Bicycle wheel with reinforced rim

• US 6,234,580 B1
• Filed: 07/13/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Okajima, Shinpei, Muraoka, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bellinger, Jason R.
• Application Number:
  US09/353,033
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 301/55, 301/56, 301/58.I, 301/59, 301/61
• US Class Current: 301/58
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/0223 the dominant aspect being the spoke arrangement pattern
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/0261 characterised by spoke form
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/0276 the spoke being crooked in the middle and having double length
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/041 of bicycle wheels bicycle rims characterised by means for attaching spokes B60B21/062
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/042 Attaching spokes to hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 21/025 the transverse section being hollow
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 21/062 for bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 21/066 the spoke mounting means being located on a flange oriented radially and formed on the radially inner side of the rim well
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/311 Rigidity or stiffness

Abstract

A bicycle wheel basically has a hub, a plurality of spokes extending outwardly from the hub and an annular rim coupled to the outer ends of the spokes for supporting a tire. The annular rim has a spoke attachment portion with a plurality of openings for receiving the outer ends of the spokes therein. The openings of the annular rim have reinforcement members or washers located between the spokes and annular rim. The outer ends of the spokes have bent sections located within the spoke holes of the reinforcement members or washers and head section that engage the inner surface of the reinforcement members or washers. The rim is provided with a reinforcing rib or bend above each of the spoke holes. The reinforcing rib or bend can be continuous or discontinuous. The spoke attachment portions of the rim are divided into an outer circumferential section, a middle circumferential section with the spoke openings formed therein and an inner circumferential section. At least parts of the middle circumferential sections of the spoke attachment portions have a first predetermined wall thickness located above and below the spoke openings. The first predetermined wall thicknesses of these parts are greater than a second predetermined wall thickness of the inner circumferential sections of the spoke attachment portions.

Claims

1. A bicycle rim, comprising:

an outer annular portion adapted to receive a tire thereon;

first and second annular spoke attachment portions coupled to said outer annular portion and extending radially inwardly of said outer annular portion, said first and second annular spoke attachment portions having a plurality of circumferentially arranged spoke openings formed therein and reinforcing elements formed adjacent said spoke openings, said reinforcing elements being located radially outwardly from said spoke openings between said outer annular portion and said spoke openings, said reinforcing element of said first annular spoke attachment portion being separate from said reinforcing element of said second spoke attachment portion; and

an inner annular portion located radially inwardly of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions and coupling said first and second annular spoke attachment portions together to form a hollow interior.

2. A bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

said reinforcing elements extend continuously along said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

3. A bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of said reinforcing elements are formed on each of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions in a discontinuous pattern.

4. A bicycle rim according to claim 3, wherein

said reinforcing elements are formed by ribs that increase wall thicknesses of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

5. A bicycle rim according to claim 4, wherein

said ribs are formed on interior surfaces of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

6. A bicycle rim according to claim 4, wherein

said ribs are formed on exterior surfaces of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

7. A bicycle rim according to claim 4, wherein

said ribs are located within an area of approximately 8.0 millimeters from said spoke openings in a radially outward direction.

8. A bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

said reinforcing elements are formed by a continuous rib on each of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

9. A bicycle rim according to claim 8, wherein

said ribs are formed on interior surfaces of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

10. A bicycle rim according to claim 8, wherein

said ribs are formed on exterior surfaces of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

11. A bicycle rim according to claim 8, wherein

in said ribs are located within an area of approximately 8.0 millimeters from said spoke openings in a radially outward direction.

12. A bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

said reinforcing elements are formed by continuous annular bends along said first and second annular spoke attachment portions that divide said first and second annular spoke attachment portions into inner and outer ring shaped sections.

13. A bicycle rim according to claim 12, wherein

said inner ring shaped sections are offset axially towards each other relative to said outer ring shaped sections.

14. A bicycle rim according to claim 12, wherein

said inner ring shaped sections are offset axially away each other relative to said outer ring shaped sections.

15. A bicycle rim according to claim 12, wherein

said bends are located within an area of approximately 8.0 millimeters from said spoke openings in a radially outward direction.

16. A bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

said reinforcing elements are formed by a plurality of discontinuous bends in each of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions in a discontinuous pattern.

