Quick release bicycle wheel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wheel quick release system for a bicycle or other wheeled vehicle where the wheel can be easily removed by a manual operation on only one side of the wheel hub but is prevented from unexpected separation at all times while engaged with the wheel. A laterally moving skewer mounted concentrically inside a hollow axle is equipped with a “non-touch” nut on one end and is spring loaded toward a quick release cam on the other end thereby always urging the nut against the adjacent dropout. In order to remove the wheel, the quick release cam is operated and the quick release side assembly is pushed axially inward and a safety mechanism is operated and held in this position while the wheel is removed from the fork dropouts. When the wheel is again inserted into the wheel fork, the skewer automatically locks onto the dropouts, and subsequently if the quick release cam is inadvertently left open by the user, the wheel will be somewhat loose but will remain safely inserted in the wheel mounts. In this way, if the bicycle or wheeled vehicle looks safe to ride, it is safe to ride.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to wheeled vehicles such as bicycles. In particular, this invention relates to an apparatus and the method of attaching a hollow axle wheel to a wheel mount wherein the wheel can be removed easily without the use of tools by operations on only one side of the wheel hub but will not unexpectedly separate from the wheel mounts.

2. Description of Prior Art

Most better-quality bicycles on the market are equipped with quick release front (and sometimes rear) wheels. These bicycles use a standard method of avoiding unwanted separation of the front wheel comprising a recessed wheel mount (or dropout), or small tabs which retains the wheel skewer at both ends, and thus the wheel, even when the quick release cam has been loosened. As used herein, the term “skewer” or “wheel skewer” is also known in the industry as a “spindle”, “draw bar”, connecting rod”, control shaft” and “retaining rod”.

On bicycles currently on the market, the skewer is mounted concentrically inside a hollow hub axle and is equipped with a quick release cam on one end, and an adjusting threaded nut on the other end. The skewer assembly is kept centered laterally in the wheel hub by two conical springs, one on each side, which push outward opposing each other, one on the quick release cam and the other on the nut. The quick release cam, when locked, pulls the skewer outward thereby pushing inward against the dropout as well as causing the distal nut to push inward on the opposite dropout.

In this way, the dropouts are clamped between the quick release cam and the hub on one side of the hub, and between the nut and the hub on the other side of the hub. The dropouts on most bicycles are equipped with either raised tabs, or in many cases, the surfaces upon which the quick release and the nut push are recessed below the rest of the dropout surface. The single process of opening the quick release cam does not produce enough “throw” to allow the quick release and the nut to clear the recess or tabs to exit from the dropout. Therefore, while holding the quick release with one hand, the nut must be further unscrewed from the threaded skewer before the wheel can be removed from the dropouts. In this way, unexpected separation of the front wheel is usually avoided.

However, when the wheel is re-inserted into the dropouts, the adjusting nut remains unscrewed and the wheel, while looking like it is attached to the bicycle or other wheeled vehicle, is not. In this “dangerous state” condition the bicycle is extremely dangerous as it appears to be rideable, but the front wheel can easily separate from the wheel fork. Only a close look at the condition of the quick release and nut will tell the rider that the wheel has not been secured for riding.

In short, the system used on current bicycles relies on the rider to remember to screw on the adjusting nut, and then lock the quick release. In addition, in order to do this, the rider must hold the bicycle up with one hand, hold the quick release on one side of the bicycle with another hand, and turn the adjusting nut on the opposite side of the bicycle with yet another hand—making the process of safely fastening a wheel difficult at best for the average rider with only two hands. Furthermore, the process of adjusting the nut to the correct tension such that the quick release cam operates properly is found to be challenging by many riders.

Several attempts have been made to solve some of these problems, however, none have yielded a satisfactory solution to both avoiding the “dangerous state” as well as making the process easy with only two hands.

Many recent attempts have been made to provide a system which does not require the adjustment of the adjustable nut to the correct tension for proper quick release cam locking (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,931 {Stewart}, U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,322 {Phillips}, U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,186 {Phillips}, U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,925 {Stewart}, U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,512 {Phillips}).

