US 6,666,525 B1Granted

Spoked wheel apparatus

OwnerDavid J. Schroepferinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

The spoked wheel apparatus is symmetrical, is reversible, employs spokes that are threaded on both ends, and is capable of supporting a tubeless tire, without air leaking from the tire. A hub assembly for the wheel apparatus includes two sides, and each side includes a plurality of alternately crossing spokes that are connected between the hub assembly and a wheel rim portion. Each hub side includes an interchangeable and reversible drive dowel assembly capable of receiving a drive sprocket or disc brake. For a hub side, some spokes are connected between outer portions of the hub side to the wheel rim portion, and some spokes are connected between inner portions of the hub side to the wheel rim portion. Alternating pairs of inner and outer spokes come into interference contact midway between the hub assembly and the wheel rim portion, whereby strengthening and stabilizing effects are provided between the interfering spokes.

A spoked wheel apparatus, comprising:

a wheel rim portion which includes a circular locus of spoke reception channels,
a hub assembly which includes a first hub side and a second hub side,
wherein said first hub side includes reception positions for outer, first-side spokes and reception positions for inner, first-side spokes, wherein said reception positions for outer, first-side spokes are oriented in a first circular direction around said first hub side and are oriented toward said circular locus of spoke reception channels at an outside-hub-to-rim angle, and wherein said reception positions for inner, first-side spokes are oriented in a second circular direction around said first hub side and are oriented toward said circular locus of spoke reception channels at an inside-hub-to-rim angle,
wherein said second hub side includes reception positions for outer, second-side spokes and reception positions for inner, second-side spokes, wherein said reception positions for outer, second-side spokes are oriented in a first circular direction around said second hub side and are oriented toward said circular locus of spoke reception channels at said outside-hub-to-rim angle, and wherein said reception positions for inner, second-side spokes are oriented in a second circular direction around said second hub side and are oriented toward said circular locus of spoke reception channels at said inside-hub-to-rim angle,
wherein said outside-hub-to-rim angle is greater than said inside-hub-to-rim angle,
wherein said reception positions in said first hub side for said first-side spokes are offset from respective reception positions in said second hub side for said second-side spokes by a hub-reception-position offset angle,
and an overall set of spokes interconnected between said wheel rim portion and said hub assembly, wherein said overall set of spokes includes a subset of spokes connected between said hub reception positions for outer, first-side spokes and said circular locus of spoke reception channels, a subset of spokes connected between said hub reception positions for inner, first-side spokes and said circular locus of spoke reception channels, a subset of spokes connected between said hub reception positions for outer, second-side spokes and said circular locus of spoke reception channels, and a subset of spokes connected between said hub reception positions for inner, second-side spokes and said circular locus of spoke reception channels, whereby, because said outside-hub-to-rim angle is greater than inside-hub-to-rim angle, said outer, first-side spokes and said inner, first-side spokes engage in interference contacts at respective locations between said circular locus of spoke reception channels and said first hub side, and whereby said outer, second-side spokes and said inner, second-side spokes engage in interference contacts at respective locations between said circular locus of spoke reception channels and said second hub side.

4 more elements

Facts

Application

10/173,086Filed 17 Jun 2002

Published

US 2003/0230928 A118 Dec 2003

Granted

23 Dec 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60B 21/064
Characterised by means for attaching spokes , i.e. spoke seats: characterised by shape of spoke mounting holes, e.g. elliptical or triangular
B60B 1/0207
Wheels with wire or other tension spokes: characterised by non-standard number of spokes, i.e. less than 12 or more than 32 spokes
B60B 1/042
Attaching spokes to rim or hub: attaching spokes to hub
B60B 1/047
By the use of spoke nipples: the nipple comprising sealing means

Abstract

Claims16