Patent Publication Number: US-2005120762-A1

Title: Quick release assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/010,361, filed 13 Nov. 2001. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to quick release assemblies for attaching a removable part to a frame and to quick release hub assemblies for bicycles.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Many road and mountain bikes incorporate wheels having hubs furnished with quick release assemblies for quickly attaching and detaching the wheels to and from the bicycle frame. Quick release assemblies are also utilized for seat posts and other removable components of bicycles. Most quick release assemblies incorporate a hand-operated lever that interacts with a cam, securing and releasing, for instance, the hub to and from the fork of a bicycle frame in response to operation of the lever. Because quick release assemblies allow removable components such as wheels to be removed from a bicycle frame very quickly, such removable components, especially wheels, are often stolen. Although skilled artisans have devoted considerable effort toward improving the structure and function of quick release assemblies, relatively little effort has been directed toward quick release assemblies that are designed to resist unwanted and unauthorized operation.  
      Thus, there is a need for a new and improved quick release assembly that is easy to make, easy to use, inexpensive and highly efficient and that incorporates unique features that prevent unwanted and unauthorized operation.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The above problems and others are at least partially solved and the above purposes and others realized in an assembly including a handle having a key, a piston, having a bore, attached to an axle mounted to a hub, a fork on the axle between the hub and the piston, and a cam having first and second ends held by a cap for rotation in the bore, in which one of the first and second ends has a keyway for accepting the key. An extension of the cap projects into the fork preventing rotation of the cap relative to the fork. The assembly incorporates a catch assembly for catching the key to the keyway. In one embodiment, the catch assembly consists of a protuberance carried by one of the key and the cam at the keyway, and a detachably engageable recess carried by the other of the key and the cam. The protuberance is biased one of a) away from the key and b) into the keyway. The keyway is disposed off center of the cam. In a particular embodiment, the hub is attached to a wheel.  
      Another embodiment of the invention is an assembly consisting of a handle having a key, a piston, having a bore, attached to an axle mounted to a hub attached to a bicycle wheel, a fork on the axle between the hub and the piston, and a cam having first and second ends held by a cap for rotation in the bore, in which one of the first and second ends has a keyway for accepting the key. An extension of the cap projects into the fork preventing rotation of the cap relative to the fork. The assembly incorporates a catch assembly for catching the key to the keyway. In one embodiment, the catch assembly consists of a protuberance carried by one of the key and the cam at the keyway, and a detachably engageable recess carried by the other of the key and the cam. The protuberance is biased one of a) away from the key and b) into the keyway. The keyway is disposed off center of the cam.  
      Yet another embodiment of the invention is an assembly consisting of a handle having a key, a piston, having a bore, attached to an axle mounted to a hub, a fork on the axle between the hub and the piston, and a cam having first and second ends held by a cap for rotation in the bore, in which one of the first and second ends has a keyway for accepting the key. An extension of the cap projects into the fork preventing rotation of the cap relative to the fork. A protuberance is carried by one of the key and the cam at the keyway, a detachably engageable recess carried by the other of the key and the cam, and an attached spring acting on the protuberance biasing it one of a) away from the key and b) into the keyway. The keyway is disposed off center of the cam. In a particular embodiment, the hub is attached to a wheel.  
      A further embodiment of the invention is an assembly consisting of a handle having a key, a piston, having a bore, attached to an axle mounted to a hub attached to a bicycle wheel, a fork on the axle between the hub and the piston, and a cam having first and second ends held by a cap for rotation in the bore, in which one of the first and second ends has a keyway for accepting the key. An extension of the cap projects into the fork preventing rotation of the cap relative to the fork. A protuberance is carried by one of the key and the cam at the keyway, a detachably engageable recess carried by the other of the key and the cam, and an attached spring acting on the protuberance biasing it one of a) away from the key and b) into the keyway. The keyway is disposed off center of the cam.  
      Still a further embodiment of the invention is an assembly consisting of a handle having a key, a piston, having a bore, attached to an axle mounted to a hub, a fork on the axle between the hub and the piston, and a cam having first and second ends held by a cap for rotation in the bore, in which one of the first and second ends has a keyway for accepting the key. A magnetic attraction between the cam and the key magnetically holds the key to the cam. An extension of the cap projects into the fork preventing rotation of the cap relative to the fork. The keyway is disposed off center of the cam. In a particular embodiment, the hub is attached to a wheel.  
