CHAINSTAY PROTECTOR WITH SPACED PROTRUSIONS

• US 20190315427A1
• Filed: 04/11/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components Incorporated
• Inventors: McDonald, Ryan James, McDonald, Jason Scott, Stafford, James Michael
• Granted Patent: US 11,110,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/44 Chain-guards forming part of frame chain-guards per se B62J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/286 the shock absorber being connected to the chain-stay via a linkage mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/30 pivoted on pedal crank shelf B62K25/32 takes precedence

Abstract

A bicycle includes a chainstay protector having an upper surface including a valley, a first peak, and a second peak. The first peak extends upwardly from the valley toward the chain and has a first contact surface positioned to contact the chain a first height above the valley. The second peak extends upwardly from the valley toward the chain and has a second contact surface positioned to contact the chain a second height above the valley. The first contact surface is spaced from the second contact surface by a gap that is at least 5 times the first height. Each of the first and second contact surfaces has a length that is less than the length of the gap and less than two times a pitch of the chain.

Claims

1. A bicycle comprising:

a front wheel and a rear wheel;

a chain adapted to transfer power to the rear wheel, the chain having a pitch; and

a frame supported by the front wheel and the rear wheel, the frame including a chainstay protector having an upper surface positioned below the chain, the upper surface including;

a valley;

a first peak extending upwardly from the valley toward the chain and having a first contact surface positioned to contact the chain a first height above the valley; and

a second peak extending upwardly from the valley toward the chain and having a second contact surface positioned to contact the chain a second height above the valley, the first contact surface being spaced from the second contact surface by a gap that is at least 5 times the first height.

2. A bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is no other portion of the upper surface directly between the first contact surface and the second contact surface.

3. A bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first contact surface and the second contact surface has a length that is less than two times the pitch of the chain.

4. A bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first contact surface and the second contact surface has a length that is less than the gap.

5. A bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gap is greater than or equal to approximately 8 times and less than or equal to approximately 20 times the first height.

6. A bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gap is greater than or equal to approximately 10 times and less than or equal to approximately 12 times the first height.

7. A bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chainstay protector is mounted on a chainstay member of the frame, and wherein the chainstay protector comprises:

a base portion comprising a first material; and

an upper portion secured to the base portion and defining part of the upper surface, the upper portion comprising a second material that is more resilient than the first material, wherein the base portion comprises a first opening aligned with the first peak, and wherein a first pad of the second material extends through the first opening and contacts the chainstay member.

8. A bicycle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base portion comprises a second opening aligned between the first peak and the second peak, and wherein a second pad of the second material extends through the second opening and contacts the chainstay member.

9. A bicycle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the chainstay protector has an overall length and comprises a nose portion on a front end of the chainstay protector, the nose portion not including the first material of the base portion, the nose portion having a nose length that is at least approximately 5% of the overall length.

10. A bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chainstay protector further comprises:

a third peak extending upwardly from the valley toward the chain and having a third contact surface positioned to contact the chain a third height above the valley, the third contact surface being spaced from the second contact surface by a second gap that is at least 5 times the second height; and

a fourth peak extending upwardly from the valley toward the chain and having a fourth contact surface positioned to contact the chain a fourth height above the valley, the fourth contact surface being spaced from the third contact surface by a third gap that is at least 5 times the third height, and wherein the chainstay protector comprises fewer than eight peaks.

11. A chainstay protector adapted to be mounted on a chainstay member of a bicycle and to be contacted by a chain of the bicycle, the chainstay protector comprising an upper surface adapted to be positioned below the chain, the upper surface including:

a valley;

a first peak extending upwardly from the valley toward the chain and having a first contact surface positioned to contact the chain a first height above the valley; and

a second peak extending upwardly from the valley toward the chain and having a second contact surface positioned to contact the chain a second height above the valley, the first contact surface being spaced from the second contact surface by a gap that is at least 5 times the first height.

12. A chainstay protector as claimed in claim 11, wherein there is no other portion of the upper surface directly between the first contact surface and the second contact surface.

13. A chainstay protector as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the first contact surface and the second contact surface has a length that is less than two times the pitch of the chain.

14. A chainstay protector as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the first contact surface and the second contact surface has a length that is less than the gap.

15. A chainstay protector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the gap is greater than or equal to approximately 8 times and less than or equal to approximately 20 times the first height.

16. A chainstay protector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the gap is greater than or equal to approximately 10 times and less than or equal to approximately 12 times the first height.

17. A chainstay protector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the chainstay protector comprises:

a base portion comprising a first material; and

an upper portion secured to the base portion and defining part of the upper surface, the upper portion comprising a second material that is more resilient than the first material, wherein the base portion comprises a first opening aligned with the first peak, and wherein a first pad of the second material extends through the first opening and contacts the chainstay member.

18. A chainstay protector as claimed in claim 17, wherein the base portion comprises a second opening aligned between the first peak and a second peak, and wherein a second pad of the second material extends through the second opening and contacts the chainstay member.

19. A chainstay protector as claimed in claim 18, wherein the chainstay protector has an overall length and comprises a nose portion on a front end of the chainstay protector, the nose portion not including the first material of the base portion, the nose portion having a nose length that is at least approximately 5% of the overall length.

20. A chainstay protector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the chainstay protector further comprises:

a third peak extending upwardly from the valley toward the chain and having a third contact surface positioned to contact the chain a third height above the valley, the third contact surface being spaced from the second contact surface by a second gap that is at least 5 times the second height; and

a fourth peak extending upwardly from the valley toward the chain and having a fourth contact surface positioned to contact the chain a fourth height above the valley, the fourth contact surface being spaced from the third contact surface by a third gap that is at least 5 times the third height, and wherein the chainstay protector comprises fewer than eight peaks.