GB2500864A

GB2500864A - Brake lever mechanism internal to handlebar

Info

Publication number: GB2500864A
Application number: GB1201955.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniele Foffa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-05
Filing date: 2012-02-05
Publication date: 2013-10-09
Also published as: GB201201955D0

Abstract

A brake levers mechanism integrated inside a bicycle or motorbike handlebar comprises a lever connected to the end of the brake cable at a first end and connected to a button at a second end. The first end of the lever additionally engages a railing fitted on the handlebar internal surface. When pressed, the button causes the lever to be pushed, sliding the first end along the railing and consequently pulling the brake cable.

Description

Trigger brakes: Improved brake levers mechanism for bicycles and motorbikes

BACKGROUND

The traditional brake levers mechanism used on bicycles and motorbikes consists of some levers clamped onto the handlebars in order to obtain the leverage required to pull the brake cable and activate the braking power of the calipers.

currently the cyclist/biker spends most of his/her journey time with the fingers holding the handlebars.

When its time to brake, he/she needs to pace his/herfingers on the brake levers and press the ever, which is not always nstarit arid in case or emergency can cause accidents.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

The trigger brakes mechanism makes braking a lot more instantaneous and efficient since it incorporates the leverage action of traditional brake levers inside the handlebars and it achieves the pull of the brake cable by pressing a button (figure 9) mounted on a lever (inside the handlebar), which moves further from the center of the handlebar (which causes the brake cable connected to the lever to be pulled as demonstrated by figure 11) by means of a railing structure that sits against the handlebar surface where the lever is slotted into.

ADVANTAGES

By replacing the traditional brake levers with a handlebar-integrated braking mechanism activated by a button, the cycust/biker piaces 4 fingers (thumb, middle, ring and ittie finger) on the handlebars in order to hold it and at the same time the index finger on the button (the braking trigger) aiways ready to be pressed in order to activate the brake at any time.

This s only one example of the emhodrnent of the invention, it is not required to use the index finger in order to press the button. Rather, this embodiment is provided by way of example so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

Another advantage of this mechanism is that it has the potential to be more reliable since it integrates all the braking components required inside the handlebars, hence protecting them from weather condition and moving objects.

It is also a much more aesthetic solution because all the braking components are hidden inside the handlebars.

LIST OF COMPONENTS REQUIRED

A trigger brake is required for each of the brake mechanisms of a bicycle or motorbike (usually a front and a rear brake) and it consists of the following components: -Handlebars (piece Z) -figure 1 -button (piece A) -figure 2 -casing (piece B) -figure 3 -lever (piece C) -figure 4 -pin (piece D) -figure 5 -railing (piece E) -figure 6 -ferrule (piece F) -figure 7 -locking washer (piece G) -figure 8 P.S. Please note that the images provided are for the trigger brake on the left of the handlebar.

In order for the trigger brake to work the following components are also required: -inner brake cable with a cylinder shaped cable end -outer brake cable -brake caliper with a springing mechanism, which sets the caliper arms to their default position.

These are only one example of the embodiment of the invention, diflerent components shapes carl be used Lo achieve the same objective. Rather, this embodiment is provided by way of example so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

-Figure 1 shows a front and rear view of handlebars Z used for the trigger brakes.

These handlebars must have an aperture to fit button A and casing B (71), an aperture to fit ferrule F (Z2) and an aperture to fit railing E (Z3) -Figure 2 shows different views of button A, which is pressed to activate the brakes.

The button is integrated onto the handlebars through casing B (figure 9).

The button has 2 holes (A2) to allow pin D to go through in order to mount the button on lever C. The button has an aperture (A3) to prevent the inner brake cable from hitting the button while pressed.

The button has an aperture (Al) to prevent lever C from hitting the button while pressed.

The default position of the button is shown on figure 10.

Once the button is pressed with a finger it will go through casing B until the button touches against the surface of handlebars Z (figure 11).

When the finger is released, the springing mechanism of the brake caliper automatically causes the lever C and button A to slide back to its default state (figure 10).

-Figure 3 shows different views of casing B required so that button A can be pressed in a straight manner.

The casing has an aperture (B1) that houses the button when it goes through it.

The casing has an aperture (B2) to prevent the inner brake cable from hitting the casing while button A is pressed.

The casing has an aperture (B3) to prevent lever C from hitting the casing while button A is pressed.

-Figure 4 shows different views of lever C required to pull the inner brake cable.

The lever has a hole (C4) to allow pin D to go through in order to connect the lever with button A. The lever has a housing (Cl) where a cylinder shaped cable end of the inner brake cable will sit firmly.

The lever has a hole (C3) where the inner brake cable will go through once the cylinder shaped cable end of the inner brake cable sits firmly on housing Cl.

