Bicycle Chain

Abstract

An inner link plate for a bicycle chain is provided. The inner link plate may have a longitudinal centerline defining a longitudinal direction and comprising a first inner-link end portion including a first inner-link opening having a first inner-link center axis, a second inner-link end portion including a second inner-link opening having a second inner-link center axis parallel to the first inner-link center axis, and an inner-link intermediate portion interconnecting the first inner-link end portion and the second inner-link end portion. The first inner-link end portion may have an extended edge portion extending to be away from the second inner-link end portion in the longitudinal direction.

1 . An inner link plate for a bicycle chain, the inner link plate having a longitudinal centerline defining a longitudinal direction and comprising:
 a first inner-link end portion including a first inner-link opening having a first inner-link center axis;   a second inner-link end portion including a second inner-link opening having a second inner-link center axis parallel to the first inner-link center axis; and   a first inner-link intermediate portion interconnecting the first inner-link end portion and the second inner-link end portion,   wherein a recessed portion is formed on an interior surface of the first inner-link intermediate portion, and   wherein the first inner-link end portion has a first extended edge portion extending to be away from the second inner-link end portion in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         2 . The inner link plate according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a chamfered edge portion is formed along an outer peripheral edge of the inner link plate so as to improve gear shifting.   
     
     
         3 . The inner link plate according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a recessed portion interior surface is provided on the recessed portion,   a first inner-link end portion interior surface is provided on the first inner-link end portion,   a second inner-link end portion interior surface is provided on the second inner-link end portion, and   the recessed portion interior surface is further recessed relative to the first inner-link end portion interior surface and the second inner-link end portion interior surface.   
     
     
         4 . The inner link plate according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a length in the longitudinal direction and a surface area of the first inner-link end portion are substantially greater than the second inner-link end portion.   
     
     
         5 . The inner link plate according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first inner-link end portion has a substantially oblong shape, and   a portion of the first inner-link end portion excluding the first extended edge portion has a substantially circular shape.   
     
     
         6 . The inner link plate according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the outer peripheral edge includes a first inner-link end edge extending about the first inner-link end portion, a second inner-link end edge extending about the second inner-link end portion, and a pair of first inner-link intermediate edges extending along the first inner-link intermediate portion between the first inner-link end edge and the second inner-link end edge.   
     
     
         7 . The inner link plate according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second inner-link end portion has a second extended edge portion extending to be away from the first inner-link end portion in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         8 . The inner link plate according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the second inner-link end portion has a substantially oblong shape, and   a portion of the second inner-link end portion excluding the second extended edge portion has a substantially circular shape.   
     
     
         9 . An inner link plate for a bicycle chain, the inner link plate having a longitudinal centerline defining a longitudinal direction and comprising:
 a first inner-link end portion including a first inner-link opening having a first inner-link center axis;   a second inner-link end portion including a second inner-link opening having a second inner-link center axis parallel to the first inner-link center axis; and   a first inner-link intermediate portion interconnecting the first inner-link end portion and the second inner-link end portion,   wherein a chamfered edge portion is formed along an outer peripheral edge of the inner link plate so as to improve gear shifting, and   wherein the first inner-link end portion has an extended edge portion extending to be away from the second inner-link end portion in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         10 . The inner link plate according to  claim 9 , wherein
 a recessed portion is formed on an interior surface of the first inner-link intermediate portion.   
     
     
         11 . The inner link plate according to  claim 10 , wherein
 a recessed portion interior surface is provided on the recessed portion,   a first inner-link end portion interior surface is provided on the first inner-link end portion,   a second inner-link end portion interior surface is provided on the second inner-link end portion, and   the recessed portion interior surface is further recessed relative to the first inner-link end portion interior surface and the second inner-link end portion interior surface.