Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:
A selected embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiment of the present invention are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Referring initially to
The bicycle 10 is conventional, except for the rear derailleur 12 having the axial spacing adjustment structure 13. Thus, the bicycle 10 will not be discussed and/or illustrated in detail herein, except as related to the rear derailleur 12. The bicycle 10 basically includes the frame 11 with front and rear wheels 16 and 18 coupled to the frame 11 in a conventional manner. The frame 11 includes a front fork pivotally coupled thereto with a handle bar coupled to the front fork in a conventional manner to steer the front wheel 16. The rear wheel 18 is coupled to the rear triangle of the frame 11. The right side of the rear triangle of the frame 11 has the derailleur mounting portion or plate (i.e., derailleur hanger) D1 or D2 fixedly attached thereto depending on the strength/weight characteristics desired for the bicycle 10.
The derailleur mounting portions or plates D1 and D2 can be integrally formed with the rear triangle of the frame 11 as illustrated herein, or can be removable type derailleur hangers (not shown) in a conventional manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the derailleur mounting portion D1 has a thickness of about 8.0 millimeters, while the derailleur mounting portion D2 has a thickness of about 16.0 millimeters. These are relatively common dimensions for derailleur mounting portions in the bicycle art. The axial spacing adjustment structure 13 of the present invention illustrated herein is dimensioned to be optimally applied to the derailleur mounting portions D1 and D2 dimensioned as disclosed herein. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the present invention can be applied to other frames/thicknesses as needed and/or desired.
Referring still to
Front and rear brake mechanisms 26 and 28 are coupled to the frame 11 in order to apply braking forces to the rims of the front and rear wheels 16 and 18, respectively, in a conventional manner. A front shift control mechanism (not shown) is also preferably coupled to the handlebar to control the front derailleur 22 to shift the chain C laterally over the front sprockets FS in a conventional manner. The rear shift control mechanism 20 preferably includes a brake lever pivotally coupled thereto to control the rear brake mechanism 28 in a conventional manner. The front shift control mechanism (not shown) also preferably includes a brake lever pivotally coupled thereto to control the front brake mechanism 26 in a conventional manner.
Since the various parts of the bicycle 10 are conventional, except for the rear derailleur 12, the parts of the bicycle 10 will not be discussed or illustrated in detail herein, except as they relate to the rear derailleur 12. Moreover, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various modifications can be made to the various components or parts of the bicycle 10 without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Referring still to
The basic operation of the rear derailleur 12 is well known in the prior art. Thus, the rear derailleur 12 will not be discussed or illustrated in detail herein, except as related to the present invention. In other words, this disclosure will focus mainly on the axial spacing adjustment structure 13 of the present invention as well as other elements of the rear derailleur 12 related thereto. While a mechanical (i.e., cable actuated) derailleur 12 is illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the present invention can be employed in other types of derailleurs such as pneumatic derailleurs, motorized/electrical derailleurs or electromechanical derailleurs.
Referring now to
The base housing 40 includes a mounting surface 40a, an arc-shaped cutout or recess 40b, a mounting hole 40c, a threaded adjustment hole 40d and a tubular cable mounting portion 40e. The mounting surface 40a is disposed adjacent the axial spacing adjustment structure 13. The mounting hole 40c is a through hole extending generally perpendicularly relative to the mounting surface 40a. The mounting axle 42 extends through the mounting hole 40c. The arc-shaped recess 40b extends axially (parallel to the mounting hole 40c) from the mounting surface 40a. The arc-shaped recess 40b is arced about the mounting hole 40c. The threaded adjustment hole 40d extends between the recess 40b and an external surface of the base housing 40. The cable mounting portion 40e includes a sheath receiving space configured to receive the outer casing 14b therein and the inner wire 14a received therethrough in a conventional manner.
The threaded adjustment hole 40d threadedly receives an adjustment screw 44 therein. The recess 40b receives a bumper element 46, an adjustment plate 48 as well as part of the axial spacing adjustment structure 13 therein. The adjustment screw 44, the bumper element 46, and the adjustment plate 48 as well as the base housing 40 and parts of the axial spacing adjustment structure 13 form parts of a rotational adjustment structure or rotational movement control structure of the rear derailleur 12 in accordance with the present invention. In particular, the position of the adjustment screw 44 can be adjusted to set a rest position of the base member 30 relative to the frame 11 and also to control the amount of rotational movement of the base member 30 relative to the derailleur mounting portion D1 or D2, as explained below.
