Abstract:
A sequential brake control device for a cycle has a sliding connector and a front delaying and anti-lock spring set to serve to sequentially actuate brake. A left lever cable and a right lever cable are commonly connected to the sliding connector. A front brake cable passes through the sliding connector and the front delaying and anti-lock spring set and is mounted in a front brake cable block abutting against the front delaying and anti-lock spring set. A rear brake cable may alternatively pass through the sliding connector and a rear suspension spring and is mounted in a rear brake cable block abutting against the rear suspension spring. When one or both brake levers are squeezed, a rear wheel is stopped before the front wheel does. The front and rear wheels are slowed down in speed first when a brake is applied and fully stopped at a lower speed of the cycle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a brake control device for a cycle, such as a bicycle or a motorcycle, and more particularly to a brake control device capable of sequentially controlling to stop the movement of the rear wheel and the front wheel of the cycle. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    To slow down the speed of a cycle, it is essential for the cycle to be equipped with a brake device to ensure the cycling safety. Basically, cyclists can actuate the brake device by squeezing the left or right brake lever of the cycle. However, there are no clear rules globally recognized as to which brake lever should be squeezed to brake the front or rear wheel. During an emergency, a cyclist may abruptly squeeze a brake lever and inadvertently lock up the front wheel of the cycle. As the rear wheel is still rotating forward, the rear wheel is lifted up with respect to a contact point of the front wheel. When the left and right brake levers are both squeezed to the full extent of their travel, the front wheel and the rear wheel are both locked up. Due to the effect of inertia, the cycle easily slips on the ground. In both cases the cyclist can be easily thrown from the cycle and get injured or even killed in the accident. 
         [0005]    The occurrence of the cycling accident has nothing to do with the brake device of the cycle. Instead, regardless of what type of brake device is equipped, such accident is blamed to the ignorance of cyclists, who seldom remembers which bake lever controls the braking of the front wheel or rear wheel, and brake control over the front wheel only is dangerous. Although the best brake control mode is performed by simultaneously squeezing the left and right brake levers and alternately applying and releasing the brake just like the operation of an ABS (Antilock Brake System), cyclists may be too panic to remember or obey the above rule. So, tragic events happen from time to time. 
         [0006]    Although conventional brake devices can achieve to simultaneously apply brake to front wheels and rear wheels, the gap adjustment between a brake shoe and the rim of each one of the front wheel and the rear wheel is not taken into account. It happens that the gap between the brake shoe and the rim of the front wheel is shorter than that between the brake shoe and the rim of the rear wheel. Besides, the brake cable to a front wheel is shorter than the brake cable to the rear wheel. As a result, even when both left and right levers are squeezed, it is still likely that the front wheel is stopped first. Cyclists neither pay any attention to the gap adjustment between the brake shoe and the rim of each one of the front wheel and the rear wheel nor have professional tools for the correct gap adjustment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An objective of the present invention is to provide a sequential brake control device for a cycle capable of sequentially controlling to stop movement of the rear wheel and front wheel of the cycle. 
         [0008]    To achieve the foregoing objective, the sequential brake control device is adapted to connect to a left brake lever and a right brake lever and adapted to be mounted between a front brake and a rear brake of the cycle. The sequential brake control device has a housing, a sliding connector, a front delaying and anti-lock spring set, a lever control cable set and a brake control cable set. 
         [0009]    The housing has a top and a bottom, a chamber and a top cover and a bottom cover. The chamber is defined in the housing. The top cover and the bottom cover respectively cover the top and the bottom of the housing. The sliding connector is movably mounted in the chamber of the housing, is movable in a top-down direction and has a top board, a bottom board and a support frame. The top board has a bottom. The bottom board has a top. The support frame is mounted between the top board and the bottom board. 
         [0010]    The front delaying and anti-lock spring set is mounted in the sliding connector and has a front anti-lock spring and a front suspension spring. The front anti-lock spring has a top end and a bottom end. The front suspension spring is mounted in the front anti-lock spring and has a top end and a bottom end. When the front suspension spring and the front anti-lock spring are mounted in the sliding connector, the bottom ends of the front suspension spring and the front anti-lock spring abut against the top of the bottom board, and the top end of the front suspension spring protrudes beyond a top end of the front anti-lock spring. 
         [0011]    The lever control cable set has a left lever cable and a right lever cable. One end of each of the left lever cable and the right lever cable is connected to a corresponding one of the left lever and the right lever. The other end of each of the left lever cable and the right lever cable penetrates through the top cover of the housing, is connected to the top board of sliding connector, and is securely mounted in a corresponding one of the left lever block and the right lever block. 
