# US 11,029,138 B2 · Drop-out mounting structure for wheel alignment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,138 B2 - Document ID: US11029138B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/201,260 - Filed: 2018-11-27 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-08 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; KIA Motors Corporation - Inventors: Jungnam Choi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029138B2 ## CPC - G01B 5/0025: {Measuring of vehicle parts (G01B5/003 takes precedence)} - G01B 5/255: for testing wheel alignment - B62K 19/18: Joints between frame members - B62K 25/02: for mounting axles rigidly on cycle frame or fork, e.g. adjustably - G01B 5/25: for testing the alignment of axes - G01B 2210/10: Wheel alignment - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE ## Abstract A drop-out mounting structure for wheel alignment is disclosed. The disclosed drop-out mounting structure for the wheel alignment according to an aspect of the present disclosure for mounting a drop-out member as a wheel mounting unit to a bicycle frame through a bolt in a state that the drop-out member may be set according to a predetermined reference position includes a wheel alignment unit provided to be in spherical contact with a bolt fastening portion of the drop-out member and the frame as a male and female type and performing wheel alignment according to deformation of the frame. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drop-out mounting structure mounting a drop-out member as a wheel mounting unit to a bicycle frame through a bolt in a state that the drop-out member is set according to a predetermined reference position, comprising a wheel alignment unit provided to be in spherical contact with a bolt fastening portion of the drop-out member and the frame as a male and female type and performing wheel alignment according to deformation of the frame, wherein the wheel alignment unit includes: a concave spherical portion formed at one bolt fastening hole edge of the drop-out member and the frame; and a convex spherical portion formed at another bolt fastening hole edge of the drop-out member and the frame and in spherical contact with the concave spherical portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 1, wherein the drop-out member is mounted at a stay frame of the bicycle frame in which both side panels that are stamp-molded are bonded by welding. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 1, wherein the convex spherical portion is in partial spherical contact with the concave spherical portion by the deformation of the frame. ### Claim 4 A drop-out mounting structure mounting a drop-out member as a wheel mounting unit to a bicycle frame through a bolt in a state that the drop-out member is set according to a predetermined reference position, comprising a wheel alignment unit provided between bolt fastening portions of the drop-out member and the frame and performing wheel alignment according to deformation of the frame, wherein the wheel alignment unit includes a protrusion pattern portion of which a part is crushed by a fastening force of the drop-out member and the frame due to the bolt. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 4, wherein the protrusion pattern portion includes crush protrusions formed to be integrally protruded and separated along an edge direction at a bolt fastening hole edge surface of the drop-out member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 4, wherein the frame is made of a steel material, and the drop-out member is made of an aluminum material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 4, wherein the wheel alignment unit includes a washer interposed between bolt fastening portions of the drop-out member and the frame and the protrusion pattern portion is respectively formed at both side surfaces of the washer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 7, wherein the frame and the drop-out member are made of a steel material, and the washer is made of an aluminum material and is provided in a ring shape having an inner space. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 7, wherein the protrusion pattern portion includes crush protrusions formed to be integrally protruded and separated along an edge direction at both side surfaces of the washer. ### Claim 10 A drop-out mounting structure mounting a drop-out member as a wheel mounting unit to a bicycle frame through a bolt in a state that the drop-out member is set according to a predetermined reference position, comprising a wheel alignment unit provided at bolt fastening portions of the drop-out member and the frame and performing wheel alignment according to deformation of the frame, wherein the wheel alignment unit includes a concave spherical portion respectively formed at a bolt fastening hole edge on both side surfaces of the drop-out member and a washer installed to be in spherical contact with the concave spherical portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 10, wherein the washer forms a convex spherical portion in spherical contact with the concave spherical portion at one side surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 11, wherein one washer forms a flat surface supporting a head of the bolt at the other side surface, and another washer forms the flat surface supporting the bolt fastening hole edge of the frame at the other side surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 10, wherein the bolt is fastened to a weld nut provided at the inside of the frame by penetrating a washer hole of the washer and the bolt fastening hole of the drop-out member and the frame, and the washer hole of the washer and the bolt fastening hole of the drop-out member are formed with a larger interior diameter than an exterior diameter of the bolt. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 10, wherein the washer includes a first washer respectively installed at a washer mounting surface of the bolt fastening hole edge side on both side surfaces of the drop-out member and forming a concave spherical portion at an inner edge and a second washer installed to be in spherical contact with a concave spherical portion of each first washer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 14, wherein the first washer forms the concave spherical portion at one side surface and a flat surface supporting the washer mounting surface at the other side surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 14, wherein the second washer forms a convex spherical portion in spherical contact with the concave spherical portion of the first washer at one side surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 16, wherein one second washer forms the flat surface supporting a head of the bolt at the other side surface, and the other second washer forms the flat surface supporting a bolt fastening hole edge of the frame at the other side surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 14, wherein the bolt is fastened to a weld nut provided at the inside of the frame by penetrating the washer hole of the first and second washers and the bolt fastening hole of the drop-out member and the frame, and a washer hole of the first and second washers and the bolt fastening hole of the drop-out member are formed with a larger interior diameter than an exterior diameter of the bolt. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The drop-out mounting structure of claim 14, wherein the drop-out member forms the bolt fastening hole disposed in a triangle structure.