Abstract:
An apparatus for mounting an electrical component to a bicycle comprises a mounting bracket, an electrical component case member and a stopper member. The electrical component case member is structured to be mounted in close proximity to the mounting bracket such that the electrical component case member is removed by moving the electrical component case member in a first direction. The electrical component case member has a surface facing in the first direction, and the stopper member is coupled to the mounting bracket and structured to engage the surface of the electrical component case member to inhibit movement of the electrical component case member in the first direction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is directed to bicycles and, more particularly, to an apparatus for mounting an electric component to a bicycle.  
         [0002]     Many electrical devices may be mounted to bicycles for various purposes. For example, simple cycle computers may be mounted to the bicycle to display riding and other parameters. More advanced cycle computers may be used to control the operation of various bicycle components. For example, a bicycle transmission or suspension system may be electrically controlled by manual or automatic operation. In manual adjustment of the transmission or suspension, the rider manipulates a switch in the form of a lever or button to set the bicycle transmission to a desired gear ratio or to set the suspension system to a desired stiffness. In automatic operation of the bicycle transmission, the wheel or crank speed is measured, and the bicycle transmission is set automatically to a desired gear ratio to maintain the wheel or crank speed within a desired range. In automatic operation of the suspension system, suspension stiffness is adjusted based on wheel speed, wherein suspension stiffness ordinarily is increased at higher wheel speeds.  
         [0003]     As the number of functions performed by the cycle computer increases, the number of electronic components that must be attached to the bicycle correspondingly increases. For example, manual input devices such as control buttons and levers must be mounted to the handlebar or to some other location for convenient access by the rider. Sensors used for measuring different operating parameters must be mounted to the input devices and to the wheel, crank, transmission, suspension, etc. Motors, solenoids and other drive devices must be mounted to the transmission, suspension and other controlled devices to move the controlled devices to the proper operating position. The control electronics and power source also must be mounted at appropriate locations.  
         [0004]     Of course, all of the various components must be connected together through appropriate wiring. Conventionally, all of the components were manufactured permanently wired together. The disadvantage of prewired components is the inability to accommodate the different functions desired by different markets. For example, the input devices, sensors and control devices prewired into the system predetermine the capability of the system. Additional capabilities could not be added at a later date, and a malfunction in one component frequently rendered the entire system useless. Prewired components also cannot efficiently accommodate the vast number of different bicycle frame configurations. In some cases either a component could not be placed in a desired location, or else there was so much excess wire that the wire had to be bundled and arbitrarily taped or tied to the bicycle frame, thus resulting in an unsightly appearance.  
         [0005]     One way to provide more flexibility is to use detachable connectors so that individual components may be detachably connected together. This allows replacement of a malfunctioning component, adjustment of wire lengths to accommodate the configuration of the bicycle frame, and adding or deleting components as desired. Conventionally, each component had its own unique connector. Thus, there would be one or more male and female connector per component, and components would have to be manufactured with the matching connector in mind. As a result, the total number of connectors could be very large, components from different manufacturers often could not be used together, and even the components from a single manufacturer were limited by the chosen configuration.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention is directed to various features of an apparatus for mounting an electrical component to a bicycle. In one embodiment, an apparatus for mounting an electrical component to a bicycle comprises a mounting bracket, an electrical component case member and a stopper member. The electrical component case member is structured to be mounted in close proximity to the mounting bracket such that the electrical component case member is removed by moving the electrical component case member in a first direction. The electrical component case member has a surface facing in the first direction, and the stopper member is coupled to the mounting bracket and structured to engage the surface of the electrical component case member to inhibit movement of the electrical component case member in the first direction. Additional inventive features will become apparent from the description below, and such features alone or in combination with the above features may form the basis of further inventions as recited in the claims and their equivalents. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a bicycle that includes particular embodiments of electrically controlled components;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a detailed view of particular embodiments of handlebar mounted components;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a particular embodiment of a control system;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a more detailed view of a combination unit shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a view of the combination unit with the battery unit removed;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a view taken along line VI-VI in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a bottom oblique view of the battery unit;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a side oblique view of the main compartment of the battery unit;  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a bottom oblique view of the top cover for the battery unit;  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a rear oblique view of the combination unit;  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is a rear oblique view of the combination unit with the control unit cover removed;  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is a more detailed view of the connector unit; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  is a side view of a terminal plug. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a bicycle that includes particular embodiments of electrically controlled components. Bicycle  1  is mountain bicycle comprising a frame  2 , a front fork  3  rotatably mounted to frame  2 , a handlebar assembly  4  mounted to the upper part of fork  3 , a front wheel  5  rotatably attached to the lower part of fork  3 , a rear wheel  6  rotatably attached to the rear of frame  2 , a front transmission  8  attached to the lower middle portion of frame  2 , a rear transmission  9  attached to the lower rear portion of frame  2 , a chain  7  connected between front transmission  8  and rear transmission  9 , and a saddle  11 . A front wheel brake  16  is provided for braking front wheel  5 , and a rear wheel brake  17  is provided for braking rear wheel  6 .  
