Abstract:
An auxiliary braking system for supplementing an existing bicycle braking system is disclosed. The brake wire of the auxiliary braking system is removably secured to an existing primary brake wire, so that the actuation of the auxiliary braking system causes the main brake wire to pull and activate the caliper brakes. The interconnection of the auxiliary brake wire to the main brake wire is achieved through a housing joiner which secures the auxiliary brake wire to the top tube of the bicycle frame and a bullet clamp which creates a secure connection between the main brake wire and the auxiliary brake wire.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not applicable  
         STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    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.  
           [0004]    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.  
           [0005]    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.  
           [0006]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide an improved cable-handling system for use with cycles that overcomes these prior art shortcomings.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    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.  
           [0008]    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 “brake” 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 “bicycle” 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 “Y” 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.  
           [0009]    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&#39;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.  
           [0010]    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.  
           [0011]    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. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a bicycle equipped with an auxiliary braking system of the present invention, shown mounted to the top tube of the bicycle.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the front section of the top tube shown in FIG. 1, showing a first cable stop engaging a dual housing joiner of the cable joining system of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through section  3 - 3  of FIG. 2.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a single housing joiner shown in FIG. 1 of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the rear section of the top tube shown in FIG. 1, showing a second cable stop and wire-joining clamp according to the cable joining system of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken through section  6 - 6  of FIG. 5.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the single housing joiner taken through section  7 - 7  of FIG. 4.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the first cable stop engaging a dual housing joiner of the cable joining system of the present invention shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the double housing joiner taken through section  9 - 9  of FIG. 8.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the double housing joiner taken through section  10 - 10  of FIG. 3. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]    The detailed description as set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to represent the only form(s) in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth functions and sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is understood, however, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments and that they are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of this invention.  
         [0023]    With reference now to the drawing figures, there is shown in FIG. 1 a bicycle  10  having a frame  11  for supporting the necessary and desired components thereto. Bicycle  10  may be any type of bicycle including one selected from the types commonly referred to as on-road, off-road, hybrid, and mountain bikes. At least one hand brake lever  12  is secured for operation to handlebars  14  of bicycle  10 , or alternatively or in addition thereto to another structural member of the frame  11  such as the top tube. 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. A brake wire  16  interconnects the hand brake lever  12  to a braking system, such as rear braking system  18  shown in FIG. 1, for operating the system such as a caliper brake system, which is secured for operation about rear wheel  17 . It will be appreciated that the braking system shown in FIG. 1, and the auxiliary braking system of the present system, also may be installed on the front wheel of the bicycle. It will be understood that the term brake wire as used herein may be contained along a substantial length thereof in a sheathing to form a brake cable. Also shown are first gear actuator  20  and a second gear actuator  22 . The first gear actuator  20  is interconnected to a gear shifting mechanism (not shown) via gear wire  24 . Likewise, the second gear actuator  22  is interconnected to a rear gear mechanism (not shown) through second gear wire  26 .  
         [0024]    All of the wires for the rear braking system  18  and gear systems are secured to a structural element of the bicycle frame  11  such as a top tube  28  via a forward stop  30  and a rear stop  32 . Each stop includes wire guides to allow the wires to run along the top tube  28  and not interfere with the operation of the bicycle by the rider. Additional detail of the forward stop  30  will be further described below in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3, as will additional detail of the rear stop  32  in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6.  
         [0025]    With reference now to FIGS.  2 - 6 , forward stop  30  (FIG. 2) and rear stop  32  (FIG. 5), also known as cable stays and wire looms, serve to secure the brake wires and brake housings and/or wires along the top tube  28 . Such stops  30 ,  32  are typically found on bicycles and may be found in the prior art, and may be affixed to the top tube  28  by brazing, soldering or via fastener such as a screw  104  secured thereto. The present invention takes advantage of the configuration of the forward and rear stops  30  and  32 , respectively, by tapping into the existing first brake cable  16  to allow the auxiliary brake  34  and its auxiliary brake wire  36  to “piggyback” existing brake wire  16  to operate the caliper  18 . The auxiliary brake  34  is attached, for example, to handlebars  14 , but alternatively may be secured to another structural member of the bicycle  10  as previously described. The auxiliary brake wire  36  optionally includes a lug provided at the forward end of the wire  36  for “quick-release” engagement/disengagement with a counterpart receiving cavity provided in the housing of the auxiliary manual actuator as will be apparent to the skilled artisan, the lugged end being removable upon a release of the tensioned brake wire  36  in the fully installed condition.  
         [0026]    Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the forward stop  30  is shown in greater detail. Forward stop  30  is secured to the top tube  28  in one of the manners previously described, and includes in disclosed form three wire-receiving channels  31 , for receiving brake wire  16 , gear wire  24 , and gear wire  26 .  
