A bicycle rim assembly includes a rim defining a central plane and comprising annular inner and outer walls. The outer wall includes first and second bead seats separated by a center well. First and second annular projections are spaced laterally from each other relative to the central plane and extend substantially radially outwardly from the outer wall. Each of the annular projections includes a radially outer face and a laterally inner face. Right and left covers are spaced from each other and are preferably coupled to the rim to cover at least a portion of the laterally inner face and the radially outer face of the first and second annular projections, respectively, and also the first and second bead seats, respectively. One or both of the right and left covers can be fiber reinforced. First and second pieces of tape can be overlapped and used to secure the covers to the rim.

The invention is directed to a valve stem system (1) for tubeless wheels. The valve stem system (1) includes a valve stem body (2) with a first end (3) and a second end (4), wherein the second end (4) is located in a tire/rim-volume when mounted at the wheel. A first valve (5) is arranged at the second end (4) of the valve stem body (2). The first valve (5) is a self-sealing one-way valve. A second valve (10) is removably mountable at the first end (3) and is, when mounted, at least partially housed in the valve stem body (2). The second valve (10) comprises a valve stem core inserted in the valve stem body (2) and can be added or removed from the valve stem body (2) while pressure is maintained within the tire by the first valve (5). The invention further concerns a probe (30) for a valve stem system, a method to test the amount of sealant in a wheel and a refilling assembly (80) for a wheel.

Disclosed is an anti-puncture shield insert for a wheel. The wheel includes a rim and an inflated tire connected to the edges of the rim. The shield insert is made of a shock-absorbing material. The shield insert is placed at the widest point between the inner sidewalls of the tire. As a hit causes the tire to collapse, the shield insert absorbs the shock taken by the tire and the rim, by staying between inner parts of the tire. The shield insert is floating relative to the tire.

A coupling for valve assemblies, for tubeless tires, includes an enclosure arranged to cover a rigid rim of a vehicle, to delimit a substantially tubular compartment, filled with gas under pressure. The coupling has a first element and a second element crossed respectively by a first through channel, threaded internally, and by a second through channel. The second element cooperates with a valve for the selective closure of the second channel. The first element rests on an internal surface of the rim, which can be activated following its hermetic insertion, from the inside of the compartment. The second element rests on an external surface of the rim, which can be activated following the hermetic screwing, from the outside of the compartment, of a threaded stem of the second element in the first channel, with consequent alignment between the channels to connect the compartment to the outside.

A tyre for bicycle wheels, having a carcass structure, a belt layer arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the carcass structure and a tread band arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the belt layer. The carcass structure has a carcass ply engaged with a pair of annular anchoring structures and including a plurality of reinforcing cords. The cords are inclined, with respect to an equatorial plane of the tyre, at a first angle between about 65° and about 90°. The belt layer has a reinforcing cord wound onto the carcass structure according to a winding direction oriented, with respect to the equatorial plane, at a second angle between about 0° and about 30°.

A system and method for a tubeless tire insert. The present invention includes an annular body having shock absorbing characteristics. A positioning system configured to vary a mean inner diameter of the insert is also included. The insert has a mean inner diameter X when the tire is being installed on the rim, and the insert has a mean inner diameter Y when the tire is installed on the rim, where X is greater than Y.

A puncture resistant wheel apparatus, and method of use, for safely climbing obstacles are disclosed herein. A plurality of wheel apparatuses is mounted on a vehicle (e.g. a wheelchair, cart, mountain bicycle, etc.) to enable it to safely traverse obstacles, such as a flight of stairs, road curbs, etc. without slipping, and while creating a smoother ride. Each wheel apparatus comprises: a tire comprising a plurality of teeth sections separated via a thin space to grip an obstacle edge between the teeth; a circular rim attachable to the tire inner surface via T-joints, and a plurality of evenly spaced spokes extending to a central hub; and two hoop rings, mounted on opposing tire sidewalls. The center of each tire tooth section further comprises an elastic unit, comprising a vertical spring and two horizontal springs that further act to dampen the vibrational and jarring forces exerted on the wheel apparatus.

This disclosure relates to tire-forming flexible tubes with first and seconds ends configured to be joined together to form a tire, as well as to locking assemblies, connecting mechanism and method for utilizing same.

A tyre that can be fitted to the front of a motorcycle. The tyre has a high void-to-rubber ratio and includes grooves located asymmetrically across the equatorial plane of the tyre, arranged substantially orthogonally to the equatorial plane of the tyre at the equatorial plane itself. According to one aspect, the grooves are close to one another in the circumferential direction of the tyre to increase their number in a footprint area of the tyre.

The present invention relates to a tyre for bicycle wheels comprising a tread band containing an anti-puncture system capable of offering high resistance to the penetration of foreign bodies. In particular, the present invention relates to a tyre (100) for bicycle wheels comprising:—a carcass structure (2); and—a tread band (7) arranged in a radially outer position with respect to said carcass structure (2); characterised in that said tread band (7) is made by vulcanisation of a vulcanisable elastomeric compound comprising fibrillated polymeric fibres of micrometric dimensions, wherein at least one protective layer (6, 11) is interposed between said carcass structure (2) and said tread band (7), said protective layer (6, 11) comprising (i) a plurality of reinforcing cords of textile material oriented with respect to the equatorial plane of the tyre with an angle greater than 30°, (ii) a square fabric with textile fibres of the weft or warp oriented with respect to the equatorial plane of the tyre with an angle greater than 20°, or (iii) a non-woven fabric with randomly oriented textile fibres.