Including Reinforcing Patents (Class 301/95.107)
  • Patent number: 11345188
    Abstract: A wheel rim including a flange profile on a tire side of an open end flange of the wheel rim, the flange profile defined by the equation: y 1 = ( a ? ? Theta ? ? 1 + 1 ( 1 + Exp ? ( a ? ? Theta ? ? 3 + a ? Theta ? ? 4 · X 1 ) ) aTheta ? ? 5 ) · a ? Theta ? 2 wherein, for 0?X1?1, aTheta1 is between ?1.004 to ?0.974, aTheta2 is between ??1.049 to ?1.0182, aTheta3 is between ?3.601 to ?2.760, aTheta4 is between 18.791 to 25.965, and aTheta5 is between 0.185 to 0.277.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: HOWMET AEROSPACE INC.
    Inventors: Craig M. Zehnder, Gabriele F. Ciccola, Grant DeGeorge, Santosh Prasad, Henry Sklyut, Anton Rovito, Christopher J. Tan, Jay H. Goodman
  • Patent number: 11338613
    Abstract: A wheel and a rim with weight reduction sockets are provided. The rim includes an inner flange, a middle portion and an outer flange, the inner flange, middle portion and outer flange are all annular and are connected end to end to form a cylindrical rim, in which the middle portion of the rim includes weight reduction sockets; and the weight reduction sockets are of regular hexagons, and are arranged adjacently on the outer side of the middle portion of the rim in the shape of a honeycomb. The weight of the hub is reduced by designing the weight reduction sockets in a specific shape for the outer rim of the hub and selecting the size of the weight reduction sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: CITIC DICASTAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zuo Xu, Zhen Li, Xu Wang, Kaiqing Wang, Yule Zhou, Chuan Cheng, Changhai Li, Tiefeng Hu, Hui Chi
  • Patent number: 11338614
    Abstract: A wheel and a rim with weight reduction sockets are provided. The rim is made of an aluminum alloy and includes an inner flange, a middle portion and an outer flange, the inner flange, middle portion and outer flange are all annular and are connected end to end to form a cylindrical rim, in which weight reduction sockets are provided on the outer surface of the middle portion of the rim; the weight reduction sockets are rectangular ones, and are arranged in lattices in turn; and 3-5 rows of weight reduction sockets are arranged annularly on the outer surface of the middle portion of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: CITIC DICASTAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zuo Xu, Xu Wang, Hanqi Wu, Zhen Li, Kaiqing Wang, Yule Zhou, Chuan Cheng, Changhai Li, Tiefeng Hu, Hui Chi
  • Patent number: 8967732
    Abstract: A rim for a bicycle having a rim body including a rim well and a rim base and rim flanks connecting the rim base and the rim well wherein the rim flanks and the rim base consist of a fibrous composite material. A minimum wall thickness of the rim flanks is thinner in one radial region than in another radial region. The rim body is bulbous in cross-section. A maximum height from the rim base to the rim well is less than 1.5 times and in particular less than 1.2 times the maximum width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: DT Swiss Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Walthert, Martin Fischer, Andreas Tschanz
  • Patent number: 8905491
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuki Koshiyama
  • Publication number: 20140346849
    Abstract: A bicycle rim includes a radially outer peripheral part, a radially inner peripheral part, at least one first slanting member, and at least one intermediate member. The at least one first slanting member radially extends between the radially outer peripheral part and the radially inner peripheral part in a first direction slanted with respect to a radial direction of the bicycle rim as viewed in an axial direction of the bicycle rim. The at least one intermediate member is disposed between the radially outer peripheral part and the radially inner peripheral part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Yukinobu SHIOTANI, Takanori KANEHISA
  • Patent number: 8366202
    Abstract: A composite rim including a reinforcing assembly is provided. The composite rim includes a first sidewall portion, a second sidewall portion, a radially outer portion and a reinforcing assembly. The radially outer portion includes a radially outwardly-facing tire-engaging surface. The reinforcing assembly is disposed proximate the tire-engaging surface and includes a reinforcer and a containment member for containing the reinforcer. The reinforcer has an axis extending circumferentially about the composite rim and is configured to reinforce the composite rim in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the reinforcer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Compositech, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Poertner, Michael Hall
  • Patent number: 8342614
    Abstract: A composite rim for a bicycle wheel generally includes a radially outer tire-engaging portion, a radially inner spoke-engaging portion and first and second sidewalls. The second sidewall is spaced apart from the first sidewall. The first and second sidewalls extend between the tire engaging and spoke-engaging portions. The rim includes at least one through-hole and a pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement at the through-hole. The tire-engaging and spoke-engaging portions and first and second sidewalls form a toroid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Poertner, Michael Hall, David Morse
  • Patent number: 8313155
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise a composite rim used in spoked wheels, such as bicycle wheels, having molded-in spoke holes along with a method of fabricating the composite rim. Advantageously, the present invention dramatically improves the bearing and loading strength of prior art composite rims, which drill the spoke holes therein after fabrication of the rim hoop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Edge Composites, LLC
    Inventor: Jason Schiers
  • Patent number: 7959236
