Vehicle wheel spoke connection

摘要

A vehicle wheel, comprising: a rim; a hub; a plurality of spokes with a span portion extending between the rim and hub; a bracing element including a hole with a central axis, and an engagement surface; and a connector connected to the bracing element, including an overhang. The bracing element comprises a portion of the rim and/or hub. The connector may be laterally displaced relative to the bracing element between a first lateral position and a second lateral position, where the connector may pass within the hole in the first lateral position and the overhang is engaged to the engagement surface in the second lateral position to limit displacement of the connector. The spoke simultaneously contacts the hole and the connector to maintain the connector in the second lateral position. With the connector in the second lateral position, the spoke is engaged to at least one of the bracing element and the connector to support spoke tension forces.

主权项

1. A vehicle wheel, comprising:
a peripheral wheel 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 extending between said rim and said hub, wherein each of said spokes is a generally slender element with a length greater than its width and longitudinal axis along its length and a tensile axis of applied tensile load along said span portion; a bracing element including a spoke bed portion with a hole therein including a hole axis, a hole entrance, a hole sidewall, and at least one of an engagement surface and an engagement edge adjacent said hole and longitudinally outward of said hole entrance; a connecting element connected to said bracing element, including a generally laterally projecting overhang portion; wherein said bracing element comprises at least a portion of at least one of said rim and said outer flange; wherein said connecting element may be laterally displaced relative to said bracing element between a first lateral position and a second lateral position, wherein said connecting element may pass within said hole in said first lateral position, and wherein, in said second lateral position, said overhang portion is engaged to at least one of said engagement surface and said engagement edge in a first overlie engagement to limit longitudinally inward displacement of said connecting element relative to said bracing element; wherein, with said connecting element in said second lateral position, a spoke element comprising at least one of (i) a corresponding spoke of said plurality of spokes, and (ii) an intermediate connecting element structurally coupled to said spoke, is directly engaged to an engaging surface of said connecting element in a second overlie engagement longitudinally outward of said hole entrance; and wherein, with said connecting element in said second lateral position, said spoke element is laterally positioned between said connecting element and said hole to limit lateral displacement of said connecting element and to maintain said connecting element in said second lateral position.