Abstract:
The present invention provides a bicycle that includes a frame that is specifically design to accommodate different axle configurations. The bicycle includes a wheel including a wheel axle and a bicycle frame comprising a wheel support including an axle opening having a first width and an axle slot contiguous with the axle opening and having a second width less than the first width. Preferably, a portion of the wheel axle positioned in the axle opening has a diameter that substantially matches the first width. The present invention also provides a method of changing an original wheel of a bicycle. The method comprises removing the original wheel from the wheel support, positioning a converter in the axle opening, providing a replacement wheel having a replacement hub that has a replacement axle, and sliding the replacement axle through the axle slot and into the receiving area defined by the converter.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of bicycles and specifically to bicycle frames that can be converted from a dropout adapted to receive a wheel axle of one size to a wheel axle of a different size. 
         [0002]    Bicycles are available in a variety of different wheel sizes. For example, wheels can be designated with diameters of 26 inch, 27 inch, or 700 mm. In addition, wheels can come with different-sized axles having lengths such as 135 mm or 140 mm and diameters of 10 mm or 12 mm. 
         [0003]    It is often desirable to convert a bicycle frame from accommodating a wheel of one size to a wheel of another size. For example, it might be desirable to convert a frame from receiving a rear wheel with a 135 mm axle spacing to a wheel with a 140 mm axle spacing. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a bicycle that includes a frame that is specifically design to accommodate wheel of different axle configurations. Specifically, the bicycle includes a wheel including a wheel axle and a bicycle frame supported by the wheel. The frame includes a wheel support coupled to the wheel, and the wheel support includes an axle opening (e.g., extending laterally through the wheel support) having a first width and an axle slot contiguous with the axle opening and having a second width that is less than the first width. Preferably, a portion of the wheel axle positioned in the axle opening has a diameter that substantially matches the first width (e.g., the axle fits snugly into the axle opening). 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, the wheel axle extends substantially all the way through the axle opening in the wheel support. In another embodiment, the bicycle further includes a converter at least partially positioned in the axle opening, the converter engaging at least a portion of the wheel axle. For example, the converter can include a flange positioned in the axle opening and defining an axle receiving area contiguous with the axle slot and having a third width that substantially matches the second width. Preferably, the converter includes an alignment feature for aligning the converter relative to the wheel support. 
         [0006]    The present invention also provides a method of changing an original wheel of a bicycle. The bicycle includes a frame including a wheel support having an axle opening with a first width, at least a portion of an original axle being positioned in the axle opening. The wheel support further including an axle slot contiguous with the axle opening, the axle slot having a second width that is less than the first width. The method comprises removing the original wheel from the wheel support, positioning a converter at least partially in the axle opening (the converter defining an axle receiving area contiguous with the axle slot and having a third width smaller than the first width and preferably substantially matching the second width), providing a replacement wheel having a replacement hub that has a replacement axle, and sliding the replacement axle through the axle slot and into the receiving area defined by the converter. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the axle opening extends laterally through the wheel support, and the step of removing the original wheel includes sliding the original axle laterally out of the axle opening. Preferably, the converter includes a first alignment feature and the wheel support includes a second alignment feature, and wherein the step of positioning the converter includes aligning the first alignment feature with the second alignment feature. After sliding the replacement axle, the method can further include the step of compressing the wheel support against the replacement hub (e.g., by inserting a skewer through the replacement axle and tightening the skewer). 
         [0008]    Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a bicycle embodying the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded right perspective view of a first configuration of a rear wheel support for the bicycle of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded left perspective view of the first configuration. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a right rear perspective view of a rear portion of the frame of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a left rear perspective view of a rear portion of the frame of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a vertical section view of the assembled first configuration of  FIGS. 2-3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an exploded right perspective view of a second configuration of a rear wheel support for the bicycle of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an exploded left perspective view of the second configuration. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a vertical section view of the assembled second configuration of  FIGS. 7-8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a bicycle  10  having front and rear wheels  12 ,  14 , a frame  16  supported on the rear wheel  14 , a front fork  18  supported on the front wheel  12 , a seat  20 , handlebars  22 , and a rear derailleur  23  as is generally known in the art. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the rear wheel  14  includes a hub  24  that is mounted to left and right wheel supports  26 ,  28  (commonly called dropouts) on a rear portion of the frame  16 . The wheel supports  26 ,  28  of the illustrated frame  16  are designed to accommodate hubs having at least two different configurations. A first hub  24  having a first configuration is illustrated in  FIGS. 2-6 , and a second hub  30  having a second configuration is illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , the first hub  24  includes a first body  32  rotationally mounted on a main axle  34  by two wheel bearings  36 . Left and right spacers  38 ,  40  fit over the ends of the main axle  34  to achieve an overall hub width W1, which in the illustrated embodiment is about 135 mm. Each of the spacers  38 ,  40  includes a spacer diameter D, which in the illustrated embodiment is about 19 mm. 
         [0021]    The left wheel support  26  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ) includes a left hub slot  42  formed on an inner face of the left wheel support  26 . The left hub slot  42  is dimensioned to receive the left spacer  38  of the first hub  24 . The outer surface of the left wheel support ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) includes a cylindrical recess  44  terminating in a frusto-conical wall  46 . A left axle opening  48  extends through the left wheel support and has a width (diameter) of about 12 mm. An alignment recess  50  ( FIG. 4 ) also extends through the left wheel support  26  and is contiguous with the left axle opening  48 . The inner face of the left wheel support  26  further includes a left axle slot  52  contiguous with the left axle opening  48 . The left axle slot  52  extends only partially into the inner face of the left wheel support  26 , and has a width of about 10 mm. 
