Bicycle sprocket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9302736-B2
Application number	US-201414173728-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2014
Priority date	Feb 5, 2014
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket member and an attachment member. The sprocket member comprises a first annular portion, sprocket teeth and a first engaging portion. The first engaging portion is provided on an inner peripheral part of the first annular portion. The attachment member is configured to be bonded to the sprocket member and comprises a second annular portion and a second engaging portion. The second annular portion is provided radially inwardly of the first annular portion. The second engaging portion is configured to engage with the first engaging portion. One of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion includes a protrusion. The other of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion includes a groove extending in the circumferential direction. The protrusion is configured to be fitted in the groove.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle sprocket comprising:
a sprocket member comprising:
a first annular portion having a rotational center axis;
sprocket teeth protruding radially outwardly from the first annular portion and arranged in a circumferential direction of the first annular portion; and
a first engaging portion provided on an inner peripheral part of the first annular portion; and

an attachment member configured to be bonded to the sprocket member and comprising:
a second annular portion provided radially inwardly of the first annular portion; and
a second engaging portion provided on an outer peripheral part of the second annular portion and configured to engage with the first engaging portion, one of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion including a protrusion, the other of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion including
a groove extending in the circumferential direction, the protrusion being configured to be fitted in the groove,
a first wall part configured to protrude radially from one of the inner peripheral part of the first annular portion and the outer peripheral part of the second annular portion, and
a second wall part configured to protrude radially from the one of the inner peripheral part of the first annular portion and the outer peripheral part of the second annular portion and configured to be spaced apart from the first wall part in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis of the first annular portion, the groove being at least partially defined between the first wall part and the second wall part in the axial direction.

2. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the second engaging portion is configured to be bonded to the first engaging portion with adhesive.

3. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the protrusion is configured to be bonded to the groove with adhesive.

4. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the sprocket member comprises a first material, and
the attachment member comprises a second material different from the first material.

5. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 4 , wherein
the first material comprises a first metallic material, and
the second material comprises a second metallic material different from the first metallic material.

6. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 4 , wherein
the first material has a first density, and
the second material has a second density lower than the first density.

7. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 4 , wherein
the first material comprises iron.

8. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 4 , wherein
the first material comprises titanium.

9. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 4 , wherein
the second material comprises aluminum.

10. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 4 , wherein
the second material comprises a non-metallic material.

11. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 4 , wherein
the second material comprises a fiber reinforced plastic.

12. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the sprocket member has a multi-layered structure with different materials.

13. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the first engaging portion includes a first engaging surface,
the second engaging portion includes a second engaging surface bonded to the first engaging surface with adhesive, and
at least one of the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface is rougher than at least part of a surface other than the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface in the bicycle sprocket.

14. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the sprocket teeth comprise
first teeth arranged in the circumferential direction and having a first maximum chain-engaging thickness defined in the axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis of the first annular portion, and
second teeth alternately arranged with the first teeth in the circumferential direction and having a second maximum chain-engaging thickness defined in the axial direction, and

the second maximum chain-engaging thickness is greater than the first maximum chain-engaging thickness.

15. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the attachment member comprises a crank attachment portion to which a crank arm is to be attached.

16. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the attachment member comprises a hub engaging portion with which a bicycle hub assembly engages.

17. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the first engaging portion includes the protrusion configured to protrude radially inwardly from the first annular portion, and
the second engaging portion includes the groove provided on the outer peripheral part of the second annular portion.

18. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 17 , wherein
the second engaging portion includes
the first wall part configured to protrude radially outwardly from the outer peripheral part of the second annular portion,
the second wall part configured to protrude radially outwardly from the outer peripheral part of the second annular portion and configured to be spaced apart from the first wall part in the axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis of the first annular portion, and
a closed end part provided at a circumferential end of the groove and disposed between the first wall part and the second wall part in the axial direction,

the groove is defined by the first wall part, the second wall part and the closed end part,
the first wall part and the second wall part are configured to position the protrusion relative to the second engaging portion in the axial direction, and
the closed end part is configured to position the protrusion relative to the second engaging portion in the circumferential direction.

19. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 18 , wherein
the second engaging portion includes a recess arranged with the groove,
the recess has a circumferential length greater than a circumferential length of the protrusion, and
the recess is in communication with the groove to introduce the protrusion to the groove.

20. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the protrusion is configured to extend in the groove in the circumferential direction.

21. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the first wall part has a first radial length defined in a radial direction of the bicycle sprocket,
the second wall part has a second radial length defined in the radial direction, and
the first radial length is longer than the second radial length.

22. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the second engaging portion includes a plurality of second wall parts provided as the second wall part, and
each of the plurality of second wall parts protrudes radially outwardly from the outer peripheral part of the second annular portion and is spaced apart from the first wall part in the axial direction.

23. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 22 , wherein
the second engaging portion including a plurality of grooves provided as the groove, and
each of the plurality of grooves extends in the circumferential direction.

24. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 23 , wherein
the plurality of grooves are at least partially defined between the first wall part and the plurality of second wall parts in the axial direction, respective

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Iwai Tooru
• Nonoshita Tetsu
• Yoshida Toyoshi

Classifications

• B62M9/105 Primary

  involving front sprocket chain-wheels engaged by the chain, belt or the like · CPC title

• B62M9/10 Primary

  involving different-sized wheels, {e.g. rear sprocket chain wheels} selectively engaged by the chain, belt, or the like {(bicycle hubs rotatably arranged on axle B60B27/023)} · CPC title