         [0021]     Front transmission  8  transmits the drive force generated by the rider to the rear transmission  9  via chain  7 . Front transmission  8  comprises, e.g., two sprockets  37  of various sizes and a front derailleur  33 . The two sprockets  37  are installed on a gear crank  31  that is rotated when the rider pushes pedals  32   a  and  32   b . Gear crank  31  comprises a crankshaft  34  that passes horizontally and rotatably through the central lower part of frame  2 , a right crank  35 , and a left crank  36 . One end of the right crank  35  is connected to the right side of crankshaft  34 , and the two sprockets  37  are attached to the right crank  35 . One end of the left crank  36  is connected to the left side of crankshaft  34 . The other ends of right crank  35  and left crank  36  rotatably support pedals  32   a  and  32   b , respectively. Front derailleur  33  engages chain  7  with one of the two sprockets  37  and can be moved by a motor (not shown in the figures) that is controlled by a transmission control unit  15  mounted to handlebar assembly  4  and a combination unit  28  mounted to the lower middle portion of frame  2 . Transmission control unit  15  and combination unit  28  are described in more detail below. A front derailleur position sensor (not shown in the figures) detects the position of front derailleur  33  and hence the current gear of front transmission  8 .  
         [0022]     Rear transmission  9  transmits the driving force received from chain  7  to rear wheel  6 . Rear transmission  9  comprises a rear sprocket cluster  41  and a rear derailleur  42 . In this embodiment, rear sprocket cluster  41  comprises seven sprockets  43  of different sizes that are mounted concentrically with the hub portion of rear wheel  6 . Rear derailleur  42  engages chain  7  with one of the seven sprockets  43  and can be moved by a motor (not shown in the figures) that is controlled by transmission control unit  15  and combination unit  28 . A rear derailleur position sensor (not shown in the figures) detects the position of rear derailleur  42  and hence the current gear of rear transmission  9 .  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , respective grips  12   a ,  12   b  and brake levers  13   a ,  13   b  are provided on both ends of handlebar assembly  4 . Brake lever  13   b  is connected to front wheel brake  16  for controlling the braking of front wheel  5 , and brake lever  13   a  is connected to rear wheel brake  17  for controlling the braking rear wheel  6 . Shift command units  14   a ,  14   b  are provided inwardly of grips  12   a ,  12   b  and brake levers  13   a ,  13   b , respectively. Transmission control unit  15  is attached to the central portion of handlebar assembly  4 , and it is connected to shift command units  14   a ,  14   b . Shift command units  14   a ,  14   b  are used for manually shifting front transmission  8  and rear transmission  9 . A rear upshift button  18   a  and a rear downshift button  19   a  are provided in shift command unit  14   a , and a front upshift button  18   b  and a front downshift button  19   b  are provided in shift command unit  14   b . In this embodiment, upshift buttons  18   a  and  18   b  provide signals for upshifting front and rear transmissions  8  and  9  by one gear. Similarly, downshift buttons  19   a  and  19   b  provide signals for downshifting front and rear transmissions  8  and  9  by one speed step.  
         [0024]     In this embodiment, transmission control unit  15  controls front transmission  8  and rear transmission  9  according to signals provided by shift command units  14   a  and  14   b . Of course, in other embodiments transmission control unit  15  may automatically control front transmission  8  and rear transmission  9  according to wheel speed or crank RPM in many ways known in the art. As shown in  FIG. 3 , transmission control unit  15 , comprises a control unit  23  having a CPU  21  and a memory  22 , a display unit  24  for displaying the current transmission gears and other desired information, a power switch  25 , and a mode switch  26 . CPU  21  is a programmed device that operates on data stored in memory  22  and the signals received from the other attached devices. Mode switch  26  changes an operating mode of transmission control unit  15 . Transmission control unit  15  is electrically connected to combination unit  28  through a communication path  30  in the form of a plurality of signal lines. As shown in  FIG. 2 , transmission control unit  15  includes a housing  27 , wherein display unit  24 , power switch  25 , and mode switch  26  are arranged on the upper surface of housing  27 .  
