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(11) EP 2 572 973 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.: 27.03.2013 Bulletin 2013/13 B62M 9/135 (2010.01)

(21) Application number: 12182140.9

(22) Date of filing: 29.08.2012

(84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventors: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB • Inoue, Kenkichi GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO Osaka, Osaka 590-8577 (JP) PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR • Emura, Atsuhiro Designated Extension States: Osaka, Osaka 590-8577 (JP) BA ME • Kuwayama, Kazuya Osaka, Osaka 590-8577 (JP) (30) Priority: 30.09.2011 US 201113250827 21.09.2011 US 201113238345 (74) Representative: Grosse, Felix Christopher Grosse - Schumacher - Knauer - von (71) Applicant: Shimano Inc. Hirschhausen Sakai City, Osaka 590-8577 (JP) Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Nymphenburger Straße 14 80335 München (DE)

(54) Front with frame support structure

(57) A front derailleur (10) that includes a chain guide (41) configured to engage a and a mounting member (40) operatively coupled to the chain guide (41). The mounting member (40) includes a frame support structure that includes a contact member (25) that is configured to contact the frame of the bicycle, and a support member (23) mounted to the mounting member (40). The contact member (25) is supported by the support member (23). EP 2 572 973 A1

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR) 1 EP 2 572 973 A1 2

Description different diameter than the seat tube. [0006] The invention, together with additional features FIELD OF THE INVENTION and advantages thereof, may be best understood by ref- erence to the following description. [0001] The present invention relates to a front derail- 5 leur for a bicycle that includes a frame support structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle front derailleur with a frame support structure in accordance [0002] A bicycle front derailleur is sometimes attached 10 with a first preferred embodiment of the present inven- to the seat tube of a bicycle frame by a mounting fixture, tion; which is fastened to the seat tube of the frame by , [0008] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the mounting threaded fasteners or the like. This mounting fixture is member and frame support structure of the bicycle front sometimes called a direct-mounting seat or braze-on derailleur of FIG. 1; seat. Since such mounting fixtures are fastened to the 15 [0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the frame support seat tube beforehand, the chain guide of the derailleur structure of the bicycle front derailleur of FIG. 1; cannot be disposed in a parallel position directly above [0010] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the frame support the front in the case of systems in which a band structure and mounting member of the bicycle front de- is formed as an integral part of the front derailleur, unless railleur of FIG. 1; the orientation is adjusted about an axis parallel to the 20 [0011] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the frame support seat tube following mounting. structure and mounting member of the bicycle front de- [0003] US 2007/0117666A1, which is incorporated by railleur of FIG. 1 with a portion cut away to show the reference in its entirety herein, teaches a bicycle front support member; and derailleur which is capable of adjustment. However, a [0012] FIG. 6 is another top plan view of the frame sup- need exists for an improved front derailleur with adjust- 25 port structure and mounting member of the bicycle front ment capabilities. The present invention relates to a front derailleur of FIG. 1 with a portion cut away to show the derailleur which is fastened to a bicycle frame and which support member after adjustment. can be attached to a mounting fixture having a circular arcuate surface so that fine adjustments can be made DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM- by rotation about a first axis. 30 BODIMENTS

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0013] The following description and drawings are il- lustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numer- [0004] In accordance with a first aspect of the present ous specific details are described to provide a thorough invention there is provided a bicycle front derailleur that 35 understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain in- includes a chain guide configured to engage a bicycle stances, well-known or conventional details are not de- chain and a mounting member operatively coupled to the scribed in order to avoid obscuring the description. Ref- chain guide. The mounting member includes a frame erences to one or an embodiment in the present disclo- support structure that includes a contact member that is sure can be, but not necessarily are references to the configured to contact the frame of the bicycle, and a sup- 40 same embodiment; and, such references mean at least portmember mounted to themounting member.The con- one of the embodiments. tact member is supported by the support member. [0014] Reference in this specification to "one embod- [0005] In a preferred embodiment, the contact member iment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular fea- is movably connected to the support member. In a pre- ture, structure, or characteristic described in connection ferred embodiment, the contact member includes a sup- 45 with the embodiment is included in at least one embod- port plate and a resilient cover that covers the support iment of the-disclosure. The appearances of the phrase plate and the resilient cover is movably connected to the "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification support member. The resilient cover includes a recess are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, for receiving the support member. In a preferred embod- nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually iment, the support member includes an end portion that 50 exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various fea- has a semi-globular shape that is received in the recess tures are described which may be exhibited by some em- of the resilient cover. In a preferred embodiment, the sup- bodiments and not by others. Similarly, various require- port member extends through an opening defined in the ments are described which may be requirements for mounting member and the support member is movable some embodiments but not other embodiments. with respect to the mounting member and within the55 [0015] It will be appreciated that terms such as "front," opening. In a preferred embodiment, the contact member "back," "top," "bottom," "side," "short," "long," "up," has an arcuate shape and when the derailleur is mounted "down," and "below" used herein are merely for ease of on a seat tube of a bicycle, the contact member has a description and refer to the orientation of the components

