Patent Abstract:
A bicycle part comprises a tubular bicycle member elongated in a first direction and having a partition forming an interior partitioned chamber that is elongated in the first direction. The bicycle member does not form an opening extending along the entire length of the partitioned chamber that exposes the partitioned chamber, but does include an insertion opening for inserting an elongated member into the partitioned chamber.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to bicycles and, more particularly, to a bicycle part with a partitioned chamber adapted to house a protected member. 
     Hollow pipes are frequently used to make various bicycle components, such as bicycle frames. Sometimes such frames are configured to house electrical wiring and mechanical cabling used to operate various bicycle components such as brake and transmission components. An example of such a frame is shown in JP 2000-302074. In some bicycles, mechanical operating cables may be routed along the various bicycle frame and frame-mounted components from brake levers located on the handle bar to front and rear brakes, and from one or more shift control devices located on the handlebar to front and/or rear bicycle transmissions. Likewise, electrical connecting cords may be routed along the various bicycle frame and frame-mounted components from a motor and/or headlight located at the front of the bicycle frame to a battery and/or electrical controller located in the center of the bicycle frame. 
     In the system shown in JP 2000-302074, cable retainers in the form of recesses for the insertion of wiring, such as the mechanical and electrical cabling noted above, are formed integrally with the frame pipe on the outer peripheral surface of the frame pipe and extend along the full length of the frame pipe. After the wiring is inserted into the recesses, caps are used to close off the recesses to protect the wiring from damage and corrosion. Unfortunately, since the recesses extend along the entire length of the frame pipe, the strength of the frame pipe is reduced. In order to preserve the strength of the frame pipe, it is necessary to increase the cross sectional area of the frame. However, doing so increases the weight of the frame, which is very undesirable in bicycles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to various features of a bicycle part that may be used to accommodate wiring such as mechanical cables, electrical connecting cords, etc. In one embodiment, a bicycle part comprises a tubular bicycle member elongated in a first direction and having a partition forming an interior partitioned chamber that is elongated in the first direction. The bicycle member does not form an opening extending along the entire length of the partitioned chamber that exposes the partitioned chamber, but does include an insertion opening for inserting an elongated member into the partitioned chamber. 
     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 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a particular embodiment of a bicycle; 
         FIG. 2A  is a cross sectional view of the main frame; 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross sectional view of a swing arm portion of the frame; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged oblique view of the bicycle handlebar assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the handlebar; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the handlebar stem attached to the handlebar and front fork; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a particular embodiment of a control circuit that controls a plurality of bicycle components; 
         FIG. 7  is an external perspective view of a first control unit; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing front surfaces of second and third control units; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing rear surfaces of the second and third control units; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a handlebar; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear view of another embodiment of a handlebar; and 
         FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a handlebar. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a bicycle including provisions for housing mechanical and/or electrical wiring or some other elongated component. In this embodiment, the bicycle is a mountain bicycle comprising a frame  1  having a tubular frame body  2 ; a front fork  3  rotatably mounted to the front of frame body  2 ; a front wheel  6  with a front disk brake device  13   f  rotatably mounted to front fork  3 ; a handlebar assembly  4  mounted to the upper portion of front fork  3 ; a rear wheel  7  with a rear disk brake device  13   r  rotatably mounted to a hub dynamo  10  at the rear portion of frame body  2 , a driving portion  5  comprising front and rear gear-shift mechanisms  8  and  9 ; and a controller  11  ( FIG. 6 ) for controlling various electrical components including the front and rear gear-shift mechanisms  8  and  9 . 
     The frame body  2  of the frame  1  comprises a Y-shaped main frame  24  and a swing arm  25  pivotably mounted to the back of main frame  24 . Main frame  24  and swing arm  25  may be made by welding pipe having a generally rectangular shape formed by extrusion of aluminum alloy, for example. A rear suspension  2   a  is mounted between main frame  24  and swing arm  25 , and a saddle  18  is mounted to the rear of main frame  24 . Swing arm  25  bifurcates from the pivot point and extends to the center of rear wheel  7  so as to straddle rear wheel  7 . 
