JP2023165577A - Bicycle and brake device of electric bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a brake device which is installed at each of both ends of a handle of a bicycle etc. and enables easy operation for stopping traveling of the bicycle etc. and reliable brake operation.SOLUTION: A brake device 1 of a bicycle etc. connects a tip side of a brake wire 4 fixed at a base end side to a brake mechanism disposed near a front or rear wheel of the bicycle etc. to a base end of a brake lever 3 connected to each of both tip parts of a handle bar 2 and presses down the brake lever 3 to deploy a base end side of the brake lever 3 and cause the brake mechanism to conduct a brake operation to the front or rear wheel. The brake device 1 comprises: a pair of brake levers 3 connected to both ends of the handle bar 2 in a deployable manner; a pair of connection tools 5 each of which connects an apical surface of the handle bar 2 with a base end surface of the brake lever 3; and a brake wire end engagement part which is provided at a base end side outer periphery part of the brake lever 2 and holds a tip of the brake wire 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a brake device that is installed at both ends of the handlebars of bicycles and electric bicycles (hereinafter referred to as bicycles) and can stop the bicycle from running, which is easy to operate and can perform brake operations reliably. Regarding brake equipment.

The brakes on a typical bicycle are applied by pulling the brake levers installed at both ends of the handlebars toward you using the grip force of your hands, and the brake wire is pulled. The brake mechanism is activated to stop the wheels from rotating. The bicycle can be stopped with a simple operation of simply squeezing the brake lever with the hand, so it has the advantage of being easy to understand.

However, since the brakes are operated by gripping the brake lever with some fingers while the steering wheel is being held while driving, this prevents accidents due to not being able to apply enough force or delaying operation in the event of an emergency. There was a risk that I would not be able to do so.

Various braking devices have been disclosed to prevent the above accidents. For example, it is composed of an inner wall surface forming a through hole therein, and a notched cylindrical outer wall surface having a slit spaced apart from the inner wall surface and partially open along the circumferential direction, A fixing part that can house and fix the handle, and a hollow part formed between the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface, the fixing part being rotatably accommodated with respect to the handle, and connected to the other end of the brake wire. A winding part that is fixed and has a curved shape that winds around the handle in a circumferential direction, and a protrusion that is connected to the winding part through the slit and is movable along the slit. A brake device is disclosed that includes an operating section formed from a lever (see Patent Document 1).

Also, it is a brake device that is attached to the left and right handle ends of a bicycle, and one end of which is connected to the other end of a brake wire that is fixed to a brake mechanism arranged near the wheel. A brake device that performs a braking operation on the wheel by pulling the brake mechanism is formed of a hollow cylinder having a circular bottom at one end and an open end at the other end, and the center of the circular bottom. a fixing part that has a protruding cylindrical shaft on a region and accommodates and fixes the left and right handles inside the cylindrical body; It has a winding part that winds the other end side and winds it in the circumferential direction, and an operating part formed from a protruding operating lever that is movable in the vertical direction with the cross-sectional center of the handle as a central axis. A brake device is disclosed (see Patent Document 2).

Patent No. 6558647 Utility model registration No. 3206393

However, the brake device of Patent Document 1 has an operating lever rotatably attached to the outer circumferential surface of the handle near the end of the handle, and the operating lever is operated with both hands while gripping the handle. This is a brake device that performs braking by rotating upward or downward. In this case, while riding the bicycle, it is necessary to hold the control lever in the palm of the hand at all times, which not only feels uncomfortable in the palm of the hand, but also makes the handlebar operation unstable, compared to the conventional case where only the handlebars are held. There was a problem with becoming.

On the other hand, the operating section of the brake device of Patent Document 2 is formed of a hollow cylinder having a circular bottom at one end and an open end at the other end, and a protruding cylinder on the center area of the circular bottom. A fixing part is provided inside the cylindrical body to accommodate and fix the left and right handles, and the fixing part is disposed around the axis of the fixing part, and is centered on the cross-sectional center of the handle. It is formed from a protruding operating lever that is movable in the vertical direction as a shaft. Similar to Patent Document 1, this brake device requires that the operating lever be held in the palm of the hand at all times while the bicycle is running, and compared to the conventional case where only the handlebars are held, there is no discomfort in the palm of the hand. There was a problem that the steering wheel operation became unstable.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, and the present invention connects the distal end side of a brake wire whose proximal end side is fixed to a brake mechanism arranged near the front and rear wheels of a bicycle to both ends of the handlebar of the bicycle. A bicycle brake device, which is connected to the base ends of brake levers connected to the front and rear wheels, and performs a braking operation on the front and rear wheels by the brake mechanism by deploying the base ends of the brake levers by pushing down the brake levers. be.

