Wheel including a rim, a hub, and a device for connecting the rim to the hub

• US 7,631,947 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mavic S.A.S. (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Salomon SAS (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Renard, Philippe, Mercat, Jean-Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Bellinger; Jason R
• Application Number:
  US11/641,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20070138859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 301/55, 301 58- 59, 301/61, 301/104
• US Class Current: 301/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/003 specially adapted for bicycles B60B1/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/006 specially adapted for light-weight wheels, e.g. of strollers or wheel-chairs B60B1/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/0261 characterised by spoke form
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/0284 the spoke being threaded at both ends
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/041 of bicycle wheels bicycle rims characterised by means for attaching spokes B60B21/062
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/042 Attaching spokes to hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 1/044 by the use of spoke nipples
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 21/025 the transverse section being hollow
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 21/062 for bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 5/02 made of synthetic material

Abstract

A wheel including a rim, a hub, and at least one device for connecting the rim to the hub, the connecting device including a composite spoke and a first mechanism to connect the spoke to the rim or the hub, the spoke including an elongated body, which extends in a longitudinal direction, between a first end and a second end, the body and the ends including fibers, the fibers being arranged to form a first loop at the first end. The first connecting mechanism includes a first insert housed in the first loop, a first shank affixed to the first insert, the first shank being oriented along the longitudinal direction, a first screw or fastening portion being defined on the first shank.

Claims

1. A wheel comprising:

a rim;

a hub;

at least one device for connecting the rim to the hub, the connecting device comprising;

a composite spoke;

a first mechanism for connecting the spoke to the rim or to the hub;

the spoke comprising an elongated body extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end;

the elongated body and the first and second ends comprising fibers;

the fibers being arranged to form a first loop at the first end;

the first connecting mechanism comprising;

a first insert housed in the first loop;

a first shank affixed to the first insert, the first shank being elongated along the longitudinal direction and extending in the longitudinal direction through the first loop;

a first screw portion or a fastening portion being defined on the first shank.

2. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the first insert extends transversely of the longitudinal direction between a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface;

the first insert having a curved connecting surface between the lateral surfaces.

3. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

also housed in the first loop is a plug.

4. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the first loop has an inner housing;

the first insert entirely fills said inner housing of the first loop.

5. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

a bushing is in contact with and is housed within the first loop.

6. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the first shank has a second screw portion opposite the first screw portion;

the second screw portion being screwed into a threaded opening of the first insert, the threaded opening being oriented along the longitudinal direction.

7. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the first shank and the first insert form a unitary one-piece element.

9. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the first shank is screwed into the first insert after the spoke has been pierced in an area of the first loop.

10. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the spoke comprises two distinct arms.

11. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the first shank has a variable transverse cross section along the longitudinal direction.

12. A wheel according to claim 11, wherein:

along the shank in an area closer to the first screw portion than to the first insert, a first transverse cross section of the shank is round;

along the shank in an area closer to the first insert than to the first screw portion, a second transverse cross section of the shank is narrower and elongated relative to the first transverse cross section.

13. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the first screw portion is a first threaded portion.

14. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the fastening portion comprises an enlarged head.

15. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the fibers are arranged to form a second loop and the second end of the spoke;

the connecting device comprises a second connecting mechanism, said second connecting mechanism comprising;

a second insert housed in the second loop;

a second shank affixed to the second insert, the second shank being oriented along the longitudinal direction;

a second screw portion or a fastening being defined on the second shank.

16. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the first shank is substantially aligned with a central longitudinal axis of the spoke.

17. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the connecting device is transversely symmetrical.

18. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the connecting device is symmetrical thickness-wise.

19. A wheel according to claim 2, wherein:

the first shank is substantially midway between the first and second lateral surfaces of the first insert.

21. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the fibers of the first loop are spaced apart to allow the first shank to pass beyond the fibers and through the first loop.

22. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the first shank extends in the longitudinal direction through an extreme end of the spoke.

23. A wheel according to claim 1, wherein:

the first insert has a width and the first loop has a width, said widths extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;

the width of the first insert being substantially equal to the width of first loop.

8. A wheel comprising:

a rim;

a hub;

at least one device for connecting the rim to the hub, the connecting device comprising;

a composite spoke;

a first mechanism for connecting the spoke to the rim or to the hub;

the spoke comprising an elongated body extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end;

the elongated body and the first and second ends comprising fibers;

the fibers being arranged to form a first loop at the first end;

the first connecting mechanism comprising;

a first insert housed in the first loop;

a first shank affixed to the first insert;

the first shank being oriented along the longitudinal direction;

the first shank extending through the first loop, the fibers of the first loop being spaced apart to allow the first shank to pass beyond the fibers and through the first loop;

a first screw portion or a fastening portion being defined on the first shank.

20. A connecting device for connecting a rim and a hub of a wheel, said connecting device comprising:

a composite spoke;

a first mechanism for connecting the spoke to the rim or to the hub;

the spoke comprising an elongated body extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end;

the elongated body and the first and second ends comprising fibers;

the fibers being arranged to form a first loop at the first end;

the first connecting mechanism comprising;

a first insert housed in the first loop;

a first shank affixed to the first insert, the first shank being elongated along the longitudinal direction and extending in the longitudinal direction through the first loop;

a first screw portion or a fastening portion being defined on the first shank.