# US 10,864,964 B2 · Bicycle sprocket assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,964 B2 - Document ID: US10864964B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/118,474 - Filed: 2018-08-31 - Published: 2020-03-05 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-31 - Applicants: Shimano Inc. - Inventors: Toru Iwai; Tetsu Nonoshita; Toyoshi Yoshida - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864964B2 ## CPC - B62M 9/10: 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)} - B62M 9/105: {involving front sprocket chain-wheels engaged by the chain, belt or the like} - B62M 9/12: the chain, belt, or the like being laterally shiftable {, e.g. using a rear derailleur} - F16H 55/30: Chain-wheels - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A bicycle rear sprocket assembly 28 comprises a sprocket carrier 31, at least one metallic support 33, and at least one rear sprocket 28a-28h. The sprocket carrier 31 is made of a non-metallic material. The at least one metallic support 33 is attached to at least one of a first circumferentially facing surface 41 and a second circumferentially facing surface 43 of at least one mounting arm 39 of the sprocket carrier 31. The at least one rear sprocket 28a-28h is made of a metallic material. A sprocket body 51 of the at least one rear sprocket 28a-28h is attached to the at least one metallic support 33. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bicycle sprocket assembly comprising: a sprocket carrier made of a non-metallic material, the sprocket carrier including a central base and at least one mounting arm extending radially outwardly from the central base with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle sprocket assembly, the at least one mounting arm having a first circumferentially facing surface and a second circumferentially facing surface opposite to the first circumferentially facing surface in a circumferential direction with respect to the rotational center axis; at least one metallic support attached to at least one of the first circumferentially facing surface and the second circumferentially facing surface of the at least one mounting arm; and at least one sprocket made of a metallic material, the at least one sprocket including a sprocket body and a plurality of sprocket teeth extending radially outwardly from the sprocket body with respect to the rotational center axis, the sprocket body being attached to the at least one metallic support. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first circumferentially facing surface of the at least one mounting arm faces a reverse direction of a rotational driving direction of the sprocket assembly; the at least one metallic support is attached to the first circumferentially facing surface of the at least one mounting arm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 2, wherein the second circumferentially facing surface of the at least one mounting arm is free of a metallic support. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting arm includes a plurality of mounting arms; the at least one metallic support includes a plurality of metallic supports; and each of the plurality of metallic supports is attached to each of the plurality of mounting arms. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of mounting arms are spaced apart from each other at even intervals in the circumferential direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sprocket includes a plurality of sprockets. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of sprockets include at least one first sprocket made of a first sprocket material and at least one second sprocket made of a second sprocket material that is different from the first metallic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metallic support includes at least one first metallic support made of a first support material and at least one second metallic support made of a second support material that is different from the first support material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 8, wherein the at least one first metallic support is adjacent to the least one second metallic support in an axial direction with respect to the rotational center axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of sprockets include at least one first sprocket made of a first sprocket material and at least one second sprocket made of a second sprocket material that is different from the first metallic material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first sprocket material is identical with the first support material; and the second sprocket material is identical with the second support material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 11, wherein the first sprocket material and the first support material include titanium; and, the second sprocket material and the second support material include iron. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sprocket is indirectly attached to the sprocket carrier through the at least one metallic support. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sprocket has an inner periphery defining a sprocket opening; the at least one sprocket includes at least one radial protrusion extending radially inwardly from the inner periphery with respect to the rotational center axis; the at least one radial protrusion is attached to the at least one metallic support. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 14, wherein the at least one radial protrusion includes a plurality of radial protrusions spaced apart from each other at even intervals in the circumferential direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first circumferentially facing surface and the second circumferentially facing surface of the at least one mounting arm has at least one attachment recess; the at least one metallic support is disposed in the at least one attachment recess. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting arm has an internal cavity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the central base of the sprocket carrier has a hub engagement profile. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sprocket carrier is made of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sprocket body is attached to the at least one metallic support by one of laser welding, adhesive and diffusion bonding.