Auxiliary bicycle shifting component

Abstract

A front derailleur is provided with an auxiliary bicycle shifting component to minimize reduction in downshifting performance when a chain is located on a chain-entry side of a chain guide. The auxiliary bicycle shifting component basically has a fixed part and a chain contact part. The fixed part is used to fix the chain contact part on the chain guide. The chain contact part is disposed on the chain-entry side of an outer plate of a chain guide of the front derailleur, and is configured and arranged to contact with a chain.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a bicycle equipped with a front derailleur in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an inside perspective view of the front derailleur illustrated in FIG. 1 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an inside elevational side view of the front derailleur illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational side view of the front derailleur illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shifting auxiliary component used with the front derailleur illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the front derailleur and the shifting auxiliary component in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention that depicts the procedure for mounting the shifting auxiliary component to the front derailleur;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for describing the downshifting operation using the front derailleur with the shifting auxiliary component in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the front derailleur illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 with an auxiliary shifting component in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the front derailleur and the auxiliary shifting component as seen along section line IX-IX in FIG. 8.

Claims

1. An auxiliary bicycle shifting component comprising: a fixed part configured and dimensioned to be secured to a chain guide of a front derailleur; anda chain contact part extending from the fixed part so as to be disposed on a chain-entry side of an outer plate of the chain guide of the front derailleur to selectively contact a chain passing through the chain guide of the front derailleur, when the fixed part is secured to the chain guide of the front derailleur.

2. The auxiliary bicycle shifting component according to claim 1, wherein the chain contact part is configured and dimensioned to be disposed on an inside surface of the outer plate that faces an inner plate of the chain guide, when the fixed part is secured to the chain guide of the front derailleur.

3. The auxiliary bicycle shifting component according to claim 1, wherein the fixed part includes a pair of parallel opposing parts configured and dimensioned for sandwiching a connecting part of the chain guide that connects the inner plate with the outer plate on the chain-entry side; andthe fixed part further includes a locking member engaged with distal ends of the opposing parts to lock the opposing parts on the connecting part of the chain guide of the front derailleur, when the fixed part is secured to the chain guide of the front derailleur.

4. The auxiliary bicycle shifting component according to claim 1, wherein the fixed part includes a pair of parallel opposing parts configured and dimensioned for sandwiching the outer plate on the chain-entry side; andthe fixed part further includes a locking member engaged with distal ends of the opposing parts to lock the opposing parts on the outer plate of the chain guide of the front derailleur, when the fixed part is secured to the chain guide of the front derailleur.

5. The auxiliary bicycle shifting component according to claim 3, wherein each of the distal ends of the opposing parts includes an interlocking protuberances for engaging with the locking member.

6. The auxiliary bicycle shifting component according to claim 1, wherein the contact part and the fixed part are formed of a synthetic resin with the contact part being integrally formed as a one-piece member with part of the fixed part.

7. The auxiliary bicycle shifting component according to claim 2, wherein the fixed part includes a pair of parallel opposing parts configured and dimensioned for sandwiching a connecting part of the chain guide that connects the inner plate with the outer plate on the chain-entry side; andthe fixed part further includes a locking member engaged with distal ends of the opposing parts to lock the opposing parts on the connecting part of the chain guide of the front derailleur, when the fixed part is secured to the chain guide of the front derailleur.

8. The auxiliary bicycle shifting component according to claim 2, wherein the fixed part includes a pair of parallel opposing parts configured and dimensioned for sandwiching the outer plate on the chain-entry side; andthe fixed part further includes a locking member engaged with distal ends of the opposing parts to lock the opposing parts on the outer plate of the chain guide of the front derailleur, when the fixed part is secured to the chain guide of the front derailleur.

9. The auxiliary bicycle shifting component according to claim 4, wherein each of the distal ends of the opposing parts includes an interlocking protuberances for engaging with the locking member.

10. The auxiliary bicycle shifting component according to claim 2, wherein the contact part and the fixed part are formed of a synthetic resin with the contact part being integrally formed as a one-piece member with part of the fixed part.

11. A bicycle front derailleur comprising: a base member configured and arranged to be fixedly attached to bicycle;a chain guide configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the base member, the chain guide including an inner plate and an outer plate defining a chain receiving slot to guide a chain;a moving mechanism coupled between the base member and the chain guide to move the chain guide between the retracted position and the extended position; andan auxiliary bicycle shifting component including a fixed part releasably secured to the chain guide and a chain contact part extending from the fixed part so as to be disposed on a chain-entry side of the outer plate of the chain guide to selectively contact the chain passing through the chain guide of the front derailleur.

12. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 11, wherein the chain contact part is configured and dimensioned to be disposed on an inside surface of the outer plate that faces an inner plate of the chain guide.

13. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 11, wherein the fixed part includes a pair of parallel opposing parts configured and dimensioned for sandwiching a connecting part of the chain guide that connects the inner plate with the outer plate on the chain-entry side; andthe fixed part further includes a locking member engaged with distal ends of the opposing parts to lock the opposing parts on the connecting part of the chain guide of the front derailleur.

14. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 11, wherein the fixed part includes a pair of parallel opposing parts configured and dimensioned for sandwiching the outer plate on the chain-entry side; andthe fixed part further includes a locking member engaged with distal ends of the opposing parts to lock the opposing parts on the outer plate of the chain guide of the front derailleur.

15. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 13, wherein each of the distal ends of the opposing parts includes an interlocking protuberances for engaging with the locking member.

16. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 11, wherein the contact part and the fixed part are formed of a synthetic resin with the contact part being integrally formed as a one-piece member with part of the fixed part.

17. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 12, wherein the fixed part includes a pair of parallel opposing parts configured and dimensioned for sandwiching a connecting part of the chain guide that connects the inner plate with the outer plate on the chain-entry side; andthe fixed part further includes a locking member engaged with distal ends of the opposing parts to lock the opposing parts on the connecting part of the chain guide of the front derailleur.

18. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 12, wherein the fixed part includes a pair of parallel opposing parts configured and dimensioned for sandwiching the outer plate on the chain-entry side; andthe fixed part further includes a locking member engaged with distal ends of the opposing parts to lock the opposing parts on the outer plate of the chain guide of the front derailleur.

19. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 14, wherein each of the distal ends of the opposing parts includes an interlocking protuberances for engaging with the locking member.

20. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 12, wherein the contact part and the fixed part are formed of a synthetic resin with the contact part being integrally formed as a one-piece member with part of the fixed part.