Rotatable annular bicycle component and bicycle rear sprocket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9415835-B2
Application number	US-201414163093-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2014
Priority date	Jan 24, 2014
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

A rotatable annular bicycle component comprises an outer annular member, an intermediate supporting member, and a hub engaging member. The outer annular member comprises a first material. The outer annular member is attached to the intermediate supporting member. The intermediate supporting member comprises a second material different from the first material. The hub engaging member is configured to be attached to the intermediate supporting member and is configured to engage with a bicycle hub assembly. The hub engaging member comprises a third material different from the second material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotatable annular bicycle component comprising:
an outer annular member comprising a first material;
an intermediate supporting member to which the outer annular member is attached, the intermediate supporting member comprising a second material different from the first material; and
a hub engaging member configured to be attached to the intermediate supporting member and configured to engage with a bicycle hub assembly, the hub engaging member comprising a third material different from the second material, the hub engaging member including
an inner engaging part configured to engage with the bicycle hub assembly, and
an outer engaging part configured to engage with the intermediate supporting member, the outer engaging part being integrally provided with the inner engaging part as a one-piece unitary member and being at least partly embedded in the intermediate supporting member.

2. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 1 , wherein
the outer annular member includes sprocket teeth configured to engage with a bicycle chain.

3. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 2 , further comprising:
at least one additional outer annular member including sprocket teeth configured to engage with a bicycle chain, wherein
the at least one additional outer annular member is attached to the intermediate supporting member.

4. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 1 , wherein
the hub engaging member includes an annular main-body provided about a rotational center axis of the rotatable annular bicycle component, and
the inner engaging part is provided on an inner peripheral part of the annular main-body and includes a first concavo-convex structure configured to engage with a concavo-convex structure of the bicycle hub assembly.

5. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 4 , wherein
the outer engaging part is provided on an outer peripheral part of the annular main-body and includes a second concavo-convex structure configured to engage with the intermediate supporting member.

6. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 5 , wherein
the intermediate supporting member includes a third concavo-convex structure configured to engage with the second concavo-convex structure of the hub engaging member.

7. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 1 , wherein
the first material comprises a metallic material,
the second material comprises a non-metallic material, and
the third material comprises a metallic material.

8. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 1 , wherein
the second material comprises a resin material.

9. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 1 , wherein
the second material comprises fiber reinforced plastic.

10. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 1 , wherein
the third material comprises one of aluminum, iron and titanium.

11. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 1 , wherein
the first material comprises one of iron and titanium.

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

13. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 12 , wherein
the outer annular member includes
a first sprocket layer comprising the first material,
a second sprocket layer comprising a fourth material, and
a third sprocket layer comprising a fifth material and provided between the first sprocket layer and the second sprocket layer,

the first material comprises a metallic material,
the fourth material comprises a metallic material, and
the fifth material comprises a non-metallic material.

14. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 13 , wherein
the fifth material comprises a resin material.

15. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 14 , wherein
the second material and the fifth material comprise the resin material, and
the first sprocket layer, the second sprocket layer and the third sprocket layer are integrally formed with the intermediate supporting member.

16. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 15 , wherein
the first sprocket layer, the second sprocket layer and the third sprocket layer are integrally formed with the intermediate supporting member by an integral molding process.

17. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 13 , further comprising:
an additional outer annular member including sprocket teeth configured to engage with a bicycle chain, wherein
the additional outer annular member has a multi-layered structure with different materials and includes
a fourth sprocket layer comprising a metallic material,
a fifth sprocket layer comprising a metallic material and
a sixth sprocket layer comprising a non-metallic material and provided between the fourth sprocket layer and the fifth sprocket layer, and

the fourth sprocket layer is joined to the first sprocket layer by defused joining.

18. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 12 , wherein
the outer annular member includes
a first sprocket layer comprising the first material,
a second sprocket layer comprising a fourth material, and
a third sprocket layer comprising a fifth material and provided between the first sprocket layer and the second sprocket layer,

the first sprocket layer is bonded to the third sprocket layer with adhesive, and
the second sprocket layer is bonded to the third sprocket layer with adhesive.

19. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 12 , wherein
the outer annular member includes
a first sprocket layer comprising the first material,
a second sprocket layer comprising a fourth material, and
a third sprocket layer comprising a fifth material and provided between the first sprocket layer and the second sprocket layer,

each of the first material, the fourth material and the fifth material comprise a metallic material,
the first sprocket layer is joined to the third sprocket layer by defused joining, and
the second sprocket layer is joined to the third sprocket layer by defused joining.

20. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 1 , wherein
the intermediate supporting member includes a weight-saving opening.

21. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 1 , wherein
the intermediate supporting member includes an annular base portion having an opening, and
the hub engaging member is provided in the opening of the annular base portion.

22. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 21 , wherein
the outer engaging part of the hub engaging member is at least partly embedded in an inner peripheral part of the annular base portion.

23. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 22 , wherein
the inner engaging part includes a first concavo-convex structure configured to engage with a concavo-convex structure of the bicycle hub assembly, and
the outer engaging part includes a second concavo-convex structure configured to engage with the inner peripheral part of the annular base portion.

24. The rotatable annular bicycle component according to claim 23 , wherein
the intermediate supporting member includes a third concavo-convex structure configured to engage with the

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Tokuyama Koji
• Okubo Kazunori

Classifications

• B62M9/12 Primary

  the chain, belt, or the like being laterally shiftable {, e.g. using a rear derailleur} · CPC title

• B62M9/121

  Rear derailleurs · CPC title