Abstract: An operating force transmission device for a brake which transmits an input operating force applied to a brake lever to operating members of the brake through a control cable formed of an inner wire disposed within an outer sheath and interconnecting the brake. The device includes a housing, a receiving member supported movably relative to the housing and adapted to retain thereto one of the inner wire and the outer sheath of the control cable. A control spring is provided for deflecting in response to a braking force output of the operating members of the brake in excess of a predetermined magnitude to enable the receiving member to move relative to the housing when the predetermined braking force output magnitude is exceeded. This reduces the magnitude of a further braking force output of the operating members of the brake with respect to the magnitude of the input operating force applied to the brake lever and transmitted to the operating members of the brake.

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 attached to the bicycle frame. 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 caliper brake for a bicycle which includes a pair of fixing bases, brake arms including respective brake shoes and bosses, and return springs, wherein the boss of each brake arm is provided with a cavity in which the return spring is housed. A spring holder for each return spring is rotatably mounted with respect to the associated brake arm boss. Since the relative rotation of the spring holder with respect to the boss is regulated in a predetermined range, the return spring is given a preload, and the spring holder is fixed to the fixing base, each brake arm can be easily assembled with the fixing base.

Abstract: A protective device for a driving chain stretched across a front gear and a rear gear of at a bicycle, which forms a guard body inserted below a driving side path of the chain at the driving side of the chain travelling from the rear gear to the front gear and having a chain guide surface for guiding axially outwardly part of the chain on the driving side path with respect to a rear bicycle wheel, the guard body is mounted on the bicycle frame through a mounting member, so that, even when the chain vibrates due to a bounce of the bicycle while running, the chain is prevented from contacting the rear wheel to be carried along with the rotation of the rear wheel.

Abstract: A front derailleur for a bicycle which includes a linkage mechanism which is formed of a fixing member, a chain guide and a pair of linkage members. Four pivot shafts connect the linkage members with the fixing member and the chain guide and have axes which are slanted forwardly from a perpendicular plane through a center line between the guide plates the fore ends of the pivot shafts are positioned farther than their rear ends from the chain guide. When the linkage mechanism is deformed, the chain guide is moved axially of the multistage front gears and obliguely longitudinally of the bicycle, thereby improving the speed change characteristics and speed control efficiency of the derailleur.

Abstract: A derailleur is provided which includes a linkage mechanism including a fixing member, a chain guide for guiding the driving chain relative to a gear assembly, and a linkage device. The chain guide has an inner guide plate and an outer guide plate which are (1) generally parallel to one another, (2) adapted to be oriented perpendicular to the axis of the gear assembly and (3) extend in a longitudinal dimension which is adapted to be oriented longitudinally of the bicycle when the derailluer is mounted on the bicycle. The linkage device supports the chain guide to the fixing member so that the chain guide is movable axially with respect to the gear assembly. The linkage device has one end pivotably supported to the fixing member by a first pivot shaft and another end pivotably supported to the chain guide by a second pivot shaft.

Abstract: A cantilever brake is provided at the upper portion of each brake shoe with a swollen portion swollen slantwise or obliquely upwardly and away from the upper edge of the braking surface of the break shoe toward a shoe holder holding the brake shoe, to thereby prevent reduction in the braking surface caused by wearing of the brake shoe.

Abstract: A caliper brake which includes a fixing member, a pair of brake arms pivoted to the fixing member and each carrying a brake shoe, a return spring interposed between each of the brake arms and the fixing member, for biasing the brake arms to move them away from each other, with the return spring having spring legs respectively engageable with the brake arms, and a pair of inversion members which can be inverted to adjust the spring reaction force of the return spring. The inversion members each include a first contact portion and a second contact portion for making contact with a respective one of the brake arms. The inversion members include a fitting bore located at a position shifted from the center of the inversion member between the first and second contact portion, such that the fitting bore is closer to the first contact portion.

Abstract: A braking device for a bicycle comprising a brake lever, brakes and a control wire for connecting the brake lever with the brakes, the brake lever provided with a lever spring for restoring the same from its operating position to the original position, in which a spring force of the lever spring and that of a brake spring provided at the brakes are set so that a lever turning force is 900 g or less and a lever restoring force is 100 g or more when a ratio of the lever turning force to the lever restoring force is 40% or more.

