Patents by Inventor Jean-Pierre Mercat
Jean-Pierre Mercat has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20070046097Abstract: A tension-spoke wheel including a rim, spokes, and a central hub, the exterior of the rim having a tire-receiving channel that defines a median plane, and an interior of the rim having spoke fastening zones that define a median plane for fastening the spokes, the hub having a median plane and two flanges for fastening the spokes, one of the flanges being closer to the median plane of the hub than the other, and at least the spokes fastened to the flange that is closer to the median plane of the hub lacking individual tensioning mechanisms. The spokes fastened to the flange that is closer to the hub median plane are fastened to the rim on the side of the median plane of the tire-receiving channel that is opposite the closer flange.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2006Publication date: March 1, 2007Applicant: SALOMON S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Claude Righini, Benoit Saillet
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Patent number: 7156764Abstract: A driving sprocket, or chainwheel, for a bicycle crankset having a toothed ring whose ring is divided into a plurality of segments, the segments being borne by a frame that is rotationally movable about a crankset axle, each sprocket segment being movable between a low position and a high position, a system for transferring each segment to transfer said segment from one position to another, and an indexing mechanism to control the system for shifting the segments. Each segment of the driving sprocket is floating mounted with respect to the frame and is guided in its transfer movement along a trajectory having a radial component and a tangent component.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2001Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Salomon S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Bertrand Cauvin
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Publication number: 20060197370Abstract: A hub for cycle wheel including a shaft, a hub body rotatably mounted around the shaft. The hub body has, at least at one of its ends, merlons that are provided for fastening the spokes. Each of the merlons has a radial housing that opens out at its top, as well as two slots, each of the slots extending through the wall thickness between the radial housing and a distinct frontal surface of the merlon. The invention also relates to a cycle wheel having such a hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2006Publication date: September 7, 2006Applicant: SALOMON S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Pascal Baron
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Publication number: 20060181140Abstract: A rim for a cycle wheel that includes an annular shaped element, as well as a bicycle that includes such rim and a method of making the rim. The annular shaped element has at least one groove, with the element being encircled by at least one binding of polymerizable resin-coated fiber housed in the groove. In the manufacturing method the fiber winding is wound on the annular shaped element or the fiber winding is first made and then, second, it is placed in a recess of the rim.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2006Publication date: August 17, 2006Applicant: SALOMON S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Olivier Mouzin
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Publication number: 20060119172Abstract: A device for mounting a wheel of a bicycle onto a frame, including an inner hub rotatably mounted on the frame and equipped with an inner axial support area, an outer hub connected to the rim of the wheel by means of traction spokes, compression spokes, or flanges, and including an outer axial support area that cooperates with the inner axial support area, a mechanism for tightening the outer hub on the inner hub, the inner and outer axial support areas being located at a distance from the axis of the wheel at least greater than 20 mm, or greater than 25 mm, and distributed along the vicinity of a circle having a radius greater than 25 mm, centered on the axis of the wheel. The inner and outer axial support areas include a plurality of teeth forming part of a transmission mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2005Publication date: June 8, 2006Applicant: SALOMON S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Jean-Marc Hillairet
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Publication number: 20060116227Abstract: A gearshift control device for a chain and sprocket transmission system including a gearshift member that is movable along a transverse direction relative to the plane defined by the chain, a shaft, a first driving element having a drive member that is non-centered or non-concentric with respect to the axis of the shaft, a second positioning element of the derailleur with an indexing device, a third control element mounted to rotate freely about the shaft with a blocking device, and a transmission element having a member for connection with the first driving element, the second positioning element and the third control element, the transmission element being operably between the first driving element, the second positioning element, and the third control element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2005Publication date: June 1, 2006Applicant: SALOMON S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Bertrand Cauvin
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Publication number: 20060108859Abstract: A device for mounting a wheel of a bicycle on a frame, including: an inner hub rotatably mounted in a portion of the frame, an outer hub forming a central zone of the wheel, a quick-tightening mechanism that includes a male portion projecting from a first of the inner and outer hubs, a female portion provided in a second of the hubs, axial abutments for retaining the outer hub supported against the inner hub, and a mechanism for positioning the axial abutments, the positioning mechanism not being active upon completion of the tightening of the wheel. The quick-tightening mechanism is equipped with a lever that is pivoted by the operator to provide the necessary force for the axial tightening of the outer hub of the wheel against the inner hub. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the axial abutments include a plurality of balls, and the mechanism for positioning the axial abutments include ramps on which the balls roll.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2005Publication date: May 25, 2006Applicant: SALOMON S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Jean-Marc Hillairet
