Wheel clamping assemblies

Abstract

An axle assembly ( 310 ) has a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, the axle assembly configured for rotatably mounting a wheel and hub assembly on an axle portion of the axle assembly, the axle portion located between the first and second ends, the axle assembly configured for affixing to first and second structural members ( 301, 302 ), at least one of the structural members ( 302 ) comprising a substantially closed bore orifice ( 306 ) wheel mounting point or dropout, said dropout having a first side configured for the axle portion to extend therefrom when said axle assembly ( 310 ) is fixed to said point and a second side, the axle assembly ( 310 ) comprising a first fixing means ( 309 ) at the first end for releasably fixing the axle assembly ( 310 ) to the first structural member ( 302 ) and a second fixing means ( 311 ) at the second end for releasably fixing the axle assembly ( 310 ) to the second structural member ( 301 ).

1 . A wheel clamping assembly for a bicycle having first and second spaced structural members with an axle assembly affixed to the structural members, each of said structural members having a closed bore dropout, the axle assembly comprising:
 (a) an axle portion located between first and second ends of the axle assembly;   (b) said first structural member having a first side and a second side at its closed bore dropout, with said axle portion extending from the first side;   (c) a fastener formed on the axle portion near the second end of the axle assembly and fastened to the second structural member at its closed bore dropout;   (d) an abutment member slidably mounted to the axle portion near the first end of the axle assembly and abutting said second side of the first structural member; and   (e) a quick release providing a clamping force between said abutment member and the fastener at the second end of said axle assembly opposite the abutment member, said force thereby clamping said axle assembly by compressing said structural members toward one another with said clamping force acting on the structural members in a direction substantially along a longitudinal axis of the axle assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said second structural members comprises a bicycle fork leg. 
     
     
         3 . An improved wheel clamping assembly for a bicycle including first and second spaced structural members, each structural member having a closed bore dropout, for affixing an axle assembly thereto, said axle assembly having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, said axle assembly configured for rotatably mounting a wheel and hub assembly on an axle portion of said wheel clamping assembly, said axle portion being located between said first and second ends, the first structural member's dropout having a first side and a second side, the first side being configured for said axle portion to extend therefrom when said axle is fixed to said first structural member's dropout, the improvement comprising:
 (a) said axle assembly having a first fixing means at said first end for releasably fixing said axle assembly to said first structural member and a second fixing means at said second end for releasably fixing said axle assembly to said second structural member;   (b) said second fixing means is configured to releasably fix said axle assembly to said second structural member following said axle portion being rotated about the longitudinal axis of said axle assembly;   (c) said first fixing means includes an abutment member slidably mounted to said axle portion for sliding relative to the axle portion in the direction of said longitudinal axis, thereby substantially locating the abutment member against said second side of said first structural member's dropout; and   (d) a quick release means for providing a clamping force between said abutment member and the second fixing means at the opposite end of said axle assembly as the abutment member, said force thereby clamping said axle assembly by compressing to said structural members toward one another with the clamping force acting on the structural members in a direction substantially along said longitudinal axis, whereby the axle assembly is configured to be removed from said closed bore dropouts in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         4 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein one of said fixing means is configured to be releasably passed through the wheel hub. 
     
     
         5 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said quick release means comprises a lever. 
     
     
         6 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said quick release means comprises the lever fixed to said axle portion of said axle assembly by a cam fixing screw, said screw passing longitudinally through said abutment member and engaging with a threaded orifice in an end of said axle portion such that rotation of said lever in a plane transverse to said longitudinal axis rotates said screw and thereby displaces said abutment member relative to said axle portion. 
     
     
         7 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said abutment member comprises means for transferring a rotational force applied to said abutment member to said axle portion. 
     
     
         8 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said abutment member for substantially locating against said second side of said wheel mounting point comprises a face having a chamfered edge for locating with the edge of the closed bore orifice of said wheel mounting structure. 
     
     
         9 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein each of said fixing means comprises a cylindrical element, one said cylindrical element being of a diameter at least as great as the diameter of the axle portion and the other of said cylindrical elements being of a diameter no greater than the diameter of the axle portion. 
     
     
         10 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said abutment member is cylindrical in shape and the diameter of said abutment member is at least as great as the diameter of said axle portion. 
     
     
         11 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said axle portion is at least 9 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said first and second structural members comprises a bicycle fork leg. 
     
     
         13 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein both of said first and second structural members comprise a bicycle fork leg. 
     
     
         14 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said second end comprises a slotted member for insertion into, and retention by, a socket. 
     
     
         15 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said abutment member is capable of being rotated by rotation of other parts attached to said abutment member. 
     
     
         16 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said first fixing means comprises a threaded connection. 
     
     
         17 . The improved wheel clamping assembly in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the quick release means comprises a cam configured to apply a clamping force in the direction of said longitudinal axis.