The lever has a dent (CS) which prevents the lever from hitting casing B when button A is pressed.

The lever has 2 pins coming out (C2) to allow the lever to slide along aperture El of railing E once slotted in) so that when the button A is pressed by the finger (figure 11), the lever C slides on the railing causing the brake cable to be pulled, in this way activating the braking power caused by the brake caliper.

-FigureS shows a top view of the cylindrical pin D which will be used to connect lever C with button A through hole C4 of lever C and holes A2 of button A (figure 10).

-Figure 6 shows different views of railing E which is required to create a slot for the lever to slide along.

The railing has an aperture (El) where pins C2 of lever C will be slotted into in order to slide along.

The railing has 2 edges (one on each side as demonstrated in figure 6) which prevent the railing to fall inside the handlebar.

-Figure 7 shows different views of ferrule F used to lock the outer brake cable to the handlebars (through a hole of the same diameter as the outer cable) as well as allowing the inner brake cable to go through handlebars Z from lever C (through a hole of the same diameter as the inner cable) -Figure 8 shows a front and rear view of locking washer G required to prevent railing E (once fitted inside aperture Z3 of handlebars Z) from coming off.

The locking washer on one side has an aperture the width of the edges of railing E and on the other side an aperture the width of casing B so that, when the washer is slid into the handlebars 7 from the outside of the handlebars, it is wrapped firmly around the handlebars as demonstrated on figure 9.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention and shapes of the trigger brakes components are not to be limited to the specific examples of the embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements..

ASSEMBLY SEQUENCE

The trigger brakes are assembled in the following order: 1) get inner brake cable through hole C3 of lever C until cylinder shaped cable end sits firmly against housing Cl 2) get inner brake cable through aperture Z3 (from the outside to the inside) of handlebar 7 and through aperture Z2 (from the inside to the outside) 3) get inner brake cable through ferrule F and fit ferrule F aaainst aperture Z2 so that it sits firmly there and doesn't move 4) fit lever pins C2 to aperture El of railing E by turning the lever 90 degrees, push it against the surface of railing Rand turn it 90 degrees again so that the pins are slotted inside aperture El 5) push railing E against aperture 73 of handlebar Z so that it sits firmly there and so that the top of lever C is exposed through aperture Zi of handlebar 7 6) connect button A to lever C by pushing the lever against aperture Al of button A and by using pin D through holes A2 of button A and hole C4 of lever C 7) push casing B through button A and then through aperture Zi of handlebar Z until it cant be pushed any further against the handlebar 8) slide locking washer G into handlebar Z from the outside until it cant go any further. This is required to prevent railing E from coming off 9) fit outer brake cable to inner brake cable and assemble brakes as usual

OTHER APPLICATIONS

The drawings used in this document are showing how the trigger brake mechanism is working with straight handlebars. Figure 12 and 13 are showing how the same mechanism can be used for other types of handlebars like racing bicycle dropbars (figure 12) where the hands are placed on the bottom of the bars and the index finger is used to press the button to activate the trigger brakes, bullbars (figure 13) where the hands are placed on the edges of the handlebars and the index finger is used to press the button to activate the trigger brakes and tn bars (figure 14) where the hands are placed at the edges of the 2 middle long bars and the index finger is used to press the button to activate the trigger brakes.

These are only some examples of the embodiments of the invention, which may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather) these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

Claims

CLAIMS1. 4 bicycle or motorbike (or any machine that requires pulling of cables to activate specific devices including brakes) brake mechanism comprising handlebar which can accommodate other required components, lever(s) integrated into handlebar for housing and pulling the cable end(s) of the inner brake cable(s), button(s) connected to one side of the lever(s) used to push the lever(s) (when pressed) in order to pull the brake cable(s), and railing structure(s) on the other side of the lever(s) which is(are) mounted on handlebars to allow lever(s) to slide inside the handlebars with minimum friction.
2. Button(s) according to claim 1, which is(are) housed by casing(s) fitted firmly onto the handlebars in order to obtain minimum friction and to allow the button(s) to slide in a straight manner.
3. Lever(s) according to claim 1, has(have) a housing which supports cable end(s) of the inner brake cable(s), has(have) a gap through it to allow inner brake cable(s) to go through, is(are) mounted on one end to button(s) to be used as pivoting point, and is(are) slotted on the other side to railing structure(s) in order to slide freely along the handlebars with minimum friction.
4. Railing structure(s) according to claim 1, which is fitted onto the handlebars in order to provide lever(s) a railing so lever(s) can slide along when button(s) is(are) pressed.
5. Locking washer(s) according to claim 1, which supports railing structure(s) to handlebars and locks it(them) in place