IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,654,795
Granted Patent B2
US 12,654,795 · App. 18/675,114 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Operating device of human-powered vehicle

Inventors: Naoki Chiya (Sakai City, JP); Kosuke Kitahara (Sakai City, JP); Kentaro Kosaka (Sakai City, JP); Yoshimitsu Miki (Sakai City, JP)
Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
B62J6/16B62K11/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,654,795
App. No.
18/675,114
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An operating device of a human-powered vehicle comprises a base structure, a first operating member, a second operating member, a first electric switch, and a second electric switch. The base structure is mountable to the human-powered vehicle. The first operating member is pivotally coupled to the base structure about a first pivot axis. The second operating member is pivotally coupled to the base structure about a second pivot axis. The first operating member and the second operating member are arranged in a first direction. The first electric switch is at least partially provided between the first operating member and the base structure. The second electric switch is at least partially provided between the second operating member and the base structure. At least one of the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis extends along the first direction.

Claims (111)

1 . An operating device of a human-powered vehicle, the operating device comprising:

a base structure mountable to the human-powered vehicle;

a first operating member pivotally coupled to the base structure about a first pivot axis;

a second operating member pivotally coupled to the base structure about a second pivot axis, the first operating member and the second operating member being arranged in a first direction;

a first electric switch at least partially provided between the first operating member and the base structure;

a second electric switch at least partially provided between the second operating member and the base structure; and

at least one of the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis extending along the first direction.

2 . The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein

at least one of the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis is parallel to the first direction.

3 . The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first pivot axis is coincident with the second pivot axis.

4 . The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second operating member is spaced apart from the first operating member in the first direction.

5 . The operating device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a third operating member at least partially provided between the first operating member and the second operating member in the first direction, the third operating member being movable relative to the base structure in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and

a third electric switch at least partially provided between the third operating member and the base structure, the third electric switch being configured to be activated in response to a movement of the third operating member.

6 . The operating device according to claim 5 , wherein

the base structure includes a clamp,

the clamp includes a clamp opening through which the handlebar is to extend, the clamp opening having a center axis,

the third operating member includes a third inclined surface, and

the third inclined surface is non-parallel to and non-perpendicular to the center axis of the clamp opening.

7 . The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein

one of the first operating member and the second operating member is arranged to avoid overlapping the other of the first operating member and the second operating member as viewed in a third direction perpendicular to one of the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis.

8 . The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein

the base structure includes a clamp, and

the clamp is configured to couple the base structure and a handlebar of the human-powered vehicle.

9 . The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein

the clamp includes a clamp opening through which the handlebar is to extend, the clamp opening having a center axis,

the base structure has a base width defined along the center axis of the clamp opening as a maximum width of the base structure,

the clamp opening has a clamp width defined along the center axis of the clamp opening as a minimum width of the clamp opening, and

a ratio of the clamp width to the base width is less than or equal to 45%.

10 . The operating device according to claim 9 , wherein

the first operating member has a first width defined along the center axis of the clamp opening,

the second operating member has a second width defined along the center axis of the clamp opening, and

at least one of a first ratio of the clamp width to the first width and a second ratio of the clamp width to the second width is less than or equal to 45%.

11 . The operating device according to claim 9 , wherein

at least one of the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis is provided outside a region defined by the clamp width along the center axis of the clamp opening as viewed along the at least one of the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis.

12 . The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first operating member includes a first end and a first additional end, and

the first additional end is provided closer to the first pivot axis than the first end.

13 . The operating device according to claim 12 , wherein

the first end is configured to be provided closer to a handlebar grip of a handlebar of the human-powered vehicle than the first additional end in a mounting state where the base structure is mounted to the handlebar.

14 . The operating device according to claim 13 , wherein

the base structure includes a clamp,

the clamp is configured to couple the base structure and the handlebar of the human-powered vehicle,

the clamp includes a clamp opening through which the handlebar is to extend, the clamp opening having a center axis,

the first operating member includes a first inclined surface, and

the first inclined surface is non-parallel to and non-perpendicular to the center axis of the clamp opening.

15 . The operating device according to claim 14 , wherein

the first inclined surface includes a first surface end and a first additional surface end and extends between the first surface end and the first additional surface end,

the first surface end is configured to be provided closer to the handlebar grip of the handlebar than the first additional surface end in the mounting state where the base structure is mounted to the handlebar,

a first distance is radially defined between the first inclined surface and the center axis of the clamp opening as viewed in the first direction, and

the first inclined surface is inclined to decrease the first distance from the first additional surface end toward the first surface end.

