Bicycle Chain Stay Cable Routing via Nested Guide Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bicycle designs expose shift cables on the drive side adjacent to the crankset, leading to potential damage and aesthetic issues, as they are not efficiently guided from the non-drive-side strut to the drive-side strut within the rear frame.

Innovation Solution

A bicycle component with a guide device, including a guide tube and/or guide element, is integrated into the rear triangle to route the shift cable from the non-drive-side strut to the drive-side strut, reducing exposure and incorporating the shift cable into the strut yoke for secure guidance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the shift cable is routed externally on the drive side adjacent to the crankset, then the cable routing is simple and accessible, but the cable is exposed to damage and aesthetic appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable exposure to damageVSAvoidcable routing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shift cable is nested within the hollow drive-side chainstay tube, which acts as a protective conduit. The cable runs through the internal cavity of the chainstay from the non-drive side to the drive side, eliminating external exposure while maintaining routing functionality through the tube's internal space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow chainstay tube serves as an intermediary structure that guides and protects the shift cable. Instead of the cable running externally, the tube mediates the cable's path by providing an internal passage with guide outlets that direct the cable to its destination while protecting it from environmental damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the shift cable is guided through the rear triangle structure, then cable protection and aesthetics improve, but the routing structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable protectionVSAvoidrouting structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive-side chainstay tube performs multiple functions: it provides structural support for the rear triangle, serves as a protective conduit for the shift cable, and incorporates guide outlets for cable routing. This multi-functionality integrates cable protection into the existing structural component without adding separate protective elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The cable routing function is merged with the chainstay structure by utilizing its hollow internal space. The guide device is integrated into the chainstay tube, combining the structural and routing functions into a single unified component rather than separate elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Shape

If the shift cable is routed from non-drive side to drive side through the rear triangle, then cable management and aesthetics improve, but the routing path length increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable routing aestheticsVSAvoidcable path length
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The shift cable is routed through a curved path within the hollow chainstay tube, following the tube's curved geometry from the non-drive side to the drive side. This curved routing through the tube's internal space achieves better cable management and aesthetics compared to straight external routing, while the tube's structure accommodates the curved path efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3994053B1Chain stay with bicycle component and bicycle
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 KLIEBER JOCHEN
  • EP3994053B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3994053B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP3994053B1 patent drawingFigure 3c

AI summary

The invention describes a bicycle component (10) for guiding a shift cable from a non-drive-side stay (102) of a rear triangle to a drive-side stay of the rear triangle, with a non-drive-side guide inlet (12) for guiding the shift cable into the non-drive-side stay (102), a guide device for integrated guiding of the shift cable in the rear triangle, and a drive-side guide outlet (16) for guiding the shift cable out of the drive-side stay. The invention also describes a stay component, more particularly a chain stay component (100), for a rear triangleof a bicycle, with a non-drive-side stay (102) and a drive-side stay, a stay bridge (108) for reinforcing the two stays (102, 106), and the bicycle component (10). The invention also relates to a bicycle with a stay component (100) of this kind.