Multiple speed hub for a bicycle and like vehicle

In a multiple speed vehicle hub including a driver member, a hub shell, and transmission means in said hub shell for rotating said hub shell at a plurality of alternative speeds when said driver member is rotated at a predetermined speed, the improvement in said transmission means which comprises:

• a. first, second, and third transmission members mounted for rotation about a common axis and carrying respective first, second, and third coupling elements;
• b. motion transmitting means connecting said second and third members for simultaneous rotation about said common axis at different speeds in axially spaced relationship,
• (1) each of said elements having a circumferentially directed engagement face;
• c. shifting means for axially shifting said first member between two terminal positions in which the engagement face of said first element circumferentially abuts against the engagement faces of said second element and of said third element respectively during said rotation;
• d. yieldably resilient means axially biasing one of said second and third members toward a normal relative position of said one member adjacent the other one of said second and third members,
• 1. the axial spacing of said second and third elements in said normal position of said second and third members being smaller than the axial length of said first element;
• and
• e. cam means on said first element and on said second element cooperating for axially moving said first member into one of said terminal positions thereof in response to relative angular displacement of said first and second members while said first member is in an axial position spacedly intermediate said terminal positions thereof.