151 that is rotatably attached to pivot pin 152 extending from pawl support plate 106, the plurality of position retaining teeth 172 which are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the drive plate 171, and a spring 153 which drives the first pawl 151 clockwise (in
The pivoting operating body 130 is equipped with a second arm part 131, the second finger contact part 132 which is formed on the tip of the second arm part 131 in order to allow finger operation, and a pawl supporting part 133. A spring 111 is connected between washer 107A and pawl supporting part 133 for biasing pivoting operating body 130, and hence finger contacting part 132, to the home position HP2 shown in
The second ratchet mechanism 160 comprises a second pawl 161 that is rotatably attached to a pivot pin 162 extending from pawl supporting part 133, the plurality of drive teeth 173 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the drive plate 171, and a spring 163 which biases the second pawl 161 clockwise (in
Because sliding operating body 220 operates pawl 151 by pressing pawl pressing roller 250 against pawl operating part 151 C, very little movement (e.g., 9 millimeters) is required to operate pawl 151. Operating force receiving surface 203 of operating tab 202 is inclined relative to a horizontal axis H which, in this embodiment, is parallel to ratchet teeth plane T. Thus, operating tab 202 will pivot counterclockwise as shown in
While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, operating body 220 may cause take-up body 170 to rotate in the cable pay out direction, and operating body 130 may cause take-up body 170 to rotate in the cable take-up direction. If desired, operating body 220 may be constructed for pivoting displacement, and operating body 130 may be constructed for sliding displacement with the operating tab 202 described above. Both operating bodies 220 and 130 may be sliding operating bodies, each with their own operating tab. While the path of movement of sliding operating body 220 in the above embodiment is substantially parallel to the plane of the ratchet teeth T, the path may vary, for example, by plus or minus thirty degrees.
Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific structures disclosed. Instead, the true scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims. Of course, although labeling symbols are used in the claims in order to facilitate reference to the figures, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the constructions in the appended figures by such labeling.
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