Patent Publication Number: US-2011067200-A1

Title: Cable Grommet Guide for Bicycles

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to gear cable guides for bicycles, generally arranged to fasten or orient gear shift cables in bicycles, which are responsible for transmission from the gear levers, for the purpose of adjusting the pedaling to the physical geography of the terrain to be traveled. The present invention specifically relates to a cable grommet guide for bicycles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Traditional cable grommet guides which transmit the position of the front and rear gears place the mentioned cables parallel to one another under the diagonal tube and the bottom bracket towards the rear part of the bicycle, such that the cable transmitting the action of the right gear lever is arranged to the right of the steering tube and along the right side of the diagonal tube until reaching the rear gear under the bottom bracket; in contrast, the cable of the gear lever arranged to the left is led to or positioned to the left of the steering tube and along the left side of the diagonal tube until the chain deflector. 
     Due to current guiding of the cables through the inner part of the handle bar, the curves or radii arranged in both gears, from the gear levers on their respective sides, force their action against the tubes of the bicycle, causing forced displacements, with the subsequent surface damage to the paint on the steering tube. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a cable grommet guide for bicycles, preferably road bicycles, of the type comprising a body with parallel channels for the passage of cables which transmit the actions in the front and rear gears of a bicycle, the channels of which are communicated allowing the crossing of the cables at different levels without friction between them. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be better understood in reference to the following drawings showing preferred embodiments of the invention, provided by way of example, which should not be interpreted as being limiting of the invention in any manner. 
         FIG. 1  shows a top perspective view of the cable grommet guide for bicycles according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a bottom perspective view of the cable grommet guide for bicycles according to  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a top perspective view of the cover of the cable grommet guide for bicycles according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a bottom perspective view of the cover of the cable grommet guide for bicycles according to  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a top perspective view of the cable grommet guide for bicycles with the cover assembled according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows a bottom perspective view of the cable grommet guide for bicycles with the cover assembled according to  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a cable grommet guide for bicycles according to a preferred embodiment comprising a body  10  with parallel channels  12  for the passage of cables in which the channels are communicated allowing the crossing of the cables at different levels without friction between them.  FIG. 1  shows the body  10  with a certain curve for being adapted to the frame of the bicycle, having a central hole  14  for the passage of a fixing element for the fixing to the frame of the bicycle and having at least one projection  16  to prevent the friction of the cables at the exit of the guide. Although in this preferred embodiment the body  10  is depicted with a certain curve, it may not have such curve in other embodiments of the invention. 
     In  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that the body  10  has in addition to the central hole  14  a top hole  18 , with a quadrangular configuration, at one of its ends for the fixing of the cover  20  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) to the body  10  by male-female fixation. 
     The cover  20  serves to conceal and protect the cables running in the channels  12  against becoming dirty or the accumulation of dust. This cover  20  is fixed to the guide by means of a screw  22  which is screwed in a central hole  14  made between the two channels  12 . 
     In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the body  10  and the cover  20  assembled such that the body  10  is fixed to a frame of bicycle by means of a screw  22  can be observed. 
     The mentioned cable grommet guide is preferably placed in the lower area of the body of the bottom bracket in order to channel the cables which transmit the switching of gears to the gear and to the deflector. 
     According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the cables pass crossing one another within the channels, i.e., the position of both cables is modified such that the cable of the right gear lever or control is placed on the left side of the steering tube and, accordingly, the cable of the gear lever placed on the left side is placed on the opposite side (the right side) of the steering tube. The transmission of the movement through the cables is therefore more fluid and less forced. This means that the cables cross one another in front of the steering tube with a broader radius. 
     However, given that the present guide also incorporates parallel channels, the cables can pass in the traditional position, i.e., parallel to one another within the channels. 
     Although the present invention has been described more in detail in reference to some preferred embodiments thereof, other variations will be obvious for persons skilled in the art, such as the fact that the body may not have a curve for being adapted to other parts of the bicycle, it can be fixed by means of other fastening systems, for example, by means of adhesive. It is sought that such variations are covered by the scope of the present invention, defined by the following claims.