Endless belt power transmission systems or components – Pulley with expansible rim means or pulleys with alternately... – Structure for variably adjusting radius of rim section
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-21
2004-04-27
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Endless belt power transmission systems or components
Pulley with expansible rim means or pulleys with alternately...
Structure for variably adjusting radius of rim section
C474S160000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06726585
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gear assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new variable ratio sprocket assembly for providing improved transition between gears and eliminating derailing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of gear assemblies is known in the prior art. More specifically, gear assemblies heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,850,939; 4,961,719; 3,800,613; 4,740,190; 5,458,543; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 325,184.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new variable ratio sprocket assembly. The inventive device includes an axle providing a center for rotation coupled to a frame of the bicycle and designed to rotatably receive the rear bicycle wheel hub, a receiver includes a first diameter coupled to the rear bicycle wheel hub such that rotating the receiver rotates the rear wheel, a converter includes a second diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the receiver and slideably engages the receiver to provide a plurality of gear ratios with respect to the receiver, a driver includes a third diameter substantially greater than the second diameter of the converter and is slideably engaged by the converter such that rotating the driver in a first direction rotates the converter in a first direction which in turn rotates the receiver in a first direction which rotates the rear wheel in a first direction, and a sprocket coupled to an exterior surface of the driver designed for engaging a drive chain which rotates the sprocket.
In these respects, the variable ratio sprocket assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing improved transition between gears and eliminating derailing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of gear assemblies now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new variable ratio sprocket assembly construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing improved transition between gears and eliminating derailing.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new variable ratio sprocket assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the gear assemblies mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new variable ratio sprocket assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art gear assemblies, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an axle coupled to a frame of the bicycle providing a center for rotation, a bicycle wheel hub coupled to a rear wheel of the bicycle and designed to rotatably receive force from the sprocket assembly, a receiver includes a first diameter coupled to the bicycle wheel hub such that rotating the receiver rotates the rear wheel, a converter includes a second diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the receiver and slideably engages the receiver to provide a plurality of gear ratios with respect to the receiver, a driver includes a third diameter substantially greater than the second diameter of the converter and is slideably engaged by the converter such that rotating the driver in a first direction rotates the converter in a first direction which in turn rotates the receiver in a first direction which rotates the rear wheel, and a sprocket coupled to an exterior surface of the driver designed for engaging a drive chain which rotates the sprocket.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new variable ratio sprocket assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the gear assemblies mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new variable ratio sprocket assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art gear assemblies, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new variable ratio sprocket assembly which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new variable ratio sprocket assembly which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new variable ratio sprocket assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such variable ratio sprocket assembly economically available to the buying public.
Theory of operation
The device consists of Four main components. The first three components consist of: the Driver, the Converter, and the Receiver. The additional label of “Transmitter” may be applied to the receiver, as it is the Receiver that transmits torque received from the Driver/Converter assembly to the rear wheel of the bicycle.
The process of delivering power to the rear wheel of the bicycle, and changing gear ratios proceeds as follows.
A standard chain is wrapped around a standard sprocket attached to the pedals of the bicycle, where torque begins. The chain is then wrapped around a second sprocket at the rear of the bicycle; this second sprocket is a structured part of the Driver. The Driver is a disc with a hole in the center—a hole less-than-equal to the diameter of the Converter, which is also a disc three-quarters the diameter of the Driver. The Converter also has a hole in the center—a hole less-than-equal
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