Bicycle sprocket

• US 7,967,709 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Nonoshita, Tetsu, Emura, Atsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Siconolfi; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOMPER, ANNA M
• Application Number:
  US11/745,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20070265122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,512 Days
• Field of Search: 474/260, 474/261, 474/162, 474/164, 474/902, 474152-153, 474155-158, 474160-161
• US Class Current: 474/161
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/105 involving front sprocket chain-wheels engaged by the chain, belt or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/30 Chain-wheels

Abstract

A bicycle sprocket is provided with a metallic sprocket ring part and a non-metallic inner ring part. The metallic sprocket ring part has a crank facing surface, an opposing surface, an inner periphery and an outer periphery with a plurality of sprocket teeth arranged thereon. The sprocket ring part includes at least one connecting portion integrally formed with the sprocket ring part as a one-piece, unitary member. The non-metallic inner ring part at least partially overlaps the inner periphery of the metallic sprocket ring part to at least partially non-movably couple the non-metallic inner ring part to the metallic sprocket ring part with at least one selected portion being absent of the non-metallic inner ring part to allow relative elastic deformation between the metallic sprocket ring part and the non-metallic inner ring in an axial direction.

Claims

1. A bicycle sprocket comprising:

a metallic sprocket ring part having a crank facing surface, an opposing surface, an inner periphery and an outer periphery with a plurality of sprocket teeth arranged thereon, the sprocket ring part including at least one connecting portion integrally formed with the sprocket ring part as a one-piece, unitary member, with the at least one connecting portion defining a plurality of fastener receiving holes, each of the fastener receiving holes having a maximum circumferential width extending between first and second circumferential end points with respect to a circumferential direction of the metallic sprocket ring; and

a non-metallic inner ring part at least partially overlapping the inner periphery, the crank facing surface and the opposing surface of the metallic sprocket ring part to at least partially non-movably couple the non-metallic inner ring part to the metallic sprocket ring part with the at least one connecting portion that surrounds the fastener receiving holes being absent of the non-metallic inner ring part to allow relative elastic deformation between the metallic sprocket ring part and the non-metallic inner ring in an axial direction,

the non-metallic inner ring part being disposed radially inward of the fastener receiving holes with respect to an axis of rotation of the bicycle sprocket, the metallic sprocket ring part being entirely free of the non-metallic inner ring part in areas located radially outward of and adjacent to the fastener receiving holes and located in between radically extending lines that extend from the first and second circumferential end points of each of the fastener receiving holes to an outer periphery edge of the metallic sprocket ring part, the non-metallic inner ring part not overlapping at least the crank facing surface at the locations of the fastener receiving holes.

2. The bicycle sprocket as recited in claim 1, wherein

the inner periphery of the sprocket ring part has a radial inner surface meeting with a radial outer surface of the inner ring part in a corresponding axial extent of the sprocket ring part.

3. The bicycle sprocket as recited in claim 1, wherein

the inner ring part and the sprocket ring part have at least one lateral portion where both parts are flush.

4. The bicycle sprocket as recited in claim 1, wherein

the inner ring part is constructed of a polyamide-based synthetic resin impregnated with a carbon fiber filler.

5. The bicycle sprocket as recited in claim 1, wherein

the sprocket ring part is constructed of a titanium alloy.

6. The bicycle sprocket as recited in claim 1, wherein

the sprocket ring part is constructed of a die punched metal plate having an annular ring shape with the sprocket teeth formed on the other periphery thereof.

7. The bicycle sprocket as recited in claim 1, wherein

the connecting portion includes at least one integral metallic bent ribbed portion.

8. A bicycle sprocket comprising:

a metallic sprocket ring part having a crank facing surface, an opposing surface, an inner periphery, and an outer periphery with a plurality of sprocket teeth arranged, the metallic sprocket ring including at least one connecting portion integrally formed with the sprocket ring part as a one-piece unitary member, with the at least one connecting portion defining a plurality of fastener receiving holes, each of the fastener receiving holes having a maximum circumferential width extending between first and second circumferential end points with respect to a circumferential direction of the metallic sprocket ring; and

a non-metallic inner ring part at least partially overlapping the inner periphery, the crank facing surface and the opposing surface of the sprocket ring part to at least partially non-movably couple the non-metallic inner ring part to the sprocket ring part with the at least one connecting portion that surrounds the fastener receiving holes being absent of the non-metallic inner ring part to allow relative elastic deformation between the metallic sprocket ring part and the non-metallic inner ring in an axial direction,

the non-metallic inner ring part having a smaller sprocket facing surface and an opposing surface, with at least one chain guiding recess formed on the smaller sprocket facing surface of the inner ring part, and the non-metallic inner ring part being disposed radially inward of the fastener receiving holes with respect to an axis of rotation of the bicycle sprocket, the metallic sprocket ring part being entirely free of the non-metallic inner ring part in areas located radially and adjacent to the fastener receiving holes and located in between radically extending lines that extend from the first and second circumferential end points of each of the fastener receiving holes to an outer periphery edge of the metallic sprocket ring part, the non-metallic inner ring part not overlapping at least the crank facing surface at the locations of the fastener receiving holes.

9. The bicycle sprocket as recited in claim 8, wherein

the at least one chain guiding recess includes at least one of a shift operation assisting recess and a torsion preventing recess.

10. The bicycle sprocket as recited in claim 9, wherein

the inner periphery of the sprocket ring part has a radial inner surface aligned with a radial outer surface of the inner ring part in a corresponding axial extent of the sprocket ring part.

11. The bicycle sprocket as recited in claim 9, wherein

the inner ring part and the sprocket ring part have at least one lateral portion where both parts are flush.

12. The bicycle sprocket as recited in claim 9, wherein

the inner ring part is constructed of a polyamide-based synthetic resin impregnated with a carbon fiber filler.

13. The bicycle sprocket as recited in claim 9, wherein

the sprocket ring part is constructed of a titanium alloy.

14. The bicycle sprocket as recited in claim 9, wherein

the sprocket ring part is constructed of a die punched metal plate having an annular ring shape with the sprocket teeth formed on the other periphery thereof.

15. The bicycle sprocket as recited in claim 9, wherein

the connecting portion includes at least one integral metallic bent ribbed portion.