Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
In the combination of a chain driven wheel huB having a plurality of sprockets of predetermined torque ratio coaxially mounted on said hub, said sprockets being spaced substantially uniformly laterally along the axis of said hub, and having radii of progressively larger dimension as a predetermined exponential function, and a derailleur mechanism for shifting a driving chain to engage a selected sprocket, the improvement comprising: said derailleur mechanism having a pivotally mounted cage, a guide idler sprocket carried by said cage having a laterally extending axis of rotation, and control means connected to said cage for simultaneously imparting lateral displacement in fixed increments corresponding to the spacing of said sprockets on said hub, and, resulting in corresponding radial displacement as an exponential function corresponding to said predetermined exponential function, that when said driving chain is shifted from a numerically smaller sprocket to the next numerically larger sprocket said guide idler sprocket comes into substantial tangency with said numerically larger sprocket so that the chain will be pinched between the guide idler sprocket and said next larger sprocket to assist in guiding it onto to said next larger sprocket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
In the combination of a chain driven wheel huB having a plurality of sprockets of predetermined torque ratio coaxially mounted on said hub, said sprockets being spaced substantially uniformly laterally along the axis of said hub, and having radii of progressively larger dimension as a predetermined exponential function, and a derailleur mechanism for shifting a driving chain to engage a selected sprocket, the improvement comprising: said derailleur mechanism having a pivotally mounted cage, a guide idler sprocket carried by said cage having a laterally extending axis of rotation, and control means connected to said cage for simultaneously imparting lateral displacement in fixed increments corresponding to the spacing of said sprockets on said hub, and, resulting in corresponding radial displacement as an exponential function corresponding to said predetermined exponential function, that when said driving chain is shifted from a numerically smaller sprocket to the next numerically larger sprocket said guide idler sprocket comes into substantial tangency with said numerically larger sprocket so that the chain will be pinched between the guide idler sprocket and said next larger sprocket to assist in guiding it onto to said next larger sprocket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said guide idler sprocket carried by said cage has an axis of rotation in spaced parallel relation relative to said pivot axis of said cage, and exponential displacement thereof is accomplished at least partially by the pivoting of said cage on its pivot axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said control means includes a trunnion mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Structure in accordance with claim 1, further characterized in said plurality of sprockets being 5 in number, and having a ratio of teeth per sprocket between the largest and smallest sprockets of 5 to 1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Structure in accordance with claim 4, in which the number of teeth on each larger sprocket is a multiple of 1.5 times the next smallest sprocket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which the total number of teeth on the guide idler sprocket, and a take-up idler wheel on said cage is equivalent to the difference between the number of teeth on the largest sprocket and the smallest sprocket of said plurality of sprockets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which the derailleur means includes trunnions of length 0.9 inch, and the sprockets range between 13 and 23 teeth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
Structure in accordance with claim 6, in which the pitch circles of the guide idler sprocket and take up idler wheel are tangent to each other, so that the chain never leaves contact with either the guide idler sprocket or take up idler.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which the derailleur mechanism is positioned substantially under and rearwardly of the rear axle, thus permitting a shorter cycle wheel base without danger of hitting the derailleur body by the heel of the right shoe of the wearer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a combination chain driven wheel hub, having a plurality of sprockets, and derailleur shifting means for shifting a driving chain to a selected sprocket, the improvement comprising: at least one of said plurality of sprockets having less than 13 teeth, a cage having a guide idler sprocket constantly entraining said driving chain, said guide idler sprocket, when positioned to engage said chain on said last mentioned one of said sprockets serving to effectively prevent said chain from skipping over the teeth of said one of said sprockets as power is transmitted through said chain.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a combination chain driven wheel hub, having a plurality of sprockets, and derailleur shifting means for shifting a driving chain to a selected sprocket, the improvement comprising: at least one of said plurality of sprockets having less than 13 teeth, a cage having a guide idler sprocket constantly entraining said driving chain, said guide idler sprocket, when positioned to engage said chain on said last mentioned one of said sprockets serving to effectively prevent said chain from skipping over the teeth of said one of said sprockets as power is transmitted through said chain.