Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A device (200/300/400) for simultaneously actuating a front brake (112) and a rear brake (122) of a vehicle, the device comprising:
a movable member (210/302) pivotally mounted on the vehicle, the movable member coupled with a first pair of cables (C1) received from a front brake lever (110) and a rear brake lever (120), and a second pair of cables (C2) extending to the front brake and the rear brake, whereby operation of the front brake lever or the rear brake lever pulls the movable member causing the second pair of cables extending from the movable member to pull/operate the front brake and the rear brake.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable member comprises of a first movable segment (310) coupled with a second movable segment (320), the first movable segment coupled with a cable received from the front brake lever and a cable extending to the front brake, and the second movable segment coupled with a cable received from the rear brake lever and a cable extending to the rear brake.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each movable segment comprises a drive segment (310a, 320a) coupled with a follower segment (310b, 320b), the drive segment coupled with a cable received from the brake lever, and the follower segment coupled with a cable extending to the brake.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the drive segment of the first movable segment and the second movable segment are coupled with each other.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a position sensor (150) is provided adjacent to one of the movable segments.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the position sensor is a hall sensor.

, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The invention relates to a device for simultaneously actuating a front brake and a rear brake of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Bicycles are used widely for transport and leisure activities. To ease rider-effort, electric bicycles which are powered by a motor have also been introduced. Such electric bicycles travel at a considerable high speed, and hence braking or stopping them in time is often difficult. Hence with such increase in performance, it is critical that braking performance of the bicycle is also improved.
[003] Typically, bicycles are equipped with a front brake and a rear brake. A front brake lever and a rear brake lever are provided on a handlebar of the bicycle for operating the front brake and the rear brake. To safely stop the bicycle, especially at high speeds it is essential that the rider operates the front brake lever and/or rear brake lever in unison or controlled amounts. Applying only one of the brakes may result in the bicycle to skid or topple over, which can be fatal for the rider. Hence, braking of the bicycle is largely dependent on rider skill. Mostly, new riders, tend to over apply either one of the brakes which results in losing control of the bicycle. Similarly, some riders may apply a single brake either front brake or rear brake, which results in non-optimum braking performance of the bicycle.
[004] In view of the above, there is a need in the art for a braking mechanism/system for vehicles addressing at-least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] Accordingly, the present invention in one aspect provides a device for simultaneously actuating a front brake and a rear brake of a vehicle. The device comprising a movable member pivotally mounted on the vehicle. The movable member is coupled with a first pair of cables and a second pair of cables. The first pair of cables is received from a front brake lever and a rear brake lever, and the second pair of cables extends to the front brake and the rear brake. Upon operation of the front brake lever or the rear brake lever the movable member is pulled causing the second pair of cables extending from the movable member to pull/operate the front brake and the rear brake.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[006] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a system for braking of a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a device for simultaneously actuating a front brake and a rear brake of a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 shows a device for simultaneously actuating a front brake and a rear brake of a vehicle in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 shows a device for simultaneously actuating a front brake and a rear brake of a vehicle in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 shows an illustrative representation of the device adapted to a bicycle in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
Figure 6 shows a block diagram of a system for braking a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[007] The present invention is directed towards a device for simultaneously actuating a front brake and a rear brake of a vehicle whereby upon actuating any one of a front brake lever or a rear brake lever both the front brake and the rear brake are actuated in unison.
[008] Figure 1 shows a system 100 for braking a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown, the system 100 comprises a device 200/300/400 interconnecting a front brake lever 110 and a rear brake lever 120 with a front brake 112 and a rear brake 122 of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the device is configured to apply/actuate the front brake 112 and the rear brake 122 simultaneously upon operation of any of the front brake lever 110 or the rear brake lever 120.
[009] The vehicle preferably is a two-wheeled vehicle such as but not limited to a bicycle, an electric-bicycle, a battery operated bicycle, a motorbike, an electric motorbike, a battery operated motorbike, a scooter, an electric scooter, a battery operated scooter, a moto-scooter, an electric moto-scooter, and a battery operated moto-scooter, etc., and any vehicle with cable operated braking mechanism. Typically, two-wheeled vehicles comprise of a front wheel and a rear wheel. For each of the wheel, a separate braking mechanism – a rear braking mechanism and a front braking mechanism is provided, and as discussed hereinbefore the braking mechanism have to be operated separately by a rider. Each of the rear braking mechanism and the front braking mechanism comprises of a brake lever provided on a handlebar of the bicycle. Generally, the brake lever of the rear-wheel is provided on a left-hand side and the brake lever of the front-wheel is provided on a right-hand side of the handlebar. Each brake lever is connected to a brake on the respective wheel via a cable. Accordingly, when the brake lever is operated by the rider, the brake cable operates the brake.
