Patent ID: 11938764
Assignee: SRAM, LLC
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  F | IPC B  F

Claim 10:
11. A wheel for a bicycle, the wheel comprising:
a central hub configured for rotational attachment to the bicycle;
a plurality of spokes attached to the central hub and extending radially outward from the hub;
a rim comprising:
a radially inner portion disposed along an inner circumference of the rim, the plurality of spokes being attached to the radially inner portion of the rim;
a first sidewall;
a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall extend radially outward from the radially inner portion;
a radially outer tire engaging portion disposed along an outer circumference of the rim, the radially outer tire engaging portion extending from the first sidewall and the second sidewall, respectively;
a rim bed opposite the radially inner portion, the rim bed being between the first sidewall and the second sidewall and defining a well; and
an opening extending from the radially inner portion of the rim, through the rim to the rim bed;

a tire attached to the rim at the radially outer tire engaging portion of the rim; and
an air deflection assembly comprising:
a hollow body positioned within a volume between the rim bed and the tire, the hollow body having an air input opening and an air output opening, wherein an air input axis is a central axis that extends through the air input opening of the hollow body, the air input axis being in a direction towards an inner surface of the tire; and
a valve extending through the opening through the rim, the valve being aligned with the air input opening of the hollow body, such that air that is introduced into the volume via the valve flows through the hollow body,

wherein the hollow body is shaped, such that when the air is introduced into the volume via the valve, the hollow body deflects the air away from the air input axis and at least some of the air out of the hollow body at an air output end,
wherein the hollow body of the air deflection assembly is attached to the rim, and
wherein the hollow body is made of a same material as the rim,

wherein the hollow body has an input portion and an output portion, the input portion including an air input end and the output portion including the air output end,
wherein the output portion is curved, such that a curve of the output portion corresponds to a circumference of the rim bed, and
wherein when the air is introduced into the hollow body via the valve, the output portion of the hollow body deflects at least some of the air out of the hollow body at the air output end in a circumferential direction defined by the rim.