Low-friction derailleur cable router

Abstract

A derailleur cable router changes the direction of a derailleur cable operatively attached to a rear derailleur to a bicycle frame. The rear derailleur is actuated by variation in tension applied to the derailleur cable from a direction rearward of the derailleur. The tension in the derailleur cable is controlled by a shifter attached to a distal end of the derailleur cable, the shifter being mounted to the bicycle frame forward of the derailleur. The derailleur cable includes a cable housing around at least a portion of the derailleur cable with the derailleur housing being fixed against lengthwise movement relative to the bicycle frame by attachment to the bicycle frame. The derailleur cable router includes a frame having a first and a second end. A housing is provided at the first end of the frame and the housing is provided to a derailleur cable housing. A second housing is provided at the second end of the frame, the second housing being attachable to a derailleur cable feed of a rear derailleur. The first housing includes a first cable channel for receiving a derailleur cable from within a derailleur cable housing and the second housing includes a second cable channel for passing a derailleur cable to a rear derailleur cable feed. A pulley having an axis of rotation in a circumferential groove is mounted to the frame for rotation about its axis of rotation intermediate the first and second ends of the frame with the circumferential groove of the pulley aligned with the first and second cable channels so that a derailleur cable can be received in the first cable channel, engaged with a portion of the circumferential groove and passed through the second cable channel. Preferably the first cable channel, the second cable channel channels so that a derailleur cable can be received in the first cable channel, engaged with a portion of the circumferential groove and passed through the second cable channel. Preferably the first cable channel, the second cable channel and the circumferential groove of the pulley all lie within substantially the same plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A derailleur cable router for changing the direction of a derailleur cable operatively attached to a rear derailleur mounted to a bicycle frame, the rear derailleur being actuated by variation in tension applied by the derailleur cable from a direction rearward of the derailleur, the tension in the derailleur cable being controlled by a shifter attached to a distal end of the derailleur cable, the shifter being mounted to the bicycle frame forward of the derailleur, the derailleur cable including a cable housing around at least a portion of the derailleur cable, the derailleur cable housing being attached to the bicycle frame to fix the cable housing against lengthwise movement relative to the bicycle frame, the derailleur cable router comprising: a frame having at a first end means for attachment to a derailleur cable housing and at a second end means for attachment to a derailleur cable feed of a rear derailleur, the means for attachment to a derailleur cable housing including a first cable channel for receiving a derailleur cable from within a derailleur cable housing and the means for attachment to a rear derailleur cable feed including a second cable channel for passing a derailleur cable to a rear derailleur cable feed;   a pulley wheel having an axis of rotation and a circumferencial groove; and   means for mounting the pulley wheel by its axis of rotation to the frame for rotation relative to the frame intermediate the first and second ends of the frame with the circumferencial groove of the pulley aligned with the first and second cable channels so that a derailleur cable can be received in the first cable channel, engaged with a portion of the circumferencial groove and passed through the second cable channel.   
     
     
       2. The derailleur cable router of claim 1 wherein the first cable channel, the second cable channel and the circumferencial groove of the pulley lie in substantially the same plane. 
     
     
       3. The derailleur cable router of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a C shaped plate with the first end at the top of the C and the second end at the bottom of the C. 
     
     
       4. The derailleur cable router of claim 1 wherein the means for attachment to a derailleur cable housing comprises a first housing extending from the first end of the plate a direction normal to the plate, the first housing containing the first cable channel and having a bore coaxial with the first cable channel, the bore being sized to receive a leading end of a ferrule attached to an end of a cable housing and the means for attachment to a derailleur cable feed of a rear derailleur comprises a second housing extending from the second end of the plate the direction normal to the plate, the second housing containing the second cable channel and having a leading surface through which the second cable channel passes, the leading surface being configured to abut a derailleur cable feed of a rear derailleur. 
     
     
       5. The derailleur cable router of claim 4 wherein the means for attachment to a derailleur cable feed of a rear derailleur further comprises a second bore coaxial with the second cable channel, the second bore being sized to receive a means for break-away attachment between a derailleur cable feed and the second housing. 
     
     
       6. The derailleur cable router of claim 5 wherein the means for break-away attachment comprises a screw configured to be threadably engaged with a derailleur cable feed of a rear derailleur, the screw having a semispherical head received by the second bore, the screw further including an axial derailleur cable receiving passage. 
     
     
       7. The derailleur cable router of claim 5 wherein the means for break-away attachment comprises a coil spring. 
     
     
       8. The derailleur cable router of claim 5 wherein the means for break-away attachment comprises a length of cable housing. 
     
     
       9. The derailleur cable router of claim 4 wherein the bore of the means for attachment to a derailleur cable housing is internally threaded in a manner to threadably engage male threads of a barrel cable length adjuster attached to an end of a cable housing. 
     