17. A bicycle rim according to claim 16, wherein

said bends are at least partially located within an area of approximately 8.0 millimeters from said spoke openings in a radially outward direction.

18. A bicycle rim according to claim 16, wherein

said bends are U-shaped with each of said bends having a circumferentially extending bend section located above said spoke openings and a pair of radially extending bend sections.

19. A bicycle rim according to claim 16, wherein

said bends are formed about each of said spoke openings to at least partially encircle each of said spoke openings individually.

20. A bicycle rim according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second annular spoke attachment portions have increased wall thicknesses at sections located radially inwardly and radially outwardly relative to said spoke openings.

21. A bicycle wheel assembly, comprising:

a plurality of outwardly extending spokes with each of said spokes having an inner end portion, an outer end portion, and a center portion located between said inner and outer end portions, each of said outer end portions of said spokes having an enlarged head member; and

an annular rim having an outer annular portion adapted to receive a tire thereon, first and second annular spoke attachment portions coupled to said outer annular portion and extending radially inwardly of said outer annular portion, and an inner annular portion located radially inwardly of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions and coupling said first and second annular spoke attachment portions together to form a hollow interior, said first and second annular spoke attachment portions having a plurality of circumferentially arranged spoke openings formed therein and reinforcing elements formed adjacent said spoke openings, said reinforcing elements being located radially outwardly from said spoke openings between said outer annular portion and said spoke openings, said reinforcing element of said first annular spoke attachment portion being separate from said reinforcing element of said second spoke attachment portion.

22. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 21, wherein

said reinforcing elements extend continuously along said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

23. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 21, wherein

a plurality of said reinforcing elements are formed on each of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions in a discontinuous pattern.

24. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 23, wherein

said reinforcing elements are formed by ribs that increase wall thicknesses of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

25. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 24, wherein

said ribs are formed on interior surfaces of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

26. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 24, wherein

said ribs are formed on exterior surfaces of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

27. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 24, wherein

said ribs are located within an area of approximately 8.0 millimeters from said spoke openings in a radially outward direction.

28. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 21, wherein

said reinforcing elements are formed by a continuous rib on each of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

29. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 28, wherein

said ribs are formed on interior surfaces of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

30. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 28, wherein

said ribs are formed on exterior surfaces of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions.

31. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 28, wherein

said ribs are located within an area of approximately 8.0 millimeters from said spoke openings in a radially outward direction.

32. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 21, wherein

said reinforcing elements are formed by continuous annular bends along said first and second annular spoke attachment portions that divide said first and second annular spoke attachment portions into inner and outer ring shaped sections.

33. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 32, wherein

said inner ring shaped sections are offset axially towards each other relative to said outer ring shaped sections.

34. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 32, wherein

said inner ring shaped sections are offset axially away each other relative to said outer ring shaped sections.

35. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 32, wherein

said bends are located within an area of approximately 8.0 millimeters from said spoke openings in a radially outward direction.

36. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 21, wherein

said reinforcing elements are formed by a plurality of discontinuous bends in each of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions in a discontinuous pattern.

37. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 36, wherein

said bends are at least partially located within an area of approximately 8.0 millimeters from said spoke openings in a radially outward direction.

38. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 36, wherein

said bends are U-shaped with each of said bends having a circumferentially extending bend section located above said spoke openings and a pair of radially extending bend sections.

39. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 36, wherein

said bends are formed about each of said spoke openings to at least partially encircle each of said spoke openings individually.

40. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 21, wherein

said first and second annular spoke attachment portions have increased wall thicknesses at sections located radially inwardly and radially outwardly relative to said spoke openings.

41. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 21, further comprising

a plurality of reinforcement members with each of said reinforcement members having a spoke hole, said outer end portions of said spokes being located in said spoke holes.

42. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 41, wherein

said reinforcement members have a first portion with a first radial width and a second portion with a second radial width that is larger than said first radial width, said first portions being located within said spoke openings of said annular rim.

43. A bicycle wheel assembly according to claim 42, wherein

said reinforcing elements of said first and second annular spoke attachment portions are radially spaced from said spoke openings in areas that are approximately 0.25 to approximately 1.0 times said first radial width of said first portions of said reinforcement members located within spoke openings of the annular rim.