Enve Composites, LLC

Endura Limited

Enve Composities, LLC

Smart Aero Technology Limited

Simon Smart

A low drag garment is made from a fabric having a textured region with a texture height H, wherein the texture height H increases substantially continuously with the surface angle &#x3b8; in said textured region. Optionally, the substantially continuous increase in texture height H comprises a plurality of incremental increases in texture height, and wherein each incremental increase in texture height is less than 200 &#x3bc;m.

Low drag garment

A low drag garment has a plurality of zones including a first zone A, a second zone B and a third zone C, which are defined in relation to a forward direction of travel M of a person wearing the garment. The first zone A is located generally in an inner front region of the garment, the second zone B is located in an outer front region of the garment and the third zone C is located in a rear region of the garment. The garment is made from a fabric having a textured outer surface with a texture height H, wherein in first zone A the fabric has a mean texture height Hin the range 0-200 &#x3bc;m, in the second zone B the fabric has a mean texture height Hthat is greater than Hand preferably in the range of 100-500 &#x3bc;m, and in the third zone C the fabric has a mean texture height Hthat is greater than Hand preferably greater than 200 &#x3bc;m.

A bicycle rim is configured to reduce drag as well as enhance steering stability, such as in gusty and/or high cross wind conditions. The rim includes a leading edge where the rim interfaces with a tire, and a sidewall extends from the leading edge. The rim includes a spoke face where one or more spokes extend from the bicycle rim. A reflexed blend portion is disposed between the sidewall and the spoke face. The reflexed blend portion allows the sidewall to have increased camber which lowers pressure drag. At the same time, the reflexed blend portion allows the spoke face to have a larger radius so as to provide greater steering stability, such as in gusty and/or high cross wind conditions.

Reflex rim for enhanced efficiency

Embodiments described herein improve airflow around bicycle wheels by providing for one or more of: (1) a optimum leading edge width of a rim for preventing early stall in cross winds, while still allowing for sufficient stability without undue drag, while not unnecessarily increasing the rotating wheel and drag on the frame; (2) a sidewall shape with a subtle camber angle at the leading, which defines a rate of radius change at the max width of the rim&#x2014;which further defines the max width and placement along the chord length for optimizing the aerodynamic properties of the rim; (3) a continuous rate of change of curvature at a spoke face, which fundamentally improves the performance and stability by generating a side force at higher yaw angles; and (4) wheel sets with a wider front rim relative to a narrower rear wheel to assist in flow attachment in high crosswind areas.

Optimum aerodynamic bicycle wheel

Embodiments described herein provide for one or more of: (1) airflow enhancement around a rim using cusps that create virtual surfaces of air with the bike in motion, which also encourage favorable air attachment around the rim; (2) wake reduction by streamlining the airfoil around the rim using trip edges at various points of rim surface transition, which cause a laminar flow to go turbulent for enhancing the streamline effect; (3) a double rim surface, which provides an air slot between the two rim surfaces at a distance that enhances flow attachment and adds energy of air flow around the rim by moving air between areas of high and low pressure; and (4) a tubeless tire rim kit capable of converting conventional rims into tubeless ones and also promoting the sealing of the tire to the rim with minimal air pressure necessary to create the seal.

Multi-surface rim for enhanced efficiency

Embodiments described herein improve airflow around the bicycle wheels by providing for one or more of: (1) a optimum leading edge width of a rim for preventing early stall in cross winds, while still allowing for sufficient stability without undue drag, while not unnecessarily increasing the rotating wheel and drag on the frame; (2) a sidewall shape with a subtle camber angle at the leading, which defines a rate of radius change at the max width of the rim&#x2014;which further defines the max width and placement along the chord length for optimizing the aerodynamic properties of the rim; (3) a continuous rate of change of curvature at a spoke face, which fundamentally improves the performance and stability by generating a side force at higher yaw angles; and (4) wheel sets with a wider front rim relative to a narrower rear wheel to assist in flow attachment in high crosswind areas.

Growing community of inventors

Brackley, United Kingdom

Simon Smart