US 11,077,916 B2Granted

Bicycle chain guide assembly

AssigneeShimano Inc.

InventorNaoki Fujimoto

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Abstract

A bicycle chain guide includes a base and a chain guide. The base is configured to be mounted to a bicycle that includes a solitary sprocket having a rotational center axis. The chain guide is disposed above the solitary bicycle sprocket in a mounted state where the base is mounted to the bicycle. The chain guide includes a first guide plate, a second guide plate, and a bridge. The first guide plate has a first guiding surface. The second guide plate is closer to the base than the first guide plate and has a second guiding surface facing the first guiding surface to define a chain guiding slot between the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface. The bridge connects the first guide plate and the second guide plate.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A bicycle chain guide assembly comprising:

a base configured to be mounted to a bicycle, the bicycle including a solitary sprocket having a rotational center axis;
a chain guide disposed above the solitary sprocket in a mounted state where the base is mounted to the bicycle, the chain guide including:
a first guide plate having a first guiding surface and a first lower end;
a second guide plate closer to the base than the first guide plate, the second guide plate having a second guiding surface facing the first guiding surface to define a chain guiding slot between the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface, the second guiding plate having a second lower end;
and
a bridge connecting the first guide plate and the second guide plate;
wherein:
the first guiding surface includes a first part and a second part closer to the bridge than the first part, the second part being inclined relative to the first part as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis such that a distance defined between the second part and the second guiding surface in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis decreases from the first part toward the bridge, and
the first lower end and the second lower end are configured to be positioned towards the rotational center axis in a radial direction of the solitary sprocket so that, in the mounted state:
(i) the first lower end and the second lower end are located radially inwardly in the radial direction with respect to a tip of a tooth of the solitary sprocket, (ii) the first lower end and the second lower end are on respectively opposite sides of the solitary sprocket as viewed from the direction perpendicular to the rotational axis, and (iii) the first lower end overlaps the tip of the tooth of the solitary sprocket as viewed in the axial direction.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/938,699Filed 28 Mar 2018 · continuation in part
Priority: 27 Oct 2017
Published: US 2019/0127023 A12 May 2019
Granted: 3 Aug 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B62M 9/126
Rear derailleurs: chain guides; Mounting thereof
B62M 9/12
Involving different-sized wheels, e.g. rear sprocket chain wheels selectively engaged by the chain, belt, or the like: the chain, belt, or the…
B62M 2009/007
Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like: guides to prevent chain from slipping off the sprocket
B62M
Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles or sledges

Family

Application15/795,761Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Oct 2017
US 2019/0127023 A1Pre-grant publication · published 2 May 2019
US 11,077,916 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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