         [0022]    The right wheel support  28  includes an inner face ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) having a recess  54  dimensional to receive a derailleur hanger. The right wheel support  28  further includes a hanger mount hole  58  extending laterally all the way through the right wheel support  28 . The right wheel support  28  further includes a threaded right axle opening  60  extending all the way through the right wheel support  28  and having a width (diameter) of about 12_ mm. A right axle slot  62  is formed in the inner face of the right wheel support  28  and is contiguous with the right axle opening  60 . The illustrated right axle slot  62  extends only partially into the right wheel support  28  and has a width of about 10 mm. 
         [0023]    When it is desired to insert the above-described first hub  24  into the wheel supports  24 ,  28  of the frame  16 , the frame  16  is first provided with a closed hanger  64  ( FIG. 3 ) on the right wheel support  28 . More specifically, the closed hanger  64  is positioned in the recess  54  on the inner face of the right wheel support  28 , and a hanger attachment bolt  66  is inserted through the hanger mount hole  58  of the right wheel support  28  and threaded into a threaded opening  68  in the closed hanger  64 . In this manner, the closed hanger  64  is secured to the inner face of the right wheel support  28 . The closed hanger  64  includes a hanger opening  70  having a width (diameter) of about 12 mm that is aligned with the right axle opening  60  when the closed hanger  64  is secured in the recess  54  of the right wheel support  28 . The closed hanger  64  further includes a lip  72  extending partially circumferentially around the hanger opening  70 . The closed hanger  64  further includes a threaded derailleur mount hole  74  configured to receive the rear derailleur  23 , as is known in the art. The closed hanger  64  further includes a ramped surface  76  that guides the first hub  24  into the closed hanger  64 , as described below in more detail. 
         [0024]    A through-axle assembly is provided to secure the first hub  24  to the wheel supports  26 , 28 . The through-axle assembly includes a split plug  78 , a washer  82 , and a through axle  84  having a threaded end  86 . All three parts of the through-axle assembly are retained in an assembled condition due to a lip on the split plug  78  that engages a groove in the head of the through axle  84 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0025]    In order to mount the first hub  24  between the left and right wheel supports  26 ,  28 , the first hub  24  is arranged such that the left spacer  38  is aligned with the left hub slot  42  and the right spacer  40  is aligned with the ramped surface  76  on the closed hanger  64 . The first hub  24  is then moved upward until the left spacer  38  is fully seated in the left hub slot  42  and aligned with the left axle opening  48  and the right spacer  40  is fully seated into engagement with the lip  72  and aligned with the hanger opening  70 . With the first hub  24  held in this position, the through axle assembly  80 , 82 , 84  is inserted through the left axle opening  48 , through the first hub  24 , through the hanger opening  70 , and threaded into the right axle opening  60 . The through axle  84  has a diameter of about 12 mm to substantially match (e.g., slide snugly through) the diameter of the left axle opening  48 . Tightening of the through axle  84  in this position results in the first hub  24  being secured to the frame  16 . 
         [0026]    When it is desired to instead use the second hub  30 , the first hub  24  is removed from the frame  16  by removing the through axle assembly  80 , 82 , 84 , and sliding the first hub  24  out through the left hub slot  42  and closed hanger  64 . A converter plug  88  is inserted into the recess  44  in the left wheel support  26 , and the closed hanger  64  is replaced with an open hanger  90 . The converter plug  88  includes a cylindrical surface  92  and a frusto-conical surface  94  that are dimensioned to fit into the recess  44  in the outer face of the left wheel support  26 . The converter plug  88  further includes a skewer opening  96  extending through the converter plug  88 , and a flange  98  extending partially circumferentially around the skewer opening  96 . The flange  98  is dimensioned to fit into the left axle opening  48  and defines an axle receiving area having a width that substantially matches the width of the left axle slot  52 . The flange  98  is provided with an alignment boss  100  that is dimensioned to be received in the alignment recess  50 . 
         [0027]    The open hanger  90  includes a hanger slot  102  having a width that substantially matches the width of the right axle slot  62 . The open hanger  90  further includes ramped surfaces  104  on opposing sides of the hanger slot  102 . When being configured to receive the second hub  30 , a converter nut  106  is inserted through the outer face of the right wheel support  28  and into the right axle opening  60 . The converter nut  106  includes a partially threaded opening  108  extending all the way through. 
         [0028]    The second hub  30  includes a main axle  110  and bearings (now shown) similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 2-6 . However, the left and right spacers  111  of this second hub  30  include small-diameter ends  112  that extend outward. The width W2 of the second hub  30 , not including the small-diameter ends  112 , is about 135 mm. In order to mount the second hub  30  to the frame  16 , the left and right ends  112  of the small axle  110  are aligned with the left and right axle slots  52 ,  62 , respectively. It is noted that the hanger slot  102  is aligned with the right axle slot  62 , and therefore the right end  112  of the axle  110  will also be aligned with the hanger slot  102 . The second hub  30  is then moved upward so that the left and right ends  112  of the small axle  110  slide through the corresponding slots until the left end  112  of the small axle  110  is fully seated into the flange  98  of the converter plug  88  and the right end  112  of the small axle  110  is fully seated into the end of the hanger slot  102 . With the parts properly aligned, a skewer rod  114  inserted through the converter plug  88 , through the small axle  110 , and into the converter nut  106 . The skewer rod  114  is threaded into the converter nut  106  to the desire a mount, and a skewer cam  116  rotated to compress the wheel supports  26 ,  28  to the second hub  30 , as is generally known in the art. 
         [0029]    Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.