Flat cable connector for a bicycle

Abstract: An electrical cable connector (11, 12) for bicycles that has a simple structure, low cost, and excellent shielding against shocks, moisture, and the like is disclosed. The connector (11, 12) includes a connector body (60) which has a top surface and a bottom surface, and has a slit (61) which forms a passageway between the top and bottom surfaces. The top surface includes an inclined portion (62) which extends from the slit (61) to a flat terminal section (63). A flat cable (10, 13) extends along the bottom surface, through the slit (61), and along the top surface such that a terminal (65) at the end of the flat cable (10, 13) is positioned on the flat terminal section (63). In a disclosed application, the connector (11, 12) plugs into a female connector (53, 56) of a switch unit (20) of a bicycle lever bracket (5).

Description: Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flat bicycle cable connector for forming connections with the signal wires from sensors or switches, and, more particularly, to a flat bicycle cable connector for forming connections with the bicycle switches disposed on a lever bracket designed to hold a brake lever and fixed to the bicycle handlebar. 2. Description of the Related Art Bicycles are often equipped with displays for displaying the bicycle speed, the distance traveled, the shifter position, and various other types of information. Displays capable of displaying such a large volume of information are equipped with switches for switching among the types of parameters displayed or for indicating the start of measurement. In addition, displays are often detachably mounted on bicycles, and display switches are often integrated with the displays. There are also switches that are disposed on lever brackets (brackets that are designed to hold brake levers and that are fixed to the bicycle handlebar) to achieve better operability (US Patent 4,071,892). Connectors for connecting the signal wires from sensors (such as those for sensing the shifting position of the shift lever section) with the circuit substrates provided with these switches are used to allow the shifting position to be viewed on a display. Existing connectors for connecting the signal wires from various sensors with circuit substrates tend to develop faulty contacts and other defects as a result of vibration. Another drawback is the failure to properly seal such connectors against water or the like, making it easier for the connection terminals to become corroded or otherwise affected. Still another drawback is that conventional connectors have complex structures, high cost, and low impact resistance against vibration or the like. A flat cable connector is known from US Patent Number. 4,770,645 (ANTES). This connector provides a method and apparatus for connecting a flat cable to a printed circuit board. The connector comprises a retaining member comprising a bar portion around which a cable is wrapped, and means for lining and securing the retaining member to the printed circuit board. Summary of the Invention The first aspect of the present invention is directed towards a flat bicycle cable connector in accordance with Claim 1. The second aspect of the present invention is directed towards a method for providing a male connector for a flat cable in accordance with Claim 9. In general terms, the present invention concerns a bicycle connector for a flat cable that has a simple structure, low cost, and excellent protection against shocks, moisture, and the like. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a flat bicycle cable connector which comprises a connector body which has a bottom surface, a top surface that includes a terminal surface, and a tip surface. The connector body has a slit formed therein for allowing a flat cable to pass between the top and bottom surfaces without extending along the tip surface. A flat cable comprising a plurality of signal wires arranged in parallel extends along the bottom surface, through the slit, and along the top surface such that a terminal of the cable is positioned on the terminal surface . The connector body is preferably provided with an inclined section that is shaped as a continuation of the flat section at the tip. Furthermore, the connector body is preferably formed from an elastic material such as rubber. Additionally, the section corresponding to the slit is preferably sealed with a packing material when the flat cable has been inserted. In a preferred application for the connector, the connector is received by a female connector of a switch unit that is mounted on a bicycle lever bracket. Brief Description of the Drawings These and other features of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings of a preferred embodiment, which is intended to illustrate but not limit the scope of the invention, and in which: Figure 1 is a diagram depicting the lever bracket used for the flat bicycle cable connector of the present invention. Figure 2 is an exploded view of a shifter and a lever bracket. Figure 3 is a detail drawing depicting the lower switch case, where Figure 3a is a front view and Figure 3B is a top view. Figure 4 is a diagram depicting a printing substrate, where Figure 4a is a front view and Figure 4b is a back side view. Figure 5 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view depicting the structure of a position sensor, flat cable, and male connector. Figure 6 is a top view of the male connector. Figure 7 is an oblique view depicting the structure of a connector body. