WO2014127476A1

WO2014127476A1 - Cable stop device for bicycle frames

Info

Publication number: WO2014127476A1
Application number: PCT/CA2014/050115
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Giannascoli; David Perreault
Original assignee: Guru Cycles Inc.
Priority date: 2013-02-22
Filing date: 2014-02-20
Publication date: 2014-08-28

Abstract

A cable stop device for a bicycle frame comprises a cap body adapted to be positioned to cover an opening in the bicycle frame. A hole in the cap body allows access in and out of the frame therethrough when the cap body is on the bicycle frame. A cable stop portion projects inward into the bicycle frame when the cap body is on the bicycle frame, the cable stop portion having a receptacle to receive a housing end and a passage to allow a cable to project from the housing end into the bicycle frame. A gap is between the hole and the cable stop portion, the gap being open to the hole and to an interior of the bicycle frame.

Description

CABLE STOP DEVICE FOR BICYCLE FRAMES

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority on United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/768,061 , filed on February 22, 2013, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application pertains to derailler systems and brake systems for vehicles such as bicycles and more particularly to a cable stop device used for internal routing of some components of the derailler system, in the frame of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

[0003] Bicycles of all types are commonly equipped with derailler systems (also spelt derailleur). Derailler systems can be generally described as the components that allow a modification of the gear ratio between the crank, and the driven wheel.

[0004] Derailler systems are commonly commanded from the front of the bicycle, for instance by levers, with deraillers displacing the chain between gears or chain rings, or indexing an internal gear system in a driven-wheel hub, among possibilities. The transmission of the commands has been up to recently done by way of a metallic wire (i.e., a cable) in a housing, with the metallic wire sliding fore and aft relative to the housing, thereby transmitting commands to the deraillers.

[0005] A recent evolution resides in the use of electronics to transmit commands to the derailler, in what is referred to as electronic, electric or electro-mechanical derailler systems. Indeed, instead of relying on a mechanical transmission of movement, electrical wires are used to transmit a shifting command signal to motorized deraillers.

[0006] In spite of this evolution, mechanical systems are preferred by some bicycle riders. It is therefore expected that both mechanical derailler systems and electro-mechanical derailler systems may remain available over the long term. Hence, bicycle frames must ideally be able to support both electronic shifting wires and mechanical shifting cables, which have a different shape and configuration. For instance, electrical wires have enlarged connectors at ends thereof. [0007] Another evolution in bicycles is the internal routing of these shifter cables and wires, for esthetic and aerodynamic reasons. Frame tubes being hollow, they define a passage well suited to hide the cables and wires. A component, known as a cable stop, a plug, a frame grommet, a cable interface, etc, partially blocks an opening in the frame through which the cable is inserted into or exits from the interior of the frame. This component serves as a support to hold the cable or wire, and serves as an abutment or stop in the case of a housing in a mechanical cable system. This component is therefore configured as a function of the type of cable, i.e., mechanical or electrical. Hence, different cable stops must be used depending on the nature of the derailler systems.

SUMMARY

[0008] It is therefore an aim of the present disclosure to provide a cable stop that is compatible with mechanical derailler systems and electro-mechanical derailler systems.

[0009] Therefore, in accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a cable stop device for a bicycle frame, comprising: a cap body adapted to be positioned to cover an opening in the bicycle frame; a hole in the cap body allowing access in and out of the frame therethrough when the cap body is on the bicycle frame; a cable stop portion projecting inward into the bicycle frame when the cap body is on the bicycle frame, the cable stop portion having a receptacle to receive a housing end and a passage to allow a cable to project from the housing end into the bicycle frame; and a gap between the hole and the cable stop portion, the gap being open to the hole and to an interior of the bicycle frame.

[0010] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, the cap body has a peripheral portion adapted to cover the opening in the bicycle frame and a periphery of the opening, the peripheral portion being generally planar.

