Hub And Spoke Connection Patents (Class 301/59)
  • Patent number: 7658450
    Abstract: A wheel including a peripheral rim, a central hub, and spokes connecting extending and tensioned between the rim and the hub, as well as a method for manufacturing such a wheel. The method includes distributing the spokes in two groups, a first group of spokes lacking a tensioning device, and a second group of spokes having a tensioning device; assembling the spokes to the rim and to the hub, and then adjusting the tension of the spokes with tensioning devices of the second group of spokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.S.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Fabrice Augris
  • Patent number: 7651172
    Abstract: A hub body of a spoked bicycle wheel comprises spoke attachment holes made in the hub body in a direction substantially parallel to a rotation axis of the hub body. Said holes comprise a first set of holes at a first radial distance from the rotation axis and a second set of holes at a second radial distance from the rotation axis, greater than the first radial distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Mario Meggiolan
  • Patent number: 7635170
    Abstract: A spoked wheel comprises a rim, a hub, V-shaped spokes, nipples, and eyelets. There is true pairing of the spokes, because the rim has half the number of spoke attachments as there are nipples. True paired spoking means that there are no side wobble forces or rim twist caused by spoke tension. The rim has spoke attachment holes that are parallel to the axis of wheel rotation and are reinforced with eyelets. The rim has unnecessary material cut away between the spoke attachment holes. To ease adjustment, the nipples are located about midway between the hub and the rim. The hub has longitudinal ribs and that are aligned with each other. That allows the hub body to be machined from a relatively lightweight extrusion. To increase the wheel strength, the inboard spokes are moved outboard as much as possible. The hub has pairs of nipple attachment holes where each pair is located on a diagonal relative to the axis of the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Crank Brothers, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Hermansen, Carl Winefordner
  • Patent number: 7631945
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel having a number of larger than normal spokes constructed to support a rim about a hub. The hub includes a number of recesses that are constructed to receive an end of each spoke. The spoke and hub are constructed such that translation of the spoke in an axial direction relative to the hub engages an end of each spoke with a respective recess. Each spoke can be rotated about an axis of the spoke when the spoke is positioned in a respective recess such that the rim is generally concentrically supported about the hub by a limited number of spokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Trek Bicycle Corporation
    Inventor: Brad J. Addink
  • Patent number: 7631944
    Abstract: A hub body for a bicycle wheel has a substantially tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis with a pair of opposite end portions, at least one of which has an annular front surface on which a plurality of housing seats for an end portion of respective spokes are formed. Advantageously, at least some of these seats comprise retention elements adapted to prevent said spokes from moving along a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis in all operating conditions. The spoke is thus prevented from moving away from the hub in the case of untightening or breaking of a spoke during a race, which would compromise the correct operation of the wheel and/or constitute a danger to the cyclists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Mario Meggiolan
  • Patent number: 7631947
    Abstract: A wheel including a rim, a hub, and at least one device for connecting the rim to the hub, the connecting device including a composite spoke and a first mechanism to connect the spoke to the rim or the hub, the spoke including an elongated body, which extends in a longitudinal direction, between a first end and a second end, the body and the ends including fibers, the fibers being arranged to form a first loop at the first end. The first connecting mechanism includes a first insert housed in the first loop, a first shank affixed to the first insert, the first shank being oriented along the longitudinal direction, a first screw or fastening portion being defined on the first shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.S.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Philippe Renard
  • Patent number: 7621601
    Abstract: A bicycle hub comprises a central tube having an axial receiving groove for installing an axial shaft of a wheel; a first peripheral disk formed at one end of the central tube; a second peripheral disk formed at another end of the central tube; the second peripheral disk being formed with a plurality of axial insertion holes for receiving radiation spokes; a peripheral of the second peripheral disk being formed with a plurality of ribs; each rib having a penetrating axial installing hole; and each rib of the first peripheral disk having a positioning groove; two ends of the positioning groove being opened at two lateral sides of the rib so as to form the openings; the positioning groove being approximately transversal to an axial direction of the installing hole and a lower side of the installing hole is opened to the positioning groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Tien Hsin Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas Chiang
  • Patent number: 7562940
