Shifting bicycle chain having uniform offset chain links, and chain wheel assembly cooperating therewith

A bicycle drive assembly comprising, as chain wheel assemblies:

• a chainring assembly;
• a bicycle pinion assembly arranged at a distance therefrom, wherein the chainring assembly and the bicycle pinion assembly are each rotatable about mutually parallel assembly axes;
• and
• a bicycle chain that runs in a closed manner about the assembly axes and, in order to transmit torque from the chainring assembly to the bicycle pinion assembly, is in form-fitting engagement with each of these chain wheel assemblies, wherein the bicycle chain comprises a plurality of chain links that follow one another along a virtual longitudinal chain path, wherein chain links that immediately follow one another along the longitudinal chain path are pivotable relative to one another about mutually parallel virtual pivot axes, wherein the pivot axes extend along a virtual transverse chain axis oriented transversely to the longitudinal chain path, wherein the two pivot axes of a chain link that are spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal chain path define a virtual reference plane, containing the pivot axes, for the chain link, wherein each chain link has two flat chain plates that are formed separately from one another and are located opposite one another along the transverse chain axis, wherein the chain plates have their greatest dimensions along the longitudinal chain path and along a vertical chain axis that extends both transversely to the longitudinal chain path and transversely to the transverse chain axis, wherein the chain plates are formed and arranged in an offset manner along the longitudinal chain path such that each chain link has a wider longitudinal end, along the transverse chain axis, with a larger link width and a narrower longitudinal end, opposite the wider longitudinal end along the longitudinal chain path, with a smaller link width, wherein a chain roller is accommodated between the chain plates in a narrower longitudinal end region located closer to the narrower longitudinal end than to the wider longitudinal end, wherein, for chain links that follow one another along the longitudinal chain path, it is the case that in each case a narrower longitudinal end region of a chain link projects into a wider longitudinal end region, located closer to the wider longitudinal end than to the narrower longitudinal end, of a chain link that is immediately adjacent along the longitudinal chain path, such that the bicycle chain has chain rollers following one another along the longitudinal chain path that are arranged between chain plates of one and the same chain link once in the narrower longitudinal end region thereof and once more in the wider longitudinal end region thereof such that the chain plates of a chain link, together with the two chain rollers arranged between them, enclose a tooth engagement space for the engagement of a tooth of a chain wheel assembly, wherein the bicycle chain is configured for shifting between two coaxial chain wheels that are adjacent along the transverse chain axis;
• and
• wherein at least one chain wheel assembly from the chainring assembly and the bicycle pinion assembly has, as a shifting chain wheel assembly, at least two coaxial chain wheels with different numbers of chain wheel teeth, wherein the bicycle drive assembly has a derailleur which is displaceable at least also along the parallel assembly axes, has the bicycle chain passing through it, and is designed, by being displaced along the assembly axis of the shifting chain wheel assembly, to shift the bicycle chain from one of the at least two coaxial chain wheels, with which the bicycle chain is engaged, onto at least another of the at least two coaxial chain wheels, in order to bring the other chain wheel into engagement with the bicycle chain, wherein the tooth engagement space, which is enclosed by the chain plates of a chain link along the transverse chain axis and by the two chain rollers, arranged between the chain plates of the chain link, along the longitudinal chain path, has a trapezoidal cross section in the reference plane as section plane.

A bicycle chain comprising:

• a plurality of chain links that follow one another along a virtual longitudinal chain path, wherein chain links that immediately follow one another along the longitudinal chain path are pivotable relative to one another about mutually parallel virtual pivot axes,
• wherein the pivot axes extend along a virtual transverse chain axis oriented transversely to the longitudinal chain path,
• wherein the two pivot axes of a chain link that are spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal chain path define a virtual reference plane, containing the pivot axes, for the chain link,
• wherein each chain link has two flat chain plates that are formed separately from one another and are located opposite one another along the transverse chain axis,
• wherein the chain plates have their greatest dimensions along the longitudinal chain path and along a vertical chain axis that extends both transversely to the longitudinal chain path and transversely to the transverse chain axis,
• wherein the chain plates are formed and arranged in an offset manner along the longitudinal chain path such that each chain link has a wider longitudinal end, along the transverse chain axis, with a larger link width and a narrower longitudinal end, opposite the wider longitudinal end along the longitudinal chain path, with a smaller link width,
• wherein a chain roller is accommodated between the chain plates in a narrower longitudinal end region located closer to the narrower longitudinal end than to the wider longitudinal end,
• wherein, for chain links that follow one another along the longitudinal chain path, it is the case that in each case a narrower longitudinal end region of a chain link projects into a wider longitudinal end region, located closer to the wider longitudinal end than to the narrower longitudinal end, of a chain link that is immediately adjacent along the longitudinal chain path, such that the bicycle chain has chain rollers following one another along the longitudinal chain path that are arranged between chain plates of one and the same chain link once in the narrower longitudinal end region thereof and once more in the wider longitudinal end region thereof such that the chain plates of a chain link, together with the two chain rollers arranged between them, enclose a tooth engagement space for the engagement of a tooth of a chain wheel assembly,
• wherein the bicycle chain is configured for shifting between two coaxial chain wheels that are adjacent along the transverse chain axis,
• wherein each chain plate includes a rectilinear upper longitudinal edge and a convex lower longitudinal edge, the convex lower longitudinal edge being opposite the rectilinear upper longitudinal edge.