Bicycle wheel securing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10850561-B2
Application number	US-201615220343-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2016
Priority date	Jul 26, 2016
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A bicycle wheel securing device comprises a shaft, an axial abutment structure, a bicycle-body engaging structure, a manual actuator, and a shaft-end retaining structure. The shaft has a first shaft end, a second shaft end, and a longitudinal center axis. The manual actuator is operatively connected to the axial abutment structure to bias the axial abutment structure against a first wheel attachment part of a bicycle body in response to operation of the manual actuator in a securing state where the bicycle-body engaging structure is engaged with a second wheel attachment part of the bicycle body. The shaft-end retaining structure is at least partly disposed at the second shaft end to retain the second shaft end in the first wheel attachment part in a maintenance state where the second shaft end is positioned in the first wheel attachment part of the bicycle body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle wheel securing device comprising:
a shaft having a first shaft end, a second shaft end, and a longitudinal center axis, the shaft extending between the first shaft end and the second shaft end along the longitudinal center axis;
an axial abutment structure disposed at the first shaft end;
a bicycle-body engaging structure disposed at the second shaft end;
a manual actuator operatively connected to the axial abutment structure to bias the axial abutment structure against a first wheel attachment part of a bicycle body in response to operation of the manual actuator in a securing state where the bicycle-body engaging structure is engaged with a second wheel attachment part of the bicycle body; and
a shaft-end retaining structure at least partly disposed at the second shaft end to retain the second shaft end in the first wheel attachment part in a maintenance state where the second shaft end is positioned in the first wheel attachment part of the bicycle body,
wherein the shaft-end retaining structure comprises a first retaining structure and a second retaining structure, the first retaining structure is disposed at the first wheel attachment part, and the second retaining structure is at least partly disposed at the second shaft end to be engaged with the first retaining structure in the maintenance state,
wherein a middle of the shaft has a first outermost diameter and the second retaining structure has a second outermost diameter, the second outermost diameter does not exceed the first outermost diameter, and
wherein the shaft-end retaining structure is configured to limit displacement of the shaft in an axial direction parallel to the longitudinal center axis in the maintenance state where the second shaft end is positioned in the first wheel attachment part of the bicycle body.

2. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the shaft-end retaining structure includes an elastic retaining member.

3. A bicycle wheel securing device comprising:
a shaft having a first shaft end, a second shaft end, and a longitudinal center axis, the shaft extending between the first shaft end and the second shaft end along the longitudinal center axis;
an axial abutment structure disposed at the first shaft end;
a bicycle-body engaging structure disposed at the second shaft end;
a manual actuator operatively connected to the axial abutment structure to bias the axial abutment structure against a first wheel attachment part of a bicycle body in response to operation of the manual actuator in a securing state where the bicycle-body engaging structure is engaged with a second wheel attachment part of the bicycle body; and
a shaft-end retaining structure at least partly disposed at the second shaft end to retain the second shaft end in the first wheel attachment part in a maintenance state where the second shaft end is positioned in the first wheel attachment part of the bicycle body,
wherein the shaft-end retaining structure comprises a first retaining structure and a second retaining structure, the first retaining structure is disposed at the first wheel attachment part, and the second retaining structure is at least partly disposed at the second shaft end to be engaged with the first retaining structure in the maintenance state,
wherein a middle of the shaft has a first outermost diameter and the second retaining structure has a second outermost diameter, the second outermost diameter does not exceed the first outermost diameter,
wherein the shaft-end retaining structure includes an elastic retaining member, and
wherein the elastic retaining member comprises a snap ring.

4. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 2 , wherein
the shaft-end retaining structure includes a recess provided on the second shaft end to receive the elastic retaining member in a state where the shaft-end retaining structure retains the second shaft end in the first wheel attachment part.

5. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 4 , wherein
the recess extends in a circumferential direction defined about the longitudinal center axis.

6. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the shaft-end retaining structure includes
a projection attached to one of the first wheel attachment part and the second shaft end, and
a recess provided on the other of the first wheel attachment part and the second shaft end to receive the projection in a state where the shaft-end retaining structure retains the second shaft end in the first wheel attachment part.

7. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 6 , wherein
the projection includes a plunger.

8. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 6 , wherein
the recess extends in a circumferential direction defined about the longitudinal center axis.

9. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 6 , wherein
the recess extends in the axial direction parallel to the longitudinal center axis and has a closed end in the second shaft end.

10. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 6 , wherein
the projection includes a set screw attached to the first wheel attachment part, and
the recess is provided on the shaft to extend in the axial direction parallel to the longitudinal center axis and has a closed end in the second shaft end.

11. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the shaft-end retaining structure includes
a magnet attached to one of the first wheel attachment part and the second shaft end, and
a magnetic substance attached to the other of the first wheel attachment part and the second shaft end.

12. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 11 , wherein
the magnet is attached to the second shaft end, and
the magnetic substance is attached to the first wheel attachment part.

13. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 12 , wherein
the magnetic substance has an annular shape.

14. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the manual actuator includes a lever pivotally mounted to the first shaft end, and
the manual actuator is operatively connected to the axial abutment structure to bias the axial abutment structure against the first wheel attachment part in response to a pivotal movement of the lever.

15. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the shaft-end retaining structure includes the bicycle-body engaging structure.

16. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the bicycle-body engaging structure includes a threaded portion provided on the second shaft end.

17. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 16 , wherein
the threaded portion includes a male thread configured to be screwed in a female thread provided on the second wheel attachment part.

18. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 17 , wherein
the shaft-end retaining structure includes the male thread.

19. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 1 , wherein
an axial distance defined between the shaft-end retaining structure and a shaft tip of the second shaft end in the axial direction parallel to the longitudinal center axis ranges from 5.0 mm to 35.0 mm.

20. The bicycle wheel securing device according to claim 19 , wherein
the axial distance ranges from 5.0 mm to 20.0 mm.

21. A bicycle wheel securing device comprising:
a shaft having a first shaft end, a second shaft e

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Kamada Kenji

Classifications

• B60B27/026 Primary

  comprising quick release devices · CPC title

• B62K25/02

  for mounting axles rigidly on cycle frame or fork, e.g. adjustably · CPC title

• B60B2900/541

  Servicing · CPC title

• B60B2310/306

  by clamping or wedging, e.g. by clamping inserts as joining means · CPC title

• B60B2900/311

  Rigidity or stiffness · CPC title