     
       10. The derailleur cable router of claim 1 wherein the frame further comprises a first leg having a proximal end and a distal end to which the means for attachment to a derailleur cable housing is attached and a second leg having a proximal end and a distal end to which the means for attachment to a derailleur cable feed of a rear derailleur is attached, the proximal ends of the first and second legs being connected by connection means for selectively allowing relative rotation between the first and second legs. 
     
     
       11. The derailleur cable router of claim 10 wherein the proximal ends of the first and second legs each have a knurled portion around a connecting hole and the proximal ends are juxtaposed with the knurled portions in abutment. 
     
     
       12. The derailleur cable router of claim 10 wherein the connection means comprises a bolt through the connecting holes threadably engaging a nut. 
     
     
       13. The derailleur cable router of claim 10 wherein the proximal ends of the first and second legs each have a connecting hole coaxial with the axis of rotation of the pulley, the proximal ends of the first and second legs being juxtaposed with their respective connecting holes aligned and the connection means comprises means holding the legs together for rotation about their connection holes and one of the first and second legs having at least two locking holes radially spaced from the connecting holes and the other of the first and second legs having a receptor hole radially spaced a like distance, the legs being rotatable about the connection holes to selectively bring each locking hole into alignment with the receptor hole, and a pin axially received in an aligned locking hole and receptor hole, the pin being removable to allow another locking hole to be brought into alignment with the receptor hole whereupon the pin can be reinserted to hold the legs in a new select relative position. 
     
     
       14. A rear derailleur of a bicycle for mounting to a bicycle frame in operative association with a derailleur cable, the rear derailleur being actuated by variation in tension applied by the derailleur cable attached to an actuator arm of the derailleur from a direction rearward of the derailleur, the tension in the derailleur cable being controlled by a shifter attached to a distal end of the derailleur cable, the shifter being mounted to the bicycle frame forward of the derailleur, the derailleur cable including a cable housing around at least a portion of the derailleur cable, the derailleur cable housing being attached to the frame to fix it against lengthwise movement relative to the bicycle frame, the rear derailleur comprising: a frame having at a first end means for attachment to a derailleur cable housing and a second end integrally attached to the actuator arm of the derailleur, the means for attachment to a derailleur cable housing including a first cable channel for receiving a derailleur cable from within the derailleur cable housing and the second end of the frame including a second cable channel for passing a derailleur cable to a means for securing a derailleur cable on the actuator arm of the rear derailleur;   a pulley wheel having an axis of rotation and a circumferencial groove; and   means for mounting the pulley wheel by its axis of rotation to the frame rotation relative to the frame intermediate the first and second ends of the frame with the circumferencial groove of the pulley aligned with the first and second cable channels so that a derailleur cable can be received in the first cable channel, engaged with a portion of the circumferencial groove and passed out of the second cable channel for attachment to the means for securing a derailleur cable.   
     
     
       15. The rear derailleur of claim 14 wherein the means for attachment to a derailleur cable housing comprises a first housing extending from the first end of the plate a direction normal to a plane within which the plate lies, the first housing containing the first cable channel and having a bore coaxial with the first cable channel, the bore being sized to receive a leading end of a ferrule attached to an end of a cable housing. 
     
     
       16. The rear derailleur of claim 15 wherein the bore contains internal threads sized to receive male threads of a barrel cable tension adjuster at an end of a cable housing. 
     
     
       17. The rear derailleur of claim 14 wherein the first cable channel, the second cable channel and the circumferencial groove of the pulley lie in substantially the same plane. .Iadd. 
     