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram depicting the lever bracket used for the flat bicycle cable connector of the present invention. The lever bracket, which is designed for mounting a control lever 3 capable of performing braking and shifting operations, is fixed with the aid of a fixing band 16 to a bicycle handlebar 15. The lever bracket, which is provided with switches for turning on the display, switching the display modes, and the like, is operated by means of push-button protrusions 18. Figure 2 is an exploded view of a shifter 1 and a lever bracket 5. The shifter 1, which is mounted on a rocker body 2, can be used to perform braking and shifting with the aid of the same control lever 3. The rocker body 2 is hingedly mounted on the lever bracket 5 with the aid of a spindle bore 4 in the rocker body and with the aid of a rockshaft (not shown) that passes through the spindle bore 6 of the lever bracket 5. In addition, one end of a brake cable 7 is connected to the rocker body 2. Furthermore, one end of a derailleur wire (not shown) for actuating the rear derailleur (not shown) of the chain-shifting mechanism is connected to the winding drum 8 of the shifter 1. To brake, the rider grips the control lever 3 and swings the rocker body 2 together with the shifter 1 about the rockshaft, pulling the brake cable 7 and actuating the front brake. To shift, the rider turns the control lever 3 about an axis of rotation orthogonal to the rockshaft, rotatably actuating the winding drum 8, pulling the derailleur wire, and executing a shift. Consequently, braking is performed by swinging the rocker body 2 with the aid of the control lever 3, whereas shifting is performed by turning the winding drum 8 with the aid of the control lever 3. The shifter 1 has a conventional structure (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2-225191) and will not be described in detail herein because it falls outside the scope of the present invention. The shifter 1 is fitted with a position sensor 9 for sensing the position of the winding drum 8. The position sensor 9 electrically senses the angle of the winding drum 8 with the aid of a physical contact. The shifting position of the derailleur can thus be sensed by sensing the angle of the winding drum 8. The angle-sensing structure will not be described in detail herein because it falls outside the scope of the present invention. One end of a flat cable 10 having a plurality of signal wires is connected to the position sensor 9. The other end of the flat cable 10 is fashioned as a male connector 11. The flat cable 10 is passed through the lever bracket 5 and connected by means of the male connector 11 (located on the tip of the cable) with a female connector 56 (Figure 4), which is a terminal provided to a printed substrate used to position connectors and other components. A male connector 12 is further connected to the female connector 53 of the printed substrate, and a five-conductor cord 13 connected thereto is also connected to the display. Figure 3 is a detail drawing depicting the lower switch case 31. Figure 3a is a front view, and Figure 3b is a top view. The lower switch case 31 is roughly shaped as a flat rectangle, and a groove 41 is formed around the outside of the front surface 42 thereof. The protrusion on the upper switch cover 38 is inserted into the groove 41, and the two are then integrated by ultrasonic welding. The lower switch case 31 is provided with a notch 43. The notch 43 is used to house the female connector 56 (Figure 4b) mounted on the printed substrate 32. Two positioning pins 44 are formed on the front surface 42 of the lower switch case 31. The positioning pins 44 are used to position the printed substrate 32 in the lower switch case 31. Figure 4 is a diagram depicting the printed substrate 32. Figure 4a is a front view, and Figure 4b is a back view. The printed substrate 32 is shaped as a plate, and electric circuits are formed on its surface by conventional methods. The printed substrate 32 has a roughly rectangular outside shape, and a notch 51 is formed in one of its corner portions. Positioning holes 52 are formed at two positions in the center of the printed substrate 32. The positioning pins 44 of the lower switch case 31 are inserted into these positioning holes 52 to position the printed substrate 32 in the lower switch case 31. The female connector 53 is fixed by soldering to the front surface of the printed substrate 32. The female connector 53 provides electrical conductivity for the wiring pattern formed from a copper foil or other conductor on the printed substrate 32. The male connector 11 of the flat cable 10 leading from the position sensor 9 is inserted into the female connector 56. In addition, a mode switch 55 and a start switch 54 for a display (not shown) are fixedly mounted on the front surface of the printed substrate 32. The start switch 54 is used to control the initiation and termination of measurement for the lap time or the distance traveled by the bicycle. The start switch 54 and the mode switch 55 are conventional switches fixed by soldering to the printed substrate. These switches are turned on and off by being pressed at the top, and are provided with a conventional structure in which built-in springs return the switches to their original operating positions once the top portion has been depressed and released with a finger. The mode switch 55 is used to select the display mode of the display, that is, to select the parameter type or the display routine. Examples of display modes including a speed display mode for indicating the traveling speed, a travel distance display mode for indicating the distance traveled, and a travel time display mode for indicating the travel time. These types of bicycle computer functions are known in the art and will not be described in detail herein because they fall outside the scope of the present invention. Figure 5 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view depicting the structure of the position sensor 9, flat cable 10, and male connector 11. Figure 6 is a top view of the male connector 11, and Figure 7 is an oblique view depicting