Patent ID: 7770492

Claim:
A bicycle crank assembly, comprising: a. a hollow spindle, said hollow spindle comprising a first hexagonal untapered end and a second untapered end; b. a first crank arm disposed at said first hexagonal untapered end; c. a second crank arm disposed diametrically opposite said first crank arm at said second untapered end, d. said first and said second crank arms each fitted with an internally tapered coupling socket at one end, said internally tapered coupling socket including a plurality of inner contact surfaces arranged in a hexagonal configuration, said contact surfaces of said first and second crank arms defining a decreasing inner cross-section in a direction away from said first and second hexagonal untapered ends, respectively, of said hollow spindle, said first and second hexagonal untapered ends being radially aligned with said hexagonal inner contact surfaces of said first and second crank arms, respectively; e. a first sleeve configured for operative coupling between said first crank arm and said first hexagonal untapered end of said hollow spindle; f. a second sleeve configured for operative coupling between said second crank arm and said second hexagonal untapered end of said hollow spindle; g. said first and second sleeves each being comprised of a cluster of individual wedge-shaped shims, each of said individual wedge-shaped shims comprising a first free end, a second free end opposite said first free end, and an intermediate portion in between said first free end and said second free end, said individual wedge-shaped shims being loosely connected to each other at said intermediate portion via a plurality of flexible straps spaced apart from said first free end and said second free end; and to form a flat linked chain, the flat linked chain comprising a flexibility at each strap to form a polygon having an O-shaped cross-section, said wedge-shaped shim cluster having a hexagonal configuration which is tapered to conform to the shape of the internally tapered coupling socket of said first and second crank arms, respectively, said tapered wedge-shaped shim cluster of said first and second sleeve including an inner surface configured for frictional contact with said first and second hexagonal untapered end, respectively, and an outer surface configured for frictional contact with said hexagonal inner contact surfaces of said first and second crank arm, respectively, said frictional contact occurring during assembly of said first and second bicycle crank arms.