Patent ID: 9108461
Filing Date: 2015-08-18
Classification: B60B,B60Y,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A bicycle wheel having a longitudinal plane normal to an axis of rotation, comprising: a rim with first and second side surfaces on opposite sides of the longitudinal plane; a hub having first and second end portions on opposite sides of the longitudinal plane and being axially aligned and concentrically disposed relative to the rim; and a pair of unitary side elements disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal plane and being coupled to the rim and to the hub, and each of the side elements having an annular sidewall, a flange portion, a plurality of spokes integrally interconnecting the annular sidewall and the flange portion, the side elements include first and second side elements, the annular sidewall of the first side element is fixed to the first side of the rim, and the flange portion of the first side element is fixed to the first end portion of the hub, and the annular sidewall of the second side element is fixed to the second side of the rim, and the flange portion of the second side element is fixed to the second end portion of the hub, the plurality of spokes of the first and second side elements are in tension between the sidewall and the flange of the respective first and second side elements; wherein the spokes of the first side element are positioned in alignment with the plurality of spokes of the second side element, each spoke of the first and second side elements has an end portion adjacent to the sidewalls, and the end portion of each spoke of the first side element is tied to the end portion of an aligned spoke of the second side element to restrict the end portions tied together from moving away from each other in a direction normal to the longitudinal plane; and wherein the pair of unitary, side elements are fiber-based side elements and the plurality of spokes integrally interconnecting the annular sidewall and the flange portion with continuous first fibers spanning between the annular sidewall and the spokes, and with continuous second fibers spanning between the spokes and the flange portion.