U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,931 (Stewart) discloses a quick release bicycle wheel wherein the quick release cam lever is spring loaded urging it to the closed position. If it is assumed that the adjusting nut is not unscrewed too far, this device solves the problem of avoiding the “dangerous state”. However, in order to install the wheel on the bicycle, the operator must hold the bicycle with one hand, hold the quick release lever engaged with another hand, and insert the wheel with a third hand which could prove to be difficult for the average rider. It is possible that the rider, absent any instructions, might unscrew the adjusting nut in order to install the wheel on the fork and then use the quick release lever as a “wing nut” handle.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,322 (Phillips) discloses a quick release bicycle wheel wherein the installation of the wheel to the wheel fork is made slightly easier by fixing the distance the adjustable nut must be tightened in order for correct quick release cam fastening. However, this device does not avoid the “dangerous state” condition, nor does it prevent the nut from being loosened too far and falling off the skewer.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,675 (Schlanger) discloses an invention wherein the wheel is attached to a more traditional slot on one dropout and a threaded hole on the other dropout. The Axle/skewer comprises a large knob on one end and a threaded area on the other end. This system also does not avoid the “dangerous state” wherein the wheel could appear to be mounted to the wheel fork for riding however the wheel is not secured.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,186 (Phillips), U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,925 (Stewart), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,512 (Phillips) all disclose essentially the same concept of an expanding nut on the opposite side of the axle skewer from the quick release cam. This nut reduces in width either by rotation or by a push/pull action taken by the rider thereby allowing the nut and the opposite side quick release to clear the safety tabs and the wheel to be removed. These three devices all require the rider to unlock the quick release cam on one side of the wheel, then move to the other side of the wheel to reduce the width of the opposite nut.

Various other efforts have been made to design a system that would allow the easy removal of a bicycle wheel while making sure it did not detach unexpectedly. None have provided both ease of use and absolute safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide a wheel release system that is fool-proof, safe, and easy and intuitive to use by the inexperienced rider with no instructions. In addition, the system must be light weight, simple, and inexpensive to manufacture. This objective is achieved in a system wherein the wheel can be easily removed by a manual operation on one side of the wheel but is prevented from unexpected separation at all times while engaged with the wheel. A laterally moving skewer mounted concentrically inside a hollow axle is equipped with a “non-touch” nut on one end and is spring loaded toward a quick release cam on the other end wherein in order to remove the wheel, the quick release cam is operated and in some cases the cam is then spun to loosen the adjusting nut, then the cam side assembly is squeezed and/or pushed axially inward and held in this position while the wheel is removed from the fork dropouts. When the wheel is again inserted into the wheel fork, the skewer automatically locks onto the dropouts, and subsequently if the quick release cam is inadvertently left open by the user, the wheel will be somewhat loose but will remain safely inserted in the wheel mounts. In this way, if the bicycle or wheeled vehicle looks safe to ride, it is safe to ride.

Fork dropouts used with the present invention can either be of the standard variety found on most bicycles or can be equipped with ramps on the exterior and, if desired, interior faces of the dropouts. If no ramps are used, the rider can still hold the bicycle up with one hand and squeeze and hold the quick release and safety cylinder with the other hand while inserting the wheel hub into the dropouts. Once the wheel is inserted and the rider releases squeezing the cam and safety cylinder, the wheel automatically locks onto the dropouts. If the dropouts are equipped with ramps, the spring loaded quick release cam assembly rides up the ramp and automatically locks when the hub axle enters the riding position in the dropout. This system can be used on both the front and rear wheels of a vehicle or bicycle or on a system to hole the wheel mount of a vehicle or bicycle to another vehicle or bicycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrations and drawings shown are not intended to limit the scope of this invention, as it is described in the claims, and are provided as a subset of the present invention.

The drawings are grouped as follows.

FIGS. 1 through 8 show a first the preferred embodiment wherein a single member, mounted axially on the skewer adjacent to the quick release, acts as a safety device and transmits the quick release binding forces. FIGS. 1 through 5 are a sequence showing the operation of removing the wheel.

FIG. 1 is a cross-section showing the quick release locked and the front wheel hub in the riding position.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section showing the quick release in the unlocked position but where the hub cannot come off.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section showing the quick release having been rotated, increasing the “throw” and unscrewing the skewer in the adjusting nut. In this state the hub still can not come off.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section showing the quick release squeezed onto the single member safety device forcing it and the remote adjusting nut each out of their respective dropout recesses.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section showing the wheel hub removed from the dropouts.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a conventional dropout which can be used with the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a non-standard dropout modified with ramps which spread the safety device and nut so that they automatically fall into a fastened position when the wheel is re-installed.

FIG. 8 is a cross section showing the “non-touch” adjusting nut modified to have a rotation limit control cap. The nut is adjusted such that it will stop threading outward at the correct position for wheel removal, and will stop threading inward at the correct position for proper quick release cam tension.

