Bicycle derailleur

Abstract

A bicycle derailleur is provided with a base member, a movable member, a linkage, a chain guide, an operating mechanism and an adjustment mechanism. The chain guide guides the chain. The movable member is a member that is used to support the chain guide. The linkage is pivotally connected at both ends to the base member and the operating member. The operating member causes the linkage to rotate. The adjustment mechanism is disposed between the linkage and operating member for adjusting the movement of the linkage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 is a right side elevational view of a bicycle using a bicycle derailleur in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial side elevational view around the rear end of the bicycle illustrated in FIG. 1 to show with the rear sprockets and the rear derailleur in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base member of the rear derailleur in which the cover has been removed from the base member;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the link mechanism of the rear derailleur;

FIG. 5 is a simplified diagrammatic view of the link mechanism of the rear derailleur showing the operation of the link mechanism of the rear derailleur;

FIG. 6 is a simplified diagrammatic view of the link mechanism of the rear derailleur showing the operation of the link mechanism of the rear derailleur;

FIG. 7 is a simplified diagrammatic view of the link mechanism of the rear derailleur showing the operation of the link mechanism of the rear derailleur;

FIG. 8 is a simplified diagrammatic view of the link mechanism of the rear derailleur showing the operation of the link mechanism of the rear derailleur;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the operation of the link mechanism of the rear derailleur; and

FIG. 10 is a simplified diagrammatic view (corresponding to FIG. 5) of the link mechanism of the rear derailleur showing the operation of the link mechanism of the rear derailleur in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bicycle derailleur comprising: a base member configured to be mounted on a bicycle;a linkage pivotally coupled to the base member to pivot between at least a pair of gearshift positions relative to the base member;a movable member pivotally coupled to the linkage to be moved by the linkage between the gearshift positions;a chain guide coupled to the movable member to move with the movable member between the gearshift positions;an operating member operatively coupled to the linkage to selectively pivot the linkage; andan adjustment mechanism operatively coupled between the linkage and the operating member to adjust an angular position of the linkage relative to the operating member.

2. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1, wherein the operating member includes a base part that is rotatably connected to the base member, and an operating part that pivots the linkage.

3. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 2, wherein the operating member has a pivot axis that is coincident with a pivot axis of the linkage.

4. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a screw that is threadedly engaged with one of the operating member and the linkage to contact the other of the operating member and the linkage in order to adjust the angular position of the linkage by advancing and retracting the screw.

5. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 2, wherein the operating part includes a first operating part and a second operating part, with the first operating part being configured and arranged to pivot the linkage in a first rotational direction, and the second operating part being configured and arranged to pivot the linkage in a second rotational direction via a connecting member that is connected to the linkage.

6. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 5, wherein the connecting member includes a spring member that is configured and arranged to urge the second operating part in the first rotational direction.

7. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 5, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a screw that is threadedly engaged with the linkage to contact the first operating part of the operating member in order to adjust the angular position of the linkage by advancing and retracting the screw.

8. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 6, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a screw that is threadedly engaged with the linkage to contact the first operating part of the operating member in order to adjust the angular position of the linkage by advancing and retracting the screw.

9. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a screw that is threadedly engaged with one of the operating member and the linkage to contact the other of the operating member and the linkage in order to adjust the angular position of the linkage by advancing and retracting the screw.

10. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 3, wherein the operating part includes a first operating part and a second operating part, with the first operating part being configured and arranged to pivot the linkage in a first rotational direction, and the second operating part being configured and arranged to pivot the linkage in a second rotational direction via a connecting member that is connected to the linkage.

11. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 10, wherein the connecting member includes a spring member that is configured and arranged to urge the second operating part in the first rotational direction.

12. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 10, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a screw that is threadedly engaged with the linkage to contact the first operating part of the operating member in order to adjust the angular position of the linkage by advancing and retracting the screw.

13. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 11, wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a screw that is threadedly engaged with the linkage to contact the first operating part of the operating member in order to adjust the angular position of the linkage by advancing and retracting the screw.

14. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 4, wherein the operating part includes a first operating part and a second operating part, with the first operating part being configured and arranged to pivot the linkage in a first rotational direction, and the second operating part being configured and arranged to pivot the linkage in a second rotational direction via a connecting member that is connected to the linkage.

15. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 14, wherein the connecting member includes a spring member that is configured and arranged to urge the second operating part in the first rotational direction.

16. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 15, wherein the screw member is threadedly engaged with the linkage, and contacts the first operating part of the operating member.

17. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 16, wherein the operating member has a pivot axis that is coincident with a pivot axis of the linkage.

18. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1, wherein the base member includes an electric drive part with a motor for driving the operating member.

19. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1, wherein the operating member includes a gearshift cable attachment structure for rotating the operating member by a gearshift cable.