Patent Description:
Vehicles designed for travel, in particular those comprising wheels, generally require means for controlling the speed with which the wheeled vehicle is traveling. Such vehicles include those that are powered by human interaction or those which are assisted by a motor, such as trikes, handbikes, bicycles, wheelchairs or the like.

A typical brake system used for such wheeled vehicles includes a brake device that applies a braking force to the wheel of the wheeled vehicle, and an operating lever unit for operating the brake device that is connected the brake device via a brake wire. In a bicycle brake system, for example, the operating lever unit is mounted to a handlebar of the bicycle in a position where a user can easily grip said operating lever.

One difficulty that is associated with these systems, however, is adjustment of a neutral position of the lever of the operating lever unit with respect to the handlebar of the bicycle. Such adjustment is required, for example, when the brake wire elongates after using for a long time or with very heavy use. In case of elongation of the brake wire, the distance between the lever and the handlebar changes, whereby an appropriate braking force cannot be obtained. Another situation in which it is required to adjust the neutral position of the lever, is when the distance between the lever and the handlebar no longer fits with the size of the user's hand as the user grows or as the user changes.

In order to adjust the distance between the brake lever and the handlebar, it would be necessary to change the length of the brake wire connecting a brake caliper of the brake device and the brake lever attached to the handlebar.

Several attempts to improve the workability in the adjustment of the lever position have been proposed. <CIT> discloses a brake lever system including a cable attachment fitting which rides within an open slot of a brake lever body which tilts away from the departure point of the brake cable as a brake lever body is pivoted away from a brake lever housing. A threaded screw, or rod, carried within the open slot, can be adjusted to raise or lower the height of a rectangular block which forms an adjustable lower limit below which the cable attachment fitting cannot travel.

<CIT> discloses a brake lever reach adjustment which includes a bracket, a brake lever and a reach adjusting assembly. The bracket to be mounted to a handlebar has a cavity therein. The brake lever is pivotally connected to the bracket, and defines two opposite wings. The reach adjusting assembly has a lead screw and a movable block mounted about the lead screw. The movable block selectively supports one of the two wings, or is positioned between the two wings to adjust a position of the brake lever relative to the handlebar.

In both of the documents described above, however, the extent to which the lever can be adjusted is at most several millimeters. Therefore, if a user desires more adjustment, it would be necessary to release an end of the brake wire fixed to the brake device using a hexagonal wrench or special tools, adjust the length of the brake wire, and tighten it again. Such work requires labour and certain experience in brake maintenance.

For this reason, the conventional brake levers disclosed in the documents above, are not suitable when it is required to adjust the lever to a large degree, as the user grows up or the user changes for example. In some cases, it may be necessary to change the brake lever itself to a new one which fits to the user's hand.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a remote operating lever unit and brake system which can be easily repositioned to meet different hand sizes, different grip reach sizes of the user and different grip strengths.

<CIT> discloses a brake operating device having a bracket which pivotally supports a control lever. The bracket is mounted movably with respect to a fixed member fixed to the handle bar. <CIT> discloses a bicycle with a device for detecting a braking request on the bicycle. <CIT> discloses a hand operated brake actuator which mechanically switches between a braking mode and a parking mode. Said <CIT> discloses a remote operating lever unit according to the preamble of claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

The present invention is defined by independent claims <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> as appended.

The invention provides a remote operating lever unit for operating a brake unit mounted to a wheeled vehicle. The wheeled vehicle comprises a body and one or more wheels mounted to the body. The remote operating lever unit comprises a lever for operation by a user, a main body holding the lever in a displaceable manner and including a control unit for transmitting a signal to the brake unit based on a displacement amount of the lever from a neutral position thereof, a holder holding the main body, and a connecting portion detachably engaging the main body and the holder at an arbitrary angle around an axis perpendicular to a plane in which the lever displaces.

This arrangement allows a user of the wheeled vehicle to easily reposition the neutral position of the lever to meet different hand sizes; this repositioning may be achieved by detaching the main body and the holder and reattaching the main body and the holder via the connection portion at an arbitrary angle around the axis perpendicular to the plane in which the lever displaces.