That is, a pair of brake levers that are deployably connected to both ends of the handlebar, a pair of connectors that deployably connects the distal end surface of the handlebar and the proximal end surface of the brake lever, and the proximal end of the brake lever. It is comprised of a wire end receiving part provided on the side outer peripheral part and holding the tip of the brake wire.

The coupling device is composed of a handlebar-holding side tube and a brake lever-holding side tube, and the circumferential surface where the handlebar-holding side tube and the brake lever-holding side tube come into contact has an expansion and a side tube. In order to prevent displacement due to repeated contact, an uneven fitting portion is provided.

The direction of deployment of the pair of coupling devices ranges from horizontally forward to vertically downward with respect to the axis of the brake lever.

The brake device is a bicycle brake device that is connected to both ends of the handlebar, and that when operating the brakes, the brake levers on both sides can be operated simultaneously or either the left or right brake lever can be operated independently. .

According to the present invention, the brake levers connected to both ends of the handlebar are always held while driving, and in case of an emergency, the brake system is activated by pressing down on the brake levers, so that pedestrians or the like may run out. can quickly respond to emergencies.

In addition, by always driving with the brake lever held in place, and in an emergency, by simply and reliably pushing down the brake lever while still being held, the force to pull the brake wire is amplified, even if the force is weak, and the brake wire The proximal end of the brake lever is pulled more efficiently, and the driver can easily operate the brakes with a small amount of force to achieve a strong braking action without the need for hand grip strength.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a brake device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the operating state of the brake device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the operating state of the brake device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a state in which the brake device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a bicycle, in which (a) shows a running state and (b) shows a brake operating state. It is an explanatory view showing the direction in which the brake lever of the brake device of the present invention is pressed down. It is a front view showing the composition of the brake device concerning a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a sectional view showing an operating state of a brake device concerning a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a right side view showing the configuration of a brake device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a brake device 1 according to a first embodiment will be described based on the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, a brake device 1 is attached to the left and right handles of a bicycle, and one end (wheel side) is fixed to a brake mechanism (not shown, the same applies hereinafter) arranged near the front and rear wheels. The brake device 1 is connected to the other end of the brake wire 4 (handle lever side), and by pulling the other end of the brake wire 4, the brake mechanism performs a braking operation on the wheels of the bicycle.

1 to 3 illustrate a brake device 1 mounted on the right-hand side of a steering wheel. In the brake device 1, a pair of coupling parts 5 hold the handlebar 2 and the brake lever 3 symmetrically at both ends of the handlebar 2. The connecting portion 5 is openably and closably held by a rotating shaft 54 of a hinge 53 formed at the bottom with the end surfaces of the handle holding side cylinder 51 and the brake lever holding side cylinder 52 in contact with each other. There is. The means (not shown) for fixing the connecting portion 5 to the handlebar 2 and the brake lever 3 is a means (not shown) for fixing the connecting portion 5 to the handlebar 2 and the brake lever 3 from the outer peripheral surfaces of the handlebar retaining side tube 51 and the brake lever retaining side tube 52. A plurality of screw holes are drilled to reach the outer circumferential surface of the screw, and screws are inserted into the screw holes to fix the screw.

A brake wire is provided at the circumferential top of the handle-holding side tube 51 with a through hole 512 that passes through the other end of the brake wire 4, one end of which is fixed to a brake mechanism disposed near the wheel. A holding piece 511 is provided. A brake wire holding member having a through hole 522 at a circumferential top portion of the brake lever holding side cylinder 52 at a position opposite to the through hole 512 for penetrating and holding the other end of the brake wire 4. A piece 521 is provided, and a brake wire end locking portion 523 that locks the other end of the brake wire 4 is provided at the tip of the through hole 522 .

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the brake device 1 in an activated state, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view for easy understanding. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, push down the brake lever 3 in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the handlebar 2 (in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the handlebar 2 if the handlebar 2 is not horizontal). Then, the brake lever retaining side cylinder 52 expands with the rotating shaft 54 of the hinge 53 as a fulcrum. Along with this, the brake wire holding piece 521 unfolds in an arc, and the brake wire 4, whose one end is fixed to the brake mechanism arranged near the wheel, is pulled toward the other end, so that the bicycle wheel is Braked. Next, when the force pushing down the brake lever 3 is released, the brake lever 3 returns to the state shown in FIG. 1 due to the reaction force of the brake mechanism, and the braking is released.

