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.
Claims20
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
- 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.
A rim for a bicycle wheel, the rim comprising:
- a radially outer tire engaging portion disposed along an outer circumference of the rim, the radially outer tire engaging portion having a first side and a second side spaced apart from the first side;
- and
- a plurality of strips of a composite material arranged about a hole through the plurality of strips, the hole being radially inner relative to the radially outer tire engaging portion,
- wherein each strip of the plurality of strips of the composite material has substantially unidirectional fiber orientation in a direction along a length of the respective strip, such that at least a portion of the fibers of the respective strip are parallel to the direction along the length of the respective strip,
- wherein one or more fibers of the portion of the fibers of the respective strip extend from the outer circumference of the rim, at the first side of the radially outer tire engaging portion, past the hole, to the outer circumference of the rim, at the second side of 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 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, and
- wherein one of the number of spokes is attached to the rim via the spoke hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.