Abstract:
The invention refers to an apparatus for the control of brakes in bicycles and the like, to be used, in particular, for disc brakes mounted on bicycles and comprising a pump able to push fluid into a hydraulic circuit connected to the brake, characterized in that the said pump is held inside the handlebar ( 2 ) or a part ( 3; 21 ) associated therewith.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention refers to an apparatus for the control of brakes, in bicycles and the like, to be used, in particular, for disc brakes mounted on bicycles  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    It is known that the action exerted upon the brake&#39;s lever is transmitted to a calliper acting on the disc through a hydraulic connection associated with a pump to urge the same calliper acting on the disc.  
           [0003]    A drawback of the brake-controlling devices is due the fact that the brake pump, with relevant accessories, is applied to the handlebar, thereby constituting a separate element. This characteristic may result unsuitable owing to the fact that the handlebar has larger dimensions, the brake pump can be damaged by possible strokes, and may hurt the user in case of falls.  
         SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0004]    The object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks.  
           [0005]    This result has been achieved, according to the invention, by adopting the idea of making an apparatus having the characteristics disclosed in the claim  1 . Further characteristics being set forth in the dependent claims.  
           [0006]    The advantages of the present invention are that the apparatus has extremely limited overall dimensions and, therefore, gives the handlebar a greater compactness; that the presence of a hydraulic brake makes it possible to use the levers originally present on the bicycle, that is, those for brakes operated only by a cable; that there are no protruding parts likely to be damaged or providing a danger for the cyclist; that a more attractive appearance is conferred to the handlebar; that the braking maintains optimal performance; that the apparatus keeps its characteristics unchanged also after a prolonged use. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be best understood by anyone skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the attached drawings given as a practical exemplification of the invention, but not to be considered in a limitative sense, wherein:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 shows a side view, with parts taken away, of a possible exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for braking control according to the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIGS. 1A and 1B are respectively, a top view with parts in section (FIG. 1A) and a side view (FIG. 1B), with parts in section, of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a top view, with parts taken away, of a further possible exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for braking control according to the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a side view, with parts taken away, of a further possible exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for braking control according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]    In its general form, the basic characteristic of an apparatus for the control of brakes according to the invention, is that the said apparatus is held within a portion of the handlebar, or a part associated therewith such as, for example, a connecting lug or other similar elements.  
         [0013]    Referring in particular to FIG. 1, an apparatus  1  for the control of brakes according to the present invention, is fitted within the lug  3  which defines the connection between the handlebar  2  and the sleeve (not shown).  
         [0014]    In particular, the lug  3  has first clamping means  30 ,  31  which allow fixing the apparatus  1  to the body of the handlebar  2 , and second clamping means  32 ,  33  allowing the steering stem to be inserted into the sleeve. The clamping means consists of clamps  30  and  32  made up of two bodies joined by respective screws  31  and  33  in a manner known per se.  
         [0015]    Provided inside the body of the lug  3  is a reservoir  8  for the oil of the hydraulic circuit operating the brake. In particular, the reservoir  8  is covered by a membrane  80  which is, in turn, covered by a lid  82  fixed by a relevant frame  81  to the body of the lug  3 . The reservoir  8 , via a conduit  88 , is connected to the a chamber wherein there is a piston  6  for which a stop element  76  is provided. The sealing of the piston  6  is also ensured by O-ring gaskets having, respectively, oil-sealing  71 , oil-stuffing  72 , and counteracting  73  functions, the latter gasket being in contact with a spring  66 .  
         [0016]    The operation of the; apparatus  1  is accomplished by actuating a lever  44  (shown schematically only) provided on the handlebar and connected to the apparatus by a sheath  4  which houses the relevant cable  5 . One end of the cable  5  is attached to the lever  44 , while the other end is fixed to the apparatus  1  in correspondence of two screw elements  50  being accessible via the passage  55 , as more clearly shown in FIG. 1B.  
         [0017]    As the cable is fixed in correspondence of the apparatus  1 , the actuation of the lever  44  causes the displacement of the sheath  4  in the direction of arrow F; in this way, the bush  40 , formed in the end of the sheath on the side of the apparatus  1 , goes into abutment against the piston  6  causing the latter to be displaced in the same direction in order to push the oil through the outlet  9  connected to the hydraulic tube which leads to the brake&#39;s calliper. The presence of the spring  66 , which is loaded by the action of the piston  6 , allows the latter to return to the original position, that is, in the stand-by condition in which the brake&#39;s calliper is inoperative.  
         [0018]    Shown more clearly in FIG. 1A are two piston pumps  6  disposed on the handlebar on the right and left side thereof, and actable by two levers in a traditional manner, for operating the two brakes, respectively.  
         [0019]    In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the apparatus  1  is applied to a handlebar  2  of a type provided with a coupling  20  for the sleeve, and is inserted within the body of the handlebar  2 , in particular within the portion  21  which connects the coupling for the sleeve  20 . In this example, the apparatus  1  of the invention has been shown only for one of the two brakes, being understood that the invention is applicable, also in this case, to both the brakes. The parts have been indicated by reference numerals corresponding to those of similar parts in the preceding figures.  
         [0020]    In FIG. 2, also the sheath  4  associated with the relevant lever  44  is shown only partially and it is not joined with the lever; besides, the cable  5  protrudes from the body of the handlebar to allow fixing the same cable more easily. Obviously, an open seat can be provided, that is, a seat accessible from the outside, in order to ensure the cable with screws, for example, so that the same cable will not project from the handlebar.  
         [0021]    Again in this embodiment, the actuation of the lever  44  causes the displacement F of the sheath  4  and the consequent movement of the piston  6  connected with the bush  40  of the sheath  4 , a snap ring  74  for the piston  6  being provided in correspondence of said bush. The piston  6 , likewise in the previous example, pushes the oil of the braking circuit, via a conduit not shown, towards the brake&#39;s calliper. The spring  66  brings the apparatus back to the initial position when stopping the action exerted on the lever  44 .  
         [0022]    In the example of FIG. 3, the apparatus  1  is integral with a handlebar of a type for sprint races, that is, with curved arms. The characteristic of this solution is that the piston  6  is connected to the levers  44  for actuating the brakes without using cables; a connecting rod  64  being provided for this purpose rearwardly of the piston and coaxial thereto. The rod  64  is pivoted to an appendix  46  of the lever  44  for operating the brake. The actuation of the lever  44 , in the direction R in FIG. 3, causes the displacement F of the connecting rod  64  and of piston  6  driven by the same rod. As for the rest, the operation is analogous to the preceding cases.  
         [0023]    Also in this example, the oil reservoir (which will likewise be integrated in the handlebar) and the connecting conduit with the calliper have not been shown; besides, the drawing relates to one of the two brakes only, but is applicable to both.  
         [0024]    Practically, all the construction details may vary in any equivalent way as far as the shape, dimensions, elements disposition, nature of the used materials are concerned, without nevertheless departing from the scope of the adopted solution idea and, thereby, remaining within the limits of the protection granted to the present patent.