GB2329616A

GB2329616A - Wheel hub for a bicycle

Info

Publication number: GB2329616A
Application number: GB9720790A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yung-Tang Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-30
Filing date: 1997-09-30
Publication date: 1999-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-30
Also published as: GB2329616B; NL1007175C1; GB9720790D0

Abstract

A hub comprises a disc 12 with a peripheral flange 121 provided with L-shaped openings 13 for mounting the inner ends of spokes (20, Fig 2). The openings 13 have depressions 131 at their blind ends. Cups 14, 16 are connected to the disc 12 by projections 11. A rim (30, Figs 2, 4) for connection to the hub by the spokes has a circular shape made by bending a strip with two end faces which are connected by pins (321, Fig 5) inserted in holes (32) and by a pin (363) inserted in holes (362).

Description

A HUB FOR A BICYCLE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present Invention relates to a hub for a bicycle, and more particularly to a hub which has a disc with a flange integrally and circumferentially formed thereon and having a plurality of operings defined therein, such that nipples of spokes are able to be respectively and alternatively inserted into each correspcnding hole, whereby the purposes of reducing wind resistance, recucing weight of a wheel and reducing difficulty in maintenance of a wheel can be accomplished.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, a conventional wheel (not numbered) of a bicycle (not shown) includes a hub 40 with a pair of flanges 42, 43 respectively formed on each of two opposed faces of the hub 4... Each flange 42, 43 has a respective cup 421, 431 extending outwardly therefrom. A passage 41 extends through the hub 40. Each up 421, 431 defines a recess (not shown) in communication witft the passage 41, and receives a bearing race (not shown). The cup 421 has an external thread 45 for receiving a free-wheel sproc. < et (not shown). A plurality of holes 422, 432 are respectively cefined near a periphery of the flanges 42, 43 for a plurality of spokes 423, 433 to respectively extend therethrough, the spokes 423, 433 further are securely fixed to a rim 50. Each spcke 423, 433 respectively has a hooked end to be secured in a respective hole 422, 432 and a threaded end to which a nipple 44 engages after the nipple 44 has been inserted into the rim 50. A1 axle (not shown) extends through the passage 41 and is clamped -o rear forks of the bicycle by a pair of nuts (not shown) threauingly mounted to the axle, whereby the wheel may revolve within the rear forks.

The freewheel sprockets presently fitted to bicycles often have six, seven, and even eight individual sprockets and the wheel has to be constructed to have a dished, asymmetric spoking to accommodate the width of the freewheel. Accordingly, as can be seen in Fig. 6, the spokes 423 extending between the rim 50 and the flange 42 have a shorter length than the spokes 433 extending between the rim 50 and the flange 43 which results in differing tensions between the spokes 423, 433. Accordingly, assembly and maintenance of such a dished wheel are difficult.

Furthermore, the quantity and arrangement of such spokes 423, 433 mean unnecessarily high weight and wind resistance occur.

From the previous description, it is understood that prior structure of a hub having two flanges and a rim adapted to be used with the hub will no longer satisfactorily meet the needs of a user.

Thus, a hub having a single flange for use in a bicycle and constructed in accordance with the present invention tend to mitigate and/pr obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the invention is to provide a hub having only a single disc with a flange integrally and circumferentially formed thereon and having a plurality of openings defined therein, two circular projections each integrally and concentrically formed on a respective one of two sides of the flange, and two cups each integrally formed on a free end of a respective one of the circular projections.

Another objective of the invention is to produce a hub having low wind resistance coefficient, so that the hub will help to increase the efficiency of a bicycle having the hub of the invention mounted thereon.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be better understood with reference of the accompanying drawings wherein; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hub constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the hub in connection with a rim which is partly in cross section; Fig. 3 is a side view of the hub of the invention and the rim; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the rim in connection with one of the spokes; Fig. 5 is an end view of the rim of a wheel of the invention; Fig. 6 is a plane view of a conventional hub and a rim with spokes connected therebetween; Fig. 7 is a front view of the hub and the rim shown in Fig.

6; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Fig. 1, a hub 10, particularly a rear wheel hub of a bicycle, constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown. The hub 10 includes a single circular disc 12, a flange 121 securely engaged on a circumference of the disc 12 and having a plurality of L-shaped openings 13 alternatively defined in a circumference thereof, two circular projections 11 each integrally formed on a respective one of two opposite side faces of the disc 12 and two cups 14, 16 each integrally formed with an end of each of the projections 11. An depression 131 is further defined in a blind end of each of the L-shaped openings 13. It is noted that the cup 16 is further provided with a threaded exterior portion 17.

