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US 9,283,809 B2Granted
Outboard axle bearing structure for a bicycle or motorcycle
AssigneeYeti Cycling, LLC
InventorSteven W. Hoogendoorn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one example, a structure for attaching a wheel to one of a frame of a motorcycle or a bicycle may include an axle having first and second opposing end portions and supporting a wheel, a left axle support collar structure configured to support the first opposing end portion of the axle, and a right axle support collar structure configured to support the second opposing end portion of the axle. A first bearing is positioned in the left axle support collar structure, and a second bearing is positioned in the left axle support collar structure. The axle rotates relative to the frame.
Claims23
A structure for attaching a wheel to a frame of a bicycle comprising:
- an axle having opposing end portions and supporting the wheel;
- a left axle support collar structure configured to support one of the opposing end portions of the axle, the left axle support collar structure including separate chain and seat stay axle support collars, the chain stay axle support collar formed in line with a chain stay and the seat stay axle support collar formed in line with a seat stay;
- and
- a first bearing structure positioned in the left axle support collar structure, the first bearing structure including:
- at least one first ball bearing having a first bearing outer race and a first bearing inner race, wherein the at least one first bearing is positioned between the chain stay axle support collar and the axle, the at least one first ball bearing allowing for rotation of the axle relative to the chain stay axle support collar;
- and
- at least one second ball bearing having a second bearing outer race and a second bearing inner race, wherein the second bearing is positioned between the seat stay axle support collar and the axle, the at least one second ball bearing allowing for rotation of the axle relative to the seat stay axle support collar, wherein the first bearing inner race and the second bearing inner race maintain their positions relative to one another and the first bearing outer race and the second bearing outer race move relative to one another.
4 more elements
A structure for attaching a wheel to a frame of a bicycle comprising:
- an axle having first and second opposing end portions and supporting the wheel;
- a left axle support collar structure configured to support the first opposing end portion of the axle;
- and
- a right axle support collar structure configured to support the second opposing end portion of the axle;
- wherein the left axle support collar structure comprises a first chain stay axle support collar and a first seat stay axle support collar,
- wherein the right axle support collar structure comprises a second chain stay axle support collar and a second seat stay axle support collar,
- wherein bearings are positioned in each of the first and second seat stay axle support collars and the first and second chain stay axle support collars with each of the bearings having an outer race and an inner race, wherein adjacent bearings of the left axle support collar structure and adjacent bearings of the right axle support collar structure have their respective inner races maintain their positions relative to one another and have their respective outer races move relative to one another,
- wherein the bearings are at least partially rotatable relative to the first and second seat stay axle support collars and the first and second chain stay axle support collars, and
- wherein the bearings allow the axle to rotate relative to the frame.
6 more elements
A structure for attaching a wheel to a frame of a bicycle comprising:
- an axle having first and second opposing end portions and supporting the wheel;
- a left axle support collar structure configured to support the first opposing end portion of the axle;
- a right axle support collar structure configured to support the second opposing end portion of the axle;
- a first bearing having a first bearing outer race and a first bearing inner race, wherein the first bearing is positioned in the left axle support collar structure and at least partially rotatable relative to the left axle support collar structure;
- and
- a second bearing having a second bearing outer race and a second bearing inner race, wherein the second bearing is positioned in the left axle support collar structure and at least partially rotatable relative to the left axle support collar structure;
- wherein the first bearing inner race and the second bearing inner race maintain their positions relative to one another and the first bearing outer race and the second bearing outer race move relative to one another and the first and second bearings allow the axle to rotate relative to the frame;
- wherein the wheel comprises:
- a hub having opposing ends, each of the opposing ends of the hub forming a threaded recess and the hub positioned between the left axle support collar structure and the right axle support collar structure,
- a first retaining fastener received through the first and second bearings in the left axle support collar structure and received in one threaded recess in the hub;
- and
- a second retaining fastener received through the right axle support collar structure and received in the other threaded recess in the hub.
9 more elements
A structure for attaching a wheel to a frame of a bicycle comprising:
- an axle having first and second opposing end portions and supporting the wheel;
- a left axle support collar structure configured to support the first opposing end portion of the axle;
- a right axle support collar structure configured to support the second opposing end portion of the axle;
- a first bearing having a first bearing outer race and a first bearing inner race, wherein the first bearing is positioned in the left axle support collar structure;
- a second bearing having a second bearing outer race and a second bearing inner race, wherein the second bearing is positioned in the left axle support collar structure;
- a third bearing positioned in the right axle support collar structure;
- and
- a fourth bearing positioned in the right axle support collar structure;
- wherein the first and second bearings allow the axle to rotate relative to the frame;
- at least a portion of the first and second bearings is rotatable relative to the left axle support collar structure;
- at least a portion of the third and fourth bearings is rotatable relative to the right axle support collar structure;
- the first bearing inner race and the second bearing inner race maintain their positions relative to one another and the first bearing outer race and the second bearing outer race move relative to one another.
9 more elements
A bicycle for riding on a support surface, the bicycle comprising:
- a frame;
- at least one wheel for engaging a support surface and including an axle with opposing first and second end portions;
- a first axle support structure configured to support the first end portion of the axle and comprising:
- a first axle support collar;
- a second axle support collar;
- a first bearing having a first bearing outer race and a first bearing inner race, wherein the first bearing is positioned in the first axle support collar and at least partially rotatable relative to the first axle support collar;
- and
- a second bearing having a second bearing outer race and a second bearing inner race, wherein the second bearing is positioned in the second axle support collar and at least partially rotatable relative to the second axle support collar;
- and
- a second axle support structure configured to support the second end portion of the axle and comprising:
- a third axle support collar;
- a fourth axle support collar,
- a third bearing positioned in the third axle support collar and at least partially rotatable relative to the third axle support collar;
- and
- a fourth bearing positioned in the fourth axle support collar and at least partially rotatable relative to the fourth axle support collar;
- wherein the first bearing inner race and the second bearing inner race maintain their positions relative to one another with the first bearing outer race and the second bearing outer race move relative to one another;
- and the axle rotates in the first, second, third, and fourth bearings relative to the frame.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.