APPARATUS FOR TWIST-TO-LOCK RETENTION OF A WHEEL
First Claim
1. A quick release assembly engageable with an enclosed dropout fork of a bicycle comprising:
- an axle having a first non-cylindrical end portion, a cylindrical central portion, and a second non-cylindrical end portion, wherein a diameter of one of the first non-cylindrical end portion and the second non-cylindrical end portion is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical central portion;
an insert having a non-cylindrical outer profile configured to be retained in a non-cylindrical opening and having a cam surface disposed therein, wherein the insert is sized to retain one of the non-cylindrical end portions of the axle therein; and
a shaft sized to pass through the axle and having a cam follower on a first end and a handle on a second end, wherein the cam follower is configured to form a locking engagement with the cam surface of the insert upon an axial rotation of the handle.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a quick release assembly for a bicycle, wherein the assembly comprises an axle having a first non-cylindrical end portion, a cylindrical central portion, and a second non-cylindrical end portion, wherein a diameter of one of the non-cylindrical end portions is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical central portion. The quick release assembly further comprises an insert having a non-cylindrical outer profile configured to be retained in a non-cylindrical opening and having a cam surface disposed therein, wherein the insert is sized to retain one of the non-cylindrical end portions of the axle therein. The assembly also includes a shaft sized to pass through the axle and having a cam follower on a first end and a handle on a second end, wherein the cam follower is configured to form a locking engagement with the cam surface upon an axial rotation of the handle.
40 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A quick release assembly engageable with an enclosed dropout fork of a bicycle comprising:
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an axle having a first non-cylindrical end portion, a cylindrical central portion, and a second non-cylindrical end portion, wherein a diameter of one of the first non-cylindrical end portion and the second non-cylindrical end portion is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical central portion; an insert having a non-cylindrical outer profile configured to be retained in a non-cylindrical opening and having a cam surface disposed therein, wherein the insert is sized to retain one of the non-cylindrical end portions of the axle therein; and a shaft sized to pass through the axle and having a cam follower on a first end and a handle on a second end, wherein the cam follower is configured to form a locking engagement with the cam surface of the insert upon an axial rotation of the handle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for retaining a bicycle wheel, the apparatus comprising:
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a hollow axle having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion configured to be retained within a first enclosed dropout of a bicycle fork assembly; a dropout insert configured to retain the second end portion within a second enclosed dropout of the bicycle fork assembly; a cam insert affixed within the dropout insert; and a shaft sized to travel through the hollow axle, the shaft having a cam follower on a first end and a handle and tensioning assembly on a second end, wherein the cam follower is configured to fixedly engage the cam insert upon less than a single rotation of the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An assembly for securing a wheel to a bicycle, the assembly comprising:
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a removable insert configured to be affixed within a first non-cylindrical dropout of a bicycle fork, the removable insert having a ramped cam surface disposed therein; an axle having a first non-cylindrical end portion and a second non-cylindrical end portion, wherein the first non-cylindrical end portion is configured to mate with an internal surface of the removable insert and the second non-cylindrical end portion is configured to mate with a second non-cylindrical dropout of the bicycle fork; and a skewer configured to travel through the axle, the skewer having a cam follower on a first end and a handle on a second end, wherein the cam surface of the skewer is configured to lockingly engage the ramped cam surface of the removable insert upon less than one full axial rotation of the handle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A quick release assembly for a bicycle comprising:
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an axle having a first non-cylindrical end portion, a cylindrical central portion, and a second non-cylindrical end portion, wherein a diameter of one of the first non-cylindrical end portion and the second non-cylindrical end portion is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical central portion; a shaft sized to pass through the axle and having a retention surface on a first end and a handle on a second end; and an insert configured to be retained in a non-cylindrical, thru-axle fork dropout and having a shaft interface therein, wherein the retention surface of the shaft is configured to form a locking engagement with the shaft interface of the insert upon an axial rotation of the handle.
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Specification