Bicycle hub assembly
AssigneeShimano Inc.
InventorSeiji Fukui
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle hub cover assembly is installed on a bicycle hub to provide a hard, rigid protective cover for the bicycle hub. In one embodiment, the bicycle hub cover assembly has a hub shell cover, a first hub end cover, a second hub end cover and a pair of fasteners that attach the hub end covers to the axle of the bicycle hub. The hub shell cover is configured and arranged to be mounted concentrically around a center portion of the hub shell of the bicycle hub, while the hub end covers overlie the axial ends of the bicycle hub. Thus, the bicycle hub is completely enclosed, except for a small gap located between the hub shell cover and each of the first and second hub end covers. In another embodiment, the hub shell cover is eliminated.
Claims20
A bicycle hub assembly comprising:
- a hub axle having a first axle end and a second axle end with a hub axis extending between the first and second axle ends;
- a hub shell mounted on the hub axle such that the hub shell rotates about the hub axle, the hub shell having a first end portion with a first free end edge;
- a first hub end cover structure including a first hub end cover and a first elongated frame element integrally formed with the first hub end cover, the first hub end cover having a first peripheral edge that generally matches the first free end edge of the hub shell and a first mounting hole with the first elongated frame element extending outwardly from the first peripheral surface in a direction generally perpendicular to the hub axis;
- and
- a first fastener extending through the first mounting hole of the first hub end cover and engaged with the first axle end of the hub axle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.