Control means for shifting gears on dual shift bicycles
OwnerJack B. Darbyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An easy to operate control means for shifting gears on dual shift bicycles is described. The control means is constructed so that the front and rear derailleurs of a dual shift bicycle are controlled together to shift to any selected gear from any engaged gear with a single operator action. The design permits the operator to preselect the new gear to be used while continuously pedaling in the present gear, with the actual gear change being made at the operator's discretion. The design also facilitates a rapid series of down shifts without requiring intervening gear selections.
Claims25
In a device such as a dual shift bicycle or the like having a plurality of drive gears and including a drive chain means, a front derailleur associated with a front drive gear means and movable to positions for shifting the drive chain means into selected drive positions, a rear derailleur associated with a rear drive gear means and movable to position for shifting the drive chain means into selected drive positions, a front derailleur shift means operatively connected at one end to the front derailleur and movable for positioning the front derailleur, and rear derailleur shift means operatively connected at one end to the rear derailleur and movable for positioning the rear derailleur, the improvement comprising:
- means for shifting between the drive positions by moving the front and rear derailleur shift means to position the front and rear derailleurs, including:
- control means including a front control member operatively engaged with said front derailleur shift means and movable through shifting movements between a plurality of control positions and rear control member operatively engaged with said rear derailleur shift means and movable through shifting movements between a plurality of control positions, selector/actuator means for selecting for each of said front and rear control members a selected control position to which said front and rear control members are to be moved in a gear shifting movement from a present control position to a selected control position and engageable with said front and rear control members for actuating the same through said shifting movement,
- said control position selection operation being independent of said actuation of said control members through said shifting movement so that the shifting between the drive gears can be performed in two sequential operations,
- and means for holding said front and rear control members in selected control positions thereof after said shifting movement.
A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein,
- said front derailleur shift means includes a front cable operatively coupled to said front derailleur and to said front control means and being spring biased so as to be maintained in a tensioned condition,
- and said rear derailleur shift means includes a rear cable operatively coupled to said rear derailleur and to said rear control member and being spring biased so as to be maintained in a tensioned condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.