Abstract: 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 connected to the bracing element, including an opening extending along an opening axis, and a multiplicity of prongs, with at least one of the prongs including a lateral overhang surface. The connecting element is resilient and may be flexed between collapsed and expanded orientations and is positioned within the hole, with the overhang surface overlying one of the engagement surface and engagement edge in a first overlie engagement. The spoke includes a laterally projecting surface to overlie the connecting element in a second overlie engagement that is preferably located longitudinally outwardly of the first overlie engagement.

Abstract: 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 connected to the bracing element, including an opening extending along an opening axis, and a multiplicity of prongs, with at least one of the prongs including a lateral overhang surface. The connecting element is resilient and may be flexed between collapsed and expanded orientations and is positioned within the hole, with the overhang surface overlying one of the engagement surface and engagement edge. The spoke is connected to the connecting element by a threaded engagement with the central opening.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A wheel, having a peripheral wheel rim, a central hub with a central axle and an outer flange, a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, a connecting element connected to at least one of the spokes, and a bracing element connected to the connecting element. The spokes have a first portion connected to the rim and a second portion opposed to the first portion and connected to the hub and a span portion between the rim and hub. The spoke is a generally slender element with a longitudinal axis and also has a tensile axis of applied tensile load along the span portion. The bracing element includes at least a portion of at least one of the rim and hub. The connecting element includes a first portion and a second portion, with the first portion integrally joined to the second portion at a joining interface. This integral joinder of the first portion and second portion of the connecting element serves to at least one of retain and engage the spoke to the connecting element.

Abstract: A braking system for a wheel of a vehicle includes a regenerative brake unit and a friction brake unit. The regenerative brake unit comprises a generator including a rotor and a stator. The rotor is fixedly attached to the wheel and includes a moving friction surface integrally constructed thereon. The friction brake unit includes a stationary friction surface that engages the moving friction surface of the rotor when the friction brake unit is actuated.

Abstract: A quick release hub assembly, comprising a stationary axle element with a first outer face and an axially opposed second outer face and an opening that extends axially between the first outer face and the second outer face, a rotatable hub shell element that is rotatable about the axle element and a quick release skewer assembly that includes a first skewer element with a first gripping face and a first collar portion extending axially inboard of the gripping face and a second skewer element with a second gripping face and a skewer shaft connecting the first skewer element and the second skewer element. The first gripping face is axially opposed and facing the second gripping face and the axial distance between the first gripping face and the second gripping face is selectively variable. The first gripping face is axially outboard the first outer face and the second gripping face is axially outboard the second outer face and the quick release skewer assembly extends through the opening.

Abstract: An improved vehicle wheel, including a rim, a hub with a central axle and an outer flange, a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub and a connecting element connected to at least one of the spokes. The spoke is a generally slender element with a longitudinal axis with a span portion between the rim and hub and a tensile axis of applied tensile load along the span portion. At least one of said rim and hub constitutes a bracing element. The connecting element includes an external surface and an internal cavity with an internal surface adjacent said spoke. The connecting element is joined to the spoke by means of a crimped joinder such that said external surface is pressed inwardly to plastically deform said connecting element to displace the internal surface toward the spoke. The crimped joinder supports tensile load through an engagement interface.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel, including an outer rim, a central hub with a central axle and an outer flange, a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, a bracing element connected to one of the spokes, and a clamping element connected to the bracing element. The spokes have a span portion between the rim and hub. The spoke has a tensile axis of applied tensile load along the span portion, a sidewall surface, and a longitudinal axis along its length. The bracing element includes a portion of one of the rim and hub. The spoke is anchored to the clamping element in a clamped connection where the clamping element is clamped to one of the spokes by a clamping force. At least one of a first portion and a second portion of one of the spokes is joined to the clamping element by a deformed engagement.

Abstract: An improved bicycle crankshaft assembly, including a crank axle with an axial axial axis, a first axle end, and a second axle end axially opposed to the first axle end; a first crank arm connected to the crank axle at a first crank arm interface adjacent the first axle end; a second crank arm connected to the crank axle at a second crank arm interface axially spaced from the first crank arm interface; a first bearing surrounding said crank axle adjacent said first axle end for rotation of said crank axle about said axial axis; a second bearing surrounding the crank axle and axially spaced from the first bearing. The crank axle includes reinforcement fibers for structural reinforcement of the crank axle and the crank axle is an integral crank axle that extends through the first bearing and the second bearing.

Abstract: An improved connecting system for a vehicle wheel spoke, including a spoke having an end portion, a span portion and a cross-section thereof, a connecting element; a bracing element such as a rim or hub, a tensile axis of applied tensile load along the span portion, and a longitudinal axis along the spoke. The connecting element is made of hardened molding material and the spoke is overmolded by the connecting element during solidification of the hardened molding material. The connecting element is joined to the spoke at an overmolded interface and the connecting element is connected to the bracing element.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel, including a peripheral rim with a radially outboard spoke bed and an apex region radially inboard from the spoke bed portion; a central hub with a hub flange; a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, with a first portion connected to the spoke bed and a second portion connected to the hub flange. The apex region includes a first apex portion and a second apex portion axially adjacent the first apex portion and a circumferential seam between the first apex portion and the second apex portion.

