Bicycle sprocket, bicycle rear sprocket, and bicycle multiple sprocket assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9926038-B2
Application number	US-201514811781-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2015
Priority date	Jul 28, 2015
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body, a plurality of sprocket teeth, and at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance. The sprocket body is configured to be rotatable about a rotational center axis. The plurality of sprocket teeth extend radially outward from an outer periphery of the sprocket body. The at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance is configured to limit axial curvature of a bicycle chain engaging with an independent neighboring bicycle sprocket which is adjacent to the bicycle sprocket without another sprocket between the bicycle sprocket and the independent neighboring bicycle sprocket. The axial curvature is curvature of the bicycle chain relative to the bicycle sprocket when viewed from a radial direction perpendicular to the rotational center axis. The at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance is disposed on at least one of an outward facing side and an inward facing side.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle sprocket having a rotational center axis, an outward facing side facing in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis and an inward facing side facing in the axial direction, the inward facing side being opposite to the outward facing side in the axial direction, the bicycle sprocket comprising:
a sprocket body configured to be rotatable about the rotational center axis;
a plurality of sprocket teeth extending radially outward from an outer periphery of the sprocket body; and
at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance configured to limit axial curvature of a bicycle chain engaging with an independent neighboring bicycle sprocket which is adjacent to the bicycle sprocket without another sprocket between the bicycle sprocket and the independent neighboring bicycle sprocket when the bicycle chain overlaps a central portion of the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance in the axial direction, the axial curvature being curvature of the bicycle chain relative to the bicycle sprocket when viewed from a radial direction perpendicular to the rotational center axis, the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance being disposed on at least one of the outward facing side and the inward facing side.

2. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance is intermittently disposed on at least one of the outward facing side and the inward facing side in a circumferential direction with respect to the rotational center axis.

3. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance is disposed on the outward facing side.

4. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance is disposed on the inward facing side.

5. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance includes at least one first chain-curvature limiting protuberance and at least one second chain-curvature limiting protuberance,
the at least one first chain-curvature limiting protuberance is disposed on the outward facing side, and
the at least one second chain-curvature limiting protuberance is disposed on the inward facing side.

6. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 5 , further comprising:
at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance configured to limit the axial curvature of the bicycle chain engaging with the bicycle sprocket, wherein
the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance is disposed on at least one of the outward facing side and the inward facing side.

7. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 6 , wherein
one of the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance is provided on one of the outward facing side and the inward facing side with axial press working from the other of the outward facing side and the inward facing side toward the one of the outward facing side and the inward facing side, and
another of the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance is a separate member from at least one of the sprocket body and the plurality of sprocket teeth and is attached to the other of the outward facing side and the inward facing side.

8. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance configured to limit the axial curvature of the bicycle chain engaging with the bicycle sprocket, wherein
the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance is disposed on at least one of the outward facing side and the inward facing side.

9. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 8 , wherein
the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance is disposed on the inward facing side.

10. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 9 , wherein
the axial thickness of the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance is in a range of 0.20 mm to 0.30 mm.

11. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 10 , wherein
the axial thickness of the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance is 0.25 mm.

12. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 9 , wherein
the axial thickness of the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance is smaller than the axial thickness of the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance.

13. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 8 , wherein
the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance is disposed radially outwardly of the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance.

14. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 8 , wherein
the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance is provided on one of the outward facing side and the inward facing side with axial press working from the other of the outward facing side and the inward facing side toward the one of the outward facing side and the inward facing side.

15. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 8 , wherein
the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance is a separate member from at least one of the sprocket body and the plurality of sprocket teeth and is attached to the at least one of the outward facing side and the inward facing side.

16. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 15 , wherein
the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance includes a metallic material.

17. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 16 , wherein
the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance is attached to the at least one of the outward facing side and the inward facing side via one of adhesive, diffusion bonding, and swaging.

18. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 15 , wherein
the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance includes a non-metallic material.

19. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 18 , wherein
the at least one independent chain-curvature limiting protuberance is attached to the at least one of the outward facing side and the inward facing side via one of adhesive and integral molding.

20. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
an axial thickness of the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance is in a range of 0.10 mm to 0.15 mm.

21. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 20 , wherein
the axial thickness of the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance is 0.14 mm.

22. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance is a separate member from at least one of the sprocket body and the plurality of sprocket teeth and is attached to the at least one of the outward facing side and the inward facing side.

23. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 22 , wherein
the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance includes a metallic material.

24. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 23 , wherein
the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance is attached to the at least one of the outward facing side and the inward facing side via one of adhesive, diffusion bonding, and swaging.

25. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 22 , wherein
the at least one chain-curvature limiting protuberance includes a non-metallic material.

26. The bicycle sprocket according to claim 25 , wherein

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Fukunaga Yasufumi
• Fukumori Tsuyoshi
• Tokuyama Koji
• Yamaguchi Sota
• Oishi Toshinari

Classifications

• F16H55/303 Primary

  for round linked chains, i.e. hoisting chains with identical links · 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