IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,905,878
Granted Patent B2
US 8,905,878 · App. 13/015,681 · Granted Dec 9, 2014

Bicycle sprocket assembly

Inventors: Norman Loy (Queenstown, SG); Boon Keong Lim (Pasir Ris, SG)
Assignee: Shimano (Singapore) PTE., Ltd.
B62M9/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,905,878
App. No.
13/015,681
Granted
Dec 9, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bicycle sprocket assembly is provided with at least a first sprocket and a first axial spacer. The first sprocket includes a first sprocket mounting portion, a plurality of first sprocket arms extending radially from the first sprocket mounting portion and a first chain engaging portion disposed on radial outer ends of the first sprocket arms. The first chain engaging portion includes a plurality of first teeth. The first axial spacer is disposed on a first sprocket side surface of the first sprocket. The first axial spacer has a first spacer mounting portion and a plurality of first spacer arms extending radially from the first spacer mounting portion. The first spacer arms are partially visible from an axial view of a second sprocket side surface that faces in an opposite direction from the first sprocket side surface.

Claims (61)

1. A bicycle sprocket assembly comprising:

a first sprocket including an annular first sprocket mounting portion, a plurality of first sprocket arms extending radially outward from the first sprocket mounting portion and a first chain engaging portion disposed on radial outer ends of the first sprocket arms, the first chain engaging portion including a plurality of first teeth; and

a first axial spacer disposed on a first sprocket side surface of the first sprocket, the first axial spacer having a first spacer mounting portion and a plurality of first spacer arms extending radially from the first spacer mounting portion, the first spacer arms being partially visible from an axial view of a second sprocket side surface that faces in an opposite direction from the first sprocket side surface, the first spacer mounting portion and the plurality of first spacer arms forming a one-piece, unitary member.

2. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the first spacer arms have circumferential widths extending in a circumferential direction of the bicycle sprocket assembly so that the circumferential widths of the first spacer arms are larger than circumferential widths of the first sprocket arms at a corresponding radial position along the radial direction of each of the first spacer arms.

3. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising

a second sprocket including a second sprocket mounting portion, a plurality of second sprocket arms extending radially from the second sprocket mounting portion and a second chain engaging portion disposed on radial outer ends of the second sprocket arms, the second chain engaging portion including a plurality of second teeth, the second chain engaging portion having a total number of the second teeth being less than a total number of the first teeth,

the first axial spacer being disposed between the first and second sprockets.

4. A bicycle sprocket assembly comprising:

a first sprocket including a first sprocket mounting portion, a plurality of first sprocket arms extending radially from the first sprocket mounting portion and a first chain engaging portion disposed on radial outer ends of the first sprocket arms, the first chain engaging portion including a plurality of first teeth;

a second sprocket including a second sprocket mounting portion, a plurality of second sprocket arms extending radially from the second sprocket mounting portion and a second chain engaging portion disposed on radial outer ends of the second sprocket arms, the second chain engaging portion including a plurality of second teeth, the second chain engaging portion having a total number of the second teeth being less than a total number of the first teeth;

a first axial spacer disposed on a first sprocket side surface of the first sprocket between the first sprocket and the second sprocket, the first axial spacer having a first spacer mounting portion and a plurality of first spacer arms extending radially from the first spacer mounting portion, the first spacer arms being partially visible from an axial view of a second sprocket side surface that faces in an opposite direction from the first sprocket side surface;

a third sprocket including a third sprocket mounting portion, a plurality of third sprocket arms extending radially from the third sprocket mounting portion and a third chain engaging portion disposed on radial outer ends of the third sprocket arms, the third chain engaging portion including a plurality of third teeth, the third chain engaging portion having a total number of the third teeth being less than the total number of the second teeth; and

a second axial spacer disposed between the second and third sprockets, the second axial spacer having an annular second spacer mounting portion and a plurality of second spacer arms extending radially outward from the second spacer mounting portion.

5. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 4 , wherein

the second spacer arms have circumferential widths extending in a circumferential direction of the bicycle sprocket assembly so that the circumferential widths of the second spacer arms are larger than circumferential widths of the second sprocket arms at a corresponding radial position along the radial direction of each of the second spacer arms.

6. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 4 , further comprising

additional sprockets that are smaller than the first, second and third sprockets with the first sprocket having a largest maximum diameter in the bicycle sprocket assembly.

7. A bicycle sprocket assembly comprising:

a first sprocket including a first sprocket mounting portion, a plurality of first sprocket arms extending radially from the first sprocket mounting portion and a first chain engaging portion disposed on radial outer ends of the first sprocket arms, the first chain engaging portion including a plurality of first teeth;

a second sprocket including a second sprocket mounting portion, a plurality of second sprocket arms extending radially from the second sprocket mounting portion and a second chain engaging portion disposed on radial outer ends of the second sprocket arms, the second chain engaging portion including a plurality of second teeth, the second chain engaging portion having a total number of the second teeth being less than a total number of the first teeth; and

a first axial spacer disposed on a first sprocket side surface of the first sprocket between the first sprocket and the second sprocket, the first axial spacer having a first spacer mounting portion and a plurality of first spacer arms extending radially from the first spacer mounting portion, the first spacer arms being partially visible from an axial view of a second sprocket side surface that faces in an opposite direction from the first sprocket side surface,

the second sprocket including a total number of the second sprocket arms that is less than a total number of the first sprocket arms of the first sprocket.

8. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 4 , wherein

the second sprocket includes a total number of the second sprocket arms that is less than a total number of the first sprocket arms of the first sprocket.

9. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 8 , wherein

the third sprocket include a total number of the third sprocket arms that is less than the total number of the first sprocket arms of the first sprocket.

10. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 4 , wherein

the second sprocket includes a total number of the second sprocket arms that is less than a total number of the first sprocket arms of the first sprocket so that the second sprocket has at least one missing-arm portion,

the third sprocket includes a total number of the third sprocket arms of the third sprocket that is less than the total number of the first sprocket arms of the first sprocket so that the third sprocket has at least one missing-arm portion, and

at least one of the second sprocket arms is aligned with the missing-arm portion of the third sprocket and at least one of the third sprocket arms is aligned with the missing-arm portion of the second sprocket in an assembled state.

11. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 10 , wherein

each of the second and third sprockets has a plurality of the missing-arm portions, respectively, and

the second sprocket arms are aligned with the missing-arm portions of the third sprocket, and the third sprocket arms are aligned with the missing-arm portions of the second sprocket in the assembled state.

12. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 11 , wherein

the second sprocket arms and the missing-arm portions of the second sprocket alternate with respect to each other in a circumferential direction of the bicycle sprocket assembly, and

the third sprocket arms and the missing-arm portions of the third sprocket alternate with respect to each other in the circumferential direction of the bicycle sprocket assembly.

13. A bicycle sprocket assembly comprising:

a first sprocket including a first sprocket mounting portion, a plurality of first sprocket arms extending radially from the first sprocket mounting portion and a first chain engaging portion disposed on radial outer ends of the first sprocket arms, the first chain engaging portion including a plurality of first teeth;

a second sprocket including a second sprocket mounting portion, a plurality of second sprocket arms extending radially from the second sprocket mounting portion and a second chain engaging portion disposed on radial outer ends of the second sprocket arms, the second chain engaging portion including a plurality of second teeth, the second chain engaging portion having a total number of the second teeth being less than a total number of the first teeth; and

a third sprocket including a third sprocket mounting portion, a plurality of third sprocket arms extending radially from the third sprocket mounting portion and a third chain engaging portion disposed on radial outer ends of the third sprocket arms, the third chain engaging portion including a plurality of third teeth, the third chain engaging portion having a total number of the third teeth being less than a total number of the second teeth;

the second sprocket including a total number of the second sprocket arms that is less than a total number of the first sprocket arms of the first sprocket so that the second sprocket has at least one missing-arm portion,

the third sprocket including a total number of the third sprocket arms of the third sprocket that is less than the total number of the first sprocket arms of the first sprocket so that the third sprocket has at least one missing-arm portion, and

at least one of the second sprocket arms being aligned with the missing-arm portion of the third sprocket, and at least one of the third sprocket arms being aligned with the missing-arm portion of the second sprocket in the assembled state.

14. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 13 , wherein

each of the second and third sprockets has a plurality of the missing-arm portions, respectively.

15. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 14 , wherein

the second sprocket arms are aligned with the missing-arm portions of the third sprocket, and the third sprocket arms are aligned with the missing-arm portions of the second sprocket in an assembled state.

16. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 15 , wherein

the second sprocket arms and the missing-arm portions of the second sprocket alternate with respect to each other in a circumferential direction of the bicycle sprocket assembly, and

the third sprocket arms and the missing-arm portions of the third sprocket alternate with respect to each other in the circumferential direction of the bicycle sprocket assembly.

17. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 13 , further comprising

a first axial spacer disposed between the first and second sprockets and on a first sprocket side surface of the first sprocket that faces the second sprocket, the first axial spacer having a first spacer mounting portion and a plurality of first spacer arms extending radially from the first spacer mounting portion, the first spacer arms being partially visible from an axial view of a second sprocket side surface that faces in an opposite direction from the first sprocket side surface.

18. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 17 , wherein

the first spacer arms having circumferential widths extending in a circumferential direction of the bicycle sprocket assembly so that the circumferential widths of the first spacer arms are larger than circumferential widths of the first sprocket arms at a corresponding radial position along the radial direction of each of the first spacer arms.

19. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 18 , further comprising

a second axial spacer disposed between the second and third sprockets, the second axial spacer having a second spacer mounting portion and a plurality of second spacer arms extending radially from the second spacer mounting portion, the second spacer arms having circumferential widths extending in a circumferential direction of the bicycle sprocket assembly so that the circumferential widths of the second spacer arms are larger than circumferential widths of the second sprocket arms at a corresponding radial position along the radial direction of each of the second spacer arms.

20. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 19 , further comprising

additional sprockets that are smaller than the first, second and third sprockets with the first sprocket having a largest maximum diameter in the bicycle sprocket assembly.

21. The bicycle sprocket assembly according to claim 13 , wherein

the first sprocket mounting portion is an annular portion having the first sprocket arms extending radially outward therefrom.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2011
From: LOY, NORMAN; LIM, BOON KEONG
To: SHIMANO (SINGAPORE) PTE., LTD.
Reel/Frame 025710/0406 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120196711A1 · Aug 2, 2012