Positioning device for a derailleur for a bicycle

• US 4,861,320 A
• Filed: 01/25/1988
• Issued: 08/29/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimaono Industrial Company Limited (Shimano Inc)
• Original Assignee: Shimaono Industrial Company Limited (Shimano Inc)
• Inventors: Nagano, Masashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Massie, Jerome W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US07/147,512
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 474/80, 474/82
• US Class Current: 474/80
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/127 Mounting or guiding of cables

Abstract

A positioning device is provided for a bicycle derailleur, wherein a fixing member, having a bottom wall and a side wall, has a movable member movably supported thereto, with a plurality of engaging portions for setting the speed change stages of the bicycle being provided at one of the fixing member and the movable member and a retainer engageable with one of the engaging portions being provided at the other of the fixing member and the movable member. Connecting mechanisms are provided at the fixing member and movable member for connecting the positioning device to two members of the derailleur linkage mechanism which are movable relative to each other so that the positioning device is detachably mountable to the derailleur.

Claims

1. A positioning device for a bicycle derailleur which is provided with a linkage mechanism which is deformed by operation of a control wire for changing the bicycle speed, said positioning device comprising:

(a) a fixing member having a bottom wall and a side wall rising therefrom, said fixing member further comprising one of a fixture for securing one end portion of said control wire and an outer sheath holder for holding an outer sheath guiding said control wire,

(b) a moving member supported to said fixing member to be movable relative thereto, said moving member further including the other of said fixture and said outer sheath holdler,

(c) one of said fixing member and said moving member comprising a plurality of engaging portions for setting speed change stages of the bicycle,

(d) the other of said fixing member and said moving member comprising a retainer selectively engageable with at least one of said engaging portions,

(e) first coupling means for coupling said fixing member to one of two members at said linkage mechanism movable relative to each other when said linkage mechanism is deformed; and

(f) second coupling means for coupling said moving member to the other of said two members.

2. A positioning device according to claim 1, wherein one of said fixing member and said moving member comprises a fixture for fixing one end of said control wire and the other of said fixing member and said moving member comprises an outer sheath holder for an outer sheath for guiding said control wire.

3. A positioning device according to claim 1, wherein said retainer is supported at said side wall of said fixing member, said moving member has a surface disposed opposite to said side wall and said surface comprises said engaging portions.

4. A positioning device according to claim 3, wherein said fixing member has a guide portion for guiding movement of said moving member relative thereto.

5. A positioning device according to claim 1, wherein said first connecting means comprises a first shaft and said second connecting means comprises a second shaft.

7. A positioning device according to claim 5, wherein both said first and said second shaft are threaded shafts having screw threads.

8. A positioning device according to claim 5, wherein both said first shaft and said second shaft are straight shafts each having a retaining portion, the linkage mechanism of the derailleur comprising holding means elastically shiftable for elastically engaging with said retaining portion, whereby both said first shaft and said second shaft are detachably mounted to said linkage mechanism.

9. A positioning device according to claim 1, further comprising means for holding said retainer at said moving member, and wherein said engaging portions are provided at said fixing member.

11. A positioning device according to claim 9, wherein said fixing member has opposite side walls to form a substantially box-shaped fixing member, said engaging portions are formed at both said opposite side walls.

12. A positioning device according to claim 1, wherein said fixing member has a substantially box-shaped configuration, said moving member is housed in said fixing member and said fixing member includes a cover for closing an opening in said substantially box-shaped configuration of said fixing member.

6. A positioning device for a bicycle derailleur which is provided with a linkage mechanism which is deformed by operation of a control wire for changing the bicycle speed, said positioning device comprising:

(a) a fixing member having a bottom wall and a side wall rising therefrom,

(b) a moving member supported to said fixing member to be movable relative thereto,

(c) one of said fixing member and said moving member comprising a plurality of engaging portions for setting speed change stages of the bicycle,

(d) the other of said fixing member and said moving member comprising a retainer selectively engageable with at least one of said engaging portions,

(e) first coupling means for coupling said fixing member to one of two members at said linkage mechanism movable relative to each other when said linkage mechanism is deformed; and

(f) second coupling means for coupling said moving member to the other of said two members,

wherein said first coupling means comprises a first shaft and said second coupling means comprises a second shaft, and wherein said fixing member has an arm supported rotatably adjustably at a position which is spaced apart from a mounting position of said first shaft, said first shaft being fixed to an utmost end of said arm, a position of said first shaft with respect to said fixing member being adjustable responsive to rotational adjustment of said arm.

10. A positioning device for a bicycle derailleur which is provided with a linkage mechanism which is deformed by operation of a control wire for changing the bicycle speed, said positioning device comprising:

(a) a fixing member having a bottom wall and a side wall rising therefrom,

(b) a moving member supported to said fixing member to be movable relative thereto,

(c) one of said fixing member and said moving member comprising a plurality of engaging portions for setting speed change stages of the bicycle,

(d) the other of said fixing member and said moving member comprising a retainer selectively engageable with at least one of said engaging portions,

(e) first coupling means for coupling said fixing member to one of two members at said linkage mechanism movable relative to each other when said linkage mechanism is deformed;

(f) second connecting means for connecting said moving member to the other of said two members,

(g) means for holding said retainer at said moving member, wherein said engaging portions are provided at said fixing member, said fixing member has opposite side walls to form a substantially box-shaped fixing member, said engaging portions are formed at one of said opposite side walls, and the other of said side walls comprises a guide portion for guiding movement of said moving member relative to said fixing member.

13. A positioning device for a bicycle derailleur which is provided with a linkage mechanism which is deformed by operation of a control wire for changing the bicycle speed, said positioning device comprising:

a fixing member having a bottom wall and a side wall rising therefrom;

a moving member movable relative to said fixing member, said fixing member and said moving member being coupled together such that they are movable relative to each other,

one of said fixing member and said moving member including a plurality of engaging portions for setting speed change stages of the bicycle;

the other of said fixing member and said moving member including a retainer selectively engagable with said engaging portions, said fixing member and said moving member defining a positioning unit; and

a coupling means for detachably coupling said positioning unit to the derailleur, said coupling means including a first coupling means for coupling said fixing member to one of two members at said linkage mechanism movable relative to each other when said linkage mechanism is deformed, and a second coupling means for coupling said moving member to the other of said two members at said linkage mechanism, at least one of said first coupling means and said second coupling means including a projecting member and a receiving member including a receiving portion for receiving therein said projecting member, one of said projecting member and said receiving member being coupled to one of said fixing member and said moving member and the other of said projecting member and said receiving member being adapted to be coupled to one of said two members at said linkage mechanism, said coupling means further comprising a holding means provided between said projecting member and said receiving member for enabling said projecting member to detachably engage with said receiving portion, said holding means including means for enabling said at least one of said first coupling means and said second coupling means to elastically shift in position when said projecting member is engaged with said receiving portion.