Composite rim for a bicycle wheel
View Patent ↗A composite rim for a bicycle wheel generally includes a radially outer tire-engaging portion, a radially inner spoke-engaging portion and first and second sidewalls. The second sidewall is spaced apart from the first sidewall. The first and second sidewalls extend between the tire engaging and spoke-engaging portions. The rim includes at least one through-hole and a pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement at the through-hole. The tire-engaging and spoke-engaging portions and first and second sidewalls form a toroid.
1. A composite rim for a bicycle wheel comprising:
a radially outer tire-engaging portion;
a radially inner spoke-engaging portion;
a first sidewall;
a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall, the first and second sidewalls extending between the tire engaging and spoke-engaging portions; and
at least one through-hole; and
a pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement intersecting the through-hole,
the tire-engaging and spoke-engaging portions and first and second sidewalls forming a toroid.
2. The composite rim of claim 1 wherein the at least one through-hole includes a plurality of through-holes spaced circumferentially along a line at the radially inner spoke-engaging portion, the pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement extending along the line of plurality of through-holes.
3. The composite rim of claim 2 wherein the plurality of through-holes are spoke holes.
4. The composite rim of claim 3 wherein the pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement includes a plurality of stitching rows, one of the plurality of stitching rows intersecting the line of through-holes, another of the plurality of stitching rows extending proximate the line of through-holes.
5. The composite rim of claim 4 wherein the radially inner spoke-engaging portion includes an interior surface and an exterior surface, the pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement includes a coverstitch pattern interlacing the plurality of stitching rows on the interior and exterior surfaces.
6. The composite rim of claim 5 wherein the composite rim is made of a plurality of prepreg fibrous sheets.
7. The composite rim of claim 6 wherein the pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement is formed with a thread.
8. The composite of claim 1 wherein the composite rim is made of a plurality of prepreg fibrous sheets.
9. The composite rim of claim 8 wherein the pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement is formed with a thread.
10. A composite rim for a bicycle wheel comprising:
a radially outer tire-engaging portion;
a radially inner spoke-engaging portion;
a first sidewall;
a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall, the first and second sidewalls extending between the tire engaging and spoke-engaging portions; and
at least one through-hole; and
a pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement at the through-hole,
the tire-engaging and spoke-engaging portions and first and second sidewalls forming a toroid wherein the through-hole has a perimeter and the pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement includes a perimeter stitching pattern of the through-hole.
11. The composite rim of claim 10 wherein the radially inner spoke-engaging portion includes an interior surface and an exterior surface, the through-hole having an edge, the perimeter stitching pattern interlacing a radial stitching along the interior and exterior surfaces and along the edge of the through-hole.
12. The composite rim of claim 11 wherein the at least one through-hole includes a plurality of through-holes spaced circumferentially along a line at the radially inner spoke-engaging portion.
13. The composite rim of claim 12 wherein the plurality of through-holes are spoke holes.
14. The composite rim of claim 13 wherein the composite rim is made of a plurality of prepreg fibrous sheets.
15. The composite rim of claim 14 wherein the pattern of through-thickness stitching reinforcement is formed with a thread.