Referring to Fig. 2 and taking Fig. 3 for reference, the hub 10 is in connection with a rim 30 by means of a plurality of spokes 20, each spoke 20 having a nipple 22 which threadingly engages on a first end thereof and a hook 21 formed on a second end thereof. In assembly, firstly, each hook 21 of the second end of each of the spokes 20 is inserted into a respective one of the openings 13 of the disc 12 and rested within the depression 131 and then each nipple 22 is inserted into the rim 30 to engage with a respective one of the spokes 20, such that the rim 30 and the hub 10 are securely connected with each other via the spokes 20.

For a better understanding of the relationship between the spokes 20 and the rim 30, it is preferred to take Fig. 4 as reference. From a cross sectional view of the rim 30, it is noted that the rim 30 is configured to have a base plate 31 having a centrally defined first hole 311 therein, two rivet holes 32 respectively defined on either side of the base plate 31, two inclined side walls 34 each formed by an extension of a periphery defining each of the rivet holes 32 in a tangential direction, a middle plate 35 and a bottom plate 36 both integrally and respectively formed on a inclined end of each of the inclined side walls 34 and respectively having a centrally defined second hole 351, and a third hole 361 corresponding to the second hole 351.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, each hook 21 of the spokes 20 is firstly inserted into a respective one of the openings 13 of the flange 121, and then the other end of the spoke 20 projects through the corresponding third hole 361. Furthermore, the hook 21 of each spole 20 points in a direction opposite to the two adjacent spokes 20. Each nipple 22 is inserted into a respective one of the first holes 311, a corresponding one of the second holes 351 and then is threadingly engaged with the corresponding spoke 20. The nipple 22 has a polygonal outer periphery which gives access to a wrench whereby the nipple 22 is turned to tighten the spoke 20.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it is noted that the rim 30 has a circular shape achieved by bending a strop with two end faces, such that for a purpose of securing the connection between the two end faces of the rim 30, a connection hole 362 is defined between the middle plate 35 and the bottom plate 36 of each end face of the rim 30. Therefore, when the rim 30 is assembled, two first pins 321 are respectively and partially inserted into a respective one of the two rivet holes 32 and a second pin 363 is inserted into the connection hole 362, after which the first pins 321 and the second pin 363 are respectively inserted into the remaining rivet holes 321 and the remaining connection hole 362, whereby the end faces of the rim 30 are securely connected.

From the description above, it is noted that because there is only a single disc 12 provided to the hub 10, the torque is able to be evenly acted on each of the spokes 20 when being tightened and thus loads of the bicycle applied on each of the spokes 20 are balanced. Although the foregoing description has described a rear wheel of a bicycle, it is to be noted that the present invention can be equally applied to a front wheel of a bicycle.

From the description set forth, the invention provides a hub 10 having only a single disc 12 having a plurality of openings 13 chiastically defined in a periphery of the disc 12, so that each of the spokes 20 is able to be alternatively inserted into one of the openings 13. Due to the alternate arrangement of the spokes 20, an equal torque is able to be applied thereon.

Furthermore, a conventional hub 40 usually has more spokes than the invention does. Therefore, a great reduction in labor cost is achieved when the wheel is assembled.

Still a further advantage of the invention is that since the torque of the invention is equal, there is no need to consequently adjust the torque of the spokes when the wheel of the bicycle is found biased to a certain direction.

Another advantage of the invention is that the connection of the rim is configured to have a so-called "three-point' connection, which is more secure than that of the conventional one.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the objects hereinbefore set forth may readily and efficiently be attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A hub for a bicycle comprising: a disc having a flange securely formed on a circumference of said disc and a plurality of L-shaped openings alternatively defined in a periphery of said flange; two circular projections respectively formed on one of two opposed free ends of said flange; to cups each integrally formed on a respective one of said circular projections.

2. The hub as claimed in claim 1, In which a passage is defined between said flange, said circular projection and said cups.

3. The hub as clained n claim 1, in wnich each of two d faces of a rim define therein two rivet holes and a connection hole for achieving a secure engagement thereof.

4. The hub as claimed in claim 1, wherein a depression is defined in a blind end of each of said Lshaped openings.

4. The hub as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said cup s provided with outer threading.

5. The hub as claimed in claim 1, wherein a depression is further defined in a blind end of each of said L-shaped openings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A hub for a bicycle comprising: a disc having a flange securely formed on a circumference of said disc and a plurality of L-shaped openings alternately defined in a periphery of said flange; two circular projections respectively formed on one of two opposed side faces of said disc; two cups each integrally formed on a free end of said circular projections.

2. The hub as claimed in claim 1, in which a passage is defined to extend through all of said cups, said circular projections and said disc.

3. The hub as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said cups is provided with outer threading.