Quick-release type hub for bicycles

Claim 1

A quick-release type hub for bicycles comprising a stationary tubular hub axle for rotatably supporting a hub shell, a first and a second lock nuts each mounted on opposite end sections of said axle, respectively, a spindle, which is longer than said axle, extending through said axle, and projecting at opposite ends out of said axle, said spindle being axially slidable with relative to said axle, and having a threaded end section on which an adjusting nut is mounted, and a non-threaded end section which is formed with an enlarged head having a through hole extending transversely of a longitudinal axis of said spindle, a support pin extending through said through hole and projecting at opposite ends from said hole, a push member which is axially slidably mounted on said non-threaded end section, said push member having an enlarged section and a reduced section which extends from said enlarged section toward said head, a lever pivotally mounted at its one end on said support pin, said one end of the lever having at least one circumferential cam surface so shaped that a distance from said pin gradually varies and arranged so as to act on an end wall of said reduced section, said lever being rotatable between a clamping position and a releasing position an actuating member mounted on said support pin so as to be co-axially rotatable with said lever, said actuating member including a pair of spaced side plates each having an inward edge separated by a nose point into a clamping edge section and a releasing edge section, a first actuator means disposed adjacent said clamping edge section so as to come into contact with said lever as the latter is turned to its clamping position, and a second actuator means disposed adjacent said releasing edge section so as to come into contact with said lever as the latter is turned to its releasing position, a coil spring interposed between said push member and one end of said axle for urging the push member axially outwardly, a spring washer mounted on said reduced section of the push member and interposed between said enlarged section of the push member and said inward edge of the actuating member, said spring washer being elastically deformable into a substantially flattened shape when compressed, said push member being prevented from sliding axially outwardly as long as said clamping edge section of the actuating member is in contact with said spring washer when the hub is mounted on a bicycle, and said spindle being axially slidable only when said releasing edge section of the actuating member is in contact with said spring washer when the hub is mounted on a bicycle.