         [0025]     Combination unit  28  is electrically connected to the electrical components for front derailleur  33  and rear derailleur  42  through communication paths  38  and  39 , respectively, wherein each communication path  38  and  39  comprises a plurality of signal lines. Combination unit  28  comprises a battery unit  50 , an auxiliary control unit  54  in the form of a CPU and other electronic circuitry, and a connector unit  58 . An adjustment switch  62  and a sound generator  66  are connected to auxiliary control unit  54  for reasons discussed below.  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , combination unit  28  is physically mounted to a mounting unit  70 , wherein battery unit  50  is mounted to the upper portion of mounting unit  70 , auxiliary control unit  54  is mounted below battery unit  50 , and connector unit  58  is mounted below auxiliary control unit  54 . In this embodiment, auxiliary control unit  54  is mounted directly adjacent to battery unit  50 , and connector unit  58  is mounted directly adjacent to auxiliary control unit  54 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a view of combination unit  28  with battery unit  50  removed to better show the structure of mounting unit  70 . Mounting unit  70  comprises a mounting bracket  74  and a stopper assembly  78 . Mounting bracket  74  comprises a substantially flat section  79 , a rearwardly curved section  80  forming a vertically elongated recess  81 , and a pair of mounting flanges  82  and  84 . Mounting flanges  82  and  84  include respective mounting openings  86  and  90  for receiving mounting bolts  94  and  98  therethrough so that mounting unit  70  may be attached to frame body  2  generally vertically as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0028]     Stopper assembly  78  is used to retain battery unit  50  to mounting bracket  74 , and it comprises a stopper member  100 , a locking assembly  102 , a guide bolt  104  attached to stopper member  100  through a lock nut  108 , a guide plate  112  attached to the bottom of guide bolt  104 , and a stopper member spring  116  encircling guide bolt  104  and disposed between guide plate  112  and a top wall  120  of curved section  80  of mounting bracket  74 . Guide plate  112  includes a pair of opposed guide projections  124  (only one such projection  124  is shown in  FIG. 5 ) that slidingly engage a corresponding pair of guide grooves  128  (only one such groove is shown in  FIG. 5 ). As a result of this structure, stopper member  100  is biased downwardly.  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , locking assembly  102  comprises a locking member  132  and a locking member spring  136 . Locking member  132  has the form of a substantially inverted L-shaped locking pawl pivotably mounted to curved section  80  of mounting bracket  74  through a pivot shaft  140 . A pawl tooth  144  of locking member  132  engages a recess  148  in stopper member  100  to prevent stopper member  100  from moving upwardly. Locking member spring  136  biases locking member  132  clockwise toward engagement with stopper member  100 . However, locking member  132  may be rotated counterclockwise simply by using a finger or thumb to disengage locking member  132  from stopper member  100  so that stopper member  100  may be moved upwardly.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a bottom oblique view of battery unit  50 ,  FIG. 8  is a side oblique view of a main compartment  152  of battery unit  50 , and  FIG. 9  is a bottom oblique view of a top cover  156  for battery unit  50 . Battery unit  50  generally has a shape of an elongated ellipsoid with an elongated arcuate fitting projection  160  that fits into recess  81  of mounting bracket  74  when battery unit  50  is mounted to mounting unit  70 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , main compartment  152  comprises an elongated oval case member  164  with an opening  166  that partially houses a removable battery  168 , a portion  160   a  of fitting projection  160  extending from the rear of case member  164 , a pair of mounting ears  172  with corresponding mounting openings  176  for receiving mounting screws  180  therethrough, an oval overlapping wall  184 , and an oval overlapped wall  188 . In this embodiment, overlapping wall  184  is a continuous oval wall that forms an interior space  192  for housing a pair of battery terminals  196  and  198  and a partition groove  200 . Overlapping wall  184  includes an inner peripheral surface  185  and an outer end surface  186 , wherein inner peripheral surface  185  extends from an inner end surface  187 . Overlapped wall  188  is a continuous but irregularly shaped wall (since it forms a part of fitting projection  160   a ) that is recessed inwardly from the outer surface of case member  164 . Overlapped wall  188  includes an outer peripheral surface  189  and an end surface  190 , wherein outer peripheral surface  189  extends from an inner end surface  191 .  