BICYCLE COMPONENT

• US 20090230653A1
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dt Swiss Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dt Swiss Inc.
• Inventors: Achenbach, Martin, Spahr, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,113,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/276
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2206/00 Quick release mechanisms adapted for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 25/02 for mounting axles rigidly on cycle frame or fork, e.g. adjustably

Abstract

A bicycle component with a wheel mount at which a wheel with a hub can be received. with the wheel mount including two tube components provided with a mounting device at each of its end portions. At the mounting device of at least one tube component a bushing device is arranged to be exchangeable and to be suitable and intended to receive and support a hub.

Claims

1. A bicycle component comprising:

a wheel mount at which a wheel with a hub can be received, wherein the wheel mount includes at least two tube components at the end portions of which one mounting device each is provided, wherein each mounting device is provided with at least one bushing device wherein the mounting device of at least one tube component has at least one bushing device exchangeably arranged thereat which is suitable and intended to receive and support a hub,

and wherein the at least one bushing device of the one mounting device comprises a snug fit on its inner periphery,

and wherein the at least one bushing device of the other mounting devices comprises a snug fit on its inner periphery and axially adjacent thereto a female thread with both the snug fit and the female thread extending over part of the axial length of the bushing device.

2. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bushing device comprises a male thread extending in particular only over part of the axial length of the bushing device.

3. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bushing device comprises on its outer surface a snug fit extending in particular only over part of the axial length of the bushing device.

4. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bushing device is glued and/or form-fittingly received in the mounting device.

5. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bushing device comprises at least one axial mating surface.

6. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bushing device of the one mounting device comprises a snug fit on its inner periphery extending over the whole axial length of the bushing device.

7. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bushing device of the other mounting device comprises an internal peripheral groove with an O-ring.

8. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein the mounting devices comprise axially inwardly an axial projecting edge as an end bearing, wherein the end bearings are configured in particular sickle-shaped and are substantially provided on the upper side of the mounting device.

9. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein a radius of the cylindrical mounting opening corresponds to a radius of the axial projecting edge and/or wherein the cylindrical mounting opening and the axial projecting edge at the inner periphery are machined in one process step.

10. The bicycle component according to any claim 1, wherein an axle device is provided which comprises an elongated, cylindrical axle.

11. The bicycle component according to claim 10, wherein the axle device comprises an axial mating surface on one side provided to mate with an axial mating surface on a bushing device (10).

12. The bicycle component according to claim 10, wherein an operating member protrudes from the axle outwardly, interacting with a thread so as to tighten the axle device as the operating member is rotated.

13. The bicycle component according to claim 12, wherein the operating member is positioned close enough to a tube component for the tube component to protrude into the pivot range of the operating member.

14. The bicycle component according to claim 13, wherein the operating member can first rotate entirely freely when tightening, approaching the tube component in tightening until the operating member is positioned close enough to a tube component for the tube component to protrude into the pivot range of the operating member.

15. The bicycle component according to claim 10, wherein the axle device is provided with a ratchet mechanism.

16. The bicycle component according to claim 12, wherein the operating member is axially movable outwardly against the biasing force of a biasing device to bring the operating member out of engagement with the axle such that the operating member can be rotated without transmitting the rotational movement to the thread.

17. The bicycle component according to claim 1,

comprising a wheel mount and a hub received thereat and a fixed axle,

wherein the wheel mount comprises at least two tube components at the end portions of which one mounting device each is provided, between which the hub is received and supported,

wherein in the end portion of at least one tube component of the wheel mount at least one bushing device is arranged to be exchangeable and to receive the fixed axle of the hub.

18. The bicycle component according to claim 17, wherein the hub bears against the bushing devices with front end faces only.

19. The bicycle component according to claim 17, wherein the front end faces of the hub are formed by knurled disks.

20. The bicycle component according to 17, wherein the mounting devices comprise axially inwardly an axial projecting edge as an end bearing at a radial distance from the hub and in particular from the adapting pieces.

21. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bushing device consists of a metal and in particular of a hard anodized aluminum alloy, of steel or of a titanium alloy.

22. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein said at least one tube component consists of a fibrous composite material.

23. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein said at least one tube component is configured integrally with the mounting device.

24. The bicycle component according to claim 17, wherein the contact surfaces are configured on the bushing devices between the hub and the wheel mount and wherein the contact surfaces are configured on the bushing devices between the axle and the wheel mount.

25. A front wheel fork comprising:

two stationary tubes with one dropout each provided thereat, wherein a wheel can be received between the dropouts of the two stationary tubes,

wherein the dropout of at least one stationary tube has at least one bushing device exchangeably arranged thereat which is suitable and intended to receive and support a hub of a wheel.