Bicycle Control Lever Bracket with Movable Electrical Connector Housing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bicycle control devices with electrical components lack easy access for attaching and detaching electrical wires, making them inconvenient and difficult to manufacture and assemble.

Innovation Solution

A bicycle control device with a lever bracket that includes a movable electrical connector housing, allowing easy access for attaching and detaching electrical wires, and featuring a main electrical connector and an auxiliary connector for flexibility in device integration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the electrical connector housing is integrated into the bracket body, then the device structure is compact, but the accessibility for attaching and detaching electrical wires is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccessibility of electrical connector housingVSAvoidStructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical connector housing is designed to be movable relative to the bracket body, transitioning between a retracted position (reducing accessibility) and an extended accessible position (improving accessibility for wire attachment). This dynamic configuration allows the housing to adapt its position based on operational needs, resolving the contradiction between compact structure and ease of access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the electrical connector housing is fixed in position, then the device structure is simple, but the ease of attaching and detaching electrical wires is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveEase of attaching and detaching electrical wiresVSAvoidManufacturing and assembly simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical connector housing is designed to be movable relative to the bracket body, transitioning between a retracted position (reducing accessibility) and an extended accessible position (improving accessibility for wire attachment). This dynamic configuration allows the housing to adapt its position based on operational needs, resolving the contradiction between compact structure and ease of access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If only a main electrical connector is provided, then the device is simple to manufacture, but the adaptability for future electrical devices is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAdaptability for future electrical devicesVSAvoidNumber of electrical connectors
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket body is designed with both a main electrical connector for current use and an auxiliary electrical connector positioned for future electrical devices. This multi-functionality approach allows the control device to serve both present and future needs without requiring redesign or replacement, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP1925543B1Bicycle control device
Publication Date: 2010.04.21 SHIMANO INC
  • EP1925543B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1925543B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1925543B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A bicycle control device is provided with a control lever and a lever bracket. The lever bracket is movably supporting the control lever. The lever bracket includes a bracket body and an electrical connector housing. The bracket body has a bicycle mounting portion and a control lever mounting portion. The electrical connector housing is movably supported on the bracket body between a retracted position and an accessible position. An electrical connector is coupled to the lever bracket and is provided as an unused electrical connector for use with an electrical device that is afterward equipped.