Shimano Industrial Co., Ltd.

Shimano Inc.

Masashi Nagano

Mitsuhide Isobe

Hideaki Fujimoto

Shinpei Okajima

Masanori Sugimoto

Koya Sonoi

Kazuhisa Yamashita

Tsuyoshi Sakashita

Yuji Nakashima

Etsuyoshi Watarai

Keiichi Sawada

Tetufumi Egami

Toshio Mizuno

Yoshihiko Nakamura

Itsuo Someya

A rear bicycle derailleur includes a base member, a movable member, a guide arm and a tension arm. The base member is adapted to be mounted to a bicycle frame. The movable member is movably coupled to the base member, preferably via a linkage, to move between a retracted position and an extended position. The guide arm is pivotally coupled to the movable member around a first axis and has a guide sprocket. The tension arm is pivotally coupled to the movable member around a second axis and has a tension sprocket. Preferably, the guide arm is freely pivotal about the first axis without being rotationally biased, while the tension arm is rotationally biased by a biasing member about the second axis. Preferably, the guide arm and the tension arm are configured and arranged to move independently of each other.

Rear derailleur

A bicycle pedal system with adaptable pedal thread surfaces includes a pedal (3) having a first tread surface (4) and an adapter (5) attachable to the first tread surface. The adapter defines a second tread surface (7) opposite to a surface thereof facing the first tread surface when the adapter is attached to the first tread surface. The first and second tread surfaces provide different use modes. The first tread surface (4) includes a cleat engaging device (4a) for engaging a cleat, and the second tread surface (7) defines an antislip device (16) suited to treading by a shoe. In an alternative pedal system, the first tread surface (14) defines an antislip device (16) suited to treading by a shoe, and the second tread surface (19) includes a cleat engaging device (20, 21).

Bicycle pedal system having variable tread surfaces

A connecting structure between a bicycle pedal and a cleat, comprising hooks pivotably supported by a pedal body for engaging and releasing the cleat, and an urging device for urging the hooks toward engaging positions. The object is to allow the cleat to be released with increased reliability when, for example, the cyclist falls over with his shoe becoming obliquely inclined relative to the pedal. A first cam mechanism is provided between each of the hooks and the cleat for causing the hook to pivot in a releasing direction when the cleat is inclined about a first imaginary axis extending substantially along a direction of pivotal movement of the hooks. The first cam mechanism includes a first pressed edge defined on one of the hooks and opposed to the cleat, and a first pressing edge defined on the cleat and opposed to one of the hooks for slidable contact with the first pressed edge. The first pressed edge and first pressing edge overlap each other as seen in a direction perpendicular to a tread of the pedal body.

Connecting structure between bicycle pedal and cleat, bicycle pedal and

A brake control apparatus for a bicycle. The appratus has a control lever operatively connected with a control cable for pulling the cable and a force transmission ratio adjuster mechanism for adjusting a force transmission ratio in association with an operation of the control lever. The force transmission ratio is defined as a ratio obtained by dividing an output force from the cable associated with application of a unit input force to a certain lever position of the control lever. With the appratus of the invention, this force transmission ratio is so determined as to have a maximum value at a position during an entire stroke of the lever between a stroke start end and a stroke finish end and the maximum value position is on the side of the finish end after a play stroke on the side of the start end.

Brake control apparatus for bicycle

A connecting structure between a bicycle pedal and a cleat is formed of hooks pivotably supported by a pedal body for engaging and releasing the cleat, and an urging device for urging the hooks toward engaging positions. A first cam mechanism is provided between each of the hooks and the cleat for causing the hook to pivot in a releasing direction when the cleat is inclined about a first imaginary axis extending substantially along a direction of pivotal movement of the hooks. The first cam mechanism includes a first pressed edge defined on one of the hooks and opposed to the cleat, and a first pressing edge defined on the cleat and opposed to one of the hooks for slidable contact with the first pressed edge. The first pressed edge and first pressing edge overlap each other as seen in a direction perpendicular to the pedal body tread.

A bicycle pedal system with adaptable pedal tread surfaces includes a pedal (3) having a first tread surface (4) and an adapter (5) attachable to the first tread surface. The adapter defines a second tread surface (7) opposite to a surface thereof facing the first tread surface when the adapter is attached to the first tread surface. The first and second tread surfaces provide different use modes. The first tread surface (4) includes a cleat engaging device (4a) for engaging a cleat, and the second tread surface (7) defines an antislip device (16) suited to treading by a shoe. In an alternative pedal system, the first tread surface (14) defines an antislip device (16) suited to treading by a shoe, and the second tread surface (19) includes a cleat engaging device (20, 21).