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel and hub can be configured to provide enhanced stiffness, reduced aerodynamic drag, and reduced weight. For enhanced lateral stiffness, the bicycle wheel comprises a hub having a central body bounded by a first hub flange and a second hub flange. Each of the hub flanges includes a plurality of extensions protruding radially outward from the central body towards a wheel rim. The extensions extend at least one-fifth of the distance from the central body to the rim. A pair of spokes spans between each hub flange extension to the rim. The hub of drive side of a driven wheel may further include a reinforcing member such as a reinforcing ring to accommodate forces and loads imparted by a bicycle drive mechanism. For reduced drag while retaining sufficient lateral stiffness, the central body of the hub may be narrowed and the hub flanges correspondingly repositioned laterally inward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris D'Aluisio
  • Publication number: 20090127922
    Abstract: A bicycle hub comprises a central tube having an axial receiving groove for installing an axial shaft of a wheel; a first peripheral disk formed at one end of the central tube; a second peripheral disk formed at another end of the central tube; the second peripheral disk being formed with a plurality of axial insertion holes for receiving radiation spokes; a peripheral of the second peripheral disk being formed with a plurality of ribs; each rib having a penetrating axial installing hole; and each rib of the first peripheral disk having a positioning groove; two ends of the positioning groove being opened at two lateral sides of the rib so as to form the openings; the positioning groove being approximately transversal to an axial direction of the installing hole and a lower side of the installing hole is opened to the positioning groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Douglas CHIANG
  • Patent number: 7484812
    Abstract: A spoked bicycle wheel hub is provided. The hub has a central tubular portion and a pair of side caps, whose diameter is larger than the central tubular portion. The hub is a monolithic fiber-reinforced plastic structure where the central tubular portion and the side caps form a continuous surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Compagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Mario Meggiolan
  • Patent number: 7481499
    Abstract: Wheel hub having a central tubular portion and a pair of side caps, whose diameter is larger than the said central portion is provided. The hub comprises a monolith body made of fiber-reinforced plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Mario Meggiolan
  • Patent number: 7481497
    Abstract: A hub for cycle wheel including a shaft, a hub body rotatably mounted around the shaft. The hub body has, at least at one of its ends, merlons that are provided for fastening the spokes. Each of the merlons has a radial housing that opens out at its top, as well as two slots, each of the slots extending through the wall thickness between the radial housing and a distinct frontal surface of the merlon. The invention also relates to a cycle wheel having such a hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Salomon S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Pascal Baron
  • Patent number: 7478885
    Abstract: A cap member of an internally geared hub includes a cap body and a first seal member. The cap body has a side wall part and an outer cylindrical part provided with an internally threaded section that meshes with external threads of a cylindrical member of a hub shell. The side wall part has an opening in the center thereof configured such that a driver inside the hub shell extends there-through. The side wall part is configured to extend radially inward from a first axial end section of the outer cylindrical part. A first seal member is arranged on the side wall part of the cap body and configured to contact the driver thereby creating a seal around the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Urabe
  • Publication number: 20080309152
    Abstract: A wheel including a rim, a hub, and at least one device for coupling the rim to the hub, the coupling device including a spoke associated with a first head, the hub defining a first groove for receiving a portion of the spoke in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the wheel, and, along a tangential direction with respect to the hub, the hub further defines an abutment along the tangential direction for supporting the head. The hub includes an arrangement for retaining the head along a radial direction, when the spoke is oriented tangentially with respect to the hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: SALOMON S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc VEUX, Antoine FELICIANO
  • Publication number: 20080284237
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel rim assembly includes a rim and a hub is located at a center of the rim. A plurality of spokes are connected between the hub and the rim. Each spoke is a flat board and includes a first end which is engaged with one of the notches defined in the hub and a plurality threaded sections extend from a second end of each spoke, the threaded sections are fixed to the rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Rick Tsai
  • Patent number: 7431405
    Abstract: A hub cover is configured to be mounted to a wheel regardless of the spoke configuration of the wheel. The bicycle hub cover is capable of being attached to a bicycle hub that has a hub shell. The hub shell has a hub flange and a cap member. The hub cover comprises a cylindrical part, a retaining part, and a connecting part. The cylindrical part is capable of being attached to the cap member, which is mounted to the hub shell on the axially outward side of the hub flange. The retaining part is configured to latch onto the hub flange. The connecting part is configured to extend radially outward from the cylindrical part and connect the cylindrical part and the retaining part together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Urabe
  • Patent number: 7425041
    Abstract: A spoked bicycle wheel is presented where the masses of a set of spoke connections for connection of a hub and a rim as a whole are imbalanced with respect to the rotational axis. In such a way the dynamic imbalance of the wheel due to localized mass increases at the valve and at a possible joint is reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Campagnolo, S.r.l.