     Front fork  3  comprises left and right suspension components  3   a , an arch  3   b  linking the tops of suspension components  3   a  in a conventional manner, and a rotating support  3   c  extending from the center of the arch  3   b  up through the head tube of main frame  24 . Rotating support  3   c  is a pipe-shaped member that rotates around a rearwardly inclined pivot axis X 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , handlebar assembly  4  comprises a handle stem  12  and a handlebar  15 , wherein handle stem  12  is fastened to the upper portion of the front fork  3 , and handlebar  15  is fastened to handle stem  12 . Handle stem  12  comprises a fork fixing component  12   a  screwed to the rotating support  3   c , a handle bar mounting component  12   b  for mounting handlebar  15 , and a stem  12   c  having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape for joining the two. Handlebar  15  is a generally circular tubular member that may be formed by extruding an aluminum alloy, for example. 
     Brake levers  16   f  and  16   r  and grips  17   f  and  17   r  are mounted at opposite ends of the handlebar  15 . Brake levers  16   f  and  16   r  are operatively coupled to the front and rear disk brake devices  13   f  and  13   r  through respective brake cable assemblies  60   f  and  60   r . Gear-shift switches  20   a  and  20   b  disposed in the mounting brackets for brake levers  16   f  and  16   r  are provided for carrying out manual gear-shift operations of the front and rear gear-shift mechanisms  8  and  9 . An operating switch  21   a  is provided for switching between an automatic mode and a manual mode of operation, and an operating switch  21   b  is provided for manually adjusting the stiffness of the front and rear suspensions  3   a  and  2   a.    
     Front gear-shift mechanism  8  comprises a crank arm assembly  27  including a right side crank arm  27   a  and a left side crank arm  27   b  mounted to a crankshaft (not shown) that is rotatably mounted within a bottom bracket portion of frame body  2 . A plurality of front sprockets (e.g., three sprockets) are mounted to crank arm  27   a , and an electrically operated front derailleur  26  is mounted to frame body  2  in close proximity to crank arm  27   a  for switching a chain  29  among the plurality of front sprockets. Rear gear-shift mechanism  9  comprises a plurality of rear sprockets (e.g., nine sprockets) and an electrically operated rear derailleur  28  that is mounted to the rear of frame body  2  for switching chain  29  among the plurality of rear sprockets  27 . 
     The hub dynamo  10  mounted to rear wheel  7  is adapted to mount a brake disc  61  and a freewheel to which the plurality of rear sprockets is mounted. An alternating current generator  19  ( FIG. 6 ) is mounted inside the hub for generating power according to the rotation of the rear wheel  7 . 
     A rotation detector  22  operates in conjunction with left crank arm  27   b  for detecting the rotation of crank arm assembly  27 . Rotation detector  22  comprises a reed switch  23  ( FIG. 6 ) mounted to frame body  2  and a plurality of (e.g., four) magnets mounted to left crank arm  27   b  and circumferentially spaced evenly with respect to the rotational axis of crank arm assembly  27 . As a result, reed switch  23  outputs four pulses for each revolution of crank arm assembly  27 . In this embodiment, rotation detector  22  is used to control the operation of front and rear gear-shift mechanisms  8  and  9 , since it is preferable that the gear-shift mechanisms be operated only when the crank arm assembly  27  is rotating. 
     Controller  11  manually controls front and rear gear-shift mechanisms  8  and  9  and front and rear suspensions  3   a  and  2   a  in response to the operation of the gear-shift switches  20   a  and  20   b  and operating switches  21   a  and  21   b . Controller  11  also may automatically control front and rear gear-shift mechanisms  8  and  9  and front and rear suspensions  3   a  and  2   a  in response to the speed of the bicycle. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , controller  11  has a first control unit  30 , a second control unit  31 , and a third control unit  32 . First control unit  30  may be mounted at the bottom bracket portion of frame body  2  in close proximity to rotation detector  22  and front derailleur  26 . First control unit  30  is connected to and is powered by alternating current generator  19  through an electrical connecting cord  65 . First control unit  30  powers and controls the front derailleur  26  through internal wiring, it powers and controls the rear derailleur  28  through an electrical connecting cord  69 , and it powers and controls rear suspension  2   a  through an electrical connecting cord  68 . Since first control unit  30  is provided close to the alternating current generator  19 , a shorter connecting cord  65  may be used, thus increasing the efficiency of power and data signal communication. 
