Force distributing apparatus having an eccentric opening for a bicycle wheel spoke

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9962991-B2
Application number	US-201615362209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2016
Priority date	Feb 9, 2012
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 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. The force-distributing body has a spoke-receiving opening that extends through the first surface, wherein the spoke-receiving opening is formed eccentrically in the force-distributing body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A force distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheel spoke, 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 force-distributing body has a spoke-receiving opening that extends through the first surface;
wherein the spoke-receiving opening has a spoke-receiving axis;
wherein an axial thickness from a frontmost edge to a rearmost edge of the force distributing body is greater than a radial distance from the spoke receiving axis to a radially outermost surface of the force distributing body; and
wherein the spoke-receiving opening is formed eccentrically in the force-distributing body.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the spoke-receiving opening extends completely through the force-distributing body.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the spoke-receiving opening is unthreaded.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the spoke-receiving opening is unthreaded along its entire length.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of the first surface or the second surface has a planar surface.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the force distributing body includes a beveled edge in close proximity to the planar surface.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the other one of the first surface or the second surface has a planar surface.

8. A force distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheel spoke, wherein the apparatus comprises:
a force-distributing body having an external surface, wherein the external surface includes a free-end first surface and a second surface disposed at an opposite axial side of the first surface;
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;
wherein the force-distributing body has a spoke-receiving opening that extends through the first surface to form a spoke-receiving axis;
wherein the second surface is tapered relative to the spoke-receiving axis;
wherein the spoke-receiving opening is formed eccentrically in the force-distributing body; and
wherein the first surface has the shape of a truncated sphere.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the second surface has a conical shape.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the second surface has the shape of a truncated cone.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the second surface has the shape of a frustum of a cone.

12. A force distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheel spoke, 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 one of the first surface or the second surface has a planar surface;
wherein the force-distributing body has a spoke-receiving opening that extends through the first surface;
wherein the spoke-receiving opening is formed eccentrically in the force-distributing body; and
wherein the force-distributing body has a generally cylindrical shape.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the force distributing body includes a beveled edge in close proximity to the planar surface.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the other one of the first surface or the second surface has a planar surface.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 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 formed eccentrically in the force-distributing body in a radial direction of the bicycle wheel hub when the spoke is mounted to the hub flange;

wherein the first surface is structured to engage the hub flange when the spoke is mounted to the hub flange; and
wherein at least one of the first surface or the second surface is shaped to allow the spoke to move in any lateral direction relative to the flange-opening axis.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the spoke-receiving opening extends completely through the force-distributing body.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the spoke-receiving opening is unthreaded.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the spoke-receiving opening is unthreaded along its entire length.

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

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 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 forms a spoke-receiving axis.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the second surface is tapered relative to the spoke-receiving axis.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the second surface has a conical shape.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the second surface has the shape of a truncated cone.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the second surface has the shape of a frustum of a cone.

26. The apparatus according to claim 21 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.

27. 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 formed eccentrically in the force-distributing body and having a spoke-receiving-opening axis;

wherein the first surface is structured to engage the hub flange when the spoke is mounted to the hub flange;
wherein at least one of the first surface or the second surface is shaped to allow the spoke to move in any lateral direction relative to the flange-opening axis; and
wherein the spoke-receiving-opening axis is offset from the flange-opening axis when the spoke is mounted to the hub flange.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Koshiyama Kazuki
• Fujita Hiroshi

Classifications

• B60B1/042 Primary

  Attaching spokes to hub · CPC title

• B60B1/04

  Attaching spokes to rim or hub · CPC title

• B60B27/023

  specially adapted for bicycles · CPC title

• B60B1/041

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