DRIVING MEANS OF A BICYCLE BRAKE, IN PARTICULAR A RACING BICYCLE

Abstract: The proposed device provides for a brake a lever (21) hinged in such a way to turn around an axis (X) substantially parallel to the supporting axis of the cyclist's hand. The brake lever can be supported by two tabs (17) placed on the hand's supporting handle (14). The holding cavity (40) is preferably utilized to receive the means of transmission of the brake control and the mechanism (30, 32) that is part of the actioning device.

Description: DRIVING MEANS OF A BICYCLE BRAKE, IN PARTICULAR A RACING BICYCLE This invention refers to a driving means for a bicycle brake, in particular a racing bicycle. The known devices have the disadvantage of obliging the cyclist to carry out with each finger a different stroke; often the little 5. finger, weaker than the other fingers, has to perform the major effort. Moreover the free end of the lever is one of the main causes wich provoke physical damage during falls. Beside that, the levers that are actually found on the market are scarcely aerodynamic. Their driving mechanisms are often irrational, providing, for instance, τ_ u# narrow curves for the control wire, especially when the passage of cables is provided inside the handle bar tube. Furthermore, in the speed contests, bicycles having reversed handle bar in comparison to the ordinary racing one are used. This handle bar is indeed turned over, extending itself in a straight line position that facilitates the hand hold and permits the cyclist to assume a 5. more aerodynamic position. In these cases the problem of actioning the braking lever is even more serious. The solutions so far effected are not very efficient; the actioning rod has to perform exessively narrow curves and this facilitates breakages and makes eventual substitutions long and difficult. 10. Purpose of this invention is that of carrying out a brake actioning device more confortable for the cyclist, more entrusting and secure, permitting even simple substitutions of pieces as well as a construction that is on the whole aerodynamic. Another purpose is that of creating a device that can be adapted to 15. handle bars having upsetted ends, handle bars that are used in speed contests. The proposed driving means reach the above mentioned aims providing a lever hinged in such way to rotate around an axis substantially parallel to the hand's supporting axis. 20. A preferred solution provides that the brake's lever is U shaped and that its ends are hinged on the hold of the handle bar. Another favourable solution is that of providing for a cavity in the hold to contain the brake driving mechanism. In this last case it is preferable to let the hold protrude a certain distance over the tube forming the structure of the handle bar, so to obtain at i s ends a wide cavity. Another favourable solution is that of realizing the axis lever _ support with two tabs parallel to the hold of the handle bar. The driving mechanism can be both hydraulic and mechanic, providing the passing from one solution to the other by simple substitution of some mechanical piece. Particularly, the driving mechanism can consist in a pivot joint and a 10. * rocherarm that set in action a small hydraulic piston or alternatively the tie rod of a flexible wire control. The invention will be now better explained with an examplar solution that is shewn in the enclosed drawings, in wich: figure 1 is a perspective view of the whole handle bar on wich the 15. proposed device is set. Figure 2 is a partially sectioned upper view of a handle including the proposed device, also indicating the position of the cyclist's hand; figure 3 is the view of section 3-3 in figure2; figure 4 is the view of section 4-4 in picture 2; figure 5 is the schematic view of a variant of the actioning mechanism. From the drawings it can be noticed that the handle bar 10 has a middle portion liable to be inserted in the bicycle's lug and two 5. braces 12 and 13 that stretch out towards the front and upper side. At the ends of these braces are foreseen handles 14 and 15 including each one a wide cavity 40 and two lateral tabs 16 and 17. Each of these provide a seat 18 in wich is inserted a bolt 19 that allows the rotation of levers 20 and 21 around an axis X parallel to the axis Y 10. of handle 14 or 15. These last are shaped as an U and have their ends provided with a seat 22 for bolt 19 and with a nub 25. This nub 25 is provided with a spherical head 26 on wich is engaged an end of the pivot joint 30 whose other end is engaged in another spherical head 31 fast with an arm of an L shaped rockerarm 32. 15. The rockerarm 32 is hinged in a fixed point 33 provided for inside the handle in cavity 40. As visible from the drawings all the mechanisms are contained in the mentioned cavity. In particular the rockerarm 32 has another arm that is liable to press with its end 34 on bar 35 that drives a small hydraulic cylinder 41 to set in action the brake shoes 20. (not represented) holding the braking pads. The hydraulic cylinder 41 is progressively fed by reservoir 50 provided at the highest part of the handle, on the enlarged portion that acts as security anatomical end of the handle. It is also possible to foresee a wire drived mechanism of the kind 25. shown in figure 5. In this case the nub 25 will receive the end of a pivot joint 30a similar to pivot 30 and this will be connected to a rockerarm 32a that will set in action, in a similar way, instead of cylinder 41, the wire 52 of a flexible wire drive 51.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Driving means for a bicicle brake comprising a lever (20,21) and a means for transfering the movement of such lever to the brakr shoes carrying the braking pads, characterized in that by a lever (20,21) hinged in such way to rotate around an axis (X) disposed substantially 5. parallel to the hand's supporting axis (Y). 2. Driving means as in claim 1, characterized in that the brake lever (20,21) is U shaped and has its two ends hinged at the hold (14,15) of the handle bar. 3. Driving means as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in providing for a 10. cavity (40) in the hold (14,15) that is able to receive the mechanism of the brake. 4. Driving means as in claim 3, characterized by the handle (14,15) protruding for a certain distance over the tube forming the structure of the handle, so to obtain at its ends of this a wide cavity (40) 15. 5. Driving means as in any of the previous claims, characterized in that the support of the lever's axis consists in two tabs (16,17) fast with the hold (14,15) of the handle bar. 6. Driving means as in any of the previous claims, characterized by a hydraulic driving mechanism. 7. Driving means as in any of the previous claims, characterized by a wire driving mechanism. 5. 8. Driving means as in claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the mechanism consists in a pivot joint (30,30a) and in a rockerarm (32,32a) that set in action a small hydraulic piston (41) or alternatively wire (52) of a flexible wire drive, that is to say the means of transmission to the brake shoes.

Inventors: MODOLO DOMENICO, MODOLO, DOMENICO
Applicants: MODOLO ADAMO & C, MODOLO ADAMO & C. S.N.C.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B62L3
IPC codes: B62K23, B62L3, G05G1