BICYCLE RIM

• US 20120025597A1
• Filed: 07/27/2010
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: KOSHIYAMA, Kazuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,905,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 301/95.102
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/003 specially adapted for bicycles B60B1/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 21/025 the transverse section being hollow
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 21/04 with substantially radial flanges with rail-engaging flanges B60B17/00 B60B21/021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 21/062 for bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 21/08 characterised by having braking surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 25/00 Rims built-up of several main parts ; Locking means for the rim partstools for assembling divided rims B60B31/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 5/02 made of synthetic material

Abstract

A bicycle rim is provided with a pair of circumferential side walls and an outer bridge connecting radial outer ends between the first and second circumferential side walls. At least one of the first and second circumferential side walls includes a first portion of a non-resin material with a first thermal conductivity and a second portion of a non-resin material with a second thermal conductivity. The second portion extends more than half in a circumferential direction along the at least one of the first and second circumferential side walls. The second thermal conductivity of the second portion is higher than the first thermal conductivity of the first portion. The first and second portions at least partially overlaps in a thickness direction of the at least one of the first and second circumferential side walls.

Claims

1. A bicycle rim comprising:

a first circumferential side wall having a radial inner end and a radial outer end;

a second circumferential side wall having a radial inner end and a radial outer end; and

an outer bridge connecting the radial outer ends between the first and second circumferential side walls,

at least one of the first and second circumferential side walls including a first portion of a non-resin material with a first thermal conductivity and a second portion of a non-resin material with a second thermal conductivity,

the second portion extending more than half in a circumferential direction along the at least one of the first and second circumferential side walls, the second thermal conductivity of the second portion being higher than the first thermal conductivity of the first portion with the first and second portions at least partially overlapping in a thickness direction of the at least one of the first and second circumferential side walls.

2. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

the second portion is a continuously arranged the circumferential direction.

3. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

the second portion is discontinuously arranged in the circumferential direction.

4. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

the second portion is an annular member.

5. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

the second portion includes at least one fiber layer.

6. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

the second portion includes at least one metallic layer.

7. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

each of the first and second circumferential side walls includes the first portion with the first thermal conductivity and the second portion with the second thermal conductivity.

8. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

a majority of the first and second circumferential side walls and the outer bridge are formed a fiber-reinforced polymer material.

9. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

the first circumferential side wall includes a first brake contact area, and

the second circumferential side wall includes a second brake contact area.

10. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

the second portion is a thermally conductive layer with at least a part of the thermally conductive layer being disposed at least partially radially inward of a brake contact area with respect to a radial direction of the bicycle rim.

11. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

the second portion is a thermally conductive layer that extends from a brake contact area of the at least one of the first and second circumferential side walls to at least radial middle of the at least one of the first and second circumferential side walls with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle rim.

12. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

the second portion is a thermally conductive layer that extends from a brake contact area of the at least one of the first and second circumferential side walls to most radial inner portion of the at least one of the first and second circumferential side walls with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle rim.

13. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

the second portion is a thermally conductive layer that disposed outside of the first portion in the thickness direction with respect to a center plane that is perpendicular to a rotational center axis of the bicycle rim.

14. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

the second portion is a thermally conductive layer that is disposed in between two fiber layers forming the first portion with respect to the thickness direction.

15. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

the second portion is a thermally conductive layer that is disposed inside of the first portion in the thickness direction with respect to a center plane that is perpendicular to a rotational center axis of the bicycle rim.

16. The bicycle rim according to claim 1, further comprising

an annular tire engagement structure disposed radially outward of the first and second circumferential side walls with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle rim, with the annular tire engagement structure being a metallic member and a majority of the first and second circumferential side walls and the outer bridge being formed a fiber-reinforced polymer material.

17. The bicycle rim according to claim 16, wherein

the annular tire engagement structure includes a first brake contact surface disposed adjacent the first circumferential side wall and a second brake contact surface disposed adjacent the second circumferential side wall.

18. The bicycle rim according to claim 16, wherein

the second portion is a thermally conductive layer with at least a part of the thermally conductive layer being disposed at least partially on outermost ends of the first and second circumferential side walls with respect to a radial direction of the bicycle rim.

19. The bicycle rim according to claim 16, wherein

the second portion is a thermally conductive layer that disposed outside of the first portion in the thickness direction with respect to a center plane that is perpendicular to a rotational center axis of the bicycle rim.

20. The bicycle rim according to claim 16, wherein

the second portion is a thermally conductive layer that is disposed in between two fiber layers forming the first portion with respect to the thickness direction.

21. The bicycle rim according to claim 16, wherein

the second portion is a thermally conductive layer that is disposed inside of the first portion with respect to the thickness direction with respect to a center plane that is perpendicular to a rotational center axis of the bicycle rim.