      Yet still a further embodiment of the invention is an assembly consisting of a handle having a key, a piston, having a bore, attached to an axle mounted to a hub attached to a bicycle wheel, a fork on the axle between the hub and the piston, and a cam having first and second ends held by a cap for rotation in the bore, in which one of the first and second ends has a keyway for accepting the key. A magnetic attraction between the cam and the key magnetically holds the key to the cam. An extension of the cap projects into the fork preventing rotation of the cap relative to the fork. The keyway is disposed off center of the cam.  
      Yet another embodiment of the invention is an assembly consisting of a handle having a key, a piston having a bore, and a cam having first and second ends held by a cap for rotation in the bore, one of the first and second ends having a keyway capable of receiving the key. The cap has an extension for engaging a structure of a bicycle, such as the fork of a bicycle, the frame of a bicycle, a seat post of a bicycle, a removable part of a bicycle such as a seat or seat post or other removable part, a bracket or other device attaching a removable part to a bicycle, etc., for preventing rotation of the cap relative to the structure of the bicycle. The assembly incorporates a catch assembly for catching the key to the keyway. In one embodiment, the catch assembly consists of a protuberance carried by one of the key and the cam at the keyway, and a detachably engageable recess carried by the other of the key and the cam. The protuberance is biased one of a) away from the key and b) into the keyway. The keyway is disposed off center of the cam.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Referring to the drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a quick release assembly, in accordance with the principle of the invention, the quick release assembly disposed with a hub that is attached to a wheel and to a frame, each partially depicted;  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the quick release assembly of  FIG. 1 , the quick release assembly including a handle having a key, a piston having a bore and a cam held by a cap for rotation in the bore and having a keyway for accepting the key;  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the quick release assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the handle of  FIG. 3 , the opposite side elevation being a mirror image thereof;  
       FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the handle of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the cam of  FIG. 3  depicting elements of a catch assembly of the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the elements of the catch assembly depicted in  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the cam of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the cam of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view of the cam of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the handle of  FIG. 3  illustrating the key;  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a quick release assembly, in accordance with the principle of the invention;  
       FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the quick release assembly of  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 14  is a fragmented perspective view of yet another embodiment of a quick release assembly, in accordance with the principle of the invention; and  
       FIG. 15  is a sectional view of a cam of the quick release assembly of  FIG. 14  with a key of a handle thereof depicted adjacent the cam.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to  FIG. 1  in which is seen a perspective view of a quick release assembly  20 , embodying the principle of the invention. Assembly  20  is disposed with a hub  21  that is attached to a wheel  22  and to a fork  23  of a frame  24 , each partially depicted. In  FIG. 1 , frame  24  is a bicycle frame of a bicycle, fork  23  is the front fork of frame  24  and wheel  22  is the front wheel of the bicycle. Hub  21  is attached to spokes  25  of wheel  22  in a conventional manner.  
      Looking to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , assembly  20  includes handle  30  having a key  31 , a piston  32  having a bore  40 , a cap  34  having an open end  34 A and a closed end  34 B and an extension  34 C of cap  34  attached to and projecting away from open end  34 A, a cam  33  held by cap  34  for rotation in bore  40  and having a keyway  56  for accepting key  31 , and a catch assembly  70  ( FIG. 3 ). Extension  34 C is part of cap  34  and is fixed thereto, such as by welding, integral formation, a selected fixed joint structure, etc.  FIG. 4  is a side elevation of handle  30 , the opposite side elevation being a mirror image thereof.  FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of handle  30 . With specific regard to  FIG. 2 , a hollow axle  35  extends through hub  21 . A nut  36  threadably secures axle  35  to hub  21 , and assembly  20  attaches to axle  35  immediately adjacent fork  23 , which is disposed on axle  35  between hub  21  and open end  34 A of cap  34 . Open end  34 A of cap  34  is directed toward fork  23 , and closed end  34 B of cap  34  is directed away from fork  23 . An axle  37  is slideably disposed through axle  35  and, in this embodiment, is attached to piston  32 . Because fork  23  is disposed on axle  35 , fork  23  is also disposed on axle  37  extending therethrough axle  35 . Axle  35  can be shortened if desired so as to dispose fork  23  directly on axle  37 , if desired. Extension  34 C fits into gap  23 A and prevents rotation of cap  34  relative to fork  23  while cap  34  is fitted against fork  23 . Axle  37  is capable of reciprocating through axle  35  and is considered reciprocated to hub  21 . Because axle  37  is reciprocated to hub  21 , piston  32  is also considered reciprocally mounted. Although not shown, axle  37  extends through and slightly beyond axle  35 , and a nut threadably secures this exposed end of axle  37  to fork  23 . Bore  40  extends through piston  32  and cap  34  fits over and surrounds piston  32 . Cam  33  is rotatably disposed through bore  40  and is rotated to cap  34 . Included in cam  33  is a cam body  45  that is rotatably disposed through bore  40  of piston  32 . The outer diameter of cam body  45  that extends through bore  40  is slightly less than the inner diameter of bore  40 , and this permits cam body  45  to rotate within bore  40 . Cam body  45  has opposing ends  50 , 51  disposed on either side of piston  32  that are held by cap  34  for rotation. End  50  extends into and is held for rotation by an opening  52  of cap  34  and end  51  extends into and is held for rotation by a recess  53  of cap  34  opposing opening  52 . End  51  can be fashioned with a recess and cap  34  can be fashioned with an extension or protuberance for rotatably accommodating the recess of end  51  if desired. A clamp  58  located adjacent the underside of piston  32  attaches and secures an annular groove  59  formed into cam  33  proximate end  51 , which, in cooperation with piston  32 , secures piston  33  to cap  34  preventing it from discharging through opening  52 .  