The procedure for attaching the front wheel brake wire 4 to the right-hand brake wire holding section 511 and the brake wire holding section 521 will be explained with reference to FIG. 1. Pull out the brake wire 4 from the protective tube 41, insert the other end of the brake wire 4 into the through hole 522 of the brake lever holding tube 52, and then insert it into the through hole 512 of the handlebar holding tube 51. After insertion, the protective tube 41 is attached to the brake wire 4, and its end is brought into contact with the through hole 512 of the handlebar retaining cylinder 51, and then the brake wire (not shown) on the tip side is connected to the brake lever. 3, check the operating state of the brake and fix it to the front wheel brake mechanism. Note that the procedure for attaching the rear wheel brake wire 4 to the left-hand brake wire holding portion 521 can be performed in the same manner as described above.

Bicycle handlebars come in various shapes depending on the purpose. For example, city bikes have semi-up handlebars and flat handlebars, and sports bikes have flat handlebars and drop handlebars. The brake device of the present invention is compatible with most handlebars, but existing handlebars have different diameters and widths depending on their purpose and shape, and if the width is long, it will be difficult to park the bicycle in a narrow space. Also, be careful when passing other bicycles or pedestrians as there is a possibility of collision or collision. Therefore, in the brake device of the present invention, both ends of a ready-made handlebar attached to a bicycle may be cut to a desired size and the brake lever of the present invention may be connected thereto, or a handlebar having a short or narrow width may be used. desirable.

FIG. 4 is an example of a front view of the brake device attached to the handlebar 2 according to the above procedure, viewed from the front of the vehicle, with (a) showing the stopped or running state, and (b) showing the brake lever in the This shows the activated (pressed down) state. Note that grips 6 made of rubber, resin, or the like are attached to both ends of the handlebar 2 of the bicycle from the viewpoint of gripability and operability, and it is desirable to attach the grips 6 in the present invention as well.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the direction in which the brake lever of the brake device of the present invention is pressed down. The brake lever can be attached so that it can be bent in all directions of 360 degrees with respect to the central axis of the handlebar (and brake lever). However, as shown in FIG. 5, if the horizontal line in the bicycle running direction with respect to the center axis of the handlebar (and brake lever) is 0° and the vertical direction is 90°, then the downward direction of the brake lever is preferably 0°. ° to 90° (range A), more preferably 10° to 80° (range B). Therefore, when attaching the connecting part 5, the inclination angle of the connecting part 5 with respect to the central axes of the handlebar 2 and the brake lever 3 is determined as appropriate depending on the shape and structure of the bicycle handlebar and taking into account the above-mentioned preferred direction of depression. Set.

The shape of the brake device 1 is such that the end of the handlebar 2 and the end of the brake lever 3 are brought into contact with each other and this abutting surface is held, so it has a structure that can be used for both left and right hands. It is no longer necessary to separately manufacture side-specific products and left-hand drive side-specific products, and maintenance work such as attachment/detachment and replacement is reduced, resulting in an excellent product that is easy to use.

That is, by being configured in a ring shape, the brake device 1 can be designed to use the same parts on the left and right sides, can be replaced without requiring separate designs or components, and can be manufactured easily. .

The material of the brake lever 3 used in this brake device is not particularly limited, and various metals can be used, preferably iron, stainless steel, or aluminum, and more preferably alumite-treated aluminum. This provides lightness and robustness.

The materials for the connecting parts 51 and 52 are not particularly limited, and various synthetic resins and metals can be used, but since they have movable parts, they need strength, and since they will be used in the rain, rust-proofing materials are not recommended. preferable. For example, it is preferably made of reinforced plastic, stainless steel, or aluminum material, and more preferably stainless steel. This provides water resistance and robustness.

In the present invention, the brake levers of conventional bicycles are eliminated, and brake levers 3 are rotatably connected to both ends of the handlebar 2. The driver grips the brake lever 3 to drive the vehicle, in the same way as gripping the handlebars of a conventional bicycle with both hands, and in an emergency, operates the brake lever by locking part of a finger on the brake lever as in the case of an emergency. Instead, it is sufficient to press down the brake lever 3 that is held during driving.

As a result, it is possible to maintain a state in which the brake device 1 and the driver's hand are highly fixed, and it is possible to perform a braking operation with higher stability. Further, when the driver operates the brake lever 3, an excellent effect is obtained in that the driver does not experience any delay in braking operation due to the operation of the brake lever 3, and is less likely to feel discomfort.

The brake operation is carried out according to the lever principle by simply pushing down the brake lever 3 using the rotating shaft 54 of the hinge 53 of the connecting portion as a fulcrum, and the force that pulls the brake wire 4 is transmitted to the brake wire. The other end of brake lever 4 is pulled toward brake lever 3 more efficiently, and the bicycle rider can easily press down with his/her entire wrist to achieve strong braking action without requiring strong grip strength. can.

