Reinforced Patents (Class 301/64.703)
  • Patent number: 11584155
    Abstract: A rim for a bicycle wheel includes a radially inner portion disposed along an inner circumference of the rim. The rim also includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall extend radially outward from the radially inner portion. The first sidewall includes a layer of a composite material. The layer of the composite material includes fabric plies of the composite material that are shaped as strips. The composite material includes a matrix of a polymer-based material and fibers of a reinforcing material. The strips include a first strip and a second strip. The second strip is adjacent to the first strip within the layer of the composite material. The second strip is nonparallel to the first strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: David Morse, Michael Hall, Ruan Trouw
  • Patent number: 11541574
    Abstract: A composite rim for a bicycle wheel that has a wall of structural fibers incorporated in a thermosetting polymeric material and a plurality of spoke attachment seats. The composite material includes at least one layer of woven bi-directional fibers where some fibers are in a nominal direction substantially parallel to the circumferential direction of the rim and some fibers are substantially orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Mauri Feltrin
  • Patent number: 11383550
    Abstract: Disclosed are a composite rim of a vehicle wheel and a method of manufacturing the same, which is reduced in weight through the use of a continuous fiber composite. The rim of a vehicle wheel may be formed by stacking composite sheets, each prepared by impregnating fibers with a resin to form a sheet. The composite sheets may be stacked in multiple layers such that end portions of the respective composite sheets may contact each other in a circumferential direction of the wheel, and discontinuous interfaces, formed at the contacting end portions of the respective composite sheets along an axial direction of the wheel, may not be aligned with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jeong Min Cho, Chi Hoon Choi, Young Chan Kim
  • Patent number: 10723172
    Abstract: A non-metallic rim for a wheel which may be used for motorised vehicles. The rim has a barrel, a first flange, a second flange, a first bead seat, a second beat seat and a primary structural component. The primary structural component extends into at least the first flange and the barrel, and the primary structural component is capable of bearing the majority of the radial and/or lateral load that is borne by the rim during usage. Additionally, the rim has at least a portion of the first bead seat spaced apart from the primary structural component and/or has a protective insert in between the outer face of the first flange and the primary structural component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Dymag Group Limited
    Inventors: Marcus Walls-Bruck, Michael John Wilson, Christopher Shelley
  • Patent number: 10583689
    Abstract: A wheel includes a rim having a rim well and rim flanges, a hub, and at least three spoke elements. Each spoke element forms at least one spoke between the hub and the rim. The spoke elements are fastened to an inside of the rim in a form-closed manner or a form-closed and bonded manner. In the hub region, the spoke elements are supported on each other in a circumferential direction at abutting surfaces designed therefor. A method for producing the wheel is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP CARBON COMPONENTS GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Werner, Christian Köhler, André Bartsch, Michael Dreßler, Sandro Mäke
  • Patent number: 10442243
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a wheel rim having a rim base of a fiber composite material. The problem to be solved by the invention is that of improving the production of the wheel rim, and especially to ensure a reliably functioning wheel structure which can be achieved with little financial and technical outlay. The problem is solved in that during the production of the rim base (2) a connection element (3, 13, 21, 31, 42, 51) is joined to the rim base (2), said connection element (3, 13, 21, 31, 42, 51) being designed and arranged in such a way that a wheel disc (4, 14, 22, 36, 45) can be connected to said connection element (3, 13, 21, 31, 42, 51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP CARBON COMPONENTS GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Werner, Christian Koehler, Sandro Maeke, Michael Dressler, Andre Bartsch
  • Patent number: 9987878
    Abstract: A reinforcing structure of a carbon fiber rim is provided. A rim body is made from a carbon fiber material. The rim body includes an external diameter edge to be assembled with a tire, an inner diameter edge to be assembled to a hub via spokes, and two side sections between the outer diameter edge and the inner diameter edge. Metal reinforcing sheets are respectively disposed on the spoke assembling positions of the inner diameter edge and wrapped by the carbon fiber material, and each reinforcing sheet has two opening edges and a middle ring section connecting the two opening edges. The middle ring section is disposed with a reinforcing part corresponding to the inner diameter edge of the rim body and two reinforcing edge parts corresponding to two side edge sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Alex Global Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wei-Chin Chen
