GB2099961A - Control lever for a cycle - Google Patents
Control lever for a cycle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2099961A GB2099961A GB8139952A GB8138952A GB2099961A GB 2099961 A GB2099961 A GB 2099961A GB 8139952 A GB8139952 A GB 8139952A GB 8138952 A GB8138952 A GB 8138952A GB 2099961 A GB2099961 A GB 2099961A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- control
- pivot
- control lever
- lever
- mounting means
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
- B62M25/00—Actuators for gearing speed-change mechanisms specially adapted for cycles
- B62M25/02—Actuators for gearing speed-change mechanisms specially adapted for cycles with mechanical transmitting systems, e.g. cables, levers
- B62M25/04—Actuators for gearing speed-change mechanisms specially adapted for cycles with mechanical transmitting systems, e.g. cables, levers hand actuated
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62L—BRAKES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES
- B62L3/00—Brake-actuating mechanisms; Arrangements thereof
- B62L3/02—Brake-actuating mechanisms; Arrangements thereof for control by a hand lever
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Steering Devices For Bicycles And Motorcycles (AREA)
Abstract
This invention relates to a control lever (7) for a control device for mounting on the handlebar (B) of a cycle in proximity to a grip thereof for control of a derailleur, said control device having a mounting means (1) having a pivot (6) and said mounting means having around said pivot (6) a generally flat surface whose plane is generally at right angles to the pivoting axis of said pivot. The control lever (7) comprises a generally annular body having a pivot bore (70) for receiving therethrough the pivot (6) for pivotal mounting of said control lever (7). The control lever also has means (13) for engagement with one end (P2) of a control wire (W2) connected to the derailleur, and two elongate control portions (72,73) extending generally radially in a plane generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said pivot bore (6) and being disposed in spaced apart angular relation for engagement by a thumb and a finger of a rider on their remote sides facing away from each other. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Control lever for a cycle
This invention reiates to a control device for a brake and a derailleur for mounting on the handlebar of a cycle in proximity to a gripping portion or grip thereof.
Generally, the brake control device for a cycle is mounted on the handlebar in the vicinity of the grip thereof, and a control device for the derailleur is mounted on the cycle frame, for example on the top tube, or on the handlebar. The brake control device in such known arrangements is controllable by the rider while he grips with his hand the handlebar grip, but the derailleur control device is difficult for the rider to operate when he is in this position as the derailleur control device, when mounted near the handlebar grip, is mounted on the opposite side of the handlebar with respect to the brake control device.Hence the rider, when operating the derailleur control device with his hand which is gripping the handlebar grip, has to raise his thumb or forefinger above the handle grip, whereby his palm leaves, at the base of the thumb or forefinger, the handlebar grip, resulting in weakening or loss of his hold thereon.
A control device has been proposed in which the brake control device and derailleur control device are mounted on one fixing member, i.e. a brake lever and a control lever for the derailleur are assembled onto one fixing member. The control lever for the derailleur, however, is disposed laterally of the fixing member and pivots on a pivot extending in the same direction as the pivot for the brake lever. As a result, the rider, in the same way as in the earlier known arrangement, cannot control the control lever when he is in a position enabling him to securely grip the handlebar. As a result, the aforesaid problem remains unsolved.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a control device through which the driver can operate both the brake lever and control lever while he is in a position for securely gripping the handlebar, in other words, keeping his palm substantially in contact with the handlebar grip, so that he can operate the control lever without raising his thumb or forefinger, by merely stretching said thumb or forefinger.
The present invention provides a control device for mounting on the handlebar of a cycle in proximits to a grip or gripping portion of said handlebarfor control of a brake and a derailleur, said control device comprising a mounting means having fixing means for securing said mounting means to said handlebar, said mounting means having a first pivot and a second pivot, said pivots having their pivoting axes disposed generally at right angles to each other, and said mounting means having around said second pivot a generally flat surface whose plane is generally at right angles to the pivoting axis of said second pivot;;
a brake lever pivotally mounted on said first pivot so as to be pivotable towards the handlebar, said brake lever having brake wire engagement means for engagement, in use of the device, with one end of a brake wire connected to the brake and having a grip arranged so that when said grip is pulling by the rider towards said handlebar, in use of the device, the brake is activated; and a control lever pivotally mounted on said second pivot, said control lever having control wire engagement means for engagement, in use of the device, with one end of a control wire connected to the derailleur, and two control portions, said control portions being disposed generally in a plane between said handlebar and said brake lever grip in use of the device and extending outwardly of the second pivot on opposite sides of an elongate zone extending directly between the brake lever and an adjacent part of the handlebar, said control lever being pivotable, for actuation of the derailleur, in a direction generally at right angles to the pivoting direction of said brake lever and through an arc extending through said zone.
