A rim assembly for a bicycle wheel is disclosed. The rim assembly comprises: a rim configured to receive a rim component in an external surface thereof, and; a rim component located in the external surface of the rim, wherein the rim component forms part of the external surface of the rim, and wherein; the rim component has a lower density than the rim. A rim, insertable rim component and methods of manufacturing such a rim assembly are also disclosed.

A vehicle wheel rim including: a tire bed surface having laterally spaced first and second bead seats that are configured to support respective first and second beads of a mating tire; and a rim well laterally positioned between the first and said second bead seats and including a circumferential first step edge; and a first lateral offset region laterally positioned between the first bead seat and the first step edge, with the first step edge extending radially inwardly from the first lateral offset region and configured to provide for lateral alignment registration and/or visual alignment and placement of a first edge of a mating rim strip. The rim strip is a circumferential element that radially outwardly overlaps the rim well and extends laterally inwardly from the first step edge. The first step edge is radially inboard of the first bead seat.

A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension for relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include a disk coupled to the inner rim. The wheel assembly may also include inboard lateral stops carried by an inboard interior surface of the outer rim, and outboard lateral stops carried by an outboard interior surface of the outer rim so that the inboard lateral stops and the outboard lateral stops cooperate to limit relative lateral movement of the disk and the outer rim.

A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension for relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include a disk coupled to the inner rim. The wheel assembly may also include inboard lateral stops carried by an inboard interior surface of the outer rim, and outboard lateral stops carried by an outboard interior surface of the outer rim so that the inboard lateral stops and the outboard lateral stops cooperate to limit relative lateral movement of the disk and the outer rim.

A manufacturing method for a wheel disc, includes forming a flange portion, wherein the flange portion is formed such that an inner mold and an outer mold having a cylindrical inner surface with a first inside radius larger than the first outside radius and placed above the inner mold coaxially to the inner mold are brought close relative to each other in an axial direction by one stroke so that the outer edge of the disc material is bent downward, and the cylindrical inner surface of the outer mold is provided with recessed portions hollowed outwardly in a wheel radial direction, the recessed portions being formed in ranges corresponding to the window portions in the wheel circumferential direction and in a range from a middle position to a bottom end in the wheel axial direction.

An aerodynamic bicycle rim comprising: a circumferential outer portion comprising a circumferential outer surface, the circumferential outer portion adapted to seat a bicycle tire; a nose; and a set of sidewalls, each sidewall extending radially from the nose of the aerodynamic bicycle rim to a corresponding transition to the circumferential outer surface to form a rim body having a maximum rim body width that is greater than a maximum width of the bicycle tire. The aerodynamic bicycle rim is operable to seat the bicycle tire so that the aerodynamic bicycle rim and the bicycle tire form an asymmetrical cross-sectional shape.

An aerodynamic bicycle rim comprising: a circumferential outer portion comprising a circumferential outer surface, the circumferential outer portion adapted to seat a bicycle tire; a nose; and a set of sidewalls, each sidewall extending radially from the nose of the aerodynamic bicycle rim to a corresponding transition to the circumferential outer surface to form a rim body having a maximum rim body width that is greater than a maximum width of the bicycle tire. The aerodynamic bicycle rim is operable to seat the bicycle tire so that the aerodynamic bicycle rim and the bicycle tire form an asymmetrical cross-sectional shape.

A manufacturing method for a wheel disc, includes forming a flange portion, wherein the flange portion is formed such that an inner mold and an outer mold having a cylindrical inner surface with a first inside radius larger than the first outside radius and placed above the inner mold coaxially to the inner mold are brought close relative to each other in an axial direction by one stroke so that the outer edge of the disc material is bent downward, and the cylindrical inner surface of the outer mold is provided with recessed portions hollowed outwardly in a wheel radial direction, the recessed portions being formed in ranges corresponding to the window portions in the wheel circumferential direction and in a range from a middle position to a bottom end in the wheel axial direction.

A manufacturing method for a wheel disc, includes forming a flange portion, wherein the flange portion is formed such that an inner mold and an outer mold having a cylindrical inner surface with a first inside radius larger than the first outside radius and placed above the inner mold coaxially to the inner mold are brought close relative to each other in an axial direction by one stroke so that the outer edge of the disc material is bent downward, and the cylindrical inner surface of the outer mold is provided with recessed portions hollowed outwardly in a wheel radial direction, the recessed portions being formed in ranges corresponding to the window portions in the wheel circumferential direction and in a range from a middle position to a bottom end in the wheel axial direction.

The present invention provides a vehicle wheel configured to assemble a motor having an uneven weight distribution. The vehicle wheel comprising a rim having an asymmetric structure. The rim comprising a drop center (202) for mounting a tire, side sections (204A-D) extending axially outward from both sides of the drop center (202), bead bases (208A-D) extending axially outwards from said side sections (204A-D), and flanges (210A-D) disposed axially outward of said bead bases. The bead bases having non symmetrical lengths to compensate the uneven weight distribution of said motor on the rim. The drop center having a drop diameter that is compatible with the diameter of the motor for inserting and encapsulating said motor therein, and the asymmetric structure of the rim compensates the uneven weight distribution of said motor on the rim, thus, maintains said wheel balanced with a minimal overall offset from the center line of the rim.