Abstract:
A bicycle front fork is configured to reduce the risk that a poor connection occurs in a lead wire connecting an electricity generating mechanism to an electric device for ensuring reliable delivery of electric power to the electric device. The front fork has first and second fork blades, a fork crown, and a fork stem. The first and second fork blades are electrically connected to first and second electrodes, respectively. A front lamp is mounted to the fork crown. The fork crown has a spacer that electrically insulates the first fork blade and the second fork blade. The first fork blade has an attaching part where an end part of a cable extending from the electric device mounted to the fork crown can be attached.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a bicycle front end arrangement having a bicycle electric power supply system with a bicycle front fork and a bicycle hub. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bicycle front fork having first and second fork blades connected to both axially facing ends of the bicycle hub that is equipped with an electricity generating mechanism having first and second electrodes or electrical connections.  
           [0003]    2. Background Information  
           [0004]    A bicycle is generally provided with a frame that constitutes the body framework of the bicycle and a front fork that is connected in a freely rotatable manner to a front end portion of the frame. The front fork basically comprises a pair of fork blades, a fork crown, and a fork stem. The two fork blades are arranged on both sides of the front wheel with the tip end portions of the fork blades being connected to a front hub arranged on the rotational center of the front wheel. The fork crown is connected to the base end portions (i.e., opposite ends from the tip end portions) of the fork blades. The fork stem is connected to the fork crown, and is arranged to extend upwardly form the fork crown. The fork stem is supported on the front end portion of the frame in a freely rotatable manner.  
           [0005]    Such conventional bicycles as that just described are sometimes provided with a front lamp or other electric device mounted to the front fork and an electricity generating mechanism installed in the front hub for supplying electric power to the electric device. Such bicycles are usually fitted with a lead-wire-containing cable that runs along the front fork from the electricity generating mechanism to the electric device. The electricity generating mechanism generates electricity using the rotation of the front wheel and the electric power is delivered to the electric device through the lead wire (see for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-213104).  
           [0006]    In such bicycles, the electricity generating mechanism has two electrodes. One of the electrodes of the electricity generating mechanism is connected to one of the electrodes of the electric device by the lead wire and the other electrode of the electricity generating mechanism is connected to the other electrode of the electric device by the front hub and the front fork that functions as ground.  
           [0007]    In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved bicycle front end arrangement. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In the conventional bicycles described above, the lead wire is typically arranged so as to be exposed to the outside over a comparatively long distance from the electricity generating mechanism to the electric device. Consequently, there is a high risk that the lead wire will become caught on an object and broken or that a poor connection will result from the intrusion of moisture, thus interrupting the supply of electric power to the electric device.  
           [0009]    One object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle front end arrangement that reduces the risk that a poor connection will occur in the lead wire that connects an electricity generating mechanism to an electric device arranged on a front portion of a bicycle and to ensure that the electric power is delivered reliably to the electric device.  
           [0010]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a bicycle front fork arrangement is provided with a first fork blade, a second fork blade, a fork crown and a fork stem. The first fork blade is formed of an electrically conductive material. The first fork blade has a first upper base end portion, a first lower tip end portion and a lead wire attaching structure.  
           [0011]    The second fork blade is formed of an electrically conductive material. The second fork blade has a second upper base end portion and a second tip end portion. The fork crown has first and second connecting parts connected to the first and second base end portions of the first and second fork blades. The fork crown is configured to insulate the first and second fork blades from each other. The fork stem is connected to the fork crown to support the fork crown in a rotated freely with respect to a frame of a bicycle.  
           [0012]    With this bicycle front fork, the first electrode or electrical connection is electrically connected to the electric device through the first fork blade and the fork stem and the second electrode or electrical connection is electrically connected to the electric device through the second fork blade and the lead wire. The two fork blades are insulated from each other by the fork stem. Therefore, when the electricity generating mechanism generates electricity, the electrical current from the first and second electrodes or electrical connections is delivered to the electric device through the two fork blades, which are insulated from each other.  
