Reinforced Composite Rim

Abstract

A composite rim including a reinforcing assembly is provided. The composite rim includes a first sidewall portion, a second sidewall portion, a radially outer portion and a reinforcing assembly. The radially outer portion includes a radially outwardly-facing tire-engaging surface. The reinforcing assembly is disposed proximate the tire-engaging surface and includes a reinforcer and a containment member for containing the reinforcer. The reinforcer has an axis extending circumferentially about the composite rim and is configured to reinforce the composite rim in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the reinforcer.

1 . A composite rim comprising:
 a first sidewall portion;   a second sidewall portion;   a radially outer portion that includes a radially outwardly-facing tire-engaging surface; and   a reinforcing assembly disposed proximate the radially outwardly-facing tire-engaging surface, the reinforcing assembly including:
 a reinforcer having an axis extending circumferentially about the composite rim, and 
 a containment member for containing the reinforcer, 
 the reinforcing assembly configured to reinforce the composite rim in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the reinforcer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The composite rim of  claim 1  wherein the reinforcer comprises a bundle of fibers, the containment member containing the bundle. 
     
     
         3 . The composite rim of  claim 2  wherein the containment member includes a thread woven about the bundle. 
     
     
         4 . The composite rim of  claim 3  further comprising a plurality of fiber-reinforced sheets, the thread stitched through the fiber-reinforced sheets for mechanically coupling the fiber-reinforced sheets and the bundle. 
     
     
         5 . The composite rim of  claim 4  further comprising a plurality of fiber-reinforced cover sheets shaped to form a pocket for receiving the bundle, the fiber-reinforced cover sheets stitched to enclose the bundle within the pocket. 
     
     
         6 . The composite rim of  claim 5  wherein the fiber-reinforced cover sheets are stitched to the fiber-reinforced sheets. 
     
     
         7 . The composite rim of  claim 3  wherein the thread is woven to extend generally perpendicular to the axis of the reinforcer. 
     
     
         8 . A composite rim comprising:
 first sidewall means;   second sidewall means;   a radially outer portion that includes radially-outwardly-facing tire-engaging means; and   a reinforcing assembly disposed proximate the radially-outwardly-facing tire-engaging means, the reinforcing assembly including:
 reinforcer means having an axis extending circumferentially about the composite rim, and 
 containment means for containing the reinforcer means, 
 the reinforcing assembly configured to reinforce the composite rim in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the reinforcer means.