      End  50  of cam  33  is cylindrical and enlarged relative to cam body  45 , and this is readily visualized in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . End  50  is capable of being rotated in opening  52  and defines an axis of rotation A (FIGS.  2 , 9 , 10 ) that is substantially concentric with the geometric center of opening  52  ( FIG. 2 ). Keyway  56  extends into end  50  and defines a geometric center that is substantially concentric with axis of rotation A, as defined by end  50 . Accordingly, the geometric center of keyway  56  is eccentric to cam body  45  and, more particularly, to axis of rotation B. End  50  is considered a key receiving member of cam  33 . Cam body  45  is capable of being rotated in bore  40  at its axis of rotation B (FIGS.  2 , 9 , 10 ), which is substantially concentric with the geometric center of bore  40  and eccentric to the geometric center of opening  52 . As a result, the geometric center of bore  40  is eccentric to the geometric center of opening  52 . A spring  60  is located between fork  23  and piston  32 , encircles axle  37  and biases piston  32  away from fork  23  and otherwise toward cap  34 .  
      To secure wheel  22  to fork  23 , a cyclist takes up handle  30  and inserts key  31  into keyway  56  of cam  33  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Rotation of handle  30  rotates cam  33  rotating cam body  45  within bore  40  of piston  32  causing piston  32 , cam  33  and cap  34  to move. By selectively rotating cam  33 , assembly  20  is capable of being moved between an open position releasing fork  23  and a closed position securing fork  23 . In the open position of assembly  20 , cap  34  is disposed away from fork  23  allowing removal of wheel  22 . In the closed position of assembly  20 , end  34 A of cap  34  bears tightly up against fork  23  preventing removal of wheel  22 , and extension  34 C is disposed in gap  23 A, which prevents rotation of cap  34  relative to fork  23  while cap  34  is fitted against fork  23 .  
      Handle  30  is not provided with an attached cam as with prior art quick release assemblies, but is provided with key  31 , which permits handle  30  to function not only to rotate cam  33  as previously explained but also to lock assembly  20  to prevent the likelihood of theft of wheel  22 . With regard to  FIG. 11 , key  31  demonstrates a specific shape and keyway  56  ( FIGS. 3,9 ) is correspondingly shaped to accept key  31 . Key  31  and keyway  56  can embody a potentially infinite variety of complementing shapes. In the immediate embodiment, a central blind bore  62  extends into key  31 , which is capable of accepting a guide pin  63  disposed centrally of keyway  56 .  
      When assembly  20  is in its closed position securing fork  23 , removing handle from assembly  20  prevents wheel  22  from be stolen because unless one has a handle with a duplicate key rotation of cam  33  is not possible and removal of wheel  22  becomes extremely difficult if not impossible. Handle  30  usually removed from assembly  20  when the bicycle is unattended. When the bicycle incorporating assembly  20  is in use, most cyclists prefer to keep handle  30  attached to assembly  20 . However, it has been noticed that because there is nothing locking handle  30  to assembly  20 , handle  30  is free to fall away from assembly  20 , causing it to be lost. In accordance with the principle of the invention, a catch assembly  70  is provided, which locks key  31  to keyway  56 , preventing key  31  from inadvertently falling away from keyway  56  except with a force that is sufficient to overcome the locking action of catch assembly  70 .  