Abstract: An improved bicycle crankshaft assembly, including a crank axle with an axial axle axis, a first axle end, and a second axle end axially opposed to the first axle end; a first crank arm connected to the crank axle at a first crank arm interface adjacent the first axle end; a second crank arm connected to the crank axle at a second crank arm interface axially spaced from the first crank arm interface; a first bearing surrounding said crank axle adjacent said first axle end for rotation of said crank axle about said axial axis; a second bearing surrounding the crank axle and axially spaced from the first bearing. The crank axle includes reinforcement fibers for structural reinforcement of the crank axle and the crank axle is an integral crank axle that simultaneously contacts both the first bearing and the second bearing.

Abstract: A tensile connector assembly comprising a longitudinal tensile element having a longitudinal axis, an end portion and a cross-section, a connecting element connected to the longitudinal tensile element, and a bracing element connected to the longitudinal tensile element. With a tensile axis of applied tensile load along said longitudinal tensile element. Where the longitudinal tensile element is anchored to the bracing element and the connecting element is connected to the longitudinal tensile element via a welded connection at a welded interface. Where the connections permit the longitudinal tensile element to support said tensile load along the tensile axis.

Abstract: A torque coupling assembly that includes a rotationally driving assembly with a rotationally fixed driving axle element and a rotatable driving shell element, and an axial axis of rotation; a rotationally driven assembly, with a rotationally fixed driven axle element and a rotatable driven shell element, and an axial axis of rotation; a frame element with at least two axially spaced mounting elements for mounting of said torque coupling assembly; where the rotatable driving shell includes an axial projection anchored thereto, with a tip portion located axially distal from the driving shell and a root portion axially proximal to the driving shell, and an axially relieved portion circumferentially adjacent the axial projection; where the rotatable driven shell includes an axial projection anchored thereto, with a tip portion located axially distal from the driven shell and a root portion axially proximal to the driven shell, and an axially relieved portion circumferentially adjacent the axial projection; where,

Abstract: A wheel, comprised of a peripheral wheel rim, a central hub with a central axle and an outer flange, a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, a connecting element connected to at least one of said spokes, and a bracing element connected to said connecting element. The spokes have a first portion connected to the rim and a second portion opposed to the first portion and connected to the hub and a span portion between the rim and hub. The spoke is a generally slender element with a longitudinal axis and also has a tensile axis of applied tensile load along the span portion. The bracing element includes at least a portion of at least one of the rim and hub. The connecting element includes a first portion and a second portion, with the first portion integrally joined to the second portion at a joining interface. This integral joinder of the first portion and second portion of the connecting element serves to at least one of retain and engage the spoke to the connecting element.

Abstract: An improved vehicle wheel, including an outer rim, a central hub with a central axle and an outer flange and a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub. The spokes have a first portion connected to the rim and a second portion opposed to the first portion and connected to said hub. The outer rim includes a spoke bed wall with a spoke hole therethrough for connection with the first end of the spoke. The spoke bed wall has a radially outboard surface, which is a convex outboard surface including a radially outboard apex and a radially inboard portion relative to the apex and adjacent the apex.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel, comprising an outer rim, a central hub with a central axle and an outer flange, a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, a bracing element connected to at least one of the spokes, and a clamping element connected to the bracing element. The spokes have a first portion connected to the rim and a second portion opposed to the first portion and connected to the hub and a span portion between the rim and hub. The spoke has a tensile axis of applied tensile load along the span portion, a sidewall surface, and a longitudinal axis along its length. The bracing element includes at least a portion of at least one of said rim and hub. The spoke is anchored to the clamping element in a clamped connection where the clamping element is clamped to at least one of the spokes by a clamping force, including a clamped interface between the spoke and the clamping element.

Abstract: The vehicle wheel includes an outer rim hoop for holding a tire, a plurality of spoke portions, and a central hub assembly. The central hub assembly includes an axle assembly and a hub shell that is rotatable about the axle. The hub shell includes at least two axially spaced outer flanges for attachment with the spokes. The spokes are connected at their outer ends to the rim hoop and at their inner ends to their respective outer flange. Firm attachment between the spoke and the outer flange is achieved by engaging of a portion of the spoke with a cavity formed within at least one of the rim and the outer flange.

Abstract: An improved connecting system for tensile elements, including a longitudinal tensile element having an end portion and a cross-section thereof, a deformable connecting element; a bracing element, and a tensile axis of applied tensile load along said longitudinal tensile element. The deformable connecting element surrounds the cross section of the longitudinal tensile element and the deformable connecting element is joined to the longitudinal tensile element by means of plastic deformation of said deformable connecting element. The deformable connecting element is connected to the bracing element.

Abstract: A tensile connector assembly comprising a longitudinal tensile element having a longitudinal axis, an end portion and a cross-section, a connecting element connected to the longitudinal tensile element, and a bracing element connected to the longitudinal tensile element. With a tensile axis of applied tensile load along said longitudinal tensile element. Where the longitudinal tensile element is anchored to the bracing element and the connecting element is connected to the longitudinal tensile element via a welded connection at a welded interface. Where the connections permit the longitudinal tensile element to support said tensile load along the tensile axis.