Abstract: A multi-stage sprocket assembly for a bicycle, having a larger sprocket and a smaller sprocket attached adjacent to each other. The larger sprocket has a concave portion defined in a side face thereof opposite to the smaller sprocket. The concave portion is configurated along a moving path of an intefering plate portion of a drive chain shifting from the smaller sprocket to the larger sprocket, the interfering plate portion being positioned forwardly in a drive rotation direction of the sprocket assembly relative to an engagement-leading plate portion of the chain which first engages a tooth of the larger sprocket.

Abstract: A multi-gear cluster for a bicycle having at least two gears of different diameters. The larger gear includes at a peripheral part thereof a disengagement-facilitating portion for facilitating a disengaging motion of a drive chain from the teeth of the larger gear and also a subsequent shifting motion of the chain toward the smaller gear adjacent the larger gear. The teeth of the smaller gear are provided with a phase arrangement relative to the disengagement-facilitating portion such that the chain comes into engagement with the teeth of the smaller gear where a portion of the chain is displaced by the disengagement-facilitating portion toward the smaller gear from a center of thickness of the larger gear.

Abstract: A change-speed hub having a fixed shaft, a hub body rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft, a drive member rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft for transmitting a drive force to the hub body selectively through a plurality of transmission channels, a clutch for selecting one from the transmission channels, a plurality of sun gears rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft and having diameters differing from each other and a lock control mechanism for controlling locking and releasing of the sun gears relative to the fixed shaft. The sun gears have axial movements thereof substantially limited. On the fixed shaft, there is rotatably mounted a control member. The control member includes a first control portion for controlling the clutch and second and third control portions for activating the lock control mechanism for selectively locking the sun gears to the fixed shaft.

Abstract: A multistep sprocket wheel device for a bicycle according to the present invention has at least one large sprocket wheel (1) and one small sprocket wheel (2) disposed adjacent each other. The two sprocket wheels (1, 2) are assembled such that a distance between a first pitch center (01) of one of the teeth on the large sprocket wheel (1) and a second pitch center (02) on the small sprocket wheel (2) adjacent a tangential line of the small sprocket wheel (2) extending rearwardly from the first pitch center (01) with respect to a direction of rotation of the sprocket wheels (1, 2) is substantially a product of a pitch of a chain (3) multiplied by an integer.

Abstract: In a multi-speed sprocket assembly for a bicycle having at least one large sprocket with teeth and one small sprocket with teeth disposed adjacent each other and selectively engageable with a drive chain of the bicycle consisting of a series of pivotably connected link plates, the improvement includes a chain receiving portion formed on a reference tooth of the large sprocket so as to receive a connecting portion of the link plates with diametrical clearance from a tooth space bottom of the large sprocket. The teeth of the small sprocket have such phase relationship relative to the chain receiving portion of the large sprocket that a tooth of the small sprocket positioned downstream relative to the reference tooth engages with the chain when the connecting portion of the chain is received by the chain receiving portion of the reference tooth.

Abstract: A bicycle pedal including clamping device for fastening an engageable article to the pedal. The clamping device comprises a clamp member including an engaging hook pivotable toward and away from one end of a pedal body for engaging the engageable article, and an urging member for urging the hook toward the pedal body. When the engageable article is moved sideways relative to the pedal body, the hook pivots away from the pedal body to release the engageable article. The clamping device further comprises an upward pull selector for selectively allowing the hook to pivot away from the pedal body when the engageable article is pulled upwardly relative to the pedal body. This selector is switchable between a position for prohibiting the engageable article from being pulled upward, thereby avoiding a danger resulting from disengagement of the engageable article from the pedal body, and a position for allowing the engageable article to be pulled upward with ease.

Abstract: A steering handle apparatus for use in a bicycle includes a handle bar and a change-speed lever apparatus for effecting a change-speed operation with a forward operation or a return operation to a home position of its control lever. The control lever is disposed, in the home position, on a side of the handle bar opposed to the other side contacting interdigital pads of a rider's hand gripping the grip portion of the handle bar. Further, the control lever extends towards the grip portion, and the forward operation on this control lever is effected in a direction aligned with a bending direction of the rider's thumb. The improved bicycle steering handle apparatus assures the rider or greater safety by always providing the rider with a good gripping condition and of easier control lever operation.

Abstract: A bicycle speed control apparatus according to this invention comprises a take-up element for winding up a speed control cable, the take-up element being urged in a cable unwinding direction, a wind-up control member for rotating the take-up element in a cable winding direction, a position maintaining mechanism including a first engaging member and a first engaging portion engageable stepwise for maintaining the take-up element in a selected position, a rotation limiting mechanism including a second engaging member and a second engaging portion engageable stepwise for limiting rotation in the unwinding direction of the take-up element to a predetermined amount, and an unwind control member operable to effect a change speed by actuating the rotation limiting mechanism and releasing the take-up element from the position maintaining mechanism for unwinding the cable.

Abstract: A lever shifting device for a bicycle for operating a bicycle derailleur having a return spring and provided with a positioning mechanism having a positioning member which rotates in association with an operating lever to set the speed change stage of the derailleur is disclosed. Between a fixing member and the positioning member is provided an auxiliary spring, so that the operating lever can be lightly operated against the return spring.

Abstract: A speed change lever apparatus for use in a bicycle. The apparatus has a winding member for winding up a speed change control cable and a cable-pulling lever operable to pull the cable by causing the winding member to pivot only in a cable winding direction. The cable-pulling lever returns to its home position after completion of speed change operation. The improved apparatus includes a position maintaining mechanism for stepwisely maintaining a position of the winding member and a release lever operable to release the position maintaining mechanism. The release lever also returns to its home position after completion of release operation. At the respective home positions, the cable-pulling lever and the release lever are operable in substantially same directions to enable a cyclist to disregard the direction of lever operations. Further, the home positions of the levers are disposed at different yet adjacent locations relative to a direction normal to the lever operating directions.