           [0013]    With this arrangement, the two fork blades can be used in place of lead wires and the length of the lead wire from the electric device can be shortened. As a result, the risk of a poor connection occurring in the lead wire is reduced and the electric power can be delivered more reliably to the electric device.  
           [0014]    In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the bicycle front fork of the first aspect of the present invention is configured such that the bicycle front fork is further provided with a spacer member. The spacer member is made of a material having an insulating quality and arranged between the first fork blade and the first connecting part of the fork crown. The bicycle front fork insulates the two fork blades by the spacer member having an insulating quality.  
           [0015]    In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, a bicycle hub mounted to a bicycle front fork having first and second fork blades and comprises a hub shaft, a cylindrical member, and an electricity generating mechanism. The ends of the hub shaft are fastened to the tip end portions of the first and second fork blades. The cylindrical member is connected to the front wheel of the bicycle and mounted such that it rotates freely about the hub shaft. The electricity generating mechanism is arranged between the hub shaft and the cylindrical member, has a first electrode or electrical connection and a second electrode or electrical connection, and is configured such that the first electrode or electrical connection can be electrically connected to the first fork blade. The hub shaft has a shaft part and an insulating part. The shaft part is arranged so as to extend from the first fork blade to the second fork blade and configured such that it can be electrically connected to the second electrode or electrical connection. The insulating part is mounted to the shaft part and serves to insulate the shaft part and the first fork blade from each other.  
           [0016]    With this bicycle hub, the cylindrical member rotates integrally with the front wheel and the electricity generating mechanism generates electricity when the cylindrical member rotates relative to the hub shaft. The first electrode or electrical connection is electrically connected to the first fork blade, and the second electrode is electrically connected to the second fork blade through the shaft part. The first fork blade and the shaft part are insulated from each other by the insulating part. Therefore, the electric power generated by the electricity generating mechanism is delivered to the electric device (which is mounted to the front fork) through the two fork blades (which are insulated from each other).  
           [0017]    With this arrangement, the length of the lead wire from the electric device can be shortened because the electricity generating mechanism and the electric device can be electrically connected through the fork blades. A bicycle hub in accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention is a bicycle hub as described in the first aspect of the present invention, provided with a cylindrical member, a first flange, and a second flange. The first flange is formed on the end portion of the bicycle hub that is closer to the first fork blade. The second flange is formed on the end portion of the bicycle hub that is closer to the second fork blade. The insulating part of the hub shaft is arranged between the first flange and the first fork blade, is configured such that the shaft part can be passed there-through in the axial direction, and is provided with a brim and a trunk. The brim extends radially outward from the end portion of the insulating part that is closer to the second fork blade. The trunk runs from the brim to the end portion of the insulating part that is closer the first fork blade. This bicycle hub is also provided with an electrically connecting member. The electrically connecting member is an annular member that fits over the trunk of the insulating member, is connected to the first electrode of the electricity generating mechanism through a lead wire, and is configured such that it can abut against the first fork blade.  
           [0018]    With this bicycle hub, the first electrode is electrically connected to the first fork blade through the electrically connecting member and the first and second electrodes are insulated from each other because the electrically connecting member abuts against the brim of the insulating part and is thus not in contact with the shaft part.  
           [0019]    A bicycle electric power supply system in accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention is provided with a bicycle front fork and a bicycle hub. The bicycle front fork is as described in the first or second aspect of the present invention. The bicycle hub is as described in the third or fourth aspect of the present invention. The first electrode of the electricity generating mechanism is connected to the electric device through the first fork blade and a lead wire extending from the electric device. The second electrode of the electricity generating mechanism is connected to the electric device through the shaft part, the second fork blade and the fork crown.  
           [0020]    With this bicycle electric power supply system, the electric power generated by the electricity generating mechanism is delivered to the electric device through the two fork blades, which are insulated from each other. Since the two fork blades can be used in place of lead wires, the length of the lead wire can be shortened. As a result, the risk of a poor connection occurring is reduced and the electric power can be delivered reliably to the electric device.  
