Composite bicycle rim
AssigneeSram, LLC
InventorsDavid Morse, Michael Hall, Ruan Trouw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rim for a bicycle wheel includes a radially inner portion disposed along an inner circumference of the rim, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall spaced apart form the first sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall extend radially outward from the radially inner portion. The radially inner portion includes a stack of strips of material. The stack of strips includes a plurality of strips and a hole through the plurality of strips. The plurality of strips are nonparallel to each other. The plurality of strips are positioned about the hole through the plurality of strips.
Claims15
A rim for a bicycle wheel, the rim comprising:
- a radially inner portion disposed along an inner circumference of the rim;
- a first sidewall;
- a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall extend radially outward from the radially inner portion and are formed of fiber reinforced materials throughout a sidewall width;
- and
- a radially outer tire engaging portion disposed along an outer circumference of the rim, the radially outer tire engaging portion extending from the first sidewall and the second sidewall, respectively,
- wherein the radially inner portion includes a stack of strips of material, the stack of strips including a plurality of strips and a hole through the plurality of strips, the plurality of strips being nonparallel to each other, and wherein the plurality of strips are positioned about the hole through the plurality of strips, and
- wherein each strip of the plurality of strips extends less than all the way around the radially inner portion, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the radially outer tire engaging portion.
A wheel for a bicycle, the wheel comprising:
- a central hub configured for rotational attachment to the bicycle;
- a plurality of spokes attached to the central hub and extending radially outward from the hub, the plurality of spokes consisting of a number of spokes;
- and
- a rim comprising:
- a radially inner portion disposed along an inner circumference of the rim;
- a first sidewall;
- a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are formed of a fiber reinforced plastic material throughout respective sidewall widths, and extend radially outward from the radially inner portion;
- and
- a radially outer tire engaging portion disposed along an outer circumference of the rim, the radially outer tire engaging portion extending from the first sidewall and the second sidewall, respectively,
- wherein the radially inner portion includes a plurality of strips of one or more materials and a spoke hole through the plurality of strips, the plurality of strips being nonparallel to each other,
- wherein the plurality of strips are positioned about the spoke hole through the plurality of strips,
- wherein one of the number of spokes is attached to the rim via the spoke hole, and
- wherein each strip of the plurality of strips extends less than all the way around the radially inner portion, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the radially outer tire engaging portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.