Patent Application
20080179147
This disclosure relates to bicycle components incorporating graphical images as structural images, particularly those that add to the aesthetics of disc brake rotors and the overall look of the bicycle.
Currently, bicycle component manufacturers such as Avid, Shimano, Magura and Hope companies manufacture disc rotors for bicycles. These rotors are configured with simple geometric shapes to allow the rotor to flex and expand under bicycle braking. The rotors typically use straight struts or curved struts connecting the hub attachment part of the disc to the braking surface.
Rotor sizing varies. For cross-country mountain biking applications, 160 and 165 mm rotors are prevalent. Often 160 mm rotors are simply referred to as 6-inch rotors or discs. For more extreme applications such as aggressive cross-country, freeride or tandem use, larger rotor designs offering greater mechanical advantage in service of stopping power have been developed as well. For this purpose, 180 and 185 mm rotors have been developed, and are variously referred to as 7-inch rotors. No surprisingly, rotors of a nominal 8 inch diameter have also been developed for down-hill and tandem use. And similarly, the “standard” for their size varies between 203, 205, 210 and 230 mm depending on manufacture.
In addition to such variability, various approaches to securing the disc to a hub are offered. The ISO standard is a 6-bolt connection pattern. Yet, 4-bolt pattern rotors have been produced.
In addition, Shimano, Inc. offers a “Centerlock” attachment system in which a center splined member is attached to an outer disc ring. Another 2-piece rotor system is offered by Hope, Inc., but in this case the inner attachment member uses the standard 6 bolt pattern. The center piece is aluminum in order to save weight while the outer braking surface is steel.
The invention described below offers utility in connection with any of the sizings, disc attachment and rotor construction techniques described above and as otherwise known in the art. In addition, the present invention offers graphical features new to the art.
In the present invention, similarly functional rotors as those describe above are provided. However, otherwise solid struts are interrupted by graphics. The graphical images that connect the inner portion of the rotor for attachment to the outer portion incorporating a braking surface (e.g., one circle to another) can have components that are or are not structural.
Disc rotors for a bicycle (e.g., mountain bike, beach cruiser, cyclo-cross and road bikes), scooter or motorcycle disc brake systems incorporating graphical images as structural members of the rotor are provided. The brake rotors are configured to flex slightly upon braking. The rotors are directional, with the strut bodies forward facing to allow the rotor to expand and flex under braking and heat.
Disc brake rotors typically have a minimum of three main areas. The first area is where the rotor attaches to the hub/wheel. The second area is the braking surface (i.e. where the brake pads squeeze the rotor and create friction to slow and stop the bicycle). The third area includes struts that connect the braking surface to the inner hub connection. As referenced above, some discs can be made of multiple materials fastened together.
The rotors have an exceptional look. They utilize figural bodies adapted to flex with braking. As such, “active” graphic design components are provided. Complete figural bodies or graphical images are incorporated as the rotors' struts—as opposed to simple geometric struts that are straight or are arcs, or struts with simple graphics (e.g. saw-blade) features hanging off of the strut.
The images can all be exactly the same, or have slight variations to add to the visual effects of the graphics. To complement the graphical/structural strut components, complementary graphics may be incorporated in the braking surface, especially as part of a visual theme. Graphical images may also be laser etched (or other marking techniques) into the surface of the rotors.
The figural images employed may take a wide variety of forms. Examples shown include crossbones (of a skull and crossbones), geckos and a woman's silhouette. In any case, some elemental portion of the forms must serve as members suited for use under flex and heat expansion.
Given such conditions, the following graphical combinations (in addition to those already noted and additional ones shown in the figures) are contemplated:
Yet, those intended for use in the invention have the commonality of a recognizable figure or tangible object. As such, the rotors include “figural elements.” These elements (examples of which are provided) as presented herein refer not to single features taken from a given whole animal, etc., but rather offer a complete depiction of a given object, flora, fauna. As such, the invention involves the use of connecting struts within a disc brake rotor assembly that are not only functional, but depict complete figural bodies.
In some examples, the struts are complex so that no single uninterrupted section or portion could define an otherwise ordinary strut. In other words, one could not derive the struts by simply adding or “hanging” features onto a conventional rotor's struts. Still, some such patterns fall within the broadest conception of the current invention. However, they may be less appealing from the perspective of providing a dramatic visual departure from known devices. Yet, they may be desirable for other reasons—as in the case of naked-lady silhouettes.
As for methods according to the present invention, the subject methods may include each of the mechanical activities associated with use of the devices or systems described. As such, methodology implicit to the use of the devices described forms part of the invention. Furthermore, design methodology and the product of such processes fall within the intended scope of the invention.
