Quick release bicycle wheel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wheel quick release system for a bicycle or other wheeled vehicle where the wheel can be easily removed by a manual operation on only one side of the wheel hub but is prevented from unexpected separation at all times while engaged with the wheel. A laterally moving skewer mounted concentrically inside a hollow axle is equipped with a “non-touch” nut on one end and is spring loaded toward a quick release cam on the other end thereby always urging the nut against the adjacent dropout. In order to remove the wheel, the quick release cam is operated and the quick release side assembly is pushed axially inward and a safety mechanism is operated and held in this position while the wheel is removed from the fork dropouts. When the wheel is again inserted into the wheel fork, the skewer automatically locks onto the dropouts, and subsequently if the quick release cam is inadvertently left open by the user, the wheel will be somewhat loose but will remain safely inserted in the wheel mounts. In this way, if the bicycle or wheeled vehicle looks safe to ride, it is safe to ride.

1 - 2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . A quick release wheel fastening system for use with slotted wheel mounts that are connected to a vehicle, comprising: a hub axle mountable on the wheel mounts, a wheel skewer mounted concentrically inside said hub axle, a locking member on one end of the wheel skewer for applying axial pressure on one end of said wheel skewer, a retaining member on the other end of the wheel skewer, and at least one spring to bias said wheel skewer to move axially relative to the wheel hub toward the locking member.  
   
   
       4 . A quick release system of  claim 3 , further comprising a front fork, and wherein said slotted wheel mounts are a portion of said front fork.  
   
   
       5 . A quick release system of  claim 4 , further comprising a bicycle frame, said frame having a member to mount said front fork.  
   
   
       6 . A quick release system of  claim 3 , further comprising a bicycle frame, and wherein said slotted wheel mounts are a portion of said frame to mount a rear wheel.  
   
   
       7 . A quick release system of  claim 3 , further comprising a wheel, said wheel having an axial hub opening to accommodate said hub axle.  
   
   
       8 . A quick release system of  claim 3 , further comprising a retention mechanism mounted on said wheel skewer adjacent to said locking member and axially movable to allow disengagement of the hub axle from the adjacent wheel mount.  
   
   
       9 . A quick release system of  claim 8 , wherein said retention mechanism comprises a generally cylindrical member engaging said at least one spring to be biased in a direction toward said wheel mounts to engage said wheel mounts and hold said hub axle in position in said wheel mounts.  
   
   
       10 . A quick release system of  claim 9 , wherein said generally cylindrical member has a tactile engagement area to urge said retention mechanism in a direction toward said locking member for disengaging said wheel hub from said wheel mounts.  
   
   
       11 . A quick release system of  claim 3 , wherein said retaining member comprises an adjustable nut threaded on said wheel skewer.  
   
   
       12 . A quick release system of  claim 11 , further comprising a means to prevent said adjustable nut from removal from said wheel skewer.  
   
   
       13 . A quick release system of  claim 3 , further comprising a restraining surface in at least one of said wheel mounts to engage said retaining member and hold said hub axle in said wheel mounts.  
   
   
       14 . A quick release system of  claim 13 , further comprising a retention mechanism mounted on said wheel skewer adjacent to said locking member and axially movable to allow disengagement of the hub axle from the wheel mounts without contacting said retaining member and a second restraining surface in the other end of said wheel mounts to engage said retention mechanism and hold said hub axle in said wheel mounts.  
   
   
       15 . A quick release system of  claim 13 , further comprising a taper at the end of at least one wheel mount to facilitate mounting of said hub axle.  
   
   
       16 . A front fork for a quick release wheel fastening system comprising: 
 A steering fork having slotted wheel mounts connected to the vehicle wherein, said slotted wheel mounts have ramps on both the outer surfaces as well as the slotted surfaces.    
   
   
       17 . A front fork of  claim 16 , wherein at an intersection of said outer surface ramp and said slot, the wheel mount is radiused to facilitate the lifting up and over a locking member or a retention mechanism.  
   
   
       18 . A front fork of  claim 16 , wherein said fork has ramps on both inside and outside surfaces thereof.  
   
   
       19 . A quick release system of  claim 18 , wherein said locking member comprises a primary locking device for wheel retention on a bicycle, and said retention mechanism and said retaining member constitute a part of a secondary retention system.  
   
   
       20 . A quick release system of  claim 19 , wherein, in order to remove said wheel hub from said slotted wheel mounts, said primary locking device is configured such that it must be disengaged, and said secondary retention system is configured such that it must be held disengaged during the initial movement of removal of said wheel hub.  
   
   
       21 . A quick release system of  claim 20 , wherein said disengagement of the primary locking device and the secondary retention system can be executed by manual operations on only one end of said wheel skewer.  
   
   
       22 . A quick release system of  claim 19 , wherein said secondary retention system is configured for automatic engagement when said hub axle is mounted on said wheel mounts.  
   
   
       23 . A quick release system of  claim 19 , wherein said secondary retention system must be manually operated in order to allow said hub axle to be mounted on said wheel mounts whereby said secondary retention system is then engaged.  
   
   
       24 . A quick release system of  claim 12 , wherein said adjustable nut has a cavity which allows it to at least partially cover said means to prevent said adjustable nut from removal from said wheel skewer.  
   
   
       25 . A quick release system of  claim 11 , wherein said adjustable nut further comprises means to inhibit spin relative to said wheel mount when said skewer is spun.  
   
   
       26 . A quick release system of  claim 25 , wherein when said adjustable nut comprises means to generate an audible or tactile signal to an operator that the skewer has been rotated sufficiently for wheel removal when it begins to spin with the skewer.  
   
   
       27 . A quick release system of  claim 25 , wherein when said adjustable nut comprises means to generate an audible or tactile signal to an operator that the skewer has been rotated sufficiently for correct locking of the locking member when it begins to spin with the skewer.  
   
   
       28 . A quick release system of  claim 3 , wherein said locking member is comprises of a quick release cam.  
   
   
       29 . A quick release system of  claim 28 , wherein said quick release is configured such that the operation of the cam of said quick release, with no further rotation of said skewer, is sufficient for wheel removal.  
   
   
       30 . A quick release system of  claim 28 , wherein said quick release cam further comprises thread means so that said cam can be threaded up and down said skewer thereby requiring no adjustability of said retaining member.  
   
   
       31 . A quick release system of  claim 3 , further comprising a disc fixedly mounted to said skewer at a set distance from the nut wherein said disc moves with the skewer and cannot exit from a cavity in the inside of the fork wheel mounts until the locking member end is pressed inward.  
   
   
       32 . A quick release system of  claim 31 , further comprising a fork having recesses in both its outer and inner wheel mount surfaces.  
   
   
       33 . A quick release system of  claim 32 , further comprising a bicycle frame having means to rotatably mount said fork.  
   
   
       34 . A quick release system of  claim 8 , wherein, the action of pushing said locking member and skewer inward causes both said retaining member and said retention mechanism to allow the disengagement of the hub axle from the adjacent wheel mount.  
   
   
       35 . A quick release system of  claim 3 , wherein said wheel hub further comprises a hollow for housing a retention device during wheel removal.  
   
   
       36 . A quick release system of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said wheel mounts comprises a interior cavity which allows movement of a retention device during wheel removal.  
   
   
       37 . A quick release system of  claim 9 , wherein said retention mechanism comprises multiple parts, one of which facilitates the centering of the skewer during wheel removal.  
   
   
       38 . A quick release system of  claim 37 , wherein said wheel mounts are equipped with a recess allowing the passage of one part of said retention mechanism during wheel removal but does not allow for the passage of another part of said retention mechanism during wheel removal.