    Abstract: A rim for a cycle wheel that includes an annular shaped element, as well as a bicycle that includes such rim and a method of making the rim. The annular shaped element has at least one groove, with the element being encircled by at least one binding of polymerizable resin-coated fiber housed in the groove. In the manufacturing method the fiber winding is wound on the annular shaped element or the fiber winding is first made and then, second, it is placed in a recess of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.S.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Olivier Mouzin
  • Patent number: 7934778
    Abstract: In a wheel rim including fiber reinforced composite material and preferably having lateral rim sidewalls that may include rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Denk, Thomas Fuderer
  • Patent number: 7922261
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cast wheel having a wheel rim base, a rear edge region, and a front edge region, wherein the front edge region is coupled to the rear edge region via the wheel rim base. The cast wheel includes at least one reduced-material portion structured and arranged in the rear edge region and a circumferential bead arranged in a rearward portion of the rear edge region, wherein at least a part of the reduced-material portion is located in a region of the circumferential bead and is structured and arranged to widen radially inward from a radially outwardly located vertex region towards a leveling-off end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Austria ALU-GUSS-Gesellschaft M.B.H.
    Inventor: Josef Gartner
  • Publication number: 20100096910
    Abstract: A High Rigidity Wheel Rim is provided comprising a pair of axially spaced radially outward extending annular flanges, an annular well portion intermediate the flanges, and an annular bead seat portion adjacent to each flange and axially spaced from the well portion wherein each bead seat radius is no greater than about 4.5 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: Topy America, Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine Scott Egbert, Yoshinari Inagaki
  • Patent number: 7614706
    Abstract: A bicycle rim made of composite material has structural fibers incorporated in a polymeric material. The rim has at least one circumferential reinforcement element based on unidirectional structural fibers extending at a respective intersection of walls of the rim, the direction of the structural fiber being circumferential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventors: Mario Meggiolan, Maurizio Passarotto
  • Patent number: 7578563
    Abstract: A bicycle rim is basically provided with an annular metallic rim member and a reinforcing member. The annular metallic rim member includes a plurality of spoke attachment areas with at least one spoke attachment opening in each of the spoke attachment areas. The reinforcing member overlies an exterior surface of the annular metallic rim member. The reinforcing member includes a plurality of spoke attachment sections individually arranged in a circumferential direction to overlie the spoke attachment openings. The spoke attachment sections include a plurality of discrete first reinforcing parts and a plurality of discrete second reinforcing parts. The first reinforcing parts are attached to the spoke attachment areas around the spoke attachment openings. The second reinforcing parts are attached to the spoke attachment areas to overlie the first reinforcing parts, with the second reinforcing parts being larger than the first reinforcing parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Muraoka, Takashi Yaegashi, Shinpei Okajima
  • Patent number: 7490406
    Abstract: Bicycle wheel rims with internally reinforced spoke seats are disclosed along with methods for producing them. The rims are produced from a rim blank with at least one circumferentially extending spoke attachment region that has a relatively uniform given thickness. Access holes are formed in an upper web of the rim blank and tooling is positioned above and below the spoke attachment region to form a reinforced spoke seat and a spoke hole therein. Material that is upset and moved from the location of the spoke hole is displaced into an annular region where it reinforces the spoke hole. Material in the vicinity of the spoke hole can be displaced towards the inside of the rim and material can be removed from the undisplaced portions of the spoke region leaving a reinforced area around the spoke hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Inventor: William Shook
  • Patent number: 7464994
    Abstract: A bicycle rim is provided with an annular metallic rim member and at least one reinforcing resin material. The annular metallic rim member includes an annular tire attachment portion adapted to have a tire mounted thereon, a first annular side wall portion, a second annular side wall portion and an inner annular wall portion connecting the first and second annular side wall portions with a plurality of spoke attachment openings formed in the inner annular wall portion. The at least one reinforcing resin material is attached to the annular metallic rim member such that the reinforcing resin material continuously extends from the first annular side wall portion across the inner annular wall portion to the second annular side wall portions to overlie exterior surface areas of the first and second annular side wall portions and exterior surface areas of the inner annular wall portion around the spoke attachment openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Takashi Yaegashi, Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Patent number: 7431403
    Abstract: A wheel rim includes an annular rim body having a horizontally disposed rim axis and an imaginary central plane that is perpendicular to the rim axis. The rim body includes a pair of annular side walls, an annular base wall, a pair of annular strengthening walls, and an annular reinforcing wall. The annular side walls are disposed respectively on opposite sides of the imaginary central plane. The annular base wall interconnects the annular side walls. Each of the annular strengthening walls extends from a respective one of the annular side walls toward the imaginary central plane and is disposed radially outward relative to the annular base wall. The reinforcing wall includes a pair of connecting segments, each of which interconnects the annular base wall and a respective one of the annular strengthening walls, and a reinforcing protruding segment that protrudes radially and outwardly relative to the rim axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Alex Global Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chao-Ying Chen
