Bicycle hub having enhanced strength

• US 7,740,325 B1
• Filed: 09/09/2008
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chosen Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Chosen Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Ching-Shu
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano; S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kotter; Kip T
• Application Number:
  US12/206,947
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 301/110.5, 192/64, 192/110.B, 192/113.32, 384/275, 384/296, 384/545
• US Class Current: 301/110.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/023 specially adapted for bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/047 comprising a freewheel mechanisms

Abstract

A hub for a bicycle includes a shaft, a hub body rotatably mounted on the shaft, a drive seat rotatably mounted on the shaft and engaged with the hub body, and a self-lubricating bearing mounted between the drive seat and the shaft. The self-lubricating bearing has a radially and outwardly extending limit flange rested on the drive seat. Thus, the self-lubricating bearing has an inner wall contacting with an outer wall of the shaft completely and an outer wall contacting with an inner wall of the drive seat completely, so that the external force applied on the self-lubricating bearing is distributed evenly and smoothly to prevent the self-lubricating bearing from being distorted or deformed due to a stress concentration, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the self-lubricating bearing.

Claims

1. A hub, comprising:

a shaft;

a hub body rotatably mounted on the shaft;

a drive seat rotatably mounted on the shaft and having a first end face engaged with the hub body;

a self-lubricating bearing mounted between the drive seat and the shaft;

wherein the self-lubricating bearing has a first end portion formed with a radially and outwardly extending limit flange rested on a second end face of the drive seat.

2. The hub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the limit flange of the self-lubricating bearing protrudes outwardly from the second end face of the drive seat and abuts a periphery of the second end face of the drive seat.

3. The hub in accordance with claim 1, wherein

the drive seat has an inside formed with a mounting hole;

the self-lubricating bearing is inserted into the mounting hole of the drive seat;

the limit flange of the self-lubricating bearing protrudes outwardly from the mounting hole of the drive seat.

4. The hub in accordance with claim 3, wherein the self-lubricating bearing has a substantially stepped cylindrical shape.

5. The hub in accordance with claim 4, wherein the self-lubricating bearing has a diameter corresponding to that of the mounting hole of the drive seat.

6. The hub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the self-lubricating bearing has a length corresponding to that of the drive seat.

7. The hub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the self-lubricating bearing has an inside formed with a mounting bore to allow passage of the shaft.

8. The hub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the self-lubricating bearing is rotatably mounted between the drive seat and the shaft.

9. The hub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the self-lubricating bearing has a second end portion flush with and fully hidden in the first end face of the drive seat.