    Inventors: Maurizio Passarotto, Davide Urbani
  • Publication number: 20080191544
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel, comprising an outer rim, a central hub with a central axle and an outer flange, a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, a bracing element connected to at least one of the spokes, and a clamping element connected to the bracing element. The spokes have a first portion connected to the rim and a second portion opposed to the first portion and connected to the hub and a span portion between the rim and hub. The spoke has a tensile axis of applied tensile load along the span portion, a sidewall surface, and a longitudinal axis along its length. The bracing element includes at least a portion of at least one of said rim and hub. The spoke is anchored to the clamping element in a clamped connection where the clamping element is clamped to at least one of the spokes by a clamping force, including a clamped interface between the spoke and the clamping element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Raphael Schlanger
  • Patent number: 7393063
    Abstract: A spoked wheel for a bicycle is described, having a hub, a rim, and a plurality of spokes, which connect the hub to the rim. The spokes are arranged in groups set at an angular distance from one another. At least two spokes of each group (R), viewed in the direction of the axis of the wheel, cross over one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
    Inventors: Maurizio Passarotto, Mario Meggiolan
  • Publication number: 20080143171
    Abstract: The invention concerns a vehicle wheel, in particular for passenger vehicles and motorcycles, comprising a rim for receiving a tire and a spoke unit or a wheel disc connecting the rim to the hub. The rim is made of plastic material and the spoke unit or the wheel disc of metal. The rim is connected to the spoke unit or wheel disc by form-closure and/or by force-closure of the material. The invention aims at enabling the wheel disc to be accurately positioned relative to the rim base and at providing a wheel with an attractive design. Therefore, the spoke unit, or the wheel disc are connected via at least one connecting element guided through the rim base and the connecting element is housed in the spoke unit or the wheel disc so as to be completely covered by a tire or by the spoke unit or the wheel disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Mike Wilson
  • Patent number: 7374251
    Abstract: A bicycle hub has an axle and a hub shell rotatably disposed about the axle with a plurality of spoke fixing parts disposed at opposite ends of the hub shell. Each of the spoke fixing parts has a through hole having a small width section extending from a first side of a corresponding one of the spoke fixing parts and a large width section extending from a second side of the corresponding one of the spoke fixing parts such that an internal abutment is formed between the small and large width sections. The securing elements are removably disposed in the large width sections of the spoke fixing parts of the hub shell with each of the securing elements having a threaded bore that is aligned with and substantially equal to the small width sections of the spoke fixing parts of the hub shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Kazuki Koshiyama, Tsutomu Muraoka
  • Patent number: 7360847
    Abstract: A bicycle hub includes an axle, a hub shell and a plurality of fixing elements. The hub shell is rotatably disposed about the axle. The hub shell has a plurality of fixing portions disposed at an end thereof. Each of the fixing portions has a pair of spoke guide openings. The spoke guide openings are preferably unthreaded closed bores. The fixing elements are removably coupled to the fixing portions of the hub shell. Each of the fixing elements includes a pair of spoke attachment structures to receive inner ends of a pair of spokes. Preferably, the spoke attachment structures include threaded spoke attachment openings. Preferably, the fixing portions and the fixing elements are configured and arranged such that each of the fixing elements contacts an exterior surface of the hub shell when assembled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Shinpei Okajima, Kazuki Koshiyama
  • Patent number: 7357459
    Abstract: The vehicle wheel includes an outer rim hoop for holding a tire, a plurality of spoke portions, and a central hub assembly. The central hub assembly includes an axle assembly and a hub shell that is rotatable about the axle. The hub shell includes at least two axially spaced outer flanges for attachment with the spokes. The spokes are connected at their outer ends to the rim hoop and at their inner ends to their respective outer flange. Firm attachment between the spoke and the outer flange is achieved by engaging of a portion of the spoke with a cavity formed within at least one of the rim and the outer flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Inventor: Raphael Schlanger
  • Patent number: 7354114
    Abstract: A spoke for a bicycle wheel has an elongated metallic material body that extends along a longitudinal axis X-X and has a first end portion for the attachment to a hub of a bicycle wheel, a second end portion for the attachment to a rim of a bicycle wheel and an intermediate portion having a portion which is flattened in a transversal direction Z perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X-X and extending along the longitudinal axis X-X up to the first end portion. The first end portion of the spoke is also flattened in the transversal direction Z and is gradually joined to the flattened portion of the intermediate portion along the longitudinal axis X-X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Campagnolo, S.r.l.