         [0012]    The brake control cable set has a front brake cable block, a front brake cable, a rear brake cable block and a rear brake cable. The front brake cable block is movably mounted between the top end of the front suspension spring and the bottom of the top board of the sliding connector, abuts against the top end of the front suspension spring, and has a bottom. One end of the front brake cable sequentially penetrates through the front suspension spring and the first anti-lock spring of the front delaying and anti-lock spring set, the bottom board of the sliding connector and the bottom cover of the housing to be adapted to connect with the front brake. The other end of the front brake cable is securely mounted in the bottom of the front brake cable block. The rear brake cable block is mounted on the top of the bottom board and has a bottom. One end of the rear brake cable sequentially penetrates through the bottom board of the sliding connector and the bottom cover of the housing to be adapted to connect with the rear brake. The other end of the rear brake cable is securely mounted in the bottom of the rear brake cable block. 
         [0013]    Alternatively, the sequential brake control device is adapted to connect to a left brake lever and a right brake lever and adapted to be mounted between a front brake and a rear brake of the cycle. The brake control device has a housing, a sliding connector, a front delaying and anti-lock spring set, a lever control cable set and a brake control cable set. 
         [0014]    The housing has a top and a bottom, a chamber and a top cover and a bottom cover. The chamber is defined in the housing. The top cover and the bottom cover respectively cover the top and the bottom of the housing. 
         [0015]    The sliding connector is movably mounted in the chamber of the housing, is movable in a top-down direction, and has a top board, a bottom board and a support frame. The top board has a bottom. The bottom board has a top. The support frame is mounted between the top board and the bottom board. 
         [0016]    The front delaying and anti-lock spring set is mounted in the sliding connector and has a top end and a bottom end, a suspension section and an anti-lock section. The suspension section has a bottom end. The anti-lock section is formed on the bottom end of the suspension section, and has a larger pitch than that of the suspension section. The bottom end of the anti-lock section abuts against the top of the bottom board. 
         [0017]    The lever control cable set has a left lever cable and a right lever cable. One end of each of the left lever cable and the right lever cable is connected to a corresponding one of the left lever and the right lever. The other end of each of the left lever cable and the right lever cable penetrates through the top cover of the housing, is connected to the top board of sliding connector, and is securely mounted in a corresponding one of the left lever block and the right lever block. 
         [0018]    The brake control cable set has a front brake cable block, a front brake cable, a rear brake cable block and a rear brake cable. The front brake cable block is movably mounted between the top end of the front delaying and anti-lock spring set and the bottom of the top board of the sliding connector, abuts against the top end of the front delaying and anti-lock spring set, and has a bottom. One end of the front brake cable sequentially penetrates through the front delaying and anti-lock spring set, the bottom board of the sliding connector and the bottom cover of the housing to be adapted to connect with the front brake. The other end of the front brake cable is securely mounted in the bottom of the front brake cable block. The rear brake cable block is mounted on the top of the bottom board and has a bottom. One end of the rear brake cable sequentially penetrates through the bottom board of the sliding connector and the bottom cover of the housing to be adapted to connect with the rear brake. The other end of the rear brake cable is securely mounted in the bottom of the rear brake cable block. 
         [0019]    The advantages of the present invention lie in that with the sequential brake control device applied to a cycle, the rear wheel is stopped before the front wheel does, and as the cycle is cycling and the brake is activated by squeezing one or both of the left brake lever and the right brake lever, the front wheel and the rear wheel of the cycle are fully stopped at a slower speed. Except that the front brake is suspended for a short period of time, the front and rear brakes effectively perform in a continuous and progressive pattern, namely, delay, slightly stop, heavily stop and fully stop. As the front brake is delayed by the front suspension spring and the anti-lock spring, an intended brake action having 30 percent of braking force exerted to stop the front wheel and 70 percent of braking force exerted to stop the rear wheel at a condition not fully locking up the front wheel. After a single brake action is initiated by squeezing the left brake lever, the right brake lever or both, the rest of process to stop the wheels is taken control by the sequential brake control device which is more effective than the manual control by alternately squeezing the left and right brake levers for sake of the manual control occupying half of the braking process. The sequential brake control device only slightly suspends right after a brake action is initiated, and the front and rear brakes fully participate in the continuous and progressive braking process right after the suspension time. 
         [0020]    Additionally, the sequential brake control device can be mounted beneath the handle bar and has a compact size without occupying too much space. The left and right lever cables enter the housing of the sequential brake control device from the top cover to connect to the sliding connector, and the front and rear brake cables can be mounted through the bottom cover of the housing so that the sequential brake control device is applicable to all types of cycles. 
