U.S. patent application number 11/750043 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-13 for apparatus for the control of brakes in bicycles and the like.
This patent application is currently assigned to FORMULA S.R.L.. Invention is credited to Andrea Fiorenzo Becocci, Francesco Becocci.
Application Number | 20070209885 11/750043 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32732601 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070209885 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Becocci; Andrea Fiorenzo ;
et al. |
September 13, 2007 |
APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROL OF BRAKES IN BICYCLES AND THE LIKE
Abstract
An apparatus for the control of brakes in bicycles and the like,
to be used, in particular, for disc brakes mounted on bicycles and
including a pump able to push fluid into a hydraulic circuit
connected to the brake, characterized in that the pump is held
inside the handlebar or a part associated therewith.
Inventors: |
Becocci; Andrea Fiorenzo;
(Prato, IT) ; Becocci; Francesco; (Prato,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
McGLEW AND TUTTLE;John James McGlew
Scarborough Station
Scarborough
NY
10510-9227
US
|
Assignee: |
FORMULA S.R.L.
|
Family ID: |
32732601 |
Appl. No.: |
11/750043 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10764866 |
Jan 26, 2004 |
PP15355 |
|
|
11750043 |
May 17, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
188/24.22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62K 19/38 20130101;
B60T 11/046 20130101; B60T 11/20 20130101; B60T 11/102 20130101;
B62L 3/023 20130101; B62K 21/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
188/024.22 |
International
Class: |
B62L 3/02 20060101
B62L003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 20, 2003 |
IT |
FI2003A000044 |
Claims
1. A brake arrangement for a bicycle, the arrangement comprising: a
bicycle frame including a steering sleeve; a brake mounted on said
bicycle frame and applying friction to a wheel of the bicycle; an
hydraulic circuit having one end connected to said brake; a
steering stem rotatably mounted in said steering sleeve; a
handlebar connected to said steering stem; a pump arranged inside
said handlebar and connected to another end of said hydraulic
circuit for forcing fluid through said hydraulic circuit, into said
brake, and applying friction to the wheel; a brake lever device
mounted on said handlebar and spaced from said pump, said brake
lever device being operatively connected to said pump; a cable
connecting said brake lever device to said pump, said cable
transferring motion of said brake lever device to said pump to
force the fluid through said hydraulic circuit.
2. An arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein an integral
portion of said handlebar defines a connection of said handle bar
to said steering stem.
3. An arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said pump
includes a piston; a sheath surrounds said cable, said cable is
fixed to a body of said handlebar or to an integral portion
associated with said handlebar, and said piston is pushed by said
sheath.
4. A brake arrangement for a bicycle, the arrangement comprising: a
bicycle frame including a steering sleeve; a brake mounted on said
bicycle frame and applying friction to a wheel of the bicycle; an
hydraulic circuit having one end connected to said brake; a
steering stem rotatably mounted in said steering sleeve; a
handlebar connected to said steering stem, said handlebar being of
a sprint race-type with two curved arms; a pump arranged inside
said handlebar and connected to another end of said hydraulic
circuit for forcing fluid through said hydraulic circuit, into said
brake, and applying friction to t wheel; a brake lever device
mounted on an outside of said handlebar, said brake lever device
being operatively connected to said pump.
5. An arrangement in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said pump is
arranged inside a curved section of said handlebar; said brake
lever is mounted on an outside of said curved section of said
handlebar.
6. An arrangement in accordance with claim 5, wherein: said curved
section of said handlebar curves substantially 180.degree..
7. An arrangement in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said
handlebar has a substantially circular cross-section with a
substantially circular outside surface.
8. An arrangement in accordance with claim 4, wherein said
handlebar is of sprint race-type with two curved arms, and wherein
said pump is inside one of said two arms of said handlebar.
9. An arrangement in accordance with claim 6, wherein: said
handlebar has a substantially circular cross-section with a
substantially circular outside surface.
10. An arrangement in accordance with claim 9, wherein said
handlebar is of sprint race-type with two said curved sections each
forming arms, and wherein said pump is inside one of said two arms
of said handlebar.