[0011] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, an outward surface of the cap body defines a raised portion and a depression, the hole being in a wall extending from the raised portion to the depression.

[0012] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, said wall has a substantially planar annular surface about the hole. [0013] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, an angle between a plane of the substantially planar annular surface and a plane in which lies a periphery of the opening in the bicycle frame is between 25 and 30 degrees.

[0014] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, the cap body has an inward projection located on an opposite side of the gap than the cable stop portion, the inward projection and the cable stop portion adapted to cooperate with a periphery of the opening in the bicycle frame to hold the cable stop device captive to the frame.

[0015] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, the hole as a diameter ranging between 4 mm and 27 mm.

[0016] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, a central axis of the hole is in a transverse non-parallel relation with a central axis of a metallic cable passing through said passage.

[0017] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, a central axis of the hole passes through the gap.

[0018] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, the receptacle comprises a pair of inward projections separated by a longitudinal gap, the passage being in the longitudinal gap.

[0019] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, the inward projections form a counterbore-like shape to receive the housing end.

[0020] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, a grommet is releasably connected to the cap body to block the hole, the grommet having another hole shaped to support an electric wire passing therethough.

[0021] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, the grommet comprises an inwardly lip adapted to catch a wall of the bicycle frame adjacent to the opening.

[0022] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, the cable stop device is a monolithic piece.

[0023] Still further in accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a bicycle frame comprising: a plurality of tubes interconnected to form a structure, with at least one internal routing opening defined in at least one of the plurality of tubes; and the cable stop device as defined above. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle frame having a plurality of the cable stop devices in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0025] Fig. 2 is a first perspective view of the cable stop device of the present disclosure;

[0026] Fig. 3 is a second perspective view of the cable stop device of Fig. 2;

[0027] Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the cable stop device of Fig. 2;

[0028] Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of the cable stop device of Fig. 2, supporting a cable and housing;

[0029] Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the cable stop device, cable and housing of Fig. 5;

[0030] Fig. 7 is a side elevation view of the cable stop device of Fig. 2, supporting an electric wire and grommet; and

[0031] Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the cable stop device, electric wire and grommet of Fig. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 , there is illustrated a frame A featuring a plurality of the cable stop devices 10 in accordance with the present disclosure. The cable stop devices 10 are used with cables and housings (Bowden cable) or electric wires of bicycle derailler systems, or other vehicles. For simplicity, reference will be made hereinafter to the cable stop device 10 or device 10. For clarity, reference will be made hereinafter to cable and housing for the assembly used with strictly mechanical derailler systems, and reference will be made to electric wire for that being used with an electromechanical derailler systems, although other names could be used for such components. It is pointed out that the cable stop device 10 may also be used for cables and housings of brake systems (brake calipers, cantilevers, V-brakes, hydraulic brakes). However, in spite of brake use, for simplicity, the description will refer hereinafter to derailler systems even though brake systems could also be used with the cable stop device 10.

[0033] The frame A is one of numerous possible frame arrangements of vehicles that may use the device 10, and is hence shown as an exemplary and non-limitative embodiment. The frame A is shown having a relatively standard geometry with a top tube A1 , a down tube A2, a seat tube A3 and chain stays A4. Moreover, the frame A is shown as being of the road type, but the cable stop device 10 could be used with frames of different geometries and types (e.g., mountain bike, recliner bike, etc.). The cable stop devices 10 are distributed on the frame A at a lever end L and derailler end D. The cable stop devices 10 may be used with the braking system in addition to being used with the derailler systems. For instance, the cable stop devices 10 shown on the top tube A1 are used with the braking system. The cable stop devices 10 on the down tube A2 are for the front and rear deraillers (not shown). The cable stop device 10 located on one of the chain stays A4 is for the rear derailler (not shown). A similar cable stop device 10 could be used at the derailler end D for the front derailler but is not visible in Fig. 1.