The mounting axle 42 is a relatively conventional hollow mounting shaft. Thus, the mounting axle 42 includes an enlarged head portion 42a, an unthreaded portion 42b, a threaded portion 42c and an internal hexagonal bore section 42d, as best seen in
Referring now to
The lock nut 54 is disposed on the mounting axle 42 regardless of whether the rear derailleur 12 is mounted to the derailleur mounting portion D1 or D2, as best understood from
The derailleur mounting portions D1 and D2 have threaded mounting holes HI and H2 formed therein, respectively, which threadedly receive the threaded portion 42c of the mounting axle 42. In other words, the lock nut 54 is a conventional nut with a non-circular external shape that acts as a locking nut in a relatively conventional manner when the mounting axle 42 is tightened in the threaded mounting hole H1 or H2. While the lock nut 54 is illustrated removed from the mounting axle 42 in
The first spacer 50 is preferably rotatably supported on the threaded portion 42c of the mounting axle 42 via a sleeve 56. The second spacer is rotatably supported on the unthreaded portion 42b of the mounting axle. The sleeve 56 is a tubular member with an external diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the unthreaded portion 42b of the mounting axle 42, and an inner diameter substantially identical to or only slightly larger than the outer thread diameter of the threaded portion 42c. The sleeve 56 is designed to be removed from the mounting axle 42 when the first spacer 50 is removed for mounting the rear derailleur 12 to the derailleur mounting portion D2. However, when the sleeve 56 is mounted on the mounting axle 42, the outer surface of the sleeve 56 forms a continuous support surface together with the unthreaded portion 42b of the mounting axle 42.
When the sleeve 56 and the first spacer 50 are mounted on the mounting axle 42, the sleeve contacts the abutment 42e of the mounting axle 42 such that the sleeve 56 projects slightly beyond an axially facing surface of the first spacer 50. Thus, the lock nut 54 will contact the sleeve 56 when the sleeve 56 and the first spacer 50 are mounted on the mounting axle 42. The abutment 42e is arranged to project slightly beyond the second spacer 52 to facilitate this arrangement, and to provide a contact point for the lock nut 54 when the sleeve 56 and the first spacer 50 are removed from the mounting axle 42. Due to this arrangement, both the first and second spacers 50 and 52 (or the second spacer 52 alone) can be freely rotatably supported on the mounting axle 42 because the lock nut 54 will not apply an axial force thereto. These arrangements are best understood from
The first spacer 50 basically includes a first spacing portion 50a, a first frame contact projection 50b, a first support hole 50c, a first engagement projection 50d and a cutout 50e. Similarly, the second spacer 52 basically includes a second spacing portion 52a, a second frame contact projection 52b, a second support hole 52c and a second engagement projection or movement control projection 52d. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second spacers 50 and 52 are each preferably constructed as a one-piece, unitary member from a lightweight, rigid material such as a metallic material that is well known in the bicycle art.
The first spacing portion 50a is an eccentrically shaped annular disc with the first support hole 50c extending between oppositely facing axial sides thereof. The first frame contact projection 50b extends from one axial side of the first spacing portion 50a, while the first engagement projection 50d extends from an opposite axial side of the first spacing portion 50a. The first frame contact projection 50b is circumferentially offset from the first engagement projection 50d. The cutout 50e is aligned with the first frame contact projection 50b, and extends into the first spacing portion 50a from the axial side of the first spacing portion 50a facing the second spacer 52.
The first spacing portion 50a preferably has an axial thickness corresponding to the difference in thickness between the derailleur mounting portions D1 and D2, i.e., about 8.0 millimeters in the illustrated embodiment. The first frame contact projection 50b is configured to cooperate with the outer surface of the derailleur mounting portion D1 to control movement of the first spacer 50 relative to the derailleur mounting portion D1 as best understood from
The second spacer 52 is similar to the first spacer 50. Thus, the second spacing portion 52a is an eccentrically shaped annular disc with the second support hole 52c extending between oppositely facing axial sides thereof. The second frame contact projection 52b extends from one axial side of the second spacing portion 52a, while the second engagement projection 52d extends from an opposite axial side of the second spacing portion 52a. The second frame contact projection 52b is circumferentially offset from the second engagement projection 52d. The second frame contact projection 52b has a shape and size substantially identical to the first frame contact projection 50b. The cutout 50e has a shape that mates with the second frame contact projection 52b such that the second frame contact projection 52b is received in the cutout 50e when the first spacer 50 is disposed on the mounting axle 42. Thus, the first and second spacing portions 50a and 52a preferably contact each other when mounted on the mounting axle 42 in an assembled state as best understood from
The second spacing portion 52a preferably has an axial thickness smaller than the thickness of the first spacing portion 50a (e.g. about one half as thick) in the illustrated embodiment. The second frame contact projection 52b is configured to cooperate with the outer surface of the derailleur mounting portion D2 to control movement of the second spacer 52 relative to the derailleur mounting portion D2 (i.e. when the first spacer 50 and the sleeve 56 are removed), as best understood from
