Force distributing apparatus having a threaded opening for a bicycle wheel spoke

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9925826-B2
Application number	US-201615362140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2016
Priority date	Feb 9, 2012
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A force-distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheel spoke includes a force-distributing body having a free-end first surface and a second surface disposed at an opposite side of the first surface, wherein the first surface may have the shape of a truncated sphere. The force-distributing body has a threaded spoke-receiving opening that extends through the first surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A force distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheel spoke adapted to be mounted to a hub flange of a bicycle wheel hub, wherein the apparatus comprises:
a force-distributing body having a free-end first surface and a second surface disposed at an opposite side of the first surface;
wherein the first surface has the shape of a truncated sphere so that the first surface forms a ball joint with the hub flange of the bicycle wheel hub when the first surface engages the hub flange;
wherein the force-distributing body has a spoke-receiving opening that extends through the first surface; and
wherein the spoke-receiving opening is a threaded opening.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the spoke-receiving opening is a blind opening.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the force-distributing body has the shape of a truncated sphere.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first surface has the shape of a frustum of a sphere.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the force-distributing body has the shape of a frustum of a sphere.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the second surface has a concave shape.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the second surface has the shape of a frustum of a sphere.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first surface is disposed on a first portion of the force-distributing body, wherein the second surface is disposed on a second portion of the force-distributing body, and wherein the spoke-receiving opening is disposed in the first portion to form a spoke-receiving axis.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the first surface has the shape of a frustum of a sphere.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the second surface is tapered relative to the spoke-receiving axis.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the second surface has a conical shape.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the second surface has the shape of a truncated cone.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the second surface has the shape of a frustum of a cone.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the spoke-receiving opening is a blind opening.

15. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the first surface has the shape of a frustum of a sphere, and wherein the second surface has the shape of a frustum of a cone.

16. A force distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheel spoke, wherein the spoke is structured to be mounted to a hub flange of a bicycle wheel hub, wherein the hub flange includes an opening with a flange-opening axis, and wherein the apparatus comprises:
a force-distributing body including:
a free-end first surface;
a second surface disposed at an opposite side of the first surface; and
a spoke-receiving opening;
wherein the spoke-receiving opening is a threaded opening

wherein the first surface is structured to engage the hub flange when the spoke is mounted to the hub flange; and
wherein the entire surface of the force distributing body that contacts the hub flange is shaped to allow the spoke to move in any lateral direction relative to the flange-opening axis when the spoke is mounted to the hub flange.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the first surface has the shape of a truncated sphere.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the first surface has the shape of a frustum of a sphere.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the force-distributing body has the shape of a frustum of a sphere.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the second surface has a concave shape.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the second surface has the shape of a frustum of a sphere.

22. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the first surface is disposed on a first portion of the force-distributing body, wherein the second surface is disposed on a second portion of the force-distributing body, and wherein the spoke-receiving opening extends into the first portion to form a spoke-receiving axis.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the spoke-receiving opening extends through the first portion and into the second portion to form the spoke-receiving axis.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the spoke-receiving opening is a blind opening.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the second surface is tapered relative to the spoke-receiving axis.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the second surface has a conical shape.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the second surface has the shape of a truncated cone.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the second surface has the shape of a frustum of a cone.

29. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the first surface has the shape of a frustum of a sphere, and wherein the second surface has the shape of a frustum of a cone.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Koshiyama Kazuki
• Fujita Hiroshi

Classifications

• B60B1/041

  of bicycle wheels (bicycle rims characterised by means for attaching spokes B60B21/062) · CPC title

• B60B1/04

  Attaching spokes to rim or hub · CPC title

• B60B27/023

  specially adapted for bicycles · CPC title

• B60B1/042 Primary

  Attaching spokes to hub · CPC title