    Inventors: Maurizio Passarotto, Mario Meggiolan
  • Publication number: 20080007110
    Abstract: The rim spoke positioning pocket is a single metal plate placed in a cylindrical shape. One embodiment is coiled, and another embodiment is an expanded cylinder. A through hole is placed in the center of the positioning pocket, and the bottom has claws that are circular in shape and expandable outward. The inside surface corresponds to the claw shape to received a spoke tip connector, and the top of the positioning pocket is a straight opening. One side of the positioning pocket forms a connecting part by a coiled metal plate. The rim spoke positioning pocket for a bicycle or motorcycle can be made with simple steps and a low cost, which is better for mass production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventor: Tseng-Ping Tien
  • Publication number: 20070284934
    Abstract: A hub is provided to prevent straight spokes from pressing against each other. The hub includes spoke-mounting seats each having two first sides opposite to each other along an axis of the hub, two opposite second sides interconnecting the first sides, a first slot extending inwardly and axially from one of the first sides, a second slot extending inwardly and circumferentially from one of the second sides and meeting the first slot, a third slot extending inwardly and axially from the other first side, a fourth slot extending inwardly and circumferentially from the other second side and meeting the second slot, and a partition separating the first and second slots from the third and fourth slots. The second and fourth slots are staggered circumferentially and are inclined with a plane perpendicular to an axis of the hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventor: Hubert Chen
  • Patent number: 7306292
    Abstract: A bicycle hub has an axle and a hub shell rotatably disposed about the axle with a plurality of fixing portions disposed at opposite ends of the hub shell. Each of the fixing elements has a pair of spoke attachment structures to attach a pair of inner ends of a pair of spokes to the hub shell. The fixing elements are removably coupled to the fixing portions of the hub shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Muraoka, Kazuki Koshiyama
  • Patent number: 7237849
    Abstract: A wheel for a two-wheeled motor vehicle and including a hub, a rim, a spokes coupling the hub and the rim. The hub has a lightening portion formed inside a sprocket flange such that there remains sufficient flange strength and sufficient weight reduction is realized. The lightening portion is axially inside a bearing insertion hole, opens radially inwardly and has a maximum diameter longer than diameters of the bearing insertion hole and an axle hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Uchiyama, Kazuhiko Gogo, Masaki Agata
  • Patent number: 7192097
    Abstract: An improved wheel construction with a peripheral wheel rim, a central hub with a hub flange and a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, wherein the spokes have a first peripheral portion connected to the rim and a second portion opposed to the first portion. At least one of the spokes is a duplex spoke, including two structural spans extending between the rim and hub with a common portion connected to the hub flange. The duplex spoke includes a portion to directly engage the hub flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Inventor: Raphael Schlanger
  • Patent number: 7070245
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel having spokes (4) stretched between a hub (1) and a rim (3), wherein in order to increase durability with optimizing the number of spoke crossing, a hub collar surface (6) is provided parallel with an elevation angle (5) caused by the spokes (4) between the hub collar (2) and the rim (3), hub holes (9) are provided approximately at a right angle to the elevation angle (5), spoke insert holes (12) are bored in the outer peripheral surface (14) of the hub collar, opposed peripheral restraint walls (13) are provided on the outer peripheral surface (14) of the hub collar (2), one end of each spoke (4) inserted from the spoke insert hole (12) is threadedly fastened to a hub nipple (8) fitted into the hub hole (9), and the other end is threadedly fastened to a rim nipple (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Toru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6899401
    Abstract: The vehicle wheel includes an outer rim hoop with means for holding a tire, a plurality of spoke portions, and a central hub assembly. The central hub assembly includes an axle assembly and a hub shell that is rotatable about the axle. The hub shell includes at least two axially spaced outer flanges for attachment with the spokes. The spokes are connected at their outer ends to the rim hoop and at their inner ends to their respective outer flange. Firm attachment between the spoke and the outer flange is achieved by engaging of a portion of the spoke with a cavity formed within at least one of the rim and the outer flange. Also disclosed are attachment arrangements that include an intermediate connection member to facilitate attachment between the spoke and the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventor: Raphael Schlanger
  • Patent number: 6880897
