US 11,945,544 B2
Control device for a bicycle
Patrick Gruse, Colorado Springs, CO (US); Rebecca Greetis, Chicago, IL (US); Nathan Luman, Chicago, IL (US); Douglas Mahoney, Park Ridge, IL (US); Walter May, Colorado Springs, CO (US); and Neil Swanson, Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Assigned to SRAM, LLC, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by SRAM, LLC, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Feb. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/673,999.
Prior Publication US 2023/0257062 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. B62L 3/02 (2006.01); B60T 11/236 (2006.01); B62J 43/20 (2020.01); B62J 43/30 (2020.01); B62M 25/08 (2006.01)
CPC B62L 3/023 (2013.01) [B60T 11/236 (2013.01); B62J 43/20 (2020.02); B62J 43/30 (2020.02); B62M 25/08 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control device mountable to a handlebar of a bicycle, the control device comprising:
a housing having a base portion and an extension portion, the base portion of the housing having a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, a downward facing side, an upward facing side, an inward facing side, an outward facing side, and a handlebar clamp disposed at the rear end;
a lever coupled to and pivotable relative to the housing;
a master cylinder portion supported by the housing, the master cylinder portion having a fluid cylinder, the fluid cylinder having a first end and a second end opposite the first end with a cylindrical wall therebetween, the fluid cylinder being hollow, such that an opening extends through the master cylinder portion, from the first end to the second end; and
a piston assembly supported by the housing, the piston assembly being movable relative to the master cylinder portion, at least part of the piston assembly being disposed within the master cylinder portion,
wherein the master cylinder portion is angled relative to the outward facing side of the base portion of the housing, such that the second end of the fluid cylinder is closer to the outward facing side than the first end of the fluid cylinder is relative to the outward facing side.