Vehicle wheel including spoke attachment
OwnerRaphael Schlangerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The vehicle wheel includes an outer rim hoop with means for holding a tire, a plurality of spoke portions, and a central hub assembly. The central hub assembly includes an axle assembly and a hub shell that is rotatable about the axle. The hub shell includes at least two axially spaced outer flanges for attachment with the spokes. The spokes are connected at their outer ends to the rim hoop and at their inner ends to their respective outer flange. Firm attachment between the spoke and the outer flange is achieved by engaging of a portion of the spoke with a cavity formed within at least one of the rim and the outer flange. Also disclosed are attachment arrangements that include an intermediate connection member to facilitate attachment between the spoke and the cavity.
Claims112
A wheel, comprising:
- a peripheral wheel rim;
- a central hub with a central axle and an outer flange;
- a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, wherein said spokes have a first portion connected to said rim and a second portion opposed to said first portion
- and connected to said hub;
- a cavity formed within at least one of said outer flange and said rim for connection with at least one of said spokes;
- wherein at least one of said first portion and said second portion of said spoke is joined to at least one of said outer flange and said rim by means of a deformed engagement in a deformed engagement region;
- and
- wherein said joinder results in a firm connection between said cavity and at least one of said first portion and said second portion of said spoke at said engagement region.
A wheel, comprising:
- a peripheral wheel rim;
- a central hub with an axle and an outer flange;
- a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, wherein said spokes have a first portion connected to said rim and a second portion opposed to said first portion and connected to said hub;
- a cavity formed within said outer flange for engagement with the second portion of at least one of said spokes;
- wherein said second portion of said spoke is joined to said cavity to create an engagement region between said spoke and said outer flange;
- wherein said spoke has a cross-sectional thickness in said engagement region, and wherein said engagement region is a longitudinal engagement region including a longitudinal depth of engagement that is greater than said cross-sectional thickness;
- wherein said spoke includes configured geometry to engage said cavity and said cavity includes configured geometry to engage said spoke at said engagement region;
- wherein said engagement region includes longitudinally spaced engagement sites;
- wherein said engagement results in a firm connection between said outer flange and said second portion of said spoke at said engagement region;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of said outer flange in said engagement region is constructed of polymeric material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.