Embodiments described herein provide aerodynamic bicycle rims and wheels. Embodiments can include a bicycle rim that is wider than the width of the tire proximate to the outer edge of the rim and is shaped so that there is a tangent line tangent to the rim and the tire. The tangent line can be tangent to the rim on the sidewall or elsewhere on the rim. The widest part of the rim can be radially inward from the outer edge of the rim or elsewhere on the rim and the tangent line can be tangent at the widest part of the rim or elsewhere on the rim.

A preform for fabricating a wheel rim and a method of making a preform is provided. The preform includes a main section and at least one secondary section, each section being formed from composite materials, such as triaxially braided composite material that includes fibers oriented in at least three directions. The main section forms at least part of a lateral section of the preform and the secondary section forms at least part of a radial portion of the preform, the radial portion of the preform being generally perpendicular to the lateral section of the preform. The preform is fabricated from a plurality of composite layers, at least some being custom composite layers having a plurality of axial fibers interwoven intermittently with substantially consistent first and second sets of biased fibers. In some embodiments, the preform is initially fabricated in an intermediate configuration prior to being moved to a final configuration.

A normal rim 48 includes a flange 54. The flange 54 forms an outer circumferential bent surface 60 that is bent with a radius Rr of curvature. A first reference line L1 represents a straight line that extends through a center point Pr of the radius Rr, and that is tilted by an angle of 45. In a state where the tire is inflated to a normal internal pressure and is under 120% of a normal load, Te represents a thickness from an inner cavity surface to an outer surface of the clinch, Tf1 represents a thickness of a filler, Tc1 represents a thickness of the clinch, Ta1 represents a thickness obtained by the thickness Tf1 and the thickness Tc1 being added, and the thicknesses are measured along the first reference line L1, and a ratio (Ta1/Te) of the thickness Ta1 to the thickness Te is greater than 0.4.

A wheel construction includes a wheel rim which in use, receives a tire, the rim being circular and having axially inner and outer portions each of which provides a flange which in use provides a seat for a bead of the tire, and the wheel construction including a mid-portion between the inner and outer portions, and side parts, connecting the mid and outer portions, the mid-portion including a circumferential well where the radius of the wheel rim is a minimum, at least one of the side parts including a plurality of curved regions, the plurality of curved regions each being immediately adjacent to each other whereby the side part is continuously undulate. Each curved region provides at least a further two circumferential wells. For each adjacent two curved regions, there is an effective angle between a plane normal to the axis of the wheel and a line struck tangentially at a point of inflection between the two curved regions at a tire side of the rim, of between 25? and 45?.

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.

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 coupling structure for coupling first and second wheel pieces includes (a) a radially-positioning coupling including a radially-positioning protrusion and a radially-positioning recess, (b) a circumferentially-positioning coupling including a circumference protrusion and a circumference protrusion-receiving recess and (c) an axially-positioning coupling including an arm and a claw receiver. As a result, even eliminating welding and coupling by a bolt, it is possible to couple the first and second wheel pieces securely by a physical coupling such as fitting, engaging, inserting and press-fitting.

A preform for fabricating a wheel rim and a method of making a preform is provided. The preform includes a main section and at least one secondary section, each section being formed from composite materials, such as triaxially braided composite material that includes fibers oriented in at least three directions. The main section forms at least part of a lateral section of the preform and the secondary section forms at least part of a radial portion of the preform, the radial portion of the preform being generally perpendicular to the lateral section of the preform. The preform is fabricated from a plurality of composite layers, at least some being custom composite layers having a plurality of axial fibers interwoven intermittently with substantially consistent first and second sets of biased fibers. In some embodiments, the preform is initially fabricated in an intermediate configuration prior to being moved to a final configuration.

A rim for a bicycle wheel includes a radially outer tire-engaging portion, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall. The first and second sidewalls may extend radially inward of the radially outer tire-engaging portion. The rim includes a radially inner portion having at least one asymmetric protrusion.

A wheel construction (10) including a rim (12), the rim having an inner flange (16) and an outer flange (18), each of the inner flange (16) and the outer flange (18) having a first end (16a, 18a) and a second end (16b, 18b), the first end (16a, 18a) of each of the inner and outer flange (16, 18) being positioned axially outwardly relative to the second end (16b, 18b) of the respective flange (16, 18), the rim (12) further including a central well (20) positioned between the inner flange (16) and the outer flange (18), a pair of bead seats (22, 24), one being positioned adjacent each flange (16, 18), each bead seat (22, 24) having an axially outer end (22a, 24a) which is connected to a second end (16b, 18b) of the respective flange (16, 18) by a flange connecting portion (26, 28), and an axially inner end (22b, 24b) which is connected to one of a pair of side parts (30, 32), each side part (30, 32) being positioned between the central well (20) and one of the inner flange (16) and outer flange (18), and connected to the central well (20) by a well connecting portion (34, 36), the axially outer end (22a, 24a) of each bead seat (22, 24) being positioned radially outwardly relative to the axially inner end (22b, 24b) of the respective bead seat (22, 24), wherein at least one of the inner flange (16) and the outer flange (18) includes an extended portion (17, 19) which extends radially inwardly, such that a free end (17a, 19a) of the extended portion (17, 19) is positioned radially inwardly relative to the first end (16a, 18a) of the respective flange (16, 18), and wherein at least one of the side parts (30, 32) includes a substantially straight portion (38, 40) and a curved portion (42, 44), a first end (38a, 40a) of the straight portion (38, 40) being positioned adjacent the respective bead seat (22, 24), and connected to the respective bead seat (22, 24) by a curved connecting portion (46, 48), and a second end (38b, 40b) of the straight portion (38, 40) being connected to the curved portion (42, 44) of the side part (30, 3