Chain ring protector

Abstract

A chain ring protector having a substantially planar mounting bracket operably secured to the bottom bracket sleeve of a vehicle with a durable semi-circumferential guard extending therefrom is disclosed. The durable guard has a substantially arcuate outer edge sized to approximate the outer diameter of a chain ring, and it is operably secured to the planar mounting bracket such that the outer edge extends slightly beyond the outer diameter of the portion of the chain ring extending below the bottom bracket sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A chain ring protector for a vehicle having a frame with a lower bracket sleeve thereon and a lower bracket spindle operably secured thereto, the spindle pivotally securing a chain ring to the frame, the chain ring defining an outer radius with a portion of the chain ring extending below the lower bracket sleeve, said chain ring protector comprising:
 a substantially planar mounting bracket portion secured to the lower bracket sleeve such that the substantially planar mounting bracket remains fixed with respect to the frame while the chain ring pivots; and, 
 a semi-circumferential guard portion extending from the substantially planar mount bracket portion adjacent to the chain ring and aligned with the portion of the chain ring extending below the lower bracket sleeve, an outer edge of said guard portion extending past the outer radius of the chain ring so as to protect the portion of the chain ring extending below the lower bracket sleeve from inadvertent impacts; and 
 means for detachably securing said semi-circumferential guard portion to said substantially planar mounting bracket portion so as to allow said semi-circumferential guard portion to be replaced without removing said planar mounting bracket portion from said lower bracket sleeve. 
 
     
     
       2. The chain ring protector of  claim 1 , wherein the spindle includes a threaded end with a lip, and said lower bracket sleeve has mating threads for operably engaging the threaded end of the spindle, and wherein said substantially planar mounting bracket includes an opening for receiving the spindle therethrough such that tightening the spindle on said lower bracket urges the lip to engage the mounting bracket, thereby securing the mounting bracket to the lower bracket sleeve. 
     
     
       3. The chain ring protector of  claim 1 , wherein said guard portion is detachably secured to said substantially planar mounting bracket. 
     
     
       4. The chain ring protector of claim  3  2, wherein said guard includes a plurality of parallelly aligned slots thereon and said guard is secured to said mounting bracket through fasteners extending through said slots. 
     
     
       5. The chain ring protector of  claim 4 , wherein said guard has an substantially arcuate outer edge and the position of said arcuate outer edge with respect to an outer radius of said chain ring is adjustable by sliding said guard along said slots. 
     
     
       6. The chain right protector of  claim 1 , further including an anti-rotation mount extending from said chain ring protector to the frame. 
     
     
       7. The chain ring protector of  claim 6 , wherein said anti-rotation mount includes a recess for operably engaging a frame member of the frame. 
     
     
       8. The chain ring protector of  claim 1 , further including a second chain ring detector protector, said second chain ring detector protector operably secured to an opposite end of said lower bracket sleeve and aligned substantially parallel with said chain ring detector protector. 
     
     
       9. The chain ring protector of  claim 1 , further including A chain ring protector for a vehicle having a frame with a lower bracket sleeve thereon and a lower bracket spindle operably secured thereto, the spindle pivotally securing a chain ring to the frame, the chain ring defining an outer radius with a portion of the chain ring extending below the lower bracket sleeve, said chain ring protector comprising:
 a substantially planar mounting bracket portion secured to the lower bracket sleeve such that the substantially planar mounting bracket remains fixed with respect to the frame while the chain ring pivots; 
 a semi-circumferential guard portion extending from the substantially planar mount bracket portion adjacent to the chain ring and aligned with the portion of the chain ring extending below the lower bracket sleeve, an outer edge of said guard portion extending past the outer radius of the chain ring so as to protect the portion of the chain ring extending below the lower bracket sleeve from inadvertent impacts; and  
 a protective disk operably secured to said chain ring and having an outer radius larger than an outer radius of the chain ring. 
 