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Publication number: 20060108858Abstract: A bicycle that includes front and rear single-arm forks enabling the front and rear wheels to be mounted and demounted from the frame of the bicycle without necessitating the removal or repositioning of a transmission element, such as a chain, or the brake, if the bicycle is so equipped, each of the wheels including at least one flexibly and compressively rigid element connecting the central hub and the rim, such elements being asymmetrical with respect to a radial median plane defined by the rim, so that the hubs of the wheels are axially off-centered in relation to the radial median plane of the rim, while the radial median plane of the rims coincides with the general median plane of the frame. The invention is also directed to the wheel of the bicycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2005Publication date: May 25, 2006Applicant: SALOMON S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Jean-Marc Hillairet
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Publication number: 20060058134Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a bicycle transmission system with variable ratio, having at least one gearshift device, two control actuating devices, and a relay device for guiding the gearshift device(s) from the control actuating devices, and a bicycle equipped with such apparatus. Each control actuating device has an actuation member located within the reach of each of the cyclist's hands, and it is provided to transmit only one type of control, one of the actuating devices being capable of transmitting an upshift control and the other a downshift control of the transmission ratio.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2005Publication date: March 16, 2006Applicant: SALOMON S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Franck Dumontier
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Publication number: 20040251736Abstract: A hub for a bicycle wheel having a hub body rotationally mounted on a central hollow shaft by means of bearings mounted on the shaft, the shaft being provided to be traversed through both sides by a quick-release axle. The shaft has three distinct portions, two end pieces and a central portion made of a material having a lower density than the end pieces, the end pieces being fitted to each end of the central portion, the end pieces having bearing surfaces for the bearings, and at least one of the end pieces having a threaded portion, respectively, for a nut for axially tightening the bearings.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Applicant: MAVIC S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Guillaume Martin
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Publication number: 20040029667Abstract: The invention relates to a driving sprocket for a bicycle crankset having a toothed ring whose ring is divided into a plurality of segments (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d), the segments being borne by a frame (16) that is rotationally movable about a crankset axle, each sprocket segment being movable between a low position and a high position, a system for transferring each segment to transfer said segment from one position to another, and an indexing mechanism to control the system for shifting the segments. The sprocket is characterized in that each segment (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) is floatingly mounted with respect to the frame (16) and in that it is guided in its transfer movement along a trajectory having a radial component and a tangent component.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Bertrand Cauvin
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Patent number: 6641227Abstract: A rim structure for a bicycle wheel that includes, at its periphery, an annular channel designed to receive a tire, such channel being demarcated by an upper bridge devoid of openings with the exception of the valve opening, and two lateral flanges, such flanges having end butts for gripping the tire. The upper bridge has a narrow and recessed central rim well demarcated by a base and two lateral walls, the rim well being bordered by two bead seats that are oblique from the rim well towards the flanges. The invention is also related to a wheel having such a rim and a wheel equipped with a tire mounted without an air tube and having such a rim.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Mavic S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre LaCombe, Jean-Pierre Mercat
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Patent number: 6537173Abstract: A transmission system provided for a bicycle, including a primary transmission sub-assembly having a set of rear sprockets, whose number of teeth, from one sprocket to the next sprocket in the ascending order, varies according to a ratio of the numbers of teeth that is greater than or equal to a value n such as n greater than 1. The invention also includes a control of the transmission system, as well as a bicycle that includes the transmission system and the control for same. The transmission system includes a single chain wheel for driving the chain, associated with a bottom bracket assembly, and a secondary transmission sub-assembly having at least two drive output ratios, whose ratio of the highest drive speed to the lowest drive speed is equal to a value R between 1 and n so as to introduce at least one intermediate transmission ratio between two successive sprockets.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2001Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Mavic S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Bertrand Cauvin
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Publication number: 20030025383Abstract: A rim structure for a bicycle wheel that includes, at its periphery, an annular channel designed to receive a tire, such channel being demarcated by an upper bridge devoid of openings with the exception of the valve opening, and two lateral flanges, such flanges having end butts for gripping the tire. The upper bridge has a narrow and recessed central rim well demarcated by a base and two lateral walls, the rim well being bordered by two bead seats that are oblique from the rim well towards the flanges. The invention is also related to a wheel having such a rim and a wheel equipped with a tire mounted without an air tube and having such a rim.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2002Publication date: February 6, 2003Applicant: MAVIC S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre LaCombe, Jean-Pierre Mercat
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Patent number: 6443533Abstract: A rim structure for a bicycle wheel that includes, at its periphery, an annular channel designed to receive a tire, such channel being demarcated by an upper bridge devoid of openings with the exception of the valve opening, and two lateral flanges, such flanges having end butts for gripping the tire. The upper bridge has a narrow and recessed central rim well demarcated by a base and two lateral walls, the rim well being bordered by two bead seats that are oblique from the rim well towards the flanges. The invention is also related to a wheel having such a rim and a wheel equipped with a tire mounted without an air tube and having such a rim.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2001Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Mavic S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Lacombe, Jean-Pierre Mercat
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Publication number: 20020103052Abstract: A transmission system provided for a bicycle, including a primary transmission sub-assembly having a set of rear sprockets, whose number of teeth, from one sprocket to the next sprocket in the ascending order, varies according to a ratio of the numbers of teeth that is greater than or equal to a value n such as n greater than 1. The invention also includes a control of the transmission system, as well as a bicycle that includes the transmission system and the control for same. The transmission system includes a single chain wheel for driving the chain, associated with a bottom bracket assembly, and a secondary transmission sub-assembly having at least two drive output ratios, whose ratio of the highest drive speed to the lowest drive speed is equal to a value R between 1 and n so as to introduce at least one intermediate transmission ratio between two successive sprockets.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2001Publication date: August 1, 2002Applicant: MAVIC S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat , Betrand Cauvin
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Publication number: 20020079035Abstract: A rim structure for a bicycle wheel that includes, at its periphery, an annular channel designed to receive a tire, such channel being demarcated by an upper bridge devoid of openings with the exception of the valve opening, and two lateral flanges, such flanges having end butts for gripping the tire. The upper bridge has a narrow and recessed central rim well demarcated by a base and two lateral walls, the rim well being bordered by two bead seats that are oblique from the rim well towards the flanges. The invention is also related to a wheel having such a rim and a wheel equipped with a tire mounted without an air tube and having such a rim.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2001Publication date: June 27, 2002Applicant: MAVIC S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Lacombe , Jean-Pierre Mercat
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Patent number: 6402256Abstract: A bicycle rim including an annular shaped element whose cross-section includes a box shape demarcated by an upper bridge and a lower portion having a lower bridge and side walls, the lower bridge or the side walls having holes distributed evenly and provided for the connection of the spokes, the holes and their immediate vicinity defining boring zones. The thickness of the walls constituted by the lower bridge and the side walls has a nominal value in the boring zones and a lower value than the nominal value in the intermediate zones located between two adjacent boring zones, and the thickness of this wall varies progressively from the nominal value to the lower value to the nominal value.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2000Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Mavic S.A.Inventor: Jean-Pierre Mercat
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Patent number: 6378953Abstract: The invention relates to a rim, spokes and a complete wheel, especially a cycle wheel, including such a rim and such spokes. The rim has a plurality of through holes demarcated by a chimney obtained by backflow. A threaded insert is housed in these openings. The end of the spoke includes a joining piece affixedly connected to the end of the spoke, a tension adjusting screw mounted to rotate freely on this side of the joining piece, and extended by a coupling sleeve with a tightening tool. The joining piece is provided to slide within the insert, and the screw is tightened within the joining piece.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2001Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Mavic S.A.Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Alban Minville
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Publication number: 20010041641Abstract: A transmission system provided for a bicycle, including a primary transmission sub-assembly having a set of rear sprockets, whose number of teeth, from one sprocket to the next sprocket in the ascending order, varies according to a ratio of the numbers of teeth that is greater than or equal to a value n such as n greater than 1. The invention also includes a control of the transmission system, as well as a bicycle that includes the transmission system and the control for same. The transmission system includes a single chain wheel for driving the chain, associated with a bottom bracket assembly, and a secondary transmission sub-assembly having at least two drive output ratios, whose ratio of the highest drive speed to the lowest drive speed is equal to a value R between 1 and n so as to introduce at least one intermediate transmission ratio between two successive sprockets.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2001Publication date: November 15, 2001Applicant: SALOMON S.AInventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Bertrand Cauvin