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US 7,178,239 B2Granted
Method for use in manufacturing a bicycle spoked wheel
AssigneeCampagnolo S.r.l.
InventorsMario Meggiolan, Maurizio Passarotto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method intended for manufacturing a bicycle spoked wheel is described. By inserting the nipples or barrels for the attachment of the spokes in the spoke attachment seats from the inside of the spoke attachment chamber instead of from the outside, after having inserted them in the chamber from a suitably sized opening, the rim of the bicycle wheel can be manufactured even without additional openings, still using conventional nipples or barrels.
Claims13
A method for use in manufacturing a spoked bicycle wheel, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a rim element comprising:
- i) a tire coupling channel;
- and
- ii) at least one spoke attachment chamber with at least one opening, a plurality of spoke attachment seats, an inside area within the chamber, and an outside area outside the chamber;
- b) inserting a spoke attachment element inside the at least one spoke attachment chamber through the at least one opening, the spoke attachment element comprising:
- i) a head;
- ii) a shank suitable for extending through and protruding from the spoke attachment seat;
- and
- iii) means for attaching the spoke attachment element to a spoke;
- c) guiding the spoke attachment element to the spoke attachment seat;
- d) aligning the shank of the spoke attachment element with the spoke attachment seat;
- e) holding the spoke attachment element aligned with the spoke attachment seat;
- f) providing the spoke attachment element with a first magnetic interaction means, step f) being carried out before step b);
- and
- wherein said step c) comprises:
- g) attracting the spoke attachment element using a second magnetic interaction means interacting magnetically with the first magnetic interaction means;
- wherein step f) comprises attaching an insert to the spoke attachment element and the insert interacts magnetically with the second magnetic interaction means.
14 more elements
A method for use in manufacturing a spoked bicycle wheel, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a rim element comprising:
- i) a tire coupling channel;
- and
- ii) at least one spoke attachment chamber with at least one opening, a plurality of spoke attachment seats, an inside area within the chamber, and an outside area outside the chamber;
- b) inserting a spoke attachment element inside the at least one spoke attachment chamber through the at least one opening the spoke attachment element comprising:
- i) a head;
- ii) a shank suitable for extending through and protruding from the spoke attachment seat;
- and
- iii) means for attaching the spoke attachment element to a spoke;
- c) guiding the spoke attachment element to the spoke attachment seat;
- d) aligning the shank of the spoke attachment element with the spoke attachment seat;
- and
- e) holding the spoke attachment element aligned with the spoke attachment seat;
- wherein guiding step c) and aligning step d) are carried out through the steps of:
- j) extending a semi-rigid cable inside the at least one spoke attachment chamber between the spoke attachment seat and a preselected one of the at least one opening;
- k) removably attaching the semi-rigid cable to the spoke attachment element preventing the movement of the spoke attachment element with respect to the semi-rigid cable in a first direction (X) from the spoke attachment seat to the opening;
- l) pulling the semi-rigid cable in a second direction (Y) opposite the first direction(X);
- wherein steps j) and k) are carried out in any order;
- wherein during or after holding step e), the following step takes place:
- m) releasing the semi-rigid cable from the spoke attachment element and drawing out the semi-rigid cable from the at least one spoke attachment chamber.
17 more elements
A method for use in manufacturing a spoked bicycle wheel, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a rim element comprising:
- i) a tire coupling channel;
- and
- ii) at least one spoke attachment chamber with at least one opening, a plurality of spoke attachment seats, an inside area within the chamber, and an outside area outside the chamber;
- b) inserting a spoke attachment element inside the at least one spoke attachment chamber through the at least one opening, the spoke attachment element comprising:
- i) a head;
- ii) a shank suitable for extending through and protruding from the spoke attachment seat;
- and
- iii) means for attaching the spoke attachment element to a spoke;
- c) guiding the spoke attachment element to the spoke attachment seat;
- d) aligning the shank of the spoke attachment element with the spoke attachment seat;
- and
- e) holding the spoke attachment element aligned with the spoke attachment seat;
- wherein the at least one opening comprises two ends of the rim element, and further comprising the step:
- o) head joining together the two ends of the rim element to form the circular shave of a bicycle wheel rim wherein step o) is carried out after the insertion step b) for all of the spoke attachment seats.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.