         [0021]    Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bicycle with a sequential brake control device in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged partial perspective view in partial section of the sequential brake control device in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view of the sequential brake control device in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4A  is a first operational perspective view of the sequential brake control device in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4B  is a second operational perspective view of the sequential brake control device in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4C  is a third operational perspective view of the sequential brake control device in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4D  is a fourth operational perspective view of the sequential brake control device in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5A  is an enlarged exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a front wheel suspension and anti-lock spring set of the sequential brake control device in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the front wheel suspension and anti-lock spring set in  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5C  is an enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of the front wheel suspension and anti-lock spring set of the sequential brake control device in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6A  is an enlarged front view of an embodiment of a brake gap adjustment module of the sequential brake control device in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6B  is a bottom view of the brake gap adjustment module of the sequential brake control device in  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6C  is a side view of the brake gap adjustment module of the sequential brake control device in  FIG. 6A ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6D  is a side view of another embodiment of the brake gap adjustment module of the sequential brake control device in  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a brake gap fine tuning module of the brake gap adjustment of the sequential brake control device in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a brake control device  1  for a cycle in accordance with the present invention is connected to a left brake lever  2  and a right brake lever  3  and mounted between a front brake and a rear brake, and has a housing  10 , a sliding connector  20 , a front delaying and anti-lock spring set  30 , a lever control cable set  40  and a brake control cable set  50 . The housing  10  has a chamber  11 , two open sides, a top cover  12  and a bottom cover  13 . The chamber  11  is defined in the housing  10 . The two open sides are formed through a top and a bottom of the housing  10 . The top cover  12  and the bottom cover  13  respectively cover the two open sides. The housing  10  may be cubic, cylindrical or in any other geometrical shape. The top cover  12  and the bottom cover  13  being square, circular or taking the forms of other corresponding shapes respectively cover the two open sides. In the present embodiment, each of the top cover  12  and the bottom cover  13  has round through holes and open slots respectively formed therethrough for brake cables to penetrate through the housing  10 . 
         [0038]    The sliding connector  20  is movably mounted in the chamber  11  of the housing  10 , is movable in a top-down direction, and has a support frame  21 , a top board  22  and a bottom board  23 . The top board  22  and the bottom board  23  are respectively mounted on a top and a bottom of the support frame  21 . In the present embodiment, the support frame  21  is cross-shaped from the viewpoint looking down from the top of the support frame  21 , and divides a space between the top board  22  and the bottom board  23  into four segments. 
         [0039]    With reference to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the front delaying and anti-lock spring set  30  is mounted in the sliding connector  20 , and has a front anti-lock spring  32  and a front suspension spring  31 . The front suspension spring  31  is mounted in the front anti-lock spring  32 . The front suspension spring  31  is narrower in diameter and longer in length and has a smaller spring constant relative to the front anti-lock spring  32 . When the front suspension spring  31  and the front anti-lock spring  32  are mounted in the sliding connector  20 , bottom ends of the front suspension spring  31  and the front anti-lock spring  32  abut against a top of the bottom board  23 , and a top end of the front suspension spring  31  protrudes beyond a top end of the front anti-lock spring  32 . With reference to  FIG. 5C , the front suspension spring  31  and the front anti-lock spring  32  are integrally formed as a single front suspension and anti-lock spring  30 A. The front suspension and anti-lock spring  30 A is mounted in the sliding connector  20  and has a suspension section  31 A and an anti-lock section  32 A. The anti-lock section  32 A is formed on a bottom end of the suspension section  31 A, and has a larger pitch than that of the suspension section  31 A. A bottom end of the anti-lock section  32 A abuts against the top of the bottom board  23 . As the suspension section  31 A and the anti-lock section  32 A have two different pitches, when applied with a force, the front suspension and anti-lock spring  30 A first suspends the force with the suspension section  31 A and then prevents itself from being excessively compressed with the anti-lock section  32 A. 
         [0040]    The brake control device  1  may further have a rear suspension spring  33  mounted in the sliding connector  20  and beside the front delaying and anti-lock spring set  30 . A bottom end of the rear suspension spring  33  abuts against the top of the bottom board  23 . 