           [0021]    A bicycle electric power supply system in accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention is a bicycle electric power supply system as described in the fifth aspect of the present invention, wherein the electric device is mounted to the fork crown. The attaching part of the first fork blade is provided on the base end portion of the first fork blade.  
           [0022]    With this bicycle electric power supply system, the attaching part of the first fork blade is provided on the base end portion close to the fork crown. As a result, the length of the lead wire can be minimized.  
           [0023]    A bicycle electric power supply system in accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention is a bicycle electric power supply system as described in the fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention, wherein the electric device is a bicycle front lamp. The first fork blade can be electrically connected to the bicycle front lamp through a lead wire extending from the electric device and the second fork blade can be electrically connected to the bicycle front lamp through the fork crown.  
           [0024]    With this bicycle electric power supply system, the length of the lead wire is shortened and the risk of a poor connection occurring is reduced in the particular case of when the electric device is a bicycle front lamp.  
           [0025]    With the present invention, two fork blades that are insulated from each other are provided on a front portion of the bicycle. As a result, the two fork blades can be used in place of lead wires and the length of the lead wire from the bicycle-mounted electric device can be shortened. As a result, the risk of a poor connection occurring in the lead wire is reduced and the electric power can be delivered more reliably to the electric device.  
           [0026]    These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]    Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view a bicycle provided with a bicycle front end arrangement that is equipped an electric power supply system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the bicycle front end arrangement having a bicycle front fork and a bicycle front hub that are configured with the bicycle electric power supply system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the front fork that is configured to form part of the bicycle electric power supply system in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4 is a partial longitudinal cross sectional view of the front hub of that is configured to form part of the bicycle electric power supply system in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]    Selected embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.  
         [0033]    Referring initially to FIG. 1, a bicycle  1  is illustrated with a bicycle front end arrangement that is equipped an electric power supply system  108  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Basically, the bicycle  1  includes a frame  102 , a handlebar  104 , a drive section  105  (a chain, pedals, etc.), a pair of wheels  106  and  107  with a plurality of spokes  99 , and an electric power supply system  108  for delivering electric power to a front lamp  109 .  
         [0034]    As shown in FIG. 2, the front lamp  109  is mounted to the front fork  11  (described later) of the electric power supply system  108 . The front lamp  109  has two electrodes. From one of the electrodes extends a cable  110  with a lead wire for receiving electric power from the first electrode of a generator  39  of the hub  31 . The tip end portion of the lead wire has a terminal  110   a  comprising an electrically conductive portion exposed to the outside. The other electrode of the front lamp  109  is electrically connected to the fork crown  17  of the front fork  11  and grounded. For example, the other electrode of the front lamp  109  is electrically connected to the fork crown  17  of the front fork  11  by the mounted bracket of the front lamp  109 .  
         [0035]    As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electric power supply system  108  comprises a front fork  11  connected in a freely rotational manner to a front end portion of the frame  102  and a front hub  31  that is connected to the front fork  11  and to which the spokes  99  of the front wheel  106  are connected.  
         [0036]    The front fork  11  basically comprises first and second electrically conductive fork blades  13  and  15 , a fork crown  17 , and a fork stem  19 . The first and second fork blades  13  and  15  are made of a metal or other electrically conductive material and arranged on both sides of the front wheel  106 . The tip end portions  13   a  and  15   a  of both the fork blades  13  and  15  are provided mounting openings  13   d  and  15   d  for mounting the ends of the hub shaft  33  of the front hub  31 .  
         [0037]    An insulating member  14  is installed in the mounting opening  13   d  of the first fork blade  13  for electrically insulating a shaft part  34  (discussed later) of the front hub  31  from the first fork blade  13 . The base end portion  13   b  of the first fork blade  13  is connected in a fixed manner with an adhesive or other means to the first connecting part  17   a  (discussed later) with the spacer  21  (discussed later) of the fork crown  17  disposed therebetween. An attaching hole  13   c  is provided in the base end portion  13   b  of the first fork blade  13  for attaching the terminal  110   c  of the cable  110  with a screw  112 .  