In a further arrangement, the connecting portion preferably includes a protruding part provided at one of the holder and the main body along the axis and having one or more male splines on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a recessed part for receiving the protruding part, the recessed part being provided at the other of the holder and the main body along the axis and having one of more female splines sized and shaped to engage with the male splines on an inner peripheral surface thereof.

This is advantageous as it allows a user to easily engage the main body with the holder at preferable angle. Further, the protruding part and recessed part are easy to form. In a preferred arrangement, the protruding part is formed integrally with the holder or the main body; and the recessed part is formed integrally with the main body or the holder.

According to an aspect of the invention claimed in claim <NUM>, the lever is configured to be operated between the neutral position, a brake operation position where the lever is displaced in a first direction from the neutral position by a user, and a park brake position where the lever is displaced in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Preferably, the control unit of the remote operating lever unit transmits a signal for turning on a parking brake or parking brake functionality to the brake unit when the lever is set to the park brake position.

This allows a user to set up easily on the park brake position. Also, since the park brake position is on the other side of the braking operating side, it is prevented that a user erroneously activates the parking brake during ride.

Yet another arrangement preferably comprises a calibration means for calibrating the signal to be generated based on the displacement amount of the lever from the neutral position, taking a change of a movable range of the lever from the neutral position to a full brake position as a result of adjustment of the neutral position of the lever via the connecting portion, into account.

This arrangement allows to obtain a desired braking force at the brake unit according to the lever operation amount even after the lever is repositioned, i.e., the movable range of the lever from the neutral position to the full brake position is changed.

Preferably, the remote operating lever unit may comprise a relative detecting means for detecting a positional relationship around the axis perpendicular to the plane in which the lever displaces, between the main body and the holder. A change of the positional relationship indicates the change of the movable range of the lever. More preferably, the relative position detecting means comprises one or more first electrical contacts provided at the main body and one or more second electrical contacts provided at the holder, and the relative position is detected by the control unit, depending on which first contact and which second contact are connected.

In a further arrangement, the holder preferably comprises a lock portion which is engaged with an outer surface of the main body and maintains a connection state between the main body and the holder via the connecting portion.

This ensures a reliable jointed state between the main body and holder via the connecting portion.

According to another aspect of the invention claimed in claim <NUM>, the control unit comprises an accelerometer. The control unit is configured to transmit a signal for turning on a parking brake or parking brake functionality to the brake unit when an output signal from the accelerometer does not substantially change, or does not exceed a predetermined threshold, over a predetermined amount of time. In a case the wheeled vehicle has been standing still for a while, the brake unit will automatically turn on the parking brake. This function comes in handy in many situations, and especially for the companion that may need to the vehicle to stand still while helping the user and may have forgotten to activate the park brake.

In a further arrangement, the main body preferably comprises a variable resistive element to adjust a lever resistance to pulling. Preferably, the variable resistive element includes a pair of friction elements and a variable pressure means for applying a contact pressure between the pair of the friction elements.

In a further arrangement, the remote operating lever unit preferably comprises a biasing means for returning the lever to the neutral position when the lever is released.

In a further arrangement, the control unit preferably includes a user profile managing means for recording one or more user profiles in a memory in the control unit and reading a requested user profile from the memory.

The invention also provides a brake system comprising the remote operating lever unit and at least one brake unit which receives the signal from the remote operating lever unit indicating the displacement amount of the lever from the neutral position thereof and applies a braking force corresponding to the brake control signal, to at least one wheel of a wheeled vehicle.

The invention also provides a method of repositioning the lever of the remote operating unit. The method includes steps of removing the main body from the holder, and the re-connecting the main body to the holder via the connecting portion at which a desired position of the lever is acquired.

A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments by way of example only, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:.

In the illustrated embodiment, a brake system is applied to a bicycle <NUM> as an example of a wheeled vehicle, but it should be understood that the brake system is not limited to bicycles and may also be applied to other wheeled vehicles such as tricycles, hand-bikes, wheelchairs, other mobility items and the like. Wheeled vehicles include not only those which are powered by human interaction, but also those which are fully or partially powered by a power source such as at least one electric motor, engine or the like.