FIGS. 9 through 15 show a second preferred embodiment having a two part device, one member is the safety component and the other member transmits the force of the quick release and holds the skewer centered during wheel removal. FIGS. 9 through 13 are a sequence showing the operation of removing the wheel.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section showing the quick release locked and the wheel hub in the riding position.

FIG. 10 is a cross-section showing the quick release in the unlocked position but where the hub cannot come off.

FIG. 11 is a cross-section showing the quick release having been rotated, increasing the “throw” and unscrewing the skewer in the adjusting nut. In this state the hub still can not come off.

FIG. 12 is a cross-section showing the quick release squeezed onto the device forcing the safety component and the remote adjusting nut each out of their respective dropout recesses while centering the assembly.

FIG. 13 is a cross-section showing the wheel hub removed from the dropouts.

FIG. 14 is a detailed cross section of the two part device.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing a dropout with a dropout recess slide area for centering the skewer during wheel removal.

FIGS. 16 through 19 show a modified second preferred embodiment having the same dual member safety device as FIG. 9 but with a single large throw quick release which does not require rotation to increase the spread between the quick release and the nut for wheel removal. FIGS. 16 through 19 are a sequence showing wheel removal.

FIG. 16 is a cross-section showing the quick release locked and the wheel hub in the riding position.

FIG. 17 is a cross-section showing the quick release in the unlocked position but where the hub cannot come off.

FIG. 18 is a cross-section showing the quick release squeezed onto the device forcing the safety component and the remote non-rotatable nut each out of their respective dropout recesses while centering the assembly.

FIG. 19 is a cross-section showing the wheel hub removed from the dropouts.

FIGS. 20 through 27 show a third preferred embodiment having a two part device, one member is the safety component and the other member transmits the force of the quick release and holds the skewer centered during wheel removal. FIGS. 20 through 24 are a sequence showing the operation of removing the wheel.

FIG. 20 is a cross-section showing the quick release locked and the wheel hub in the riding position.

FIG. 21 is a cross-section showing the quick release in the unlocked position but where the hub cannot come off.

FIG. 22 is a cross-section showing the quick release having been rotated, increasing the “throw” and unscrewing the skewer in the adjusting nut. In this state the hub still can not come off.

FIG. 23 is a cross-section showing the quick release squeezed onto the device forcing the safety component and the remote adjusting nut each out of their respective dropout recesses while centering the assembly.

FIG. 24 is a cross-section showing the wheel hub removed from the dropouts.

FIG. 25 is a detailed cross section of the device in the safe riding position.

FIG. 26 is a detailed cross section of the safety device in the wheel removal position.

FIG. 27 is a side view showing a traditional dropout which can be used with the above embodiment.

FIGS. 28 through 34 show a fourth preferred embodiment having a dual member safety device with a geared system requiring only the unlocking and the axial pressing of the quick release for wheel removal. The quick release is a single large throw quick release which does not require rotation for wheel removal. FIGS. 28 through 31 are a sequence showing wheel removal.

FIG. 28 is a cross-section showing the quick release locked and the wheel hub in the riding position.

FIG. 29 is a cross-section showing the quick release in the unlocked position but where the hub cannot come off.

FIG. 30 is a cross-section showing the quick release pressed inward causing the safety device and the remote non-rotatable nut each out of their respective dropout recesses.

FIG. 31 is a cross-section showing the wheel hub removed from the dropouts.

FIG. 32 is a side view showing a dropout with a dropout recess slide area for centering the skewer during wheel removal. Also shown is the gear assembly.

FIG. 33 is a detailed cross section of the safety device in the safe riding position.

FIG. 34 is a detailed cross section of the safety device in the wheel removal position.

FIGS. 35 through 40 show a fifth preferred embodiment having a safety device which resides in a recess on the inner side of the dropout and a recess in the wheel hub. Wheel removal requires the unlocking, rotation, and the axial pressing of the quick release. The rotation of the quick release does not rotate the skewer. FIGS. 35 through 39 are a sequence.

FIG. 35 is a cross-section showing the quick release locked and the front wheel hub in the riding position.

FIG. 36 is a cross-section showing the quick release in the unlocked position but where the hub cannon come off.

FIG. 37 is a cross-section showing the quick release having been rotated, increasing the “throw” and unscrewing the skewer in the quick release cam. In this state the hub still can not come off.

