Fiber reinforced spoke for wheels of bicycles, wheelchairs and the like, and method of making same

A fiber reinforced plastic spoke for use in wheels of bicycles, wheelchairs and the like, comprising

• a pultruded continuous fiber reinforced plastic shaft formed to have a cross-sectional teardrop shape positioned such that when installed in a wheel, the dimension transverse to the direction of forward motion of the wheel is less than the dimension aligned with such forward motion,
• an injection molded discontinuous fiber reinforced plastic rim end cap having a receptacle for receiving one end of the shaft and having exterior threads for connecting to a wheel rim, and
• an injection molded discontinuous fiber reinforced plastic hub end cap having a receptacle for receiving the other end of the shaft, and having a bend formed therein for connecting to a wheel hub.

A spoke for use in wheels of bicycles, wheelchairs and the like, comprising

• an injection molded discontinuous fiber reinforced plastic shaft having a first end and second end, and formed to have a symmetrical airfoil cross-sectional shape such that when installed in a wheel, the dimension transverse to the direction of forward motion of the wheel is less than the dimension aligned with such forward motion, said first end being molded to define a longitudinally extending threaded first hollow for receiving a correspondingly threaded rod, said second end being molded to define a longitudinally extending second hollow, wherein the discontinuous fibers are generally aligned with one another along the length of the shaft.
• an elongate hub element being formed with a bend at one end, and threads at the other end for allowing the screwing of said other end into the first hollow of the shaft, and
• and elongate bar for insertion and securing at one end into the second hollow of the shaft, and being formed with threads at the other end.