The figures illustrate exemplary aspects of the invention. Of these figures:
Further variation of the invention is contemplated from the examples shown. The figures are intended to support a generic class of device designs in which figural or otherwise complete elements are arranged to bear forces as is desirable in disc rotor units. Reference is made to these examples in a non-limiting sense. They are provided to illustrate more broadly applicable aspects of the present invention.
In view of these examples, the struts may define either positive-image or negative-image figural entities. Still further, the struts may define such recognizable shapes in a combined manner.
Actually, depending on the nature of the figural body depicted, more or less strut material will be available as support between the inner ring (or whatever hub mounting section provided) and the outer ring. As such, the number of struts need not follow the pattern noted above.
Another feature of interest in the
Regardless,
While the images portrayed may not appeal to all, any number of them find a following be it in the naturalist, UFO-hunter or Rastafarian crowd. Indeed, rotor 36 displaying the skull and cross bones “Jolly Rogers” struts 12 in
In many of the designs, as is readily observed, no section of the struts forms a straight-line or simple arcuate connection between the inner mounting section and the outer ring. In this way, the figural aspect of the elements are highlighted, while still offering adequate structure for support or force/torque transfer between the disc mounting section and its braking surface.
Also, it is noted that many of these devices may be run in so they rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise. In other words, the struts may be operated in tension or compression.
For weight savings the spinner piece 45 may comprise aluminum or magnesium alloy. As such, it may be anodized to add color to the system. Alternatively, is may be polished to highlight the ladies'
The disc rotors described typically comprise stainless steel (e.g., 400-series alloy), but other materials can be used. Any suitable material or construction approach (e.g., 2-piece, etc. as noted above) may be employed for the rotors of the invention. One such other material of interest is Titanium alloy; others include carbon fiber, and ceramic material. Laminates of different material may also be employed.
The rotors shown are made by laser cutting individual pieces from large sheet stock. Once cut-out, the pieces are ground-down to a proper finish of about 63RMS. Subsequent laser-engraving may be employed to etch ornamental patterns or graphic into the non-brake surface portions of a given rotor. Etching may be employed to increase surface area for cooling. Patterns may be etched for graphic appeal and/or serve as cooling fins. Otherwise, cooling fins could be bolted, welded or otherwise affixed to the rotors. Even so, it is noted that the high surface area resulting from figural body use according to the present invention does help dissipate heat in the native design without further augmentation.
Fins could also be configured to produce sound tow warn other cyclists or animals of approach. Other details or options regarding manufacture may be appreciated in connection with the above-referenced examples as well as generally know or appreciated by those with skill in the art.
Often, a pair of disc rotors are provided in packaged combination for sale. The rotors may be the same, or offer a complimentary set of graphics. Naturally, the discs could be provided together with brake calipers and levers as well. Such a packaged combination of products falls within the scope of the present invention. So-too do wheels and entire bicycles (typically mountain bikes) equipped with the subject disc brake rotors.
As for other details of the present invention, materials and alternate related configurations may be employed as within the level of those with skill in the relevant art. The same may hold true with respect to method-based aspects of the invention in terms of additional acts as commonly or logically employed. In addition, though the invention has been described in reference to several examples, optionally incorporating various features, the invention is not to be limited to that which is described or indicated as contemplated with respect to each variation of the invention. Various changes may be made to the invention described and equivalents (whether recited herein or not included for the sake of some brevity) may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Any number of the individual parts or subassemblies shown may be integrated in their design. Such changes or others may be undertaken or guided by the principles of design for assembly.
Also, it is contemplated that any optional feature of the inventive variations described may be set forth and claimed independently, or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein. Reference to a singular item, includes the possibility that there are plural of the same items present. More specifically, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “said,” and “the” include plural referents unless the specifically stated otherwise. In other words, use of the articles allow for “at least one” of the subject item in the description above as well as the claims below. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation. Without the use of such exclusive terminology, the term “comprising” in the claims shall allow for the inclusion of any additional element—irrespective of whether a given number of elements are enumerated in the claim, or the addition of a feature could be regarded as transforming the nature of an element set forth n the claims. Stated otherwise, unless specifically defined herein, all technical and scientific terms used herein are to be given as broad a commonly understood meaning as possible while maintaining claim validity.
The breadth of the present invention is not to be limited by the examples provided.
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2006/027804 filed Jul. 14, 2006 which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/699,565 filed Jul. 15, 2005, entitled, “Disc Rotor with Graphical Structural Elements”, both applications of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60699565 | Jul 2005 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US2006/027804 | Jul 2006 | US |
| Child | 12014694 | US |
