GB2349435A

GB2349435A - Brake system for a bicycle

Info

Publication number: GB2349435A
Application number: GB9909536A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Joseph Millett; Angela Millett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-27
Filing date: 1999-04-27
Publication date: 2000-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-27
Also published as: GB9909536D0; GB2349435B

Abstract

A brake system for first applying the rear brake of a bicycle and then the front and rear brakes together, comprises a housing 1 mountable on a bicycle and containing rotatable discs 15, 22, a main cable 28 connected to the inner disc 22 at anchor point 23 and to a brake lever, a rear brake cable 31 connected to the inner disc at anchor point 24, and a front brake cable 32 connected to the outer disc 15 at anchor point 14. Operation of the lever rotates the inner disc 22 and applies the rear brake alone, via cable 31, until lip 26 engages lug 17 on the outer disc, and then both discs rotate and apply the front and rear brakes. For off-road use, the front brake adjuster 29 is screwed fully into the housing to render the front brake inoperative, so that only the rear brake will be actuated on operation of the lever.

Description

This invention relates to a single lever brake system for cycles The duo brake can be easily fitted to the cross bar of the bicycle. This would increase the value to the prospective customer i. e. disabled people.

Instead of using the hands to operate the duo brake you could use the inner part of the leg to operate activate the braking lever.

Bicycles brakes are a well known system which comprises of a lever attached to the left or right side of the handle bars.

This lever has a cable leading to the front wheel were upon is a clamp. On activation will bring pressure to the rim of the wheel.

On the left or right side of the handlebars is a lever that has a cable leading to the back wheel were upon is a clamp. When activated by means of depressing the back brake lever the cabie is pulled to bring pressure to the wheel that will clamp the rim of the back wheel.

Brake systems are relatively inexpensive. The rider must operate two levers and try to co-ordinate them in the hope the interaction of left and right brakes are correctly applied.

To operate first activate the back brake, then activate the front brake then at a certain point equalise the pressures to back and front clamps until the bicycle has slowed down or come to a halt.

According to present invention there is provided a housing attached to the stock of the cycle.

At the top right hand comer is attached a cable that teads to a single lever that can be positioned on the left or the right of the handlebars.

To the bottom right hand comer, are two cables attached to the housing. tnside the housing are two discs, a small disc that holds the back brake cable. A large disc that holds the front brake cable. The back brake cable leads to the rear wheel clamp. The front brake, cable leads to the front wheel clamp.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 13 shows interior of the housing.

Figure 9 illustrates the interior of the housing complete with discs cables and adjusters with both cables in operation.

Figure 10 shows the back brake in operation.

Figure 11 shows the brake system in the first stage of rotation.

Figure 12 shows the second and final stage of braking.

The Duo Brake The duo brake system comprises of a housing (1) with a central pivot (6). On the pivot (6) is placed a front brake disc (15) and a back brake disc (. 19).

The front brake disc (15) has a cable anchor point (14) on which is placed a front brake cable (32). The front brake cabfe (32) passes. through the front brake cable channel (5) and the front brake cable isolator (29).

The front brake cable (32) leaves the housing (1) to connect to the front wheel clamp.

The back brake disc (19) has two cable anchor points. The master brake cabie (28) is attached to the back brake disc anchor point (23), then leads through the master brake channel (3) and the master brake adjuster (27). On leaving the housing (1) the master brake cable (28) is connected to the brake lever on the left or right of the handlebars.

The second phase to be fitted to the back brake disc (19) anchor point (24) is the back brake cabie (31). This cable is attached to the back brake disc (19), then leads through to the back brake channel (4) and through the back brake adjuster (30). On leaving the brake housing (1) the back brake cable is then attached to the back wheel clamp.

In figure (9) you can see the brake housing (1) with the front brake disc (15) and the back brake disc (19) placed on the pivot (6) with all cables and adjuster in place. The front brake tension retaining lip (16) is resting against the housing tension retaining block (2).

The back disc tension retaining lip (25) is resting on the front brake tension retaining block (17).

The powerful brake clamps will retain the tension on the braking system through out the mechanism.

Now the duo brake system is complet. The housing lid cover (9) can be fitted and secured in place by means of a screw boit (8).