Thus, by use of a control device of the invention, in which the mounting means is fixed to the handlebar in the vicinity of the grip thereof, the driver can operate the control lever by simply stretching his thumb or forefinger while in a position for securely gripping the handle grip. Hence even when operating the control lever, the driver can maintain a secure hold enabling him to perform the gear change in safety while steering the bicycle through the handlebar.
Moreover the control device of the invention, which supports the brake lever and control lever with the single mounting means secures the mounting means on the handlebar only to keep both levers in the optimum position with respect to the handlebar grip, for operating the brake and derailleur safely and reliably.
Further preferred features of the invention will appear from the following description of some preferred embodiments of the control device illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a control device of the invention mounted on a cycle handlebar;
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;
Figure 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the same;
Figure 4 is a partially sectioned view showing the pivot portions of the control lever of the device of
Figures 1 to 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective exploded view of the above control device; and
Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating some possible modifications to the embodiment of
Figures 1 to 5.
Referring to the drawings, the control device comprises a mounting means secured by fixing means in the form of a clamping band 2 to a handlebar B near a grip G thereof. The mounting means 1 is formed as a substantially solid block which has a flat portion on its upper surface and is provided at its rear side, i.e. the side closest to the grip G, with an upstanding portion 11 and at its front side with a holder 12 for an outer sheath Ofor guiding a brake wire W1 and with a holder 13 for an outer sheath 02 for guiding a derailleur control wire w28 The upstanding portion 11 is tubular and has at its uppermost end a concave surface for seating on the outer curved surface of the handlebar B and in the vicinity of its uppermost end there is provided a connector 1 lea for connection to the clamping band 2.A slot 14 for receiving therein a brake lever 5 at the root thereof is provided in the mounting means 1.
The slot 14 extends from the root of the upstanding portion 11 to the lower surface of the mounting means 1, is open rearwardly and connects with a space within the upstanding portion 11. The clamping band 2 is formed in a substantially inverted
U-like shape as shown in Figure 5 and has engaged at its foremost ends a nut 21. A screw bolt 3 extends through the base 11a of the upstanding portion and engages with the nut 21 to pull the clamping band 2 towards the upstanding portion 11 and concave faces at the uppermost end of the upstanding portion 11 are pressed onto the handlebar B to thereby secure the mounting means 1 thereto.
A first pivot 4 crosses from one side of the slot 14 to the other in the vicinity of the root of the upstanding portion 11 being supported horizontally (as viewed in Figure 5) in said sides. On the first pivot 4 is pivotally supported a generally L-shaped brake lever 5 as shown in Figure 5. The brake lever 5 has at its cranked portion brake wire engagement means in the form of a bore 51 for retaining a retainer, attached to one end of the brake wire W1, and has a grip portion 52 extending horizontally reanvards from the cranked portion.
The brake lever 5, when grasped at its grip portion 52 by a rider, pivots to allow the end of the grip portion 52 to approach the handlebar B, thereby pulling the brake wire W1 to activate the brake (not shown) attached to the cycle.
A second pivot 6 rises from the horizontal flat surface portion of the mounting means 1 at the front side of the upstanding portion 11 and parallel to the upstanding portion 11. The second pivot 6 also has its pivoting axis substantially perpendicular with respect to the pivoting axis of the first pivot4, has at its centre a threaded bore 61, and pivotally supports on its outer curved surface a derailleur control lever 7 for operating a derailleur (not shown). The control lever 7, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, comprises; a boss 71 having a bore 70 through which the second pivot 6 extends, and indicia 79 which are provided at the upper surface of the boss 71 near the bore 70 to indicate the gear engaged; and two control body portions or legs 72 and 73 extending generally radially outward from the outer periphery of the boss 71.The boss 71 has at the outer periphery thereof a guide groove 74 for guiding the control wire W2 and control wire engagement means in the form of a bore 75 for holding a retainer P2 at one end of the control wire W2, and carries a ball 76 engageable with engagement portions 75a on an engagement body 15 to be hereinafter described in further detail. The ball 76 is inserted into a recess 77 provided at the boss 71, and is supported by a spring 78 housed within the recess 77 so as to be movable into and out of the recess 77.
The engagement body 15 is provided at the horizontal surface portion of the mounting means 1 and has the engagement portions 15a present in a number corresponding to the number of different gears available and spaced at corresponding intervals. The ball 76 engages with one engagement portion 15a to maintain the control lever 7 in a position corresponding to the desired gear.
The control lever 7 is mounted on the mounting means 1 so that the two control portions 72 and 73 are disposed generally in a plane extending inbetween the grip portion 52 on the brake lever 5 and the handlebar B with the respective portions 72, 73 disposed on either side of an elongate zone extending directly between and along the length of the brake lever and the adjacent finger grip portion G of the handlebar B and so that the control lever pivots in a direction perpendicular to the pivoting direction of the brake lever 5 and through an arc extending through said elongate zone. In other words whereas the brake lever 5 swings through an arc generally in the plane of the paper in the case of Figures 3 and 6, the control lever 7 swings through an arc generally perpendicular to the plane of the paper in those
Figures of the accompanying drawings.Hence, the driver can operate the control lever 7 simply by stretching his thumb or forefinger while keeping his palm almost entirely in contact with the handle grip
G while he grips it with his hand.
