US 6,398,313 B1Granted

Two component composite bicycle rim

AssigneeThe Polymeric Corporation

InventorPaul Lew

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Abstract

A bicycle rim constructed from a fiber reinforcement impregnated with a resinous material to provide stiffness, strength, is light in weight and presents minimal aerodynamic drag. The rim is constructed from two semi-circular rim sections that are each formed from glass, carbon, or boron fibers that are applied at distinctive crossing angles as layers or “plys”, receive an epoxy thermoset resin or a nylon thermoplastic resin, and are cured in a mold cavity. A pair of rim half sections are matched and are coupled together at their ends into a circle by telescoping aligned ends of each of the rim half sections over inner inserts that an epoxy structural adhesive has been applied to, and the joined rim section ends receive a gusset fitted and bonded along the rim half section end junctions, and with the finished rim drilled appropriately. to receive and mount spoke ends.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A bicycle rim comprising, a pair of identical rim half sections that are joined end to end into a circular rim, and each said rim half section is a continuous hollow fiber reinforcement consisting of a resinous material as layers of reinforcement that receive a resinous material coating and is heat cured in a rigid heated mold, forming each said rim half section, and said rim half sections are matched in pairs to provide, when said rim half sections are joined at their ends, a rim that is essentially a circle;

a pair of inner inserts that are each individually formed and coated with an adhesive to fit snugly in a rim half section end, permanently coupling said pairs of rim half section ends together;
a pair of gussets that are each formed from a flat section of a stiff material that is bent double into a V-shape whose inner surface receives an adhesive with each said gusset to fit and couple across and up sides of said rim half sections at their end junctions;
and spokes extending radially inwardly, at spaced intervals, from around an inner circumference of said joined rim half sections.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.