The second engagement projection 52d is configured and arranged to be received in the arc-shaped cutout or recess 40b of the base housing 40. In particular, the second engagement projection 52d is positioned in an area of the recess 40b remote from the free end of the adjustment screw 44. The second engagement projection 52d has a generally arc shape that corresponds to the shape of the recess 40b, except that the second engagement projection 52d is circumferentially shorter than the arc-shaped recess 40b. The bumper element 46 and the adjustment plate 48 are received in the recess 40b circumferentially between the second engagement projection 52d and the free end of the adjustment screw 44, as best seen in
The bumper element 46 is circumferentially arranged between the second engagement projection 52d and the adjustment plate 48. Thus, the adjustment plate 48 is circumferentially arranged between the free end of the adjustment screw 44 and the bumper element 46. The position of the adjustment screw 44 can be adjusted to adjust the effective length of the arc-shaped recess 40b, and thus, the amount of rotational movement of the base housing 40 relative to the second spacer 52. Specifically, if the position of the adjustment screw 44 is adjusted (by rotation in the threaded adjustment hole 40d), the position of the adjustment plate 48 and the bumper element 46 are also adjusted, and thus, the amount of movement of the second engagement projection 52d within the arc-shaped recess 40b can also be adjusted. Accordingly, these parts of the rear derailleur 12 can be considered parts of the rotational adjustment structure in accordance with the present invention.
Of course, the first spacer 50 is also indirectly engaged with the adjustment screw 44 via the second spacer 52, when the first spacer 50 is mounted on the mounting axle 42 in an assembled state. Moreover, the first spacer 50 or the second spacer 52 also cooperates with the derailleur mounting portion D1 or D2 and the tension from the chain C to control the positions of the spacers 50 and 52 in a manner similar to the way conventional rear derailleur base members cooperate with the frame and chain tension. Accordingly, these other parts may also be considered parts of the rotational adjustment structure or movement control structure of the base member 30 in accordance with the present invention.
The linkage assembly 34 basically includes a pair of links 62 and 64 that are pivotally coupled at first ends to the base member 30 and pivotally coupled at their other ends to the movable member 32. Four pins (not shown) are used to pivotally couple the links 62 and 64 to the base member 30 and the movable member 32 in a conventional manner. The biasing member 38 (i.e., a coil spring) is coupled between the links 62 and 64 for biasing the chain guide 36 in one direction as best seen in
A control cable fixing device 66 is coupled to a substantially upper side of the linkage assembly 34 to move the chain guide 36 against the biasing force of the spring 38. Specifically, the control cable fixing device 66 is preferably coupled to an upwardly/inwardly facing surface of the outer/upper link 64. Accordingly, when the rider operates the rear shift control mechanism 20 to pull the inner wire 14a of the shift control cable 14, this will cause links 62 and 64 to pivot inwardly relative to the base member 30 against the bias of the coil spring 38 and will cause the movable member 32 and the chain guide 36 to move inwardly toward the center of the bicycle 10. This in turn will cause the chain C to move from an outer (smaller) gear of the sprockets RS to the next inner (larger) gear of the sprockets RS in a conventional manner. Of course, if the rear shift control mechanism 20 is moved to release the inner wire 14a of the shift cable 14, the spring 38 will move the linkage members 62 and 64 such that the chain guide 36 will move the chain C outwardly from a larger (inner) gear to a smaller (outer) gear in a conventional manner. Of course, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that thee biasing direction of the spring 38 and the pulling direction of the inner wire 14a could be reversed in needed and/.or desired.
The movable member 32 basically includes a movable housing 70 and a support shaft or axle (not shown) having the chain guide 36 pivotally mounted thereon in a conventional manner. Preferably a torsion spring (not shown) is disposed within the movable housing 70 to apply a rotational biasing force to the chain guide 36 relative to the movable member 32. The chain guide 36 basically has a pair of guide plates 80a and 80b with a guide sprocket or pulley 82 rotatably coupled between the guide plates 80a and 80b and a tension sprocket or pulley 84 rotatably coupled between the guide plates 80a and 80b. The guide sprocket 82 and the tension sprocket 84 engage the chain C in a conventional manner. Accordingly, the additional parts of the chain guide 26 will not be discussed or illustrated in detail herein.
In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function. In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. As used herein to describe the present invention, the following directional terms “forward, rearward, above, downward, vertical, horizontal, below and transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directions of a bicycle equipped with the present invention. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a bicycle equipped with the present invention as used in the normal riding position. Finally, terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms can be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies.
While only a selected embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiment according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.