     
       18.  A derailleur cable router for changing a direction of a derailleur cable having a cable housing surrounding at least a portion of the derailleur cable, wherein the derailleur cable router comprises: a frame;   a pulley mounted on the frame for rotation around a pulley axis; and   a housing support pivotably supported on the frame for supporting the cable housing relative to the pulley so that the housing support pivots around a housing support axis spaced apart from the pulley axis..Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       19.  The derailleur cable router according to claim 18 wherein the housing support axis is disposed radially outwardly from an outer peripheral surface of the pulley..Iaddend..Iadd.20. The derailleur cable router according to claim 18 wherein the housing support pivots around an axis generally parallel to the pulley axis..Iaddend..Iadd.21. The derailleur cable router according to claim 18 wherein the housing support includes a receiving bore for supporting the cable housing and a cable channel for receiving the derailleur cable therethrough..Iaddend..Iadd.22. The derailleur cable router according to claim 21 wherein the receiving bore has a threaded inner peripheral surface..Iaddend..Iadd.23. The derailleur cable router according to claim 21 further comprising a tension adjuster disposed on the housing support..Iaddend..Iadd.24. The derailleur cable router according to claim 21 wherein a diameter of the receiving bore is greater than a diameter of the cable channel..Iaddend..Iadd.25. The derailleur cable router according to claim 24 wherein the housing support has a substantially cylindrical shape..Iaddend..Iadd.26. The derailleur cable router according to claim 18 wherein the frame includes a first frame member extending radially outwardly from the pulley axis and terminating at a first frame member first end, and wherein the housing support is pivotably mounted at the first frame member first end..Iaddend..Iadd.27. The derailleur cable router according to claim 26 wherein the frame includes a second frame member extending radially outwardly from the pulley axis generally parallel to the first frame member and terminating at a second frame member first end, and wherein the housing support is pivotably mounted at the second frame member first end..Iaddend..Iadd.28. The derailleur cable router according to claim 26 wherein the first frame member extends radially outwardly from the pulley axis and terminates at a first frame member second end..Iaddend..Iadd.29. The derailleur cable router according to claim 28 further comprising a derailleur interfacing member disposed on the first frame member second end..Iaddend..Iadd.30. The derailleur cable router according to claim 29 wherein the derailleur interfacing member includes a cable channel for receiving the derailleur cable therethrough..Iaddend..Iadd.31. The derailleur cable router according to claim 30 wherein the derailleur interfacing member is pivotably mounted to the first frame member second end..Iaddend..Iadd.32. The derailleur cable router according to claim 31 wherein the derailleur interfacing member has a substantially cylindrical shape..Iaddend..Iadd.33. The derailleur cable router according to claim 28 wherein the frame includes a second frame member extending radially outwardly from the pulley axis generally parallel to the first frame member and terminating at a second frame member first end, and wherein the housing support is pivotable mounted at the second frame member first end..Iaddend..Iadd.34. The derailleur cable router according to claim 33 further comprising a derailleur interfacing member disposed on the first frame member second end..Iaddend..Iadd.35. The derailleur cable router according to claim 34 wherein the derailleur interfacing member includes a cable channel for receiving the derailleur cable 
     
     
        therethrough..Iaddend..Iadd.36.  The derailleur cable router according to claim 35 wherein the derailleur interfacing member is pivotably mounted to the first frame member second end..Iaddend..Iadd.37. The derailleur cable router according to claim 36 wherein the derailleur interfacing member has a substantially cylindrical shape..Iaddend..Iadd.38. The derailleur cable router according to claim 35 wherein the second frame member extends radially outwardly from the pulley axis and terminates at a second frame member second end..Iaddend..Iadd.39. The derailleur cable router according to claim 38 wherein the derailleur interfacing member is disposed between the first frame member second end and the second frame member second end..Iaddend..Iadd.40. The derailleur cable router according to claim 39 wherein the derailleur interfacing member is pivotably mounted between the first frame member second end and the second frame member second end..Iaddend..Iadd.41. A derailleur cable router for changing a direction of a derailleur cable having a first cable housing surrounding at least a portion of the derailleur cable, wherein the derailleur cable router comprises: a pulley support;   a pulley mounted on the pulley support for rotation around a pulley axis;   wherein the pulley support includes: a first portion extending radially outwardly from the pulley axis for supporting the first cable housing;   a second portion extending radially outwardly from the pulley axis; and   a movable derailleur interfacing mechanism disposed at the second portion, wherein the derailleur interfacing mechanism includes a convex member slidably engaging a concave member; and     wherein the pulley includes a cable receiving groove for receiving the derailleur cable from the first portion and for outputting the derailleur   
     
     
        cable to the second portion. .Iadd.42.  A derailleur cable router for changing a direction of a derailleur cable having a first cable housing surrounding at least a portion of the derailleur cable, wherein the derailleur cable router comprises: a pulley support;   a pulley mounted on the pulley support for rotation around a pulley axis;   wherein the pulley support includes: a first portion extending radially outwardly from the pulley axis for supporting the first cable housing;   a second portion extending radially outwardly from the pulley axis; and   a movable derailleur interfacing mechanism including a coil spring disposed at the second portion; and     wherein the pulley includes a cable receiving groove for receiving the derailleur cable from the first portion and for outputting the derailleur cable to the second portion..Iaddend..Iadd.43. A derailleur cable router for changing a direction of a derailleur cable having a first cable housing surrounding at least a portion of the derailleur cable, wherein the derailleur cable router comprises:   a pulley support;   a pulley mounted on the pulley support for rotation around a pulley axis;   wherein the pulley support includes: a first portion extending radially outwardly from the pulley axis for supporting the first cable housing;   a second portion extending radially outwardly from the pulley axis; and   a derailleur interfacing mechanism pivotably mounted to the second portion of the pulley support; and     wherein the pulley includes a cable receiving groove for receiving the derailleur cable from the first portion and for outputting the derailleur   
     