  • Patent number: 9969209
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wheel device including bonding a hub portion with lug holes and center bore hole, a spokes portion, and a barrel portion to generally form a mandrel or an inner frame of the wheel device. The inner frame is a scaled down size of the wheel device, in which a composite skin is wrapped around the inner frame to form an uncured wheel device. The uncured wheel device is encased inside a mold apparatus to cure. A cured wheel device of this method provides a wheel device with barrel, spokes, hub, lug holes and center bore hole molded into said wheel device without the use of a machine to carve out the spokes, hub, log holes or center bore hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Joshua Quiroz
  • Patent number: 9616704
    Abstract: A one-part wheel which is made of fiber composites without interruption of fibers with excellent mechanical properties and with low weight at the same time as well as a process for the manufacture thereof. The wheel has especially a rim well as well as a wheel disk passing over into a wheel flange of the rim well, where the wheel disk is formed at least partly by fiber layers, which run from the rim well over a wheel flange and the wheel disk. The wheel is manufactured by a multipart mold with parts displaceable at least in the axial direction. The mold is completely removed after the deposition of fibers or remains as a lost core in the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP CARBON COMPONENTS GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Werner, Christian Köhler, André Bartsch, Sandro Mäke, Michael Dreβler, Martin Lepper, Werner Hufenbach
  • Patent number: 9149992
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing carbon fiber rim for bicycle comprising steps of: preparing at least one preformed mold, separating from the preformed main mold, connecting with an inner framework, and solidifying; wherein plural carbon-fiber prepreg wires are repeatedly on a preformed carbon fiber case at least twice so as to form at least two rolling layers, and each rolling layer is at varying angle. Also, a carbon fiber rim for bicycle contains: an inner framework having a profile corresponding to a carbon fiber rim; and a preformed carbon fiber case at least covering a part of the inner framework and being successive rolled by plural carbon-fiber prepreg wires relative to a set angle of an axis normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventor: Ting Yao Yu
  • Patent number: 9044998
    Abstract: A wheel rim having an axis of rotation, the rim including a first element in the form of a section of a solid of revolution about the axis, made in a single unitary piece from composite material and including a first end and a second end distinct from one another. The first element is made by pultrusion and constitutes, between the first end and the second end, a section of a solid of revolution having an angular arc greater than 350°, the composite material of the first element includes fibers embedded in a thermosetting matrix, the fibers constituting at least 50% of the weight of the first element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: MAVIC S.A.S.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Mercat, Benoît Saillet
  • Publication number: 20140346845
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a wheel (1) which comprises a rim (4) and a thereto connected spoke structure (3) made out of fiber reinforced plastic material. An insert (2) is embedded in the fiber reinforced material at the center of the spoke structure (3). The insert (2) protrudes in at least one region above the surface of the fiber reinforced plastic material (16) forming at least one contact area (10, 14, 5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Christoph Renner
  • Publication number: 20140346847
    Abstract: A wheel with a rim as well as a wheel spider, where the wheel spider has a hub and spokes. The wheel includes spokes including one or more linearly stretched textile strands as reinforcement material of a fiber composite and each linearly stretched textile strand runs at least once from the rim to the hub and back without interruption and thus forms at least one spoke. The textile strands are connected in a positive-locking manner and/or in substance with the hub and the rim. A process is provided for the manufacture of the wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Thyssenkrupp Carbon Components GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Werner, Christian Köhler, André Bartsch, Sandro Mäke, Michael Dressler, Martin Lepper, Werner Hufenbach
  • Patent number: 8840194
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention comprise a vehicle wheel made primarily of moldable plastic. The portion of the wheel which is physically connected to the rotor is made of metal. The wheel has a plurality of openings spaced to allow air circulation sufficient to provide dissipation of the heat build up which occurs during normal vehicle operation. This improved vehicle wheel securely holds the pneumatic tire and effectively supports the vehicle during operation. Other applications which would benefit by replacing metal wheels and gears with lighter, fully functional wheels and gears are also contemplated by this invention. Another embodiment comprises a method for manufacturing this vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Nicola Fiornascente
