Braking system

Abstract

An improved braking system of the caliper type uses only a single hand lever. The operation of one of the caliper type brakes by use of the hand lever in conjunction with the inertia of the vehicle provides energy to supply power for the braking effort to the other caliper brake on the other wheel. This is accomplished by use of a movable mounting .[.means.]. for the first brake so that the combination of the movement of the rotating wheel and the brake in engagement with .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.wheel translates these forces into linear motion which is used to apply the braking effort for the other brake at the other wheel.

I claim: 
     
       1. For use with a bicycle, including a frame and wheel forks, wheels rotatably mounted in said wheel forks and means for imparting rotation to said wheels for propelling the bicycle, the combination therewith of an improved braking system, which comprises: A. brakes mounted near the periphery of each of said wheels for application of braking effort to the peripheral portion of each of said wheels:   B. means for applying effort to a first brake:   C. the improvement of motion transmission means for translating vehicular momentum to linear movement for application of effort to the other of said brakes, comprising: 1. a movable mounting means for said first brake; a. said mounting means comprising a sliding mechanism including: 1. a supporting structure for said sliding mechanism .Iadd.having an elongated portion which extends transverse to the axis of rotation of a first one of said wheels .Iaddend.fixedly mounted to the frame of said bicycle .Iadd.adjacent said first one of said wheels thereof.Iaddend., and,   2. a mounting member slidably mounted thereon, said mounting member being movable .Iadd.only .Iaddend.in the direction .Iadd.along said elongated portion transverse to the axis .Iaddend.of rotation of said .Iadd.first one of said .Iaddend.wheels in response to the motion of said .Iadd.first one of said .Iaddend.wheels and the braking effort of the brake in engagement .[.with one of said wheels.]. .Iadd.therewith.Iaddend.;   3. the further improvement in which said supporting structure is a post and said mounting member is a sleeve slidably mounted thereon, and;       2. linkage means in operative relation with said movable mounting member and said other brake for transmitting motion from said movable mounting member to said other brake and for application of brake engaging effort to said other brake.     
     
     
       2. The improved braking system, as defined in claim 1, the further improvement of a retaining collar on the end of said post for limiting the linear movement of said sleeve. .Iadd. 3. In combination with a bicycle including a bicycle frame and wheel forks, front and rear wheels rotatably mounted in said wheel forks for rotation about their respective axes and means for imparting rotation to said wheels for propelling said bicycle, and improved braking system comprising: caliper type brakes mounted adjacent the periphery of said wheels and each including opposed brake shoes positioned adjacent opposite sides of the wheel with which said brake is associated for the application of braking effort thereto,   first cable means for operating a first one of said caliper type brakes to cause said opposed brake shoes thereof to move into frictional engagement with said opposite sides of the wheel with which said first one of said caliper brakes is associated,   a first, fixed slide member having an elongated portion which extends transverse to the axis of rotation of a first one of said wheels mounted on said bicycle frame and projecting outwardly therefrom,   a second, movable slide member,   said fixed and movable slide members being interengaged such that movement of said movable slide member is substantially restricted in all directions except transversely to the axis of the wheel with which said first one of said caliper brakes is associated while permitting only limited sliding movement of said movable slide member along said elongated portion in the direction transverse to said axis of said wheel with which said first one of said caliper brakes is associated,   means mounting said first one of said caliper type brakes on said second, movable slide member for movement therewith,   second cable means extending from adjacent said first one of said caliper type brakes to a second one of said caliper type brakes,   means fixing a first end of said second cable means with respect to said movable slide member for movement therewith, and   means attaching an opposite end of said second cable means to said second one of said caliper type brakes for actuating said second one of said caliper type brakes in response to sliding movement of said movable slide member in only said direction transverse to said wheel axis..Iaddend..Iadd. 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein:   said fixed and movable slide members comprise a post and a collar encircling said post for relative sliding movement therebetween..Iaddend..Iadd. 5. For use with a bicycle, including a frame and wheel forks, front and rear wheels rotatably mounted in said wheel forks for rotation about their respective axes and means for imparting rotation to said wheels for propelling the bicycle, the combination therewith of an improved braking system, which comprises:   caliper type brakes mounted near the periphery of said wheels, each of said caliper type brakes including a pair of brake levers carrying opposed brake shoes positioned adjacent opposite sides of the wheel with which said brake is associated for application of braking effort thereto,   a movable accessory fork having a pair of legs disposed on opposite sides of the wheel with which a first one of said caliper type brakes is associated and a bight position rigidly interconnecting outer ends of said legs outwardly of said periphery of the wheel with which said first one of said caliper type brakes is associated,   said legs of said accessory fork being substantially rigid in the direction of the axis of the wheel disposed between said legs,   means mounting said first one of said caliper type brakes on said bight of said accessory fork for movement therewith,   said accessory fork forming the primary supporting means for said first one of said caliper type brakes,   means pivotally attaching inner ends of said accessory fork legs adjacent the axis of rotation of the wheel with which said first one of said caliper type brakes is associated,   means for applying braking effort to said first one of said caliper type brakes by relative movement of said brake levers, bringing said brake shoes thereof into frictional engagement with said opposite sides of said wheel with which they are associated,   actuating cable means including sheath and wire means with said wire means slidably received in said sheath means and projecting from opposite ends thereof,   said actuating cable means extending from adjacent said first one of said caliper type brakes to adjacent a second one of said caliper type brakes,   means attaching one end of said sheath means to said frame adjacent said first one of said caliper type brakes,   means attaching one end of said wire means to said accessory fork adjacent said bight thereof, and   means attaching ends of said sheath and wire means opposite said one end of each in operative association with said levers of said second one of said caliper type brakes;   whereby application of braking effort by said first one of said caliper type brakes will cause said accessory fork to pivot about said inner ends of said legs thereof, shifting said wire means longitudinally of said sheath means and bringing the brake shoes carried by the levers of said second one of said caliper type brakes into frictional engagement with opposite sides of the wheel with which said second one of said caliper   
     
     
        type brakes is associated..Iaddend. .Iadd. 6.  The system of claim 5 wherein: said means attaching said opposite ends of said sheath and wire means in operative association with said levers of said one of said caliper type brakes includes means attaching said opposite end of said sheath means and said opposite end of said wire means directly to said levers, respectively, of said second one of said caliper type brakes..Iaddend.