Bicycle control device

Abstract

A bicycle control device is disclosed having a control lever that is operable in a first direction to operate the brake control mechanism, a second direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the winding direction and a third direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the release direction. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, when viewed from the perspective of a rider on the bicycle, the first direction is the direction of movement of the lever toward the handlebar. The second direction is the direction of movement of the control lever downward and the third direction is the direction of movement of the control lever upward. In a more preferred embodiment, the second and third directions are perpendicular to the first direction.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bicycle control device, comprising: 
 a brake control mechanism;    a shift control mechanism having a winding direction and a release direction;    a control lever operatively connected to the brake control mechanism and the shift control mechanism; 
 wherein the control lever is operable in a brake operating plane to operate the brake control mechanism; and  
 wherein the control lever is operable in a shifting plane to operate the shift control mechanism in the winding direction and in the release direction.  
   
     
     
         2 . The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the winding direction is the direction of movement of the control lever downward, and the release direction is the direction of movement of the control lever upward.  
     
     
         3 . The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the brake operating plane is substantially perpendicular to the shifting plane.  
     
     
         4 . The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein, in the shifting plane, the control lever is pivotable between an upshift position, a neutral position and a downshift position, wherein the upshift position is on a first side of the neutral position and the downshift position is on a second side of the neutral position opposite the first side.  
     
     
         5 . The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the brake control mechanism comprises: 
 a bracket;  
 a brake lever base pivotably connected to the bracket;  
 a cable hook connected to the brake lever base, the cable hook configured to receive a brake cable; and  
 wherein the operation of the control lever in the brake operating plane pivots the brake lever base on the bracket and actuates the cable hook.  
 
     
     
         6 . The bicycle control device of  claim 1  wherein the shift control mechanism comprises: 
 a support shaft;  
 a winding member rotatable in the winding direction and in the release direction about the support shaft, the winding member configured to receive a gear-shifting cable and wind the gear-shifting cable thereon when the winding member is rotated in the winding direction and release the gear-shifting cable when the winding member is rotated in the release direction;  
 a winding mechanism operatively connected to the winding member; and  
 a release and hold mechanism operatively connected to the winding member.  
 
     
     
         7 . The bicycle control device of  claim 6  wherein the winding mechanism comprises a winding latch and a winding pawl configured to cooperate with the winding latch.  
     
     
         8 . The bicycle control device of  claim 6  wherein the release and hold mechanism comprises: 
 a first latching plate having a first latching segment formed at an outer circumferential edge of the first latching plate;  
 a second latching plate having a second latching segment formed at an outer circumferential edge of the second latching plate;  
 a positioning pawl configured to engage with the first latching segment of the first latching plate;  
 an intermediate pawl configured to engage with the second latching segment of the second latching plate;  
 the intermediate pawl and positioning pawl alternately engaging the corresponding second latching segment and first latching segment when the winding member operates in a release direction.  
 
     
     
         9 . The bicycle control device of  claim 8  wherein the winding member is biased in the release direction.  
     
     
         10 . The bicycle control device of  claim 9  wherein the positioning pawl is biased toward the first latching segment formed on the first latching plate.  
     
     
         11 . The bicycle control device of  claim 10  wherein the brake control mechanism comprises: 
 a bracket;  
 a brake lever base pivotably connected to the bracket;  
 a cable hook connected to the brake lever base, the cable hook configured to receive a brake cable;  
 wherein the operation of the control lever in the brake operating plane pivots the brake lever base on the bracket and actuates the cable hook; and  
 wherein the support shaft is fixedly attached to the brake lever base.  
 
     
     
         12 . A bicycle control device, comprising: 
 a brake control mechanism;    a shift control mechanism having a winding direction and a release direction;    a control lever operatively connected to the brake control mechanism and the shift control mechanism; and    wherein the control lever is operable in a first direction to operate the brake control mechanism, a second direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the winding direction and a third direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the release direction.    
     
     
         13 . The bicycle control device of  claim 12  wherein the second and third directions lie along the same line.  
     
     
         14 . The bicycle control device of  claim 13  wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second and third directions.  
     
     
         15 . A bicycle control device attachable to the bicycle handlebar, the bicycle control device comprising: 
 a brake control mechanism;    a shift control mechanism having a winding direction and a release direction;    a control lever operatively connected to the brake control mechanism and the shift control mechanism;    wherein the control lever is pivotable about a first axis to operate the brake control mechanism; and    wherein the control lever is pivotable about a second axis to operate the shift control mechanism in the winding direction and in the release direction.    
     
