US3863512A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shift mechanism for derailleur drive
Assignee: CALIFORNIA PROGRESSIVE PRODUCTS Inc
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Filing: 1973-11-09
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1993-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A mechanism involving a bicycle gear shifting apparatus for use with a multiple sprocket gear cluster at the axle of the rear wheel of a bicycle operating on the derailleur principle. An idler assembly is provided adjacent the multiple gear sprocket cluster, wherein a pair of idler sprocket gears are mounted on a movable carrier. Power from the drive chain, which moves the pair of idler sprocket gears, is used to drive an upper and lower set of gears connected to the respective upper and lower idler sprocket gears. Centrally between the upper and lower gears is a central or ''''floating'''' gear which is displaceable from a neutral position into engagement with either the upper or lower gears. When the central gear is displaced to engage either the upper or lower gear, it connects the power train to a driving gear which drives a Leadscrew, threaded so as to cause the movable carrier to move in one direction or the other (towards or away from the rear bicycle wheel). The motion of the carrier displaces the two idler sprocket gears and displaces also the drive chain on the idler sprocket gears so as to carry the chain into engagement with a different sprocket gear on the multiple sprocket gear cluster. Thus, by directing the central ''''floating'''' gear from its neutral disengaged position into engagement with either the upper or lower gears, the carrier, together with the drive chain, is caused to move in a desired direction until the chain engages with a desired one of the multiple sprocket gears, at which time the central gear is released to its neutral disengaged ''''floating'''' position.
Inventors
- 👤 James W Crawley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:12
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M9/00; B62M9/04; B62M9/06; B62M9/10; B62M9/12; B62M9/121; B62M9/124; B62M9/122; B62M2009/12413
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
In a derailleur gear changing mechanism including a main drive sprocket, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, and a connecting drive chain, a mechanism comprising: a. means for laterally displacing said drive chain by means of power derived from the motion of said drive chain.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
In a derailleur gear changing mechanism including a main drive sprocket, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, and a connecting drive chain, a mechanism comprising: a. means for laterally displacing said drive chain by means of power derived from the motion of said drive chain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mechanism of claim 1 including b. activation means for controlling the application or non-application of power from said motion of said drive chain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mechanism of claim 2 wherein c. said activation means includes the capability of determining the lateral direction of displacement of said drive chain.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The mechanism of claim 1 including d. means for causing said drive chain to disengage a given rear sprocket gear and then to engaGe and stay in engagement with a desired rear sprocket gear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a derailleur gear changing mechanism including a main drive sprocket, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, and a connecting drive chain, an idler assembly comprising: a. a movable carrier unit for carrying idler gears; b. first and second idler sprocket gears mounted on said carrier unit, said sprocket gears being in engagement with said drive chain; c. means for lateral displacement of said carrier unit empowered by motion of said drive chain; d. activation means to start and stop the lateral displacement of said carrier unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a derailleur gear changing mechanism including a main drive sprocket, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, and a connecting drive chain, an idler assembly comprising: a. a movable carrier unit for carrying idler gears; b. first and second idler sprocket gears mounted on said carrier unit, said sprocket gears being in engagement with said drive chain; c. means for lateral displacement of said carrier unit empowered by motion of said drive chain; d. activation means to start and stop the lateral displacement of said carrier unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The idler assembly of claim 5 including: e. mounting means for mounting said idler assembly adjacent said plurality of rear sprocket gears to permit continuous engagement of said drive chain with said first and second idler gears and with at least one of said plurality of rear sprocket gears.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The idler assembly of claim 5 including: f. first and second hollow rods; g. first and second end gears mounted respectively on said rods; wherein said carrier unit is slidably mounted on said first and second hollow rods, said hollow rods being mounted for turning together with the rotation of the first and second idler gears.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The idler assembly of claim 7 wherein said first and second idler sprocket gears are rotated in opposite directions by motion of the said drive chain whereby said direction of rotating motion is transmitted to respective first and second end gears at one end of each of said hollow rods.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The idler assembly of claim 7 wherein said means for lateral displacement of said carrier unit includes a Leadscrew, and wherein said carrier unit is laterally displaced by the direction of and the amount of turning of said Leadscrew.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The idler assembly of claim 9 wherein said Leadscrew includes a drive gear at one end thereof, and wherein said activation means includes a displaceable gear, said gear being displaceable from a neutral floating position, and said gear remaining in continuous engagement with said Leadscrew drive gear.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The idler assembly of claim 10 wherein said displaceable gear is displaceable from a neutral position to engage either the said first end gear or the said second end gear so as to transmit rotary power from said first or said second idler sprocket gear to the said Leadscrew to cause said Leadscrew to move said carrier unit in a first direction or an opposite direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The idler assembly of claim 11 wherein said displaceable gear is settable to a neutral position whereby no power can be transmitted from said first and second idler gears to said Leadscrew thus enabling said carrier unit and its idler sprocket gears to remain in a fixed position in relation to the said plurality of rear sprocket gears.