FIG. 38 is a cross-section showing the quick release pressed inward causing the safety device and the remote non-rotatable nut each out of their respective dropout recesses.

FIG. 39 is a cross-section showing the wheel hub removed from the dropouts.

FIG. 40 is a side view showing a dropout with an inner and outer recess surfaces and a ramp system which moves both the non-rotating nut and the safety device to one side so that they automatically fall into a fastened position when the wheel is re-installed. Both dropouts are made so that the wheel can be mounted with the quick release on either side of the bicycle.

FIGS. 41 through 46 show a sixth preferred embodiment having a safety device which resides in a recess in a split, or double dropout. Wheel removal requires the unlocking, rotation, and the axial pressing of the quick release. The rotation of the quick release does not rotate the skewer. FIGS. 41 through 45 are a sequence showing wheel removal.

FIG. 41 is a cross-section showing the quick release locked and the front wheel hub in the riding position.

FIG. 42 is a cross-section showing the quick release in the unlocked position but where the hub cannot come off.

FIG. 43 is a cross-section showing the quick release having been rotated, increasing the “throw” and unscrewing the skewer in the quick release cam. In this state the hub still can not come off.

FIG. 44 is a cross-section showing the quick release pressed inward causing the safety device and the remote non-rotatable nut each out of their respective dropout recesses.

FIG. 45 is a cross-section showing the wheel hub removed from the dropouts.

FIG. 46 is a side view showing the split or double sided dropout with a cavity for the safety device and a channel for movement of the safety device during wheel removal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that any number of modifications can be made to the present invention and any such modification shall fall within the present invention even if not specifically shown.

The fundamental underlying principle of the present invention comprises a wheel fork or vehicle frame with two wheel mounts, or dropouts, where each of the dropouts has a recessed surface or retaining tabs, either on its outer face, or its inner face, or both. The quick release wheel has a hollow axle hub and an interior mounted skewer, wherein said skewer has a quick release cam or other fastening device on one end and a nut on the other end and is spring loaded toward the quick release end such that the nut is always urged against and into the adjacent dropout recessed surface to prevent its rotation and exit from the recess. On the quick release end of the skewer, a safety device of some form is also urged by spring into a recess. In this way, neither end is able to exit the dropout unless the quick release end is pushed inward axially allowing the nut to exit its recess area. In some cases, the safety device located on the quick release end of the skewer must be operated separately from the nut, and in some cases, the safety device can be operated in the same motion as the device to allow the wheel to be removed from the dropouts.

FIGS. 1 through 8 show the first preferred embodiment where a quick release lever is unlocked and spun, then it is pushed inward while a safety pull cylinder is pulled outward allowing the wheel to be removed. Referring to FIG. 1, a fork 1 with dropouts 2 holds a standard hub 3, with a hollow axle 4 housing a skewer 5 which has mounted on one end a standard quick release 6 and a standard quick release lever 7 with a standard quick release spring 8, and an adjusting nut 9. This adjusting nut 9 is a “non-touch” nut which, unlike conventional systems, does not require the operator to touch or hold it while spinning the quick release on the opposite end.

On the quick release end of the skewer 5, a novel safety pull cylinder 10, which could take a wide variety of “pullable” round, and non-round configurations, is axially mounted and urged into a dropout recess 11 by the quick release spring 8 which also presses the adjusting nut knarled surface 12 against the opposite dropout recess 11. The combination of the pressure from quick release spring 8 and the adjusting nut knarled surface 12 holds the adjusting nut 9 from spinning relative to dropout 2 when the quick release 6 is spun in order to unscrew the adjusting nut 9 on the skewer threaded area 13. This, unlike the prior art, permits the one sided operation of the present invention. The adjusting nut retaining cap 14 ensures that the adjusting nut 9 does not unscrew off the end of skewer 5. When adjusting nut 9 is unscrewed to a point where it meets adjusting nut retaining cap 14, which freely enters a cavity in the side of adjusting nut 9, it can no longer unscrew and begins to spin with skewer 5, and adjusting nut knurled surface 12 begins to spin relative to dropout recess 11 and dropout 2 and often produces an audible grinding noise and/or a different spinning feeling in quick release 6 indicating to the user that skewer 5 has been sufficiently rotated and no further spinning of skewer 5 is necessary for wheel removal.