11. An arrangement in accordance with claim 4, wherein said pump
comprises a piston connected to said brake lever through an
appendix of said brake lever.
12. An arrangement in accordance with claim 4, wherein said pump
comprises a piston connected to said brake lever through a
connecting rod.
13. An arrangement in accordance with claim 4, wherein: said
handlebar is a single monolithic unit.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/764,886
filed Jan. 26, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention pertains to an apparatus for the
control of brakes, in bicycles and the like, to be used, in
particular, for disc brakes mounted on bicycles
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is known that the action exerted upon the brake's lever
is transmitted to a calliper acting on the disc through a hydraulic
connection associated with a pump to urge the same calliper acting
on the disc.
[0004] A drawback of the brake-controlling devices is due the fact
that the brake pump, with relevant accessories, is applied to the
handlebar, thereby constituting a separate element. This
characteristic may result unsuitable owing to the fact that the
handlebar has larger dimensions, the brake pump can be damaged by
possible strokes, and may hurt the user in case of falls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The object of the present invention is to overcome the above
drawbacks.
[0006] This result has been achieved, according to the invention,
by adopting the idea of making an apparatus for the control of
brakes in bicycles and the like, to be used, in particular, for
disc brakes mounted on bicycles and comprising a pump able to push
fluid into a hydraulic circuit connected to the brake. The pump
being held inside the handlebar or a part associated therewith.
[0007] In particular the bicycle has a bicycle frame with a
steering sleeve. A steering stem rotatably is mounted in said
steering sleeve, and a handlebar is connected to the steering stem.
A brake is mounted on the bicycle frame and applies friction to a
wheel of the bicycle. The brake is connected to one end of and
hydraulic circuit. A pump is arranged inside the handlebar and
connected to another end of the hydraulic circuit for forcing fluid
through the hydraulic circuit, into the brake, and applying
friction to the wheel. A brake lever device mounted on said
handlebar operates the pump.
[0008] Further characteristics are set forth in the dependent
claims.
[0009] The advantages of the present invention are that the
apparatus has extremely limited overall dimensions and, therefore,
gives the handlebar a greater compactness; that the presence of a
hydraulic brake makes it possible to use the levers originally
present on the bicycle, that is, those for brakes operated only by
a cable; that there are no protruding parts likely to be damaged or
providing a danger for the cyclist; that a more attractive
appearance is conferred to the handlebar; that the braking
maintains optimal performance; that the apparatus keeps its
characteristics unchanged also after a prolonged use.
[0010] The various features of novelty which characterize the
invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed
to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better
understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and
specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which the preferred
embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In the drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a side view, with parts taken away, of a
possible exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for braking control
according to the present invention;
[0013] FIGS. 1A and 1B are respectively, a top view with parts in
section (FIG. 1A) and a side view (FIG. 1B), with parts in section,
of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top view, with parts taken away, of a further
possible exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for braking control
according to the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view, with parts taken away, of a further
possible exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for braking control
according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] Referring to the drawings in particular, the basic
characteristic of an apparatus for the control of brakes according
to the invention, is that the apparatus is held within a portion of
the handlebar, or a part associated therewith such as, for example,
a connecting lug or other similar elements.
[0017] Referring in particular to FIG. 1, an apparatus 1 for the
control of brakes according to the present invention, is fitted
within the lug 3 which defines the connection between the handlebar
2 and the sleeve and stem (not shown).
[0018] In particular, the lug 3 has first clamping means 30, 31
which allow fixing the apparatus 1 to the body of the handlebar 2,
and second clamping means 32, 33 to be fixed to the steering stem
99 to be inserted into the sleeve. The clamping means consists of
clamps 30 and 32 made up of two bodies joined by respective screws
31 and 33 in a manner known per se.
