transmission control member (18) for a selected rotation distance without moving
intermediate element (17) towards the disengagement position.
This is evident from Figures 6A-6D and 7A-7D of Yam ane. As shown, once the
gears move from an idle state (shown in Figures 6A and 7A) to a state in which operatin g
member (16) is being rotated, the surface (171a in Figure 6B, 171b in Figure 7B) of
second gear portion (171) engages the surface (160a in Figure 6B, 160b in Figure 7B) o f
gear portion (160) and second gear portion (171) immediately starts to move to the left
toward the disengagement position (shown in Figures 6B and 7B).
The device of Yamane is also structured so that “intermediate element 17 is in
constant engagement with the takeup member 18.” (Yamane, col. 6, lines 18-20).
Further, the tooth measurement (171h) of the second gear portion (171) is sized so that
“the gear teeth of the second gear portion 171 of the intermediate element do not move
over t he teeth of the gear portion 160 of the operating element 16 and remain capture d by
the same mating teeth. …” (Yamane, col. 6, lines 33-36) (emphasis added). As such,
when the user rotates operating membe r (16), the gear portion (160) of operating member
(16) engages second gear portion (171) of intermediate element (17) causing immediate
rotation thereof, which in turn causes immediate rotati on of takeup member (18) by virtue
of its constant engagement with intermediate element (17).
We find that Yamane fails to disclose a bicycle shift control device “wherein the
first coupling member and the second coupling member are structured so that rotation of
the operating member rotates the transmission control member for a selected rotational
distance without moving the second position setting member toward the disengagement
position,” as recited in claim 1. We also find that Yamane fails to disclose any structure
that would perform the recited function of “allowing the operating member to rotate the
transmission control member for a selected rotational distance without the second
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