Abstract: A brake control apparatus includes a bracket, a brake lever pivoted to the bracket via a lever shaft and a lever spring for urging the brake lever to its home position relative to the bracket. The lever spring has first and second spring legs engageable respectively with the bracket and the brake lever and a coil portion disposed between the first and second spring legs. A return movement of the brake lever to its home position relative to the bracket is realized by flexion of a radial center line of the coil portion of the lever spring. With this control apparatus, the lever spring can provide substantially constant urging force regardless of the pivot amount of the brake lever and the lever spring does not produce unpleasant creaking noises in the course of a braking operation.

Abstract: A bicycle pedal comprises a pedal body supported by a pedal shaft to be rotatable about an axis of the pedal shaft, and at least one clamp member attached to the pedal body for clamping a cleat fixed to a cyclist's shoe. The clamp member is displaced in a fore and aft direction from the pedal shaft to be movable between a cleat clamping position and a release position. The pedal body defines at least one guide surface located adjacent the axis of the pedal shaft with respect to the clamp member for guiding the cleat toward the clamp member.

Abstract: A connecting pin for use in a bicycle chain for example. The connecting pin has a pin body for connecting a plurality of connecting members at least one of which defines a through hole, an inserting portion attached to a longitudinal end the pin body, the inserting portion having a tapered portion insertible into and retainable at the through hole and a detachable connecting portion provided between the pin body and the inserting portion for detachably connecting the same. A connecting method using the connecting pin is also disclosed.

Abstract: A brake control device for use in a bicycle, the device includes a compression spring for providing an urging force for returning a brake lever from its operating position to its rest position. The compression spring is disposed between the brake lever and a bracket adjacent a rider's steering handle and is fully enclosed in a housing such as an elastic support capsule.

Abstract: A drive chain for use in a bicycle having a change-speed apparatus for example. In order to improve the engageability of the chain both in the chain running direction and in the chain deflecting direction for a change speed operation, the chain is constructed generally as a offset type having a series of alternately interconnected first plates and second plates. The improvement in the engageability in the two directions is provided by forming a middle portion of each first plate to be flush with or extend outwardly relative to a wide first connecting portion and also by forming a middle portion of each second plate to extend outwardly relative to the first connecting portion.

Abstract: A front derailleur for use in a bicycle. The front derailleur provides a plurality of speeds through selective engagement of a driving chain with any one of at least three sprockets by applying a control force to a portion of a link mechanism urged by an urging member thereby moving a chain guide connected with the link mechanism against the urging force of the urging member. The link mechanism is operable to move the chain guide while varying its posture so as to provide an increased pivot amount between the sprocket pair adjacent the urging side whereas to provide a reduced pivot amount between the sprocket pair distant from the urging side, in comparison with the conventional mechanism of this type. This novel construction permits sufficient urging force at the middle sprocket position in accordance with increase in the deformation amount of the urging member, thereby to provide a reliable change speed operation by the sufficient urging force.

Abstract: A speed-change operating device for a bicycle includes an operating lever for actuating a derailleur, the operating lever being supported rotatably through a lever shaft to a base member adapted to be supported on the bicycle. A friction mechanism applies to the lever an adjustable rotational resistance against a bias force of a return spring associated with the derailleur. A positioning mechanism includes a positioning member having a plurality of engaging portions for precisely setting the respective speed change stages of the derailleur and an engaging member engageable with at least one of the engaging portions. An operating mechanism selects between an operating mode and a non-operating mode of the positioning mechanism so that the positioning mechanism can be placed in a non-operating mode, when desired, with the speed-change operation being performed in such non-operating mode only with the friction mechanism resisting the return spring.

Abstract: A bicycle pedal includes a swinging member pivoted to the pedal body such that it is swingable at its upper portion in a direction of moving toward or away from the pedal body. A movable pawl is pivoted to the upper portion of the swinging member, and both the swinging member and movable pawl are biased by a spring in the direction of moving toward the pedal body. The movable pawl and swinging member swing relative to the pedal body to enable a shoe plate attached to a shoe of a cyclist to be mounted onto or dismounted from the pedal body.

Abstract: A speed control device for a bicycle is provided, which includes a positioning mechanism comprising a positioning member having a plurality of engaging portions, an engaging member selectively engageable one at a time with the engaging portions and an elastic member for biasing the engaging member toward the engaging portions. A reaction force of the elastic member affects the torque of the operating lever to generate a clicking vibration felt by the cyclist. The speed control device includes a thrust bearing which, when the operating lever is operated and the engaging member disengages from one of the engaging portions and transfers to the adjacent engaging portion, bears the reaction force of the elastic member, thereby reducing the torque of the operating lever and amplifying the clicking vibration thereof.

Abstract: A speed-change operating device for a bicycle includes an operating lever for actuating a derailleur, the operating lever being supported rotatably through a lever shaft to a base member adapted to be supported on the bicycle. A friction mechanism applies to the lever an adjustable rotational resistance against a bias force of a return spring associated with the derailleur. A positioning mechanism includes a positioning member having a plurality of engaging portions for precisely setting the respective speed change stages of the derailleur and an engaging member engageable with at least one of the engaging portions. An operating mechanism selects between an operating mode and a non-operating mode of the positioning mechanism so that the positioning mechanism can be placed in a non-operating mode, when desired, with the speed-change operation being performed in such non-operating mode only with the friction mechanism resisting the return spring.