         [0038]    The base end portion  15   b  of the second fork blade  15  is connected in a fixed manner with an adhesive or other means to the second connecting part  17   b  of the fork crown  17 .  
         [0039]    The fork crown  17  is made of a metal or other electrically conductive material (except for the spacer  21  discussed later), and includes first to third connecting parts  17   a  to  17   c  and a mounting hole  18 . The first and second connecting parts  17   a  and  17   b  are connected to the base end portions  13   b  and  15   b  of the first and second fork blades  13  and  15 , respectively. The third connecting part  17   c  is connected to the fork stem  19 . The mounting hole  18  is a hole through which is passed a screw  113  for mounting the front lamp  109  to the fork crown  17 . The fork crown  17  also includes the spacer  21 , which is a separate entity. The spacer  21  is made of a ceramic or other insulating material and is configured such that it can fit around or inside of the first connecting part  17   a  of the fork crown  17  and the base end portion  13   b  of the first fork blade  13 . The spacer  21  has a brim  21   a  that protrudes radially outward and serves to electrically insulate the first fork blade  13  and the fork crown  17  from each other.  
         [0040]    The fork stem  19  is made of a metal or other electrically conductive material and is arranged in a generally vertical orientation. The bottom end of the fork stem  19  is connected to the fork crown  17 , the top end is connected to the handle bar  104 , and the middle portion is connected in a freely rotatable manner to a front end portion of the frame  102 .  
         [0041]    As shown in FIG. 4, the front hub  31  comprises a hub shaft  33 , a cylindrical member  37 , a generator  39  and an electrically connecting member  41 .  
         [0042]    The hub shaft  33  has a shaft part  34  and an insulating part  35  arranged on the side closer to the first fork blade  13 . The shaft part  34  is made of an electrically conductive material. The shaft part  34  is arranged such that the two end portions thereof extend outward beyond the fork blades  13  and  15 , respectively. The shaft part  34  is fastened to the mounting openings  13   d  and  15   d  with nuts  51  and  53 . The nuts  51  and  53  are made of an electrically conductive material. The shaft part  34  is connected to the second electrode of the generator  39  through a cable  43  that forms an electrical connection. Two bearings  38  are arranged between the cylindrical member  37  and the hub shaft  33  and a ball pushing nut  45  for pushing against the balls  38   a  of the bearing  38 , a washer  46 , and a rotation preventing nut  47 . The rotation preventing nut  47  are installed on the shaft part  34  at each of the two locations where the bearings  38  are arranged. These members  45  to  47  are all made of electrically conductive materials. The hub shaft  34  is provided with a cable guide hole  34   a  (discussed later) in which a cable  44  that forms an electrical connection from the generator  39  is arranged. Thus, the cable  44  has an insulating sheath and an inner electrical wire that is electrically coupled between the generator  39  and the electrically connecting member  41 . Thus, the end of the cable  44  opposite the generator  39  forms a front fork blade contact. This fork blade contact is electrically connected to the generator  39  and insulated from the first mounting end of the electrically conductive shaft part of the hub shaft  5 .  
         [0043]    The insulating member  35  is made of a ceramic or other insulating material. The insulating member  35  includes a brim  35   a  and a cylindrical trunk  35   b . The brim  35   a  is formed such that it extends radially outward from the end portion of the cylindrical trunk  35   b  that is closer to the second fork blade  15 . The cylindrical trunk  35   b  runs from the brim  35   a  toward the first fork blade  13 . The brim  35   a  serves to electrically insulate the rotation preventing nut  47  from the electrically connecting member  41 . The shaft part  34  is extends axially through the inside of the trunk  35   b.    
         [0044]    The cylindrical member  37  is mounted such that it rotates freely about the hub shaft  33  and has radially outwardly protruding first and second flanges  37   a  and  37   b  on both its axially facing end portions. The flanges  37   a  and  37   b  has plurality of attaching holes  37   c  for attaching the radially inside ends of the spokes  99  of the front wheel  106 .  