[0019] Provided inside the body of the lug 3 is a reservoir 8 for
the oil of the hydraulic circuit operating the brake. In
particular, the reservoir 8 is covered by a membrane 80 which is,
in turn, covered by a lid 82 fixed by a relevant frame 81 to the
body of the lug 3. The reservoir 8, via a conduit 88, is connected
to the a chamber wherein there is a piston 6 for which a stop
element 76 is provided. The sealing of the piston 6 is also ensured
by O-ring gaskets having, respectively, oil-sealing 71,
oil-stuffing 72, and counteracting 73 functions, the latter gasket
being in contact with a spring 66.
[0020] The operation of the; apparatus 1 is accomplished by
actuating a lever 44 (shown schematically only) provided on the
handlebar and connected to the apparatus by a sheath 4 which houses
the relevant cable 5. One end of the cable 5 is attached to the
lever 44, while the other end is fixed to the apparatus 1 in
correspondence of two screw elements 50 being accessible via the
passage 55, as more clearly shown in FIG. 1B.
[0021] As the cable is fixed in correspondence of the apparatus 1,
the actuation of the lever 44 causes the displacement of the sheath
4 in the direction of arrow F; in this way, the bush 40, formed in
the end of the sheath on the side of the apparatus 1, goes into
abutment against the piston 6 causing the latter to be displaced in
the same direction in order to push the oil through the outlet 9
connected to the hydraulic tube which leads to the brake's
calliper. The presence of the spring 66, which is loaded by the
action of the piston 6, allows the latter to return to the original
position, that is, in the stand-by condition in which the brake's
calliper is inoperative.
[0022] Shown more clearly in FIG. 1A are two piston pumps 6
disposed on the handlebar on the right and left side thereof, and
actable by two levers in a traditional manner, for operating the
two brakes, respectively.
[0023] In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the apparatus 1 is
applied to a handlebar 2 of a type provided with a coupling 20 for
the sleeve, and is inserted within the body of the handlebar 2, in
particular within the portion 21 which connects the coupling for
the sleeve 20. In this example, the apparatus 1 of the invention
has been shown only for one of the two brakes, being understood
that the invention is applicable, also in this case, to both the
brakes. The parts have been indicated by reference numerals
corresponding to those of similar parts in the preceding
figures.
[0024] In FIG. 2, also the sheath 4 associated with the relevant
lever 44 is shown only partially and it is not joined with the
lever; besides, the cable 5 protrudes from the body of the
handlebar to allow fixing the same cable more easily. Obviously, an
open seat can be provided, that is, a seat accessible from the
outside, in order to ensure the cable with screws, for example, so
that the same cable will not project from the handlebar.
[0025] Again in this embodiment, the actuation of the lever 44
causes the displacement F of the sheath 4 and the consequent
movement of the piston 6 connected with the bush 40 of the sheath
4, a snap ring 74 for the piston 6 being provided in correspondence
of said bush. The piston 6, likewise in the previous example,
pushes the oil of the braking circuit, via a conduit not shown,
towards the brake's calliper. The spring 66 brings the apparatus
back to the initial position when stopping the action exerted on
the lever 44.
[0026] In the example of FIG. 3, the apparatus 1 is integral with a
handlebar of a type for sprint races, that is, with curved arms.
The characteristic of this solution is that the piston 6 is
connected to the levers 44 for actuating the brakes without using
cables; a connecting rod 64 being provided for this purpose
rearwardly of the piston and coaxial thereto. The rod 64 is pivoted
to an appendix 46 of the lever 44 for operating the brake. The
actuation of the lever 44, in the direction R in FIG. 3, causes the
displacement F of the connecting rod 64 and of piston 6 driven by
the same rod. As for the rest, the operation is analogous to the
preceding cases.
[0027] Also in this example, the oil reservoir (which will likewise
be integrated in the handlebar) and the connecting conduit with the
calliper have not been shown; besides, the drawing relates to one
of the two brakes only, but is applicable to both.
[0028] Practically, all the construction details may vary in any
equivalent way as far as the shape, dimensions, elements
disposition, nature of the used materials are concerned, without
nevertheless departing from the scope of the adopted solution idea
and, thereby, remaining within the limits of the protection granted
to the present patent.
[0029] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described in detail to illustrate the application of the
principles of the invention, it will be understood that the
invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such
principles.
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