    Abstract: A hub adapter used to modify a bicycle wheel hub to provide for the mounting of a disc brake rotor and/or for the repositioning of the wheel spoke mount flange to accommodate the additional components of a disc brake system. The hub adapter may be fixed to the host non-disc wheel hub by fastening bolts passing through the original spoke mounting holes or by other fastening means. The hub adapter may provide standard mounting holes for a disc brake rotor to be fixed to the hub adapter with fastening bolts. The hub adapter provides alternate spoke mounting holes on an alternate spoke flange, positioned in such a way so as to provide adequate clearance for disc brake components such as the disc brake caliper assembly, or in such a way as to change the length of the spokes and to modify the wheel stiffness. The hub adapter effectively becomes integral to the host wheel hub and critical to the primary function of the wheel hub, that is transferring load from the frame to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: First Principles Performance Products Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Goss, Daryl D. Musselman
  • Patent number: 6848752
    Abstract: A structure is designed to fasten spokes with a bicycle wheel rim and is formed of a fastening hole disposed in an inner side of the bicycle wheel rim, a fitting body having a head, a threaded shank, and a through hole extending through the head and the threaded shank which is engaged with a nut. One end of the spoke is fastened with the bicycle wheel rim by a spoke end fastener which is received in the through hole of the fitting body, with the fitting body being fitted into the fastening hole such that the head of the fitting body is located securely in the fastening hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: Tseng-Ping Tien
  • Publication number: 20040262983
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel having spokes (4) stretched between a hub (1) and a rim (3), wherein in order to increase durability with optimizing the number of spoke crossing, a hub collar surface (6) is provided parallel with an elevation angle (5) caused by the spokes (4) between the hub collar (2) and the rim (3), hub holes (9) are provided approximately at a right angle to the elevation angle (5), spoke insert holes (12) are bored in the outer peripheral surface (14) of the hub collar, opposed peripheral restraint walls (13) are provided on the outer peripheral surface (14) of the hub collar (2), one end of each spoke (4) inserted from the spoke insert hole (12) is threadedly fastened to a hub nipple (8) fitted into the hub hole (9), and the other end is threadedly fastened to a rim nipple (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Toru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6783192
    Abstract: A wheel hub having a central tubular portion and at least one end cap which is formed integrally with the central portion and has thickness greater than the central tubular portion. The hub is a monolith fiber-reinforced plastic structure wherein the central portion and the side cap form a continuous surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Mario Meggiolan
  • Publication number: 20040130204
    Abstract: An improved wheel construction with a peripheral wheel rim, a central hub with a hub flange and a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, wherein the spokes have a first peripheral portion connected to the rim and a second portion opposed to the first portion. At least one of the spokes is a duplex spoke, including two structural spans extending between the rim and hub with a common portion connected to the hub flange. The duplex spoke includes a portion to directly engage the hub flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: Raphael Schlanger
  • Publication number: 20040070260
    Abstract: A wheel hub assembly, particularly for an aircraft, comprises two hub portions (1, 2) bolted together at intervals around their circumference by bolts (10) having a conical profile and scaled in countersunk portions (9) of the bolt holes. The included angle of the conical profile is preferably in the range 85° to 140°. This arrangement reduces the maximum principal stress in the hub during use and tends to alleivate fretting damage at the interface of the hub portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Thiam Eng Chung, Paul Anthony Fannon
  • Patent number: 6679561
    Abstract: A paired spoke bicycle wheel has optimized circumferentially offset spoke spacing which minimizes high stress imposed by overly close spacing and reduces long felt difficulties resulting from out of balance loads of unpaired spokes, the rear wheel additionally having similar spoke angles in a lateral plane while displacing brake surfaces to a centered location when allowing for clearance for a drive cogset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Trek Bicycle Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley J. Addink, Dirk J. Rettig
  • Publication number: 20030230928