         [0041]    The lever control cable set  40  has a left lever block  411 , a right lever block  421 , a left lever cable  41  and a right lever cable  42 . The left lever block  411  and the right lever block  421  abut against a bottom of the top board  22 . One end of each of the left lever cable  41  and the right lever cable  42  is connected to a corresponding one of the left lever  2  and the right lever  3 . The other end of each of the left lever cable  41  and the right lever cable  42  sequentially penetrates through the top cover  12  of the housing  10  and the top board  22  of the sliding connector  20  to enter one of the two diagonal segments divided by the support frame  21 , and is securely mounted in a top of a corresponding one of the left lever block  411  and the right lever block  421 . When any one of the left lever  2  and the right lever  3  is squeezed, a corresponding one of the left lever cable  41  and the right lever cable  42  is pulled, a corresponding one of the left lever block  411  and the right lever block  421  is lifted up, and the sliding connector  20  is moved upwardly inside the housing  10 . In the present embodiment, the left lever cable  41  and the right lever cable  42  are respectively and integrally formed in the left lever block  411  and the right lever block  421 , and hence do not need to be fastened by screws, thereby enhancing reliability and safety when the left lever cable  41  or the right lever cable  42  is pulled. 
         [0042]    The brake control cable set  50  has a front brake cable  51 , a front brake cable block  511 , a rear brake cable  52  and a rear brake cable block  521 . One end of the front brake cable  51  sequentially penetrates through the front suspension spring  31  and the front anti-lock spring  32  of the front delaying and anti-lock spring set  30 , the bottom board  23  of the sliding connector  20  and the bottom cover  13  of the housing  10  to be connected with the front brake. The front brake cable block  511  is movably mounted between a top end of the front suspension spring  31  and the bottom of the top board  22  of the sliding connector  20  and in one of the other two diagonal segments divided by the support frame  21 , and abuts against the top end of the front suspension spring  31 . The other end of the front brake cable  51  is securely mounted in a bottom of the front brake cable block  511 . When the rear suspension spring  33  is available, one end of the rear brake cable  52  sequentially penetrates through the rear suspension spring  33 , the bottom board  23  of the sliding connector  20  and the bottom cover  13  of the housing  10  to be connected with the rear brake. The rear brake cable block  521  is movably mounted between a top end of the rear suspension spring  33  and the bottom of the top board  22  and located in the other of the other two diagonal segments divided by the support frame  21 . A bottom of the rear brake cable block  521  abuts against the top end of the rear suspension spring  33 . The other end of the rear brake cable  52  is securely mounted in the bottom of the rear brake cable block  521 . When the rear suspension spring  33  is unavailable, the rear brake cable block  521  is mounted on the top of the bottom board  23 . One end of the rear brake cable  52  sequentially penetrates through the bottom board  23  of the sliding connector  20  and the bottom cover  13  of the housing  10  to be connected with the rear brake, and the other end of the rear brake cable  52  is securely mounted in the bottom of the rear brake cable block  521 . 
         [0043]    With reference to  FIGS. 4A to 4D , when the cycle is stopped by applying the brake, whether the left lever  2  or the right lever  3  is squeezed individually or both of them are squeezed simultaneously, the left lever block  411 , the right lever block  421  or both of them are respectively pulled up by the left lever cable  41  or the right lever cable  42  or both of them so as to lift up the sliding connector  20  inside the housing  10 . When the sliding connector  20  is moved up and the front brake cable block  511  and the rear brake cable block  521  stay at rest, the front suspension spring  31  and the front anti-lock spring  32  of the front delaying and anti-lock spring set  30  and the rear suspension spring  33  are simultaneously compressed between the bottom board  23  of the sliding connector  20  and the corresponding one of the front brake cable block  511  and the rear brake cable block  521 . Due to the smaller spring constant, the front suspension spring  31  is compressed first. As the compression force of the front suspension spring  31  is small, the minor compression force slightly pulls the front brake cable  51  without fully actuating the front brake. In other words, the front suspension spring  31  suspends a brake action initiated from squeezing the left lever  2  and holds the front brake from fully stopping the front wheel at the first moment after applying brake. After the front suspension spring  31  is compressed to be identical to the front anti-lock spring  32  in height, the suspension time is finished and the front suspension spring  31  and the front anti-lock spring  32  are simultaneously compressed between the bottom board  23  of the sliding connector  20  and the front brake cable block  511 . The resultant restoring elastic force released by the front suspension spring  31  and the front anti-lock spring  32  pulls the front brake cable  51  to start actuating the front brake. However, for sake of safety concern, even when the front anti-lock spring  32  is compressed to the extreme, the rear brake is not locked up and the rear wheel is not fully stopped until a predetermined speed of the cycle is met. 