The brake system comprises at least one brake unit <NUM> mounted to a wheel of the wheeled vehicle, shown is the rear wheel <NUM> of the bicycle <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> to apply a braking force to the wheel <NUM>. In <FIG>, the brake system further comprises at least one remote operating lever unit <NUM> for operating the brake unit <NUM>. In a case where a wheeled vehicle has a plurality of wheels, more than one brake units <NUM> may be mounted. In the example of the bicycle <NUM>, the brake unit <NUM> may be mounted to each of the front and rear wheels <NUM>. The plurality of brake units <NUM> may be operated by more than one remote operating lever units <NUM> respectively, or by the single remote operating lever unit <NUM>. In the example where two brake units <NUM> are mounted to the bicycle <NUM>, one brake unit <NUM> mounted to the front wheel may be associated with one remote operating lever unit <NUM> mounted to the right side of a handlebar <NUM> of the bicycle <NUM>, and the other brake unit <NUM> mounted to the rear wheel <NUM> may be associated with the other remote operating lever unit <NUM> mounted to the left side handlebar <NUM>. In another example, both of the brake units <NUM> mounted to the front and the rear wheels <NUM> may be operated with a single remote operating lever unit <NUM> provided on either the right or left side of the handlebar <NUM> of the bicycle <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a remote operating lever unit <NUM> in accordance with the principles of the present invention. In <FIG>, the remote operating lever unit <NUM> is mounted to the handlebar <NUM> as a mounted object of a wheeled vehicle.

The remote operating lever unit <NUM> mainly includes a lever <NUM> that is to be operated by a user, particularly gripped by the user's hand, a main body <NUM> displaceably or pivotally supporting the lever <NUM> in a plane, and preferably, a holder <NUM> mounted to the handlebar <NUM> of the bicycle <NUM> and ideally detachably holding the main body <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> includes a control unit (not shown) transmitting an electric signal to the brake unit <NUM> based on a displacement amount or stroke of the lever <NUM> from a neutral position thereof. In <FIG>, the lever <NUM> is shown in a neutral position, where the lever <NUM> is not operated by a user. In this position, the control unit of the remote operating lever unit <NUM> does not transmit any signal requesting the brake unit to be activated, or transmits a signal to the brake unit <NUM> indicating that the displacement amount is zero.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of one example of the remote operating lever unit <NUM>. <FIG> shows a right side view of the remote operating lever unit <NUM>. <FIG> shows a left side view of the remote operating lever unit <NUM>. <FIG> shows a back view of the remote operating lever unit <NUM>. <FIG> shows a top view of the remote operating lever unit. These figures detail that the main body <NUM> has an upper housing 24A and a lower housing 24B. The upper housing 24A and the lower housing 24B are coupled to each other via a known fixing means, such as a screw, bonding, welding, fitting or the like. The upper housing 24A and the lower housing 24B are formed in a roughly truncated conical outer shape, but the shapes of the upper and housings 24A, 24B are not limited thereto. It is preferable that the main body <NUM> has a shape that can be securely held by the holder <NUM>.

The lever <NUM> is arranged between the upper housing 24A and the lower housing 24B of the main body <NUM>. The lever <NUM> may be pivoted about an axis X, so as to allow a rotatory movement of the lever <NUM> in the plane. Alternatively, the lever <NUM> may be adapted to slide in a direction approaching to, or away from, the handlebar <NUM> of the bicycle <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the lever <NUM> is pivotally supported between the upper housing 24A and the lower housing 24B, so as to rotate about the axis X in a direction approaching to, or away from, the handlebar <NUM>. The axis X may coincide with a centerline passing through the upper housing 24A and the lower housing 24B of the main body <NUM>. The base portion 22a of the lever <NUM> is disposed between the upper housing 24A and the lower housing 24B, the rest portion 22b of the lever <NUM> projects laterally from the main body <NUM>.

The lever <NUM> may be biased toward the neutral position, as viewed from the handlebar <NUM>, by a biasing means (not shown) provided in the main body <NUM>. This allows the lever <NUM> to automatically return to the neutral position when a user releases the grip operation of the lever <NUM>. The biasing means may be an elastic member such as a spring or rubber. The biasing means may be a magnet which applies a magnetic force, so that the lever <NUM> returns to the neutral position.