      In the immediate embodiment, catch assembly  70  includes a protuberance  71  ( FIGS. 6-8 ) carried by cam  33  and a detachably engageable recess  72  (FIGS.  3 , 4 , 11 ) carried by key  31 . Regarding  FIG. 6 , a bore  73  extends through end  50  of cam  33  to an opening  74  ( FIG. 8 ) leading to keyway  56 . Protuberance  71  is located at opening  74 , and although opening  74  permits protuberance  71  to extend partially into keyway  56  as depicted in  FIG. 8 , opening  74  is too small to permit protuberance to fall away from bore  74  into keyway  56 . A spring  75  is captured in bore  73  between protuberance  71  and a nut threadably attached to the outer opening leading to bore  73 . Spring  75  bears against nut  76  and protuberance  71  and biases protuberance toward or otherwise into keyway  56 . Key  31  encounters protuberance  71  when inserted into keyway  56 . Exerting a force against key  31  toward keyway  56  that is sufficient to overcome the bias of spring  75  allows key  31  to push protuberance  71  away from keyway  56  forcing it into bore  73  allowing key  31  to pass thereby into keyway  56  until the point when protuberance  71  encounters recess  72 . When protuberance  71  encounters recess  72 , the bias provided by spring  75  forces protuberance  71  into engagement into and against recess  72  securing key  31  to cam  33 , securing handle  30  to cam  33  to prevent handle  30  from inadvertently falling away from cam  30 . In this way, a bicycle incorporating assembly  20  can be used and ridden with handle  30  attached without risk of handle  30  inadvertently becoming detached from cam  33 . The only way to remove handle  30  is to reverse the foregoing operation by taking up handle  30  and pulling on it with a force that is sufficient  31  to overcome the bias provided by spring  75 , detaching protuberance  71  from recess  72 . The positioning of protuberance  71  and recess  72  can be reversed, with recess  72  carried by cam  33  at keyway  56  and protuberance  71  carried by key  31  in a fashion like that of cam  33  so as to extend outwardly of, and be biased away from, key  31 . Also, although only one protuberance and complementing recess are immediately depicted, any reasonable number of protuberances and complementing recesses can be employed if desired.  
      When key  31  is inserted into keyway  56  and protuberance  71  engages recess  72 , handle  30  is prevented from falling out of assembly  20 . Accordingly, a cyclist can use the bicycle with handle  30  in place. When the cyclist wants to park the bicycle and remove the front wheel, handle  30  may be used to release the wheel from the fork. However, if the cyclist removes handle  30  while the wheel is locked in place to the fork, it would be extremely difficult for someone without the key to remove the wheel. It is important to note that catch assembly  70  constitutes structure that functions apart from key  31  and keyway  56 , and plays no part in the function by and between key  31  and keyway  56 . In this regard, the provision of catch assembly  70  is structure that is distinct and different from key  31  and keyway  56 , in accordance with the principle of the invention.  
      Attention is now directed to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , in which there is seen an alternate embodiment of a quick release assembly of the invention, generally designated by the reference character  100 . In common with the previously described embodiment designated  20 , the immediate embodiment shares handle  30 , key  31 , piston  32 , bore  40  ( FIG. 13 ), axle  37 , cap  34  including ends  34 A and  34 B and extension  34 C, cam  33  including cam body  45  and ends  50  and  51  and keyway  56 , clamp  58 , spring  60 , pin  63  and other common structural components. However, cam  33  is fabricated of magnetic material and key  31  is fabricated of iron or steel. The magnetism of cam  33  has the property of attracting key  31 . In this way, a bicycle incorporating assembly  100  can be used and ridden with handle  30  attached without risk of handle  30  inadvertently becoming detached from cam  33 , with the magnetic coupling or engagement between key  31  and cam  33  functioning to prevent handle from inadvertently becoming detached from cam  33 . The only way to remove handle  30  is to pull on it with a force that is sufficient  31  to overcome the magnetic attraction between key  31  and cam  33 , detaching key  31  from cam  33 . Key  31  can be constructed from magnetic material and cam  33  from iron or steel if desired. Also, key  31  and cam  33  can each be constructed from magnets if desired for increasing the magnetic attraction between them. The magnetic attraction/engageability between key  30  of handle  30  and cam  33  is considered an alternate embodiment of a catch assembly of the invention. Because key  31  is considered part of handle  30 , the magnetic coupling attribute of assembly  100  is considered between and facilitated by handle  30  and cam  33 .  
