Bicycle crank assembly

• US 10,000,253 B1
• Filed: 11/25/2016
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Tetsuka, Toshio, Furuya, Takashi, Mori, Shintaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers, Adam D
• Application Number:
  US15/361,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20180148126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/41 characterised by the type of sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/421 at the pedal crank
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 1/36 with rotary cranks, e.g. with pedal cranks B62M1/34 takes precedence; combined with reciprocating levers B62M1/26; cranks which can be immobilised as foot rests B62M5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 3/00 Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 3/16 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 23/00 Specially shaped nuts or heads of bolts or screws for rotations by a tool detachable ornamental heads for screws A47G3/00; screwdrivers, wrenches B25B
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 23/0061 with grooves, notches or splines on the external peripheral surface designed for tools engaging in radial direction F16B23/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 9/054 the intermediate member being threaded

Abstract

A crank arm fixing ring is basically provided with a cylindrical mounting portion and a contact portion. The cylindrical mounting portion includes an external thread configured to screw into a crankshaft. The contact portion extends radially outwardly from the cylindrical mounting portion. The contact portion is configured to contact a crank arm upon attachment of the crank arm with the crank arm fixing ring. The contact portion includes at least one cutout extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical mounting portion. The at least one cutout is configured to receive a transmission line extending through the cylindrical mounting portion.

Claims

1. A crank arm fixing ring comprising:

a cylindrical mounting portion including an external thread configured to screw into a crankshaft, the cylindrical mounting portion having a first end and a second end; and

a contact portion including at least one tool engagement protrusion extending axially from the second end of the cylindrical mounting portion and extending radially outwardly with respect to the second end of the cylindrical mounting portion, the at least one tool engagement protrusion being configured to contact a crank arm upon attachment of the crank arm with the crank arm fixing ring, the contact portion including at least one cutout extending axially and radially outwardly from the second end of the cylindrical mounting portion and configured to receive a transmission line extending through the cylindrical mounting portion.

2. The crank arm fixing ring according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one cutout of the contact portion includes a plurality of the cutouts.

3. The crank arm fixing ring according to claim 2, wherein

the at least one tool engagement protrusion includes a plurality of tool engagement protrusions and the cutouts are arranged to define the plurality of tool engagement protrusions.

4. The crank arm fixing ring according to claim 3, wherein

the tool engagement protrusions are equally spaced apart in a circumferential direction.

5. The crank arm fixing ring according to claim 3, wherein

at least two of the tool engagement protrusions are diametrically disposed.

6. The crank arm fixing ring according to claim 1, wherein

the cylindrical mounting portion and the contact portion are integrally formed as a one-piece member.

7. The crank arm fixing ring according to claim 1, wherein

the cylindrical mounting portion and the contact portion are made of a metallic material.

8. The crank arm fixing ring according to claim 1, wherein

the cylindrical mounting portion and the contact portion are made of a non-metallic material.

19. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the cylindrical mounting portion and the contact portion are integrally formed as a one-piece member.

9. A bicycle crank assembly comprising:

a crankshaft having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion having an opening with an internal thread, the opening leading to an interior space of the crankshaft;

a crank arm including a crankshaft receiving opening with the second end portion of the crankshaft disposed in the crankshaft receiving opening;

a crank arm fixing ring securing the crank arm to the second end portion of the crankshaft, the crank arm fixing ring comprising;

a cylindrical mounting portion including an external thread screwed into the internal thread of the crankshaft; and

a contact portion contacting the crank arm, the contact portion including at least one cutout extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical mounting portion; and

a transmission line extending into the cylindrical mounting portion of the crank arm fixing ring and out of the cylindrical mounting portion of the crank arm fixing ring via the at least one cutout.

10. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 9, further comprising

a first electrical unit disposed in the interior space of the crankshaft;

and

a second electrical unit disposed on the crank arm, the first electrical unit being electrically connected to the second electrical unit by the transmission line.

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

the crank arm has an internal cavity and the transmission line extends into the internal cavity of the crank arm.

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

the crank arm has a bore extending from the internal cavity to the crankshaft receiving opening, the transmission line extends through the bore.

13. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 12, further comprising

an outer cap disposed in the crankshaft receiving opening and concealing the crank arm fixing ring and a portion of the transmission line extending out of the bore and into an area of the crankshaft receiving opening.

14. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 9, further comprising

an additional crank arm secured to the first end portion of the crankshaft.

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

the additional crank arm includes a sprocket mounting structure with at least one sprocket mounted on the sprocket mounting structure.

16. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 9, wherein

the at least one cutout of the contact portion includes a plurality of the cutouts.

17. The bicycle crank assembly according to claim 16, wherein

the cutouts are arranged to define a plurality of tool engagement protrusions.

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

the tool engagement protrusions are equally spaced apart in a circumferential direction.