Control system for bicycles

Abstract

This invention refers to a control device for a bicycle, comprising a clamp member attached to a handlebar stem, an electronic control assembly, and an adjustable attachment member. The adjustable attachment member includes a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion. The first attachment portion and the clamp member are mounted using the same fixing screw. The second attachment portion is located on the electronic control assembly and is detachably attached to the first attachment portion. The first and second attachment portions have a spherical receiving portion and a spherical protruding portion facing each other. The electronic control assembly includes a housing and a switch assembly. The switch assembly has at least two operating elements housed in the housing, and the relative positions of these operating elements remain unchanged after angular adjustment. This allows the electronic control assembly to be angularly adjusted in at least two directions relative to the mounting axis, avoiding the defects of existing technology where the operating direction is misaligned due to housing rotation. This allows the thumb to reach the buttons along a natural sweeping path, reducing unnecessary hand movements and thus improving operational stability and safety.

Claims

1. A control device for a bicycle, comprising: a clamp member locked to a bicycle handlebar stem along a mounting axis direction by a fixing screw; an electronic control assembly; and an adjustable attachment member having a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion, wherein the first attachment portion is mounted to the clamp member by the fixing screw, and the second attachment portion is disposed on the electronic control assembly and detachably attached to the first attachment portion, allowing the electronic control device to be adjusted in position in at least two directions relative to the mounting axis, wherein... The electronic control device includes: a housing; a switch assembly containing at least two operating elements and housed within the housing, wherein the relative positions of the operating elements remain unchanged when the electronic control device is repositioned.

2. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 1, wherein the second attachment is detachably attached to the electronic control device by means of a set of attachments.

3. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 2, wherein the assembly portion has a plug hole formed at one end of the housing, the housing has a stop screw hole radially communicating with the plug hole for a corresponding stop screw to be screwed in, and the assembly portion has a corresponding insertion section at the second attachment portion, and the outer periphery of the insertion section has at least one locking plane for the stop screw to lock and position.

4. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 1, wherein a pivot point is provided between the mounting axis and the second attachment, such that the electronic control device can be adjusted about the pivot point in terms of pitch and yaw direction.

5. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 1 or 4, wherein the first attachment portion has one of a spherical receiving portion or a spherical protrusion portion, and the second attachment portion has the other of a spherical receiving portion or a spherical protrusion portion, and the spherical protrusion portion can be received in the spherical receiving portion to form a spherical universal adjustment structure.

6. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 5, wherein a friction pad, wave washer or rubber ring is provided between the spherical receiving portion and the spherical protruding portion to allow smooth adjustment in a loose state and to provide sufficient friction to resist external vibration in a locked state.

7. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 1, wherein the clamp member includes a loop, which may be a complete loop or composed of joined half loops.

8. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 7, wherein the inner edge of the loop has anti-slip texture, rubber coating or toothed structure to prevent displacement.

9. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 7 or 8, wherein a first mounting portion is formed at the outer periphery of the ferrule, the first mounting portion including a limiting mounting groove, and the adjustable attachment member has an opposing second mounting portion including a limiting mounting block corresponding to the limiting mounting groove, so that the adjustable attachment member can be mounted on the ferrule.

10. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 9, wherein the fixing bolt can be simultaneously screwed on to tighten the clamp and lock the adjustable attachment member.

11. The control device for a bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic control device further houses a circuit board and a battery within a housing, the circuit board including at least an antenna, at least one connector, at least one indicator LED and a plurality of switching elements, each of the switching elements corresponding to each of the operating elements, and the position of each of the operating elements being fixed.

12. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 11, wherein the operating element of the switch assembly is disposed on the surface of the housing, and the operating element is operable by pivot rotation or linear pressing.

13. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 11, wherein the circuit board antenna, connector and indicator LED can be arranged on the other side of the battery.

14. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 11 or 13, wherein the circuit board of the electronic control assembly is arranged parallel to the battery.

15. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 14, wherein the circuit board and the battery do not overlap in the vertical or horizontal direction to avoid interference with electronic signals on the circuit board.

16. A control device for a bicycle, comprising: a base structure for attachment to a bicycle handlebar; a housing; a switch assembly having at least two operating elements, each operating element being attached to the housing; and an attachment structure for detachably attaching the housing to the base structure, wherein the attachment structure has an adjustment device that allows the housing to be adjusted in at least two directions relative to a fulcrum of the base structure; wherein when the housing is adjusted, the relative positions of the two operating elements of the switch assembly are fixed.

17. The control device for a bicycle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the adjustment structure includes a first attachment portion connecting to the base structure and a second attachment portion connecting to the housing, wherein the first attachment portion has one of a spherical receiving portion or a spherical protrusion portion, and the second attachment portion has the other of a spherical receiving portion or a spherical protrusion portion, and the spherical protrusion portion can be received in the spherical receiving portion.

18. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 17, wherein a friction pad, wave washer or rubber ring is provided between the spherical receiving portion and the spherical protrusion portion to allow smooth adjustment in a loose state and to provide sufficient friction to resist external vibrations in a locked state.

19. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 16, wherein the control device for the bicycle is a mechanical cable control assembly.

20. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 16, wherein the control device for the bicycle is an electronic control device.

21. The control device for a bicycle as claimed in claim 20, wherein the electronic control device further houses a circuit board and a battery within a housing, the circuit board including at least an antenna, at least one connector, at least one indicator LED and a plurality of switching elements, each of the switching elements corresponding to a certain operating element, and the position of each operating element being fixed.

22. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 21, wherein the circuit board antenna, connector and indicator LED can be arranged on the other side of the battery.

23. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 21, wherein the circuit board of the electronic control assembly is arranged in parallel with the battery.

24. The control device for a bicycle as described in any of claims 21 to 23, wherein the circuit board and the battery do not overlap in the vertical or horizontal direction to avoid interference with electronic signals on the circuit board.

25. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 16, wherein the operating element of the switch assembly is disposed on the surface of the housing, and the operating element is operable by pivot rotation or linear pressing.

26. A control device for a bicycle, comprising: a clamping member locked to a bicycle handlebar stem by a fixing screw along a first mounting axis; an electronic control assembly; and an attachment member having a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion, wherein the first attachment portion is mounted to the clamping member along a second mounting axis direction different from the first mounting axis direction, and the second attachment portion is disposed in the electronic control assembly and detachably attached to the first attachment portion, such that the electronic control device can be adjusted in position in at least two directions relative to the second mounting axis, wherein... The electronic control device includes: a housing; a switch assembly containing at least two operating elements and housed within the housing, wherein the relative positions of the operating elements remain unchanged when the electronic control device is repositioned.

27. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 26, wherein the top end of the first attachment portion has a drive hole corresponding to one end of the retaining ring for the action of a drive tool, and a spherical receiving portion is formed on the inner periphery of the first attachment portion corresponding to one end of the second attachment portion, and a first threaded segment is formed on the outer periphery of the first attachment portion, and a locking sleeve with an axis not on the same extension line as the first mounting axis is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the retaining ring, and the locking sleeve has a second threaded segment that can be selectively screwed onto the first threaded segment of the first attachment portion, so that the first attachment portion can be locked onto the retaining ring through the locking sleeve.

28. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 27, wherein a friction pad, corrugated washer or rubber ring is provided between the spherical receiving portion and the spherical protrusion portion to allow smooth adjustment in a loose state and to provide sufficient friction to resist external vibrations in a locked state.

29. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 26, wherein the clamp member includes a loop, which may be a complete loop or composed of joined half loops.

30. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 29, wherein the inner edge of the loop has anti-slip texture, rubber coating or toothed structure to prevent displacement.

31. A control device for a bicycle as described in any one of claims 26 to 30, wherein the second attachment is detachably attached to the electronic control device by means of a set of attachments.

32. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 31, wherein the assembly portion is attached to the housing of the electronic control assembly and has an attachment protrusion, the attachment protrusion having a screw hole for axially oriented second attachment portion, and the assembly portion having a screw locking section at one end of the second attachment portion different from the spherical protrusion portion, and the screw locking section being screwed into the screw locking hole of the attachment protrusion, so that the attachment structure can be fixed to the electronic control assembly.

33. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 31, wherein the second attachment has a stop flange formed at the upper edge of the screw-lock section to limit the screw-lock depth of the second attachment.

34. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 31, wherein the top of the spherical protrusion of the second attachment has a tool drive hole, and the spherical receiving portion of the first attachment is in communication with the drive hole, so that a driving tool can pass through the drive hole and directly actuate the tool drive hole of the second attachment, allowing the second attachment to be selectively locked and disengaged relative to the electronic control assembly.

35. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 31, wherein a receiving seat is fitted on the attachment protrusion, the receiving seat having a mounting guide groove corresponding to the attachment protrusion, and the receiving seat having an insertion hole for the second attachment portion to pass through axially, and the receiving seat having a stop screw hole radially communicating with the insertion hole for a corresponding stop screw to be screwed in.

36. The control device for a bicycle as claimed in claim 26, wherein the electronic control device further houses a circuit board and a battery within a housing, the circuit board including at least one antenna, at least one connector, at least one indicator LED and a plurality of switching elements, each of the switching elements corresponding to a certain operating element, and the position of each operating element being fixed.

37. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 36, wherein the operating element of the switch assembly is disposed on the surface of the housing, and the operating element is operable by pivot rotation or linear pressing.

38. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 36, wherein the circuit board antenna, connector and indicator LED can be arranged on the other side of the battery.

39. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 36 or 38, wherein the circuit board of the electronic control assembly is arranged in parallel with the battery.

40. The control device for a bicycle as described in claim 39, wherein the circuit board and the battery do not overlap in the vertical or horizontal direction to avoid interference with electronic signals on the circuit board.

Images