      In sum regarding assembly  100 , when key  31  is inserted into keyway  56  and key  31  of handle  30  is magnetically coupled to cam  33 , handle  30  is prevented from falling out of assembly  100 . Accordingly, a cyclist can use the bicycle with handle  30  in place. When the cyclist wants to park the bicycle and remove the front wheel, handle  30  may be used to release the wheel from the fork. However, if the cyclist removes handle  30  while the wheel is locked in place to the fork, it would be extremely difficult for someone without the key to remove the wheel.  
      Attention is now directed to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , in which there is seen an alternate embodiment of a quick release assembly of the invention, generally designated by the reference character  110 . Looking to  FIG. 14 , and in common with the previously described embodiment designated  20 , the immediate embodiment shares handle  30 , key  31 , piston  32 , bore  40 , axle  37 , cap  34  including ends  34 A and  34 B and extension  34 C, cam  33  including cam body  45  ( FIG. 15 ), keyway  56 , pin  63  and other common structural components. However, assembly  110  is furnished with a catch assembly  111  that includes a pair of protuberances  120 , 121  carried by cam  33  and a pair of detachably engageable recesses  122 , 123  carried by key  31 . Protuberances  120 , 121  are elongate, extend into keyway  56  along either side of pin  63  and are the opposing sides of a U-shaped spring  124  attached to cam  33 . Spring  124  extends through openings  125 , 126  formed into and through end  50  of cam  30 , which actually blend into recess  130 , 131  ( FIG. 15 ) located at keyway  56  on either side of pin  63 . Protuberances  120 , 121  reside at recesses  130 , 131  and are biased toward or otherwise into keyway  56  away from recesses  130 , 131 , respectively. Recesses  122 , 123  are located on either side of key  31 .  
      Key  31  encounters protuberances  120 , 121  when inserted into keyway  56 . Exerting a force against key  31  toward keyway  56  that is sufficient to overcome the bias of protuberances  120 , 121  allows key  31  to push protuberances  120 , 121  away from keyway  56  forcing them into recesses  130 , 131 , respectively, allowing key  31  to pass thereby into keyway  56  until the point when protuberances  120 , 121  encounter recesses  122 , 123 , respectively. When protuberances  120 , 121  encounter recesses  122 , 123 , the bias provided by spring  124  forces protuberances  120 , 121  into engagement into and against recesses  122 , 123 , respectively, clamping and securing key  31  to cam  33 , securing handle  30  to cam  33  to prevent handle  30  from inadvertently falling away from cam  30 . In this way, a bicycle incorporating assembly  110  can be used and ridden with handle  30  attached without risk of handle  30  inadvertently becoming detached from cam  33 . The only way to remove handle  30  is to reverse the foregoing operation by taking up handle  30  and pulling on it with a force that is sufficient  31  to overcome the bias provided by spring  124 , detaching protuberances  120 , 121  from recesses  122 , 123 . The positioning of protuberances  120 , 121  and recesses  122 , 123  can be reversed, with recesses  122 , 123  carried by cam  33  at keyway  56  and protuberances  120 , 121  (spring  124 ) carried by key  31  so as to extend outwardly of, and be biased away from, key  31 .  
      In sum, when key  31  is inserted into keyway  56  and protuberances  120 , 121  engage recesses  122 , 123 , respectively, handle  30  is prevented from falling out of assembly  110 . Accordingly, a cyclist can use the bicycle with handle  30  in place. When the cyclist wants to park the bicycle and remove the front wheel, handle  30  may be used to release the wheel from the fork. However, if the cyclist removes handle  30  while the wheel is locked in place to the fork, it would be extremely difficult for someone without the key to remove the wheel.  
      This specification discloses preferred embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that although the various preferred embodiments of the invention are particularly useful in connection with bicycle wheels, they can be used for securing other removable parts of a bicycle, namely, bicycle seats to seat posts, seat posts to bicycle frames, etc. It will be understood that the embodiment designated  20  can be used at various locations along the extent of a bicycle for securing a removable part to a bicycle, and that extension  34 C can be disposed for preventing rotation of cap  34  relative to a selected structure of a bicycle, such as not only the fork of a bicycle but also the frame of a bicycle, a seat post of a bicycle, a removable part of a bicycle such as a seat or seat post or other removable part, a bracket or other device attaching a removable part to a bicycle, etc. This is also the case with the embodiment designated  100 .  
      Those skilled in the art will further recognize that changes and modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from nature and scope of the invention. Accordingly, any such changes and modifications to the preferred embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as assessed only by a fair interpretation of the ensuing claims.  
      Having fully described the various embodiments of the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is: