US 3,965,763 AGranted

Bicycle gear shift

OwnerJoseph W. Wechslerinventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A ten-speed bicycle gear shift includes front and rear derailleurs actuated by a single continuous cable. Movement of the cable through a discrete given distance in one direction increases the gear ratio and movement of the cable through the same discrete given distance in an opposite direction decreases the gear ratio. A rotatable dial is mounted on the handlebar of the bicycle for easy manual turning and includes a cable drum such that turning the dial in one direction through a given circumferential distance moves the cable through the referred to given distance in one direction and turning of the dial in an opposite direction through the same given circumferential distance moves the cable through the given distance in an opposite direction. Gear numbers and a viewing window are included in the dial structure so that the particular gear position can be visually observed. The gear shift is further characterized by cam arrangements for positively positioning the derailleurs in accordance with movement of the cable to selected positions.

Claims5

Dependent claims

In combination with a bicycle having a frame structure mounting handlebars, pedals, and front and rear wheels, an improved gear shift including:

a. a front gear cluster including two gears having N1 and N2 teeth respectively, different in number from each other, coaxially mounted in side-by-side relationship and coupled for rotation by the bicycle pedals;
b. a rear gear cluster including at least two gears having n1 and n2 teeth respectively, different in number from each other, coaxially mounted together in side-by-side relationship and coupled to rotate said rear wheel;
c. a bicycle chain passing over one of the gears in the front gear cluster and one of the gears in the rear gear cluster;
d. a front derailleur means coupled to the bicycle frame structure and to said bicycle chain associated with said front gear cluster;
e. a rear derailleur means coupled to the bicycle frame structure and to said bicycle chain associated with said rear gear cluster;
f. a dial means including a drum mounted on the bicycle for manual rotation by a bicycle rider;
and
g. a single continuous actuating cable passing from said drum through the front and rear derailleur means in series and back to said drum such that partial rotation of said drum through a given circumferential distance moves said cable a given distance, said front derailleur means functioning in response to each movement of said cable through said given distance to shift said chain from one of the two gears in said front gear cluster to the other, and said rear derailleur means functioning in response to movement of said cable through twice said given distance to shift said chain from one of the gears in said rear gear cluster to the next adjacent gear, said rear derailleur means thus only effecting a shift once for every two partial rotations of said drum in the same direction through said given circumferential distance.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/580,928Filed 27 May 1975 · continuation in part
Priority: 17 Jun 1974
Granted: 29 Jun 1976
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B62M 9/1246
Limiting or positioning the movement: using cams or plates
B62M 9/131
The chain, belt, or the like being laterally shiftable , e.g. using a rear derailleur: front derailleurs
B62M 25/045
Hand actuated: having single actuating means operating both front and rear derailleur
Y10T 74/20287
Handle bar type: flexible control element