Tubeless valve assembly

Abstract

A bicycle wheel comprises a rim and a valve assembly. The rim includes a radially inner wall having an inner opening and a radially outer wall having an outer opening. A first portion of the rim includes a first securing feature (e.g., inner threads). The valve assembly is positioned in the inner opening and outer opening and includes a second securing feature (e.g., outer threads) engaging the first securing feature. The rim can include a plate that defines the first engaging feature. The valve assembly preferably includes a valve stem and a resilient bumper coupled to the valve stem and aligned with a second portion of the rim. The valve assembly can further include a seal member compressed between the valve stem and the rim. Preferably, the seal member is positioned in an annular groove in an underside of an enlarged head of the valve stem.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a bicycle wheel comprising:
 an axle; 
 a hub mounted for rotation on the axle; 
 a rim mounted for rotation with the hub, the rim including a radially inner wall having an inner opening and a radially outer wall having an outer opening, 
 a receptacle having a slot and a cam surface; and 
 a valve assembly positioned in the inner opening and the outer opening, the valve assembly including a post having a tab that is configured to extend through the slot and slide against the cam surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an insert coupled to the rim, wherein the insert includes the receptacle, and wherein the insert is coupled to the radially outer wall at the outer opening. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the insert is secured to the radially outer wall with adhesive or fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cam surface is disposed along an underside of the receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle includes an opening that is aligned with the outer opening and the inner opening. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises multiple slots, wherein the multiple slots comprise the slot, wherein the receptacle comprises multiple cam surfaces, wherein the multiple cam surfaces comprise the cam surface. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a bicycle having the bicycle wheel. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly includes:
 a valve stem; and   a resilient bumper coupled to the valve stem and pressed against the radially inner wall at the second opening.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the resilient bumper comprises an annular member wrapped around the valve stem. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the valve stem includes an annular groove configured to receive the resilient bumper. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  1 , wherein the valve assembly includes an enlarged head disposed radially exterior to the receptacle. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein an O-ring is disposed between the enlarged head and the rim. 
     
     
         13 . A bicycle rim assembly comprising:
 a rim including a radially inner wall having an inner opening and a radially outer wall having an outer opening;   a receptacle disposed along the outer wall, the receptacle having a slot and a cam surface;   a valve assembly adapted to be positioned in the outer and inner openings, the valve assembly including;
 a valve stem and a valve positioned in the valve stem and movable between an open position and a closed position; and 
 a resilient bumper coupled to the valve stem and pressed against the radially inner wall. 
   
     
     
         14 . The bicycle rim assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the cam surface is disposed along an underside of the receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The bicycle rim assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the receptacle includes an opening that is aligned with the outer opening and the inner opening. 
     
     
         16 . The bicycle rim assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the receptacle includes a plurality of slots that include the slot, and wherein the receptacle includes a plurality of cam surfaces that include the cam surface. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising a bicycle having the bicycle rim assembly of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         18 . The bicycle rim assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the resilient bumper is spaced from the receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the resilient bumper comprises an annular member wrapped around the valve stem. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the valve stem includes an annular groove configured to receive the resilient bumper.