An apparatus for coupling a cleat has a pedal shaft for rotatably supporting a pedal, a tread surface extending parallel to the pedal shaft for contacting a bottom of a shoe, a first pivotal axis provided on the pedal, and a first cleat clamp pivotable about the first pivotal axis. The first cleat clamp includes a recess for engaging one end of the cleat until a force exceeding a predetermined value is applied thereto. Further, this apparatus has a second cleat clamp opposed to the first cleat clamp across the pedal shaft, and a pair of restrictor projections disposed between the second cleat clamp and the pedal shaft for restricting displacement to the cleat. The second cleat clamp cooperates with the first cleat clamp to couple the cleat to the pedal. The restrictor projections are spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than a width along the pedal shaft of a portion of the cleat for contacting the restrictor projections. Thus, the cleat is allowed to oscillate freely on the tread surface through the distance between the resistors projections and about the recess.

Bicycle cleat coupling structure

A bicycle brake lever mechanism having a bracket mountable to a bicycle handlebar, a lever mounted for pivotal movement to the bracket and a brake cable connector connected to the lever. The cable connector is connected to the lever via an adjusting mechanism for so that the return position of the brake lever relative to a lever bracket may be adjusted to accommodate various sized hands. Further, the adjusting mechanism allows for adjustment of a lever ratio A which is defined mathematically by the distance between the pivot point of the lever and the pivot point of the cable connector on the lever divided by the distance from a set point on the brake lever to the pivot point of the lever.

Bicycle brake lever mechanism

A bicycle pedal including a front engaging device and a rear engaging device arranged with a cleat bearing surface therebetween in a fore and aft direction of the pedal for engaging the cleat. The rear engaging device is pivotable about a pivotal axis extending parallel to a pedal shaft, and is urged by an urging element in a direction to engage the cleat. The rear engaging device includes a first split part for engaging the cleat, and a second split part attached to the pedal for supporting the first split part. The first split part is movable with the cleat in an engaged position, relative to the second split part within a predetermined range in a direction traversing the fore and aft direction of the pedal. The first split part includes a contact surface for pressing the cleat from above, and a plurality of engaging surfaces spaced from each other along the pedal shaft for pressing the cleat in a pivoting direction around the pivotal axis, i.e. in the fore and aft direction of the pedal. When the cleat is turned on the pedal surface about a point adjacent a front engaging point in the direction traversing the fore and aft direction of the pedal, a restoring force acts on the cleat to return the cleat to an original position. The restoring force is produced by a relationship between one of the engaging surfaces of the first split part pressing the cleat and a center of pivotal movement of the first split part.

Apparatus for securing a shoe to a bicycle pedal

A cycling shoe having a bottom sole. The bottom sole includes a plate member having a cleat-attaching portion and a cover member for covering at least a cleat-attaching area including the cleat-attaching portion and its periphery of the plate member. A portion of the cover member overlapping the cleat-attaching area is rendered removable.

Cycling shoe having a sole with a removable portion

A quick release apparatus includes a tightening shaft including a screw portion at one end thereof, a tightening control lever mounted on the other end of the tightening shaft, and a clamp mounted on the screw portion. The clamp includes a nut meshed with the screw portion, a contact element axially movable relative to the nut and including a surface for contacting an object, and an elastic element disposed between the nut and the contact element. The contact element and nut are disposed coaxially with the tightening shaft to be rotatable relative to each other around the tightening shaft. This quick release apparatus further includes a displacement amplifying link mechanism such as a single lever mechanism for amplifying a relative axial displacement between the nut and contact element. A subtle relative displacement between the nut and contact element is presented as an enlarged displacement for observation purposes.

Quick release apparatus for a bicycle

A sprocket assembly for a bicycle having a large sprocket and a small sprocket. The large sprocket includes chain support projections formed on the side surface opposed to the small sprocket. Each projection includes a contact portion defining a contact surface for contacting, without meshing, a lower end of a chain shifted from the small sprocket to the large sprocket. The chain support means are arranged for causing the contact surface to contact the chain engaging the small sprocket and pick up the chain radially outwardly of the large sprocket during a chain shift from the small sprocket to the large sprocket.

Growing community of inventors

Izumi, Japan

Masashi Nagano