Front derailleur

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9776685-B2
Application number	US-201414154616-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 14, 2014
Priority date	Nov 24, 2011
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A front derailleur basically includes a fixed member, a movable member, a driven link and a first link. The fixing member is configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame. The movable member is movably supported with respect to the fixed member. The driven link is operatively coupled to the movable member. The first link movably connects the movable member to the fixed member, and is adjustably coupled to the driven link in a fixed position by a fixing structure to establish a fixed rest position of the movable member with respect to the fixed member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A front derailleur comprising:
a fixed member configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame;
a movable member movably supported with respect to the fixed member;
a driven link operatively coupled to the movable member; and
a first link movably connecting the movable member to the fixed member and adjustably coupled to the driven link in a fixed position by a fixing structure to establish a fixed rest position of the movable member with respect to the fixed member, the fixing structure adjustably connecting the first link and the driven link together to establish a fixed position of the first link with respect to the driven link as the movable member moves with respect to the fixed member.

2. The front derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the first link and the driven link are pivotally mounted on the fixed member about a single pivot axis.

3. The front derailleur according to claim 2 , wherein
the fixing structure abuts opposite circumferentially facing sides of the driven link with respect to the pivot axis to establish the fixed rest position of the movable member.

4. The front derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the fixing structure includes a first bolt screwed into one of the first link and the driven link and abutting the other of the first link and the driven link, and a second bolt mounted on the one of the first link and the driven link and threaded into a movable abutment member that moves axially along a threaded shaft of the second bolt and that abuts the other of the first link and the driven link as the second bolt is turned about a screwing axis of the second bolt.

5. The front derailleur according to claim 4 , wherein
the first bolt is screwed into the first link and abuts the driven link, and the second bolt is mounted on the first link and the movable abutment member abuts the driven link.

6. The front derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the fixing structure includes a positioning member inserted into the first link and the driven link so as to adjustably position the first link relative to the driven link.

7. The front derailleur according to claim 6 , wherein
the first link and the driven link are pivotally mounted on the fixed member about a single pivot axis, and
the positioning member adjustably positions the first link relative to the driven link around the single pivot axis.

8. The front derailleur according to claim 7 , wherein
one of the first link and the driven link includes a threaded screw bore and the other of the first link and the driven link includes a receiving portion, and
the positioning member includes a threaded portion screwed into the threaded screw bore, and a shaft portion disposed in the receiving portion.

9. The front derailleur according to claim 8 , wherein
the receiving portion is an elongated slot extending along inward and outward direction with respect to a bicycle frame when the fixed member is fixed to the bicycle frame.

10. The front derailleur according to claim 9 , wherein
the shaft portion has a center axis that is offset from a center axis of the threaded portion.

11. The front derailleur according to claim 8 , wherein
the first link and the driven link that includes the receiving portion further includes at least one additional receiving portion, the receiving portions being arranged in inward and outward direction with respect to a bicycle frame when the fixed member is fixed to the bicycle frame, and
the shaft portion is configured to be selectively disposed into one of the receiving portions.

12. The front derailleur according to claim 8 , wherein
the fixing structure includes a fastening member configured to fasten the threaded portion to prevent the threaded portion from being loosened with respect to the threaded screw bore.

13. The front derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the fixed member includes a base member and a motor unit, the motor unit having an output shaft operatively coupled to the driven link.

14. The front derailleur according to claim 1 , further comprising
a second link movably connecting the movable member to the fixed member.

15. The front derailleur according to claim 14 , wherein
the first and second links are pivotally connected to the fixed member and the movable member, and the movable member includes a chain cage portion.

16. The front derailleur according to claim 15 , wherein
the first link is disposed between the chain cage portion and the second link.

17. The front derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the fixing structure includes a first bolt screwed into one of the first link and the driven link and abutting the other of the first link and the driven link.

18. A front derailleur comprising:
a fixed member configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame;
a movable member movably supported with respect to the fixed member;
a driven link operatively coupled to the movable member;
a first link movably connecting the movable member to the fixed member and adjustably coupled to the driven link in a fixed position by a fixing structure to establish a fixed rest position of the movable member with respect to the fixed member,
the fixing structure including a first bolt screwed into one of the first link and the driven link and abutting the other of the first link and the driven link, and a second bolt mounted on the one of the first link and the driven link and threaded into a movable abutment member that moves axially along a threaded shaft of the second bolt and that abuts the other of the first link and the driven link as the second bolt is turned about a screwing axis of the second bolt,
the other of the first link and the driven link including a first inclined contact surface that inclines with respect to the screwing axis, and the movable abutment member including a second inclined contact surface that inclines with respect to the screwing axis so as to face and contact the first inclined contact surface to prevent movement of the other of the first link and the driven link.

19. A front derailleur comprising:
a fixed member configured to be fixed to a bicycle frame;
a movable member movably supported with respect to the fixed member;
a driven link operatively coupled to the movable member;
a first link movably connecting the movable member to the fixed member and adjustably coupled to the driven link in a fixed position by a fixing structure to establish a fixed rest position of the movable member with respect to the fixed member,
the fixing structure including a first bolt screwed into one of the first link and the driven link and abutting the other of the first link and the driven link, and a second bolt mounted on the one of the first link and the driven link and threaded into a movable abutment member that moves axially along a threaded shaft of the second bolt and that abuts the other of the first link and the driven link as the second bolt is turned about a screwing axis of the second bolt, the first bolt is screwed into the first link and abuts the driven link, and the second bolt is mounted on the first link and the movable abutment member abuts the driven link,
the driven link including a first inclined contact surface that inclines with respect to the screwing axis, and the movable abutment member including a second inclined contact surface that inclines with respect to the screwing axis so as to face and contact the first inclined contact surface to prevent movement of the driven link.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Tachibana Hiroshi
• Mizutani Yuuta
• Nishi Keijiro
• Kuwayama Kazuya
• Emura Atsuhiro
• Inoue Kenkichi

Classifications

• B62M3/00 Primary

  Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot · CPC title

• B62M9/132 Primary

  electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof · CPC title

• B62M9/134 Primary

  Mechanisms for shifting laterally · CPC title