FIG. 2 illustrates the unlocking operation of the quick release cam 41. In many cases, this does not offer enough separation between the adjusting nut 9 and the quick release 6, and, if a wide throw quick release is not used, the subsequent rotation of the quick release 6, as shown in FIG. 3, is required in order to further spread the distance between the adjusting nut 9 and the quick release 6 in order to remove the wheel. Rotation of quick release 6 causes spreading until adjusting nut 9 encounters adjusting nut retaining cap 14 or another stopping surface of some kind.

FIG. 4 shows the next step in the wheel removal process where quick release 6 is pushed axially inward while the safety pull cylinder is squeezed against it thus causing the safety pull cylinder 10 to exit the dropout recess 11 and clear dropout restraining surface 44 while the adjusting nut 9 also exits the corresponding dropout recess 11 and also clears dropout restraining surface 44. Dropout restraining surface 44 plays a critical role in preventing the wheel hub assembly from unexpected separation from the fork. Again, dropout restraining surface 44 and dropout raised surface 43 could be on a “tab” rather than the recess side as shown. FIG. 5 is the last of the sequence and shows the skewer 5 having exited through dropout opening 15 and the safety pull cylinder 10 and the adjusting nut 9 having bypassed the dropout raised surface 43. The embodiment can be used with variety of different dropout configurations. FIG. 6 shows a conventional dropout 2, which can be used where dropout restraining surface 44 is positioned at the lower area of dropout recess 11.

FIG. 7 shows a novel dropout wherein dropout ramps 16 are added on the lower sides of the dropout 2 and where the tip of the dropout is set in a position which optimizes the ease of insertion of the wheel hub into the dropout while being “blunt” enough to avoid being dangerous and avoid poking through a shipping carton. The dropout ramp 16 on the hub/wheel side of the dropout serves to facilitate the centering of the hub as it enters the dropouts. The dropout ramp 16 on the outside non-hub/wheel side of the dropout serves to spread the safety pull cylinder 10 and the adjusting nut 9 apart. The slight angle of the dropout opening 15 also serves to facilitate the centering of the hub as it enters the dropouts as does a taper between opening 15 and dropout ramp 16.

When re-installing the wheel, the process is done in reverse. However, if a ramp 16 is used, FIG. 5 would not require a hand to squeeze quick release 6 against safety pull cylinder 10 as the ramps perform this function. When the wheel is being re-installed on the fork 1, this dropout ramp 16 automatically forces the adjusting nut 9, and the safety pull cylinder 10 to separate, compressing quick release spring 8, and then moving up and over the dropout raised surface 43 and subsequently being pulled into the dropout recess 11 by quick release spring 8. At this point, even though the quick release 6 and adjusting nut 9 have not been manually operated in any way, the wheel cannot be removed from the fork. On conventional bicycles, when the wheel is re-inserted into the dropouts and would appear to be safe to ride, there is nothing to stop it from again inadvertently separating from the fork. This is the safe condition that the present invention offers over conventional technology. A conventional adjusting nut may be used in conjunction with this invention. However, adjusting nut 9, when used with adjusting nut retaining cap 14 is novel in that it does not allow adjusting nut 9 to inadvertently be unscrewed off the end of skewer 5, a common problem on conventional bicycles.

FIG. 8 shows adjusting nut 9 modified to include a rotation limit control cap 48 which, when the skewer 5 as shown in FIG. 3 is rotated in a tightening manner to the position shown in FIG. 2, it is blocked from being further tightened by the rotation limit control cap stopping surface 50, which encounters adjusting nut retaining cap 14. In this configuration, the quick release 6 is set for perfect tightening of the quick release cam 41 using the quick release lever 7 as shown in going from FIG. 2 to FIG. 1. Rotation limit control cap 48 is adjusted relative to adjusting nut 9 by using rotation limit control cap threading 49, which can be on the outside or inside of adjusting nut 9, to achieve the precise setting. When adjusting nut retaining cap 14 encounters rotation limit control cap stopping surface 50, adjusting nut 9 begins to spin with skewer 5, and surface adjusting nut knarled surface 12 begins to spin relative to dropout recess 11 and dropout 2 and often produces an audible grinding noise as well as a different spinning feeling in the quick release 6 indicating to the user that skewer 5 has been sufficiently rotated and the quick release lever 7 is ready for closing. This novel rotation control system operates without the user touching the adjusting nut 9 and offers pre-set limits on it range of movement providing perfect quick release function for locking the wheel on one end, and perfect outboard setting for clearing dropout raised surface 43 when removing the wheel on the other end. In this way, it is a “smart-no touch” nut which guides the limits of spinning of skewer 5 when both removing the wheel, as well as when re-installing the wheel for proper quick release cam function.