  • Patent number: 7377595
    Abstract: A bicycle rim is provided with an annular metallic rim member and a reinforcing member. The annular metallic rim member has a plurality of spoke attachment arcas with at least one spoke attachment opening in each of the spoke attachment areas and a plurality of intermediate areas disposed between adjacent pairs of the spoke attachment areas. The reinforcing member extends circumferentially about the annular metallic rim member to overlie the spoke attachment areas of the annular metallic rim member. The reinforcing member has a plurality of discrete spoke attachment area reinforcing parts overlying a corresponding one of the spoke attachment areas of the annular metallic rim member. The reinforcing member also has a rim reinforcing part overlying the intermediate areas of the annular metallic rim member and at least partially overlying the discrete spoke attachment area reinforcing parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Tsutomu Muraoka, Takashi Yaegashi
  • Patent number: 7350877
    Abstract: A bicycle rim is provided with an annular metallic rim member and reinforcing member. The annular metallic rim member has a plurality of spoke attachment areas with a spoke attachment opening in each of the spoke attachment areas. The reinforcing member extends circumferentially about the annular metallic rim member to overlie the spoke attachment areas of the annular metallic rim member. The reinforcing member has a plurality of spoke attachment sections overlying the spoke attachment areas, respectively, and a plurality of intermediate sections disposed between adjacent pairs of the spoke attachment sections, with the spoke attachment sections being thicker than the intermediate sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Muraoka, Takashi Yaegashi
  • Patent number: 7331639
    Abstract: A bicycle rim is configured with an annular metallic rim, a plurality of individual reinforcement members and at least one adhesive attachment material. The annular metallic rim has an annular tire attachment portion adapted to have a tire mounted thereon, and a spoke attachment portion with a plurality of spoke openings. The individual reinforcement members overlie discrete exterior surface areas of the spoke attachment portion surrounding the spoke openings. The at least one adhesive attachment material overlies the individual spoke reinforcements and exterior areas of the spoke attachment portion adjacent to the reinforcement members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Shinpei Okajima
  • Patent number: 7309110
    Abstract: A wheel formed by the assembly of a disc comprising a hub bearing surface, a transition zone and a radially outer edge, and of a rim with at least a first laminated composite structure formed of at least one fabric of long fibers which are oriented in two distinct directions and impregnated by a cross-linked resin, the radially outer surface of which corresponds to the radially outer surface of the rim or to part thereof, at least a second laminated composite structure formed of at least one fabric of long fibers which are oriented in two distinct directions and impregnated by a cross-linked resin, the radially outer surface of which corresponds to the radially inner surface of the rim or to part thereof, and at least a circumferential weight-reduction structure formed of a material of low density, arranged radially between the first and second laminated composite structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Yves Vernet, Matthieu Bonnamour, Adam Jara, Georges Pirin
  • Patent number: 7290839
    Abstract: A bicycle rim is provided that includes a tire attachment portion, a spoke attachment portion and a plurality of reinforcement members. The spoke attachment portion is fixedly coupled with the tire attachment portion. The spoke attachment portion includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced attachment openings. The reinforcement members are fixedly coupled to the spoke attachment portion at the attachment openings to effectively increase the thickness of the spoke attachment portion of the rim at the attachment openings. Each of the reinforcement members is bonded to the spoke attachment portion. The through openings are aligned with the attachment openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Shinpei Okajima
  • Patent number: 7258402
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel rim and a method of making a bicycle wheel rim are provided. The rim provided is made of a single part using structural fiber based material, preferably carbon fiber material, with two circumferential flanges for anchoring the tire, which extend radially outwards from the two sides of the outer peripheral wall of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Mario Meggiolan
  • Patent number: 7090307
    Abstract: A bicycle rim is provided that includes a tire attachment portion, a spoke attachment portion and a plurality of reinforcement members. The spoke attachment portion is fixedly coupled with the tire attachment portion. The spoke attachment portion includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced attachment openings. The reinforcement members are fixedly coupled to the spoke attachment portion at the attachment openings to effectively increase the thickness of the spoke attachment portion of the rim at the attachment openings. Each of the reinforcement members is bonded to the spoke attachment portion. The through openings are aligned with the attachment openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Shinpei Okajima
  • Patent number: 7029073
