Pipe joints or couplings – Repair
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-28
2001-08-07
Hannon, Thomas R. (Department: 3682)
Pipe joints or couplings
Repair
C285S373000, C474S080000, C474S082000, C024S285000, C024S2740WB, C248S316100, C248S541000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270124
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a band adapter for a front derailleur of a bicycle. More specifically, the present invention relates band adapter for a front derailleur of a bicycle that allows the front derailleur to be used with different sizes of bicycle frames.
2. Background Information
Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the various components of the bicycle. One part of the bicycle that has been extensively redesigned is the frame of the bicycle. In fact, each bicycle manufacturer may have several different frame designs. This presents a problem for many bicycle component manufacturers as well as for bicycle shops that carry a full line of bicycle components.
One component that is mounted to the bicycle frame is the front derailleur. Generally speaking, the front derailleur is typically secured to the seat tube of the bicycle frame. Basically, the front derailleur includes a fixed member nonmovably secured to the seat tube of the bicycle frame, and a movable section supported to be movable relative to the fixed member. The movable section supports a chain guide having a pair of vertical surfaces for contacting a chain.
The fixed member of the front derailleur is typically a tubular clamping member that encircles the seat tube of the bicycle such that the chain guide is located above the front sprockets. Since bicycle frames have a wide variety of configurations with different diameters of seat tubes, this has required bicycle component manufacturers to supply a different front derailleur for each manufacturer's frame. More specifically, the tubular clamping member of each of the front derailleurs must be made with a size according to the customer's seat tubed diameter. Typically, seat tube diameters come in three sizes. The large size diameter of seat tube is approximately 34.9 millimeters. The medium size seat tube diameter is typically approximately 31.8 millimeters. The small sized seat tube diameter is typically approximately 28.6 millimeters in diameter. This has created the problem of manufacturing, stocking and controlling inventory for at least three different kinds of front derailleur to meet the various requirements of the bicycle frame manufacturers. Moreover, in bicycle shops that supply parts, the shop has to keep all front derailleurs as replacement parts so that the dealer can sell a front derailleur for any bike with any different tube diameter.
One product that has been developed to overcome this problem is an aluminum band adapter that can be used with a front derailleur in order to allow it to be used for different tube diameters. One problem with this prior art band adapter is that it is difficult to install. In particular, the band adapter must be held on the front derailleur during assembly. This is very inconvenient when assembly a large number of front derailleurs on bicycles.
In view of the above, there exists a need for a band adapter for a front derailleur of a bicycle, which overcomes the above mentioned problems in the prior art. This invention addresses this need in the prior art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a band adapter for a front derailleur of a bicycle that can be used with many different sizes of bicycle frames.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a band adapter that is easy to install on the bicycle when installing the front derailleur.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a band adapter that is lightweight.
The foregoing objects can basically be attained by providing a band adapter for a tubular clamping member. The band adapter has an adapting member and a retaining member. The adapting member has an outer surface and a curved inner surface with a predetermined radius of curvature. The retaining member is coupled to the adapting member, and has a coupling member to fixedly secure the retaining member to the tubular clamping member.
The foregoing objects can basically be attained by providing a front derailleur for a bicycle comprising a tubular clamping member, an adapter member, a band retaining member, a chain guide and a linkage assembly. The tubular clamping member is adapted to be coupled to a portion of the bicycle. The chain guide has a chain receiving slot to shift a chain of the bicycle in a transverse direction. The linkage assembly is coupled between the chain guide and the fixed member to move the chain guide between a retracted position and an extended position.
The band adapter decreases the effective clamping diameter of a tubular clamping member. The adapting member having an outer surface and a curved inner surface with a predetermined radius of curvature. The retaining member is coupled to the adapting member. The retaining member has a coupling member to fixedly secure the retaining member to the tubular clamping member.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention.
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patent: 19703933 (1998-08-01), None
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Charles Marcus
Hannon Thomas R.
Shimano Inc.
Shinjyu Global IP Counselors, LLP
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