     
     
       10. A bicycle comprising:
 a frame having a lower bracket sleeve thereon, forward and aft wheels operably secured to said frame, handle bars operably engaging said forward wheel and operably secured to said frame; 
 a lower bracket spindle having a pivoting shaft therein, said spindle detachably received though said lower bracket sleeve, said shaft having first and second ends; 
 a left crank secured to said first end of said shaft; 
 a right crank secured to said second end of said shaft; 
 a substantially planar sprocket operably secured to said shaft, for driving said aft wheel by rotation of said sprocket, a portion of said sprocket extending below said lower bracket sleeve by a defined distance; 
 a substantially planar mounting bracket portion secured to the lower bracket sleeve such that the substantially planar mounting bracket remains fixed with respect to the frame while the sprocket rotates about said shaft; and, 
 a semi-circumferential guard portion extending from the substantially planar mount bracket portion adjacent to the chain ring by a length greater than said defined distance, said semi-circumferential guard portion substantially aligned with said portion of said sprocket extending below said lower bracket sleeve; and 
 means for detachably securing said semi-circumferential guard portion to said substantially planar mounting bracket portion so as to allow said semi-circumferential guard portion to be replaced without removing said planar mounting bracket portion from said lower bracket sleeve. 
 
     
     
       11. The bicycle of  claim 10 , wherein the spindle includes a threaded end with a lip, and said lower bracket sleeve has mating threads for operably engaging the threaded end of the spindle, and wherein said substantially planar mounting bracket includes an opening for receiving the spindle therethrough such that tightening the spindle on said lower bracket urges the lip to engage the mounting bracket, thereby securing the mounting bracket to the lower bracket sleeve. 
     
     
       12. The bicycle of  claim 10 , wherein said guard portion is detachably secured to said substantially planar mounting bracket. 
     
     
       13. The bicycle of claim  12  10, wherein said guard includes a plurality of parallelly aligned slots thereon and said guard is secured to said mounting bracket through fasteners extending through said slots. 
     
     
       14. The bicycle of  claim 13 , wherein said guard has an substantially arcuate outer edge and the position of said arcuate outer edge with respect to an outer radius of said sprocket is adjustable by sliding said guard along said slots. 
     
     
       15. The bicycle of  claim 10 , further including an anti-rotation mount, extending from said mounting bracket to the frame. 
     
     
       16. The bicycle of  claim 10 , further including a protective disk operably secured to said sprocket and having an outer radius larger than an outer radius of the chain ring. 
     
     
       17. The bicycle of  claim 10 , further Including a plurality of sprockets operably secured to said shaft, with each sprocket of said plurality of sprockets having a different outer radius. 
     
     
       18. The chain ring protector of  claim 1 , further including adjustment means for adjusting the position of said semi-circumferential guard portion relative to said substantially planar mounting bracket portion so as to allow said outer edge of said guard portion to be adjusted without removing said substantially planar mounting bracket from said lower bracket sleeve. 
     
     
       19. The chain ring protector of  claim 1 , further including means for detachably securing said semi-circumferential guard portion to said substantially planer mounting bracket portion so as to allow said semi-circumferential guard portion to be replaced without removing said planar mounting bracket portion from said lower bracket sleeve. 
     
     
       20. The chain ring protector of  claim 1 , A chain ring protector for a vehicle having a frame with a lower bracket sleeve thereon and a lower bracket spindle operably secured thereto, the spindle pivotally securing a chain ring to the frame, the chain ring defining an outer radius with a portion of the chain ring extending below the lower bracket sleeve, said chain ring protector comprising:
 a substantially planar mounting bracket portion secured to the lower bracket sleeve such that the substantially planar mounting bracket remains fixed with respect to the frame while the chain ring pivots; and 
 a semi-circumferential guard portion extending from the substantially planar mount bracket portion adjacent to the chain ring and aligned with the portion of the chain ring extending below the lower bracket sleeve, an outer edge of said guard portion extending past the outer radius of the chain ring so as to protect the portion of the chain ring extending below the lower bracket sleeve from inadvertent impacts; 
 wherein said chain ring defines a plane, and said chain ring protector is aligned parallel to the plane without intersecting said plane. 
 
     
     
       21. The protector of claim 20, wherein the mounting bracket defines an aperture sized to pass at least a portion of a lower bracket spindle shaft therethrough, whereby the mounting bracket contacts no drivetrain component when installed on the bicycle. 
     
     
       22. The protector of claim 21, wherein the aperture is sized so the mounting bracket is adapted to be mounted to a bicycle between the lower bracket sleeve and a spindle lip. 
     
     
       23. The protector of claim 20, wherein the mounting bracket defines a plurality of bolt mounting holes. 
     
     
       24. The protector of claim 23, wherein the protector further comprises a mount adapted to engage at least one bicycle frame tube. 
     
     
       25. The protector of claim 24, wherein the mount is notched to wedge between two frame tubes.