US 5,152,720 A · Bicycle transmission

Abstract

A bicycle transmission comprises a sprocket assembly rotatably coupled to the frame of a bicycle for receiving a chain, a front and rear sprocket selector for causing the sprocket assembly to shift the chain from one sprocket to another, a sliding bracket for retractably mounting the sprocket selector to the bicycle frame, adjustment brackets for finely adjusting the front and rear sprocket selectors to correspond to the path of the sprocket assembly, and a compensator for engaging and following the chain as it is shifted between sprockets to eliminate any free chain between the compensator and the sprocket and for reentraining the chain in the event of complete derailment. In addition, the bicycle transmission may include a sprocket assembly comprising a stationary sector, a swinging sector hingedly coupled to the stationary sector, and a plurality of load bearing surfaces extending radially outwardly of the stationary sector for taking the load from the swinging sector.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A bicycle transmission, comprising:

a front sprocket rotatably coupled to a bicycle frame;
a rear sprocket assembly coupled to a bicycle wheel, the rear sprocket assembly having multiple sprockets of different diameters;
a chain entrained around the front sprocket and a sprocket of the rear sprocket assembly;
shifting means for shifting the chain between the sprockets;
and
a compensator having a proximal end and distal end, the proximal end being pivotally coupled to the bicycle frame, the distal end having an engagement means for engaging and holding the chain, the compensator including biasing means for urging the engagement means toward the sprocket such that engagement means forces the chain to be entrained around the sprocket, wherein the compensator functions independently of the shifting means and automatically follows the chain when shifted between sprockets.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bicycle transmission

Life of this patent

Bicycle transmission

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16