GB2166819A - Rim wiper - Google Patents

Abstract

A rim wiper is securely attached to bicycle brake calipers positioning a wiper block near the wheel rim. When the brakes are applied in wet weather the wiper block is pressed against the wheel rim, in front of the existing standard brake blocks, and wipes the rim of water allowing the standard brakes to operate more efficiently than they normally would in wet weather. To reduce wear on the soft material of the wiper block, this can be pivoted away from the wheel rim in dry weather, until required, without removing the rim wiper from the calipers, by sliding arm 2 against bias of spring 4 thus removing the bifurcated end of the arm from under the head of pin 6 and relocating the bifurcated end under the head of pin 7. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rim wiper This invention relates to a rim wiper.

Most bicycles use rubber or leather material for their brake blocks. In wet weather water on the rims prevent these brakes from working efficiently, and so this increases the breaking distance.

According to the present invention there is provided a rim wiper comprising of a brake caliper attachment, which is permanently fixed to the bicycle and has a wiper block that can be pivoted to a position so it will come in contact with the wheel rim, in front of the normal break block, when the brakes are used. In dry weather this wiper block can be pivoted away from the wheel rim to save wear. This wiper block is replaceable.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective the rim wiper fitted to a rear bicycle wheel, with the wiper block in use.

Figure 2 shows the rim wiper block pivoted and stored away from the wheel rim.

Refering to the drawing the rim wiper comprises a fixing plate 1, a pivot arm 2 and a wiper block 3 and a spring 4.

The pivot arm is fixed to the fixing plate through a slot with pin 5, allowing the pivot arm to slide and pivot. The open end of the pivot arm slides under pin 6 or 7 in the fixing plate and is held there by the action of the spring 4.

The wiper block is attached to the other end, the non-open end, of the pivot arm, with adjustable nuts allowing it to be set at the correct distance from the wheel rim.

The spring 4 is attached to the wiper block and pin 6 on the fixing plate. The pivot arm as shown in Fig. 1 can be slid away from under pin 6, pivoted down and slit under pin 7 as shown in Fig. 2.

The rim wiper is fixed to the already fitted bicycle brake caliper, one to each side of the wheel, and is attached by using a clamp as part of the rim wiper onto the caliper, or as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by using the existing brake blocks whose studding passes through the fixing plate and is held in position by the brake block nut.

To use the rim wiper on the front bicycle wheel a modified fixing plate is required to bypass the front wheel forks.

1. A rim wiper comprising a fixing plate which can be attached to bicycle brake calipers, a pivot arm which can slide along the fixing plate, a spring to hold the pivot arm in two positions and a wiper block attached to the pivot arm which is replaceable and adjustable to the wheel rim.

2. A rim wiper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fixing plate can be attached to bicycle front brake calipers and bypass the front wheel forks and so position the wiper block in the correct position near the wheel rim.

3. A rim wiper as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the fixing plate includes a clamp for fixing the rim wiper to bicycle brake calipers.

4. A rim wiper substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1-2 of the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Rim wiper This invention relates to a rim wiper. Most bicycles use rubber or leather material for their brake blocks. In wet weather water on the rims prevent these brakes from working efficiently, and so this increases the breaking distance. According to the present invention there is provided a rim wiper comprising of a brake caliper attachment, which is permanently fixed to the bicycle and has a wiper block that can be pivoted to a position so it will come in contact with the wheel rim, in front of the normal break block, when the brakes are used. In dry weather this wiper block can be pivoted away from the wheel rim to save wear. This wiper block is replaceable. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective the rim wiper fitted to a rear bicycle wheel, with the wiper block in use. Figure 2 shows the rim wiper block pivoted and stored away from the wheel rim. Refering to the drawing the rim wiper comprises a fixing plate 1, a pivot arm 2 and a wiper block 3 and a spring 4. The pivot arm is fixed to the fixing plate through a slot with pin 5, allowing the pivot arm to slide and pivot. The open end of the pivot arm slides under pin 6 or 7 in the fixing plate and is held there by the action of the spring 4. The wiper block is attached to the other end, the non-open end, of the pivot arm, with adjustable nuts allowing it to be set at the correct distance from the wheel rim. The spring 4 is attached to the wiper block and pin 6 on the fixing plate. The pivot arm as shown in Fig. 1 can be slid away from under pin 6, pivoted down and slit under pin 7 as shown in Fig. 2. The rim wiper is fixed to the already fitted bicycle brake caliper, one to each side of the wheel, and is attached by using a clamp as part of the rim wiper onto the caliper, or as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by using the existing brake blocks whose studding passes through the fixing plate and is held in position by the brake block nut. To use the rim wiper on the front bicycle wheel a modified fixing plate is required to bypass the front wheel forks. CLAIMS

1. A rim wiper comprising a fixing plate which can be attached to bicycle brake calipers, a pivot arm which can slide along the fixing plate, a spring to hold the pivot arm in two positions and a wiper block attached to the pivot arm which is replaceable and adjustable to the wheel rim.

2. A rim wiper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fixing plate can be attached to bicycle front brake calipers and bypass the front wheel forks and so position the wiper block in the correct position near the wheel rim.

3. A rim wiper as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the fixing plate includes a clamp for fixing the rim wiper to bicycle brake calipers.

4. A rim wiper substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1-2 of the accompanying drawing.