Assisting apparatus for shifting a bicycle transmission

An assisting apparatus for using power from a rotating member to assist operation of a bicycle transmission comprising:

• a mounting member;
• a cam member coupled to the mounting member for rotation around a cam axis, wherein the cam member has a cam surface;
• a cam follower cooperating with the cam surface for moving in response to rotation of the cam member;
• a transmission actuating element coupling member for communicating movement of the cam follower to a transmission actuating element;
• a first coupling member coupled for rotation of the cam member, wherein the first coupling member moves between a first engaged position and a first disengaged position
• an operating member for moving the first coupling member to the first engaged position;
• a decoupling member that moves the first coupling member to the first disengaged position response to a rotational position of the cam member;
• and
• wherein the transmission actuating element coupling member comprises a wire connector.

An assisting apparatus for using power from a rotating member to assist operation of a bicycle transmission comprising:

• a mounting member;
• a cam member coupled to the mounting member for rotation around a cam axis, wherein the cam member has a cam surface;
• a cam follower cooperating with the cam surface for moving in response to rotation of the cam member;
• a transmission actuating element coupling member for communicating movement of the cam follower to a transmission actuating element;
• a first coupling member coupled for rotation of the cam member, wherein the first coupling member moves between a first engaged position and a first disengaged position;
• an operating member for moving the first coupling member to the first engaged position;
• a decoupling member that moves the first coupling member to the first disengaged position in response to a rotational position of the cam member;
• wherein the cam follower comprises a cam follower lever having a first end that cooperates with the cam surface and a second end;
• wherein the transmission actuating element coupling member is coupled to the cam follower lever;
• wherein the transmission actuating element coupling member is disposed on the second end of the cam follower lever;
• and
• wherein the transmission actuating element coupling member comprises a wire connector.

An assisting apparatus for using power from a rotating member to assist operation of a bicycle transmission comprising:

• a mounting member;
• a cam member coupled to the mounting member for rotation around a cam axis, wherein the cam member has a cam surface;
• a cam follower cooperating with the cam surface for moving in response to rotation of the cam member;
• a transmission actuating element coupling member for communicating movement of the cam follower to a transmission actuating element;
• a first coupling member coupled for rotation of the cam member, wherein the first coupling member moves between a first engaged position and a first disengaged position;
• an operating member for moving the first coupling member to the first engaged position;
• a decoupling member that moves the first coupling member to the first disengaged position in response to a rotational position of the cam member;
• wherein the first coupling member moves radially inwardly relative to the cam axis to move to the first engaged position, and wherein the first coupling member moves radially outwardly relative to the cam axis to move to the first disengaged position;
• a biasing mechanism that biases the first coupling member radially inwardly;
• and
• wherein the operating member includes a control surface that holds the first coupling member in the first disengaged position.

An assisting apparatus for using power from a rotating member to assist operation of a bicycle transmission comprising:

• a mounting member;
• a cam member coupled to the mounting member for rotation around a cam axis, wherein the cam member has a cam surface;
• a cam follower cooperating with the cam surface for moving in response to rotation of the cam member;
• a transmission actuating element coupling member for communicating movement of the cam follower to a transmission actuating element;
• a first coupling member coupled for rotation of the cam member, wherein the first coupling member moves between a first engaged position and a first disengaged position;
• an operating member for moving the first coupling member to the first engaged position;
• a decoupling member that moves the first coupling member to the first disengaged position in response to a rotational position of the cam member;
• a second coupling member coupled for rotation of the cam member, wherein the second coupling member moves between a second engaged position and a second disengaged position;
• wherein the second coupling member is spaced apart from the first coupling member;
• wherein the first coupling member and the second coupling member are both coupled together with the cam member;
• and
• wherein the second coupling member is spaced apart from the first coupling member in a circumferential direction of the cam member;
• wherein the first coupling member moves radially relative to the cam axis between the first engaged position and the first disengaged position, and wherein the second coupling member moves radially relative to the cam axis between the second engaged position and the second disengaged position;
• and
• wherein the operating member includes a first control surface that holds the first coupling member in the first disengaged position when the cam member is in an initial position.

A front derailleur apparatus for using power from a rotating member to assist operation of the front derailleur comprising:

• a front derailleur having an actuating arm for moving a chain guide;
• an assisting apparatus including:
• a mounting, member;
• a cam member coupled to the mounting member for rotation around a cam axis,
• wherein the cam member has a cam surface;
• a can follower cooperating with the cam surface for moving in response to rotation of the cam member;
• a transmission actuating element coupling member for communicating movement of the cam follower to a transmission actuating element coupled to the actuating arm;
• a first coupling member that moves between a first engaged position and a first disengaged position;
• wherein the first coupling member rotates the cam member when the first coupling member is in the first engaged position;
• an operating member for moving the first coupling member to the first engaged position;
• and
• a decoupling member that moves the first coupling member to the first disengaged position in response to a rotational position of the cam member.