The biasing means may have a nonlinear characteristic in which the spring constant increases in accordance with increase of compressed amounts. This allow a user to have same operational feeling as the wire connected type brake system, whose lever resistance to pulling increases as the lever is pulled.

In another example, the biasing means may comprise a spring which pushes the lever <NUM> toward the neutral position, and a pre-load applying means which applies pre-load to the spring. The pre-load applying means may be a threaded adjustment bolt which is screwed through the housing of the main body <NUM>, and provides adjustable pre-load in accordance with the screwed distance into the housing.

The increased lever resistance to pulling gives a comfortable operability to adult or people with enough handgrip strength. On the other hand, in case of setting the pre-load to lower or zero, the lever resistance to pulling respectively becomes lower, whereby children or people with limited handgrip strength can easily pull the lever <NUM>.

The biasing means is, of course, not indispensable. The important thing is that the lever <NUM> is not mechanically connected to the brake unit <NUM> via a brake wire. This lack of wire connect ensures that the lever <NUM> is easy to pull, making the remote operating lever unit <NUM> perfect for children and people with limited (<<NUM>%) handgrip strength.

The main body <NUM> may comprise a variable resistive element to adjust the lever resistance to pulling. The variable resistive element may include a pair of friction elements and a variable pressure means. One friction element may be connected to the lever <NUM>, and the other friction element may be connected to the housing of the main body <NUM>. The variable pressure means may apply a contact pressure between the pair of friction elements to generate the resistance to pulling. The variable pressure means may be a threaded adjustment bolt which is screwed through the housing of the main body <NUM> and provides adjustable pressure in accordance with the screwed distance into the housing. A detector for detecting a rotation angle or movement amount, i.e., the displacement amount of the lever <NUM> from the neutral position thereof is preferably provided. In one example, the detector may be a potentiometer or a variable resistor that converts the rotation angle or the amount of movement of the lever <NUM> from the neutral position thereof into a voltage. The detector is not limited thereto and may be a rotary encoder, a magnetic sensor, an inductive sensor, a contact sensor, or the like.

The control unit provided in the main body <NUM> comprises a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memories such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), a transmitter, and a power supply circuit. These elements are mounted on or formed in a printed circuit board provided in the housing of the main body <NUM>.

The CPU calculates a signal indicating the operation amount or displacement amount of the lever <NUM> from the neutral position thereof, and transmits the signal to the brake unit <NUM> via the transmitter, by executing programs stored in the ROM. The RAM is a readable/writable memory device in connection with the CPU.

The transmitter includes an RF module and RF antenna. In one example, the transmitter includes a Bluetooth module and Bluetooth antenna to realize short-range wireless communication with the brake unit <NUM>. The transmission of the signal, from the transmitter of the remote operating lever unit <NUM> to a corresponding receiver of the brake unit <NUM>, is not limited to the wireless communication and may be configured through a wired signal transmission. Transmitter may be long-range communication device based on a long-range protocol. The communication range can be extended up to <NUM> or more. This expand the user value of a parent control, i.e., a remote control that is not connected to the wheeled vehicle such as bike, wheelchair, but carried by a parent/companion, or mounted on the parent's bike, as described later.

The power supply circuit generates a suitable voltage for each circuit part from a battery arranged in the main body <NUM>, and which supplies the generated voltage to each circuit part. The battery is preferably a rechargeable battery. The battery may be charged via a connection port <NUM> which may be located on the side of the main body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In one example, the connection port <NUM> may be a USB or micro USB dock or port. The connection port <NUM> may be further adapted to receive a connection from an external source, such as a computer, smartphone, or the like, wherein the external source may be used to configure the settings or to update the control unit of the remote operating lever unit <NUM>.

Further, the control unit may comprise a receiver adapted to receive a connection from the brake unit <NUM> and/or an external source such as a computer, smartphone, or the like, wherein the external source may be used to configure the settings or to update the control unit of the remote operating lever unit <NUM>.

Moreover, as shown in <FIG>, a light element <NUM> such as an LED perhaps with RGB elements, may be provided on the main body <NUM> to indicate a normal operating condition, a power failure condition, a signal loss condition, or the like. Equally, the remote operating lever unit <NUM> may be provided with a display to display any number of parameters. The remote operating lever unit <NUM> may also be equipped with a GPS receiver and the decoded location information may be displayed on the display.

