Bicycle front derailleur

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9555857-B2
Application number	US-201414296135-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2014
Priority date	Jun 4, 2014
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

A bicycle front derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a movable member, an electric driving unit and a biasing member. The base member includes a bicycle mounting portion. The movable member is movably supported with respect to the base member between a first position and a second position that is farther than the first position from the base member. The electric driving unit is operatively coupled to the movable member to move the movable member between the first position and the second position. The biasing member is operatively disposed between the base member and the movable member to bias the movable member towards the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle front derailleur comprising:
a base member including a bicycle mounting portion;
a movable member movably supported with respect to the base member between a first position and a second position that is farther than the first position from the base member;
an electric driving unit operatively coupled to the movable member to move the movable member between the first position and the second position; and
a biasing member operatively disposed between the base member and the movable member to bias the movable member towards the second position.

2. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 1 , further comprises
a connecting structure movably connecting the movable member to the base member, and the electric driving unit having an output shaft linked to the connecting structure.

3. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 2 , wherein
the biasing member includes a torsion spring that has a first end applying a biasing force against the movable member, a second end applying a biasing force against the connecting structure, and a coiled portion disposed between the first and second ends.

4. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 3 , wherein
the connecting structure further includes a first support link and a second support link, the first and second support links have first ends pivotally attached to the base member and second ends pivotally mounted to the movable member to define a four-bar linkage.

5. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 4 , wherein
the coiled portion of the torsion spring is disposed on a pivot axis of the four-bar linkage.

6. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 4 , wherein
the first end of the torsion spring contacts the second support link and the second end of the torsion spring contacts a first guide plate of the movable member.

7. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 6 , wherein
the biasing member further includes a support member mounted on the connecting structure between the first and second ends of the torsion spring, the coiled portion of the torsion spring being disposed on the support member.

8. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 7 , wherein
the support member is coaxially arranged about a pivot pin of the second support link of the base member.

9. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 3 , wherein
the biasing member further includes a support member mounted on the connecting structure between the first and second ends of the torsion spring, the coiled portion of the torsion spring being disposed on the support member.

10. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 2 , wherein
the connecting structure further includes a first support link and a second support link, the first and second support links have first ends pivotally attached to the base member and second ends pivotally mounted to the movable member to define a four-bar linkage.

11. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the movable member includes a chain guide having a first guide plate having a first inner surface and a second guide plate having a second inner surface, the first and second inner surfaces facing each other to form lateral sides of a chain receiving slot therebetween.

12. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 11 , wherein
the biasing member includes a torsion spring that has a first end applying a biasing force against the first guide plate, a second end applying a biasing force against a connecting structure that movably connects the movable member to the base member, and a coiled portion disposed between the first and second ends.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Kuwayama Kazuya
• Emura Atsuhiro

Classifications

• B62M9/132 Primary

  electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof · CPC title

• B62M9/135

  Mounting the derailleur on the frame · CPC title