Bicycle wheel assembly

Details Bicycle wheel assembly Bicycle wheel assembly

2001-07-13

2002-06-25

Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)

Resilient tires and wheels

Tires, resilient

Wheel securing means

C152S323000, C152S247000, C152S283000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06408912

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a bicycle wheel assembly, more particularly to a bicycle wheel assembly with a foam tire.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1
illustrates a conventional bicycle wheel assembly
1
which includes a metal rim
101
defining a tire-retention groove, a hub
102
disposed coaxially in the metal rim
101
, a plurality of spokes
103
interconnecting the hub
102
and the metal rim
101
, and an inflatable tire
104
disposed in the tire-retention groove of the metal rim
101
.
The aforesaid conventional wheel assembly
1
is disadvantageous in that the tire
104
is vulnerable to puncture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the main object of this invention is to provide a bicycle wheel assembly with a non-inflatable foam tire so as avoid the aforementioned disadvantage which results from the use of the conventional bicycle wheel assembly.
Accordingly, a bicycle wheel assembly of the present invention includes an annular metal rim, a hub, a plurality of spokes, a non-inflatable foam tire, and a tire reinforcing unit. The metal rim includes an annular spoke-mounting wall, and left and right annular tire-clamping walls which extend radially and outwardly from two opposite sides of the spoke-mounting wall to define a tire-retention groove thereamong. The hub is coaxially disposed within the spoke-mounting wall of the metal rim. The spokes interconnect the hub and the spoke-mounting wall of the metal rim. The foam tire is disposed in the tire-retention groove of the metal rim, and has an annular inner section clamped fixedly by the tire-clamping walls, and an annular outer section which projects outwardly and radially from the tire-retention groove. The tire reinforcing unit is embedded within the foam tire, and includes an annular non-stretchable strap which is embedded in the inner section of the foam tire and which is disposed around the spoke-mounting wall, and a plurality of angularly spaced apart rigid strings which extend radially from the non-stretchable strap into the outer section of the foam tire.
Preferably, each of the spokes has an anchor end which is disposed in the tire-retention groove of the metal rim, which abuts tightly against the spoke-mounting wall and which is formed with a through-hole. The strap passes fittingly through the through-holes in the anchor ends of the spokes.


REFERENCES:
patent: 633539 (1899-09-01), Wheeler
patent: 696771 (1902-04-01), Sweet
patent: 702432 (1902-06-01), Huffman
patent: 772818 (1904-10-01), Olsen
patent: 1162158 (1915-11-01), Haaker
patent: 1365350 (1921-01-01), Sloper
patent: 1489237 (1924-04-01), Donham
patent: 4446903 (1984-05-01), Clinefelter et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Bicycle wheel assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Bicycle wheel assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bicycle wheel assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2905632