<FIG> shows, in addition to the neutral position, two different positions where the lever <NUM> of the operation unit <NUM> can locate from the neutral position by a user. In <FIG>, the lever <NUM> is operated from the neutral position (<FIG>) to a full brake position in a first direction, i.e., toward the handlebar <NUM> of the bicycle <NUM>. Accordingly, an electric signal corresponding to the operation amount of the lever <NUM> is transmitted to the brake unit <NUM> by the control unit of the remote control unit <NUM>. It should be understood that the full brake position is the position of the lever <NUM> where a user pulls the lever <NUM> to the extent that the lever <NUM> does not contact or interfere with the handlebar <NUM>. Therefore, the full brake position does not necessarily mean a mechanically restricted position. However, a mechanical stopper for the pull brake position may be provided. The mechanical stopper may be adjustable so as to increase or decrease the available travel of the lever <NUM> to the user. Particularly such adjustment may be made in association with the repositioning of the lever <NUM>. The stopper may be a screw or pin.

In <FIG>, the lever <NUM> is moved from the neutral position (<FIG>) in a second direction opposite to the first direction and is located in a park brake position. When the lever <NUM> is operated to the park brake position, the control unit of the remote operating lever unit <NUM> transmits an electric signal to turn on the parking brake or parking brake functionality to the brake unit <NUM>. However, the lever <NUM> may be configured to be located at the neutral position and the brake operation position only, and a separate switch for turning on the parking brake may be provided on the main body <NUM> instead.

Returning to <FIG>, the holder <NUM> comprises a circular mounting portion <NUM> which surrounds the handlebar <NUM> of the bicycle <NUM>. The mounting portion <NUM> may be fastened to the handlebar <NUM> with screws <NUM> or the like. An extension wall <NUM> is provided from the mounting portion <NUM>, the extension wall <NUM> extending in a frontward and obliquely downward direction. A support plate <NUM>, on which the main body <NUM> is placed, is provided at the front end of the extension wall <NUM>.

In <FIG>, a protruding part <NUM> is formed, along an axis perpendicular to the movement plane of the lever <NUM>, on the upper surface of the support plate <NUM>. The protruding part <NUM> preferably extends along the rotation axis X of the lever <NUM>. In one example, the protruding part <NUM> is cylindrical. One or more male splines (teeth) 265a are preferably formed on the outer peripheral surface of the protruding part. The one or more male splines 265a preferably extend along the axis X.

In correspondence with the protruding part <NUM>, a recessed part <NUM> for receiving the protruding part <NUM> is formed on the lower surface of the main body <NUM>. The recessed part is formed along an axis perpendicular to the movement plane of the lever <NUM>. The recessed part <NUM> preferably extends along the rotation axis X of the lever <NUM>. One or more female splines (teeth) 245a, sized and shaped to engage with the male splines 265a, are preferably formed on the inner peripheral surface of the recessed part <NUM>. The one or more female splines 245a preferably extend along the axis X.

These protruding and recessed parts <NUM>, <NUM> constitute a connecting portion that detachably engages the main body <NUM> and the holder <NUM> at an arbitrary angle around the axis perpendicular to the plane in which the lever <NUM> displaces.

Although not shown in the drawings, the protruding part <NUM> with the one or more male splines 265a may be provided on the lower surface of the main body <NUM>, and the corresponding recessed part <NUM> with the one or more female splines 245a may be provided on the support plate <NUM>.

In a preferred arrangement, the protruding part <NUM> is formed integrally with the holder <NUM> or the main body <NUM>; and the recessed part <NUM> is formed integrally with the main body <NUM> or the holder <NUM>.

The connecting portion is not limited to the protruding part <NUM> and the recessed part <NUM> each having one or more splines 265a, 245a. For example, the connecting portion may include one or more protrusions provided on the support plate <NUM> at predetermined intervals along a circle centered on the rotation axis X of the lever <NUM>, and one or more holes provided on the lower surface of the main body <NUM> adapted to receive the one or more protrusions. When the one or more protrusions on the support plate <NUM> is guided into the one or more holes of the main body <NUM> in a desired neutral position of lever <NUM>, the neutral position of the lever <NUM> will be set. In another arrangement, the one or more protrusions may be provided on the lower surface of the main body <NUM> and the corresponding holes may be provided on the support plate <NUM> of the holder <NUM>.

