Patent ID: 7472626

Claim:
A cam interface apparatus for an assisting apparatus that uses power from a rotating cam that rotates together with a bicycle crank axle that is mounted to a bicycle frame such that pedaling of the bicycle causes the crank axle to rotate around an axle axis to assist an operation of a bicycle transmission, wherein the apparatus comprises: a mounting unit forming a cavity and having an axle opening dimensioned to receive the bicycle crank axle therein; wherein the mounting unit is structured to be mounted in close proximity to a bottom bracket shell of the bicycle frame so that the bicycle crank axle extends through the axle opening while allowing the bicycle crank axle to rotate relative to the mounting unit; a cam follower having a cam engaging element to engage the rotating cam and an output wire coupling element that moves between a first transmission gear position and a different second transmission gear position for communicating movement of the cam engaging element to a wire that operates the bicycle transmission, wherein the cam engaging element is disposed in the cavity; an input coupling element moved by a user to request a change in transmission gear position; and wherein, when the output wire coupling element moves from the first transmission gear position to the second transmission gear position in response to a first operation of the input coupling element by the user, the output wire coupling element remains in the second transmission gear position until a second operation of the input coupling element by the user.