ANTI-PUNCTURE SHIELD INSERT FOR WHEEL

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. An anti-puncture shield insert (40) for a wheel (10), which wheel (10) comprises a rim (20) and an inflated tire (30) connected to the edges (21) of the rim (20), wherein said shield insert (40) is made of a shock-absorbing material, wherein said shield insert (40) is placed at the widest point between the inner sidewalls of the tire (30), and, as a hit causes the tire to collapse, the shield insert (40) absorbs the shock taken by the tire (30) and the rim (20), by staying between inner parts of the tire, and, wherein the shield insert (40) is floating relative to the tire (30).

2. The anti-puncture shield insert (40) for a wheel (10) of claim 1 wherein the inflated tire (30) is an inflated tubeless tire.

3. The anti-puncture shield insert (40) for a bicycle wheel of claim 1.

4. The anti-puncture shield insert (40) for a wheel (10), wherein anti-puncture shield insert is removably inserted into the wheel.

5. The anti-puncture shield insert (40) for a wheel (10) as defined in claim 1, wherein the anti-puncture shield (40) is made of a cellular plastic (28) with cells that stretch and, when needed, burst as a result of a hit taken by the tire (30), by absorbing the energy of the shock, and, thereby, protecting the tire (30) and rim (20).

6. The anti-puncture shield insert (40) for a wheel (10) of claim 1, wherein the anti-puncture shield (40) width is essentially the same as the tire (30) maximum inner width.

7. The anti-puncture shield insert (40) for a wheel (10) of claim 1, wherein the anti-puncture shield (40) width is less than the tire (30) maximum inner width.

8. The anti-puncture shield insert (40) for a wheel (10) of claim 1, wherein the anti-puncture shield insert (40) comprises cellular plastic that is coated.

9. The anti-puncture shield insert (40) for a wheel (10) of claim 1, wherein the anti-puncture shield (40) insert comprises a sandwich structure.

10. The anti-puncture shield insert for a wheel of claim 2, wherein the anti-puncture shield width is essentially the same as the tire maximum inner width.

11. The anti-puncture shield insert for a wheel of claim 3, wherein the anti-puncture shield width is essentially the same as the tire maximum inner width.

12. The anti-puncture shield insert for a wheel of claim 4, wherein the anti-puncture shield width is essentially the same as the tire maximum inner width.

13. The anti-puncture shield insert for a wheel of claim 5, wherein the anti-puncture shield width is essentially the same as the tire maximum inner width.

14. The anti-puncture shield insert for a wheel of claim 2, wherein the anti-puncture shield width is less than the tire maximum inner width.

15. The anti-puncture shield insert for a wheel of claim 3, wherein the anti-puncture shield width is less than the tire maximum inner width.

16. The anti-puncture shield insert for a wheel of claim 4, wherein the anti-puncture shield width is less than the tire maximum inner width.

17. The anti-puncture shield insert for a wheel of claim 5, wherein the anti-puncture shield width is less than the tire maximum inner width.

18. The anti-puncture shield insert for a wheel of claim 6, wherein the anti-puncture shield width is less than the tire maximum inner width.

19. The anti-puncture shield insert for a wheel of claim 2, wherein the anti-puncture shield insert comprises cellular plastic that is coated.

20. The anti-puncture shield insert for a wheel of claim 3, wherein the anti-puncture shield insert comprises cellular plastic that is coated.

Description

LIST OF DRAWINGS

[0021] In the following, the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures showing some embodiments of the invention, wherein

[0022] FIG. 1 shows the anti-puncture shield insert according to the present invention in its normal state,

[0023] FIG. 2 shows the anti-puncture shield insert according to the present invention in operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the bicycle wheel (10) according to the invention. The bicycle comprises a rim (20), a tubeless tire (30) set on rim flanges (21) and an anti-puncture shield insert (40). The shield insert (40) works best with light vehicle such as bicycles because the shock-absorbing material has a greater effect for lighter weights.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a situation where the tire is collapsed by a force directed to the ground and the anti-puncture shield insert (40) is left between the collapsed sidewalls of the tire to protect the tire from the compression force remaining between the ground (50) (or some other obstacle) and the rim, and, thereby, to prevent the tire from puncturing (also referred to as pinch flat).

[0026] The shield insert (40) is applicable to all bicycles or electrically assisted bicycles requiring a low rolling resistance and an additional shield for their tires. The embodiments of the FIGS. 1 and 2 show a mountain-bike tire (30). The shield insert (40) also works well in case of a flat tire because it protects the rim (20) when the tire (30) is deflated.

[0027] The shield insert (40) can be implemented in a number of different ways, but it is common for all of the implementations to place the shield insert (40) at the widest point of the tire (30), in a so-called floating manner, due to the fact that the shield insert (40) has a suitable outer dimensions. The dimensions of different tires (30) and rims (20) may vary to a great extent. As an example, the diameter of a tire (30) may vary from one inch to five inches, and, the inside width of a rim (20) may vary from twenty millimeters to fifty millimeters.

[0028] Further, the circumference length of the shield insert (40) is chosen in light of tire dimension such as that it fits inside the tire in a floating manner. The length of the shield insert (40) may be predetermined or it may be cut in to a specific measure or it may comprise a mechanical fastening device or component that allows for adjustment of the circumference. Further, any potential additional elements such as fastening means preferably reside in the middle of the shield insert (40) so that there is little risk for chafing or contact with the rim (20) and the inside of the tire (30).

[0029] Few examples of sizes in relation to 27.5″ and 29″ tire sizes comprise: [0030] 21-26 mm internal rim width and 2.25-2.5 tires or, [0031] 26-35 mm internal rim width and 2.25-2.5″ tires or, [0032] 34-45 mm internal rim width and 2.6-3.0″ tires.

[0033] In accordance with the aforementioned dimensions and cellular foam structure the shield insert (40) weight approximately 70-100 grams, with certain thickness and/or groove structures in the shield insert (40). However, other types of materials, as well as overlays may be used. The shield insert (40) may also comprise a sandwich structure.

[0034] In view of the aforementioned, the width of the shield insert (40) is also chosen in accordance with the tire (30) and rim (20) width wherein the requirement is that the shield insert (40) width should always be greater than the rim (20). Hence, the shield insert (40) width is preferably such that it doesn't touch the inner sidewalls of the tire (30) but that it surpasses the width of the rim (20) as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. The shield insert (40) width is however preferably less or essentially the same as the tire inner maximum width.

[0035] Further, the shield according to the invention is useful since it makes it easier to mount a tubeless tire (30) on a rim (20) by air pressure. If the tire (30) and the rim (20) have different tolerances it can be difficult to mount the tire (30) on the rim (20) by air pressure. It has been found out that the anti-puncture shield insert (40) facilitates the mounting of the tire (30) on the rim (20) because it holds the edges of the tire (30) against the edges (21) of the rim. The shield insert (40) may be easily installed in the wheel (10) because the shield insert (40) isn't attached to either the rim (20) or tire (30) or any other structure in the wheel (10). Essentially, it is the geometrical dimensions (circumference and width) of the shield insert (40) that keeps the shield insert in the correct place in relation to the tire (30) and rim (20) of the wheel with the obvious notion that the tire (30) controls to an extent the position of the shield insert (40) between the tire (30) and the rim (20).

[0036] The shield (40) may comprise grooves, cut holes or cuts at the sides or through the middle of the shield (40), which may be used to reduce the weight and affect the rolling characteristics of the shield structure.

[0037] Although the figures depict a tubeless mountain bike tire other applications comprise motor vehicles and vehicles of greater weight in general.