[0034] Referring now to Figs. 2 to 4, enlarged views of the cable stop device 10 are shown. The cable stop device 10 has a cap body 20 that is generally planar, or slightly arcuate. The cap body 20 has a peripheral portion 21 defining its perimeter. The peripheral portion 21 will be laid on a tube wall of the bike frame such a portion of the cap body 20 projecting inwardly from the peripheral portion 21 will plug an opening defined in a tube wall A5 (Figs. 3 and 4) of the frame A. The opening and the tube wall of the frame will be an entry or an exit for a cable or electric wire in an internal routing configuration.

[0035] A raised central portion 22 projects outwardly from the peripheral portion 21 and is adjacent to a depression 23 (outward being exterior to the frame). The combination of the raised central portion 22 and depression 23 concurrently define an annular wall 24, having a hole 25 therein. As shown in Fig. 4, the annular wall 24 is shown as having a substantially planar outward surface.

[0036] Still referring to Fig. 4, it is observed that an angle Θ of the planar outward surface of the annular wall 24 is at about 25-30 degrees with respect to an axis illustrated as X, which axis X is parallel to the part of the peripheral portion 21 lying on the frame, and hence which axis X may be parallel to the frame wall A5. These ranges of angle are a possibility among others, and will be discussed hereinafter. The hole 25 has a diameter ranging from 4mm to 27mm. This diameter is for instance equivalent to the standard grommet size for grommets used in electronic shifting systems. It is however pointed out that the hole 25 may have different dimensions and shapes as well. [0037] The depression 23 defines an inward projection 27. The inward projection 27 is shown as having a smooth outer wall but may be provided with a lip, a flange, etc. for the captive engagement of the cap body 20 to the tube wall A5 of the frame. The interference fit (or plug fit, plastic deformation fit, etc) shown effected by the inward projection 27 of the cap body 20 and of a cable stop portion 30 would represent one possible solution among numerous others to secure the cable stop device 10 to the tube wall A5. Other options considered include fasteners, adhesives, quick connect mechanisms, etc.

[0038] Referring to Figs. 2 to 6, a cable stop portion of the cable stop device 10 is generally shown at 30. The cable stop portion 30 projects inwardly of the cap body 20, the inward referring to an interior of the tubes of the frame. The cable stop portion 30 may have a pair of inward projections 31 . The inward projections 31 are separated by gap 32. The inward projections 31 concurrently define a receptacle 33, which receptacle 33 faces toward the hole 25. In an embodiment, the receptacle 33 is a counterbore-like receptacle, although other shapes are possible as well. In an embodiment, a central axis of the counterbore 33, shown as Z1 intersects a central axis of the hole 25, shown as Z2. It is pointed out that the cable stop portion 30 may have a single one of the inward projections 31 , i.e., as if no gap 32 was present. In such a case, a throughbore would be defined in the cable stop portion 30 to allow the cable to pass therethrough, while the counterbore 33 receives the housing.

[0039] A gap 40 separates the inward side of the annular wall 24 from an adjacent surface of the cable stop portion 30, and communicates with the hole 25. The gap 40 is thus open to an interior of the frame, when the cable stop device 10 is installed onto the frame, thereby defining a passage for electric wires. Hence, the gap 40 is sufficiently large to allow wires to pass through it. Moreover, the combination of the hole 25 and the gap 40 gives an access to an interior of the frame, for instance to facilitate the grasp of a free end of wire during the internal routing installation of cables or wires.

[0040] Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the cable stop portion 30 is shown as receiving a metallic cable C and cable housing H of a mechanical derailler system. More specifically, the cable housing H has an end thereof accommodated in the counterbore 33 so as to prevent its axial displacement into the frame. However, the metallic cable C passes through the gap 32 (or throughbore in the absence of the gap 32) and projects inside the tube wall A5. As a result, the cable C may move axially relative to the cable housing H, in conventional Bowden cable fashion. It is also observed that the cable housing H passes through the hole 25. However, the cable housing H extends along axis Z1 , and may therefore not be coaxial with the hole 25 but rather oblique relative to central axis Z2 of the hole 25. It is observed that this configuration allows the cable housing H to substantially block the hole 25 despite the fact that the hole 25 has a greater diameter, and in some instances a non-circular shape such as obround or oblong.