FIG. 9 through FIG. 15 illustrate a second preferred embodiment which functions the same as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 8, except is equipped with a centering mechanism for easier wheel removal. This variation uses a two part safety device instead of the safety pull cylinder 10 shown in FIGS. 1 through 8. FIGS. 9 through 13 illustrate the sequence of removal of the wheel with this embodiment where the safety system allows the inner centering cylinder 18 to always be in contact with dropout 2 while the quick release head 6 is released, rotated, and pushed in thereby centering the mechanism for easier removal. The outer safety pull cylinder 17 must be squeezed simultaneously and opposite to the pushing of quick release head 6 in order for wheel removal. Inner centering cylinder 18 then slides along dropout recess 11 and into dropout recess slide 21 escaping from the wheel dropouts 2 as shown in FIG. 13. Outer safety pull cylinder 17 is too large to fit through dropout recess slide 21 while inner centering cylinder 18 is not. The safety cylinder inner spring 19, held by centering cylinder assembly ring 20, is used to ensure that outer safety pull cylinder 17 remains locked inward and against dropout restraining surface 44.

When re-installing the wheel, the operation is done in reverse, however, the squeezing shown in FIG. 13 is not required.

The sequence shown in FIGS. 16 through 19 illustrates a modification of the second preferred embodiment of FIGS. 9 through 15, however, a non-rotatable adjusting nut 46, combined with adjusting nut set screw 30, and a wide throw quick release integral cam arm 22 avoids the need for the spinning of the quick release and skewer as shown in FIG. 11. Surface 23, which rides on quick release cradle 24, varies in distance from the cam center enough such that when quick release integral cam arm 22 goes from FIG. 16 to FIG. 17, it allows non-rotatable adjusting nut 46 to clear dropout restraining surface 44 when skewer 5 is pushed inward axially, as shown in FIG. 18. As in previous figures, outer safety pull 17 must also be squeezed in order to allow for wheel removal as shown in FIG. 19. A standard bicycle nut could be used on this embodiment to replace non-rotatable adjusting nut 46.

When re-installing the wheel, the operation id done in reverse, however, the squeezing shown in FIG. 19 is not required.

FIGS. 20 through 27 illustrate a third preferred embodiment which is variation of FIG. 9 where the safety mechanism is operated in the same manner, but functions slightly differently. The slotted outer centering cylinder 25 transfers the quick release 6 pressure onto the dropout raised surface 43, and the inner safety pull cylinder 26 resides in the dropout recess 11, but has two pull areas, or finger holds, extending outside the slotted outer centering cylinder 25 which must be squeezed outward simultaneously to depressing of quick release head 6 for wheel removal. Once again, safety cylinder inner spring 19 ensures that inner safety pull cylinder 26 is always being pushed into dropout recess 11 and quick release spring 8 ensures that adjusting nut 9 is always being pulled into the opposite dropout recess 11 as well. The advantage of this variation over the variation shown in FIG. 9 is that it can use a standard dropout as shown in FIG. 27. When re-installing the wheel, the process is done in reverse.

All systems shown in FIGS. 1 through 27 require that the user, at a minimum, pushes and squeezes the quick release and safety device together. In some cases, it may be desirable to simply push the quick release with no squeezing action required. FIGS. 28 through 46 show systems where the squeezing action is not required.

FIGS. 28 through 34 illustrate a fourth preferred embodiment in a system where inner centering cylinder with ring gear 27 is equipped with ring gear 28, and is mounted on ring gear axle 29. As the quick release integral cam arm is opened and pushed, skewer gear teeth 31, force ring gears 28 to rotate, which contacts outer safety cylinder ladder gear 40, attached to outer safety pull cylinder 17, forcing it out of dropout recess 11. In this way, the single action of pushing the quick release integral cam arm 22 and skewer 5 inward causes both the outer safety pull cylinder 17 and non-rotatable adjusting nut 46 to exit dropout recess 11 and allow the wheel to be removed. When re-installing the wheel, the operation is done in reverse, however the pushing arrow shown in FIG. 31 is not needed.

