US5095768A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Speed control apparatus for a bicycle
Assignee: Shimano Inc
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Filing: 1990-04-11
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Granted: 1992-03-17
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Expires: 2010-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A bicycle speed control apparatus according to this invention comprises a wind-up control device including a take-up element for winding a speed control cable, and a position maintaining mechanism for maintaining the take-up element in position. The control device is operable to effect change speed by rotating the take-up element for winding the cable. The present invention is characterized in that the position maintaining mechanism is operable to maintain the take-up element in a plurality of change speed positions and in overshift positions displaced from the change speed positions in a cable winding direction, respectively. The invention further provides a position maintenance canceling device operable to release the take-up element maintained in position by the position maintaining mechanism, and to limit an amount of rotation of the take-up element in the rewinding direction to one change speed position when the take-up element has been maintained in one overshift position associated therewith, and to a different change speed position in the rewinding direction when the take-up element has been maintained in one change speed position.
Inventors
- 👤 Masashi Nagano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 05:18
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M25/00; B62M25/02; B62M25/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20012; Y10T74/20018; Y10T74/20037; Y10T74/20043; Y10T74/20207; Y10T74/20256; Y10T74/20268; Y10T74/2028; Y10T74/20287; Y10T74/20396; Y10T74/20402; Y10T74/2042; Y10T74/20438
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
A speed control lever apparatus for a bicycle, comprising: a speed change lever operatively connected to a derailleur through a speed control cable; wind-up control means for winding up said speed control cable through pivotal movement of said speed change lever in an winding direction, said wind-up control means being urged toward an initial position in a rewinding direction, said rewinding direction being opposite to said winding direction; position maintaining means for maintaining said wind-up control means in at least first and second speed change positions and first and second overshift regions, said first speed change position being located beyond said initial position in said winding direction, said first overshift region being located beyond said first speed change position in said winding direction, said second speed change position being located beyond said first speed change position in said winding direction, said second overshift region being located beyond said second speed change position in said winding direction; and position maintenance canceling means having a release lever for releasing said wind-up control means for said position maintaining means, for returning said wind-up control means to said first speed change position when said wind-up control means is maintained in said first overshift region, for returning said wind-up control means to said second speed change position when said wind-up control means is maintained in said second overshift region, for returning said wind-up control means to said first speed change position when said wind-up control means is in said second speed change position, and for returning said wind-up control means to said initial position when said wind-up control means is maintained in said first speed change position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
272 words
A speed control lever apparatus for a bicycle, comprising: a speed change lever operatively connected to a derailleur through a speed control cable; wind-up control means for winding up said speed control cable through pivotal movement of said speed change lever in an winding direction, said wind-up control means being urged toward an initial position in a rewinding direction, said rewinding direction being opposite to said winding direction; position maintaining means for maintaining said wind-up control means in at least first and second speed change positions and first and second overshift regions, said first speed change position being located beyond said initial position in said winding direction, said first overshift region being located beyond said first speed change position in said winding direction, said second speed change position being located beyond said first speed change position in said winding direction, said second overshift region being located beyond said second speed change position in said winding direction; and position maintenance canceling means having a release lever for releasing said wind-up control means for said position maintaining means, for returning said wind-up control means to said first speed change position when said wind-up control means is maintained in said first overshift region, for returning said wind-up control means to said second speed change position when said wind-up control means is maintained in said second overshift region, for returning said wind-up control means to said first speed change position when said wind-up control means is in said second speed change position, and for returning said wind-up control means to said initial position when said wind-up control means is maintained in said first speed change position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A speed control lever apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wind-up control means includes a pivotal axis and a take-up element which is pivotable about said pivotal axis, and wherein said speed change lever is pivotable about said pivotal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
A speed control lever apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said position maintaining means includes a limiting member which is axially slidably mounted on said pivotal axis, said limiting member being relatively non-rotatable with respect to said pivotal axis, said apparatus further including third engaging means for providing releasable engagement between said wind-up control means and said limiting member and for releasing said engagement between said wind-up control means and said limiting member in response to operation of said release lever.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A speed control apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said third engaging means includes limiting projections and engaging projections, said limiting projections being elements of said limiting member, said engaging projections being elements of said wind-up control means, said engaging elements having a locus of pivotal movement, and said release lever being operable to move each of said limiting projections into said locus of pivotal movement of said engaging projections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A speed control lever apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further including first engaging means for selectively transmitting said pivotal movement of said speed change lever to said wind-up control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A speed control lever apparatus as claimed in claims 5, wherein said first engaging means includes a one-way clutch for transmitting said pivotal movement of said speed change lever to said wind-up control means only when said speed change lever is moved is said winding direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A speed control lever apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said position maintaining means includes a pivotal pawl, said apparatus further including second engaging means for selectively interconnecting said pivotal pawl and said wind-up control means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A speed control lever apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said release lever includes a displacer piece for releasing said first and second engaging means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A speed control lever apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said position maintaining means includes a pivotal pawl, said apparatus further including second engaging means for selectively interconnecting said pivotal pawl and said wind-up control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A speed control lever apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second engaging means includes a plurality of engaging teeth defined in said wind-up control means corresponding to each speed change position and a pawl element of said pivotal pawl engageable with one of said engaging teeth.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A speed control lever apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said plurality of engaging teeth in each speed change position produce a region engageable with said pawl element corresponding to each overshift region.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-17 | 1995-09-16 | 1996-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-17 | 1999-09-16 | 2000-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-17 | 2003-09-16 | 2004-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |