Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of wheel mounts for bicycle frames and specifically to wheel mounts that can be converted to accept different styles of wheel axles.

Bicycle frames typically include a rear wheel mount (e.g., a left wheel mount and a right wheel mount) adapted to receive and be supported on a rear wheel axle. One type of rear wheel mount is commonly called an "open dropout" that includes an open slot adapted to receive what is often called a "quick-release (QR) axle" that can be tightened to secure the rear wheel hub to the dropout. Such QR axles are commonly <NUM> in diameter and are often paired with wheel hubs having widths of <NUM> or <NUM>, although other sizes do exist.

Another type of rear wheel mount is sometimes called a "closed dropout" or "thru-axle mount" and includes a through hole on one wheel mount and a threaded hole in the other wheel mount. The holes are frequently dimensioned to receive a <NUM> "thru-axle" that can be tightened to secure the wheel hub to the wheel supports. Thru axles are commonly paired with wheel hubs having OLD (over locknut distance) (between the dropouts or wheel supports) of <NUM> or <NUM>, although other sizes do exist.

Another type of rear wheel mount is adapted to receive a wheel having an internal gear hub ("IGH"). The IGH includes an IGH axle having a left axle end and a right axle end protruding from the hub. Like the above-described QR axles, IGH axles are commonly <NUM> in diameter, although <NUM> diameter is sometimes used. However, the ends of the <NUM> IGH axles that fit into the dropouts have <NUM> flats (<NUM> flats on a <NUM> axle) that prevent rotation of the axle relative to the dropouts. As such, the dropouts for IGH hubs have narrower slots that are adapted to receive the <NUM> flats on the IGH axles.

When the rear wheel mounts are to be used with a rear wheel having multiple gear cogs, the right wheel mount will typically be provided with a rear derailleur mount. But when using an IGH wheel, a rear derailleur is usually not used, so a rear derailleur mount is not needed.

<CIT> discloses a type of front fork and constitutes the prior art closest to the subject-matter of independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>. It discloses a bicycle front fork comprising:.

The present invention provides a bicycle frame as claimed in claim <NUM> and a method as claimed in claim <NUM>.

In summary, the present disclosure provides a bicycle comprising a front wheel, a rear wheel including a rear axle defining a wheel axis, and a frame supported on both the front wheel and the rear wheel. The frame includes a left wheel support and a right wheel support that are each adapted to receive and be supported by the rear axle. The left wheel support includes a left hole extending through the left wheel support in a direction parallel to the wheel axis, the left hole having a first width perpendicular to the wheel axis, and a left slot extending through the left wheel support and in communication with the left hole. The left slot has a second width smaller than the first width such that the left hole and left slot cooperatively form a left keyhole through the left wheel support. The right wheel support includes a right hole extending through the right wheel support in a direction parallel to the wheel axis, the right hole having a third width (e.g., larger than the first width) perpendicular to the wheel axis, and a right slot extending through the right wheel support and in communication with the right hole. The right slot has a fourth width (e.g., substantially the same as the second width) smaller than the third width such that the right hole and right slot cooperatively form a right keyhole through the right wheel support. In one embodiment, the bicycle further comprises a left spacer removably positioned in the left keyhole, the left spacer including a base portion (e.g., including a left axle hole with at least one drive flat) positioned in the left hole and a left torque arm positioned in the left slot. According to the invention, the bicycle comprises a right spacer including a right axle hole with at least one drive flat and a right torque arm removably positioned in the right slot. The right spacer includes an inner spacer including the torque arm and the right axle hole with two drive flats, and an outer spacer non-rotatably positioned between the inner spacer and the right wheel support. The outer spacer preferably includes an axle slot aligned with the right slot in the right wheel support.

In summary, the present disclosure also provides a method of converting the above bicycle having a first wheel type with a first axle to a bicycle having a second wheel type. The method comprises removing the first axle from the frame and from the first wheel type; inserting a second axle of the second wheel type in the left keyhole; sliding a left spacer onto the second axle and into the left keyhole; positioning a left torque arm of the left spacer in the left slot; and tightening the second axle to the frame. According to the invention, the method further includes sliding a right spacer onto the second axle and into the right keyhole, and positioning a right torque arm of the right spacer in the right slot.

<FIG> shows a bicycle <NUM> that includes a front wheel <NUM>, a rear wheel <NUM>, and a frame <NUM>. The frame <NUM> may include a head tube <NUM>, a front fork <NUM> rotationally supported by the head tube <NUM>, a top tube <NUM> connected to and extending rearward from the head tube <NUM>, and a down tube <NUM> connected to the head tube <NUM> below the top tube <NUM> and extending generally downward toward a bottom bracket (not shown) of the frame <NUM>. A seat tube <NUM> may extend upward from the bottom bracket and be connected to the top tube <NUM>, and a seat may be supported by the seat tube <NUM>. The bicycle <NUM> may also include a handlebar <NUM> for turning the front wheel <NUM> via the fork <NUM>, and the frame <NUM> may include a rear frame triangle <NUM> having rear wheel supports that support the rear wheel <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, each wheel <NUM>, <NUM> includes a hub <NUM>, a rim <NUM> supported by the hub <NUM> via spokes <NUM> (or other wheel reinforcement members), and a tire that is engaged with the rim <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate a thru axle wheel hub <NUM> having a hub axle <NUM> and a thru axle <NUM> that support the rear wheel for rotation about a wheel axis <NUM>. The illustrated rear wheel supports of the frame include a left wheel support <NUM> and a right wheel support <NUM> that are each adapted to receive and be supported by the thru axle <NUM>. The left wheel support <NUM> may include a left inside face <NUM> and a left guiding groove <NUM> to guide the hub axle <NUM> into the proper position on the left inside face <NUM>. The left wheel support <NUM> further includes a left keyhole <NUM> including a left hole <NUM> and a left slot <NUM>. The left hole <NUM> extends through the left wheel support <NUM> in a direction parallel to the wheel axis <NUM> and has a first width W1 perpendicular to the wheel axis <NUM>. The left slot <NUM> extends through the left wheel support and is in communication with the left hole <NUM>. The left slot <NUM> has a second width W2 that is smaller than the first width W1 such that the left hole <NUM> and left slot <NUM> cooperatively form the left keyhole <NUM> through the left wheel support <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the first width W1 is a diameter of about <NUM> and the second width W2 is about <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the right wheel support <NUM> comprises a right keyhole <NUM> including a right hole <NUM> and a right slot <NUM>. The right hole <NUM> extends through the right wheel support <NUM> in a direction parallel to the wheel axis <NUM> and has a third width W3 perpendicular to the wheel axis <NUM>. The right slot <NUM> extends through the right wheel support <NUM> and is in communication with the right hole <NUM>. The right slot <NUM> has a fourth width W4 smaller than the third width W3 such that the right hole <NUM> and right slot <NUM> cooperatively form the right keyhole <NUM> through the right wheel support <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the third width W3 is a diameter of about <NUM>, and the fourth width W4 is about <NUM>.

The bicycle illustrated in <FIG> further includes a derailleur hanger <NUM> (<FIG>) secured to the right wheel support <NUM>. The illustrated derailleur hanger <NUM> is a universal derailleur hanger ("UDH") having an inner hanger part <NUM> threaded with an outer screw <NUM> with the right wheel support <NUM> sandwiched in between. The inner hanger part <NUM> may include a cylindrical portion <NUM> dimensioned to be snugly positioned in the right hole <NUM> of the right wheel support <NUM>, the cylindrical part having an internal thread dimensioned to mate with external threads on the outer screw <NUM>. The inner hanger part <NUM> may further include a right inside face <NUM> and a right guiding groove <NUM> (<FIG>) to guide the hub axle <NUM> into the proper position on the right inside face <NUM>. The inner hanger part <NUM> may further include a threaded derailleur hole <NUM> for receiving and supporting a rear derailleur <NUM> (<FIG>). The outer screw <NUM> may further include a threaded opening <NUM> dimensioned to mate with a threaded end <NUM> of the thru axle <NUM>.

An outer perimeter <NUM> of the inner hanger part <NUM> engages with a cylindrical boss <NUM> on the right wheel support <NUM> to limit rotation of the derailleur hanger <NUM> relative to the frame. With the derailleur hanger <NUM> mounted to the right wheel support <NUM>, the distance between the left inside face <NUM> of the left wheel support <NUM> and the right inside face <NUM> of the derailleur hanger <NUM> defines a hub spacing of about <NUM>.

In the configuration of <FIG>, a rear wheel having a thru axle hub <NUM> is slid in between the right and left wheel supports <NUM>,<NUM> so that the hub axle <NUM> rests in the right and left guiding grooves <NUM>,<NUM>. The wheel and thru axle hub <NUM> may then be moved upward until the hub axle <NUM> is positioned between the left and right inside faces <NUM>,<NUM>. The thru axle <NUM> may then be inserted through the left wheel support <NUM> and hub axle <NUM> and then threaded into the outer screw <NUM> of the derailleur hanger <NUM>. Tightening the thru axle <NUM> to the outer screw <NUM> secures the rear wheel to the frame.

