Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a composite bicycle front sprocket are disclosed herein. One embodiment discloses a composite bicycle front sprocket assembly having an outer assembly of a first material. The bicycle front sprocket assembly also has a center assembly of a second material. The center assembly is disposed at least partially within the outer assembly. The center assembly is irremovably coupled with the outer assembly. The center assembly is irremovably coupled with the outer assembly without an external fastening device to irremovably couple the center assembly with the outer assembly.

Abstract: The disclosure provides apparatus and methods of use and manufacture pertaining to a quick release hub-and-wheel assembly. In one embodiment, the hub-and-wheel assembly includes interior and exterior sleeves disposed about a rotatable locking ring that is biased to a latched position. The assembly also includes a quick release wheel having a latch that is configured to temporarily displace a latch-engagement mechanism on the locking ring from the latched position to an unlatched position such that the latch is captured by the latch-engagement mechanism when the latch-engagement mechanism returns to the biased, latched position. The locking ring also includes a manual latch-release mechanism configured to again temporarily displace the latch-engagement mechanism such that the wheel latch is released, allowing the wheel to be removed. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket member and an attachment member. The sprocket member comprises a first annular portion, sprocket teeth and a first engaging portion. The first engaging portion is provided on an inner peripheral part of the first annular portion. The attachment member is configured to be bonded to the sprocket member and comprises a second annular portion and a second engaging portion. The second annular portion is provided radially inwardly of the first annular portion. The second engaging portion is configured to engage with the first engaging portion. One of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion includes a protrusion. The other of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion includes a groove extending in the circumferential direction. The protrusion is configured to be fitted in the groove.

Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a rigid wheel and an airless flexible tire with certain performance characteristics of a pneumatic tire. The rigid wheel includes a central portion and a plurality of circumferentially spaced mounting elements removably attached to a radially outer margin of the central portion. The tire is mounted on the wheel and engages the mounting elements such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements are separated radially from the wheel by a space. The tire is configured such that portions of the tire not engaging the mounting elements flex inwardly toward the wheel when subject to ground engaging pressure, thereby minimizing ground penetration and soil disruption. The tire may include one or more tension elements embedded in the tire to increase the tire's strength and resilience.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to self-assembled compositions forming one dimensional structures that include one or more guest species and method for making such materials. The self-assembling molecules form a self-assembled gel structure that is birefringent and made up from one dimensional structures like nanoribbons with the guest species dispersed throughout the gel. The guest species include nanocrystals, molecules, or other nanometer sized compounds. A ribbon polymer-inorganic nanocrystal hybrid, and a method of creating a ribbon polymer-inorganic crystal hybrid as well as a method of ordering the same to form an ultraviolet lasing media is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides for the retreading of tires in which the tire casing is stressed by fluid pressure inside the casing so that the casing is in a stressed condition when a new tread is applied thereto. The tire casing is stressed by positioning it on a rim and providing fluid pressure in the cavity between the rim and the casing with or without employing an expandible tube in the cavity.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire and wheel assembly may be disassembled, so that the tire may be removed after deflation, simply by rotating a cylindrical removable outer rim so as to disengage a respective locking lug on the wheel from a corresponding recess on the removable outer rim. There are eight locking lugs spaced 45 degrees apart on the fixed rim of the wheel and corresponding recesses in the removable outer rims so that without removing the fixed wheel rim from the hub of the automobile it is possible simply by rotating and pulling to remove the removable outer rim after first deflating the tire and then it is possible to remove and replace the tire without the use of bead breaking or bead stretching equipment by inflating the tire back to normal pressure thereby locking the removable rim in place.