(Second embodiment)
A brake device 1a according to a second embodiment will be described based on the drawings. The brake device 1a according to the second embodiment is different from the brake device 1 according to the first embodiment in that the hinge shape of the connecting portion has an arm shape and structure as shown in FIG. Note that the other shapes, structures, and functions are the same as in the first embodiment. The differences will be explained below.

In FIG. 6, in this brake device, a pair of connecting portions 5a are held symmetrically to the handlebar 2 and the brake lever 3 by screws 56 and screw holes 57 at both ends of the handlebar. The connecting portion 5a is attached to a handle-side arm 551 and a brake lever-side arm 552 formed at the lower part, with the end surfaces of the handle-holding side cylinder 51a and the brake lever-holding side cylinder 52a in contact with each other. It is supported by a rotating shaft 54 so as to be openable and closable. The other shapes and structures are the same as those in the first embodiment, so their explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the brake device in an activated state. In FIG. 7, when the brake levers 3 on both sides or one side are pushed down in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the handlebar 2 (in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the handlebar 2 if the handlebar 2 is not horizontal), The brake lever holding side cylinder 52a expands around the rotating shaft 54 inserted into the handle side arm 551 and the brake lever side arm 552 as a fulcrum. As the brake wire holding piece 521 unfolds in an arc, the brake wire 4, one end of which is fixed to the brake mechanism disposed near the wheel, is pulled toward the other end. The rear wheels are braked. Next, when the force pushing down the brake lever 3 is released, the brake lever 3 returns to the state shown in FIG. 6 due to the reaction force of the brake mechanism, and the braking is released.

FIG. 8 is a right side view showing the configuration of a brake device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8, a brake wire holding part 521 is provided at the upper part of the brake lever holding side cylinder 52a, and includes a through hole 522 into which the brake wire 4 is inserted and a brake wire end which holds the end of the brake wire 4. A locking portion 523 is formed. A screw hole 57 and a screw 56 are provided on the circumferential surface of the brake lever retaining side tube 52a for fixing the brake lever retaining side tube 52a to the circumferential surface of the brake lever 3. A brake-side arm 552 for deploying the brake lever-holding side cylinder 52a is provided at the lower part of the brake lever-holding side cylinder 52a so as to sandwich the handle-side arm 551, and the arm 552 is connected to the rotation axis. 54 so as to be rotatable.

Although not shown, as another embodiment, the structure of the connecting parts 5 and 5a that holds the connecting part 5 to the handlebar 2 and the brake lever 3 may be changed to a cylindrical shape as shown in Example 1 and Example 2. Instead, it is also possible to divide the cylinder into two parts or cut out one part of the circumferential cylinder to provide a fastening part, and fasten the fastening part to the handlebar 2 and brake lever 3 with screws or the like.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention can be suitably applied as a brake device mounted on bicycles and electric bicycles having various uses and shapes.

1, 1a Brake device 2 Handlebar 3 Brake lever 4 Brake wire 41 Protective tubes 5, 5a Connecting parts 51, 51a Handlebar retaining side tube 511 Brake wire holding part 512 Through hole 513 Retaining cylinder contact recess 52, 52a Brake lever holding side cylinder 521 Brake wire holding part 522 Through hole 523 Brake wire end locking part 524 Holding cylinder contact convex part 53 Hinge 54 Rotating shaft 55 Arm 551 Handle side arm 552 Brake side arm 56 Screw 57 Screw hole 6 grip

Claims (4)

The distal ends of brake wires whose proximal ends are fixed to brake mechanisms disposed near the front and rear wheels of the bicycle or electric bicycle are connected to the proximal ends of brake levers connected to both distal ends of the handlebars of the bicycle or electric bicycle, respectively. In a brake device for a bicycle or an electric bicycle, the brake mechanism brakes the front and rear wheels by deploying the proximal end side of the brake lever by pushing down the brake lever.
a pair of brake levers deployably connected to both ends of the handlebar;
consisting of a pair of connectors that connect the distal end surface of the handlebar and the proximal end surface of the brake lever so that they can be deployed by contacting them;
A brake device for a bicycle or an electric bicycle, wherein the connector is formed with an insertion hole through which the brake wire is inserted and a wire end receiving portion for holding a tip end of the brake wire. The coupling device is composed of a handlebar-holding side tube and a brake lever-holding side tube, and the circumferential surface where the handlebar-holding side tube and the brake lever-holding side tube come into contact has an uneven surface. The brake device for a bicycle or electric bicycle according to claim 1, further comprising a fitting portion. 3. The brake device for a bicycle or electric bicycle according to claim 1, wherein the pair of connectors are deployed in a range from horizontally forward to vertically downward with respect to the axis of the brake lever. The brake device for a bicycle or electric bicycle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the brake device can be operated on both sides simultaneously or on either the left or right side independently.

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