Bicycle component

• US 8,113,529 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dt Swiss Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dt Swiss Inc.
• Inventors: Spahr, Stefan, Achenbach, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Boehler, Anne Marie
• Assistant Examiner(s): STABLEY, MICHAEL R
• Application Number:
  US12/401,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20090230653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 280/276, 280/279
• 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 configured for receiving a wheel with a hub and including at least two tube components at the end portions, a mounting device provided at each of the end portions, wherein each mounting device includes 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,

each mounting device defining a cylindrical mounting opening, wherein a radius of the cylindrical mounting opening corresponds to a radius of an axial projecting edge of the mounting device, and wherein the cylindrical mounting opening and the axial projecting edge at the inner periphery are machined in one process step;

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

at least one bushing device of the other mounting device 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, and

the hub including opposing outer surfaces and projections extending beyond the outer surfaces, the projections configured to respectively contact the bushing device in the corresponding mounting device and space the opposing outer surfaces of the hub from the corresponding mounting devices.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

5. 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.

6. 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.

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

8. The bicycle component according to claim 7, wherein the axle device comprises an axial mating surface on one side provided to mate with an axial mating surface on a bushing device.

9. The bicycle component according to claim 7, 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.

10. The bicycle component according to claim 9, 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.

11. The bicycle component according to claim 10, 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.

12. The bicycle component according to claim 9, 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.

13. The bicycle component according to claim 7, wherein the axle device is provided with a ratchet mechanism.

14. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein the hub bears against the bushing devices with front end faces only.

15. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein the front end faces of the hub are formed by knurled disks.

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

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

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

19. The bicycle component according to claim 1, wherein contact surfaces are configured on the bushing devices between the hub and the wheel mount and contact surfaces are configured on the bushing devices between the axle and the wheel mount.

20. A bicycle component comprising:

a wheel mount configured for receiving a wheel with a hub and including at least two tube components at the end portions, a mounting device provided at each of the end portions, wherein each mounting device includes 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,

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

at least one bushing device of the other mounting device comprising 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,

each of the mounting devices comprising an axially, inwardly extending projecting edge as an end bearing, wherein the end bearings are configured to be sickle-shaped and are substantially provided on the upper side of the mounting device.

21. A bicycle component comprising:

a wheel mount configured for receiving a wheel with a hub and including at least two tube components at the end portions, a mounting device provided at each of the end portions, wherein each mounting device includes 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,

at least one bushing device of the one mounting device comprising a male thread extending only over part of the axial length of the bushing device and a snug fit on its inner periphery,

at least one bushing device of the other mounting device comprising 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,

wherein said at least one bushing device comprises a male thread extending only over part of the axial length of the bushing device.

22. A bicycle component comprising:

a wheel mount configured for receiving a wheel with a hub, and a fixed axle, said wheel mount including at least two tube components at the end portions, a mounting device provided at each of the end portions between which the hub is received and supported, wherein each mounting device includes 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, wherein the mounting devices comprise axially inwardly an axial projecting edge as an end bearing at a radial distance from the adapting pieces of the hub,

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

at least one bushing device of the other mounting device 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, and

the hub including opposing outer surfaces and projections extending beyond the outer surfaces, the projections configured to respectively contact the bushing device in the corresponding mounting device and space the opposing outer surfaces of the hub from the corresponding mounting devices.