     First control unit  30  includes a first control component  35  in the form of a microcomputer, reed switch  23 , a waveform-shaping circuit  36  for generating a speed signal derived from the output of the alternating current generator  19 , a charge control circuit  37 , a power storage element  38 , a front derailleur motor driver (FMD)  39 , a rear derailleur motor driver (RMD)  40 , a front derailleur operating position sensor (FLS)  41 , a rear derailleur operating position sensor (RLS)  42 , and a rear suspension motor driver (RSD)  43 . Charge control circuit  37  rectifies the power output from alternating current generator  19  and produces direct current power. Power storage element  38  may comprise a large-capacity capacitor, for example, for storing the direct current power produced by charge control circuit  37 . If desired, power storage element  38  may comprise a secondary storage battery such as a nickel cadmium battery, lithium ion battery, nickel hydride battery, etc. instead of a capacitor. The power stored in power storage element  38  is communicated to the first control component  35  and to the motor drivers  39 ,  40  and  43 . The motor drivers  39 ,  40  and  43  output driving signals for driving motors  44   f  and  44   r  used to control derailleurs  26  and  28  and a motor (not shown in the figure) used to control the rear suspension  2   a  in accordance with control signals from first control component  35 . First control portion also communicates power and control signals to second control unit  31  and third control unit  32  through an electrical connecting cord  66 . 
     First control unit  30  controls the gear shift devices  8  and  9  and the rear suspension  13  in accordance with the riding mode. More specifically, in automatic mode, the first control unit  30  performs gear shift control of the gear shift devices  8  and  9  in response to the bicycle speed and adjusts the stiffness of the rear suspension  2   a  in response to the bicycle speed. In manual mode, the gear shift devices  8  and  9  and the rear suspension  2   a  are controlled in response to the operation of the gear shift switches  20   a  and  20   b  and the operation switches  21   a  and  21   b . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , first control unit  30  has a case  70  that houses the various electrical components discussed above. Case  70  includes a terminal board  71  used for mounting the connecting cords  65  and  68  and two chassis plugs  72  and  73  used for mounting the connecting cords  66  and  69 . A chassis socket  66   a  having a plurality of (e.g., four) female terminals mounted to one end of connecting cord  66  is connected to chassis plug  72 , which has a corresponding plurality of male terminals or pins, and the other end of connecting cord  66  is connected to second control unit  31 . A chassis socket  69   a  mounted to one end of connecting cord  69  is connected to chassis plug  73 , and the other end of connecting cord  69  is connected to rear derailleur  28 . 
     A pair of plate-shaped male FASTON terminals  71   a  and  71   b  and a pair of screw terminals  71   c  and  71   d  are disposed on the terminal board  71 . A pair of female FASTON terminals  65   a  that are crimped onto one end of connecting cord  65  are connected to the male FASTON terminals  71   a  and  71   b , and the alternator  19  is connected to the other end of connecting cord  65 . A pair of Y-terminals  68   a  and  68   b  that are crimped to one end of connecting cord  68  are connected to the screw terminals  71   c  and  71   d , respectively, and the rear suspension  2   a  is connected to the other end of connecting cord  68 . Because the terminal configurations of the connecting cord  65  connected to the alternator  19  and the connecting cord  68  connected to the rear suspension  2   a  are different, the connecting cords  65  and  68  cannot be mistakenly connected in place of each other. As a result, damage to the various circuits inside the first control unit  30 , which could easily take place if a mistaken connection were to occur, can be prevented. 
     As noted above, first control unit  30  also supplies power and control signals to second control unit  31  and third control unit  32  through an electrical connection cord  66  . More specifically, the first control unit  30  provides composite power/control signals in a pulse code modulated format. The control signals may include the speed signals from waveform-shaping circuit  36 . The second control unit  31  and third control unit  32  derive power from the power signal components of the composite signals and are controlled according to the control signal components of the composite signals. 