         [0027]    The housing joiner  38  of the present invention includes three channels  40 ,  42  and  44  formed or otherwise provided therein. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, housing joiner  38  is fabricated of a strong, lightweight metallic or non-metallic material including but not limited to aluminum, titanium, or stainless steel alloys, rubber, plastics or shock-resistant ceramics for providing high strength characteristics with minimal weight penalty. It will be further appreciated that the housing joiner  38  may be fabricated of a non-metallic polymeric or ceramic construction to meet these requirements. The channel  44  extends the entire longitudinal extent of the housing joiner  38  in the installed condition to allow passage of the appropriate cable housing installed therethrough while channels  40 ,  42  include stops  100  and  102 , respectively, to secure a cable housing against longitudinal travel when the cable is actuated. Stops  100 ,  102  internal to the housing joiner  38  allow the housing joiner  38  to engage the brake wire  16  within channel  44  installed through a channel opening  46 . The housing joiner  38  is held in place by the sheathing of the brake cable  16  on one side and is securely abutted against the forward side of the forward cable stop  30 .  
         [0028]    With reference to FIGS.  8 - 10 , the auxiliary brake cable  36  is threaded through channel  40  of the joiner housing  38 , and optionally through a longitudinal channel opening  41  sized to receive at least the wire thickness or even the entire thickness of the encapsulated wire. A second channel  42  is additionally provided for the connection of other auxiliary components such as an additional braking system or an additional gear system, optionally through a longitudinal channel opening  43  in the manner provided for longitudinal channel opening  41 . An alternate embodiment of the housing joiner  38  is shown in FIG. 4 which includes two apertures. Alternate housing joiner  48  includes channels  50  and  52 . Channel  50 , having longitudinal channel opening  51 , engages the brake wire  16  while the channel  52  engages the auxiliary brake cable  36  within bore  53 . One or more additional cable—receiving channels may be provided for providing additional means for installing auxiliary brake cable  36  without requiring threading of the optional wire/cable through a closed-bore channel.  
         [0029]    Accordingly, the housing joiner  38  is sized and configured to engage the brake wire housing  16  snugly, and also to securely to allow for the securing of the auxiliary brake cable  36  within channel  40 , while avoiding interference with other cables secured by forward stop  30  and/or joiner  38 , such as gear cables  24  and  26 . Furthermore, housing joiner  38  may be provided with a shaped periphery having shaped concavities  47  for avoiding, for example, gear wire  24 . In turn, this shaped configuration provides for tighter packaging of the auxiliary apparatus, thereby further reducing weight, size, and rider interference concerns. It will be further appreciated that housing joiner  38  optionally in cooperation with forward stop  30  may receive and secure wires/cables for gearing control systems and/or additional accessories such as speedometer wires, electrical wires or other wires, cables or conduits to be secured to the bicycle.  
         [0030]    Now referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown a rear cable stop  32 . A clamp  54 , such as a so-called bullet clamp that secures the end or even a longitudinal extent of the auxiliary brake cable  36  not necessarily at the end of the brake cable  16 , to the main brake cable  16  in a Y-shaped configuration. Other types of clamps  54  or securing devices may be employed for this purpose as will be apparent to the skilled artisan. Because the auxiliary brake cable  36  is secured to the main brake cable  16  in that Y configuration via the bullet clamp  54 , when the auxiliary braking mechanism  34  is engaged it will pull the brake wire  16  to engage the caliper brakes  18 . Thus, cable brake  16  is mechanically interconnected to both the main brake mechanism  12  and the auxiliary brake mechanism  34 . It will be noted that either brake lever (hand brake lever  12  or auxiliary brake lever  34 ) is independently operable to achieve the desired braking operation. Accordingly, the inventive apparatus may be quickly and efficiently installed without requiring any modification to the bike structure.  
         [0031]    The method of system installation of the present invention is achieved by squeezing together the calipers of the selected brake system  18  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. In the released configuration, the calipers  18 ′ of the brake system  18  are shown positioned away from the rear wheel  17 . The housing joiner  38  is then attached to the cable housing  16  in front of the forward cable stop  30 . Thereafter, the caliper brake  18  is then reinstalled to its original installed and operative position. The new, auxiliary, brake cable or wire  36  is extended from the housing joiner  38  to interconnect with the main brake wire  16  at a point forward of a second cable stop. System tension is reestablished by pulling the new, auxiliary, brake cable or wire  36  toward the back of the bike in the general direction of the brake system  18  to which it will ultimately control, and connecting the two cables  16 ,  36  with clamp  54 . It is contemplated that installation of the auxiliary braking system of the present invention may be easily, readily and rapidly achieved by a layperson in the field. The system may likewise be readily and rapidly detached by reversing these installation steps, thereby restoring the bicycle to its original condition, without affecting previously adjusted braking tension and release clearance characteristics.  
         [0032]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the spirit and scope of the following claims.