the structure of a connector body 60. Throughout the description of the male connector 11, the terms "top" and "bottom" are used for convenience of description only, and are not intended to imply a particular orientation for using the connector. The fixed component 91 of the position sensor 9 is fixed to the shifter 1 (Figure 2). The rotary component 92 of the position sensor 9 is fixed to the winding drum 8 and is rotated together with this winding drum. The shifting position of the rear derailleur, that is, the rotary position of the winding drum 8, can be sensed based on the relative positions of the fixed component 91 and rotary component 92. A voltage signal corresponding to the shifting position is outputted as a sensing signal for the shifting position on the rear side, and an on/off signal is outputted on the front side. The flat cable 10 is a four-conductor cable having four signal wires. One end of the cable is connected to the position sensor 9, and the other end of the cable is fashioned as a terminal for the male connector 11. Specifically, the other end of the flat cable 10 passes from the bottom side of the connector body 60 (lower surface in Figure 5) to the side facing the terminal (upper surface in Figure 5) through a slit 61 formed near the tip of the connector body 60. In addition, the end portion of the flat cable 10 is folded backward along the inclined section 62 and a flat terminal section 63 of the connector body 60. After the flat cable 10 is inserted, the recession formed at the front end of the inclined section 62 is packed with a filler to seal the gap formed by the slit 61 that goes around the flat cable 10. A terminal 65 connected to or formed by the signal wires is mounted on the upper surface at the end of the flat cable 10 thus installed. The terminal 65 is preferably formed from a metal thin film or other material patterned on one or both surfaces at the tip of the flat cable 10. The connector body 60 is preferably formed from rubber or another elastic material. The inclined section 62 of the connector body 60 is shaped such that it is thin in its front portion and thick in its back portion, and a slit 61 capable of accommodating the passage of the flat cable 10 is formed in the front end of the inclined section 62. A continuing flat section or surface 63 of constant thickness is formed in the back of the inclined section 62. This flat surface 63 is preferably parallel to the main bottom surface of the connector body 60. As best seen in Figure 8 (primarily in dashed lines), that bottom surface of the connector body 60 has a channel or depression extending longitudinally therealong for receiving the flat cable 10. This channel has a width which is sized to match the width of the flat cable 10. The male connector 11 is inserted into the female connector 56 shown in Figure 2, connecting the terminal 65 of the male connector 11 with the terminal formed on the inner surface of the female-connector 56. The male connector 11 can thus be provided with a simple structure at a low cost. In addition, the space between the female connector 56 and the male connector 11 is sealed without any gaps being left because the connector body 60 is formed from rubber or another such elastic material. As a result, water and other types of extraneous matter are prevented from penetrating into the connection terminals, resulting in very few faulty connections. In addition, the terminal 65 is pressed against the terminal of the female connector 56 by the elasticity of the connector body 60, reducing the incidence of faulty connections, noise, or the like to a very low level even when the bicycle is subjected to violet vibration or shocks. Although the present embodiment has been described with reference to a case in which the entire connector body is made from rubber, it is also possible to use a soft synthetic resin other than rubber, as well as an elastomer or other elastic material, or to adopt an approach in which, for example, the surface of a body made from a hard material is covered with an elastic material. Due to its structure, the preferred embodiment provides at least the following benefits: The costs can be kept low because the male connector 11 has a simple structure, and only a small number of parts are needed to construct the male connector. The male and female connectors 11, 56 can be smoothly connected because the top surface of the connector body is provided with an inclined section 62 that is shaped as a continuation of the flat terminal section 63 at the top. This included section 62 extends upward from the slit to the flat top surface 63, so that the height or thickness of the connector body 60 is thicker at the flat terminal surface 63 than it is near the slit 61. The space between the male connector 11 and the insertion hole of the female connector 56 is sealed without any gaps being left because the connector body 60 is formed from rubber or another such elastic material. As a result, water and other types of extraneous matter are prevented from penetrating into the connection terminals, and corrosion or faulty connections occur only very rarely. In addition, the terminal 65 of the male connector 11 is pressed against the terminal of the female connector by the elasticity of the connector body, reducing the incidence of faulty connections, noise, or the like to a very low level even when the bicycle is subjected to violent vibration or shocks. Penetration of water and other types of extraneous matter into the connection terminals is further reduced by the use of a packing material to seal the slit sections accommodating the passage of the flat cable 10, reducing the incidence of corrosion or faulty connections occur to a very low level. Although this invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to be defined only by reference to the appended claims.