  • Patent number: 8783789
    Abstract: A one-piece composite wheel has a disc core made from a three-dimensionally reinforced honeycomb structure, with the disc core embedded by a composite material to form a disc section of the wheel. The composite material also forms the rim of the wheel, with the rim being integral with the disc section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventors: Tomer Hendel, Guy Hendel
  • Patent number: 8691133
    Abstract: A recyclable plastic composite wheel rim fabrication method includes the steps of: (a) preparing a triaxle or biaxle composite fabric, (b) coating the composite fabric with a layer of plastic material to form a composite substrate, (c) processing the composite substrate into a composite plate member by means of roller pressing, dipping, bake-drying and cutting, (d) stamping the composite plate member into a blank wheel rim by means of a hot press, (e) cooling the blank wheel rim and trimming it to remove to remove blurs and defective selvedge, and (f) polishing the surface of the blank wheel rim to obtain a finished wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventor: Windsor Chou
  • Publication number: 20130049443
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel for a motor vehicle, comprising a wheel body (3) with a rim tape (7) for receiving a tire and also a rim star (9) or a wheel disk, through-openings (13) for fastening means for fastening the wheel on a nave on the motor vehicle being formed in the rim star (9) or in the wheel disk. The wheel (1) is produced from a polymer material and at least one reinforcing element (29;33) is accommodated in the rim tape (7) for reinforcement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Heiko HEß, Jörg Schnorr, Walter Rau, Sven Wenigmann
  • Publication number: 20100141022
    Abstract: A design and method for making a one-piece composite wheel with a reinforced core is disclosed. The composite wheel incorporates a disc core embedded in the disc region and an optional rim core embedded in the rim region. The material for the core pieces may be a honeycomb structure that is reinforced in three dimensions. The disc and rim of the composite wheel are formed integrally as one piece, such as by resin infusion molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Tomer Hendel, Guy Hendel
  • Publication number: 20100141021
    Abstract: A composite wheel formed in a single piece with a three-dimensional honeycomb core and which may also include a bead seat to assist in keeping a tire in place. The device may be formed by employing a modified resin infusion process or modified resin transfer process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Tomer Hendel, Guy Hendel
  • Publication number: 20100019564
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheel (1) wound from fiber-reinforced plastic having a wheel spider (2) and a rim well (3). Here, it is essential to the invention that a plurality of rings (4) which bear against one another and are connected to one another in a common surface form the wheel spider (2), wherein the wheel spider (2) and the rim well (3) have synthetic-resin-impregnated, wound carbon fibers and are cohesively connected to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Arwed Theuer
  • Publication number: 20080197695
    Abstract: A wheel having a hub, a rim, at least two ring-shaped spokes connecting the hub and the rim, and a tire arranged around the outer periphery of the rim; wherein each of the ring-shaped spokes is formed from an elastic material, connected with the hub at the inner periphery, connected to the rim at the outer periphery, and is attached in a state of being stretched beyond dimensions when not subjected to stress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventor: Kyosuke Uemura
  • Patent number: 7377596
    Abstract: A urethane wheel that is manufactured by molding, casting, or vacuum forming methods in a mold having a wheel shaped cavity that a wheel core formed from a rigid material such as steel or aluminum has been supported in to receive a flow of a urethane material directed therearound, encapsulating the entire wheel core and forming a wheel capable of supporting a car or light truck traveling at highway speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Amerityre
    Inventors: Richard A. Steinke, Theodore M. Love, James G. Moore
  • 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: 7223458
    Abstract: A molded product includes a receiving member in a body. A coupling component such as a female screw component is embedded in the receiving member. A connecting piece is formed continuous to the body and the receiving member based on integral molding. The connecting piece extends to the receiving member from the body inside a bore formed in the body. The connecting piece may form a single flat plate in the molded product, so that a general cutting device can be utilized to cut through the connecting piece in a facilitated manner. The receiving member can be removed from the body without any difficulty. The receiving member can be separated from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Ken-ichiro Tango
  • Patent number: 7114785
