IP Library Granted Patent US 11,198,323
Granted Patent B2
US 11,198,323 · App. 16/191,991 · Granted Dec 14, 2021

Cycling aero foil system

Inventor: Donald A. Sheff (Mill Valley, CA)
Assignee: COEFFICIENT CYCLING LLC
B60B21/026B60B21/02B60B1/003B60B1/02B60B2900/1216
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,198,323
App. No.
16/191,991
Granted
Dec 14, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The coefficient cycling aero foil system is designed to reduce drag and turbulence from a tire and spokes used to support a bicycle wheel. The system is integrated into a rim on a bicycle wheel which allows for increased forward momentum by cutting drag and reducing wheel turbulence that occurs during the rotation of a bicycle wheel. The foils may be strategically placed for optimum aerodynamic wind flow and are precisely angled to force wind past the foil creating increased forward momentum.

Claims (44)

1. A cycling aero foil system comprising

a wheel rim having

a tire engaging portion; and

an inner periphery;

a plurality of spokes positioned around the inner periphery of the wheel rim, the wheel rim being configured to receive a tire at said engaging portion;

a plurality of air foils configured in a series around said inner periphery of said wheel rim;

wherein the plurality of air foils each comprises a convex aerodynamic shape having a leading edge and a trailing edge and the leading edge is positioned in front of each of the spokes and the trailing edge is positioned behind each of the spokes;

wherein said plurality of air foils are placed for optimum wind flow and are angled to force wind past said air foils creating increased forward momentum while a bicycle is in forward motion; and

wherein said air foils reduce drag and increase forward momentum by cutting turbulence created when said tire spins.

2. The cycling aero foil system of claim 1 wherein the wheel rim comprises a plurality of apertures configured to receive the first end of the plurality of spokes.

3. A cycling aero foil system comprising

a wheel rim having

a tire engaging portion; and

an inner periphery;

a plurality of spokes positioned around the inner periphery of the wheel rim, the wheel rim configured to receive a tire at the engaging portion;

a plurality of air foils configured in a series around the inner periphery of the wheel rim;

wherein the plurality of air foils each comprise a convex aerodynamic shape having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge of each of the plurality of air foils comprising a greater thickness than the trailing edge, and the plurality of air foils is positioned in a series with the trailing edge abutting the leading edge of another one of the air foils and a first end of the plurality of spokes is positioned between the trailing edge of one of the air foils and the leading edge of another one of the air foils;

wherein the plurality of air foils is placed for optimum wind flow and is angled to force wind past the air foils creating increased forward momentum while a bicycle is in forward motion; and

wherein the air foils reduce drag and increase forward momentum by cutting turbulence created when the wheel spins.

4. The cycling aero foil system of claim 3 , wherein a second end of each of the plurality of spokes is attached to a hub associated with the wheel rim.

5. The cycling aero foil system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of spokes comprises 20 individual spokes with each of the plurality of air foils being approximately eighty millimeters in length.

6. The cycling aero foil system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of spokes comprises 24 individual spokes with each of the plurality of air foils being approximately sixty millimeters in length.

7. A cycling aero foil system comprising

a wheel rim having

a tire engaging portion; and

an inner periphery;

a plurality of spokes positioned around said inner periphery of the wheel rim, the wheel rim configured to receive a tire at said engaging portion;

a plurality of air foils configured in a series around the inner periphery of the wheel rim;

wherein the plurality of air foils each comprise a convex aerodynamic shape having a leading edge and a trailing edge;

wherein the plurality of air foils is placed for optimum aerodynamic flow and is angled to force wind past the air foils creating increased forward momentum while a bicycle is in forward motion;

wherein sad the air foils reduce drag and increase forward momentum by cutting turbulence created when the tire spins;

wherein the leading edge of each of said plurality of air foils comprise a greater thickness than the trailing edge;

wherein the plurality of air foils is positioned in a series with the trailing edge abutting the leading edge of another one of the air foils;

wherein a first end of the plurality of spokes is positioned between the trailing edge of one of the air foils and the leading edge of another one of the air foils;

wherein a second end of each of the plurality of spokes is attached to a hub of the wheel rim;

wherein the plurality of air foils is integral to the wheel rim;

wherein each of the plurality of air foils comprises a convex bulbous profile;

wherein each of said plurality of air foils comprises a rounded leading edge;

wherein each of the plurality of air foils comprises a sharp trailing edge;

wherein an upper surface and a lower surface of each of the plurality of air foils comprises a symmetrical curvature;

wherein the plurality of air foils are comprised of carbon fiber;

wherein the plurality of air foils are configured continuously along an entire said inner periphery of the wheel rim;

wherein the leading edge is positioned in front of each of said spokes and the trailing edge is positioned behind each of the spokes; and

wherein the wheel rim comprises a plurality of apertures configured to receive the first end of the plurality of spokes.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62586710 · Nov 15, 2017
Related Publication 20190143747A1 · May 16, 2019