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EP-4738412-A1 - ELECTRIC ACTUATION MEMBER FOR A BICYCLE

EP4738412A1EP 4738412 A1EP4738412 A1EP 4738412A1EP-4738412-A1

Abstract

The electric actuation member comprises a body (2) intended to be mounted on a bicycle and to be connected to an electric device, a switch (12) housed in the body (2) and facing outwards thereof, operable by pressure in a direction of actuation (X) towards the body (2). An elastic sheath (6) envelops the body (2) of the actuation member and a pusher (20) is provided on the sheath (6) at the switch (12). The pusher (20) is rigid along the direction of actuation (X), so as to be able to transmit the click of the switch when it is operated, so that it is perceived by both the hearing and the touch of the cyclist.

Inventors

  • MEGGIOLAN, MARIO
  • MINTO, Marco

Assignees

  • Campagnolo S.r.l.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251031

Claims (15)

  1. Electric actuation member comprising a body (2) intended to be mounted on a bicycle and to be connected to an electric device, a switch (12) housed in the body (2) and facing outwards thereof, operable by pressure in a direction of actuation (X) towards the body (2), an elastic sheath (6; 206) enveloping the body (2) of the actuation member, a pusher (20; 120; 220) at the switch (12), characterized in that the pusher (20; 120; 220) at least partially crosses the sheath (6; 206) and is rigid along the direction of actuation (X), at least for a prevailing portion thereof.
  2. Electrical actuation member according to claim 1, wherein the pusher (20; 120) is mounted non-slidingly and sealed in a through hole (14) made in the sheath (6) and comprises a first end (24), internal to the sheath (6) and oriented towards the switch (12), and a second end (25), external to the sheath (6), accessible by a finger of a cyclist.
  3. Electric actuation member according to claim 1, wherein the pusher (220) is mounted internally to the sheath (206) and comprises a first end (224), oriented towards the switch (12), and a second end (225) adhering to the sheath (206), indirectly accessible by a finger of a cyclist through the sheath (206) itself.
  4. Electric actuation member according to claim 1, wherein the pusher (20; 120; 220) is made of metal.
  5. Electric actuation member according to claim 1, wherein the pusher (20; 120; 220) is made of rigid polymeric material.
  6. Electric actuation member according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the pusher (120) comprises a contact coating (126) of elastomeric material at its first end (24).
  7. Electric actuation member according to claim 6, wherein the elastomeric material of the contact coating (126) has much lower elasticity than the elasticity of the sheath (6).
  8. Electric actuation member according to claim 2, wherein the pusher (20; 120) comprises a central stem (21), a first head (22) protruding from the stem (21) and comprising the first end (24), a second head (23) protruding from the stem (21) and comprising the second end (25), wherein the stem (21) is housed in the through hole (14) in the sheath (6).
  9. Electric actuation member according to claim 8, wherein, before the pusher (20; 120) is mounted in the sheath (6), the through hole (14) in the sheath (6) has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the stem (21), so that the sheath (6) is elastically clamped around the stem (21).
  10. Electric actuation member according to claim 8, wherein, before the pusher (20; 120) is mounted in the sheath (6), the through hole (14) in the sheath (6) has a length higher than the length of the stem (21), so that the sheath (6) is elastically compressed between the first head (22) and the second head (23) of the pusher (20; 120).
  11. Electric actuation member according to claim 8, wherein the sheath (6) comprises a first recessed seat (28) formed internally around the through hole (14), and wherein the first head (21) is at least partially accommodated in the first seat (28).
  12. Electrical actuation member according to claim 8, wherein the sheath (6) comprises a second recessed seat (29), formed externally around the through hole (14), wherein the second head (23) is at least partially accommodated in the second seat (29).
  13. Electrical actuation member according to claim 1, wherein the sheath (6) internally comprises a relief (31) extended around and spaced from the pusher (20; 120), and wherein the body (2) comprises a recess (32) extended around and spaced from the switch (12), wherein the relief (31) of the sheath (6) is engaged in the recess (32) of the body.
  14. Electrical actuation member according to claim 1, wherein the electrical actuation member is provided for operating an electro-actuated gear shift on a control (1) intended for mounting on a handlebar of the bicycle.
  15. Electrical actuation member according to claim 14, wherein the control (1) is an integrated control, also comprising a brake lever (4).