In another example shown in <FIG>, the connecting portion may comprise a cylindrical part <NUM>' extending along the axis X, a circular recessed part <NUM>' sized and shaped to receive the cylindrical part, and a positioning means (not shown). The cylindrical part <NUM>' may be provided on the support plate. The circular recessed part <NUM>' may be provided on the lower surface of the main body <NUM>. The positioning means may be a screw, bolt, lock pin, or the like, to non-rotatably fix the main body <NUM> and the holder <NUM> at an arbitrary angle around the axis X. According to this arrangement, the neutral position of the lever <NUM> can be adjusted by a finer angle or in a continuous manner.

In yet another example shown in <FIG>, the connecting portion may comprise a polygonal column part <NUM>" extending along the axis X, a polygonal recessed part <NUM>" sized and shaped to receive the polygonal column part <NUM>". The polygonal column part <NUM>" may be provided on the support plate <NUM>. The polygonal recessed part <NUM>" may be provided on the lower surface of the main body <NUM>. According to this arrangement, said positioning means is no longer required, as the polygonal column part <NUM>" and the polygonal recessed part <NUM>" engage with each other in a circumferential direction.

Returning to <FIG>, in an advantageous arrangement, the holder <NUM> has a lock portion <NUM> that engages to the outer surface of the main body <NUM>, preferably to the outer surface of the upper housing 24A of the main body <NUM>, and maintains the connected state through the connecting portion between the main body <NUM> and the holder <NUM>. This makes it possible to reliably maintain the connected state between the main body <NUM> and the holder <NUM> during use. To adjust the neutral position of the lever <NUM>, the engagement of the lock portion <NUM> is released so that the main body <NUM> can be lifted from the holder <NUM>. The lock portion <NUM> preferably has a pin shape. An undercut or hook 267a to be engaged with the outer surface of the main body <NUM> is further preferably formed at a distal end of the lock portion <NUM>. The lock portion <NUM> may be formed so as to be elastically deformable. Advantageously, the lock portion <NUM> extends upwardly from the extension wall <NUM> and is arranged on the rear side of the main body <NUM>. As a result, when the lever <NUM> is pulled toward the handlebar <NUM>, the force generated in the main body <NUM> can be received by the lock portion <NUM>, and the operation of the lever <NUM> is stabilized.

<FIG> shows a method for arbitrarily adjusting the neutral position of the lever <NUM> by a user according to the principle of the present invention. The method of mounting the remote operating lever unit <NUM> to the handlebar of the bicycle <NUM> and adjusting the neutral position of the lever <NUM> includes the following steps.

Adjustment of the neutral position of the lever <NUM> means a change in the movable range or stroke of the lever <NUM> between the neutral position and the full brake position. For example, as shown in <FIG>, a movable range <NUM> of the lever <NUM> for an adult user defined between the neutral position and the full brake position can be about twice a movable range θ2 for a child user shown in <FIG>. Therefore, in the case where the neutral position of the lever <NUM> is adjusted to a large degree from <FIG> for example, even if the child user draws the lever <NUM> to the full brake position, the displacement amount of the lever <NUM> becomes in fact only about half of the amount of the full brake. Accordingly, when the neutral position is adjusted to the large degree, the braking force generated in the brake unit <NUM> may become excessive or smaller than expected.

Therefore, in an advantageous arrangement, the remote control unit <NUM> comprises a calibration means for calibrating the signal to be generated based on the displacement amount of the lever <NUM> from the neutral position. The change in a movable range of the lever <NUM> from the neutral position to the full brake position, as a result of adjustment of the neutral position of the lever <NUM> via the connecting portion, is considered so that satisfactory operation of the brake unit <NUM> can be assured.

After adjustment of the neutral position of the lever, the calibration means reconstructs the correspondence between the displacement amount from the neutral position of the lever <NUM> and the electric signal to be sent to the brake unit <NUM>, taking a new movable range between the neutral position of the lever <NUM> and the full brake position into account. That is, with this calibration the full brake position after adjustment of the neutral position of the lever <NUM> is re-set as a regular full brake position. The function of the calibration means is provided by the control unit of the main body <NUM>.

