Bicycle sprocket for use with a multi-gear rear cassette

Abstract

A rear bicycle sprocket for use with a multi-gear rear cassette is provided. The sprocket includes a chain engaging portion and a mounting portion having generally annular shape about a central axis and a plurality of support arms, integrally formed with the chain engaging portion and with the mounting portion. The sprocket further includes a plurality of space maintaining protrusions, each space maintaining protrusion extending axially forwardly from an axially forward surface of a corresponding support arm and integrally formed therewith. A multi-gear rear cassette having a plurality of sprockets coaxially mounted together wherein the plurality of sprockets includes the rear bicycle sprocket mounted axially rearmost and a bicycle including the multi-gear rear cassette are further provided.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A bicycle comprising a multi-gear rear cassette having a plurality of sprockets coaxially mounted to a freehub body, wherein the plurality of sprockets includes an axially rearmost sprocket, the axially rearmost sprocket comprising:
 a chain engaging portion having a generally annular shape about a central axis, a radially outward edge of the chain engaging portion comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced and radially outwardly extending teeth for mechanical engagement with a bicycle chain;   a mounting portion having a generally annular shape about the central axis, a radially inward edge of the mounting portion defining an aperture shaped to receive therein the freehub body and a radially outward edge of the mounting portion radially spaced apart from a radially inward edge of the chain engaging portion;   a plurality of circumferentially spaced support arms, integrally formed with the chain engaging portion and with the mounting portion, extending radially outwardly from the radially outward edge of the mounting portion to the radially inward edge of the chain engaging portion; and   a plurality of space maintaining protrusions, each space maintaining protrusion extending axially forwardly from an axially forward surface of a corresponding support arm and integrally formed therewith,   wherein the support arms are circumferentially spaced apart from one another about the radially outward edge of the mounting portion.   
     
     
         12 . The bicycle according to  claim 11 , wherein the support arms are circumferentially spaced apart from one another about the radially inward edge of the chain engaging portion. 
     
     
         13 . The bicycle according to  claim 11 , wherein the radially inward edge of the mounting portion comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves mateably engageable with a plurality of splines circumferentially spaced about the freehub body. 
     
     
         14 . The bicycle according to  claim 11 , wherein the chain engaging portion comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial recesses shaped for upshifting a bicycle chain to the rear bicycle sprocket from an adjacent sprocket of the rear cassette. 
     
     
         15 . The bicycle according to  claim 11 , wherein the sprocket is constructed from a metallic material. 
     
     
         16 . A bicycle multi-gear rear cassette having a plurality of sprockets coaxially mounted to a freehub body, wherein the plurality of sprockets includes an axially rearmost sprocket, the axially rearmost sprocket comprising:
 a chain engaging portion having a generally annular shape about a central axis, a radially outward edge of the chain engaging portion comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced and radially outwardly extending teeth for mechanical engagement with a bicycle chain;   a mounting portion having a generally annular shape about the central axis, a radially inward edge of the mounting portion defining an aperture shaped to receive therein the freehub body and a radially outward edge of the mounting portion radially spaced apart from a radially inward edge of the chain engaging portion;   a plurality of circumferentially spaced support arms, integrally formed with the chain engaging portion and with the mounting portion, extending radially outwardly from the radially outward edge of the mounting portion to the radially inward edge of the chain engaging portion; and   a plurality of space maintaining protrusions, each space maintaining protrusion extending axially forwardly from an axially forward surface of a corresponding support arm and integrally formed therewith,   wherein the support arms are circumferentially spaced apart from one another about the radially outward edge of the mounting portion.   
     
     
         17 . The multi-gear rear cassette according to  claim 16 , wherein the support arms are circumferentially spaced apart from one another about the radially inward edge of the chain engaging portion. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-gear rear cassette according to  claim 16 , wherein the radially inward edge of the mounting portion comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves mateably engageable with a plurality of splines circumferentially spaced about the freehub body. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-gear rear cassette according to  claim 16 , wherein the chain engaging portion comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced axial recesses shaped for upshifting a bicycle chain to the rear bicycle sprocket from an adjacent sprocket of the rear cassette. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-gear rear cassette according to  claim 16 , wherein the sprocket is constructed from a metallic material.