2 3 EP 2 572 973 A1 4 as shown in the figures. It should be understood that any equal to approximately a quarter circle of the seat tube orientation of the components described herein is within 100. The circumference of the bicycle frame fastening the scope of the present invention. part 102a is welded to the seat tube 100. In the case of [0016] Referring now to the drawings, which are for such a construction, the position of the mounting fixture purposes of illustrating the present invention and not for 5 102 cannot be later adjusted and the orientation of the purposes of limiting the same, FIGS. 1-6 show a front front derailleur 10 is therefore adjusted by the front de- derailleur 10 for a bicycle. In a preferred embodiment, as railleur mounting part 102b. shown in FIGS. 4-6, the front derailleur 10 is mounted on [0021] The mounting member 40 of the front derailleur the seat tube 100 of a bicycle. However, this is not a 10 is secured to the mounting fixture 102, while the chain limitation on the present invention, and the front derailleur 10 guide 41 is free to move in the gear shift direction toward can be affixed to or mounted on other parts of a bicycle. or away from the mounting member 40 via the inner and [0017] As shown in FIG. 1 the front derailleur 10 is a outer links 42 and 43 which are disposed generally par- downswing-type derailleur. The front derailleur 10 pref- allel to each other and rotatably connect the mounting erably includes the main body or mounting member 40, member 40 and the chain guide 41. a chain guide 41, an inner link 42 and an outer link 43. 15 [0022] The fixing part 45 of the mounting member 40 The mounting member 40 is mounted on the seat tube is formed in a generally semicircular arcuate shape as 100 and the chain guide 41 is configured to move be- seen in a plan view (such as FIG. 4) so as to conform to tween a retracted position and an extended position rel- the circular arcuate surface 102c of the front derailleur ative to the mounting member 40. It will beunderstood mounting part 102b. A screw hole (not shown) is formed that in FIGS. 2-6, the chain guide 41, inner and outer20 in the fixing part of the mounting member 40 for thread- links 42 and 43 and associated components have been edly receiving the first fastening bolt 33. omitted for ease of viewing of the remaining components. [0023] The chain guide 41 guides the chain (not [0018] As shown in FIG. 4 the front derailleur 10 is shown) to either of the at least two front chain rings (not mounted to the seat tube 100 using a mounting fixture shown) by moving corresponding shift positions that in- 102 of the bicycle frame (not shown) to support the front 25 clude a low shift position disposed over the small diam- derailleur 10 in a desired angular orientation. The mount- eter or inside chain ring, and a top shift position disposed ing fixture 102 is fastened to the seat tube 100 by fas- over the large diameter or outside chain ring. The chain tening means such as welding, fastener (bolt) or the like. guide 41 is connected to the outer ends of the inner link The mounting fixture 102 has a bicycle frame fastening 42 and the outer link 43 so as to move between the re- part 102a that can be fastened to the seat tube 100, a 30 tracted position and the extended position relative to the front derailleur mounting part 102b that is disposed on mounting member 40. The inner link 42 and the outer the bicycle frame fastening part 102a and that secures link 43 are pivotally coupled at their inner ends to the or fastens the front derailleur 10 in place. mounting member 40 and pivotally coupled at their outer [0019] The front derailleur mounting part 102b secures ends to the chain guide 41. The inner link 42 and the the front derailleur 10 in position so that adjustment is 35 outer link 43 are arranged so as to be generally parallel possible about a first adjustment axis X1, which is gen- to each other. Thus, the inner and outer links 42 and 43 erally parallel to the seat tube 100 and is disposed at a form a four bar linkage assembly with the mounting mem- distance from the seat tube 100. The front derailleur ber 40 and the chain guide 41 in order to move the chain mounting part 102b is formed by bending a longguide 41 between the retracted position and the extended plate-form member in the vertical direction about the first 40 position. In the present embodiment, the chain guide 41 adjustment axis X1 and includes circular arcuate surfac- has an outer plate 41 a and an inner plate 41b that define es 102c and 102d that are centered substantially on the a chain receiving slot therebetween. The outer plate 41 first adjustment axis X1. Moreover, a slot (not shown) a is disposed on the outside (the side distant from the which is used to fasten the front derailleur 10 so that seat tube 100), and the inner plate 41b is disposed on adjustment is possible in the vertical direction is formed 45 the inside. in the front derailleur mounting part 102b. The slot allows [0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the inner link 42 is disposed a first fastening bolt 33, which is used to fasten the front beneath the mounting member 40 in a state in which the derailleur 10, to pass through from a first fastening direc- mounting member 40 is mounted on the seat tube 100, tion that runs along a second mounting axis X2 orthog- and both ends of this link are connected to the mounting onal to the first adjustment axis X1. The width of the slot 50 member 40 and chain guide 41 in a manner that allows is a dimension that is considerably larger than the exter- the link to pivot freely. One end of the inner link 42 is nal diameter of the first fastening bolt 33, so that the first connected to the mounting member 40 so that the inner fastening bolt 33 can pass through at an inclination. In link 42 can swing freely. The chain guide 41 is connected another embodiment, the slot can be omitted and re- to the other end of the inner link 42 so that the chain guide placed by a circular opening, thus eliminating adjustment 55 can swing freely. in the vertical direction. [0025] The outer link 43 is a link which is disposed gen- [0020] The bicycle frame fastening part 102a has a size erally parallel to the inner link 42 and in which both ends that allows mounting on the outer circumferential surface of the link are connected to the mounting member 40 and

