Abstract:
A bicycle wheel spinner which is quickly and easily released from a hub and has an inner ring formed segments, with blades protruding from each segment. The segments each mount a roller wheel riding in a groove in a supporting hub. The segments are releasably fixed together in the groove. The spinner can be quickly removed by disassembling the inner ring segments. A locking mechanism allows the spinner to be locked to the hub or released to rotate independently.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/960,181 filed on Sep. 9, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention concerns so called “spinners” for bicycle wheels. Such spinners are ornamental propeller like blades projecting from an inner ring attached to a spinner hub mounted on an existing hub of a bicycle wheel. The spinner may be mounted to rotate with the bicycle wheel or to rotate independently thereof. 
         [0003]    It is advantageous to be able to quickly install a spinner without disassembling the bicycle hub as to be able to conveniently install spinners of different appearances. 
         [0004]    It has heretofore been proposed to segment the spinner hub so as to allow assembly onto the bicycle hub, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,628,417 and 7,086,706. The &#39;417 patent shows a complex hub configuration involving end caps and radial bearings which must be installed to retain the spinner, and are time consuming to install. 
         [0005]    If a series of spinners are to be installed and changed over at short intervals, there is a need to allow a quick change thereof. U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,706 features a loose fitting spinner hub which is driven by a connection to a wheel spoke. Such loose fit causes impacts with the spokes and could damage or destroy the spinner and spokes. Free spinning would be problematic. 
         [0006]    Another feature which would be desirable in such spinner installation is to quickly and easily change the drive to the spinner, i.e. from a fixed relationship with the bicycle wheel hub to one in which relative rotation is possible to create different visual effects produced by spinner rotation. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a spinner mounting which allows ready removal of a spinner and replacement with another of the spinner. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the invention to enable a ready varying relationship of the movement of the spinner with that of the bicycle hub. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The above recited objects of the invention and other objects which will be understood by those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by a spinner mounting arrangement including a two piece hub which may configure to be assembled over the existing bicycle wheel hub and held together as by the use of fasteners securing the two pieces together. The assembled spinner hub has a continuous peripheral groove in is exterior. 
         [0010]    The hub may also be a specially configured bicycle wheel hub having the groove formed therein. 
         [0011]    The spinner itself includes an inner ring with a circular array of radial blades projecting therefrom. The inner ring is made up of multiple segments held together to form the complete inner ring as by providing matching radial slots along sides of the fit together segments and also mating key pieces inserted radially into the slots or by screws securing together overlapping adjacent portions of the ring segments. 
         [0012]    The ring segments each have one or more wheels mounted so as to project radially inward into the hub groove. 
         [0013]    This engagement of the wheels in the hub groove secures the spinner on the hub without the need for removal any bearings, end caps, etc., to make removal of the spinner quick and easy. Simply disconnecting the segments, the wheels can be withdrawn from the groove to disconnect and remove the spinner segments. In the keyed version, removal of the keys with the fingers allows separation of the ring segments and removal of the spinner. 
         [0014]    In the screw together version simply by removal of the screws, the wheel son the segments can be withdrawn from the groove and the spinner thus dismounted. 
         [0015]    The spinner hub may be made to be adapted to bicycle hubs of a range of diameters by providing a series of deflectable fingers projecting radially inward from the spinner hub bore which are compressed as necessary to fit the spinner hub bore to the outside diameter of the bicycle wheel hub. 
         [0016]    Another alternative is to form the bicycle wheel itself with a groove to eliminate the need for a separate spinner hub. 
         [0017]    The spinner inner ring may be provided with a slidable locking element, which can alternatively be moved to an advanced position engaging the hub and locking the spinner to the hub to cause the spinner to rotate with the bicycle wheel, or to be withdrawn and allow the spinner to rotate independently of the bicycle wheel. 
         [0018]    The spinner blades are each preferably provided with a lengthwise projecting feature which is configured to catch the wind and thereby rotate the spinner independently from the bicycle wheel. 
         [0019]    The projecting features may also be hollow and filled with a weighting material to increase their momentum when spinning, so as to keep the spinner spinning for a longer period after the bicycle wheel is stopped or slowed. 
         [0020]    Alternatively, the blades can be twisted or curved to be rotated by the wind passing over the blade. 
         [0021]    A single blade can be weighted to tend to hold the spinner stationary as the bicycle wheel rotates, if the spinner is decoupled from the hub. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a bicycle having spinners according to one embodiment of the invention installed on the front and rear wheels. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged pictorial view of a spinner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 2A  is a fragmentary pictorial view of a blade having an optional weight installed. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is enlarged fragmentary end view of the spinner shown in  FIG. 2 , without the spinner hub and with the blades broken away. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary end view of the segments of the spinner shown in  FIG. 3  partially exploded. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary end view of the spinner shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  installed onto a spinner hub. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5A  is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the spinner showing one of the spinner wheels. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5B  is an end view of an inner ring included in a spinner according to the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a further enlarged front view of the spinner hub shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 6A  is a fragmentary view of the spinner hub shown in  FIG. 6  with a locking pin advanced to lock the spinner to the spinner hub. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a greatly enlarged view of a key seat formed in an abutting side of a spinner inner ring segment. 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view through a key and key way used to couple the spinner inner ring segments. 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a pictorial enlarged view of a key used to connect the spinner segments. 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a further enlarged fragmentary pictorial view of the assembled spinner and spinner hub according to an alternate embodiment adapted to be attached to a front wheel hub. 
           [0036]      FIG. 11  is an end view of the spinner and spinner hub shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged pictorial view of an embodiment of a spinner assembly adapted to be mounted to a rear wheel hub using an alternate spinner lock. 
           [0038]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged top view of a spinner hub included in the spinner assembly shown in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 14  is an end view of an optional version of a spinner hub. 
           [0040]      FIG. 14A  is an enlarged fragmentary partially sectional view of the spinner hub shown in  FIG. 14 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0041]    In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0042]    Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows spinners  10 A,  10 B attached to the hub of front wheel  12 A and a rear wheel  12 B respectively of a bicycle  8 . 
         [0043]    The spinners  10 A,  10 B are both comprised of a series of blades  14  projecting from an inner ring  16  which in turn is mounted on a spinner hub  18  adapted to be received over a bicycle wheel hub as described hereinafter. 
         [0044]    The blades  14  can be flat with raised lengthwise features here comprised of ribs  20  which can optionally be hollow and filled with weighting material such as shot to increase the mass thereof. The ribs  20  better catch the wind, which is important when the spinner is released and able to rotate free of the bicycle wheel hub. 
         [0045]    A single weight  22  ( FIG. 2 ) can be installed on one blade  14  to cause the spinner  10 A,  10 B to not rotate or multiple weights could be installed, one on each blade  14  to increase the angular momentum of a spinner when spun to extend the period that the spinner will continue spinning after the bicycle wheel on which it is mounted is stopped. 
         [0046]    The inner ring  16  is comprised of multiple segments, such as the three segments  16 A,  16 B,  16 C shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 . Each inner ring segment  16 A- 16 C can be molded of a tough plastic such as nylon, with two blades  14  integral with each segment  16 A- 16 C as shown. 
         [0047]    Each ring segment  16 A- 16 C has a partially circular chamber  24 A- 24 C formed thereon receiving a respective roller wheel  26 A- 26 C with a pin  28  at each center to secure the roller wheels  26 A- 26 C and to rotatably mount the same within a respective chamber  24 A- 24 C. 
         [0048]    As seen in  FIG. 3 , the roller wheels  26 A- 26 C each slightly protrude out of the chamber  24 A- 24 C, to a sufficient degree so as to be able to enter a peripheral groove  30  defined between two centrally located flanges  32  on the spinner hub  18  and to roll on the outer diameter  34  of the hub within the groove  30  ( FIG. 5A ). 
         [0049]    Molded in vents  36  allow moisture and debris to exit the chambers  24 A- 24 C to keep the chambers  24 A- 24 C clear and allow free rolling motion of the wheels  26 A- 26 C. 
         [0050]    The roller wheels  26 A- 26 C provide rotational support for the spinners  10  without requiring conventional ball or roller bearings the use of which would require removable caps to secure the bearings in position, thus simplifying removal and replacement of the spinners  10 . 
         [0051]    In the first embodiment of a spinner according to the invention, the segments  16 A,  16 B,  16 C are held together with small keys  38  which are received in a keyway  40  defined by two spaces  42  recessed into each of the abutting sides  44  ( FIG. 8 ) between mating inner ring segments  16 A- 16 C. 
         [0052]    The keys  38  have raised sides  46  which are captured by raised walls  48  on sides of the keyways  40  when the keys  38  are slid into the space between the two facing keyways  40 . 
         [0053]    The spinner hub  18  details are shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  6 A.  FIG. 5  shows the two part construction in which two halves  50 A,  50 B are held together by screws  52  are advanced through one tab  54  and into an abutting other tab  56  both integrally molded with the main body  58 . 
         [0054]    A slidable locking mechanism  60  is disposed with aligned slots  62  in tabs  54 ,  56 . An operator pin  64  projects out of the slot  62  while a connected locking pin  66  can be advanced out of a hole  68  as shown in  FIG. 6A . 
         [0055]    The locking pin  66  may enter one of a series of cavities  70  molded into an opposing face each segment  16 A- 16 C of the inner ring  16 . This allows selective locking of the hub  18  to the inner ring  16  so that the spinner  10  rotates with the bicycle wheel. When the operator pin  64  is withdrawn, the spinner  10  can rotate independently of the hub  18  and wheel  12 A or  12 B to which it is connected. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , in a second embodiment of a spinner  72 , the spinner inner ring segments  74 A,  74 B,  74 C are held together by pairs of screws  76  passing through interfit steps  78  formed at the overlapping at the adjacent sides of the segments  74 A,  74 B,  74 C. This provides a more secure connection than the keyed connection of the first embodiment. 
         [0057]    The spinner hub  80  and locking mechanism is the same for a front bicycle wheel. A rear wheel version of the second embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 12 ,  13 , in which a modified spinner hub  84  is used to match a rear bicycle wheel hub  85  as shown. 
         [0058]    A different locking mechanism  86  is used comprised of an angled locking element  88  secured to one of the sets of hub flanges  90  with a portion extending under a screw  92  securing the flanges  86  together. The free end  88 A can be inserted into one of a series of slots  94  formed into each of the faces of the inner ring  98  segments  96 A,  96 B,  96 C. 
         [0059]      FIGS. 14 and 14A  show an arrangement for adapting a spinner hub  100  to varying sizes of a bicycle wheel hub  102 . 
         [0060]    The arrangement comprises an array of flexible elements  104  molded in the inner diameter of the spinner hub  100 . 
         [0061]    The elements extend inwardly in a radial direction but are curved over to have the ends thereof extending generally tangentially to engage an outer diameter of the bicycle hub  102 . The extent of curvature varies with the diameter of the bicycle hub  102  to thus be able to fit a range of hub diameters. 
         [0062]    The spinner hub can also be integrated with the bicycle hub by configuring a bicycle hub to leave a groove for the roller wheels and/or the locking mechanism. CLAIMS