Bicycle Chain

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191547-A1
Application number	US-201715458865-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 14, 2017
Priority date	Apr 28, 2014
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An inner link plate for a bicycle chain is provided. The inner link plate may have a longitudinal centerline defining a longitudinal direction and comprising a first inner-link end portion including a first inner-link opening having a first inner-link center axis, a second inner-link end portion including a second inner-link opening having a second inner-link center axis parallel to the first inner-link center axis, and an inner-link intermediate portion interconnecting the first inner-link end portion and the second inner-link end portion. The first inner-link end portion may have an extended edge portion extending to be away from the second inner-link end portion in the longitudinal direction.

First claim

1 . An inner link plate for a bicycle chain, the inner link plate having a longitudinal centerline defining a longitudinal direction and comprising:
a first inner-link end portion including a first inner-link opening having a first inner-link center axis; a second inner-link end portion including a second inner-link opening having a second inner-link center axis parallel to the first inner-link center axis; and a first inner-link intermediate portion interconnecting the first inner-link end portion and the second inner-link end portion, wherein a recessed portion is formed on an interior surface of the first inner-link intermediate portion, and wherein the first inner-link end portion has a first extended edge portion extending to be away from the second inner-link end portion in the longitudinal direction.

2 . The inner link plate according to claim 1 , wherein
a chamfered edge portion is formed along an outer peripheral edge of the inner link plate so as to improve gear shifting.

3 . The inner link plate according to claim 2 , wherein
a recessed portion interior surface is provided on the recessed portion, a first inner-link end portion interior surface is provided on the first inner-link end portion, a second inner-link end portion interior surface is provided on the second inner-link end portion, and the recessed portion interior surface is further recessed relative to the first inner-link end portion interior surface and the second inner-link end portion interior surface.

4 . The inner link plate according to claim 1 , wherein
a length in the longitudinal direction and a surface area of the first inner-link end portion are substantially greater than the second inner-link end portion.

5 . The inner link plate according to claim 1 , wherein
the first inner-link end portion has a substantially oblong shape, and a portion of the first inner-link end portion excluding the first extended edge portion has a substantially circular shape.

6 . The inner link plate according to claim 2 , wherein
the outer peripheral edge includes a first inner-link end edge extending about the first inner-link end portion, a second inner-link end edge extending about the second inner-link end portion, and a pair of first inner-link intermediate edges extending along the first inner-link intermediate portion between the first inner-link end edge and the second inner-link end edge.

7 . The inner link plate according to claim 1 , wherein
the second inner-link end portion has a second extended edge portion extending to be away from the first inner-link end portion in the longitudinal direction.

8 . The inner link plate according to claim 7 , wherein
the second inner-link end portion has a substantially oblong shape, and a portion of the second inner-link end portion excluding the second extended edge portion has a substantially circular shape.

9 . An inner link plate for a bicycle chain, the inner link plate having a longitudinal centerline defining a longitudinal direction and comprising:
a first inner-link end portion including a first inner-link opening having a first inner-link center axis; a second inner-link end portion including a second inner-link opening having a second inner-link center axis parallel to the first inner-link center axis; and a first inner-link intermediate portion interconnecting the first inner-link end portion and the second inner-link end portion, wherein a chamfered edge portion is formed along an outer peripheral edge of the inner link plate so as to improve gear shifting, and wherein the first inner-link end portion has an extended edge portion extending to be away from the second inner-link end portion in the longitudinal direction.

10 . The inner link plate according to claim 9 , wherein
a recessed portion is formed on an interior surface of the first inner-link intermediate portion.

11 . The inner link plate according to claim 10 , wherein
a recessed portion interior surface is provided on the recessed portion, a first inner-link end portion interior surface is provided on the first inner-link end portion, a second inner-link end portion interior surface is provided on the second inner-link end portion, and the recessed portion interior surface is further recessed relative to the first inner-link end portion interior surface and the second inner-link end portion interior surface.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Fukumori Tsuyoshi
• Nishimoto Yusuke
• Emura Atsuhiro

Classifications

• B62M2009/005

  Details of transmission chains specially adapted for bicycles · CPC title

• B62M9/00

  Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like (cycle chain guards B62J13/00) · CPC title

• F16G13/06 Primary

  with links connected by parallel driving-pins with or without rollers {so-called open links} · CPC title

• F16G13/07 Primary

  the links being of identical shape, e.g. cranked · CPC title

• B62M9/06

  using a single chain, belt, or the like · CPC title