US4615171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bicycle chain lubrication
Assignee: Incom International Inc
•
Filing: 1985-11-25
•
Granted: 1986-10-07
•
Expires: 2005-11-25
Abstract
Abstract Bicycle Chain is made of alternating bushing links and pin links. The bushing links have parallel bushings held in interference fit in bushing plates and extended axially beyond the bushing plates, solid metal rolls with a lubricating plating are held loosely on the bushings, and loosely between the bushing plates. The bushings extend axially outward beyond the bushing plates for substantial distances. Pins extend through the bushings and are fixed in pin plates to form pin links which alternate with the bushing links. The pin plates are held outward from the bushing plates for a substantial amount by the axial bushing extensions to prevent dirt build up. The pin plates, bushing plates and bushings are plated with an anti-corrosion plating. The pins and rolls are plated with a porous metal plating with solid polymeric lubricant held within pores of the plating for lubricating the pin-bushing interior interface and for lubricating the roll-bushing and roll-bushing plate interfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G. Burk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:31
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16G; F16G13/00; F16G13/02; F16G13/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S59/00; Y10S59/901; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49636; Y10T29/49702
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
274 words
Bicycle chain apparatus comprising plural bushing links, each bushing link having first and second parallel bushing plates, each bushing plate having first and second bushing receiving openings near opposite ends thereof, first and second bushings press fitted in interference fit in the openings in the first plate, first and second rollers loosely positioned respectively on the first and second bushings and the first and second bushings being press fitted through the first and second openings of the second bushing plate, opposite ends of the bushings extending substantially beyond the first and second bushing plates and forming thereby spacers, and plural pin links alternately connected to the plural bushing links, each pin link having first and second parallel pin plates, each pin plate having first and second pin receiving openings near opposite ends thereof, first and second pins inserted through first and second pin receiving openings in the first pin plate and respectively through a second bushing of a first bushing link and through a first bushing of a second bushing link and then respectively through first and second pin receiving openings in the second pin plate, opposite ends of the first and second pins being upset and expanded into respective first and second pin receiving openings in the pin plates, said pin plates maintained in spaced position from said bushing plates by said spacers on said bushings, the pins and the rollers having solid lubricating plated coatings on surfaces thereof for respectively providing lubrication to plated interior and exterior surfaces of the bushings, wherein the plated coatings on the rollers and pins comprise porous nickel platings having pores filled with solid polymeric lubricating material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
274 words
Bicycle chain apparatus comprising plural bushing links, each bushing link having first and second parallel bushing plates, each bushing plate having first and second bushing receiving openings near opposite ends thereof, first and second bushings press fitted in interference fit in the openings in the first plate, first and second rollers loosely positioned respectively on the first and second bushings and the first and second bushings being press fitted through the first and second openings of the second bushing plate, opposite ends of the bushings extending substantially beyond the first and second bushing plates and forming thereby spacers, and plural pin links alternately connected to the plural bushing links, each pin link having first and second parallel pin plates, each pin plate having first and second pin receiving openings near opposite ends thereof, first and second pins inserted through first and second pin receiving openings in the first pin plate and respectively through a second bushing of a first bushing link and through a first bushing of a second bushing link and then respectively through first and second pin receiving openings in the second pin plate, opposite ends of the first and second pins being upset and expanded into respective first and second pin receiving openings in the pin plates, said pin plates maintained in spaced position from said bushing plates by said spacers on said bushings, the pins and the rollers having solid lubricating plated coatings on surfaces thereof for respectively providing lubrication to plated interior and exterior surfaces of the bushings, wherein the plated coatings on the rollers and pins comprise porous nickel platings having pores filled with solid polymeric lubricating material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bushings project approximately 40/1000 of an inch beyond respective bushing plates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the respective bushings extend from about 0.105 to about 0.145 inches between adjacent parallel bushing plates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bushings extend from about 0.105 to about 0.115 inches between adjacent bushing plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bushings extend from about 0.135 to about 0.145 inches between adjacent bushing plates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bushings extend beyond the bushing plates for a distance of from about 1/4 to about 2/5 of the distance between the bushing plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
229 words
Bicycle chain apparatus comprising plural bushing links, each bushing link having first and second parallel bushing plates, each bushing plate having first and second bushing receiving openings near opposite ends thereof, first and second bushings fixed respectively in the first and second openings of the first and second bushing plates, opposite ends of the bushings extending substantially beyond the first and second bushing plates and forming thereby spacers, and plural pin links alternately connected to the plural bushing links, each pin link having first and second parallel pin plates, each pin plate having first and second pin receiving openings near opposite ends thereof, first and second pins inserted through first and second pin receiving openings in the first pin plate and respectively through a second bushing of a first bushing link and through a second bushing link and then respectively through first and second pin receiving openings in the second pin plate, opposite ends of the first and second pins being fixed into respctive first and second pin receiving openings in the pin plates, said pin plates maintained in spaced position from said bushing plates by said spacers on said bushings, the pins having solid lubricating plated coatings on surfaces thereof for respectively providing lubrication to plated interior surfaces of the bushings, wherein the plated coating on the pins comprises porous plating having pores filled with polymeric lubricating material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
229 words
Bicycle chain apparatus comprising plural bushing links, each bushing link having first and second parallel bushing plates, each bushing plate having first and second bushing receiving openings near opposite ends thereof, first and second bushings fixed respectively in the first and second openings of the first and second bushing plates, opposite ends of the bushings extending substantially beyond the first and second bushing plates and forming thereby spacers, and plural pin links alternately connected to the plural bushing links, each pin link having first and second parallel pin plates, each pin plate having first and second pin receiving openings near opposite ends thereof, first and second pins inserted through first and second pin receiving openings in the first pin plate and respectively through a second bushing of a first bushing link and through a second bushing link and then respectively through first and second pin receiving openings in the second pin plate, opposite ends of the first and second pins being fixed into respctive first and second pin receiving openings in the pin plates, said pin plates maintained in spaced position from said bushing plates by said spacers on said bushings, the pins having solid lubricating plated coatings on surfaces thereof for respectively providing lubrication to plated interior surfaces of the bushings, wherein the plated coating on the pins comprises porous plating having pores filled with polymeric lubricating material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the coating comprises nickel plating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein pores in the plating hold polytetrafluoroethylene lubricant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising plural rollers respectively positioned on the bushings and wherein the rollers have lubricating surface coatings between adjacent bushing plates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein roller coatings and pin coatings are identical.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the rollers and pin coatings comprise porous nickel platings with polytetrafluoroethylene lubricant in pores thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the platings are approximately 0.0003 inches in thickness.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US594010A
Cited
CA673452A
Cited
US1753773A
Cited
US2576372A
Cited
US2798005A
Cited
US2816453A
Cited
US2995462A
Cited
US3153348A
Cited
GB922307A
Cited
US3818564A
Cited
US3902770A
Cited
US3943702A
Cited
US4308153A
Cited
JPS57939A
Cited
US4484988A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-10-06 | 1990-04-07 | 1990-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-06 | 1994-04-07 | 1994-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-06 | 1998-04-07 | 1998-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |