UNEQUALLY THICK RIM, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE RIM

摘要

A rim material (11) having a non-uniform thickness, a rim (12) manufactured from the rim material (11), and a method for manufacturing the rim (12) from the rim material (11). The rim material (11) includes a first material portion which forms an axially curved portion of the rim after the rim material is formed to the rim and a second material portion which forms an intermediate portion between adjacent axially curved portions after the rim material is formed to the rim. The first material portion has a thick parallel-surface portion (13) including opposite surfaces parallel to each other. The parallel-surface portion (13) has a width greater than a maximum amount of an axial dislocation of the parallel-surface portion expected to occur when the parallel-surface portion is formed to a corresponding curved portion. The second material portion has a thickness varying portion (14). The thickness varying portion (14) includes a surface having a configuration defined by a line including a straight line and/or a slightly curved line.