FIGS. 35 through 40 illustrate a fifth preferred embodiment which uses the same principle of pushing the quick release inward in order to release both sides of the wheel for wheel removal. However, the mechanism of FIGS. 35 through 40 has several unique concepts. The dropout 2 is equipped with dropout inner recess 36 on its inner surface as well as dropout recess 11 on its outer surface. Axle 4 does not extend into the dropout 2 on the quick release side due to a hub safety disc recess 33 which houses a safety disc 34, and a safety disc spring 35. Therefore the load bearing skewer 32 must take the vehicle load when quick release adjustable cam arm 38 is not locked. The quick release adjustable cam arm 38 rotates like previous embodiments, however, when rotated, it does not rotate load bearing skewer 32, but instead causes the adjustable cam 45 to thread up and down skewer adjustable cam threaded area 37 and is restrained from coming off the end by adjustable cam retaining nut 39. Quick release spread disc 42, which could be combined with quick release cradle 24, allows the two to avoid falling into dropout recess 11 which is sized for wheel reversibility. Safety disc 34 and non-rotatable adjusting nut 46 always remain a set distance apart, and when load bearing skewer 32 is pushed, move in unison to both exit their respective recess areas. Safety disc spring 35 and quick release spring 8 ensure that safety disc 34 and non-rotatable adjusting nut 46 remain in recess slots for safety at all times.

FIGS. 41 through 46 illustrate a sixth preferred embodiment which uses the same principle of pushing the quick release inward in order to release both sides of the wheel for wheel removal. However, unlike all previous preferred embodiments, here the two dropouts 2 are not mirror images of one another and the wheel sides are not reversible. The quick release side dropout 2 has a split dropout safety disc opening 47 which allows safety disc 34, when skewer 5 and adjustable cam 45 are pushed axially inward, to exit dropout inner recess 36 and enter split dropout safety disc opening 47 and clear the dropout for wheel removal. Safety disc 34 and non-rotatable adjusting nut 46 always remain a fixed distance apart. Quick release adjustable cam arm 38 and adjustable cam 45 again, when rotated, do not cause the rotation of skewer 5, but rather thread up and down skewer adjustable cm threaded area 37. The advantage of this embodiment over FIG. 35, is that it uses a standard hub 3, and standard axle 4 diameter.

All the above variations are interchangeable. Each can be used with a wide throw quick release integral cam arm 22 which can avoid the need for further rotation or spinning after operation of the cam. This allows for the use of a non-rotatable adjusting nut 46 or a conventional bicycle nut. Likewise, all variations can use a small throw quick release 6 which requires further rotation or spinning in order to spread the distance between the quick release and the nut for wheel removal. With the exception of FIGS. 35 through 46, all variations can use the adjusting nut with a rotation limit control cap as shown in FIG. 8 for fast adjustment of quick release arm operation.

While the present invention has been described by reference to the preferred embodiments using specific words and drawings, it is understood that these descriptions are intended as examples of the present invention, and do not in any way restrict the content of the invention.

Claims

1-2. (canceled)

3. A quick release wheel fastening system for use with slotted wheel mounts that are connected to a vehicle, comprising: a hub axle mountable on the wheel mounts, a wheel skewer mounted concentrically inside said hub axle, a locking member on one end of the wheel skewer for applying axial pressure on one end of said wheel skewer, a retaining member on the other end of the wheel skewer, and at least one spring to bias said wheel skewer to move axially relative to the wheel hub toward the locking member.

4. A quick release system of claim 3, further comprising a front fork, and wherein said slotted wheel mounts are a portion of said front fork.

5. A quick release system of claim 4, further comprising a bicycle frame, said frame having a member to mount said front fork.

6. A quick release system of claim 3, further comprising a bicycle frame, and wherein said slotted wheel mounts are a portion of said frame to mount a rear wheel.

7. A quick release system of claim 3, further comprising a wheel, said wheel having an axial hub opening to accommodate said hub axle.

8. A quick release system of claim 3, further comprising a retention mechanism mounted on said wheel skewer adjacent to said locking member and axially movable to allow disengagement of the hub axle from the adjacent wheel mount.

9. A quick release system of claim 8, wherein said retention mechanism comprises a generally cylindrical member engaging said at least one spring to be biased in a direction toward said wheel mounts to engage said wheel mounts and hold said hub axle in position in said wheel mounts.

10. A quick release system of claim 9, wherein said generally cylindrical member has a tactile engagement area to urge said retention mechanism in a direction toward said locking member for disengaging said wheel hub from said wheel mounts.

11. A quick release system of claim 3, wherein said retaining member comprises an adjustable nut threaded on said wheel skewer.

