Patent ID: 7166054

Claim:
An internal hub transmission for a bicycle comprising: a hub shaft structured to be mounted to a bicycle frame; a drive member; a driven member; a planetary gear mechanism that communicates rotational force from the drive member to the driven member, wherein the planetary gear mechanism comprises: a sun gear integrally formed with the hub shaft; a planet gear carrier rotatably supported relative to the hub shaft; a planet gear rotatably supported by the planet gear carrier, wherein the planet gear engages the sun gear; and a ring gear that engages the planet gear; a first bearing assembly comprising: a separate first bearing cone mounted to the hub shaft; a first bearing cup; and a plurality of first bearing members disposed between the first bearing cone and the first bearing cup; a second bearing assembly comprising: a separate second bearing cone that is a separate member from the hub shaft and is mounted to the hub shaft axially spaced apart inwardly from the first bearing cone; a second bearing cup; and a plurality of second bearing members disposed between the second bearing cone and the second bearing cup; a third bearing assembly that rotatably supports the drive member relative to the hub shaft; and a fourth bearing assembly that rotatably supports the drive member relative to the hub shaft.