Bicycle sprocket and bicycle crank assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9701364-B2
Application number	US-201314053630-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2013
Priority date	May 17, 2013
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

A first sprocket is capable of engaging with a chain. The first sprocket has a first sprocket main body, a plurality of teeth disposed along a circumferential direction on the radially outer side of the first sprocket main body, and at least one shifting area. The teeth include at least one first tooth having a first maximum axial width and at least one second tooth having a second maximum axial width. The first maximum axial width is greater than the second maximum axial width. The first tooth is formed to be capable of engaging with an outer link plate of the chain. The second tooth is formed to be capable of engaging with an inner link plate of the chain.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle sprocket for engaging with a chain and having a rotational center axis, a first surface facing a sprocket attachment part of a crank arm when the bicycle sprocket is installed in a bicycle crank assembly and a second surface opposite the first surface in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis, the bicycle sprocket comprising:
a sprocket main body;
a plurality of teeth disposed along a circumferential direction on a radially outer side of the sprocket main body; and
at least one shifting area, the shifting area including a downshifting tooth for downshifting wherein the chain moves from the bicycle sprocket to a smaller sprocket and an upshifting tooth for upshifting wherein the chain moves from the smaller sprocket to the bicycle sprocket, the downshifting tooth including a guide surface formed as a recess on the first surface,
the plurality of teeth including at least one first tooth having a first maximum axial width for engaging with an outer link plate of the chain and at least one second tooth having a second maximum axial width for engaging with an inner link plate of the chain, the first maximum axial width being greater than the second maximum axial width.

2. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of teeth include a plurality of the first teeth.

3. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of teeth include a plurality of the second teeth.

4. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of teeth include a plurality of the first teeth and a plurality of the second teeth.

5. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 4 , wherein
at least some of the plurality of first teeth and the plurality of second teeth are disposed alternately in the circumferential direction.

6. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the first teeth and the second teeth are disposed adjacent to each other.

7. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the first teeth are formed into a + shape as seen from the radially outer side.

8. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the first teeth are formed into a T shape as seen from the radially outer side.

9. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the first maximum axial width of the first teeth is in a range of 2.5 mm or greater and 5.4 mm or less.

10. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 9 , wherein
the first maximum axial width of the first teeth is in a range of 3.0 mm or greater.

11. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the second maximum axial width of the second teeth is in a range of 1.5 mm or greater and 2.3 mm or less.

12. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the downshifting tooth and the upshifting tooth are provided to at least one of any of the plurality of teeth.

13. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 12 , wherein
the downshifting the and the upshifting tooth have guide surfaces for guiding the chain.

14. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 12 , wherein
the at least one shifting area includes at least one protuberance that is configured to support the chain.

15. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one shifting area includes at least one protuberance at is configured to support the chain.

16. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 14 , wherein
the at least one shifting area includes a concave part that is disposed farther inward in a radial direction than a base portion of the plurality of teeth.

17. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 15 , wherein
the at least one protuberance includes a first protuberance and a second protuberance that are configured to support the chain.

18. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 17 , wherein
a distance between the first protuberance and the second protuberance is longer than a longitudinal length of at least one of the outer and inner links of the chain.

19. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 17 , wherein
a distance between the first protuberance and the second protuberance is either equal to or shorter than a longitudinal length of at least one of the outer and inner links of the chain.

20. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one shifting area includes a concave part that is disposed farther inward in a radial direction than a base portion of the plurality of teeth.

21. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one shifting area includes a plurality of the shifting areas.

22. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 21 , wherein
the at least one shifting area includes at least a pair of the shifting areas.

23. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the bicycle sprocket being a front sprocket.

24. A bicycle crank assembly comprising:
a crank arm; and
a plurality of sprockets having a rotational center axis, the plurality of sprockets being attached to one side of the crank arm,
the plurality of sprockets including a first sprocket,
the first sprocket including a first sprocket main body and a plurality of teeth disposed at intervals in the circumferential direction on a radially outer side of the first sprocket main body, the first sprocket having a first surface facing the one side of the crank arm and a second surface opposite the first surface in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis, the first sprocket having at least one first shifting area, the at least one first shifting area including a downshifting tooth for downshifting wherein the chain moves from the first sprocket to a smaller sprocket and a upshifting tooth for upshifting wherein the chain moves from the smaller sprocket to the first sprocket, the downshifting tooth including a guide surface formed as a recess on the first surface, the smaller sprocket being a sprocket that is smaller than the first sprocket and arranged adjacent the first sprocket,
the plurality of teeth including:
at least one first tooth having a first maximum axial width for engaging with an outer link plate of the chain; and
at least one second tooth having a second maximum axial width for engaging with an inner link plate of the chain;
the first maximum axial width being greater than the second maximum axial width.

25. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 24 , wherein
the plurality of sprockets further include a second sprocket different from the first sprocket and having a different number of teeth than the first sprocket;
the second sprocket has a second sprocket main body and a plurality of teeth disposed at intervals in the circumferential direction on a radially outer side of the second sprocket main body;
the plurality of teeth including:
at least one third tooth haying a third maximum axial width for engaging with the outer link plate of the chain; and
at least one fourth tooth having a fourth maximum axial width for engaging with the inner link plate of the chain;
the third maximum axial width is greater than the fourth maximum axial width.

26. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 25 , wherein
the plurality of sprockets further include a third sprocket different from the first and second sprockets and having a different number of teeth than the first sprocket and the second sprocket;
the third sprocket has a third sprocket main body and a plurality of

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Sugimoto Akinobu
• Hirose Yuki

Classifications

• Y10T74/2165

  with attached gear · CPC title

• F16H55/30

  Chain-wheels · CPC title

• 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

• B62M1/36

  with rotary cranks, e.g. with pedal cranks (B62M1/34 takes precedence; combined with reciprocating levers B62M1/26; cranks which can be immobilised as foot rests B62M5/00) · CPC title