         [0045]    The generator  39  is arranged inside the cylindrical member  37  and includes an inner stator  61  that is fixed to the hub shaft  33  and an outer rotor  63  that is fixed to the cylindrical member  37  and arranged to face the inner stator  61 . The inner stator  61  has a bobbin  65  onto which a coil (not shown in figures) is wound, and the two ends (first and second electrodes) of the coil are drawn out from both axially facing sides of the bobbin  65  and connected to the cables  44  and  43 , respectively. The outer rotor  63  comprises chiefly a plurality of permanent magnets (not shown in the figures) arranged in a circular fashion.  
         [0046]    The electrically connecting member  41  is made of an electrically conductive material and has an annular in shape. The electrically connecting member  41  is configured such that the trunk  35   b  of the insulating member  35  can be inserted through the inside thereof. The electrically connecting member  41  is arranged such that it is sandwiched between the insulating member  35  and the axially facing of the first fork blade  13 . The electrically connecting member  41  is fixed to the trunk  35   b  of the insulating member  35  using an adhesive, pressure fitting, a screw, or other well-known method. One end of the cable  44  is connected to the inside of the electrically connecting member  41 , and thus, the electrically connecting member  41  is electrically connected to the first electrode of the generator  39  through the cable  44 .  
         [0047]    Thus, in this electric power supply system  108 , the first electrode of the generator  39  is electrically connected to the front lamp  109  through the cable  44 , the electrically connecting member  41 , the first fork blade  13 , and the cable  110 . Also in this electric power supply system  108 , the second electrode of the generator  39  is connected to the front lamp  109  through the cable  43 , the shaft part  34 , the second fork blade  15 , and the fork crown  17 . The two fork blades  13  and  15  are electrically insulated from each other in this front fork  11  because the spacer  21  electrically insulates the first fork blade  13  from the fork crown  17 . In the front hub  31 , the insulating member  14  electrically insulates the first fork blade  13  from the nut  51  and the insulating member  35  electrically insulates the rotation preventing nut  47  from the electrically connecting member  41 .  
         [0048]    With this system  108 , when the front wheel  106  rotates, the cylindrical member  37  of the front hub  31  rotates integrally with the front wheel  106  and the outer rotor  63  and the inner stator  61  of the generator  39  rotate relative to each other to generate electricity. Then, the electric power from the first and second electrodes of the generator  39  is delivered to the front lamp  109  through the two fork blades  13  and  15 , which are insulated from each other. The electric current from the second electrode functions as ground in this embodiment.  
         [0049]    Thus, with this system  108 , the two fork blades  13  and  15  are used as lead wires and the length of the cable  110  is shortened. As a result, with this system  108 , the risk of a poor connection occurring in the cable  110  is reduced and the electric power can be delivered more reliably to the front lamp  109 .  
         [0050]    In particular, with this system  108 , the length of the cable  110  is held to a minimum because the attaching hole  13 c for attaching the cable  110  is provided closely adjacent to the fork crown  17 , on which the front lamp  109  is mounted.  
         [0051]    Additionally, with this system  108 , it is not necessary to prepare any new parts to replace the lead wires because the two fork blades  13  and  15 , which are already used as component parts of the bicycle  1 , are used as lead wires.  
         [0052]    As used herein, the following directional terms “forward, rearward, above, downward, vertical, horizontal, below and transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a bicycle equipped with the present invention. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a bicycle equipped with the present invention. Moreover, the terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. These terms should be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies.  
         [0053]    This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-185458. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-185458 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0054]    While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the bicycle electric power supply system of the present invention is not limited to from lamp applications. It can also be applied to other electric devices, such as a gear indicator provided with a display. Also, the fork crown is not limited to a configuration in which the spacer is a separate entity. It is also acceptable for to have an insulating portion formed integrally with the electrically conductive portion. In addition, the bicycle hub is not limited to the nut-fastened type described in the embodiment; it is also acceptable to use a quick release arrangement. In such a case, the shaft part of the hub shaft is a hollow member with a passage running in the axial direction.  
         [0055]    Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.