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , top cover  156  comprises an elongated oval case member  204  with an opening  208  that houses the remaining portion of battery  168 , a portion  160   b  of fitting projection  160  extending from the rear of case member  204 , a pair of mounting ears  212  with corresponding threaded mounting openings  216  for threadingly receiving mounting screws  180  therein, a continuous irregularly shaped overlapping wall  220 , and an oval-shaped top wall  224 . Top wall  224  includes a recess  228  that engages stopper member  100  of stopper assembly  78  when battery unit  50  is mounted to mounting bracket  74 . Overlapping wall  220  includes an inner peripheral surface  221  and an outer end surface  222 , wherein inner peripheral surface  221  extends from an inner end surface  223 . Overlapping wall  220  fits over overlapped wall  188  in case member  164  when top cover  156  is mounted to main compartment  152  so that inner peripheral surface  221  of overlapping wall  220  faces outer peripheral surface  189  of overlapped wall  188 , outer end surface  222  of overlapping wall  220  faces downwardly toward inner end surface  191  of case member  164  when battery unit  50  is mounted to mounting bracket  74  and mounting bracket  74  is mounted to frame  2 , and inner end surface  223  of case member  204  faces outer end surface  190  of overlapped wall  188 . This overlapping configuration provides an upwardly convoluted path for any water that may attempt to enter openings  166  and  208  in case members  164  and  204 , respectively, when riding in wet conditions.  
         [0032]     As shown in  FIGS. 5, 10  and  11 , auxiliary control unit  54  physically comprises a case member  240 , a mounting pedestal  242  ( FIG. 11 ), a base member  244 , an input unit  248  and a sound generating unit  252 . Case member  240  includes a mounting ear  256  ( FIG. 10 ) with a corresponding mounting opening  260  for receiving a mounting screw  264  therethrough, an oval overlapping wall  268 , and an oval overlapped wall  272  ( FIG. 5 ) with a top surface  276 . In this embodiment, overlapping wall  268  has generally the same waterproofing structure as overlapping wall  184  in main compartment  152  of battery unit  50  and will not be described further. Overlapped wall  272  is a continuous oval-shaped wall that is recessed inwardly from the outer surface of case member  240 . Overlapped wall  272  includes an outer peripheral surface  280  and an outer end surface  282  that forms a part of top surface  276 , wherein outer peripheral surface  280  extends from an inner end surface  284 . Thus, when battery unit  50  is mounted to auxiliary control unit  54  such that overlapping wall  184  of main compartment  152  of battery unit  50  fits over overlapped wall  272  in case member  240  of auxiliary control unit  54 , inner peripheral surface  185  of overlapping wall  184  faces outer peripheral surface  280  of overlapped wall  272 , outer end surface  186  of overlapping wall  184  faces downwardly toward inner end surface  284  of case member  240 , and inner end surface  187  of case member  164  faces outer end surface  282  of overlapped wall  272 . This overlapping configuration also provides an upwardly convoluted path for any water that may attempt to enter interior space  192  in battery unit  50  when riding in wet conditions.  
         [0033]     As shown in  FIG. 11 , base member  244  is mounted edgewise to mounting pedestal  242  and supports both input unit  248  and sound generating unit  252 , as well as the processor and/or other electronics used to control whatever functions are performed by auxiliary control unit  54 . Base member  244  may comprises a printed circuit board with the appropriate electronic components and conductive traces to service input unit  248  and sound generating unit  252 . Power terminals  288  and  290  ( FIG. 5 ) in the form of spade terminals extend from the upper edge of base member  244  and through top surface  276  in overlapped wall  272  so that power terminals  288  and  290  may engage battery terminals  196  and  198  when battery unit  50  is mounted on top of auxiliary control unit  54 . A partition projection  294  is formed on top surface  276  to engage partition groove  200  in battery unit  50  when battery unit  50  is mounted on top of auxiliary control unit  54  to further isolate battery terminal  196  and power terminal  288  from battery terminal  198  and power terminal  290  and reduce the risk that dampness can short circuit the terminals or otherwise affect the transfer of power between battery unit  50  and auxiliary control unit  54 .  
