IP Library Granted Patent US 8,781,679
Granted Patent B2
US 8,781,679 · App. 13/368,103 · Granted Jul 15, 2014

Bicycle suspension control apparatus

Inventor: Hideki Ikemoto (Sakai, JP)
Assignee: Shimano Inc.
B60G17/018
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,781,679
App. No.
13/368,103
Granted
Jul 15, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bicycle suspension control apparatus includes a user operating device and a controller. The controller is configured to set a bicycle suspension having a plurality of operating states to a first operating state in response to a first manual operation of the user operating device. The controller is further configured to set the bicycle suspension to a second operating state in response to a second manual operation of the user operating device. The second manual operation is performed in a different operating manner of the user operating device than the first manual operation.

Claims (39)

1. A bicycle suspension control apparatus configured to control a bicycle suspension including front and rear suspensions each having a plurality of operating states, the apparatus comprising:

a user operating device including a single-contact switch having a single contact;

a controller configured to set both the front and rear suspensions to a first operating state in response to a first manual operation of the single-contact switch, and set both the front and rear suspensions to a second operating state in response to a second manual operation of the single-contact switch, the second manual operation being performed in a different operating manner of the single-contact switch than the first manual operation.

2. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the first operating state is astute in which the suspension cannot expand and contract and the second operating state is a state in which the suspension can expand and contract.

3. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the first operating state is a state in which the suspension is free to expand and contract and the second operating state is a state in which the suspension locked to prevent expansion and contraction.

4. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller sets the bicycle suspension to the first operating state based on first operation time per single operation of the single contact switch for the first manual operation and sets the bicycle suspension to the second operating state based on a second operation time per single operation of the single contact switch for the second manual operation, with the first and second operation times being different.

5. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the first operation time of the first manual operation is shorter than the second operation time of the second manual operation.

6. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the controller is further configured to control the bicycle suspension to a third operating state in response to a third manual operation having a third operation time that is different from the first and second operation times of the first and second manual operations.

7. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the third operating state is a state that is different from both the first operating state and the second operating state.

8. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the third operation time of the third operation is longer than the first operation time of the first manual operation and shorter than the second operation time of the second manual operation.

9. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the third operating state is a state that is different from both the first operating state and the second operating state.

10. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the first operating state is a state in which the suspension cannot expand and contract and the second operating state is a state in which the suspension can expand and contract.

11. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the first operating state is astute in which the suspension is free to expand and contract and the second operating state is a state in which the suspension locked to prevent expansion and contraction.

12. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller sets the bicycle suspension to the first operating state based on first operation count per prescribed amount of time of the single contact switch for the first manual operation and sets the bicycle suspension to the second operating state based on a second operation count per prescribed amount of time of the single contact switch for the second manual operation, with the first and second operation counts being different.

13. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the first operation count of the first manual operation is smaller than the second operation count of the second manual operation.

14. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein

the controller is further configured to control the bicycle suspension to a third operating state in response to a third operation having a third operation count that is different from the first and second operation counts of the first and second manual operations.

15. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the third operating state is a state that is different from both the first operating state and the second operating state.

16. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the third operation count of the third operation is larger than the first operation time of the first manual operation and smaller than the second operation time of the second manual operation.

17. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the third operating state is a state that is different from both the first operating state and the second operating state.

18. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the first operating state is a state in which suspension cannot expand and contract and the second operating state is a state in which the suspension can expand and contract.

19. The bicycle suspension control apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein

the controller is further configured such that the first operating state is a state in which the suspension is free to expand and contract and the second operating state is a state in which the suspension locked to prevent expansion and contraction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2012
From: IKEMOTO, HIDEKI
To: SHIMANO INC.
Reel/Frame 027758/0223 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-043071 · Feb 28, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120221202A1 · Aug 30, 2012