3 5 EP 2 572 973 A1 6 the chain guide 41 in positions that are more distant from justed and adjustment about the first adjustment axis X1 the mounting member 40 than the inner link 42 is, so that is possible. The vertical position is then adjusted so that outer link 43 can pivot freely. A cable anchoring arm 44 the gap between the addendum circle of the large-diam- is provided on the outer link 43. A cable anchoring part eter sprocket and the lower edge part of the outer plate 44a for bolting down the inner cable of the gear shift cable 5 is approximately 1 to 3 mm, and the orientation about the (not shown) is disposed on the extended distal end of first adjustment axis X1 is adjusted so that the outer plate the cable anchoring arm 44. is disposed in a position directly above the smaller- diam- [0026] Asshown in FIGS. 5-6, ascrew hole (not shown) eter sprocket and parallel to the smaller- diameter sprock- that is used for fastening by the first fastening bolt 33 in et. When the adjustments are completed, the first fasten- the direction of the axis X2 orthogonal to the first adjust- 10 ing bolt 33 is tightened. In cases where the contact mem- ment axis X1 is formed in the mounting member 40, and ber 25 does not contact the seat tube 100, a wrench is a screw hole 40d is formed along a third displacement placed in the recessed hexagonal socket in the support axis X3 that is orthogonal to the first adjustment axis X1, member 23 via an opening in the outer link 43 and the but not orthogonal to the second mounting axis X2. A support member 23 and contact member 25 are ad- support member 23, that is preferably threaded with a 15 vanced until the contact member 25 (the resilient cover recessed hexagonal socket is mounted in the screw hole 27) comes into contact with the seat tube 100. It will be 40d so that the support member 23 is free to advance appreciated by those skilled in the art that the chain guide and retract. A hexagonal recessed socket that can be 41 is more stably supported by the contact member 25 turned by an Allen key is formed in the base end of the when the chain guide 41 is in the extended position com- support member 23, and the distal end portion 23a has 20 pared to a derailleur without the contact member 15. a semi-spherical or globular shape. Mounted on the distal [0029] As is shown in FIG. 5, the support member 23 end 23a of the support member 23 is a contact member (and the third axis X3) are arranged such that they form 25 that contacts the outer circumferential surface of the an angle with the second axis X2 between about 78° to seat tube 100, as shown in FIGS. 4-6. about 86°. FIG. 5 also shows an access opening 46 so [0027] As shown in FIGS. 2-3, in a preferred embodi- 25 that a tool/wrench can be passed through the axis open- ment, the contact member 25 comprises a resilient sup- ing 46 to access the support member 23. port plate cover 27 that houses a support plate 28 and [0030] While certain aspects of the disclosure are pre- that includes a receiver member 29 that has a recess sented below in certain claim forms, the inventors con- 29a defined therein for receiving the distal end 23a of the template the various aspects of the disclosure in any support member 23. In another embodiment, the contact 30 number of claim forms. For example, while only one as- member 25 can comprise a single resilient member. In pect of the disclosure is recited as a means-plus- function other words, the support plate 28 can be omitted. Pref- claim, other aspects may likewise be embodied as a erably, the support plate cover 27 and support plate 28 means-plus-function claim, or in other forms, such as be- have an arcuate shape. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in a ing embodied in a computer-readable medium. Accord- preferred embodiment, opening 29a extends through the 35 ingly, the applicant reserves the right to add additional back surface of the support plate cover and support plate claims after filing the application to pursue such addition- 28 includes an indentation 28a in the back surface there- al claim forms for other aspects of the disclosure. of, which receives and seats the distal end 23a of the [0031] Accordingly, although exemplary embodiments support member 23. It will be understood that, in this of the invention have been shown and described, it is to embodiment, the distal end portion 23a is movably sup- 40 be understood that all the terms used herein are descrip- ported within opening 29a and that distal end portion 23a tive rather than limiting, and that many changes, modifi- and opening 29a (together with indentation 28) form a cations, and substitutions may be made by one having "ball joint" arrangement. In a preferred embodiment, the ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit resilient support plate cover 28 is made of a resilient ma- and scope of the invention. terial, such as a resin or the like, and the support plate 45 28 is made of a metal. However, this is not a limitation on the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 4-6, although Claims the arcuate shape of the contact member 25 and the components thereof (the support plate cover 27 and sup- 1. A bicycle front derailleur comprising: port plate 28) has a different diameter than that of the 50 seat tube 100, it is preferred that the contact member a chain guide configured to engage a bicycle and the seat tube can have a similar diameter so that the chain, and entire front surface of the contact member is flush against a mounting member operatively coupled to the the seat tube. chain guide, wherein the mounting member in- [0028] An example of how the front derailleur 10 of the 55 cludes a frame support structure that includes a present invention can be adjusted will now be described. contact member that is configured to contact the Initially, the first fastening bolt 33 is positioned in a lightly frame of the bicycle and a support member tightened state, so that the vertical position can be ad- mounted to the mounting member, wherein the