[010] Figure 2 shows a device 200 for simultaneously actuating the front brake 112 and the rear brake 122 of a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The device 200 comprises a movable member 210. The device 200 is mounted on the vehicle whereby the movable member 210 is pivotally mounted at point P on a stationary shaft for pivotal motion about a generally horizontal axis. As shown in the figures, the movable member 210 is coupled with the first pair of cables C1 and the second pair of cables C2. The first pair of cables C1 are received from the front brake lever 110 and the rear brake lever 120. The second pair of cables C2 extend to the front brake 112 and the rear brake 122. Accordingly, operation of the front brake lever 110 or the rear brake lever 120 pulls the movable member 210 causing the second pair of cables C2 extending from the movable member 210 to pull/operate the front brake 112 and the rear brake 122. The first pair of cables C1 and the second pair of cables C2 can be coupled to the movable member 210 via various means. Generally, cables for brakes have a head at each end. The movable member 210 of the device has slots to receive and engage each of such heads so as to keep the cables coupled with the device.
[011] Figure 3 shows a device 300 for simultaneously actuating the front brake 112 and the rear brake 122 of a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The device 300 has a movable member 302 comprising of a first movable segment 310 and a second movable segment 320. The device 300 is mounted on the vehicle, whereby each of the segment of the movable member 302 is pivotally mounted at point P on a stationary shaft for pivotal motion about a generally horizontal axis. The first movable segment 310 interconnects the front brake lever 110 with the front brake 112, and the second movable segment 320 interconnects the rear brake lever 120 with the rear brake 122. A cable from the first pair of cables C1 connects the front brake lever 110 with the first movable segment 310, and the first movable segment 310 is further connected with a cable from the second pair of cables C2 to the front brake 112. Accordingly, upon operation of the front brake lever 110, the first movable segment 310 operates causing the front brake 112 to operate. Similarly, a cable from the first pair of cables C1 connects the rear brake lever 120 with the second movable segment 320, and the second movable segment 320 is further connected with a cable from the second pair of cables C2 to the rear brake 122. Accordingly, upon operation of the rear brake lever 120, the second movable segment 320 operates causing the rear brake 122 to operate. In an embodiment of the invention, the first movable segment 310 and the second movable segment 320 are coupled enabling the first movable segment 310 and the second movable segment 320 to operate in tandem. The first movable segment 310 and the second movable segment 320 is coupled via a rod or pin. The pin is received at point X by all the segments. Accordingly, upon operation of any one of the brake levers – front brake lever 110 or rear brake lever 120, both the movable segments are actuated causing both the brakes – front brake 112 and the rear brake 122 to apply. Also, the pin may be removed in case independent operation of the segments and/or the brakes is required.
[012] Figure 4 shows a device 400 for simultaneously actuating the front brake 112 and the rear brake 122 of a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, each movable segment – first movable segment 310 comprises a drive segment 310a and a follower segment 310b, and the second movable segment 320 comprises a drive segment 320a and a follower segment 320b. The device 400 is mounted on the vehicle, whereby each of the segment of the movable member 302 is pivotally mounted at a point P on a stationary shaft for pivotal motion about a generally horizontal axis. Further, each segment is coupled with each other at point X via a pin. The drive segment is connected with the brake lever via a cable from the first pair of cables C1, and the follower segment is connected with the brake via a cable from the second pair of cables C2. Accordingly, upon operation of the lever, the cable pulls the respective drive segment 310a/320a. As the follower segment 310b/320b is coupled to the drive segment, the follower segment 310b/ 320b also moves around pivotally pulling the cable extending from the drive segment 310a/320b which pulls the brake causing the brake to actuate. As discussed hereinbefore, the first movable segment 310 and the second movable segment 320 are coupled to each other. Accordingly, all segments are coupled to each other, and upon operation of one of the levers when one of the drive segments 310a/320a is moved, all segments move causing both the brakes to apply simultaneously.
[013] In an embodiment of the invention, the device can be retrofitted to two wheeled vehicles such as but not limited to a bicycle, or an electric-bicycle, a battery operated bicycle, a motorbike, an electric motorbike, a battery operated motorbike, a scooter, an electric scooter, a battery operated scooter, a moto-scooter, an electric moto-scooter, a battery operated moto-scooter, or any vehicle with cable operated braking mechanism. Figure 5 shows an illustrative representation of the device adapted to a head-tube 510 of a bicycle. The device is enclosed in a housing H whereby the movable member is mounted pivotally. The device can be mounted on a top tube, down tube, handlebar or any other part of the vehicle whereby the cables can be routed easily. Furthermore, shape and size of the movable member and/or segments is a design consideration and depends on force of braking required needed according to application, type and use case of vehicle. In this regard, overall radius of the drive segment and the follower segment can be adjusted for desired force amplification.
[014] Figure 6 shows a system 600 for braking a vehicle. The vehicle in an example embodiment is an electric bicycle equipped with an electric motor. The system comprises of the device 200/300/400 as discussed hereinbefore and a position sensor 150 provided adjacent to the device and a control unit 160. The position sensor 150 is provided to monitor position of the movable members and/or the segments. The position sensor 150 can be a hall sensor, an infrared sensor, a limit switch or any other sensor that can detect position or motion. Upon detecting a change in position of the movable member and/or the segment when the brakes are applied, the control unit 160 cuts-off supply to the motor. Thus, in addition to application of the brakes, the supply to the motor is automatically cut-off causing the bicycle to effectively stop.
[015] Advantageously, the present invention actuates a front brake and a rear brake of the vehicle simultaneously even when only one of the brake levers is operated. Thus, the rider has to simply operate one of the brake levers to effectively stop the vehicle without skidding or toppling over, even at considerably high speeds.
[016] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.