     
         16 . The bicycle control device of  claim 15  wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.  
     
     
         17 . The bicycle control device of  claim 15  wherein the handlebar comprises a flat-bar type handlebar.  
     
     
         18 . A bicycle control device, comprising: 
 a brake control mechanism having a bracket, a brake lever base pivotably connected to the bracket, and a cable hook connected to the brake lever base, the cable hook configured to receive a brake cable;    a shift control mechanism having: 
 a support shaft fixedly connected to the brake lever base of the brake control mechanism;  
 a winding member rotatable in the winding direction and in the release direction about the support shaft, the winding member biased in the release direction and configured to receive a gear-shifting cable, wherein the gear-shifting cable is wound on the winding member when the winding member is rotated in the winding direction and released when the winding member is rotated in the release direction;  
 a winding mechanism comprising a winding latch and a winding pawl biased toward the winding latch and configured to cooperate with the winding latch to rotate the winding member in a winding direction; and  
 a release and hold mechanism comprising a first latching plate having a first latching segment, a second latching plate having a second latching segment, a positioning pawl biased toward the first latching segment and configured to engage with the first latching segment, an intermediate pawl configured to engage with the second latching segment, wherein the intermediate pawl and positioning pawl alternately engage the corresponding second latching segment and first latching segment when the winding member operates in the release direction; and  
 a control lever operatively connected to the brake control mechanism and the shift control mechanism wherein the control lever is operable in a first direction to operate the brake control mechanism, a second direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the winding direction and a third direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the release direction.  
   
     
     
         19 . The bicycle control device of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a fixed plate fixedly connected to the control lever;    a releasing plate biased toward the fixed plate from a first direction;    a winding plate biased toward the fixed plate from a second direction, opposite the first direction;    an operating plate operatively connected to the releasing plate and the winding plate wherein during a release operation, the operating plate operates the release plate in the release direction and wherein during a winding operation, the operating plate operates the winding plate in the winding direction.    
     
     
         20 . The bicycle control device of  claim 19  further comprising a supplemental release lever extending from the releasing plate.  
     
     
         21 . A shift control mechanism, comprising: 
 a support shaft;    a winding member rotatable in a winding direction and in a release direction about the support shaft, the winding member biased in the release direction and configured to receive a gear-shifting cable, wherein the gear-shifting cable is wound on the winding member when the winding member is rotated in the winding direction and released when the winding member is rotated in the release direction;    a winding mechanism comprising a winding latch and a winding pawl biased toward the winding latch and configured to cooperate with the winding latch to rotate the winding member in a winding direction;    a release and hold mechanism comprising a first latching plate having a first latching segment, a second latching plate having a second latching segment, a positioning pawl biased toward the first latching segment and configured to engage with the first latching segment, an intermediate pawl configured to engage with the second latching segment, wherein the intermediate pawl and positioning pawl alternately engage the corresponding second latching segment and first latching segment when the winding member operates in the release direction; and    a control lever operable in a first direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the winding direction and a second direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the release direction.    
     
     
         22 . The shift control mechanism of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a fixed plate fixedly connected to the control lever;    a releasing plate biased toward the fixed plate from a first direction;    a winding plate biased toward the fixed plate from a second direction, opposite the first direction;    an operating plate operatively connected to the releasing plate and the winding plate wherein during a release operation, the operating plate operates the release plate in the release direction and wherein during a winding operation, the operating plate operates the winding plate in the winding direction.    
     
     
         23 . A method of operating a shift control mechanism and a brake control mechanism, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a shift control mechanism operative in a winding direction and a release direction, a brake control mechanism and a control lever;    actuating the control lever in a first direction to operate the brake control mechanism;    actuating the control lever in a second direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the winding direction; and    actuating the control lever in a third direction to operate the shift control mechanism in the release direction.    
     
     
         24 . The operating method of  claim 23  wherein the second and third directions lie along the same line.  
     
     
         25 . The operating method of  claim 24  wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second and third directions.  
     
     
         26 . A method of operating a shift control mechanism and a brake control mechanism attached to a handlebar using a rider's fingers: 
 providing a shift control mechanism operative in a winding direction and a release direction, a brake control mechanism having a brake lever; and    actuating the shift control mechanism in the winding direction and the release direction while maintaining the rider's fingers on the brake lever and the rider's thumb on the handlebar.