    Abstract: A lightweight wheel rim includes a pair of annular side walls, an annular inner wall, and two annular angle elements. The angle elements are disposed respectively at two opposite sides of the inner wall. Each of the angle elements has two opposite sides that are formed respectively and integrally with the inner wall and a radial inner end of a corresponding one of the side walls, and a plurality of alternately arranged mounting portions and dented portions. Each of the mounting portions has a mounting hole for extension of a spoke unit therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Alex Global Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chao-Ying Chen
  • Patent number: 7025427
    Abstract: A wheel arrangement is provided which has reinforcing rings adjacent inboard and outboard tire bead seats. The outboard reinforcement ring has a radial width which is substantially greater than the radial width of the inboard reinforcement ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: KMC Wheel Company
    Inventor: Kevin R. Fitzgerald
  • Publication number: 20050082902
    Abstract: A wheel arrangement is provided which has reinforcing rings adjacent inboard and outboard tire bead seats. The outboard reinforcement ring has a radial width which is substantially greater than the radial width of the inboard reinforcement ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventor: Kevin Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 6767069
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel rim includes an annular rim body having left and right annular tire retaining walls with inner edges connected to left and right edges of an annular spoke mounting wall. Each of a pair of annular corner reinforcing members is formed integrally with the rim body at a junction of a corresponding one of the left and right edges of the spoke mounting wall with the inner edge of a respective one of the tire retaining walls. Each of the corner reinforcing members extends laterally outward relative to the respective one of the tire retaining walls, and further extends radially inward relative to the spoke mounting wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Alex Global Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chao-Ying Chen
  • Patent number: 6719375
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheel rim equipped with rim flanges that show no deformation or damage even though a reduction in weight is achieved. The wheel is equipped with rim flanges 3 consisting of a double structure in which the end portions across the rim part 2 of width of the rim are folded back to the inside and caused to contact the non-folded portions 3B in a state in which there is no gap. The abovementioned folded portions 3A and non-folded portions 3B have respective thicknesses that are greater than the thickness D1 of the rim part, and curved parts 3C that are smoothly continuous with the surfaces of the non-folded portions 3B are provided on the free end portions of the folded portions 3A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Work Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6715844
    Abstract: An improved tensioned spoke bicycle wheel. The wheel comprises a hub, a rim, spokes and spoke nipples. A spoke that is connected to the left side of the hub is paired, at the rim, with a spoke that is connected to the right side of the hub. For each pair of spokes, there is provided a spoke plate that is positioned between the rim floor and the nipples. Each of the spokes in a pair extends through adjacent spoke bores in the rim, through spoke bores in the spoke plate and into the spoke nipples. The spoke plates distribute the forces associated with the tensioned spokes over a substantial portion of the rim floor. The spoke plate may have a flat surface where it supports the nipples or a socket shaped surface. In the latter case, the nipples have a ball shaped lower end that seat in the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Rolf Dietrich
  • Patent number: 6536849
    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 spoke openings for receiving the outer ends of the spokes therein. The spoke openings of the annular rim have reinforcement members 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. The rim is free of access apertures or holes in the outer annular portion adjacent a majority of the spoke holes. The reinforcement member has a transverse dimension allowing the outer end of the spoke and the reinforcement member to pass through the openings in a first orientation and be retained in the openings in a second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Patent number: 6474385
    Abstract: A welded vehicle wheel having a sectional rim which is connected to a nave or wheel disk in the area of the drop center by means of a weld seam, and which has standardized sections, in particular rim flange and bead seat area in terms of their axial and/or radial extent, transition radii and angles, and nonstandardized sections, in particular drop center area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Michelin Kronprinz Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Meinhard Bönning, Ralf Duning, Jorn Hansen, Dieter Schichall
  • Patent number: 6367883
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel includes a wheel rim and a plurality of spokes. The wheel rim includes spaced left and right tire retaining walls that are interconnected by a base wall. Each of the tire retaining walls is formed with a set of spoke mounting holes, each of which extends through lateral outer and inner surfaces of the tire retaining wall. Each spoke has an inner end portion mounted on a hub, and an outer end portion which includes an enlarged head abutting against the lateral outer surface of the respective tire retaining wall, an extending section received in a respective spoke mounting hole, and a bending section disposed adjacent to the lateral inner surface of the respective tire retaining wall. The bending section is bent from the extending section, and extends toward the inner end portion of the spoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Alex Machine Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chao-Ying Chen