     
        cable to the second portion..Iaddend..Iadd.44.  The derailleur cable router according to claim 43 wherein the derailleur interfacing mechanism has a substantially cylindrical shape..Iaddend..Iadd.45. A derailleur operated by a derailleur cable having a cable housing surrounding at least a portion of the derailleur cable, the derailleur comprising: a base member including: a mounting portion for mounting the derailleur to a bicycle frame, the mounting portion having a laterally extending mounting axis; and   a cable feed portion defining a cable feed opening having a longitudinal cable feed axis oriented differently from the mounting axis;     a movable member supporting a chain guide;   an actuating arm coupled between the base member and the movable member so that the movable member moves relative to the base member;   a cable housing support supported on the base member and spaced apart from the cable feed portion for supporting an end of the cable housing;   a pulley rotatably mounted to the base member, wherein the pulley includes: a rotational axis oriented generally parallel to the mounting axis; and   a cable receiving groove for receiving the derailleur cable from the cable housing support and for outputting the derailleur cable to the cable feed opening..Iaddend..Iadd.46. The derailleur according to claim 45 wherein the cable feed portion is one-piece with the mounting portion..Iaddend..Iadd.47. The derailleur according to claim 45 wherein the cable housing support includes a threaded bore for receiving a tension adjuster..Iaddend..Iadd.48. The derailleur according to claim 45 wherein the cable housing support includes a first cable channel, wherein the cable feed portion includes a second cable channel defining the cable feed opening, and wherein first cable channel, the second cable channel and the cable receiving groove of the pulley lie in substantially the same     
     
     
        place..Iaddend..Iadd.49.  A derailleur operated by a derailleur cable having a cable housing surrounding at least a portion of the derailleur cable, the derailleur comprising: a base member;   a movable member supporting a chain guide;   an actuating arm coupled between the base member and the movable member so that the movable member moves relative to the base member;   a derailleur cable router coupled to the base member including: a cable router frame;   a pulley mounted to the cable router frame for rotation around a pulley axis;   a cable housing support coupled to the cable router frame for supporting the cable housing relative to the pulley; and   wherein the cable router frame is movably coupled to the base member so that the pulley deflects relative to the derailleur in response to a force applied to the cable router frame..Iaddend..Iadd.50. The derailleur according to claim 49 wherein the base member includes a cable feed defining a cable feed opening, and wherein the derailleur cable router is coupled to the cable feed..Iaddend..Iadd.51. The derailleur according to claim 50 wherein the cable router frame includes:     a first portion extending radially outwardly from the pulley axis and supporting the cable housing support; and   a second portion extending radially outwardly from the pulley axis for coupling to the cable feed..Iaddend..Iadd.52. The derailleur according to claim 51 further comprising a derailleur interfacing mechanism disposed between the second portion of the cable router frame and the cable   
     
     
        feed..Iaddend..Iadd.53.  The derailleur according to claim 52 wherein the derailleur interfacing mechanism includes a cable channel communicating with the cable feed opening for receiving the derailleur cable therethrough..Iaddend..Iadd.54. The derailleur according to claim 53 wherein the derailleur interfacing mechanism is pivotably mounted to the second portion of the cable router frame..Iaddend..Iadd.55. The derailleur according to claim 54 wherein the derailleur interfacing mechanism has a substantially cylindrical shape..Iaddend..Iadd.56. The derailleur according to claim 52 wherein the derailleur interfacing mechanism includes a length of cable housing disposed between the second portion of the cable router frame and the cable feed..Iaddend..Iadd.57. The derailleur according to claim 52 wherein the derailleur interfacing mechanism includes a convex member disposed between the second portion of the cable router frame and the cable feed..Iaddend..Iadd.58. The derailleur according to claim 52 wherein the derailleur interfacing mechanism includes a concave member disposed between the second portion of the cable router frame and the cable feed..Iaddend..Iadd.59. The derailleur according to claim 52 wherein the derailleur interfacing mechanism includes: a convex member disposed between the second portion of the cable router frame and the cable feed;   a concave member disposed between the second portion of the cable router frame and the cable feed; and   wherein the convex member slidingly engages the concave   
     
     
        member..Iaddend..Iadd.60.  The derailleur according to claim 52 wherein the derailleur interfacing mechanism includes a coil spring disposed between the second portion of the cable router frame and the cable feed..Iaddend..Iadd.61. The derailleur according to claim 49 wherein the base member includes a cable feed defining a cable feed opening for receiving the derailleur cable therethrough..Iaddend.