Bicycle chain lubricating and cleaning apparatus and method

An apparatus adapted to be used in conjunction with a hand held lubricant dispensing container having a dispensing head at one end of the container, with the dispensing head having a discharge opening positioned to discharge lubricant from the head in a predetermined direction, said apparatus being particularly adapted to apply the lubricant to a drive chain having at least one horizontally extending portion, such as a drive chain for a bicycle or motorcycle, said apparatus comprising:

• a. a peripheral housing defining an open, linearly extending lubricating area to receive the drive chain, with the housing extending around at least a substantial portion of the lubricating area and having an access opening to receive said drive chain, said housing having a lengthwise axis which extends in a horizontal direction when a said horizontally extending portion of said chain is received in said lubricating area, said housing comprising a sidewall extending along said lengthwise axis and also extending around said lengthwise axis so that a portion of said sidewall is positionable beneath a said horizontally extending portion of said chain which is received in said lubricating area and is configured to prevent lubricant which is applied to said chain from dripping from said lubricating area;
• b. brush means mounted within said housing and extending from said housing radially inwardly to said lubricating area, said brush means being positioned in said sidewall of said housing so as to be located substantially entirely within said sidewall;
• c. a mounting member connected to said housing and having an attaching portion adapted to be connected to said container so as to mount the apparatus to the container;
• and
• d. a discharge tube means having an inlet end adapted to be connected to the discharge opening of the dispensing head, and an outlet end connected to the housing and positioned to discharge lubricant into the lubricating area;
• whereby lubricant discharged into said lubricating area so as to be in contact with said brush means is contained substantially entirely within said lubricating area, and said lubricant is prevented from dripping from said lubricating area as said lubricant is applied to said horizontally extending portion of said chain.

A combined apparatus for lubricating and cleaning a drive chain having at least one horizontally extending portion, such as a drive chain for a bicycle or a motorcycle, said combined apparatus comprising:

• a. a hand held lubricant dispensing container having a dispensing head at one end of the container, with the dispensing head having a discharge opening positioned to discharge lubricant from the head in a predetermined direction;
• b. a dispensing device mounted to said container, said dispensing device comprising:
• 1. a peripheral housing defining an open, linearly extending lubricating area to receive the drive chain, with the housing extending around at least a substantial portion of the lubricating area and having an access opening to receive said drive chain, said housing having a lengthwise axis which extends in a horizontal direction when a said horizontally extending portion of said chain is received in said lubricating area, said housing comprising a sidewall extending along said lengthwise axis and also extending around said lengthwise axis so that a portion of said sidewall is positionable beneath a said horizontally extending portion of said chain which is received in said lubricating area and is configured to prevent lubricant which is applied to said chain from dripping from said lubricating area;
• 2. brush means mounted within said housing and extending from said housing radially inwardly to said lubricating area, said brush means being positioned in said sidewall of said housing so as to be located substantially entirely within said sidewall;
• 3. a mounting member connected to said housing and having an attaching portion adapted to be connected to said container so as to mount the apparatus to the container;
• and
• 4. a discharge tube means having an inlet end adapted to be connected to the discharge opening of the dispensing head, and an outlet end connected to the housing and positioned to discharge lubricant into the lubricating area;
• whereby lubricant discharged into said lubricating area so as to be in contact with said brush means is contained substantially entirely within said lubricating area, and said lubricant is prevented from dripping from said lubricating area as said lubricant is applied to said horizontally extending portion of said chain.