US 6,203,459 B1 · Bicycle derailleur system with integral flexible seal to protect moving parts from contaminants

Abstract

A combination includes a derailleur having a chain cage engaging a bicycle chain, a clamping head clamping the derailleur to a bicycle frame and including an opening therethrough, a controller actuating the chain cage and including link arms pivotally connected at one end to the clamping head, with the cable extending through the opening in the clamping head and to the upper link arm, and a cage securing member connected with the chain cage, with opposite ends of the link arms pivotally connected to the cage securing member; and a one-piece protective cover including an endless sleeve of a rubber material, having a hollow interior, a first open end, having a first axis, in communication with the hollow interior and of sufficient size to permit the first open end to be pulled over the clamping head and the controller, the first open end being secured to the cage securing member, a second opposite open end, having a second central axis perpendicular to the first central axis, and in communication with the hollow interior, the second open end being of sufficient size to permit the second open end to be pulled over the clamping head, the second open end being secured to the clamping head, and a section of the sleeve which is adapted to cover the controller and which extends between the first and second open ends, has a bellows configuration.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A one-piece protective cover for a derailleur of a bicycle including a frame, the derailleur being mounted to the frame and including a cage, a controller for actuating the cage to control movement of the cage and a derailleur clamping head for clamping the derailleur to the bicycle frame, with a device being connected to the controller of the derailleur for actuating the controller, said one-piece protective cover comprising:

an endless sleeve with a hollow interior, said sleeve being made of a flexible, resilient material;
a first open end at one end of said sleeve and in communication with said hollow interior, said first open end being of sufficient size to permit said first open end to be pulled over said derailleur clamping head and said controller, said first open end having a first central axis;
a second open end at an opposite end of said sleeve and in communication with said hollow interior, said second open end being of sufficient size to permit said second open end to be pulled over said derailleur clamping head, said second open end having a second central axis which is out of alignment with said first central axis;
and
at least a section of said sleeve which is adapted to cover said controller and which extends between said first and second open ends, having a bellows configuration.

2 more elements

A combination of a derailleur mountable to a frame of a bicycle having a device for actuating the derailleur, and a one-piece protective cover for the derailleur, said combination of the derailleur and cover comprising:

a derailleur including:
a chain cage for engaging a chain of the bicycle,
a derailleur clamping head for clamping the derailleur to the bicycle frame, the derailleur clamping head including an opening extending therethrough for receiving the device for actuating therethrough, and
a controller connected between the derailleur clamping head and the chain cage for actuating the chain cage to control movement of the chain cage, said controller including a cage securing member connected with the chain cage;
and
a one-piece protective cover including:
an endless sleeve having a hollow interior, said sleeve being made of a flexible, resilient material,
a first open end at one end of said sleeve and in communication with said hollow interior, said first open end being of sufficient size to permit said first open end to be pulled over said derailleur clamping head and said controller, said first open end being secured to said cage securing member, said first open end having a first central axis, and
a second open end at an opposite end of said sleeve and in communication with said hollow interior, said second open end being of sufficient size to permit said second open end to be pulled over said derailleur clamping head, said second open end being secured to said derailleur clamping head, said second open end having a second central axis which is out of alignment with said first central axis, and
at least a section of said sleeve which is adapted to cover said controller and which extends between said first and second open ends, having a bellows configuration.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bicycle derailleur system with integral flexible seal to protect moving parts from contaminants

Life of this patent

Bicycle derailleur system with integral flexible seal to protect moving parts from contaminants

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17