Inter housing speed transmission hub for bicycles

Claim 1

A speed transmission hub for a bicycle comprising: a first unit comprising: a hub shell having a substantially cylindrical interior surface having a first ratchet defined therein at one end thereof and a second ratchet defined therein at the other end thereof, said second ratchet being of smaller maximum diameter than the first ratchet; means defining a first ball race at the other axial end which is of a diameter less than that of the second ratchet and is axially outward of the second ratchet; means defining a second ball race at the one end which is of a diameter greater than that of the first ratchet and is axially outward of the first ratchet; a second unit comprising: a nonrotatable shaft removably positioned in the center of the hub shell and extending therethrough, said hub shell being rotatably mounted with respect to said shaft; a driving means rotatably mounted on said shaft, said driving means normally rotatably supporting said second ball race defining means; a multi-speed transmission mechanism removably housed internally of said hub shell and being rotatable about said shaft, said mechanism comprising a first and second plurality of driving force transmitting pawl members engageable respectively with the first and second ratchets, said first pawl members being the radially outwardly farthest extending component of the mechanism within the hub shell; and a retaining means for releasably holding said multi-speed transmission mechanism and said driving means in a predetermined axial position on said shaft; means for releasably securing said second unit to said first unit with the multi-speed transmission mechanism with the housing; and said second unit being readily securable to and releasable from said first unit with the multi-speed transmission mechanism being readily movable, as part of the second unit, into and out of the first unit upon release of said holding means without having to remove said first and second ball race defining means.