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US 6,582,029 B2Granted
Bicycle rim
AssigneeShimano Inc.
InventorShinpei Okajima
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle rim includes side portions with an outer portion extending between the side portions to form a pair of outer corners, and a spoke attachment portion. The outer portion includes a pair of ridges spaced from the outer corners. The ridges preferably divide a pair of inclined surfaces. The side portions preferably include a pair of ground braking surfaces with a pair of sloping surfaces extending from the braking surfaces to a pair of outer side surfaces. A tubeless bicycle tire is mounted on the rim and includes a tread portion, a pair of sidewalls and a pair of beads. Each bead has an inner foot surface supported on one of the ridges. Preferably, each bead has a reinforcement member with a center axis. Each ridge is preferably located between one of the center axes and an inner edge of one of the inner foot surfaces.
Claims49
A bicycle rim comprising:
- first and second annular side portions having first and second ribs extending toward each other to form opposing first and second annular tire supporting surfaces;
- an outer annular portion extending between said first and second annular side portions to form first and second outer corners, said outer annular portion including a center connecting surface, first and second outer inclined surfaces adjacent said first and second outer corners, first and second inner inclined surfaces adjacent said center connecting surface, and first and second ridges dividing said first and second outer inclined surfaces from said first and second inner inclined surfaces, respectively;
- and
- a spoke attachment portion rigidly coupled with said first and second annular side portions,
- said first and second ridges protruding in a radially outward direction relative to said first and second outer inclined surfaces,
- said first and second ridges being located substantially adjacent said outer corners relative to an overall axial width of said outer annular portion such that said first and second ridges are configured and arranged to be directly located partially beneath first and second annular reinforcement members that are embedded in first and second beads of a conventional bicycle tire as seen in a radial plane when the conventional bicycle tire is installed on said rim.
3 more elements
A bicycle rim comprising:
- first and second annular side portions having first and second ribs extending toward each other to form opposing first and second annular tire supporting surfaces;
- an outer annular portion extending between said first and second annular side portions to form first and second outer corners, said outer annular portion including a center connecting surface, first and second outer inclined surfaces adjacent said first and second outer corners, first and second inner inclined surfaces adjacent said center connecting surface, and first and second ridges dividing said first and second outer inclined surfaces from said first and second inner inclined surfaces, respectively;
- and
- a spoke attachment portion rigidly coupled with said first and second annular side portions,
- said first tire supporting surface including a first recessed section and a first retaining section extending from said first recessed section to form said first rib,
- said second tire supporting surface including a second recessed section and a second retaining section extending from said second recessed section to form said second rib, and
- said first and second ridges being spaced approximately 3.25 mm from said first and second recessed sections, respectively.
4 more elements
A bicycle rim and tire assembly comprising:
- a bicycle rim including
- first and second annular side portions having first and second ribs extending toward each other to form opposing first and second annular tire supporting surfaces,
- an outer annular portion extending between said first and second annular side portions to form first and second outer corners, said outer annular portion including outwardly protruding first and second ridges spaced inwardly from said first and second outer corners, respectively, and
- a spoke attachment portion rigidly coupled with said first and second annular side portions;
- and
- a bicycle tire including
- an annular outer tread portion,
- first and second annular sidewalls coupled to said annular outer tread portion and extending radially inwardly of said annular outer tread portion, and
- first and second annular beads coupled to said first and second annular sidewalls, respectively, said first and second annular beads having first and second annular reinforcement members, first and second annular side surfaces supported by said first and second annular tire supporting surfaces and first and second inner annular surfaces supported on said first and second ridges, respectively,
- said first and second annular reinforcement members being located mostly between said first and second ridges and said first and second outer corners of said rim, respectively, but also being located to partially overlie said first and second ridges, respectively, in a radially extending plane.
7 more elements
A bicycle rim and tire assembly comprising:
- a bicycle rim including
- first and second annular side portions having first and second ribs extending toward each other to form opposing first and second annular tire supporting surfaces;
- an outer annular portion extending between said first and second annular side portions to form first and second outer corners, said outer annular portion including first and second ridges spaced inwardly from said first and second outer corners, respectively;
- and
- a spoke attachment portion rigidly coupled with said first and second annular side portions;
- and
- a bicycle tire including
- an annular outer tread portion;
- first and second annular sidewalls coupled to said annular outer tread portion and extending radially inwardly of said annular outer tread portion;
- and
- first and second annular beads coupled to said first and second annular sidewalls, respectively, said first and second annular beads having first and second annular side surfaces supported by said first and second annular tire supporting surfaces and first and second inner annular surfaces supported on said first and second ridges, respectively,
- said first bead having a first inner section located on a first inner side of said first ridge and a first outer section located on a first outer side of said first ridge,
- said second bead having a second inner section located on a second inner side of said second ridge and a second outer section located on a second outer side of said second ridge,
- said first inner section being spaced from said outer annular portion of said rim and said first outer section contacts said outer annular portion, and
- said second inner section being spaced from said outer annular portion of said rim and said second outer section contacts said outer annular portion.