         [0034]     Input unit  248  may be used to set modes and/or input any parameters desired for the particular function using an appropriate input mechanism. In this embodiment, input unit  248  is used to enter and exit an adjustment processing mode for fine tuning the positions of rear derailleur  42 . For that purpose, adjustment switch  62  is provided, wherein the adjustment processing mode may be entered and exited by pressing adjustment switch  62  for a predetermined time period (e.g., two seconds) or longer. Sound generating unit  252  may comprise a buzzer or the like for alerting the user that the desired mode has been entered, for indicating successful adjustment of rear derailleur  42 , or for some other informational purpose. By locating input unit  248  on the lower middle portion of frame  2  away from transmission control unit  15  on handlebar assembly  4 , there is less chance that the rider may inadvertently trigger the adjustment processing mode.  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , connector unit  58  comprises a case member  300  and a plurality of electrical contacts  308  housed by case member  300 . Terminal plugs  304   a  and  304   b  that terminate communication paths  38  and  39 , respectively, are shown plugged into connector unit  58 . Another terminal plug (not shown) is used to terminate communication path  30 , and it is plugged into the exposed area shown in  FIG. 5 . A more detailed view of terminal plug  304   b  disconnected from connector unit  58  is shown in  FIG. 13 . The other terminal plugs have the same construction (except, of course, for the signal lines being terminated). The structure of terminal plug  304   b  is discussed below.  
         [0036]     As shown in  FIG. 11 , case member  300  includes a mounting ear  312  with a corresponding mounting opening  316  for receiving mounting screw  264  therethrough, and a partial oval-shaped overlapped wall  320 . While overlapped wall  320  is a partial wall, it cradles mounting pedestal  242  of auxiliary control unit  54  to function in a manner similar to the overlapped walls described for the other components when case member  240  of auxiliary control unit  54  is in place. Overlapped wall  320  includes an outer peripheral surface  324  and an outer end surface  328 , wherein outer peripheral surface  324  extends from an inner end surface  332 . Thus, when connector unit  58  is mounted to auxiliary control unit  54 , overlapping wall  268  of case member  240  engages overlapped wall  324  and mounting pedestal  242  to form a waterproof structure in the same manner noted above.  
         [0037]      FIG. 12  is a more detailed view of connector unit  58  with the attached terminal plugs  304   a  and  304   b . Also, the side cover of terminal plug  304   b  has been removed to expose the components therein. In general, connector unit  58  is structured so that a particular signal line or terminal plug can be attached at multiple locations. More specifically, case member  300  includes side walls  340  and  344  and a bottom wall  348 . Each of a plurality of terminals or contact bars  308   a - 308   e  extends from side wall  340  to side wall  344 , and insulation walls  352   a - 352   d  are disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of contact bars  308   a - 308   e  to electrically isolate the plurality of contact bars  308   a - 308   e  from each other. In this embodiment, contact bar  308   a  is structured to carry the positive signal from battery unit  50 , contact bar  308   b  is structured to carry signals to activate rear derailleur  42 , contact bar  308   c  is structured to carry signals to activate front derailleur  33 , contact bar  308   d  is structured to carry gear position signals from front derailleur  33  and rear derailleur  42  as well as the signals from adjustment switch  62 , and contact bar  308   e  is structured to carry the negative or ground signal form battery unit  50 . Each contact bar  308   a - 308   e  can be considered a terminal row, and the area covered by each terminal plug  304   a  and  304   b  (as well as the exposed area shown in  FIGS. 5 and 12 ) can be considered a terminal column. Thus, the portion of a particular contact bar  308   a - 308   e  beneath a corresponding terminal plug  304   a  or  304   b  (or exposed area) can be considered a cell of a 5 by 3 matrix, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts  308  horizontally spaced apart in a terminal row formed by one of contact bars  308   a - 308   e  electrically combine signals applied thereto. On the other hand, the signals applied to the plurality of electrical contacts  308  in a terminal column are not electrically combined.  