16 . The operating device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first pivot pin extending along the first pivot axis; and

a second pivot pin extending along the second pivot axis, wherein

the first pivot pin pivotally couples the first operating member and the base structure about the first pivot axis, and

the second pivot pin pivotally couples the second operating member and the base structure.

17 . The operating device according to claim 16 , wherein

the second pivot pin is a separate member from the first pivot pin.

18 . The operating device according to claim 16 , further comprising

a third operating member at least partially provided between the first operating member and the second operating member in the first direction,

the third operating member is movable relative to the base structure between a third rest position and a third operated position, and

at least one of the first pivot pin and the second pivot pin is contactable with the third operating member to position the third operating member in the third rest position.

19 . The operating device according to claim 1 , wherein

a reference plane is defined perpendicularly to the first direction and is provided between a first region and a second region to separate the first region and the second region,

the first operating member is provided in the first region, and

the second operating member is provided in the second region.

20 . The operating device according to claim 19 , wherein

the second operating member has a shape symmetrical with a shape of the first operating member with respect to the reference plane as viewed along the reference plane.

21 . The operating device according to claim 1 , further comprising

a light emitter unit at least partially provided between the first operating member and the second operating member in the first direction as viewed in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

22 . An operating device of a human-powered vehicle, the operating device comprising:

a base structure mountable to the human-powered vehicle;

a first operating member movably coupled to the base structure and configured to receive a first user input operation;

a second operating member movably coupled to the base structure and configured to receive a second user input operation, the first operating member and the second operating member being arranged in a first direction;

a light emitter unit at least partially provided between the first operating member and the second operating member in the first direction as viewed in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the light emitter unit including a light emitter, the light emitter being configured to emit light;

a substrate;

a first electric switch configured to be activated in response to a movement of the first operating member, the first electric switch being electrically mounted on the substrate; and

a second electric switch configured to be activated in response to a movement of the second operating member, the second electric switch being electrically mounted on the substrate, wherein

the light emitter is electrically mounted on the substrate.

23 . The operating device according to claim 22 , wherein

the light emitter unit at least partially protrudes from at least one of the first operating member and the second operating member as viewed in the first direction.

24 . The operating device according to claim 22 , wherein

the light emitter unit includes a light transmitting member, and

the light transmitting member is configured to transmit light emitted from the light emitter.

25 . The operating device according to claim 24 , wherein

at least one of the light emitter and the light transmitting member is at least partially provided between the first operating member and the second operating member in the first direction as viewed in the second direction.

26 . The operating device according to claim 24 , wherein

the light emitter is at least partially provided between the first electric switch and the second electric switch in the first direction as viewed in the second direction.

27 . The operating device according to claim 24 , further comprising:

a terminal configured to be in contact with an electric power source, wherein

the substrate has a first surface and a second surface provided on a reverse side of the first surface, the light emitter being provided on the first surface′ and

the terminal is provided on at least one of the first surface and the second surface.

28 . The operating device according to claim 24 , wherein

the light transmitting member is integrally provided with at least part of the base structure as a one-piece unitary member.

29 . The operating device according to claim 24 , wherein

the light emitter unit includes an additional member coupled to the light transmitting member,

the light transmitting member has first light transmittance,

the additional member has second light transmittance, and

the first light transmittance is higher than the second light transmittance.

30 . The operating device according to claim 29 , wherein

the additional member includes an opening, and

the light transmitting member is at least partially provided in the opening.

31 . An operating device of a human-powered vehicle, the operating device comprising:

a base structure mountable to the human-powered vehicle;

a first operating member movably coupled to the base structure and configured to receive a first user input operation;

a second operating member movably coupled to the base structure and configured to receive a second user input operation, the first operating member and the second operating member being arranged in a first direction;

a light emitter unit at least partially provided between the first operating member and the second operating member in the first direction as viewed in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and

a third operating member movably coupled to the base structure and configured to receive a third user input operation, wherein

the light emitter unit and the third operating member are arranged in a third direction intersecting each of the first direction and the second direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2024
From: CHIYA, NAOKI; KITAHARA, KOSUKE; KOSAKA, KENTARO; MIKI, YOSHIMITSU
To: SHIMANO INC.
Reel/Frame 067530/0567 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 18360835 · Jul 28, 2023
Related Publication 20250033724A1 · Jan 30, 2025
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