When the cables are attached to the lever, front brake clamp, and the back brake clamp the system is now ready for use.

To activate the duo brake system you must first activate the lever by pulling it towards the handlebars, on the left or right of the handlebars.

When activating the lever it will put tension on the master brake cable (28) that is attached to the back brake disc anchor point (23).

This action will start to rotate the back brake disc (22).

The back brake disc (22) will have tension applied gradually as the back brake disc (22) rotates, moving away from the front brake tension retaining block (17).

Now at a certain point of rotation the back brake rotational activating lip (26) will make contact with the front brake rotation activating block (18).

At this point the front brake disc (15) and the back brake disc are now fused together, both discs are rotating as one.

The front brake tension retaining lip will move away from the housing tension retaining block (2). At this point the back brake disc (22) has the advantage of applying pressure to the back brake as its rotation started first. But the front brake disc (15) having started its rotation will start to increase its cable pulling or braking power as the rotation continues. This means the back brake disc (19) is activated then the front brake is applied. At a certain point both brakes will start to equalise.

As pressure to the back and front wheels is increased the braking process will make the cycle slow down or come to a halt.

To reverse and release the braking process, just release the master cable lever.

Now the braking system is ready for use once again.

For off road use.

For off road use you simply turn the front brake adjuster isolator (29) so it will not turn any further.

This will isolate the front brake disc (15) to make the front brake disc (15) redundant, now only the back brake (19) will operate.

When returning to the road turn the front brake adjuster isolator (29) until correct tension is applied. Now you can travel safely and legally once more.

Itemisation bv numbers and f : C ! ure numbers 1 Housing 2 Tension retaining-block 3 Master cable channel 4 Back brake cable channei 5 Front brake cabte channe ! 6 Pivot 7 Bolt securing point Figure 1 8 Securing boit 9 Housing lid cover Figure 2 10 Clamp 11 Clamp securing screws Figure 3 12 Front brake disc, side eievation 13 Cable alignment groove 14 Cable anchor point Figure 4 15 Front brake disc aerial view 16 Tension retaining lip 17 Tension retaining block 18 Rotation activating block Figure 5 19 Back brake disc side elevation 20 Master cable alignment point 21 Back brake cable alignment point Figure 6 22 Aerial view back brake disc 23 Master cable anchor point 24 Back brake cabie anchor point 25 Tension retaining lip 26 Rotational activating lip Figure' 27 Master brake cable adjuster 28 Master brake cable 29 Front brake cabre adjuster isotatcr 30 Back brake adjuster 31 Back brake cable 32 Front brake cable Figure 8 Starting position on tension Figure 9 Starting position front brake off Figure 10 Half rotation back brake on Figure 11 Full rotation back and front brakes on Figure 12 Full diagram. Returning to starting position Figure 13 Diagram build up Figure 14 Diagram Build up Figure 15 Complete side elevation of diagram Figure 16 Actual size of Duo Brake Figure 17

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A housing with 2 discs which are mounted and rotatable about a pivot 2 The discs as in claim 1 rotate separately until they are in contact, then both discs rotate together.

3 The discs in rotation at claim 2 activate back and front brake cables.

4 The discs in claim 2 when not in contact only activate the back brake cable. When in contact activate both brake cables.

5 The brake cales as in claim 4 apply pressure accordingly to back and front brakes.

6 The discs and housing as claimed in proceeding claims are made from plastic and alloy.

7 The Duo Brake System as herein described and illustrated in accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A brake system for operating the front and rear brakes of a bicycle, comprising a housing to be attached to the bicycle frame, the housing including a fixed pivot lug, a first disc mounted for rotation on the pivot lug, and a second disc rotatably mounted on the first disc, the second disc having means for securing a brake cable for the front brake thereto, and the first disc having first means for securing a main brake cable thereto, the other end of the main brake cable being attachable to a brake lever, and second means for securing a brake cable for the rear brake thereto, the arrangement being such that, in use, when the lever is actuated, tension on the main brake cable effects, firstly, rotation of the first disc alone to partially engage the rear brake, and second, rotation of the first and second discs together to engage the front and rear brakes.
2. A duo brake system substantially as described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.