Cassette and bicycle wheel assembly

Abstract

A bicycle wheel assembly may include a cassette having a plurality of sprocket portions, the cassette being configured such that a cavity or recess is formed in a large end of the cassette. A wheel hub coupled to the cassette may include a spoke connection flange that is disposed at least partially within the cavity of the cassette, facilitating a more acute spoke angle.

1 . A bicycle wheel assembly comprising:
 a hub assembly having a first flange, a second flange, and a freehub body adjacent to the second flange;   a rim attached by a first plurality of spokes to the first hub flange and by a second plurality of spokes to the second hub flange; and   a cassette coupled to the freehub body, a large end of the cassette defining an open cavity and including a first sprocket portion;   wherein the second flange and the cassette are disposed such that the second plurality of spokes extends into the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cassette is connected to the freehub body by a spline joint. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first sprocket portion is concave. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first sprocket portion is annular. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , the first sprocket portion having a first outer diameter (OD), the cassette further including an annular second sprocket portion having a second OD smaller than the first OD, wherein the second sprocket portion is joined to the first sprocket portion. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first sprocket portion and the second sprocket portion are joined by at least one weld. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first sprocket portion and the second sprocket portion are joined by at least one removable fastener. 
     
     
         8 . A bicycle component assembly comprising:
 a wheel hub having a spoke connection flange; and   a cassette coupled to the wheel hub, the cassette including a plurality of stepped sprocket portions defining a small end, a large end opposite the small end, and a cavity having an open mouth at the large end;   wherein the spoke connection flange is located at least partially within the cavity.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , the plurality of stepped sprocket portions including a first annular sprocket portion and a second annular sprocket portion, the first annular sprocket portion having a plurality of protruding connector members, each connector member being welded to the second annular sprocket portion. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the large end of the cassette includes an annular sprocket portion, such that the cavity is at least partially formed by an inner diameter of the annular sprocket portion. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the annular sprocket portion is a first annular sprocket portion, the large end of the cassette further including a second annular sprocket portion joined to the first annular sprocket portion. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the second annular sprocket portion is welded to the first annular sprocket portion. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the large end of the cassette includes a concave sprocket portion, such that the cavity is at least partially formed by a concave shape of the sprocket portion. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , further including a freehub body coupled to the wheel hub, wherein the concave sprocket portion includes a central interface forming a spline joint with the freehub body. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 13 , the plurality of stepped sprocket portions including a pair of annular sprocket portions, the pair of annular sprocket portions being welded together and forming a central opening, wherein the concave sprocket portion is adjacent to the pair of annular sprocket portions and is disposed partially within the central opening. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the concave sprocket portion is connected to the pair of annular sprocket portions by at least one removable fastener. 
     
     
         17 . A bicycle component assembly comprising:
 a wheel hub having a spoke connection flange;   a plurality of spokes extending between the spoke connection flange and a wheel rim; and   a cassette coupled to the wheel hub, the cassette including a plurality of stepped annular sprocket portions, a largest one of the sprocket portions defining an end plane of the cassette and having an inner diameter larger than the spoke connection flange;   wherein the plurality of spokes breaks the end plane of the cassette.   
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the spoke connection flange breaks the end plane of the cassette. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of spokes extend from an outboard side of the spoke connection flange. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a first one of the annular sprocket portions is welded to a second one of the annular sprocket portions.