(19) TZZ 57 ¥_T (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 derailleur with frame support structure (57) A bicycle front derailleur (10) that includes a chain guide (41) configured to engage a bicycle chain 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 welding, [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 sprocket 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.