An example of the calibration method includes the following steps.

By performing such calibration, even after a large adjustment of the neutral position of the lever <NUM>, satisfactory operation of the brake unit <NUM> can be assured.

Instead of measuring said new movable range or angle by the detector, it may be determined from a positional relationship between the main body <NUM> and the holder <NUM> after the adjustment. Electrical contacts may be provided on the splines 245a, <NUM> to detect the positional relationship between the main body <NUM> and the holder <NUM>. In one example, one or more first electrical contacts may be provided on the male splines 265a; one of more second electrical contacts may be provided on the female splines 245a. The positional relationship is determined by the CPU of the control unit of the remote operating lever unit <NUM>, depending on which first electrical contact and which second electrical contact are connected.

In an arrangement, the control unit of the remote operating lever unit <NUM> may be provided with an accelerometer. The accelerometer may be constituted, for example, by a triaxial gyrosensor. The control unit of the remote operating lever unit <NUM> is arranged to transmit a signal to turn on the parking brake or parking brake functionality to the brake unit <NUM> when the output signal from the accelerometer does not substantially change, or does not exceed a predetermined threshold, over a predetermined time. Accordingly, the brake unit <NUM> automatically turns on the parking brake. This function will come in handy in many situations, and especially for the companion that may need the wheeled vehicle to stand still while helping the user and may have forgotten to activate the parking brake.

The control unit of the remote operating lever unit <NUM> may comprise a user profile managing means for recording one or more user profiles in the memory and reading a requested user profile from the memory. The user profile managing means may be provided by the CPU in the control unit of the remote operating lever unit <NUM>. It is preferable that the user profile managing means records calibration data from the calibration means as the user profile. According to this arrangement, the calibration process can be simplified or no longer required. Other data, such as hand sizes and gripping forces of users may also be recorded as the user profile. Such data can be used by the CPU to calculate optimum parameters for individual users, such as optimal neutral and full brake positions of the lever <NUM>, optimal resistance to pulling the lever <NUM>, or the like.

One or more input parts, such as push buttons or touch panel, to operate at least the user profile managing means may be provided on the main body <NUM>.

It will thus be understood that an advantageous structure according to the present invention is that a combination of: the detachable structure of the main body <NUM> and the holder with the connecting portion; the calibration means for calibrating the signal to operate the brake unit <NUM>; and/or the biasing means for returning the lever <NUM> to the neutral portion.

The combination of the mechanical reposition of the lever <NUM> via the connecting portion and the electrical recalibration by the calibration means ensures an easy repositioning of the lever <NUM> for individual users with the full and tailored control of the brake unit <NUM>, being able to set <NUM>% braking to occur before the lever <NUM> hits the handlebar <NUM>. Further, the combination of the mechanical reposition via the connecting portion and the biasing means offers numerous advantages to the user. Since the lever <NUM> is kept at one portion when being released, the user can easily arrange the lever <NUM> at a desired position during the mechanical repositioning of the lever <NUM> via the connecting portion. In addition, a safer remote operating lever unit <NUM> can be provided, as the lever <NUM> automatically returns to the neutral position at which the brake does not act on the wheel. Thereby, an unexpected braking is prevented while riding. Returning to <FIG>, the brake unit <NUM> is mounted on the rear wheel <NUM> of the bicycle <NUM>. In one arrangement, the brake unit <NUM> may be a hydraulic brake unit <NUM> and comprise a brake piston <NUM>, a pump <NUM> and a brake disc <NUM>, wherein the brake piston <NUM> is provided so as to actuate against the brake disc <NUM> via a pumped hydraulic brake fluid and provide a braking force thereto. When the brake piston <NUM> is actuated, the braking force causes the rear wheel <NUM> to slow down.

An alternative for the one or more brake units <NUM> is to use an eddy-current braking means. In this sense, an electric motor may be employed as the one or more brake units. In one configuration, a brake disc is integrated with the rim of one or more of wheels. Such rim is adapted to produce an eddy-current in response to a magnetic field applied thereto. In the correct configuration, i.e., current direction and direction of magnetic field, a resistive force may be generated to oppose the rotary motion of the brake disc.