12 more elements
A bicycle rim and tire assembly comprising:
- a bicycle rim including
- first and second annular side portions having first and second ribs extending toward each other to form opposing first and second annular tire supporting surfaces;
- an outer annular portion extending between said first and second annular side portions to form first and second outer corners, said outer annular portion including first and second ridges spaced inwardly from said first and second outer corners, respectively;
- and
- a spoke attachment portion rigidly coupled with said first and second annular side portions;
- and
- a bicycle tire including
- an annular outer tread portion;
- first and second annular sidewalls coupled to said annular outer tread portion and extending radially inwardly of said annular outer tread portion;
- and
- first and second annular beads coupled to said first and second annular sidewalls, respectively, said first and second annular beads including first and second annular reinforcement members, first and second annular side surfaces supported by said first and second annular tire supporting surfaces and first and second inner annular surfaces supported on said first and second ridges, respectively,
- said first and second annular reinforcement members being spaced from said first and second annular side surfaces such that said first and second annular reinforcement members are at least partially overlie said first and second ridges, respectively, in a radially extending plane.
9 more elements
A bicycle rim and tire assembly comprising:
- a bicycle rim including
- first and second annular side portions having first and second ribs extending toward each other to form opposing first and second annular tire supporting surfaces;
- an outer annular portion extending between said first and second annular side portions to form first and second outer corners, said outer annular portion including outwardly protruding first and second ridges spaced inwardly from said first and second outer corners, respectively;
- and
- a spoke attachment portion rigidly coupled with said first and second annular side portions,
- a bicycle tire including
- an annular outer tread portion;
- first and second annular sidewalls coupled to said annular outer tread portion and extending radially inwardly of said annular outer tread portion;
- and
- first and second annular beads coupled to said first and second annular sidewalls, respectively, said first and second annular beads having first and second annular side surfaces supported by said first and second annular tire supporting surfaces and first and second inner annular surfaces supported on said first and second ridges, respectively,
- said first bead having a first inner section located on a first inner side of said first ridge and a first outer section located on a first outer side of said first ridge,
- said second bead having a second inner section located on a second inner side of said second ridge and a second outer section located on a second outer side of said second ridge,
- said first tire supporting surface including a first recessed section and a first retaining section extending from said first recessed section to form said first rib, and
- said second tire supporting surface including a second recessed section and a second retaining section extending from said second recessed section to form said second rib, and
- said first and second ridges being spaced approximately 3.25 mm from said first and second recessed sections, respectively.
12 more elements
A bicycle rim comprising:
- first and second annular side portions having first and second ends to form opposing first and second annular tire supporting surfaces;
- an outer annular portion extending between said first and second annular side portions and adapted to support a tire thereon;
- and
- a spoke attachment portion rigidly coupled with said first and second annular side portions,
- said first and second annular side portions including first and second outer side surfaces, first and second ground annular braking surfaces spaced from said first and second outer side surfaces, and first and second sloping surfaces extending in a radially outward direction and in an axially inward direction from said first and second ground annular braking surfaces, respectively, to form first and second discontinuities such that said first and second outer side surfaces are spaced in the axially inward direction relative to said first and second ground annular braking surfaces, respectively.
2 more elements
A bicycle rim and tire assembly comprising:
- a bicycle rim including
- first and second annular side portions having first and second ribs extending toward each other to form opposing first and second annular tire supporting surfaces;
- an outer annular portion extending between said first and second annular side portions to form first and second outer corners, said outer annular portion including outwardly protruding first and second ridges spaced inwardly from said first and second outer corners, respectively;
- and
- a spoke attachment portion rigidly coupled with said first and second annular side portions;
- and
- a bicycle tire including
- an annular outer tread portion;
- first and second annular sidewalls coupled to said annular outer tread portion and extending radially inwardly of said annular outer tread portion;
- and
- first and second annular beads coupled to said first and second annular sidewalls and having first and second inner foot surfaces supported on said first and second ridges, respectively, said first and second annular beads having first and second annular reinforcement members with first and second center axes arranged such that said first and second ridges are located between said first and second center axes and first and second inner edges of said first and second foot surfaces, respectively, and
- said first and second annular reinforcement members being spaced from said first and second annular tire supporting surfaces such that said first and second annular reinforcement members are at least partially overlie said first and second ridges, respectively, in a radially extending plane.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.