         [0044]    When the first suspension and anti-lock spring set  30  is compressed during a brake action, the rear suspension spring  33  is simultaneously compressed between the bottom board  23  of the sliding connector  20  and the rear brake cable block  521 . After suspending the brake action for a period of time, the restoring elastic force released by the rear suspension spring  33  pulls the rear brake cable  52  to start actuating the front brake. As the spring constant of the rear suspension spring  33  is smaller than those of the front suspension spring  31  and the front anti-lock spring  32 , the suspension time provided by the rear suspension spring  33  is shorter than that provided by the front suspension spring  31 . In other words, after being suspended, the rear brake is actuated earlier than the front brake. The rear suspension spring  33  is optional. If the rear suspension spring  33  is not equipped, the rear wheel is immediately stopped by the rear brake after a brake action, the slowed but not locked front wheel drags the fully locked rear wheel to move forward. As long as the handlebars are held firmly and the cycle moves along a straight line, the cycle may not end up overturning and drifting. The availability and the spring constant of the rear suspension spring  33  may be determined by a customer&#39;s demand. 
         [0045]    After the left lever  2  or the right lever  3  or both of them are released, the restoring elastic forces of brake springs of the front brake and the rear brake  3  and of the left brake lever  2  and the right brake lever  3  rapidly drop the sliding connector  20  down to the original position for a next brake action. 
         [0046]    With reference to  FIGS. 6A to 6D  and  7 , to have more precise brake capability, the brake control device  1  further has a brake gap fine tuning module  60  composed of a gap adjustment gauge  61  and a fine tuning set  62 . The gap adjustment gauge  61  can be inserted between a brake shoe and a rim of the front wheel or the rear wheel during a brake gap adjustment process and takes the form of a flat plate. The gap adjustment gauge  61  may have different thickness to fit with different adjustment needs, and has an elongated flange  611  and at least one cylinder  612 . The elongated flange  611  is formed on and protrudes horizontally or obliquely from a top edge of the gap adjustment gauge  61 . The gap adjustment gauge  61  may have one cylinder  612  or two cylinders  612  formed on and protruding horizontally from one side or two opposite sides of the gap adjustment gauge  61 . 
         [0047]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , the fine tuning set  62  has a hollow fine tuning bolt  621  and a hollow fine tuning nut  622 . The fine tuning nut  622  is mounted around the fine tuning bolt  621  and has a first cable fastening bolt  623  mounted into the fine tuning nut  622  to lock the fine tuning nut  622  around the front brake cable  51  or the rear brake cable  52  that is mounted through the fine tuning nut  622  and the fine tuning bolt  621 . The brake arm  601  has a second cable fastening bolt  602  mounted thereon. 
         [0048]    When a gap between a brake shoe and a rim of the front wheel or the rear wheel is adjusted, the fine tuning set  62  is mounted around an end of a corresponding brake cable  51 , 52 . The fine tuning nut  622  is mounted securely around the brake cable  51 , 52  by the first cable fastening bolt  623 , and the head of the fine tuning bolt  621  abuts against one side of the brake arm  601 . The second cable fastening bolt  602  on the brake arm  601  is untied, and the fine tuning bolt  621  is turned in a direction away from the rim so as to widen the gap between the brake shoe and the rim firstly. Then, the gap adjustment gauge  61  is inserted into the gap between the brake shoe and the rim, and the elongated flange  611  on the top edge of the gap adjustment gauge  61  is placed on a top surface of the brake shoe so that the gap adjustment gauge  61  is hung on the brake shoe. The fine tuning bolt  621  is further turned to push the brake arm  601  toward the rim so as to tightly sandwich the gap adjustment gauge  61  between the brake shoe and the rim. Because the fine tuning bolt  621  abuts against the side of the brake arm  601 , the gap set up by thickness of the gap adjustment gauge  61  can be maintained. After the adjusting process, the adjusted wheel is rotated and the gap adjustment gauge  61  may come off from the gap between the brake shoe and the rim if surface of the rim of the wheel is smooth and not deformed. Consequently, the second cable fastening bolt  602  is tightly screwed and the fine tuning set  62  is removed from the corresponding brake cable  51 . 52 . However, if the surface of the rim is not smooth and has slight deformation, the rim will rub against the gap adjustment gauge  61 . Before the adjusting process, preferably, the rim must be calibrated for its smoothness and curvature. Meanwhile, the fine tuning bolt  621  is rotated to be away from the rim to enlarge the gap between the brake shoe and the rim to be larger than the thickness of the gap adjustment gauge  61  until no intermittent abrasion between the rim and the gap adjustment gauge  61  occurs. The enlarged gap may be the least common multiple of a standard gap value between the brake shoe and the rim. Consequently, the second cable fastening bolt  602  is tightened, the fine tuning set  62  is removed from the corresponding brake cable  51 , 52  to complete the gap adjustment between the brake shoe and the rim. 
         [0049]    Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.