Bicycle shifter

Abstract

A bicycle shifter is configured to ensure that the position where a main shifter body is attached to a bicycle can be easily varied. The bicycle shifter basically has a mounting bracket, a main shifter body and a fixing mechanism. The mounting bracket is preferably configured be fixed to a handlebar of a bicycle. The main shifter body is mounted on the mounting bracket and has a shifter mechanism in the interior. The fixing mechanism is a mechanism whereby the main shifter body can be fixed in place on the mounting bracket at an arbitrary attachment position between a first position and a second position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a right side elevational view of a bicycle using a pair of bicycle shifters in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a rear shifter unit in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the rear shifter unit in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the rear shifter unit in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the rear shifter unit in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the rear shifter unit with the main shifter body fixed in place at the first position;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the rear shifter unit with the main shifter body fixed in place at the second position;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view, similar to FIG. 5, of a rear shifter unit in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the fixing mechanism for the rear shifter unit in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 9, of a fixing mechanism for a rear shifter unit in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view, similar to FIG. 5, of a rear shifter unit in accordance with a modification of the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 9, of the fixing mechanism for the rear shifter unit in accordance with the modification of the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view, similar to FIG. 5, of a rear shifter unit in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 an exploded perspective view, similar to FIG. 5, of a rear shifter unit in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bicycle shifter comprising: a mounting bracket configured to be fixedly coupled to a bicycle;a main shifter body including a shifter mechanism disposed within an interior of the main shifter body; anda fixing mechanism fixing the main shifter body and the mounting bracket together in a predetermined relative angular orientation, the main shifter body being adjustable relative to the mounting bracket by the fixing mechanism such that the main shifter body is selectively retainable in a plurality of different attachment positions relative to the mounting bracket between at least a first position and a second position without completely detaching the main shifter body from the mounting bracket and while maintaining the predetermined relative angular orientation.

2. The bicycle shifter according to claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket is configured to be fixedly coupled on a handlebar of the bicycle, and the first and second positions are disposed along a path that is generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the handlebar.

3. The bicycle shifter according to claim 2, wherein the fixing mechanism comprises an elongated slot formed in one of the mounting bracket and the main shifter body, and that extends in the longitudinal direction;at least one female threaded part formed in one of the mounting bracket and the main shifter body; anda bolt passing through the slot and screwed into the female threaded part.

4. The bicycle shifter according to claim 3, wherein the fixing mechanism includes only one female threaded part, andthe fixing mechanism further includes a rotation-stopping mechanism for stopping the main shifter body from rotating relative to the mounting bracket.

5. The bicycle shifter according to claim 4, wherein the rotation-stopping mechanism comprises a plurality of rotation-stopping protrusions on one of the mounting bracket and the main shifter body; anda plurality of rotation-stopping recesses on the other of the mounting bracket and the main shifter body that are interlock with the rotation-stopping protrusions to stop the main shifter body from rotating relative to the mounting bracket.

6. The bicycle shifter according to claim 3, further comprising a loosening-prevention member linking the mounting bracket and the main shifter body to prevent the main shifter body from coming loose from the mounting bracket.

7. The bicycle shifter according to claim 4, further comprising a loosening-prevention member linking the mounting bracket and the main shifter body to prevent the main shifter body from coming loose from the mounting bracket.

8. The bicycle shifter according to claim 5, further comprising a loosening-prevention member linking the mounting bracket and the main shifter body to prevent the main shifter body from coming loose from the mounting bracket.

9. A bicycle shifter comprising: a mounting bracket configured to be fixedly coupled to a bicycle;a main shifter body including a shifter mechanism disposed within an interior of the main shifter body, the shifter mechanism including a shift positioning member configured to rotate around a shaft member; anda fixing mechanism fixing the main shifter body and the mounting bracket together in a predetermined relative angular orientation by a fixing member that is attached to the shaft member such that the main shifter body is selectively retainable in a plurality of different attachment positions relative to the mounting bracket between a first end position and a second end position while maintaining the predetermined relative angular orientation.

10. The bicycle shifter according to claim 9, wherein the shaft member includes a female threaded part at the distal end, andthe fixing member includes a first bolt that is screwed into the female threaded part.

11. The bicycle shifter according to claim 10, wherein the fixing member further includes a second bolt that is screwed into a female threaded part of the main shifter body but not into the shaft member.

12. A bicycle shifter comprising: a mounting bracket configured to be fixedly coupled to a bicycle;a main shifter body including a shifter mechanism disposed within an interior of the main shifter body; anda fixing mechanism fixing the main shifter body and the mounting bracket together in a predetermined relative angular orientation, the main shifter body being adjustable relative to the mounting bracket by the fixing mechanism such that the main shifter body is selectively retainable in at least first and second attachment positions relative to the mounting bracket in the predetermined relative angular orientation, the fixing mechanism including a plurality of fixing members coupled between the main shifter body and the mounting bracket in a first attachment arrangement to obtain the first attachment position and in a second attachment arrangement to obtain the second attachment position.

13. The bicycle shifter according to claim 12, wherein the fixing members includes a first bolt threaded that is screwed into a first female threaded part of the main shifter body, and a second bolt threaded that is selectively screwed into a second female threaded part of the main shifter body to obtain the first attachment position and screwed into a third female threaded part of the main shifter body to obtain the second attachment position.

14. The bicycle shifter according to claim 13, wherein the shifter mechanism including a shifter housing and a shift positioning member disposed within the shifter housing, the shift positioning member being configured to rotate around a shaft member that includes the first female threaded part at the distal end and the shifter housing includes the second and third female threaded part.

15. The bicycle shifter according to claim 12, wherein the mounting bracket is configured to be fixedly coupled on a handlebar of the bicycle, and the first and second attachment positions are disposed along a path that is generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the handlebar.