Motion transmission system of a bicycle

Abstract

A bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly is provided. The freewheel body has a predetermined axial width. The sprocket assembly has at least eleven sprockets of various diameters that are arranged on the freewheel body with a largest diameter sprocket and a smallest diameter sprocket forming end sprockets of the sprocket assembly. Each of the end sprockets has an outer face and the respective outer face of each end sprocket faces in an opposite directions and the outer faces are spaced from each other along the freewheel body predetermined axial width. An assembly of at least eleven sprockets has an overall axial width measured between respective outer faces of end sprockets in the assembly that is no greater than 40.5 mm. A chain is comprised of an alternating succession of inner and outer links, connected to each other at respective connection ends.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly wherein:
 the freewheel body has a predetermined axial width, an outer surface that is configured to mate with one or more sprockets of the sprocket assembly, and an internal surface selected to mate with a hub associated with a bicycle rear wheel; and,   the sprocket assembly has at least eleven sprockets of various diameters that are arranged on the freewheel body with a largest diameter sprocket and a smallest diameter sprocket forming end sprockets of the sprocket assembly, each of the end sprockets has an outer face and the respective outer face of each end sprocket faces in an opposite directions and the outer faces are spaced from each other along the freewheel body predetermined axial width;   an assembly of at least eleven sprockets, that has an overall axial width, measured between respective outer faces of end sprockets in the assembly, that is no greater than 40.5 mm; and,   a chain comprised of an alternating succession of inner and outer links, connected to each other at respective connection ends,   each of the links comprising inner and outer plates that are arranged parallel to each other, the two plates of both the outer links and the inner links being spaced apart from each other to define between the two plates a void space that receives at least one tooth of at least one of the sprockets.   
     
     
         2 . The bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one tooth of at least one sprocket has a maximum thickness that is no greater than 1.7 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the maximum thickness is no greater than 1.6 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the sprockets vary in size and a distance between teeth of least two consecutive sprockets of the assembly is at least equal to an average thickness of the sprockets. 
     
     
         5 . The bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the distance between the teeth sprockets of the assembly is at least equal to a thickness of any single sprocket. 
     
     
         6 . The bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the distance between the teeth is no greater than 2.2 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein sprockets with the smallest diameter are arranged at greater distances apart than sprockets with the largest diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the sprockets with the smallest diameter are at a distance apart lower than or equal to 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least six consecutive sprockets have a number of teeth that differs by one from that of at least one adjacent sprocket. 
     
     
         10 . The bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the consecutive sprockets are at least seven in number. 
     
     
         11 . The bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the consecutive sprockets are at least eight in number. 
     
     
         12 . The bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the consecutive sprockets are at least nine in number. 
     
     
         13 . The bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least six consecutive sprockets comprise a sprocket with eighteen teeth. 
     
     
         14 . Bicycle comprising a bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A motion transmission system including a sprocket assembly of at least eleven sprockets defining a sprocket assembly width between respective outer faces of end sprockets of the sprocket assembly, wherein the sprocket assembly mounts to a hub that rotates about a rotation axis and a predetermined axial distance being defined on the hub between a first plane, substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis, comprising at least one point of attachment seats for spokes closest to a freewheel body of the hub, and a second plane, substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis and defined at a frame attachment portion,
 wherein the sprocket assembly width is less than, or equal to, the predetermined axial distance,   wherein a chain that engages the sprockets has a maximum thickness in a direction of the rotation axis between and including 4.6 mm and 5.8 mm, and   wherein the chain comprises an alternating succession of outer and inner links, connected to each other at respective connection ends, each of the links comprising two respective plates arranged parallel to each other, the two plates of both the outer links and the inner links being spaced apart from each other to define between the two plates a void space that receives a tooth of a sprocket,   wherein the sprocket assembly width, measured between respective outer faces of end sprockets in the assembly, is no greater than 40.5 mm.   
     
     
         16 . A motion transmission system including a sprocket assembly of at least eleven sprockets defining a sprocket assembly width defined between respective outer faces of end sprockets of the sprocket assembly, wherein the sprocket assembly mounts to a hub that has a predetermined axial distance defined on the hub between a first plane, perpendicular to a rotation axis, comprising at least one point of attachment seats for spokes closest to a freewheel body of the hub, and a second plane, perpendicular to the rotation axis and defined at a frame attachment portion,
 wherein the sprocket assembly width is less than, or equal to, the predetermined axial distance,   wherein a chain that engages the sprockets has a maximum thickness in a direction of the rotation axis between and including 4.6 mm and 5.8 mm,   wherein the chain comprises an alternating succession of outer and inner links, connected to each other at respective connection ends, each of the links comprising two respective plates arranged parallel to each other, the two plates of both the outer links and the inner links being spaced apart from each other to define between the two plates a void space that receives a tooth of a sprocket,   wherein the sprocket assembly width, measured between respective outer faces of end sprockets in the assembly, is no greater than 40.5 mm.   
     
     
         17 . A bicycle freewheel body and sprocket assembly wherein:
 the freewheel body has a predetermined axial width, an outer surface that is configured to mate with one or more sprockets of the sprocket assembly, and an internal surface selected to mate with a hub associated with a bicycle rear wheel; and,   the sprocket assembly has at least eleven sprockets of various diameter that are arranged on the freewheel body with a largest diameter sprocket and a smallest diameter sprocket forming end sprockets of the sprocket assembly, each of the end sprockets has an outer face and the respective outer face of each end sprocket faces in an opposite directions and the outer faces are spaced from each other along the freewheel body predetermined axial width by a distance that is no greater than 42.5 mm;   an assembly of at least eleven sprockets, that has an overall axial width, measured between respective outer faces of end sprockets in the assembly, that is no greater than 40.5 mm; and,   a chain comprised of an alternating succession of inner and outer links, connected to each other at respective connection ends,   each of the links comprising inner and outer plates that are arranged parallel to each other, the two plates of both the outer links and the inner links being spaced apart from each other to define between the two plates a void space that receives at least one tooth of at least one of the sprockets.   
     
     
         18 . A motion transmission system comprising:
 at least eleven toothed sprockets in a sprocket assembly that is mounted on a freewheel body having a frame attachment portion and a spoke attachment portion that are spaced apart by a predetermined axial distance;   the at least eleven sprockets assembly is mounted on the freewheel body with a largest diameter sprocket and a smallest diameter sprocket being a respective end sprocket of the at least eleven sprockets assembly, wherein the largest diameter sprocket is immediately adjacent to the spoke attachment portion and the smallest diameter sprocket is immediately adjacent to the frame attachment portion; and,   a chain comprised of alternating inner and outer links that are connected to each other, wherein, each inner link and each outer link is comprising of two spaced apart plates that define a void that receives one tooth of at least one of the at least eleven toothed sprockets, and the chain remains within the predetermined axial distance when it moves from the smallest sprocket to the largest sprocket.