     Second control unit  31  is mounted via a bracket  50  ( FIGS. 3 ,  8  and  9 ) to the handlebar  15  of the handlebar assembly  4 . Second control unit  31  comprises gear-shift switches  20   a  and  20   b , operating switches  21   a  and  21   b , a second control component  45  in the form of a microcomputer, and a front suspension motor driver (FSD)  46 . Second control unit  31  transfers the operating data of switches  20   a ,  20   b ,  21   a  and  21   b  to first control unit  30 . In automatic mode, second control component  45  adjusts the stiffness of front suspension  3   a  through an electrical connecting cord  67  in accordance with a control signal sent from first control unit  30  based on bicycle speed. In manual mode, second control component  45  adjusts the stiffness of front suspension  3   a  in accordance with the operation of operating switch  21   b.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , second control unit  31  has a case  75  that houses the various electrical components described above. A terminal board  76  used for mounting the connecting cords  66  and  67  is disposed on the back surface of the case  75 , and six screw terminals  76   a – 76   f  are disposed on the terminal board  76 . 
     Connecting cord  66  is a four-wire cord comprising four core wires  66   g – 66   j . Of these core wires, the core wire  66   g  may be a ground wire for the other three wires. The core wire  66   h  may be used to supply electric power and control signals (e.g., bicycle speed signals) to the second control unit  31 . The core wire  66   i  may provide signals from the gear shift switches  20   a  and  20   b  and the operation switches  21   a  and  21   b , for example, to the first control unit  30 . In this embodiment, the current flowing through core wire  66   i  is an analog current having a different voltage for each switch by using a voltage divider. The core wire  66   j  may be used to supply electric power that drives the front suspension  3   a.    
     As noted above, a chassis socket  66   a  is mounted to one end of connecting cord  66 . Four Y-terminals  66   b – 66   e  that are connected to the screw terminals  76   a – 76   d  are crimped onto the four core wires  66   g – 66   j  at other end of connecting cord  66 . These Y-terminals  66   b – 66   e  are respectively crimped onto the four core wires  66   g – 66   j  after connecting cord  66  has been sized and cut in accordance with the bicycle model configuration and/or the size of the frame body  2 . 
     Two Y-terminals  67   a  and  67   b  that are connected to screw terminals  76   e  and  76   f  are crimped onto one end of connecting cord  67 , and the other end of connecting cord  67  is connected to front suspension  3   a . Connecting cords  77  and  78  extend from the case  75 , wherein connecting cord  77  is connected to gear shift switch  20   a  and to operation switch  21   a , and connecting cord  78  is connected to gear shift switch  20   b  and to operation switch  21   b . These cords  77  and  78  terminate at the screw terminals  76   c  and  76   d.    
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , a guiding cavity  75   a  having a pair of notches  75   c  is formed on the front surface of case  75 . A locking piece  75   b  also is formed on the front surface of case  75 . Protrusions  80   a  ( FIG. 9 ) disposed on the back of a case  80  that houses the electrical components of the third control unit  32  slidingly and detachably engage the notches  75   c , and a concavity  80   b  disposed on the back of case  80  of third control unit  32  engages with the locking piece  75   b . Locking piece  75   b  possesses a degree of pliability that enables it to detachably engage concavity  80   b . Finally, a pair of contact points  75   e  formed on the front surface of case  75  electrically contact a corresponding pair of contact points  80   d  formed on the back of case  80  of third control unit  32 . 
     Third control unit  32  is a so-called cycle computer, and it is detachably mounted to second control unit  31  as noted above. A battery  59  (e.g., a button battery) is mounted to third control unit  32  so that third control unit  32  can operate even if it is detached from second control unit  32 . Consequently, various initial settings such as the wheel diameter setting may be performed, and various data such as the distance ridden and the time ridden can be stored therein. Third control unit  32  has a third control component  55  in the form of a microcomputer, a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit  56 , and a backlight  58 . Backlight  58  is coupled to third control component  55  through a power stabilizion circuit  57 . These electrical components are housed within case  80 . The LCD unit  56  is capable of displaying various data such as speed, cadence, travel distance, gear-shift location, suspension status and so forth through a display window  80   e  disposed on the front of case  80  in response to control signals received from first control unit  30 , and it is illuminated by backlight  58 . Power stabilization circuit  57  stabilizes the power by smoothing the power derived from the composite power/control signals. Consequently, even when intermittent control signals are sent together with the power signals, there is little flickering in the backlight  58 . The third control unit  32  also may function as a pedometer if it is detached from the second control unit  31 . 
