Tubeless bicycle wheel bead lock

Abstract

A vehicle wheel comprises a wheel rim having first and second sidewalls defining a rim trough, a tire having a tire bead positioned in the rim trough in engagement with the first sidewall, and a bead lock positioned in the rim trough adjacent the tire bead. The bead lock is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The bead lock includes an actuator positioned in the opening and including an exposed portion accessible from outside the wheel. The bead lock can further include a band positioned in the rim trough and including two free ends movable relative to each other. The bead lock can further include a tightening mechanism secured to the two free ends. For example, the tightening mechanism can include a winch and a cable wrapped around the winch and secured to one of the free ends.

1 . A vehicle wheel comprising:
 a wheel rim having first and second sidewalls defining a rim trough and an opening extending through a portion of the wheel rim;   a tire having a tire bead positioned in the rim trough in engagement with the first sidewall; and   a bead lock positioned in the rim trough adjacent the tire bead, wherein the bead lock is movable between a locked position in which the bead lock substantially inhibits movement of the tire bead away from the first sidewall and an unlocked position in which the bead lock permits movement of the tire bead away from the first sidewall, and wherein the bead lock includes an actuator positioned in the opening and including a portion accessible from outside the rim.   
     
     
         2 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tire includes two beads and the bead lock further includes two bands positioned in the rim trough and spaced from each other, each band including two free ends movable relative to each other and each band being positioned to substantially inhibit movement one of the tire beads away from one of the sidewalls. 
     
     
         3 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bead lock further includes a band positioned in the rim trough and including two free ends movable relative to each other. 
     
     
         4 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the band includes a side edge engaged with the tire bead, wherein the side edge include a cut out that creates a recessed edge that is not engaged with the tire bead. 
     
     
         5 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the bead lock further comprises a tightening mechanism secured to the two free ends. 
     
     
         6 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the tightening mechanism includes a winch and a cable wrapped around the winch and secured to one of the free ends. 
     
     
         7 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the winch is coupled for rotation with the actuator. 
     
     
         8 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is mounted for rotation relative to the rim, and wherein the wheel further includes a seal between the actuator and the rim to inhibit the passage of gas between the actuator and the rim. 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises:
 a tubular member having a hollow interior; and   a valve mechanism positioned in the hollow interior to control the passage of gas into and out of an interior volume defined by the tire and the rim.   
     
     
         10 . A vehicle wheel adapted to receive a tire having a tire bead, the vehicle wheel comprising:
 a wheel rim having first and second sidewalls defining a rim trough and an opening extending through a portion of the wheel rim; and   a bead lock positioned in the rim trough adjacent but spaced from the tire bead, wherein the bead lock is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein the bead lock includes an actuator capable for moving the bead lock from the unlocked position to the locked position, wherein the actuator is at least partially positioned in the opening and includes a portion accessible from outside the rim.   
     
     
         11 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the bead lock further includes two bands positioned in the rim trough and spaced from each other, each band including two free ends movable relative to each other. 
     
     
         12 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the bead lock further includes a band positioned in the rim trough and including two free ends movable relative to each other. 
     
     
         13 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the band includes a side edge having a cut out that creates a recessed edge. 
     
     
         14 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the bead lock further comprises a tightening mechanism secured to the two free ends. 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the tightening mechanism includes a winch and a cable wrapped around the winch and secured to one of the free ends. 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the winch is coupled for rotation with the actuator. 
     
     
         17 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the actuator is mounted for rotation relative to the rim, and wherein the wheel further includes a seal between the actuator and the rim to inhibit the passage of gas between the actuator and the rim. 
     
     
         18 . A vehicle wheel as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the actuator comprises:
 a tubular member having a hollow interior; and   a valve mechanism positioned in the hollow interior to control the passage of gas through the tubular member.