12. A quick release system of claim 11, further comprising a means to prevent said adjustable nut from removal from said wheel skewer.

13. A quick release system of claim 3, further comprising a restraining surface in at least one of said wheel mounts to engage said retaining member and hold said hub axle in said wheel mounts.

14. A quick release system of claim 13, further comprising a retention mechanism mounted on said wheel skewer adjacent to said locking member and axially movable to allow disengagement of the hub axle from the wheel mounts without contacting said retaining member and a second restraining surface in the other end of said wheel mounts to engage said retention mechanism and hold said hub axle in said wheel mounts.

15. A quick release system of claim 13, further comprising a taper at the end of at least one wheel mount to facilitate mounting of said hub axle.

16. A front fork for a quick release wheel fastening system comprising:

A steering fork having slotted wheel mounts connected to the vehicle wherein, said slotted wheel mounts have ramps on both the outer surfaces as well as the slotted surfaces.

17. A front fork of claim 16, wherein at an intersection of said outer surface ramp and said slot, the wheel mount is radiused to facilitate the lifting up and over a locking member or a retention mechanism.

18. A front fork of claim 16, wherein said fork has ramps on both inside and outside surfaces thereof.

19. A quick release system of claim 18, wherein said locking member comprises a primary locking device for wheel retention on a bicycle, and said retention mechanism and said retaining member constitute a part of a secondary retention system.

20. A quick release system of claim 19, wherein, in order to remove said wheel hub from said slotted wheel mounts, said primary locking device is configured such that it must be disengaged, and said secondary retention system is configured such that it must be held disengaged during the initial movement of removal of said wheel hub.

21. A quick release system of claim 20, wherein said disengagement of the primary locking device and the secondary retention system can be executed by manual operations on only one end of said wheel skewer.

22. A quick release system of claim 19, wherein said secondary retention system is configured for automatic engagement when said hub axle is mounted on said wheel mounts.

23. A quick release system of claim 19, wherein said secondary retention system must be manually operated in order to allow said hub axle to be mounted on said wheel mounts whereby said secondary retention system is then engaged.

24. A quick release system of claim 12, wherein said adjustable nut has a cavity which allows it to at least partially cover said means to prevent said adjustable nut from removal from said wheel skewer.

25. A quick release system of claim 11, wherein said adjustable nut further comprises means to inhibit spin relative to said wheel mount when said skewer is spun.

26. A quick release system of claim 25, wherein when said adjustable nut comprises means to generate an audible or tactile signal to an operator that the skewer has been rotated sufficiently for wheel removal when it begins to spin with the skewer.

27. A quick release system of claim 25, wherein when said adjustable nut comprises means to generate an audible or tactile signal to an operator that the skewer has been rotated sufficiently for correct locking of the locking member when it begins to spin with the skewer.

28. A quick release system of claim 3, wherein said locking member is comprises of a quick release cam.

29. A quick release system of claim 28, wherein said quick release is configured such that the operation of the cam of said quick release, with no further rotation of said skewer, is sufficient for wheel removal.

30. A quick release system of claim 28, wherein said quick release cam further comprises thread means so that said cam can be threaded up and down said skewer thereby requiring no adjustability of said retaining member.

31. A quick release system of claim 3, further comprising a disc fixedly mounted to said skewer at a set distance from the nut wherein said disc moves with the skewer and cannot exit from a cavity in the inside of the fork wheel mounts until the locking member end is pressed inward.

32. A quick release system of claim 31, further comprising a fork having recesses in both its outer and inner wheel mount surfaces.

33. A quick release system of claim 32, further comprising a bicycle frame having means to rotatably mount said fork.

34. A quick release system of claim 8, wherein, the action of pushing said locking member and skewer inward causes both said retaining member and said retention mechanism to allow the disengagement of the hub axle from the adjacent wheel mount.

35. A quick release system of claim 3, wherein said wheel hub further comprises a hollow for housing a retention device during wheel removal.

36. A quick release system of claim 3, wherein at least one of said wheel mounts comprises a interior cavity which allows movement of a retention device during wheel removal.

37. A quick release system of claim 9, wherein said retention mechanism comprises multiple parts, one of which facilitates the centering of the skewer during wheel removal.

38. A quick release system of claim 37, wherein said wheel mounts are equipped with a recess allowing the passage of one part of said retention mechanism during wheel removal but does not allow for the passage of another part of said retention mechanism during wheel removal.