     In operation, alternating current generator  19  of dynamo hub  10  generates electric power when the bicycle is traveling, and the electric power is communicated to first control unit  30  through electrical connection cord  65  and stored in power storage element  38 . Since the generator  19  is provided on the rear wheel  7 , the power storage element  38  also may be charged by putting the bicycle on its stand and rotating the pedals if the charge produced by normal travel is insufficient. This is particularly helpful when adjusting the gear-shift mechanisms and setting the operations of the LCD unit  56 . 
     When the bicycle speed either exceeds a predetermined threshold value or falls below a predetermined threshold value in automatic mode, a gear-shift operation is carried out. In this embodiment, the gear-shift operation is carried out with priority given to the rear derailleur  28 . When the speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the stiffness of both suspensions  3   a  and  2   a  also may be made stiffer. In the meantime, various operating parameters are displayed on LCD unit  56  with the help of backlight  58 . 
     Because power signals and control signals are provided in the form of a composite signal, a single line may be used to communicate both signals. Also, since the control apparatus is divided into three separate units, the number and length of lines can be reduced, thus efficiently communicating power and control signals. Furthermore, because the Y-terminals and FASTON terminals can be crimped on the ends of the connecting cords after the lengths of the connecting cords is determined, the control units  30  and  31  can be placed freely on the bicycle. 
     A bicycle constructed according to the teachings herein has many features to accommodate wiring such as brake cable assemblies  60   f  and  60   r  and electrical connecting cords  66 – 69 . These features shall now be described. 
       FIG. 2A  is a cross sectional view of main frame  24 , and  FIG. 2B  is a cross sectional view of swing arm  25 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , main frame  24  comprises a tubular frame main body  24   a  having a generally rectangular cross section. A horizontal partition  24   b  and a vertical partition  24   c  extend along a longitudinal axis X 1  ( FIG. 1 ) of main frame  24  so that the total space in frame main body  24   a  is divided into chambers  47   a ,  47   b  and  47   c . In this embodiment, chamber  47   a  is empty, connecting cord  66  extends along and is housed by chamber  47   b , and brake cable assembly  60   r  extends along and is housed by chamber  47   c . A wire insertion component in the form of a wire insertion opening  49  that allows connecting cord  66  to be inserted into and removed from chamber  47   b  is formed in frame main body  24   a , and a similar wire insertion opening  49  that allows brake cable assembly  60   r  be inserted into and removed from chamber  47   c  also is formed in frame main body  24   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 2B , swing arm  25  comprises a tubular swing arm body  25   a  having a generally rectangular cross section. A horizontal partition  25   b  and a vertical partition  25   c  extend longitudinally along swing arm  25  so that the total space in swing arm body  25   a  is divided into chambers  47   d ,  47   e  and  47   f . In this embodiment, chamber  47   d  is empty, connecting cords  65  and  69  extend along and are housed by chamber  47   e , and brake cable assembly  60   r  extends along and is housed by chamber  47   f . A wire insertion opening  49  that allows connecting cords  65  and  68  to be inserted into and removed from chamber  47   e  is formed in swing arm body  25   a , and a similar wire insertion opening  49  that allows brake cable assembly  60   r  be inserted into and removed from chamber  47   f  also is formed in swing arm body  25   a.    
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of handlebar  15 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , handlebar  15  comprises a tubular handlebar body  15   a  with a generally circular cross section. A horizontal partition  15   b  extends along a longitudinal axis X 3  ( FIG. 3 ) of handlebar  15  so that the total space in handlebar body  15   a  is divided onto chambers  48   a  and  48   b . In this embodiment, chamber  48   a  is empty, and connecting cords  66 ,  67  and  78  extend along and are housed by chamber  48   b.    