A cover 8 covers the boss 71 of the control lever 7 and is provided with a window 81 through which the indicia 79 for each gear are readable, a guide groove 82 for the control wire W2, and with a bore 82 for holding the outer sheath 02. The cover 8 also is mounted on the second pivot 6 by means of a set screw 9 which is inserted via a through bore 84 at the cover 8 and screwed into the bore 61 in the second pivot 6.
The above described device is, when in use, mounted with the aid of the clamping band 2 to the handlebar B near the grip G thereof in the most convenient position for control of the brake lever 5.
In this instance, the control portions 72 and 73 on the control lever 7, which are positioned between the grip 52 of the brake lever 5 and the handlebar B as described above, are positioned most suitable so as to be readily operated by the driver while he grips the handle grip G. Also, the control lever 7 is arranged to be horizontally pivotable, so that the rider, while gripping the handle grip G can simply stretch his thumb or forefinger to horizontally push the control portion 72 or 73, whereby the control lever 7 is reliably controllable in a convenient manner. During this operation, the rider is able to keep nearly the whole of his palm in contact with the handlebar grip Ctherebyenabling steeing ofthe bicycle in safety. Also the driver can grasp the grip 52 on the brake lever 5 while gripping the handle grip G to thereby easily activate the brake.
The second pivot 6 may, instead of being formed integrally with the mounting means 1 as described in the above embodiment, be formed separately from the mounting means 1, or replaced by a cylindrically formed upstanding portion 11 on which the control lever7 can be pivotally mounted as shown in Figure 6 which is a view corresponding to Figure 3 of a somewhat similar device which does not however have the two control portions on the control lever 7 according to the broadest aspect of the present invention.
When using the mounting means 1 to provide the second pivot 6 as above, the cylindrical upstanding portion 11 is provided at the outer periphery of its upper end (as viewed in the drawing) with a screw-threaded portion 1 ib, which is engaged by a nut 10 to secure the cover 8 to the fixing member 1.
In Figure 6, a sleeve 80 is shown disposed about the upstanding portion 11.
The aforesaid embodiments employ the clamping band 2 for securing the mounting means 1 to the handlebar B. Besides this, the mounting means 1 may be divided into two segments so that the two segments join to embrace the handlebar B and are connected by a plurality of bolts, thereby to be fixed to the handlebar B. In this instance, both the first and second pivots may be provided on one segment, or the first pivot carrying the brake lever 5 may be mounted on one segment and the second pivot for the control lever 7 on the other.
In addition the embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 5 may employ other fixing means in place of the clamping band 2.
As will be clearly understood from the above description, the control device of the invention has the brake lever 5 and control lever 7 pivotally supported on the mounting means 1, also allows the first pivot 4 supporting the brake lever 5 to extend generally perpendicularly with respect to the second pivot 6 supporting the control lever 7, and places the controlling portions of the control lever 7 between the grip portion 52 of the brake lever 5 and the handlebar B, whereby the driver can operate the brake lever safely and reliably while continuing to grip the handlebar grip portion, and further can operate the control lever easily and safely merely by stretching his thumb or forefinger while continuing to grip the handlebar grip.
Claims (5)
1. A control lever for a control device for mounting on the handlebar of a cycle in proximity to a grip or gripping portion of said handlebar for control of a derailleur, said control device having a mounting means having a pivot, said mounting means having around said second pivot a generally flat surface whose plane is generally at right angles to the pivoting axis of said pivot; said control lever comprising a generally annular body having a pivot bore for receiving therethrough a said pivot in use of the control lever for pivotal mounting of said control lever on a said mounting means, said control lever having control wire engagement means for engagement, in use of the lever, with one end of a control wire connected to the derailleur, and two elongate control portions, said control portions extending generally radially in a plane generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said pivot bore, said control portions being disposed in spaced apart angular relation for engagement, in use, by respective ones of a thumb and a finger of a rider on their remote sides facing away from each other.
2. A control lever according to Claim 1 wherein said annular body is provided on its upper face with a plurality of indicia for use in indicating a selected gear of the derailleur.
3. A control lever according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the central body has an inwardly extending recess housing a ball and a spring disposed for urging said ball outwardly for resilient engagement with an engagement member on the mounting means in use of the lever so as to maintain said control lever in a desired angular disposition relative to said mounting means corresponding to a selected gear of the derailleur.
4. A control lever according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said remote sides of said control portions are shaped for receiving respective ones of a finger and thumb of a rider.