[0041] Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the cable stop device 10 is shown as being used with a grommet G and electric wire W. The hole 25 is defined to receive and hold captive therein the grommet G. The grommet G may have a lip G1 that catches the wall surrounding the hole 25. The grommet G has its own throughbore through which the electric wire W passes. As observed in Figs. 7 and 8, the gap 40 between the hole 25 and the cable stop portion 30 is sufficiently large so as to allow the electric wire W to curve and surround the cable stop portion 30 without creating an excessive bend in the electric wire W.

[0042] The device 10 and grommet G can come in any appropriate material (e.g., molded polymers, metals, composites, combinations thereof, etc), and may be fabricated by any appropriate process. In an embodiment, the device 10 is a monolithic molded component. By way of examples, various ranges of angles are provided. However, any appropriate angles may be used as well. The angle between axis Z1 and axis X (Fig. 4) may be between 10 and 90 degrees. The angle between axis Z1 and a plane of the wall 24 may be between 15 and 90 degrees.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A cable stop device for a bicycle frame, comprising:

a cap body adapted to be positioned to cover an opening in the bicycle frame;

a hole in the cap body allowing access in and out of the frame therethrough when the cap body is on the bicycle frame;

a cable stop portion projecting inward into the bicycle frame when the cap body is on the bicycle frame, the cable stop portion having a receptacle to receive a housing end and a passage to allow a cable to project from the housing end into the bicycle frame; and

a gap between the hole and the cable stop portion, the gap being open to the hole and to an interior of the bicycle frame.

2. The cable stop device according to claim 1 , wherein the cap body has a peripheral portion adapted to cover the opening in the bicycle frame and a periphery of the opening, the peripheral portion being generally planar.

3. The cable stop device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein an outward surface of the cap body defines a raised portion and a depression, the hole being in a wall extending from the raised portion to the depression.

4. The cable stop device according to claim 3, wherein said wall has a substantially planar annular surface about the hole.

5. The cable stop device according to claim 4, wherein an angle between a plane of the substantially planar annular surface and a plane in which lies a periphery of the opening in the bicycle frame is between 25 and 30 degrees.

6. The cable stop device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cap body has an inward projection located on an opposite side of the gap than the cable stop portion, the inward projection and the cable stop portion adapted to cooperate with a periphery of the opening in the bicycle frame to hold the cable stop device captive to the frame.

7. The cable stop device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the hole as a diameter ranging between 4 mm and 27 mm.

8. The cable stop device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a central axis of the hole is in a transverse non-parallel relation with a central axis of a metallic cable passing through said passage.

9. The cable stop device according to according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a central axis of the hole passes through the gap.

10. The cable stop device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the receptacle comprises a pair of inward projections separated by a longitudinal gap, the passage being in the longitudinal gap.

1 1 . The cable stop device according to claim 10, wherein the inward projections form a counterbore-like shape to receive the housing end.

12. The cable stop device according to any one of claims 1 to 1 1 , further comprising a grommet releasably connected to the cap body to block the hole, the grommet having another hole shaped to support an electric wire passing therethough.

13. The cable stop device according to claim 12, wherein the grommet comprises an inwardly lip adapted to catch a wall of the bicycle frame adjacent to the opening.

14. The cable stop device according to any one of claims 1 to 1 1 , wherein the cable stop device is a monolithic piece.

15. A bicycle frame comprising:

a plurality of tubes interconnected to form a structure, with at least one internal routing opening defined in at least one of the plurality of tubes; and

a cable stop device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.