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of handle stem  12  attached to handlebar  15  and to rotating support  3   c  of front fork  3 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , wire insertion openings  51  are formed in rotating support  3   c  in front fork  3 , in fork fixing component  12   a , and at opposite front and rear sides of handlebar mounting component  12   c ; a wire insertion opening  52  is formed in handlebar body  15   a  facing rearwardly so as to register with wire insertion opening  51  at the rear of handlebar mounting component  12   b , a wire insertion opening  53   a  is formed in handlebar body  15   a  facing forwardly so as to register with wire insertion opening  51  at the front of handlebar mounting component  12   b , and a wire insertion opening  53   b  is formed in partition  15   b . As a result of these wire insertion openings, brake cable assemblies  60   f  and  60   r  may diametrically cross through handlebar body  15   a , partition  15   b  and handlebar mounting component  12   b , connecting cords  66  and  67  may be inserted into and withdrawn from chamber  48   b  through handlebar body  15   a  and the rear portion of handlebar mounting component  12   b , and all of these wiring components may pass through stem  12   c  and be inserted into and withdrawn from rotating support  3   c  in front fork  3  through fork fixing component  12   a  and the side wall of rotating support  3   c.    
     As noted previously, front and rear brake levers  16   f  and  16   r  are coupled through the front and rear brake cable assemblies  60   f  and  60   r  to the front and rear disc brake devices  13   f  and  13   r . Brake cable assembly  60   f  runs from the handle stem  12  through the front fork  3   a  to the front disc brake device  13   f . Rear brake cable assembly  60   r  runs through handle stem  12  and front fork  3   a , through chamber  47   c  in main fame  24 , through chamber  47   f  in swing arm  25 , and to rear disc brake device  13   r.    
     Connecting cords  65  and  69  extend through chamber  47   e  in swing arm  25  to AC generator  19  and rear derailleur  28 . Connecting cord  66  extends through chamber  47   b  in main frame  24  to second control unit  31 . Cords  77  and  78  extend from shifting switch  20  and operating switch  21   a  through chamber  48   b  in handle bar  15  to terminals  76   c  and  76   d  at second control unit  31 . 
     In main frame  24  and swing arm  25 , brake cable  60   r  extends through chambers  47   c  and  47   f  and are separated from the electrical wiring in chambers  47   b  and  47   e . This ensures that the electrical wiring will not be damaged by brake cable  60   r.    
     Substantially closed chambers divided by partitions are provided in the handle bar  15 , frame body  2 , and so on, and wiring components such as connecting cords or brake cables may be inserted into the chambers so as to preserve the strength of the components without requiring increased cross sectional area. This is possible in part because of the partition walls. In other words, the strength of the structural part is preserved without a corresponding increase in weight. 
     Covering the openings with covers along the full length of the wiring as in the prior art is unattractive. The elasticity of prior art covers also results in their separation from the wiring housing, thus leading to the danger of exposure along the entire length of the wiring that is housed. However, the present embodiment features only wire insertion components with openings just for the insertion and removal of wiring. The end result is therefore not unattractive, with no danger of exposed wiring. 
     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, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a part mounting component  54  may be provided on any structural member such as handlebar  15 . Such a part mounting component may include an opening through the surface of handlebar main body  15   a  into chamber  48   b  so as to provide a mount to other parts  85  such as a bicycle bell. In this embodiment, part mounting component  54  has expanded rounded end portions  54   a  connected together by an intermediate portion  54   b  that has the shape of a narrow groove. The other part  85  may be attached to handlebar  15  by inserting the head  86   a  of a bolt  86 , for example, through either one of the two end portions  54   a  into chamber  48   b , sliding the bolt  86  into the intermediate portion  54   b , and fastening with a nut. If desired, a rotation stopper (e.g., a pair of flats) may be formed on bolt  86  for engaging the intermediate portion  54   b  of the part mounting component  54  and preventing bolt  86  from rotating. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the opening of the wire insertion component  52  or part mounting component  54  may be closed off by a lid member  88 . Lid member  88  thus prevents liquids from entering the corresponding chamber and corroding any wiring component within the chamber. 
     No partitions were provided in the handle stem  12  or front fork  3  in the disclosed embodiment. However, partitions can be formed to form chambers in them, if desired. 
     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 that 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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1