Bicycle derailleur

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9334018-B2
Application number	US-201414444159-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2014
Priority date	Jul 28, 2014
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

A bicycle derailleur has a base member, a movable member, a first link member and a second link member. The movable member is movable with respect to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position. The first link member includes a first connecting portion pivotally coupled to the movable member about a first pivot axis. The first link member is pivotally coupled to the base member about a second pivot axis. The second link member is pivotally coupled to the movable member about a third pivot axis. The second link member is pivotally coupled to the base member about a fourth pivot axis. The first connecting portion at least partially overlaps with the second link member as viewed in a direction parallel to the first pivot axis in a state in which the movable member is disposed at one of the retracted and extended positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle derailleur comprising:
a base member configured to be attached to a bicycle;
a movable member configured to be movable with respect to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position at which the movable member is farther from the base member than the retracted position;
a first link member including a first connecting portion pivotally coupled to the movable member about a first pivot axis, the first link member being pivotally coupled to the base member about a second pivot axis; and
a second link member pivotally coupled to the movable member about a third pivot axis, the second link member being pivotally coupled to the base member about a fourth pivot axis,
the first connecting portion at least partially overlapping with a part of the second link member extending between the third pivot axis and the fourth pivot axis, as viewed in a direction parallel to the first pivot axis in a state in which the movable member is disposed at one of the retracted position and the extended position.

2. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the first, second, third and fourth pivot axes are configured to be arranged relative to the base member such that the first and third pivot axes in the retracted position are offset from the first and third pivot axes in the extended position in a forward and rear direction with respect to a bicycle.

3. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the first link member is an outer link and the second link member is an inner link.

4. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 3 , wherein
the second link member includes a support projection extending outwardly and a cable attachment structure being disposed on the support projection adjacent the first link member.

5. A bicycle derailleur comprising:
a base member configured to be attached to a bicycle;
a movable member configured to be movable with respect to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position at which the movable member is farther from the base member than the retracted position;
a first link member including a first connecting portion pivotally coupled to the movable member about a first pivot axis first link member being pivotally coupled to the base member about a second pivot axis; and
a second link member pivotally coupled to the movable member about a third pivot axis, the second link member being pivotally coupled to the base member about a fourth pivot axis, the second link member including a second connecting portion that pivotally couples to the base member about the fourth pivot axis,
the first connecting portion at least partially overlapping with the second link member as viewed in a direction parallel to the first pivot axis in a state in which the movable member is disposed at one of the retracted position and the extended position, and the first connecting portion at least partially overlapping with the second connecting portion as viewed in the direction parallel to the first pivot axis in the state in which the movable member is disposed at one of the retracted position and the extended position.

6. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein the second link member includes a space that receives the first connecting portion of the first link member.

7. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 5 , wherein
the second link member includes a space that receives the first connecting portion of the first link member.

8. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 7 , wherein
the second connecting portion includes a first connecting part attached to the base member and a second connecting part attached to the base member, the space being located between the first and second connecting parts.

9. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 8 , wherein
the first connecting part is attached to the base member by a first pivot shaft, and the second connecting part is attached to the base member by a second pivot shaft.

10. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 5 , wherein
the second connecting portion includes a first connecting part attached to the base member and a second connecting part attached to the base member, and the first connecting portion is disposed between the first connecting part and the second connecting part as viewed in a direction perpendicular to the first pivot axis.

11. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the first connecting portion protrudes toward the second link member.

12. A bicycle derailleur comprising:
a base member configured to be attached to a bicycle;
a movable member configured to be movable with respect to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position at which the movable member is farther from the base member than the retracted position;
a first link member including a first connecting portion pivotally coupled to the movable member about a first pivot axis, the first link member being pivotally coupled to the base member about a second pivot axis;
a second link member pivotally coupled to the movable member about a third pivot axis, the second link member being pivotally coupled to the base member about a fourth pivot axis; and
a third link member pivotally coupled to the movable member about a fifth pivot axis, the third link member being pivotally coupled to the base member about a sixth pivot axis,
the first connecting portion at least partially overlapping with the second link member as viewed in a direction parallel to the first pivot axis in a state in which the movable member is disposed at one of the retracted position and the extended position.

13. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 12 , wherein
the third link member is disposed farther from the second link member than the first link member.

14. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 13 , wherein
the third link member has an effective length that is equal to an effective length of the second link member, the effective length of the third link member is measured between the fifth and sixth pivot axes, while the effective length of the second link member is measured between the third and fourth pivot axes.

15. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 13 , wherein
the second link member includes a support projection extending outwardly and a cable attachment structure being disposed on the support projection adjacent the third link member.

16. A bicycle derailleur comprising:
a base member configured to be attached to a bicycle;
a movable member including an inner plate and an outer plate configured to form a. chain guiding slot therebetween, the movable member being configured to be movable with respect to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position at which the movable member is farther from the base member than the retracted position;
a first link member including a first connecting portion pivotally coupled to the movable member about a first pivot axis, the first link member being pivotally coupled to the base member about a second pivot axis; and
a second link member including a third connecting portion pivotally coupled to the movable member about a third pivot axis, the second link member being pivotally coupled to the base member about a fourth pivot axis,
the first pivot axis and the third pivot axis being disposed between the base member and an outer surface of the inner plate, the outer surface of the inner plate facing a direction away from the outer plate, and the first pivot axis and the third pivot axis being disposed offset from the outer surface of the inner pl

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Emura Atsuhiro
• Inoue Kenkichi
• Kuwayama Kazuya

Classifications

• B62M9/135

  Mounting the derailleur on the frame · CPC title

• B62M9/136

  Chain guides; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• B62M9/1342 Primary

  characterised by the linkage mechanisms · CPC title