INTERNAL CONVERTER NIPPLE FOR BEING MOUNTED IN A RIM FOR EXTERNAL NIPPLES

Abstract

The invention discloses an internal converter nipple (1) for being mounted in a rim for external nipples. The nipple (1) comprises an elongated body (2) having a threaded internal orifice (21) configured for the connection of an end of a bicycle spoke (R) and a head (3) protruding radially from an end of said body (2). The nipple (1) further comprises an extension (4) at a side of the head (3) opposite to that where the body (2) is, said extension (4) comprising an internal orifice (41) configured for the passage on the end of the spoke (R). The external diameter (D) and the length (L) of the extension (4) are configured to fit into a hole (A.sub.E) of the rim (LL.sub.E) for external nipples (C.sub.E).

Claims

1. An internal converter nipple for being mounted in a rim for external nipples, comprising an elongated body having an internal threaded orifice configured for the connection of an end of a bicycle spoke and a head protruding radially from an end of said body, further comprising an extension at a side of the head opposite to that where the body is, said extension comprising an internal orifice configured for the passage of the end of the spoke, where the external diameter and the length of the extension are configured for fitting into a hole of a rim for external nipples.

2. The internal converter nipple according to claim 1, where the extension has a length of between 3.0 millimetres and 6.0 millimetres.

3. The internal converter nipple according to claim 2, where the extension has a length of between 4.0 millimetres and 5.0 millimetres.

4. The internal converter nipple according to claim 3, where the extension has a length of approximately 4.5 millimetres.

5. The internal converter nipple according to claim 1, where the extension has an external diameter of between 3.0 millimetres and 5.0 millimetres.

6. The internal converter nipple according to claim 5, where the extension has an external diameter of between 3.5 millimetres and 4.5 millimetres.

7. The internal converter nipple according to claim 6, where the extension has an external diameter of between 3.9 millimetres and 4.1 millimetres.

8. The internal converter nipple according to claim 2, where the extension has an external diameter of between 3.0 millimetres and 5.0 millimetres.

9. The internal converter nipple according to claim 8, where the extension has an external diameter of between 3.5 millimetres and 4.5 millimetres.

10. The internal converter nipple according to claim 9, where the extension has an external diameter of between 3.9 millimetres and 4.1 millimetres.

11. The internal converter nipple according to claim 3, where the extension has an external diameter of between 3.0 millimetres and 5.0 millimetres.

12. The internal converter nipple according to claim 11, where the extension has an external diameter of between 3.5 millimetres and 4.5 millimetres.

13. The internal converter nipple according to claim 12, where the extension has an external diameter of between 3.9 millimetres and 4.1 millimetres.

14. The internal converter nipple according to claim 4, where the extension has an external diameter of between 3.0 millimetres and 5.0 millimetres.

15. The internal converter nipple according to claim 14, where the extension has an external diameter of between 3.5 millimetres and 4.5 millimetres.

16. The internal converter nipple according to claim 15, where the extension has an external diameter of between 3.9 millimetres and 4.1 millimetres.

17. The internal converter nipple according to claim 1, made in one or more of the following materials: aluminium, brass, steel, magnesium, titanium, bronze and synthetic fibres.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0020] The details of the invention as shown in the accompanying figures, which do not intend to limit the scope of the invention:

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the position of a number of conventional nipples in a bicycle wheel.

[0022] FIGS. 2A-C respectively show a conventional external nipple installed in a rim for external nipples, a conventional internal nipple installed in a rim for internal nipples, and an internal nipple installed in a rim for external nipples.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an internal converter nipple according to the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section of an internal converter nipple according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section view of an internal converter nipple installed in a rim for external nipples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The invention is now disclosed making reference to the attached drawings.

[0027] FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively show a perspective view and a longitudinal section of an internal converter nipple (1) according to the present invention where the different parts thereof can be seen. The internal converter nipple (1) is formed by a body (2) having a cylindrical length and a length having polygon-shaped cross-section, square in this case. The polygonal cross-section length allows for the nipple (1) to be grabbed with a suitable tool to make it turn and thereby thread the spoke (R) in it.

[0028] At the end of the cylindrical length of the body (2) opposite to that where the polygonal length is provided there is a radial thickening making up the head (3) of the internal converter nipple (1). The head (3) may adopt a number of different shapes, where flat shapes such as, e.g. cylindrical, and curved shapes such as a toroid or the like are known. Heads (3) having different shapes can cooperate in providing a more firm abutment against the edges of the hole (A) of the rim (LL). Both the body (2) and the head (3) are crossed by an internal orifice (21) having a thread that is configured to threadedly receive the corresponding bicycle spoke (R).

[0029] The internal converter nipple (1) of the present invention advantageously further comprises an extension (4) provided at the side of the head (3) opposite to that where the body (2) is positioned. The extension (4) has an internal orifice (41) configured to receive the spoke (R), this internal orifice (41) being a prolongation of the orifice (21) of the body (2). Thus, the bicycle spoke (R) can pass through both orifices (21, 41), being threaded thereto. Naturally, the body (2), head (3) and extension (4) make up a single piece.

[0030] The main feature of the internal converter nipple (1) is that the prolongation (4) has an outer cylindrical shape, and its dimensions (D, L) are chosen for fitting perfectly inside the hole (A.sub.E) of a rim (LL.sub.E) designed for external nipples.

[0031] In this example, the thickness of the wall of the rim (LL.sub.E) for external nipples is 3.9 millimetres, and the diameter of the holes (A.sub.E) of said rim (LL.sub.E) is 4.3 millimetres. Therefore, the diameter (D) of the extension (4) is of about 4.2 millimetres, and the length (L) of the extension is of about 3.9 millimetres.

[0032] Thanks to this configuration, when the internal converter nipples (1) of the present example are installed in the rim (LL.sub.E) for external nipples, the extension (4) fits perfectly inside the corresponding hole (A.sub.E), as shown in FIG. 5.