    Abstract: A bicycle wheel includes a tire engaging portion located at the outward perimeter of the wheel, an inner portion located radially inward from the tire engaging portion A pair of air engaging side surfaces extend radially between the inner portion and the tire engaging portion forming the sides of the wheel. The air engaging side surfaces contain a plurality of surface features designed to create a turbulent boundary layer when the wheel travels through air to reduce aerodynamic drag on the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Compositech, INC
    Inventors: Andrew Ording, Joshua R. Poertner
  • Patent number: 7066558
    Abstract: A one-piece wheel hub of a bicycle wheel made from layered structural fiber based material, preferably carbon fiber material. The wheel hub is preferably formed by applying layers of the fiber based material to an expandable core to form a tubular body. The tubular body may be cured, during which time the core expands, by applying radial pressure to the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Mario Meggiolan
  • Patent number: 7040714
    Abstract: A composite wheel and a method of manufacture is provided for a vehicle wherein the composite wheel has a first and second section mounted to an annular mount. At least one of the first wheel section and second wheel section is composed of a resin having at least one braided polymeric fiber. The first and second sections are each formed by folding the braided fiber into a preform and then injecting resin into a mold containing the preform. The first and second sections are then bonded to each other and the annular mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Del C Schroeder, Mariana G Forrest, Joseph G Salmonowicz, John G Argeropoulos, Jason E Fulcher, Ida M Baier, Janice M Makarewicz, David G Speth
  • Patent number: 6926370
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite wheel. The wheel is composed by mats of oriented carbon fibers. The mats are impregnated with a synthetic resin. The wheel is composed of at least two portions previously built up, which form respectively the hub and the rim of the wheel. The rim portion can, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the central axis, have a section substantially symmetric relative to a central plane of symmetry, the distance measured from a side of the section facing the central axis to the central axis predominantly increasing in the direction pointing away from the mirror plane, and the hub portion having a correspondingly comically shaped outer edge, which fittingly lies against the side of the rim portion facing the central axis over a substantial distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Prins Dokkum B.V.
    Inventor: Jan Spoelstra
  • Publication number: 20050104441
    Abstract: A fiber reinforced truck wheel and practical methods of making a fiber-reinforced truck wheel. The fiber-reinforced truck wheel is produced by spiral winding a suitable fiber cloth to form a rim-charge and curing the rim-charge and a disc-charge in a mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventor: Peter Bertelson
  • Patent number: 6736463
    Abstract: The wheel includes an outer rim, made of a metal material, for supporting a tire, first and second annular elements, also metal, are each arranged within the rim with a circumferential skirt adjacent the rim and a perimretal edge connected to a corresponding outer edge of the rim, with an inner annular flange lying in a plane substantially orthogonal to the axis of the wheel and facing and fixed to a corresponding flange on the other annular element so as to form an annular assembly for fixing to a wheel hub; and stiffening means provided in the region defined between the rim and the circumferential skirts of said annular elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Gianetti Route S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Bazzoni, Lorenzo Bessone, Andrea Finzi
  • Publication number: 20040021366
    Abstract: A fiber reinforced plastic bicycle wheel rim having an aerodynamic section is formed of two mating halves, without additional structural reinforcing members, using laminations of layers of unidirectional fibers crossing one another and having semicircular layers of non-crossing fibers orientated parallel to a point of tangency, the non-crossing layers being proximate tire well apexes and the spoke bed, including, in a preferred embodiment, a lamination of machinable materials at the braking surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: James Colegrove
  • Publication number: 20030189373
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite wheel. The wheel is composed by mats of oriented carbon fibers. The mats are impregnated with a synthetic resin. The wheel is composed of at least two portions previously built up, which form respectively the hub and the rim of the wheel. The rim portion can, viewed from a direction perpendicular to the central axis, have a section substantially symmetric relative to a central plane of symmetry, the distance measured from a side of the section facing the central axis to the central axis predominantly increasing in the direction pointing away from the mirror plane, and the hub portion having a correspondingly comically shaped outer edge, which fittingly lies against the side of the rim portion facing the central axis over a substantial distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventor: Jan Spoelstra