<FIG> illustrated the same bicycle frame and wheel supports <NUM>,<NUM>, but with different inserts to permit the securing of an IGH wheel having an IGH hub <NUM> and IGH axle <NUM>. The illustrated IGH axle <NUM> has an OLD of <NUM>, and each end of the IGH axle <NUM> has a threaded diameter D1 of <NUM> with opposing parallel flats <NUM> spaced from each other to define a width W5 of about <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the bicycle includes a left spacer <NUM> removably positioned in the left keyhole <NUM> from the left side. More specifically, the left spacer <NUM> includes a base portion <NUM> snugly positioned in the left hole <NUM> and a left torque arm <NUM> snugly positioned in the left slot <NUM> and having a thickness T1 of about <NUM>. The base portion <NUM> of the left spacer <NUM> may include an axle hole <NUM> having a generally cylindrical portion <NUM> with a diameter D2 of about <NUM> and opposing drive flats <NUM> that are spaced from each other by a width W6 of about <NUM> to thereby facilitate insertion of the IGH axle <NUM> into the axle hole <NUM>. A left nut <NUM> may be threaded onto the left end of the IGH axle <NUM> to secure the axle to the left spacer <NUM> and left wheel support <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the bicycle includes a right spacer <NUM> removably positioned in the right keyhole <NUM> on the inner side of the wheel support and a right nut <NUM> removably position in the right hole <NUM> from the outer side of the wheel support. The illustrated right spacer <NUM> comprises two parts: an outer spacer <NUM> and an inner spacer <NUM>. The outer spacer <NUM> may include a cylindrical protrusion <NUM> adapted to fit in the right hole <NUM> and an outer perimeter <NUM> dimensioned to mate with the recess <NUM> on the inner face of the right wheel support <NUM>. Rotation of the outer spacer <NUM> is further limited by the engagement of the cylindrical boss in a semicylindrical notch <NUM>, and the outer spacer <NUM> may be secured to the inside face of the right wheel support <NUM> using a screw <NUM> threaded into the cylindrical boss <NUM>. The outer spacer <NUM> includes an axle slot <NUM> aligned with the right slot <NUM> in the right wheel support <NUM>. The axle slot <NUM> may have a width W7 of about <NUM> to receive the portion of the IGH axle having the parallel flats <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the inner spacer <NUM> includes a right torque arm <NUM> removably positioned in the right slot <NUM> and an outer perimeter <NUM> dimensioned to mate with a recess <NUM> on an inner face of the outer spacer <NUM> to limit rotation of the inner spacer <NUM> relative to the outer spacer <NUM>. The right torque arm <NUM> may have a thickness T2 of about <NUM> to facilitate removable insertion into the right slot <NUM> of the right keyhole <NUM>. The inner spacer <NUM> includes an axle hole <NUM> having a generally cylindrical portion with a diameter of about <NUM> and opposing drive flats that are spaced from each other by a width of about <NUM> to thereby facilitate insertion of the IGH axle <NUM> into the axle hole <NUM>. An inside face <NUM> of the inner spacer <NUM> may provide a surface against which the IGH axle <NUM> can be tightened.

The right nut <NUM> may include a cylindrical portion <NUM> adapted to be removably inserted into the right hole <NUM> of the right keyhole <NUM>, and a larger portion <NUM> that limits the amount of insertion of the right nut <NUM> into the right hole <NUM>. The cylindrical portion <NUM> may include a threaded opening <NUM> dimensioned to be threaded onto a threaded end of the IGH axle <NUM>.

With the left spacer <NUM> and right spacer <NUM> mounted to the wheel supports <NUM>,<NUM> as shown in <FIG>, the distance between the left inside face <NUM> of the left wheel support <NUM> and the inside face <NUM> of the right spacer <NUM> defines an OLD hub spacing of about <NUM>.

In the configuration of <FIG>, the outer spacer <NUM> may be attached in the appropriate position on the inside face of the right wheel support <NUM> (e.g., using the screw <NUM> inserted through the notch <NUM> and into a threaded boss <NUM> in the right wheel support <NUM>). The inner spacer <NUM> may then slide onto the right side of the IGH axle <NUM>. The entire IGH hub <NUM> (with IGH axle <NUM>) may then slide into the left and right keyholes <NUM>,<NUM> in the right and left wheel supports <NUM>, <NUM>. This results in the inner spacer <NUM> sliding in the recess <NUM> of the outer spacer <NUM>. The left spacer <NUM> may then slide over the left end of the IGH axle <NUM> until the left spacer <NUM> is fully seated into the left keyhole <NUM>. The left nut <NUM> and right nut <NUM> may then be threaded onto the left end and right end of the IGH axle <NUM>, respectively. Tightening of the left nut <NUM> and right nut <NUM> may result in securement of the IGH hub <NUM> to the left and right wheel supports <NUM>,<NUM>.

In can be appreciated from the above that, by using different parts and spacers, the above-described wheel supports can be selectively adapted to be used with either a thru axle wheel or an IGH wheel. For example, to make the bicycle frame suitable for a thru axle <NUM>, the UDH <NUM> is secured to the right wheel support <NUM> by inserting the cylindrical portion <NUM> of the inner hanger part <NUM> into the right hole <NUM> of the right wheel support <NUM> and then threading the outer screw <NUM> into the inner hanger part <NUM> with the right wheel support <NUM> sandwiched in between. The wheel with the thru axle wheel hub <NUM> is them slid up in between the left and right wheel supports <NUM>,<NUM>, and the thru axle <NUM> is inserted from the left and threaded securely into the outer screw <NUM>.

To convert the thru axle arrangement to an IGH arrangement, the thru axle <NUM> is unthreaded and removed, the wheel is slid downward from between the wheel supports <NUM>,<NUM>, and the outer screw <NUM> is unthreaded from the inner hanger part <NUM> to permit the UDH to be completely removed from the right wheel support <NUM>. This leaves the wheel supports <NUM>,<NUM> bare and without any spacers.

Next, the cylindrical protrusion <NUM> of the outer spacer <NUM> is positioned in the right hole <NUM> of the right wheel support <NUM>, and the screw <NUM> is used to secure the outer spacer <NUM> to the right wheel support <NUM>. The inner spacer <NUM> is then slid onto the right side of the IGH axle <NUM>, and the entire wheel with IGH hub <NUM> may then slide into the left and right keyholes <NUM>,<NUM> in the right and left wheel supports <NUM>,<NUM>. This results in the inner spacer <NUM> sliding into the recess <NUM> of the outer spacer <NUM>. The left spacer <NUM> may then slide over the left end of the IGH axle <NUM> until the left spacer <NUM> is seated into the left keyhole <NUM>. The left nut <NUM> and right nut <NUM> may then be threaded onto the left end and right end of the IGH axle <NUM>, respectively. Tightening of the left nut <NUM> and right nut <NUM> may result in securement of the IGH hub <NUM> to the left and right wheel supports <NUM>, <NUM>.

In some examples, and in general, the UDH <NUM> may be replaced by, or transformed into, one or more spacers (e.g., blank spacers) that fill the volume of the UDH <NUM> in configurations where having a derailleur may be undesirable. For example, a spacer or spacers may be used for an axle hub (e.g., for the thru axle wheel hub <NUM>, and/or other axle hubs). The spacers may, for example, be spacers such as those described above, or other spacers.

Claim 1:
A bicycle frame comprising:
a left wheel support (<NUM>) including:
a left hole (<NUM>) extending through the left wheel support (<NUM>) in a direction parallel to a wheel axis (<NUM>), the left hole (<NUM>) having a first width (W1) perpendicular to the wheel axis (<NUM>); and
a left slot (<NUM>) extending through the left wheel support (<NUM>) and in communication with the left hole (<NUM>), the left slot (<NUM>) having a second width (W2) smaller than the first width (W1) such that the left hole (<NUM>) and left slot (<NUM>) cooperatively form a left keyhole (<NUM>) through the left wheel support (<NUM>),
a right wheel support (<NUM>) including:
a right hole (<NUM>) extending through the right wheel support (<NUM>) in a direction parallel to the wheel axis (<NUM>), the right hole (<NUM>) having a third width (W3) perpendicular to the wheel axis (<NUM>); and
a right slot (<NUM>) extending through the right wheel support (<NUM>) and in communication with the right hole (<NUM>), the right slot (<NUM>) having a fourth width (W4) smaller than the third width (W3) such that the right hole (<NUM>) and right slot (<NUM>) cooperatively form a right keyhole (<NUM>) through the right wheel support (<NUM>), and
a right spacer (<NUM>) including:
a right torque arm (<NUM>) removably positioned in the right slot (<NUM>);
a right axle hole (<NUM>) having a drive flat;
an inner spacer (<NUM>) including the right torque arm (<NUM>) and the right axle hole; and
an outer spacer (<NUM>) non-rotatably positioned between the inner spacer (<NUM>) and the right wheel support (<NUM>), the outer spacer (<NUM>) including an axle slot (<NUM>) aligned with the right slot (<NUM>) in the right wheel support (<NUM>).