Abstract: A front derailleur for a bicycle which is provided with a linkage mechanism formed of a fixing member, first and second linkage members, and a movable member. The first and second linkage members are pivotally supported through first and second pivot shafts to the fixing member. The first and second pivot shafts are each fixed at one axial end thereof to the fixing member and, pivotally support at intermediate thereof the linkage members respectively. The first and second pivot shafts are connected at their other axial ends by a connector, so that a load due to an operating force to operate the linkage mechanism is dispersed to the first and second pivot shafts, thereby enabling the front derailleur to be miniaturized and inexpensive to produce.

Abstract: A caliper brake for a bicycle, in which a pair of brake arms having brake shoes are supported independently rotatably to fixing bases fixed to the bicycle frame and between the fixing bases and the brake arms are interposed return springs for biasing the brake arms in a direction of enlarging the distance beween the brake shoes. The brake is provided with a biasing force adjuster for adjusting the biasing force applied by at least one of the return springs to its associated brake arm.

Abstract: A derailleur for a bicycle comprises a fixing member; a transformable linkage mechanism comprising a base member, two linkage members and a movable member; and a chain guide having a guide pulley and a tension pulley. The linkage mechanism is supported swingably to the fixing member in the relation that the guide pulley reciprocates away from or toward the axis of the sprocket assembly. The derailleur is provided between the chain guide and the movable member with a first spring, between the fixing member and the linkage mechanism with a second spring for biasing the guide pulley away from the axis of sprocket assembly, and with a forcibly moving mechanism which moves the chain guide axially of the sprocket assembly and also radially thereof in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the sprocket assembly.

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 attached to the bicycle frame. 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: The device includes a positioning mechanism for setting the speed change stage of a lever body, a change-over mechanism for changing over the postioning mechanism between an operating position and a non-operating position, and a resistance applying mechanism for applying to the lever body a rotational resistance overcoming a return spring of a derailleur at the non-operating position of the positioning mechanism. The device also includes an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the rotational resistance of the lever body against the return spring of the derailleur.

Abstract: A lever shifting device for a bicycle is provided with a positioning mechanism comprising a positioning member having a plurality of engaging portions and an engaging member engageable with one of the engaging portions. A friction mechanism has friction portions, so that the positioning mechanism and friction mechanism can be switched to each other. The engaging portions and friction portions are disposed in the same plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of an operating lever, but radially displaced from each other.

Abstract: A rear derailleur for a bicycle, in which a movable member includes a blind shaft bore for a support shaft supporting a chain guide. The shaft bore is open only at its end adjacent the end face of the movable member opposite to the chain guide. The support shaft is rotatably supported in the blind shaft bore and is provided at its intermediate portion with a locking shoulder. A locking member having a thrust bearing surface opposite to the locking shoulder is fixed to the movable member. This supports the chain guide to the movable member such that it is well sealed and protected from escaping.

Abstract: An operating lever for a bicycle is provided with a support means having a lever shaft and supporting a lever body to a fixing member. A resistance applying means is separate from the support means and is tightened radially with respect to the lever shaft to apply resistance to rotation thereof, so that the rotational resistance is not varied when in use, and is capable of fine adjustment.

Abstract: A speed control device for a bicycle having a positioning mechanism provided with a first positioning portion having engaging portions corresponding in number to the speed change stages, a second positioning portion having engaging portions larger in number than the engaging portions of the first positioning portion, and at least one engaging member engageable with the respective engaging portions of the first and second positioning portions, thereby enabling the number of speed change stages set by the positioning mechanism to be changed by selecting engagement with one of the first and second positioning portions.

Abstract: The device includes a positioning mechanism which is provided with a first end engaging portion for setting the low speed change stage, a second end engaging portion for setting the high speed change stage, and at least one intermediate engaging portion for setting the middle speed change stage. The device also includes an engaging member engageable with one of the engaging portions. In operation, a derailleur is actuated by the forward operation of a lever body of the speed control device to pull a control wire, and backward operation of the lever body loosens the control wire. The positioning member is provided with a displacement engaging portion which is in continuation of the intermediate engaging portion and is displaced in the direction of forward operation of the lever body with respect to the intermediate engaging portion.

Abstract: A derailleur for a bicycle comprises; a fixing member; a transformable linkage mechanism comprising a base member, two linkage members and a movable member; and a chain guide having a guide pulley and a tension pulley. The linkage mechanism is supported swingably to the fixing member in the relation that the guide pulley reciprocates away from or toward the axis of the sprocket assembly. The derailleur is provided between the chain guide and the movable member with a first spring, between the fixing member and the linkage mechanism with a second spring for biasing the guide pulley away from the axis of sprocket assembly, and with a forcibly moving mechanism which moves the chain guide axially of the sprocket assembly and also radially thereof in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the sprocket assembly.