    Abstract: The spoked wheel apparatus is symmetrical, is reversible, employs spokes that are threaded on both ends, and is capable of supporting a tubeless tire, without air leaking from the tire. A hub assembly for the wheel apparatus includes two sides, and each side includes a plurality of alternately crossing spokes that are connected between the hub assembly and a wheel rim portion. Each hub side includes an interchangeable and reversible drive dowel assembly capable of receiving a drive sprocket or disc brake. For a hub side, some spokes are connected between outer portions of the hub side to the wheel rim portion, and some spokes are connected between inner portions of the hub side to the wheel rim portion. Alternating pairs of inner and outer spokes come into interference contact midway between the hub assembly and the wheel rim portion, whereby strengthening and stabilizing effects are provided between the interfering spokes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: David J. Schroepfer
  • Patent number: 6652037
    Abstract: A hub and axle assembly for a bicycle includes a hub shell rotatably mounted on an axle extending along an axis. A rolling member is interposed between and cooperates with a curved surrounding race portion of a mounting sleeve member secured on the axle and a curved surrounding race member to serve as an anti-friction bearing. A tubular mount member has a tubular engaging portion to engage a left wall segment of the hub shell, and a tubular mount portion extending outwardly of the hub shell to be driven by a uni-directional driving sprocket wheel mechanism. A retaining member is disposed to prevent the mounting sleeve member from moving away from the rolling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kun Teng Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hubert Chen
  • Publication number: 20030173821
    Abstract: A bicycle hub is to be installed on a wheel axle, and includes a tubular body and an annular mounting seat provided on one end of the tubular body. The mounting seat has first and second end walls which are opposite to each other along an axis of the wheel axle, and an inner wall surface facing the axis and including a plurality of indented spoke mounting sections that are displaced angularly from one another and that are indented in radial directions. Each spoke mounting section is defined by a pair of inclined side walls and a bottom wall extending between the inclined side walls. The mounting sleeve is formed with a plurality of spoke mounting holes, each of which extends from a respective one of the inclined side walls to an outer wall surface of the mounting sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Chao-Ying Chen
  • Patent number: 6540306
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake hub is provided with a hub axle, a hub shell, a first spoke attachment portion, a second spoke attachment portion and a brake rotor attachment portion disposed adjacent the first spoke attachment portion. The first spoke attachment portion has a plurality of first spoke holes, while the second spoke attachment portion has a plurality of second spoke holes. The first spoke attachment portion is disposed at the first hub shell end, while the second spoke attachment portion is disposed at the second hub shell end. The brake rotor attachment portion has a plurality of axially extending rotor mounting holes with predetermined diameters and center axes spaced a second radial distance from the center axis of the hub axle. The first spoke attachment portion and the brake rotor attachment portion are arranged relative to each other such that spokes can easily be installed into the first spoke holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Takanori Kanehisa
  • Publication number: 20030057763
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel is disclosed. The wheel, which has a center plane, comprises: a bicycle wheel hub for supporting the wheel relative to an axle rotatably supported therein, a rim, a given number, at least three, pairs of first and second spokes, and adjustable threaded means for adjusting the tension in each of said spokes, independently of any adjustment to the tension in another spoke. The hub has first and second hub flanges axially displaced from one another, each on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Rolf Dietrich
  • Patent number: 6520595
    Abstract: Improved vehicle wheel construction with a peripheral rim, a central wheel hub and a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, wherein the spokes have a first peripheral portion connected to the rim and a second central portion opposed to the first portion. The hub includes at least two opposed outer flanges, with the central portions of the spokes secured to at least one of the outer flanges by hardened molding material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Inventor: Raphael Schlanger
  • Patent number: 6511133
    Abstract: A bicycle hub is provided with spoke openings that extend into the interior of the hub. The bicycle hub basically has a hub axle, a hub body and a seal arranged in the hub body. The hub axle has a center axis extending between a first end and a second end. The hub body has an interior passageway with the hub axle being rotatably supported therein. The hub body also has a set of first spoke openings circumferentially arranged around one end of the hub body and a set of second spoke openings circumferentially arranged around the other end of the hub body. The spoke openings of the hub body are arranged for use with tangential bicycle spokes having a straight section and a bent end with an enlarged head such that straight section extends at an angle of about 95° relative to the bent end. A first seal is arranged in the interior passageway of the hub body and adjacent the first spoke openings to isolate the first spoke openings from the hub axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Koshi Tabe