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a bicycle gear shift mechanism using the derailleur principle, the combination comprising: a. a foot-pedal powered main drive sprocket gear for moving a drive chain; b. a plurality of varying diameter rear sprocket gears arranged laterally and connected to drive a rear bicycle wheel; c. an idler assembly adjacent said rear sprocket gears, said idler assembly including first and second idler sprocket gears; d. a drive chain connecting said main sprocket gear with one of said plurality of rear sprocket gears and with each of said first and second idler sprocket gears; e. said idler assembly including means for laterally shifting said drive chain with power solely derived from motion of said drive chain.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a bicycle gear shift mechanism using the derailleur principle, the combination comprising: a. a foot-pedal powered main drive sprocket gear for moving a drive chain; b. a plurality of varying diameter rear sprocket gears arranged laterally and connected to drive a rear bicycle wheel; c. an idler assembly adjacent said rear sprocket gears, said idler assembly including first and second idler sprocket gears; d. a drive chain connecting said main sprocket gear with one of said plurality of rear sprocket gears and with each of said first and second idler sprocket gears; e. said idler assembly including means for laterally shifting said drive chain with power solely derived from motion of said drive chain.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The mechanism of claim 13 wherein said idler assembly includes means for disengaging said drive chain from a given rear sprocket gear and causing it to engage with and fixedly connect onto a desired one of said plurality of rear sprocket gears.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mechanism of claim 13 wherein said idler assembly includes means to start and stop the lateral shifting of said drive chain.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a bicycle gear shift mechanism including A main drive sprocket, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, and a connecting drive chain, an idler assembly comprising: a. first and second idler sprocket gears mounted adjacently below said plurality of rear sprocket gears; b. a laterally movable carrier unit supporting said first and second idler gears; c. means for causing said carrier to move laterally for a specified distance in a specified direction and then to remain in a specified position, said means for causing said carrier to move being soley empowered by the motion of said drive chain.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a bicycle gear shift mechanism including A main drive sprocket, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, and a connecting drive chain, an idler assembly comprising: a. first and second idler sprocket gears mounted adjacently below said plurality of rear sprocket gears; b. a laterally movable carrier unit supporting said first and second idler gears; c. means for causing said carrier to move laterally for a specified distance in a specified direction and then to remain in a specified position, said means for causing said carrier to move being soley empowered by the motion of said drive chain.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
134 words
The idler assembly of claim 16 wherein said means for causing said carrier to move laterally for a specified distance in a specified direction and then to remain in a specified position includes: c-1. a Leadscrew whose direction and duration of turning regulates the lateral motion of the said carrier unit; c-2. a first and second end gear connected to said first and second idler gears which are turned by said drive chain motion; c-3. a displaceable floating gear settable in a neutral, a first, and a second position; wherein there is no transmission of turning power to said Leadscrew when the displaceable floating gear is in the neutral position, and wherein there is a direct transmission of power to said Leadscrew when the displaceable floating gear is in the first or second position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The idler assembly of claim 16 including a mounting plate to hold said idler assembly adjacent to said plurality of rear sprocket gears; and spring tension means between said mounting plate and said idler assembly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The idler assembly of claim 17 including means for setting said displaceable floating gear in a desired position for a desired duration.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
241 words
In a gear shift mechanism using the derailleur principle, the combination comprising: a. a main drive sprocket; b. a plurality of sprocket gears capable of delivering power to an output shaft; c. an idler assembly adjacent said plurality of sprocket gears and having first and second idler sprocket gears; d. a drive chain connecting said main drive sprocket, said plurality of sprocket gears, and said first and second idler sprocket gears; e. said idler assembly additionally including: e-1. a mounting plate supporting first and second rods, a Leadscrew, and a pivotable lever arm; e-2. said first and second rods being axially turnable through connection to said first and second idler gears, each of said rods having an end gear at one end thereof; e-3. said Leadscrew being turnable through a drive gear at one end thereof; e-4. a displaceable floating gear mounted on one end of said lever arm and being in engagement with said Leadscrew drive gear; e-5. said displaceable floating gear being settable into engagement with said first or said second end gear, wherein the motion of said first or second idler gears is respectively transmitted via the first or second end gears and said displaceable floating gear to said Leadscrew drive gear to turn said Leadscrew causing said carrier unit to move laterally in a desired direction, thus displacing said drive chain from an existing sprocket gear onto a desired sprocket gear of the plurality of sprocket gears.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
241 words
In a gear shift mechanism using the derailleur principle, the combination comprising: a. a main drive sprocket; b. a plurality of sprocket gears capable of delivering power to an output shaft; c. an idler assembly adjacent said plurality of sprocket gears and having first and second idler sprocket gears; d. a drive chain connecting said main drive sprocket, said plurality of sprocket gears, and said first and second idler sprocket gears; e. said idler assembly additionally including: e-1. a mounting plate supporting first and second rods, a Leadscrew, and a pivotable lever arm; e-2. said first and second rods being axially turnable through connection to said first and second idler gears, each of said rods having an end gear at one end thereof; e-3. said Leadscrew being turnable through a drive gear at one end thereof; e-4. a displaceable floating gear mounted on one end of said lever arm and being in engagement with said Leadscrew drive gear; e-5. said displaceable floating gear being settable into engagement with said first or said second end gear, wherein the motion of said first or second idler gears is respectively transmitted via the first or second end gears and said displaceable floating gear to said Leadscrew drive gear to turn said Leadscrew causing said carrier unit to move laterally in a desired direction, thus displacing said drive chain from an existing sprocket gear onto a desired sprocket gear of the plurality of sprocket gears.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1032245A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |