Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates generally to the field of bicycles, and more specifically, to control systems such as brake, gear and transmission, and other systems employing wire and cables for use therewith.
Braking systems used for cycles and other vehicles, such as bicycles typically comprise two principle types. One type, known as a coaster brake, includes braking components conventionally housed in the hub of the rear wheel of the bicycle and is operated by pressing on the bicycle pedals in a direction rotationally opposite to the forward pedaling direction to achieve the desired braking operation. The other type of bicycle brake system is known as a caliper brake. Caliper brakes are comprised of dual opposing caliper levers connected for cooperative pivoting motion to the bicycle frame to encompass corresponding opposing circumferential portions of the wheel rim to which a tire is mounted, whether front-wheel mounted or rear-wheel mounted, so that the brake pad-lined ends of the opposing caliper levers are spaced apart from corresponding sides of the wheel rim to which they are closely positioned in the un-braked position. The lever system of the caliper brake operates when the caliper lever ends are squeezed together into a braking position by a brake cable that is pulled when the bicycle rider squeezes an operatively-connected brake hand lever mounted on the handlebars of the bicycle. The squeezing motion causes the brakes to be applied by providing frictional contact between the brake pads levers and the front and/or rear wheel rims according to the installed braking configuration, and hence the desired braking performance depending on the pulling force exerted by the rider. Disc brake systems are also known to be used with bicycles. No matter the type of braking system, cabling system requirements are substantially similar in that a tension is required to actuate the bakes, provided through the cable.
The above-described brakes are thus considered to provide an efficient motion-retarding mechanism for slowing and stopping a bicycle. However, the traditional placement of the brake hand levers about the handlebars of the bicycle may not be optimal for ready, convenient operation when the rider is astride a mountain bike or a street bike (on-road or off-road), whether mountain biking or traveling over long distances because of the differing positions adopted by the rider depending on terrain and slope. In particular, the rider may adopt a standing, hunched-over, or semi-standing position when riding uphill, downhill or over rugged terrain, and thus must retain his balance by altering his grip on different portions of the handlebars and in differing positions when gripping those portions in contrast to the conventional sitting or cruising position to which hand brake levers are commonly oriented. Thus, an important limitation in the related art is the failure to accommodate the rider by providing direct access to appropriately positioned brake hand levers in the most significant of those varying riding positions, with commensurate compromises in rider control in those different positions not directly adjacent to the conventionally-placed hand brake levers.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an improved cable-handling system for use with cycles that overcomes these prior art shortcomings.
The present invention provides an important improvement in the bicycle-brake system art, by providing a supplemental apparatus for operationally connecting an auxiliary bicycle brake actuator apparatus to an existing bicycle brake system, thereby overcoming the prior art shortcomings described above. More specifically, the invention includes a cable joining system for adding additional manual interface(s), i.e. brake hand lever with connecting elements, for use with an existing braking device and system and thus providing enhanced brake system operability by the bicycle rider in additional riding positions, such as those intermediate positions commonly adopted by street bike riders and mountain bike riders. This improvement is readily achieved by retrofitting the original braking system with the supplemental braking apparatus, without cutting or otherwise destructively modifying the existing cable system provided on the bicycle. Accordingly, the supplemental brake lever mechanism may be positioned to be readily operated by the rider in an alternate riding position not previously amenable to direct operation of a selected front wheel or rear wheel brake system.
As installed, the inventive system is secured to the frame of the cycle (such as a bicycle, tricycle, quadricycle, scooter, which may be pedal-powered, motor assisted or a hybrid thereof) having an existing brake system with forward and rear cable stops provided at spaced intervals along the top tube or other structural element of the cycle. Such structural element may further include a handlebar, fork, seat post or even the fork structure, i.e., any member other than a rotational member such as a wheel. Accordingly, such structural element is utilized to secure one or more brake wires (and optionally, gear shifting wires) therealong, and it will be understood that all references to xe2x80x9cbrakexe2x80x9d wires will encompass control wires for gearing and transmission systems or other systems for use with the cycle. It will be further understood that further references to xe2x80x9cbicyclexe2x80x9d hereafter includes all of the above-listed species of vehicles including cycles. According to the invention, an auxiliary brake handle (actuator) is secured to the handlebars of the bicycle and a newly installed auxiliary brake wire, connected to the auxiliary brake handle, is secured to the main brake wire. According to the invention, the newly installed auxiliary brake wire and main brake wire are assembled and secured in a xe2x80x9cYxe2x80x9d configuration between the forward and rear cable stops, with a clamp serving as a joining node for securing the auxiliary brake wire to the main brake wire. Accordingly, the present invention causes activation of the auxiliary brake wire, now directly secured to and linked with the main brake wire, upon an actuation of the auxiliary brake system, to subsequently cause a pull upon the main brake wire to initiate braking operation of the operatively connected brake calipers and provide the desired braking action of the corresponding wheel, while also preserving operability of the brake system by the main brake handle.
Thus, according to the invention, the cable joining system of the present invention allows a user to add yet additional manual interfaces for additional cable-based devices (brakes, gearing, etc.) without cutting or modifying the existing cable system or operability of the calipers or braking performance. Indeed, the invention provides enhanced brake system operability by virtue of the rider""s more direct control and proximity to the auxiliary brake handle in riding positions different from the singular position (cruising) to which most brake systems are installed. The inventive system comprises four elements: 1) a housing joiner, 2) an interconnecting auxiliary brake cable or wire, 3) a clamp for joining the interconnecting brake cable or wire any cycle-mounted operational cable or wire, and 4) lever or actuator for actuating the auxiliary brake cable or wire. The housing joiner and clamp (such as a bullet clamp) cooperatively function with the existing cable stops provided on the bicycle frame, so that the two manual interfaces may independently operate the calipers of the selected brake system.
The invention thus provides a significant advancement in the art, as it is a simple method of adding an after-market braking system (or gearing system or other cable/wire actuated system) interface to an existing bicycle braking system utilizing a brake cable system including a brake wire sheathed in a cable housing. The method of system installation of the present invention is achieved by squeezing together the calipers of the selected brake system to release the tension of the main brake wire and housing (sheath), thereby enabling unhooking of the cable housing from the cable stops while retaining the brake wire in the installed adjusted position. The housing joiner is then attached to the cable housing in front of the forward cable stop. Thereafter, the caliper brake is then reinstalled to its original installed position. The new, auxiliary, brake wire is extended from the housing joiner to interconnect with the main brake wire at a point forward of a second cable stop. System tension is reestablished by pulling the new cable toward the back of the bike, and connecting the two cables with a clamp. It is contemplated that installation of the auxiliary braking system may be easily and readily and rapidly achieved by a layperson. The system may likewise be readily and rapidly detached by reversing these installation steps, thereby restoring the bicycle to its original condition. More specifically, precise adjustment of the brake wire is critical to predictable braking characteristics, including braking tension and release clearances when unbraked, and maintaining this precision adjustment is of significance during attachment of the supplemental system of the present invention.
It should be noted and understood that with respect to the embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein, the materials, methods, apparatus and processes disclosed and suggested may be modified or substituted to achieve the desired protected structures without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed and claimed invention.