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contact member is supported by the support member.

2. The bicycle front derailleur of claim 1 wherein the contact member is movably connected to the support 5 member.

3. The bicycle front derailleur of claim 1 wherein the contact member comprises a support plate and a resilient cover that covers the support plate. 10

4. The bicycle front derailleur of claim 3 wherein the resilient cover is movably connected to the support member. 15 5. The bicycle front derailleur of claim 4 wherein the resilient cover includes a recess for receiving the support member.

6. The bicycle front derailleur of claim 5 wherein the 20 support member includes an end portion that is re- ceived in the recess of the resilient cover, and where- in the end portion has a semi-globular shape.

7. The bicycle front derailleur of claim 1 wherein the 25 support member extends through an opening de- fined in the mounting member, and wherein the sup- port member is movable with respect to the mounting member and within the opening. 30 8. The bicycle front derailleur of claim 4, wherein the resilient cover is made of a resin and the support plate is made of a metal.

9. The bicycle front derailleur of claim 6 wherein the 35 support plate has an indentation defined in a back surface thereof, and wherein the end portion of the support member is seated in the indentation.

10. The bicycle front derailleur of claim 1 wherein the 40 contact member has an arcuate shape.

11. The bicycle front derailleur of claim 10 wherein when the derailleur is mounted on a seat tube of a bicycle, the contact member has a different diameter than 45 the seat tube.

12. The bicycle front derailleur of claim 3 wherein the resilient cover and the support plate have an arcuate shape. 50

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REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader’s convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description

• US 20070117666 A1 [0003]

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