Composite fiber bicycle wheels
AssigneeMad Fibers, LLC
InventorsMax Kismarton, Eric Hjertberg, G. Kyle Lobisser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Carbon fiber bicycle wheels are formed from parts cut from carbon fiber cloth and then joined together to form a rim, sidewalls, spokes, flanges and a center tunnel on which the flanges are mounted. The parts are then assembled, bonded together, and cured to form a wheel. During assembly, the spokes and the wheel are placed in tension by moving the flanges outwardly on the center tunnel after assembly and then bonding them in place to stiffen and strengthen the wheel. The spokes of the drive side of the rear wheel are specially shaped to accommodate torque transfer forces generated by pedaling.
Claims22
A carbon fiber bicycle wheel comprising:
- a rim having a center channel and first and second sides;
- first and second sidewalls bonded to said first and second sides of said rim;
- a plurality of flat spokes bonded to each of said sidewalls and extending inwardly toward first and second flanges, said flanges being laterally spaced from each other;
- said first and second flanges having at least one portion extending radially outward, said spokes bonded to said at least one portion.
A carbon fiber bicycle wheel for the rear of a bicycle, comprising:
- a circular rim, first and second sidewalls bonded to said rim, a first set of spokes bonded to at least one of said sidewalls and extending inwardly for attachment to a first flange, a second set of spokes bonded to at least one of said sidewalls and extending inwardly for attachment to a second flange, said first flange and spokes differing in shape from said second flange and spokes.
A method of making a bicycle wheel comprising the steps of:
- selecting a piece of woven carbon fiber cloth;
- cutting pattern shapes from said cloth;
- laying up said pattern shapes to form bicycle wheel parts including a rim, a pair of sidewalls, a pair of flanges, and a plurality of spokes;
- curing said laid up bicycle wheel parts;
- bonding said cured parts together with adhesive to form a wheel and curing said bonded parts;
- joining said flanges in laterally spaced relation;
- and
- moving said flanges laterally apart to create tension in said spokes and bonding said flanges to maintain said tension in said spokes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.