Shimano Develops Direct-Mount Derailleur with Rigid Bracket Device.
Shimano has filed a patent for a Direct-Mount Rear Derailleur with a rigid "bracket device" that occupies space on both faces of the drive-side dropout, similar to SRAM's T-Type Direct-Mount Derailleur. The patent shows a mechanical rear derailleur with a pulley wheel for guiding the cable to its clamp and the ability to accommodate different size cassettes. Shimano's design reduces the amount of the rear derailleur projecting from the bicycle's axial center plane and increases its rigidity, improving usability. It is unclear whether the design is compatible with SRAM's UDH style dropout or impinges upon SRAM's Transmission patents. Shimano may also be working on an electronic version.