Back to results
US 10,703,133 B2Granted
Bicycle rim for tubeless tire
AssigneeHed Cycling Products, Inc.
InventorsSteven Arthur Hed, Christopher Andrew Edin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Bicycle rims that allow tires to be more easily mounted in a tubeless configuration are disclosed. More specifically, a bicycle rim may control the two beads of the tire with separate bead channels for each bead and a center bridge extending between the two bead channels.
Claims23
A bicycle rim adapted to seat a tubeless and tube tires, comprising:
- an annular support portion forming a continuous ring having an outer tire mounting surface and further comprising:
- a tapered first bead channel having a bead channel diameter disposed to a first side of a centerline of the annular support portion, further comprising:
- a first bead channel outer sidewall sloped such that a radially outer end of the first bead channel outer sidewall is laterally outward of a radially inner end of the first bead channel outer sidewall;
- a first bead channel inner sidewall;
- a tapered second bead channel having the bead channel diameter disposed to a second side of the centerline, further comprising:
- a second bead channel outer sidewall sloped such that a radially outer end of the second bead channel outer sidewall is laterally outward of a radially inner end of the second bead channel outer sidewall;
- a second bead channel inner sidewall;
- a first bead seat portion and a second bead seat portion, the first bead seat portion disposed laterally outward of the first bead channel from the centerline and the second bead seat portion disposed laterally outward of the second bead channel from the centerline, the first bead seat portion and second bead seat portion having a bead seat diameter that is greater than the bead channel diameter;
- a first rim ledge extending from the first bead channel outer sidewall to the first bead seat portion and a second rim ledge extending from the second bead channel outer sidewall to the second bead seat portion, wherein the outer tire mounting surface is free of sharp corners between the first bead channel and the first bead seat portion and between the second bead channel and the second bead seat portion;
- a center bridge extending from the first bead channel inner sidewall to the second bead channel inner sidewall, wherein the center bridge has a center bridge diameter at a first lateral end and a second lateral end of the center bridge that is greater than the bead channel diameter, bead seat diameter and diameters of the first rim ledge and second rim ledge;
- and
- a first rim sidewall and a second rim sidewall extending radially outward from the annular portion, wherein the center bridge diameter is less than an outer diameter of the first rim sidewall and second rim sidewall.
9 more elements
A method for mounting a tubeless tire, comprising:
- placing a bicycle rim having an annular support portion with an outer tire mounting surface between a first tire bead and a second tire bead of a tire;
- placing the first tire bead of a bicycle tire in a tapered first bead channel having;
- a first bead channel inner sidewall;
- and
- a first bead channel outer sidewall that is sloped such that a radially outer end of the first bead channel outer sidewall is laterally outward of a radially inner end of the first bead channel outer sidewall, the first bead channel disposed to a first side of a centerline of the bicycle rim;
- placing the second tire bead of the bicycle tire in a tapered second bead channel having:
- a second bead channel inner sidewall;
- and
- a second bead channel outer sidewall that is sloped such that a radially outer end of the second bead channel outer sidewall is laterally outward of a radially inner end of the second bead channel outer sidewall;
- maintaining a separation between the first tire bead and the second tire bead with a center bridge of the bicycle rim, the center bridge extending from the first bead channel inner sidewall to the second bead channel inner sidewall, wherein the center bridge has a center bridge diameter at a first lateral end and a second lateral end of the center bridge;
- and
- inflating the tire to cause the first tire bead to transition along the outer tire mounting surface from the first bead channel and across a first rim ledge to a first bead seat portion disposed laterally outward of the first bead channel such that the tire contacts a first rim sidewall that extends radially outward from the support portion and to cause the second tire bead to transition along the outer tire mounting surface from the second bead channel and over a second rim ledge to a second bead seat portion disposed laterally outward of the second bead channel such that the tire contacts a second rim sidewall that extends radially outward from the support portion, wherein the outer tire mounting surface is free of sharp corners between the first bead channel and the first bead seat portion and between the second bead channel and the second bead seat portion and wherein the first bead seat portion and second bead seat portion have a bead seat diameter that is greater than a bead channel diameter and less than the center bridge diameter and wherein the center bridge diameter is less than an outer diameter of the first rim sidewall and second rim sidewall.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.