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US 7,677,998 B2Granted
Bicycle front derailleur
AssigneeShimano Inc.
InventorToshio Tetsuka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle front derailleur includes a base member, a movable member and a linkage assembly. The base member is configured to be fixedly coupled to a bicycle frame. The movable member has a chain guide portion. The linkage assembly is coupled between the base member and the movable member to move the chain guide portion between a retracted position and an extended position. The chain guide portion includes a chain guide element defining a chain path and a movable plate arranged to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the chain guide element in a see-saw movement.
Claims15
A bicycle front derailleur comprising:
- a base member configured to be fixedly coupled to a bicycle frame;
- a movable member having a chain guide portion;
- and
- a linkage assembly coupled between the base member and the movable member to move the chain guide portion between a retracted position and an extended position,
- the chain guide portion including an inner chain guide element, an outer chain guide element non-movably coupled to the inner chain guide element and a movable plate pivotally coupled to the inner chain guide element to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the inner chain guide element in a see-saw movement, the outer chain guide element being spaced laterally outwardly from the inner chain guide element to form a chain receiving space therebetween that defines a chain path,
- the movable plate including a first chain engagement surface and a second chain engagement surface with the first and second chain engagement surfaces being movably arranged and configured with respect to the inner chain guide element such that the second chain engagement surface moves laterally outward into the chain path towards a center of the chain path relative to the inner chain guide member when the first chain engagement surface is moved laterally inward away from the center of the chain path relative to the inner chain guide member, the movable plate being chain activated such that the first chain engagement surface moves laterally inwardly away from the center of the chain path in response to contact with a chain in the chain receiving space and the second chain engagement surface pushes the chain laterally outward relative to the inner chain guide element while the first chain engagement surface moves laterally inward away from the center of the chain path.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.