The brake unit <NUM> further comprises a control unit <NUM>, which is adapted to receive the signal from the remote operating lever unit <NUM> and actuate the pump <NUM> to compress the hydraulic brake fluid in accordance with the amount indicated by the remote operating lever unit <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> of the brake unit <NUM> comprises a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memories such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), a receiver, and a power supply circuit. These elements are mounted on or formed in a printed circuit board provided in the control unit <NUM>.

The CPU, by executing programs stored in the ROM, controls the pump <NUM> so that the braking force is generated in the brake disc <NUM> based on the signal from the remote operating lever unit <NUM> indicating the displacement amount of the lever <NUM>. The RAM is a readable/writable memory device in connection with the CPU.

The receiver includes an RF module and RF antenna. In one example, the receiver includes a Bluetooth module and Bluetooth antenna to realize short-range wireless communication with the remote operating lever unit <NUM>.

The power supply circuit generates a suitable voltage for each circuit part from a battery that can be arranged in the brake unit <NUM> and supplies the generated voltage to each circuit part. The battery is preferably a rechargeable battery. The battery may be charged via a connection port <NUM>. In one example, the connection port <NUM> may be a USB or micro USB dock or port. In one example, an external power source may be used to charge the battery, but regenerative energy from the wheel <NUM> of the bicycle <NUM> may be used. The connection port <NUM> may be further adapted to receive a connection from an external source, such as a computer, smartphone, or the like, wherein the external source may be used to configure the settings or to update the control unit.

Further, the control unit <NUM> may comprise transmitter. Such transmitter can be used to transmit a signal indicating the state of the brake unit <NUM> to the remote operating lever unit <NUM> and/or to an external device such as a computer, smartphone, or the like.

<FIG> illustrate further embodiment of a brake system according to the present invention. The brake system includes the remote operating lever unit <NUM> mounted on the wheeled vehicle, at least one brake unit <NUM> mounted on the wheel of the wheeled vehicle and applies a braking force based on the signal from the remote operating lever unit <NUM>, and a parent control <NUM>, i.e., a remote control not mounted on the wheeled vehicle. The parent control <NUM> may be carried by a person other than the rider or driver of the wheeled vehicle, such as a parent or companion, and configured to control or operate the brake unit <NUM> in an auxiliary or alternative manner. To this end, the parent control <NUM> includes an operation part <NUM> such as a push-button switch and a control unit (not shown) transmitting an electric signal to the brake unit <NUM>, based on an ON/OFF operation of the operation part <NUM> or operation amount of the operation part <NUM>. The control unit of the parent control <NUM> includes a transmitter. In one example, the transmitter includes a Bluetooth module and Bluetooth antenna to realize short-range wireless communication with the brake unit <NUM>. As another example, the transmitter may be based on a long-range wireless protocol having a longer communication distance than the Bluetooth communication. The transmitter may be configured to transmit the signal over a communication distance equal to or more than <NUM> meters. The parent control <NUM> can be configured to operate in parallel with the remote operating lever unit <NUM> mounted on the vehicle, and provide both active brake and parking brake.

Claim 1:
A remote operating lever unit (<NUM>) configured to operate a brake unit (<NUM>) mounted to a wheeled vehicle, comprising:
a lever (<NUM>) for operation by a user;
a main body (<NUM>) holding the lever (<NUM>) in a displaceable manner;
a holder (<NUM>) holding the main body (<NUM>); and
a connecting portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) detachably engaging the main body (<NUM>) and the holder (<NUM>) at an arbitrary angle around an axis (X) perpendicular to a plane in which the lever (<NUM>) displaces,
characterised in that
the remote operating lever unit (<NUM>) is configured to operate the brake unit (<NUM>) via only a wireless or wired signal transmission,
wherein the main body (<NUM>) includes a control unit configured to transmit a signal to
the brake unit (<NUM>) based on a displacement amount of the lever (<NUM>) from a neutral position thereof,
wherein the lever (<NUM>) is configured to be operated between the neutral position, a brake operation position where the lever (<NUM>) is displaced in a first direction from the neutral position by a user, and a park brake position where the lever (<NUM>) is displaced in a second direction opposite to the first direction.