Description

The present invention refers to an electric actuation member for a bicycle. Several electrically operated devices can be provided on board a modern bicycle, such as for example a gear shift (front or rear), a cyclocomputer or other. In order to operate these devices, special electrical actuation devices are provided. It is also possible for electric actuation members to control accessories that are not mounted on the bicycle, but that are carried by the cyclist; for example, a smartphone provided with an application relative to the cyclist's activity can receive commands that the cyclist sends by acting not directly on the smartphone (which may be kept and protected in a pocket, a backpack or the like) but on a special electric actuation member that has been previously mounted on the bicycle, in a position easily accessible to the cyclist, on the handlebar or on the frame. A cyclist engaged in a competition, but also a demanding cyclist, always wishes to have total and easy control over all the functions of the bicycle, so that his/her attention is not significantly distracted by the pedalling effort, by the engagement for riding, as well as perhaps by monitoring the behaviour of other cyclists during a competition. Electrically operated devices (also called electro-actuated) are obviously of great help in satisfying this need of the cyclist, since their actuation does not require an appreciable physical effort but only the simple intervention on an electric actuation member. Normally, these electric actuation members are provided with an elastic coating sheath, which serves both to protect the actuation member from atmospheric agents and dust, and to ensure an optimal grip by the cyclist when the actuation member is placed in such a position as to be gripped by the cyclist while pedalling; this is typically the case in which the electric actuation member is on a control for operating an electro-actuated gear shift and is therefore mounted on the handlebar of the bicycle so that it can also be gripped. The electrical actuation member comprises as a fundamental element a switch, which must be pressed by the cyclist in order to obtain the desired actuation; the elastic sheath, which also covers the switch, can be sufficiently deformable so as not to prevent the cyclist from acting on the switch. It is known to conform the sheath at the covered switch so that the cyclist can perceive the position where he/she must press to operate the switch. See for example EP 4230511, where the sheath 122 includes a protruding or recessed area 256, or EP 2082953, where the sheath 148 has a protruding portion 148a. However, it has been verified that the actuation through the elastic sheath hinders the correct perception by the cyclist of the successful actuation. In fact, the switch transmits - by its very nature - both a tactile and an acoustic click sensation, but the elastic sheath greatly attenuates this sensation. As a result, the cyclist acting on the actuation member covered by the elastic sheath is not able to easily perceive whether he/she has actually performed the actuation or not. The cyclist may be bothered by this difficulty in perceiving the click, both because he/she may be forced to devote more attention to the actuation than desired in order to perceive the click, and because he/she may be mistakenly induced to repeat an actuation he/she has not perceived the click thereof; obviously, if an actuation is repeated the result may be very different from the desired one. It is also known to provide an element slidingly inserted in a through hole in the elastic sheath, by means of which the cyclist can act on the switch. See for example EP 4124554, where the sheath 20 has holes in which the buttons 16, 17 are movable. This solution responds well to the needs of the cyclist, allowing him/her to perceive the click and therefore providing him/her with a clear perception of the successful actuation, but exposes the switch to possible infiltration of moisture and/or dirt. There is therefore the problem of allowing easy and safe actuation by the cyclist, while maintaining safe protection of the switch from moisture and dust. This problem is solved, according to the invention, by an electric actuation member for a bicycle according to claim 1; preferred features are indicated in the dependent claims. More in particular, the electric actuation member comprises a body intended to be mounted on a bicycle and to be connected to an electric device, a switch housed in the body and facing outwards thereof, operable by pressure in a direction of actuation X towards the body, an elastic sheath enveloping the body of the actuation member, a pusher provided on the sheath at the switch, and is characterized in that the pusher at least partially crosses the sheath and is rigid along the direction of actuation X, at least for a prevailing portion thereof. By prevailing portion of the pusher along the direction of actuation X is to be