US 2010/0064845 A1Published application

Bicycle Crank Assembly

AssigneeBear Corporation

InventorGeorge French

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Abstract

A bicycle sprocket crank assembly is comprised of first and second crank arms joined to a spindle. One of the crank arms and the spindle may be fabricated as a unitary structure, or both cranks arms may be formed as separate structures and joined together. In either case the spindle has at least a first coupling end with an internally tapped axial bore defined therein and the second crank arm forms at least a first socket at its axle end. At least a first wedging sleeve is provided and is disposed about the first coupling end of the spindle. The first wedging sleeve conforms to the shapes of both the first coupling end of the spindle and the hollow cavity in the first socket. Either the coupling end of the spindle or the hollow cavity is axially tapered, and the wedging sleeve is tapered to match so that as the first socket is drawn onto the first coupling end of the spindle, the wedging sleeve is increasingly forced in between the inner radial surface of the hollow cavity of the socket and the outer radial surface of the coupling end of the spindle. The wedging sleeves may be interconnected by flexible, elastic straps to allow each individual shim to move independently of the other.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A bicycle crank assembly, comprising:

a. a spindle, said spindle comprising a first coupling end and a second coupling end;
b. a first crank arm disposed at said first coupling end;
c. a second crank arm disposed diametrically opposite said first crank arm at said second coupling end,
d. said first crank arm having an internally tapered coupling socket at one end, said internally tapered coupling socket including a plurality of inner contact surfaces arranged in a polygonal configuration, said plurality of inner contact surfaces of said first crank arm defining a decreasing inner cross-section in a direction axially away from said second coupling end, said first coupling end being radially aligned with said polygonal inner contact surfaces of said first crank arm;
e. a first sleeve configured for operative coupling between said first crank arm and said first coupling end of said spindle;
f. said first sleeve comprising a first cluster of wedge-shaped shims, each wedge-shaped shim in the cluster of wedge-shaped shims being rotatably connected to at least one other wedge-shaped shim at an attachment point via an elastic band to form a polygonal configuration of wedge-shaped shim cluster having a polygonal cross-section, said elastic band having a flexibility sufficient to allow each said wedge-shaped shim to be independently rotated in a radial direction about an axis defined by said attachment point relative to another wedge-shaped shim, such that said wedge-shaped shim is moveable from a parallel configuration to a non-parallel configuration relative to said spindle independent of said another wedge-shaped shim within the cluster of wedge-shaped shims when an external force is applied, said elastic band further having a resiliency to allow said wedge-shaped shim to naturally return to said parallel configuration when said external force is removed, said polygonal configuration being tapered to conform to the shape of the internally tapered coupling socket of said first crank arm, said wedge-shaped shim cluster of said first sleeve having an inner surface configured for contact with said first coupling end, and an outer surface configured for contact with said polygonal inner contact surfaces of said first crank arm;
and
g. a first lock bolt fastener that is operatively receivable within a hollow interior of said spindle at said first coupling end via said internally tapered coupling socket of said first crank arm and said first sleeve, wherein said first lock bolt tightly engages said first crank arm relative to said spindle.

5 more elements

A bicycle crank assembly, comprising:

a. a spindle, said spindle comprising a first coupling end and a second coupling end;
b. a first crank arm disposed at said first coupling end;
c. a second crank arm disposed diametrically opposite said first crank arm at said second coupling end,
d. said first crank arm having a coupling socket at one end, said coupling socket including a plurality of inner contact surfaces arranged in a polygonal configuration, said first coupling end being radially aligned with said inner contact surfaces of said first crank arm;
e. a first sleeve configured for operative coupling between said first crank arm and said first coupling end of said spindle;
f. said first sleeve comprising a first cluster of wedge-shaped shims, each wedge-shaped shim in the cluster of wedge-shaped shims being rotatably connected to at least one other wedge-shaped shim at an attachment point via a non-rigid strap to form a polygonal configuration of wedge-shaped shim cluster having a polygonal cross-section, said non-rigid strap having a flexibility sufficient to allow each said wedge-shaped shim to be independently rotated in a radial direction about an axis defined by said attachment point relative to another wedge-shaped shim such that said wedge-shaped shim is moveable from a parallel configuration to a non-parallel configuration relative to said spindle independent of said another wedge-shaped shim within said cluster of wedge-shaped shims when an external force is applied to said wedge-shaped shim, said wedge-shaped shim cluster of said first sleeve having an inner surface configured for contact with said first coupling end, and an outer surface configured for contact with said inner contact surfaces of said coupling socket.

3 more elements

A method for manufacturing a bicycle crank assembly, comprising:

a. providing a spindle, said spindle comprising a first coupling end and a second coupling end, wherein said first coupling end comprises a polygonal cross-section;
b. providing a plurality of separate wedge-shaped shims, each wedge-shaped shim comprising a flat, inner contact surface and a flat, outer contact surface;
c. attaching each separate wedge-shaped shim to at least one other separate wedge-shaped shim at an attachment point to form a cluster of wedge-shaped shims defining a first sleeve, whereby each wedge-shaped shim in said cluster of wedge-shaped shims is rotatable about said attachment point, and whereby said sleeve forms a polygonal cross-section matching said polygonal cross-section of said first coupling end,
d. mounting said first sleeve onto said spindle so that said flat, inner contact surface of said wedge-shaped shim contacts said first coupling end of said spindle;
e. mounting a first crank arm onto said first sleeve, said first crank arm comprising a coupling socket, said coupling socket comprising a plurality of inner contact surfaces arranged in a polygonal configuration matching said polygonal configuration of said sleeve, whereby each inner contact surface of said coupling socket contacts one flat, outer contact surface of said wedge-shaped shim;
and
f. providing a second crank arm disposed diametrically opposite said first crank arm at said second coupling end.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/623,231Filed 20 Nov 2009
Priority: 19 Jul 2005
Published: 18 Mar 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B62M 3/00
Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot
B62M 3/003
Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot: combination of crank axles and bearings housed in the bottom bracket
Y10T 29/49982
Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material: coating
Y10T 74/2165
Cranks and pedals: with attached gear

Family

Application11/183,541Division · filed 19 Jul 2005
Application11/895,452Continuation in part · filed 24 Aug 2007
Application12/378,381Continuation in part · filed 13 Feb 2009
Application12/623,231Continuation in part
Application11/895,452Division
US 2007/0017318 A1Published application
US 2007/0289406 A1Published application
US 2009/0151509 A1Published application
US 7,267,030 B2Related patent
US 7,770,492 B2Related patent
US 2010/0064845 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.