Shimano Inc.

Satoru Kojima

Naohiro Nishimoto

Yoshiaki Ando

A front derailleur includes a base member for connecting to a bicycle frame, a first link pivotably connected to the base member at a first base member connection location, and a second link pivotably connected to the base member at a second base member connection location. An inner chain guide is pivotably connected to the first link at a first inner chain guide connection location and to the second link at a second inner chain guide connection location so that the inner chain guide moves laterally when the first link and the second link pivot relative to the base member. An outer chain guide is pivotably connected to at least one of the first link or the second link at a first outer chain guide connection location which differs from the corresponding first inner chain guide connection location or second inner chain guide connection location so that the outer chain guide moves laterally when the first link and the second link pivot relative to the base member.

Front derailleur with independently movable chain guide plates

A front derailleur for a bicycle has a four-point link mechanism, and a control cable is attached by a screw to an end of a connecting arm fixed to one link of the four-point link mechanism. The connecting arm has an auxiliary projection. The control cable applies a torque to the link at a point of contact between the control cable and the auxiliary projection. The screw on the connecting arm is spaced from a chain guide which contacts a chain, to facilitate an operation to attach the control cable to the connecting arm.

Front derailleur for a bicycle

A bicycle derailleur operable by a control cable to shift a chain between a large gear and a small gear, includes a parallelogram link mechanism having a base member connectable to a bicycle frame, a support member, and a pair of pivotal links extending between the support member and the base member, and a return spring for biasing the support member in one direction. A shift control member connectable to the control cable is supported by the parallelogram link mechanism to be displaceable relative thereto between a first position for contacting the parallelogram link mechanism and a second position separated therefrom. The return spring is a tension coil type spring connected at one end thereof to the shift control member and at the other end to the parallelogram link mechanism. The return spring biases the support member in one direction through the shift control member. The shift control member is operable, by an operating force applied through the control cable, to displace the support member through the return spring in a direction opposite to the direction in which the support member is biased by the return spring.

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Sakai, Japan

Satoru Kojima