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US 9,636,943 B2Granted
Wheel with high strength flexible spokes
AssigneeSpinergy Inc.
InventorMartin Connolly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheel with flexible spokes, including a rim and hub, and spokes between the rim and hub made of fibrous material that causes the spokes to be both lighter in weight and stronger than comparable steel spokes. The spokes are also flexible and resilient such that they can bend while retaining their integrity and strength.
Claims14
A wheel with aerodynamic spokes, comprising:
- a rim defining a plane;
- a hub:
- and
- a plurality of high strength, non-rigid, flexible spokes extending from said hub to said rim, each said high strength, non-rigid, flexible spokes comprising:
- a first end, a second end, and a fibrous core extending between said first and second ends;
- a jacket having an aerodynamic shape formed around the fibrous core;
- an anchor attached to said first end, wherein said anchor is received by said hub;
- a tube attached to said second end wherein said fibrous core extends through said tube and protrudes from said tube at a spoke angle from said plane creating a bend in said fibrous core;
- and
- a nipple formed to receive said tube, wherein said nipple is received by said rim,
- wherein said nipple extends through said rim radially inward, and wherein said anchor extends from said hub radially outward.
8 more elements
A wheel, comprising:
- an outer circular rim defining a plane and constructed of high strength, low weight material, having a transverse cross section, constructed with a plurality of spoke holes spaced about the circumference of the rim;
- an inner cylindrical hub mountable on an axle for concentric rotation with the rim about the axis of the axle, said hub formed with a plurality of flange holes;
- a plurality of high strength, non-rigid, flexible spokes, each said high strength, non-rigid, flexible spoke having a longitudinal axis, extending substantially radially outward from the hub to the rim, said high strength, non-rigid, flexible spokes further comprising a spoke tube at a first end wherein said high strength, non-rigid, flexible spoke extends through said tube and protrudes from said tube at a spoke angle from said plane creating a bend in said high strength, non-rigid, flexible spoke, and an anchor at a second end;
- and
- wherein said anchor is secured to said flange hole and said tube is secured to a nipple retained within said spoke hole of said rim and wherein said high strength, non-rigid, flexible spoke is connected between said hub and said rim at said spoke angle away from said plane.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.