         [0038]      FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate the structure of terminal plug  304   b . In this embodiment, terminal plug  304   b  has a comb shape, and it comprises an L-shaped top wall  355 , an undulating discontinuous bottom wall  356  comprising a plurality of segments  356   a - 356   e , and a pair of comb-shaped side covers  357  (only one side cover  357  is shown in  FIG. 13 , and none are shown in  FIG. 12 ). Side covers  357  are fastened to top wall  355  and bottom wall  356  by screws  358  and  359  that extend into threaded openings  360  and  361  in top wall  355  and bottom wall  356 , respectively. The resulting structure produces a plurality of teeth  362  separated by U-shaped recesses  363   a - 363   i . Recesses  363   b ,  363   d ,  363   f  and  363   h  are basically empty and shaped to receive respective insulation bars  352   a - 352   d  therein when terminal plug  304   b  is plugged into connector unit  58 . On the other hand, each recess  363   a ,  363   c ,  363   e ,  363   g  and  363   i  may be used to electrically couple a signal line to respective ones of the plurality of contact bars  308   a - 308   e . In this embodiment, each recess  363   a ,  363   c ,  363   e ,  363   g  and  363   i  respectively contains a generally W-shaped conductive latch in the form of a metal spring contact  350   a - 350   e . Each spring contact  350   a - 350   e  has a generally Q-shaped middle section structured to contact a respective contact bar  308   a - 308   e  in a pinching manner to thereby electrically couple one of the signal lines to its corresponding contact bar  308   a - 308   e . If a particular signal line is unused, then a spring contact may be omitted from its associated recess  363   a ,  363   c ,  363   e ,  363   g  or  363   i.    
         [0039]     Finally, an undulating insulation bar  364  (shown on its side in a removed and flipped condition) may be provided to function as a blank terminal plug for each unused contact column to further protect and insulate the components therein. Insulation bar  364  comprises an insulation bar body  368  defining a plurality of insulation wall recesses  372   a - 372   d , one for each insulation wall  352   a - 352   d , and a plurality of contact covers  376   a - 376   e , one for each corresponding segment of a contact bar  308   a - 308   e.    
         [0040]     It should be readily apparent that connector unit  58  may function as a junction or distribution box. With the contact bar assignments noted above, it is possible to have the terminal plug structure for communication paths  30 ,  38  and  39  shown in Table 1.  
                       TABLE 1                       Communication               Path   Contact/Signal Line   Direction                   30   350a/Power.   Battery unit 50 to               transmission control unit 15.           350b/Shift signal for   Transmission control unit           rear derailleur.   15 to combination unit 28.           350c/Shift signal for   Transmission control unit           front derailleur.   15 to combination unit 28.           350d/Gear position   Combination unit 28 to           signal.   transmission control unit 15.           350e/Ground.   Common.       38   350a/Power.   Battery unit 50 to front               derailleur 33.           350b/Unused.   Unused.           350c/Shift signal for   Combination unit 28 to           front derailleur.   front derailleur 33.           350d/Gear position   Front derailleur 33 to           signal.   combination unit 28.           350e/Ground.   Common.       39   350a/Power.   Battery unit 50 to rear               derailleur 42.           350b/Shift signal for   Combination unit 28 to           rear derailleur.   rear derailleur 42.           350c/Unused.   Unused.           350d/Gear position   Rear derailleur 42 to           signal.   combination unit 28.           350e/Ground.   Common.                  
 
         [0041]     The above structures allow the terminal plugs for any one of the communication paths  30 ,  38  or  39  to be connected to any column of contacts. The user need not be concerned with any particular columnar position of the terminal plug. The same terminal plug may be used for any device. All that needs to be done is to connect the signal lines into the appropriate spring contacts  350   a - 350   e  in the terminal plug. The waterproofing structures noted above provide a simple method of protecting the electrical components without requiring a separate seal. The mounting structures for battery unit  50  allow battery unit  50  to be secured to the bicycle while allowing simple removal. Also, the combination of battery unit  50  with auxiliary control unit  54  and connector unit  58  provide a very compact structure with reduced wiring. The provision of auxiliary control unit  54  also allows some functions to be conveniently accessed by the rider without inadvertent operation of the unit.  
         [0042]     While the above is a description of various embodiments of inventive features, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, not all of the plurality of electrical contacts in a row described above need to be combined, and not all of the plurality of electrical contacts in a column need to be mutually exclusive. While inventive features were described with respect to a mountain bicycle, the concepts taught herein may be applied to road racers or any other type of bicycle, and to any kind of electrical component. The size, shape, location or orientation of the various components may be changed as desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other may have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element may be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment may be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific structures disclosed or the apparent initial focus or emphasis on a particular structure or feature.