Bicycle crank arm and bicycle crank assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9475545-B2
Application number	US-201213728294-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2012
Priority date	Dec 27, 2012
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

A bicycle crank arm includes a first member and a second member. The first member has a crank axle interacting portion and a first recessed part around the crank axle interacting portion. The second member is attached to the first member. The first member has a first side facing the second member and a second side opposite to the first side. The first recessed part is recessed from the second side toward the first side such that the first recessed part includes an attachment area attached to the second member on the first side.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle crank arm comprising:
a first member having a crank axle interacting portion including a crank axle receiving portion configured to receive a crank axle, a pedal axle interacting portion configured to receive a pedal axle, and a first recessed part around the crank axle receiving portion, the first member being formed as a one-piece unitary member; and
a second member directly attached to the first member continuously around the crank axle receiving portion to define an attachment area between the first and second members, the second member being formed as a one-piece unitary member,
the first member having a first side facing the second member and a second side opposite to the first side, the first side being an internal surface of the bicycle crank arm, the second side being an external surface of the bicycle crank arm, the first recessed part defining a recess of the second side, the first recessed part defining the attachment area on the first side of the first member that is attached to the second member.

2. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 , wherein
the first and second members are fixedly coupled to each other with an adhesive.

3. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 , wherein
the crank axle interacting portion of the first member is configured to be fixedly coupled to the crank axle in a press-fit manner.

4. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 , wherein
the crank axle interacting portion of the first member is configured to be fixedly coupled to the crank axle with an adhesive.

5. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 , wherein
the first member further has a sprocket interacting portion and a slot that is disposed between the crank axle interacting portion and the sprocket interacting portion.

6. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 , wherein
the first member has a first side wall, and
the second member has a second side wall.

7. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 6 , wherein
the first side wall overlaps with the second side wall while the first member is attached to the second member.

8. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 , wherein
the first member further has a second recessed part that is disposed between the crank axle interacting portion and the pedal axle interacting portion.

9. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 8 , wherein
the second recessed part is recessed from the first side toward the second side such that the first and second members define an interior space therebetween while the first and second members are attached to each other.

10. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 1 , wherein
the crank axle includes a first end portion with a plurality of first splines, a second end portion with a plurality of second splines, and an intermediate portion that is disposed between the first and second end portions.

11. The bicycle crank arm according to claim 10 , wherein
the crank axle further includes a projection that is positioned axially outward relative to the first splines at the first end portion,
the first splines extend radially outward relative to an external surface of the intermediate portion, and
the second splines do not extend radially outward relative to the external surface of the intermediate portion.

12. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising
a second crank arm that is a one-piece, forged member.

13. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 12 , wherein
the first and second members are fixedly coupled to each other with an adhesive.

14. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 12 , wherein
the second crank arm has a hollow structure.

15. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising
a crank axle fixedly coupled to the first crank arm in a pre-assembled state.

16. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the crank axle is fixedly coupled to the first crank arm in a press-fit manner.

17. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the crank axle is fixedly coupled to the first crank arm with an adhesive.

18. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the second crank arm a cold forged member.

19. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 15 , wherein
the crank axle includes a first end portion with a plurality of first splines, a second end portion with a plurality of second splines, and an intermediate portion that is disposed between the first and second end portions.

20. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 19 , wherein
the crank axle further includes a projection that is positioned axially outward relative to the first splines at the first end portion,
the first splines extend radially outward relative to an external surface of the intermediate portion, and
the second splines do not extend radially outward relative to the external surface of the intermediate portion.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Yamanaka Masahiro
• Nishimoto Yusuke
• Nonoshita Tetsu
• Watanabe Yuki

Classifications

• B62M3/00 Primary

  Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot · CPC title

• Y10T74/2164

  Cranks and pedals · CPC title