Claims: A flat bicycle cable connector (11,12), comprising: a connector body (60) having a bottom surface, a top surface that includes a terminal surface (63), and a tip surface, the connector body (60) having a slit (61) formed therein for allowing a flat cable (10) to pass between the top and bottom surfaces without extending along the tip surface; and a flat cable (10) that comprises a plurality of signal wires arranged in parallel, the cable having a terminal (65) on at least one side, the cable extending along the bottom surface, through the slit (61), and along the top surface such that the terminal (65) is positioned on the terminal surface (63), whereby said flat bicycle cable connector (11,12) is a male cable connector (11,12), and in that the flat cable (10) extends to the flat terminal surface (63) such that the signal wires of the flat cable (10) are positioned to make electrical connection with conductors of a female connector (56,53). A flat bicycle cable connector (11,12) as defined in Claim 1, wherein the connector body (60) has a tip portion which includes said tip surface, and the slit (61) is spaced from the tip portion such that the flat cable (10) passes from the bottom surface to the top surface without extending along the tip surface. The flat bicycle cable connector (11,12) as defined in any preceding Claim, wherein the terminal surface (63) is generally parallel to the bottom surface, and the top surface includes an inclined section (62) which extends generally from the slit (61) to the terminal surface (63). The flat bicycle cable connector (11,12) as defined in any preceding Claim, wherein the connector body (60) is formed from an elastic material. The flat bicycle cable connector (11,12) as defined in Claim 4, wherein the elastic material is rubber. The flat bicycle cable connector (11,12) as defined in any preceding Claim, wherein the slit (61) is sealed with a packing material. The flat bicycle cable connector (11,12) as defined in any preceding Claim, in combination with a lever bracket (5) that is adapted to be mounted to a bicycle handlebar, the lever bracket (5) including a switch unit (20) which includes a female connector (56,53), the female connector (56) configured to receive and electrically connect to the cable connector (11,12). The flat bicycle cable connector (11,12) as defined in any preceding Claim, wherein the connector body (60) has a generally rectangular configuration. A method for providing a male connector (11,12) for a flat cable (10) having a plurality of signal wires arranged in parallel, the method comprising: providing a connector body (60) that includes a slit (61) formed through the body (60), the slit (61) providing a passageway between a top surface and a bottom surface of the body (60); and passing the flat cable (10) along the bottom surface, through the slit (61), and along the top surface such that the signal wires of the flat cable (10) are positioned along the top surface and is configured to make electrical connections with a female connector (56,53). The method of Claim 9, wherein the top surface has a terminal surface (63) which is generally parallel to the bottom surface, and the method further comprises passing the cable (10) along an inclined surface (62) which extends between the bottom surface and the terminal surface (63). The method of either of Claims 9 or 10, further comprising filling the slit (61) with a sealing material to prevent leakage.

Inventors: KISHIMOTO HITOSHI, KISHIMOTO, HITOSHI
Applicants: SHIMANO KK, SHIMANO INC.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H01R12
IPC codes: B62L3, B62J6, H01R12, H01R13, B62K23