Control assembly for a wireless electromechanical bicycle shifting system

Abstract

A bicycle control assembly for operating an electromechanical gear shifting device. The assembly includes a graspable housing mountable to the bicycle. A first operating member is movably connected to the housing. The assembly includes an electrical switch. A controller is in communication with the electrical switch and is configured to generate a signal to change a shift position of the gear shifting device responsive to an input from the electrical switch. An antenna is on the first operating member and in communication with the controller to send the signal.

1 . A bicycle control assembly for operating an electromechanical gear shifting device, comprising:
 a graspable housing mountable to the bicycle;   a power supply connected to the control assembly;   a first operating member movably connected to the housing;   an electrical switch;   a controller in communication with the electrical switch, powered by the power supply and configured to generate a signal to change a shift position of the gear shifting device responsive to an input from the electrical switch; and   an antenna on the first operating member and in communication with the controller to send the signal.   
     
     
         2 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply is on the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the power supply is a battery housed within the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the battery is oriented substantially parallel to a centerline of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first operating member is a shift lever assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the shift lever assembly includes a shift lever including a distal portion and a proximal portion, the proximal portion movably supported by the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the antenna is on the distal portion of the shift lever. 
     
     
         8 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the distal portion includes an internal compartment and the antenna is housed within the internal compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is housed within the internal compartment. 
     
     
         10 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a communications module in communication with the controller and the antenna and housed within the internal compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the electrical switch is on the distal end of the shift lever. 
     
     
         12 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second electrical switch in communication with the controller to change one or more of non-shifting operations of the controller and non-shifting operations of the electromechanical gear shifting device. 
     
     
         13 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the non-shifting operations include one or more of pairing operations of the control assembly to the electromechanical gear shifting device and trim operations of the electromechanical gear shifting device. 
     
     
         14 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second operating member, wherein the second operating member is a brake lever. 
     
     
         15 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the shift lever assembly is pivotally connected to the housing to move relative to the brake lever. 
     
     
         16 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the brake lever is pivotally connected to the housing on a brake lever pivot. 
     
     
         17 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the shift lever assembly is movably disposed on a shift lever pivot that is substantially perpendicular to the brake lever pivot. 
     
     
         18 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a shift pivot bracket that includes the shift lever pivot, the shift pivot bracket having an opening through which the brake lever pivot passes. 
     
     
         19 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the shift lever pivot is positioned above the brake lever pivot. 
     
     
         20 . The bicycle control assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first operating member is connected to the second operating member.