Electric bicycle rear derailleur

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9963197-B2
Application number	US-201514922731-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2015
Priority date	Oct 26, 2015
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

An electric bicycle rear derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a chain guide, a linkage assembly and a battery bracket. The chain guide is pivotally supported with respect to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position. The linkage assembly operatively couples the chain guide to the base member. The battery bracket is supported as a separate part on the base member. The battery bracket configured to receive a battery.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electric bicycle rear derailleur comprising:
a base member;
a frame mounting structure configured to be attached to a bicycle frame;
a chain guide pivotally supported with respect to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position;
a linkage assembly operatively coupling the chain guide to the base member; and
a battery bracket supported as a separate part on the base member by the frame mounting structure that attaches the battery bracket to the base member and the bicycle frame, the battery bracket configured to receive a battery.

2. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 1 , further comprising
the battery mounted on the battery bracket.

3. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the battery bracket is detachably and reattachably coupled to the base member.

4. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the battery bracket extends from a frame facing side of the base member, and supports the battery at a position with the battery disposed primarily rearward of the base member while the electric bicycle rear derailleur is mounted to a bicycle frame.

5. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 4 , wherein
the battery bracket further supports the battery primarily below the base member while the electric bicycle rear derailleur is mounted to a bicycle frame.

6. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the battery bracket extends from a frame facing side of the base member, and supports the battery at a position with the battery disposed primarily forward of the base member while the electric bicycle rear derailleur is mounted to a bicycle frame.

7. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 6 , wherein
the battery bracket further supports the battery primarily above the base member while the electric bicycle rear derailleur is mounted to a bicycle frame.

8. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 1 , further comprising
a derailleur bracket including a first attachment portion mounted to the base member, and a second attachment portion configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame.

9. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 8 , wherein
the battery bracket is disposed on the second attachment portion of the derailleur bracket.

10. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 8 , wherein
the battery bracket is disposed on the first attachment portion of the derailleur bracket.

11. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the battery bracket extends from a side opposite to a frame facing side of the base member, and supports the battery at a position with the battery disposed primarily rearward of the base member while the electric bicycle rear derailleur is mounted to a bicycle frame.

12. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 11 , wherein
the battery bracket further supports the battery primarily below the base member while the electric bicycle rear derailleur is mounted to a bicycle frame.

13. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 11 , further comprising
a derailleur bracket including a first attachment portion mounted to the base member, and a second attachment portion configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame.

14. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the battery bracket extends from a side opposite to a frame facing side of the base member, and supports the battery at a position with the battery disposed primarily forward of the base member while the electric bicycle rear derailleur is mounted to a bicycle frame.

15. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 14 , wherein
the battery bracket further supports the battery primarily above the base member while the electric bicycle rear derailleur is mounted to a bicycle frame.

16. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 14 , further comprising
a derailleur bracket including a first attachment portion mounted to the base member, and a second attachment portion configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame.

17. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 1 , further comprising
an electric motor unit disposed on the base member.

18. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 17 , wherein
the battery is electrically connected to the electric motor unit by an electrical wire.

19. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 18 , wherein
the electrical wire extends directly between the electric motor unit and the battery bracket.

20. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 18 , wherein
the electrical wire includes a wire terminal that mounted on the battery bracket and the battery includes a plug-in terminal that mates with the wire terminal.

21. The battery bracket according to claim 1 , wherein
the frame mounting structure is a fixing bolt that passes through a first opening in the base member and a second opening in the bicycle frame.

22. A electrical bicycle rear derailleur comprising:
a base member;
a chain guide pivotally supported with respect to the base member between a retracted position and an extended position;
a linkage assembly operatively coupling the chain guide to the base member; and
a battery bracket supported as a separate part on the base member, the battery bracket configured to receive a battery, the battery bracket including
a mounting part configured to be attached to the base member,
a battery receiving part configured to receive the battery, and
an arm part configured to connect the mounting part and the battery receiving part.

23. The electrical bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 22 , wherein
the arm part of the battery bracket is configured to maintain a relative position of the battery receiving part to the mounting part.

24. The electric bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 22 , wherein
the arm part of the battery bracket includes a plurality of ball and socket joint connectors, the arm part configured to flexibly maintain a relative position of the battery receiving part to the mounting part.

25. A battery bracket comprising:
a first mounting portion configured to be detachably and reattachably mounted to one of a bicycle frame and a derailleur bracket; and
a second mounting portion configured to support a battery at a position with the battery disposed primarily rearward of the base member while the base member is mounted to the bicycle frame.

26. The battery bracket according to claim 25 , wherein
the second mounting portion is further configured to support the battery at a position disposed primarily below the base member while the electric bicycle rear derailleur is mounted to the bicycle frame.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Watarai Etsuyoshi
• Komatsu Atsushi
• Kurokawa Yuta
• Sakurai Shingo

Classifications

• B62M9/122 Primary

  electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof · CPC title

• B62M9/1242

  characterised by the linkage mechanisms · CPC title

• B62M9/125

  Mounting the derailleur on the frame · CPC title

• B62J43/30

  for providing power to equipment other than for propulsion · CPC title

• B62J43/20

  characterised by the mounting · CPC title