5. A control lever according to Claim 1 substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP1978138288U JPS5742158Y2 (en) | 1978-10-06 | 1978-10-06 | |
| GB7934279A GB2033062B (en) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-10-03 | Control device for cycle |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2099961A true GB2099961A (en) | 1982-12-15 |
| GB2099961B GB2099961B (en) | 1983-05-25 |
Family
ID=26273083
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8139952A Expired GB2099961B (en) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-10-03 | Control lever for a cycle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2099961B (en) |
Cited By (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0352732A2 (en) * | 1988-07-29 | 1990-01-31 | Shimano Inc. | Handlebar-mounted gear change lever |
| EP0504118A1 (en) * | 1991-03-11 | 1992-09-16 | Campagnolo S.R.L. | A brake and gear change control unit for a bicycle |
| FR2704199A1 (en) * | 1993-04-20 | 1994-10-28 | Campagnolo Srl | Control device for a bicycle gear change. |
| EP0718185A2 (en) * | 1994-12-20 | 1996-06-26 | Shimano Inc. | Bicycle shift control device with balanced spring tension |
| EP0757954A2 (en) * | 1995-08-09 | 1997-02-12 | Shimano Inc. | Bicycle shift control device |
| CN1059396C (en) * | 1994-12-20 | 2000-12-13 | 岛野株式会社 | Multi-speed operating device for bicycle |
| US6293882B1 (en) | 1999-12-10 | 2001-09-25 | Shimano, Inc. | Operating force compensating apparatus for a bicycle transmission |
| EP2020371A1 (en) * | 2007-07-30 | 2009-02-04 | Shimano Inc. | Bicycle control device |
| EP1955940A3 (en) * | 2007-02-08 | 2009-04-29 | Shimano Inc. | Bicycle component positioning device |
| US8286529B2 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2012-10-16 | Shimano Inc. | Bicycle control device |
-
1979
- 1979-10-03 GB GB8139952A patent/GB2099961B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (20)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0352732A2 (en) * | 1988-07-29 | 1990-01-31 | Shimano Inc. | Handlebar-mounted gear change lever |
| EP0352732A3 (en) * | 1988-07-29 | 1990-11-28 | Shimano Industrial Company Limited | Handlebar-mounted gear change lever |
| US5052241A (en) * | 1988-07-29 | 1991-10-01 | Shimano Industrial Co., Ltd. | Steering handle apparatus for use in bicycle |
| EP0504118A1 (en) * | 1991-03-11 | 1992-09-16 | Campagnolo S.R.L. | A brake and gear change control unit for a bicycle |
| US5257683A (en) * | 1991-03-11 | 1993-11-02 | Campagnolo S.R.L. | Brake and gear change control unit for a bicycle |
| FR2704199A1 (en) * | 1993-04-20 | 1994-10-28 | Campagnolo Srl | Control device for a bicycle gear change. |
| EP0718185A2 (en) * | 1994-12-20 | 1996-06-26 | Shimano Inc. | Bicycle shift control device with balanced spring tension |
| CN1059396C (en) * | 1994-12-20 | 2000-12-13 | 岛野株式会社 | Multi-speed operating device for bicycle |
| EP0718185A3 (en) * | 1994-12-20 | 1997-05-21 | Shimano Kk | Bicycle shift control device with balanced spring tension |
| EP0906864A3 (en) * | 1994-12-20 | 1999-10-20 | Shimano Inc. | Bicycle shift control device with balanced spring tension |
| US5862709A (en) * | 1995-08-09 | 1999-01-26 | Shimano, Inc | Bicycle shift control device |
| EP0757954A3 (en) * | 1995-08-09 | 1997-08-20 | Shimano Kk | Bicycle shift control device |
| EP0757954A2 (en) * | 1995-08-09 | 1997-02-12 | Shimano Inc. | Bicycle shift control device |
| CN1064913C (en) * | 1995-08-09 | 2001-04-25 | 岛野株式会社 | Speed changing operation device for bicycle |
| US6293882B1 (en) | 1999-12-10 | 2001-09-25 | Shimano, Inc. | Operating force compensating apparatus for a bicycle transmission |
| EP1955940A3 (en) * | 2007-02-08 | 2009-04-29 | Shimano Inc. | Bicycle component positioning device |
| US8777788B2 (en) | 2007-02-08 | 2014-07-15 | Shimano Inc. | Bicycle component positioning device |
| EP2020371A1 (en) * | 2007-07-30 | 2009-02-04 | Shimano Inc. | Bicycle control device |
| US7854180B2 (en) | 2007-07-30 | 2010-12-21 | Shimano Inc. | Bicycle control device |
| US8286529B2 (en) | 2009-01-26 | 2012-10-16 | Shimano Inc. | Bicycle control device |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2099961B (en) | 1983-05-25 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |