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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR A CYCLE, SUCH AS A BICYCLE, AND A CYCLE HAVING SUCH A TRANSMISSION

  • US 20020084618A1
  • Filed: 12/29/2000
  • Published: 07/04/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A transmission component for a cycle having a driving crank and a driven wheel, torque being transmitted from said driving crank through a bracket, that is coupled thereto, to said wheel by an endless power band that engages said transmission component at a driving zone and that is free from said transmission component at a free zone, said transmission component being coupled to said bracket and comprising a variable configuration ring assembly that comprises:

  • a. a support; and

    b. coupled to said support, a plurality of ring components, each of which is movable from a driving position to a non-driving position, further wherein each of said ring components comprises at least one band engaging elements around a perimeter, said ring components arranged such that;

    i. if said ring component is in said driving position, said band engaging elements;

    A. form an outermost, segmented band ring;

    B. are driven circumferentially if said crank is moved in a driving direction;

    C. lie in a driving plane; and

    D. engage said band in said driving zone but are free from said band in said free zone; and

    ii. if said ring component is not in said driving position, said band engaging elements;

    A. lie out of said driving plane; and

    B. are free from said band in both said driving zone and in said free zone.

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