Vehicle wheel spoke connection

摘要

A vehicle wheel, comprising a rim, a hub, a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, a bracing element including a hole with a central axis, a sidewall, a longitudinally inward entrance, and at least one of an engagement surface and an engagement edge outward of the entrance, a connecting element comprising a multiplicity of discreet segments. The bracing element comprises at least a portion of one of the rim and hub. At least one segment includes a laterally projecting overhanging surface. The first segment is positioned within the hole, with the overhang surface overlying one of the engagement surface and engagement edge in an overlie engagement. The second segment is positioned within the hole to include an opening between the first and second segments. The spoke is positioned within the opening and is connected to the connecting element with the overlie engagement to support spoke tensile load.

主权项

1. A vehicle wheel, comprising:
a peripheral rim; a central hub with a central axle and an outer flange; a plurality of spokes extending between said rim and said hub with a first portion connected to said rim and a second portion opposed to said first portion and connected to said hub and a span portion between said rim and said hub, wherein said spoke is a generally slender element with a length greater than its width and a longitudinal axis along its length and a tensile axis of applied tensile load along said span portion; a bracing element including a hole therein with a central axis, a hole sidewall, a longitudinally inward opening, and at least one of an engagement surface and an engagement edge adjacent said hole and longitudinally outward of said opening; a multi-piece connecting element connected to said bracing element and comprising a multiplicity of discreet segments to include a first segment and a second segment, wherein said first segment is generally laterally opposed to said second segment relative to said central axis in a first lateral direction; wherein said bracing element comprises at least a portion of at least one of said rim and said hub; including a generally longitudinal seam between said first segment and said second segment; wherein at least one of said first segment and said second segment includes an enlarged portion and a laterally projecting overhang surface with a lateral overhang width; wherein said enlarged portion of said first segment is bounded by said seam and extends in said first lateral direction; wherein said first segment is positioned to extend within said hole, with said overhang surface overlying at least one of said engagement surface and said engagement edge in an overlie engagement; wherein said second segment is positioned in said hole to include an opening between said first segment and said second segment and extending along an opening axis; wherein said spoke is positioned within said opening and connected to said connecting element; wherein said overlie engagement supports said applied tensile load; and wherein said first segment and said second segment may be inserted within said hole in the longitudinally outwardly direction.