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EP-4494894-B1 - BICYCLE RIM WITH PINCH FLAT RESISTANCE

EP4494894B1EP 4494894 B1EP4494894 B1EP 4494894B1EP-4494894-B1

Inventors

  • Teixeira IV, Charles
  • MEYER, JEFFREY

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240717

Claims (14)

  1. A bicycle comprising: a wheel (15, 20) supporting a frame (25) of the bicycle (10), the wheel (15, 20) comprising a rim (75, 75') configured to support a tire (85), wherein the rim (75, 75') includes: a main body (100, 100') defining a bead seat (105, 105'); and a first flange (110, 110') and a second flange (115, 115'), the first flange (110, 110') and the second flange (115, 115') extending substantially radially from the main body (100, 100') to support the tire (85) on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis (95, 95'), wherein the first flange (110, 110') has a first flange width (W1, W1') extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (95, 95') and a first flange height (H1, H1') extending from the bead seat (105, 105') and parallel to the longitudinal axis (95, 95'), wherein the second flange (115, 115') has a second flange width (W2, W2'), wherein a ratio of the first flange width (W1, W1') to the first flange height (H1, H1') is at least 0.75, wherein the first flange (110, 110') and the second flange (115, 115') are spaced from each other by a flange spacing (FS), and wherein a ratio of the first flange width (W1, W1') to the flange spacing (FS) is at least 0.14.
  2. A bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first flange (110, 110') is one of a left flange or a right flange and the second flange (115, 115') is another of the left flange or the right flange.
  3. A bicycle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first flange (110, 110') is substantially solid.
  4. A bicycle as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of the first flange width (W1, W1') to the flange spacing (FS) is at least 0.15.
  5. A bicycle as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of the first flange width (W1, W1') to the flange spacing (FS) is at least 0.16.
  6. A bicycle as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first flange width (W1, W1') is about 5mm and the flange spacing (FS) is about 30mm.
  7. A bicycle as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first flange (110, 110') includes an inner side surface (110a, 110a'), a radial edge surface (115b, 115b'), and a radiused inner corner having an inner corner radius and connecting the inner side surface (110a, 110a') to the radial edge surface(115b, 115b'), wherein a ratio of the inner corner radius to the first flange width (W1, W1') is at most 0.5.
  8. A bicycle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the ratio of the inner corner radius to the first flange width (W1, W1') is at most 0.4.
  9. A bicycle as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of the first flange width (W1, W1') to the first flange height (H1, H1') is at least 0.80.
  10. A bicycle as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of the first flange width (W1, W1') to the first flange height (H1, H1') is at least 0.85.
  11. A bicycle as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of the first flange width (W1, W1') to the first flange height (H1, H1') is about 0.91.
  12. A bicycle as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first flange width (W1, W1') is about 5mm and the first flange height (H1, H1') is about 5.5mm.
  13. A bicycle as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the main body defines a radial cavity projection.
  14. A bicycle as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first flange (110) defines a radial first flange projection and the second flange (115) defines a second radial flange projection, wherein the radial cavity projection does not intersect the radial first flange projection and the second radial flange projection, wherein the first radial flange projection is spaced from the radial cavity projection by a first gap (G1) and the second radial flange projection is spaced from the radial cavity projection by a second gap (G2), wherein the first gap (G1) includes a width that is at least 10% of the first flange width (W1) and the second gap G2 includes a width that is at least 10% of the second flange width (W2).

Description

FIELD The present disclosure relates to a bicycle comprising a wheel and particularly to a bicycle wheel rim designed to resist pinch flats. BACKGROUND Bicycle wheels commonly include a rim, a tire supported on the rim, and an inner tube positioned between the rim and the tire. The inner tube is adapted to be filled with pressurized air to a desired pressure to thereby inflate the tire. Some bicycle wheels are design to be used without a tube (i.e., "tubeless"), in which case the space between the tire and rim is adapted to be filled with air to inflate the tire. Pinch flats, also known as snake bites, occur when the inner tube (or tire in the case of a tubeless wheel) of a bicycle wheel is pinched between the rim and an external object, such as a curb or pothole. This results in punctures and can lead to costly repairs and inconvenience. Various solutions have been proposed in the prior art to address this issue, including thicker inner tubes, tire liners, and tire inserts. However, these solutions often add weight, complexity, and compromise the overall performance of the bicycle. US 2018/361785 discloses a bicycle rim with enlarged outer radial edges. US 2011/018336 discloses an interface fitting for a cycle wheel. US 2021/129581 discloses a rim assembly for a bicycle wheel. NL 2019113 discloses a bicycle wheel rim for a tubeless wheel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle according to an embodiment, including a wheel rim.FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rim of the bicycle of FIG. 1.FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rim of FIG. 2, taken along section line 3-3 of FIG. 2.FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rim of the bicycle of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment.FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the rim of FIG. 4, taken along section line 5-5 of FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION According to the invention, a bicycle includes a wheel supporting a frame of the bicycle. The wheel includes a rim configured to support a tire. The rim includes a main body, a first flange (e.g., a substantially solid left flange) extending substantially radially from the main body, and a second flange (e.g., a substantially solid right flange) extending substantially radially from the main body, the first and second flanges to cooperatively support the tire. The first flange has a first flange width (e.g., about 5mm) and the second flange has a second flange width (e.g., about 5mm). The first flange and the second flange are spaced from each other by a flange spacing (e.g., about 30mm). A ratio of the first flange width to the flange spacing is at least 0.14 (alternatively, at least 0.15, at least 0.16, or about 0.167). The first flange may include an inner side surface, a radial edge surface, and a radiused inner corner having an inner corner radius and connecting the inner side surface to the radial edge surface. A ratio of the inner corner radius to the first flange width is preferably at most 0.5 (alternatively, at most 0.4 or at most 0.3). According to another exemplary embodiment, a bicycle includes a wheel supporting a frame of the bicycle. The wheel includes a rim configured to support a tire. The rim includes a main body defining first and second bead seats, a first flange extending substantially radially from the main body, and a second flange extending substantially radially from the main body, the first and second flanges to cooperatively support the tire. The first flange has a first flange width (e.g., about 5mm) and a first flange height (e.g., about 5.5mm) from the first bead seat, and the second flange has a second flange width (e.g., about 5mm) and a second flange height (e.g., about 5.5mm) from the second bead seat. According to the invention, a ratio of the first flange width to the first flange height is at least 0.75 (alternatively at least 0.80, at least 0.85, or at least 0.90). According to another exemplary embodiment, a bicycle includes a wheel supporting the frame of the bicycle. The wheel includes a rim configured to support a tire. The rim includes a main body having one or more inner cavities that define one or more radial cavity projections, a first flange extending substantially radially from the main body, and a second flange extending substantially radially from the main body, the first and second flanges adapted to cooperatively support the tire. The first flange defines a radial first flange projection and the second flange defines a second radial flange projection. In this embodiment, all of the one or more radial cavity projections do not intersect the radial first flange projection and the second radial flange projection. Instead, the radial cavity projections may be spaced from the radial first flange projection by a gap that is at least 10% (alternatively, at least 20%, at least 30%, or at least 40%) of a first flange width of the first flange. The radial cavity projections may also be spaced from the radial second flange projection by a gap tha