Cassette and bicycle wheel assembly
AssigneePraxis Works LLC
InventorsDavid M. Earle, Ding-Jiun Lin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cassette for a bicycle may include a plurality of sprocket portions joined together into a single unit. The cassette may include a cavity formed in the large end of the cassette. A related manufacturing method may include joining a first generally planar sprocket portion having a plurality of connector portions extending transverse to the plane of the first sprocket portion, to a second generally planar sprocket portion, e.g., by fusing at least one of the connector portions to the second sprocket portion.
Claims18
A method for making a cassette for a bicycle, the method comprising:
- forming a generally planar and annular first sprocket portion defining a plane;
- forming a plurality of connector portions around a first inner diameter (ID) of the first sprocket portion, each of the connector portions being formed of a single piece with the first sprocket portion and extending transverse to the plane of the first sprocket portion;
- and
- joining the first sprocket portion to a second generally planar sprocket portion by affixing at least one of the connector portions to the second sprocket portion;
- wherein the second sprocket portion is generally annular and has a second inner diameter sized differently from the first inner diameter.
A method for making a cassette for a bicycle, the method comprising:
- producing a substantially planar first sprocket portion defining a plane and having a generally annular shape, a first plurality of teeth extending radially outward around a first outer diameter, and a first plurality of connector portions protruding transverse to the plane of the first sprocket portion around an inner diameter, wherein the first sprocket portion and the first plurality of connector portions are a formed as a single piece;
- producing a substantially planar second sprocket portion having a second plurality of teeth extending radially outward around a second outer diameter;
- and
- joining the first sprocket portion to the second sprocket portion by affixing the plurality of connector portions to the second sprocket portion;
- wherein the first sprocket portion and the second sprocket portion are concentric, and the first sprocket portion is spaced from the second sprocket by the plurality of connector portions.
A method for making a cassette for a bicycle, the method comprising:
- selecting a substantially planar and annular first sprocket portion defining a plane, the first sprocket portion having a first outer diameter, and a first plurality of connection members disposed around an inner diameter, the first sprocket portion and the first plurality of connection members formed as a single piece, each connection member protruding transverse to the plane of the sprocket portion;
- selecting a substantially planar second sprocket portion having a second outer diameter different from the first outer diameter;
- aligning the first and second sprocket portions coaxially;
- and
- joining the first and second sprocket portions by welding the first connection members of the first sprocket portion to the second sprocket portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.