  • Publication number: 20020180254
    Abstract: A bicycle hub is provided for use with tangential bicycle spokes. The bicycle hub includes a hub axle and a hub body. The hub axle has a set of spoke openings. The spoke openings are circumferentially arranged around the hub body and extend between the external and internal surfaces. Each of the spoke openings has an enlarged insertion portion and a retaining portion. An internal head receiving seat is preferably located adjacent each of the retaining portions. An internal abutment is preferably arranged between each of the insertion portions and each of the head receiving seats. The external surface, the head receiving seats and the abutments are configured to retain the bent ends of the spokes. The external surface preferably has a flute portion extending from each of the retaining portions. The retaining portions and the flute portions are configured to retain the bent ends of the spokes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Koshi Tabe
  • Patent number: 6485108
    Abstract: A bicycle hub is provided for use with tangential bicycle spokes. The bicycle hub includes a hub axle and a hub body. The hub axle has a set of spoke openings. The spoke openings are circumferentially arranged around the hub body and extend between the external and internal surfaces. Each of the spoke openings has an enlarged insertion portion and a retaining portion. An internal head receiving seat is preferably located adjacent each of the retaining portions. An internal abutment is preferably arranged between each of the insertion portions and each of the head receiving seats. The external surface, the head receiving seats and the abutments are configured to retain the bent ends of the spokes. The external surface preferably has a flute portion extending from each of the retaining portions. The retaining portions and the flute portions are configured to retain the bent ends of the spokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Koshi Tabe
  • Publication number: 20020117889
    Abstract: A spoked wheel assembly includes a wheel hub with right and left end flanges spaced apart from each other along an axis, a wheel rim around the hub, left spokes respectively coupled to the left end flange at left spoke mounting holes and to the rim at spoke mounting points, and right spokes respectively coupled to the right end flange at right spoke mounting holes and to the rim at other ones of the spoke mounting points. The right and left spokes are arranged alternately in one of a first spoke pair disposed along substantially parallel planes and a second spoke pair disposed along intersecting planes. Thus, the rigidity of the rim in the direction of the axis can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: Victor Cheng
  • Patent number: 6431658
    Abstract: A bicycle hub is provided for use with bicycle spokes with spoke nipples threadedly coupled to their inner ends. The bicycle hub includes a hub axle and a hub body. The hub axle has a center axis extending between a first end and a second end. The hub body has a tubular center portion defining an interior passageway and a first mounting portion coupled to a first end of the center portion. The center portion defines an interior passageway with the hub axle being rotatably supported in the interior passageway. The first mounting portion has a plurality of first spoke openings extending axially to a first free edge and a plurality of first protrusions extending radially inwardly from the first mounting portion. The plurality of first protrusions are fixedly coupled to the first mounting portion. The bicycle hub also includes a second mounting portion coupled to a second end of the central portion. The second mounting portion has a plurality of second spoke openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Masao Nakajima, Takashi Ohtsuji
  • Patent number: 6428113
    Abstract: A low spoke count high spoke tension bicycle wheel having paired spokes that cross between the hub and the rim is disclosed. The wheel has a center plane and comprises a bicycle wheel hub having first and second hub flanges on first and second sides, respectively, of the wheel center plane, a rim, and nine or fewer pairs of first and second spokes each having a first end which is connected to one of said hub flanges or to said rim and a second end which is threadably received in a nipple which is seated at a spoke bore in said rim or in said hub. The wheel has excellent lateral stiffness which gives a bike on which the wheel is mounted excellent resistance to speed wobble or shimmy, in the case of a front wheel or to axle deflection, in the case of a rear wheel, and the spokes in the pair cross the wheel center plane between the hub and the rim, for added lateral strength. The first and second spokes of each pair are not connected to each other and have a combined static tension in excess of 200 pounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Rolf Dietrich