IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,275,475
Granted Patent B2
US 12,275,475 · App. 18/461,515 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

Telescopic apparatus operating system and telescopic apparatus

Inventors: Toyoto Shirai (Sakai, JP); Yuki Sakagawa (Sakai, JP); Norikazu Taki (Sakai, JP); Akihiro Nozaki (Sakai, JP); Noor Ashyikkin Binti Mohd Noor (Sakai, JP); Kentaro Kosaka (Sakai, JP)
Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
B62J1/06B62J1/08G05B15/02B62J2001/085
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,275,475
App. No.
18/461,515
Granted
Apr 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A telescopic apparatus comprises a first tube, a second tube configured to be telescopically coupled to the first tube, and an electric cable connector provided to one of the first tube and the second tube. The electric cable connector is configured to be detachably coupled to an electric cable.

Claims (60)

1. A telescopic apparatus operating system for a human-powered vehicle, comprising:

a telescopic apparatus comprising:

a first tube;

a second tube configured to be telescopically coupled to the first tube; and

an electric cable connector provided to one of the first tube and the second tube; and

a telescopic apparatus controller comprising:

a controller configured to control the telescopic apparatus, wherein

the telescopic apparatus controller is provided to the one of the first tube and the second tube, and

the telescopic apparatus controller is at least partially provided between the electric cable connector and the other of the first tube and the second tube.

2. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 1 , wherein

the electric cable connector is provided colinearly along a center axis of the one of the first tube and the second tube.

3. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 2 , wherein

the first tube is configured to be mounted to a vehicle body of the human-powered vehicle, and

the electric cable connector is provided to the first tube such that the electric cable is routed at least partially within an internal space of the vehicle body of the human-powered vehicle.

4. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 2 , wherein

the electric cable connector is at least partially provided in an internal space of the vehicle body of the human-powered vehicle.

5. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 2 , wherein

the electric cable connector is at least partially provided outside the one of the first tube and the second tube.

6. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 2 , further comprising

an actuator configured to telescopically displace the first tube relative to the second tube.

7. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 6 , wherein

the actuator is provided to at least one of the first tube and the second tube.

8. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 6 , wherein

the actuator is provided to the one of the first tube and the second tube, and

the actuator is at least partially provided between the electric cable connector and the other of the first tube and the second tube.

9. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 2 , wherein

the electric cable connector includes an opening provided to be open away from the other of the first tube and the second tube.

10. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 2 , wherein

the controller is configured to control the telescopic apparatus in one of a plurality of operating modes, the plurality of operating modes including

a first operating mode in which a reference portion of the telescopic apparatus is selectively arranged to one of a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position, and

a second operating mode in which the reference portion of the telescopic apparatus is arbitrarily arranged between a first end position and a second end position.

11. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 10 , wherein

the first predetermined position is the same as the first end position, and

the second predetermined position is the same as the second end position.

12. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 10 , wherein

the controller is configured to selectively arrange the reference portion of the telescopic apparatus to one of the first predetermined position, the second predetermined position, and a third predetermined position in the first operating mode, and

the third predetermined position is provided between the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position and different from the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position.

13. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 10 , wherein

the controller is configured to selectively arrange the reference portion of the telescopic apparatus to one of the first predetermined position, the second predetermined position, and a plurality of third predetermined positions in the first operating mode.

14. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 10 , wherein

the controller is configured to change an operating mode from one of the first operating mode and the second operating mode to the other of the first operating mode and the second operating mode in response to a mode-change input.

15. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 10 , further comprising

a memory electrically connected to the controller, wherein

the memory is configured to store setting information relating to at least one of an operation of the telescopic apparatus and a movement of the telescopic apparatus,

the controller is configured to communicate with an external device, and

the controller is configured to adjust the setting information in response to an input from the external device.

16. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 10 , further comprising

a position sensor configured to detect a current position of the reference portion of the telescopic apparatus.

17. The telescopic apparatus operating system according to claim 10 , further comprising

a wireless communicator electrically connected to the controller, wherein

the wireless communicator is configured to be wirelessly in communication with an external device.

18. A telescopic apparatus for a human-powered vehicle, the telescopic apparatus comprising:

a first tube;

a second tube configured to be telescopically coupled to the first tube;

a controller configured to control the telescopic apparatus, the controller being provided to the one of the first tube and the second tube; and

an electric cable connector provided to one of the first tube and the second tube, wherein

the electric cable connector is configured to be detachably coupled to an electric cable, and

the electric cable connector is configured to be detachably coupled to a power supply via the electric cable, the power supply is configured to supply electricity to the telescopic apparatus controller.

19. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein

the electric cable connector is configured to be detachably coupled to both of the power supply and a bicycle component via the electric cable.

Continuity (2)
Division 16365627 · Mar 26, 2019
Related Publication 20230406430A1 · Dec 21, 2023
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