Abstract: A vehicle wheel rim including: a tire bed surface having laterally spaced first and second bead seats that are configured to support respective first and second beads of a mating tire; and a rim well laterally positioned between the first and said second bead seats and including a circumferential first step edge; and a first lateral offset region laterally positioned between the first bead seat and the first step edge, with the first step edge extending radially inwardly from the first lateral offset region and configured to provide for lateral alignment registration and/or visual alignment and placement of a first edge of a mating rim strip. The rim strip is a circumferential element that radially outwardly overlaps the rim well and extends laterally inwardly from the first step edge. The first step edge is radially inboard of the first bead seat.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel having a rim, a hub, a plurality of spokes with at least one of the spokes having a first portion connected the rim and a second portion connected to the hub. The rim includes a spoke bed wall with a radially outboard surface and a spoke hole having a radially outboard entrance and perimeter edge. The spoke extends through the spoke hole and is engaged to the spoke bed wall by an overlie engagement at a bearing interface between a bearing surface of the spoke and the radially outboard surface to limit longitudinally inward displacement between the spoke and spoke bed wall. At least a portion of the bearing interface is laterally outwardly spaced from the first perimeter edge by a lateral distance of at least 0.7 millimeters.

Abstract: A rim for a vehicle wheel, including a spoke bed wall having: a radially outboard surface; a radially inboard surface; and a spoke hole extending between the outboard surface and inboard surface and configured to receive a spoke of the vehicle wheel; an insert having: a radially outward surface; a radially inward surface; and an opening extending between the outward and inward surfaces and configured to receive the spoke; an adhesive to provide an adhesive joinder between the insert and the outboard surface. The insert opening has a radially outboard first entrance with a first perimeter edge. The insert opening laterally overlaps the spoke hole. At least one of the first perimeter edge, the outward surface, and the insert opening is configured to provide a bearing surface to brace the spoke.

Abstract: A rim for a vehicle wheel, the rim comprising: a circumferential tire bed surface, the tire bed surface comprising: a circumferential first bead seat and a circumferential second bead seat laterally spaced from said first bead seat, said first bead seat configured to support a first bead of a mating tire and said second bead seat configured to support a second bead of said mating tire; a circumferential rim well laterally positioned between said first bead seat and said second bead seat; wherein said rim well comprises a circumferential first step edge laterally inwardly offset from said first bead seat and a circumferential first spacer region laterally positioned between said first bead seat and said first step edge; at least a portion of said first spacer portion is radially inboard of said first bead; said first step edge extending radially inwardly from said first spacer region; wherein said first step edge is configured to provide for lateral alignment registration and/or visual alignment and placement

Abstract: An axle assembly, including: an axle sleeve having first end face; a second end face axially spaced from said first end face and an axially extending opening therethrough;a control shaft assembly including: a control shaft and an engagement element having an engagement surface. The engagement element is axially retained to the control shaft. The control shaft assembly extends within the opening to be axially overlapping the axle sleeve. The engagement element has a restraining engagement with the axle sleeve at an engagement interface between the engagement surface and opening; the restraining engagement providing a restraining resistance to restrain axial displacement between the control shaft and axle sleeve. The engagement element fully circumscribes the control shaft about the axial axis and is radially self-supporting.

Abstract: A rim sealing strip comprising: a circumferentially elongated rim strip having a radially outwardly facing outboard surface, a radially inwardly facing inboard surface, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge laterally spaced from the first lateral edge; where the rim strip includes an overall lateral width between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge and a radial thickness between the outboard surface and the inboard surface; and where the radial thickness is variable across the lateral width to include a first lateral region having a first radial thickness and a second lateral region having a second radial thickness, where the first radial thickness is thicker than the second radial thickness.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel having a rim, a hub, a plurality of spokes extending between said rim and said hub, rim and/or hub includes a spoke bed wall with an outboard bed surface, an inboard bed surface, and a spoke hole therethrough having a longitudinally inboard entrance. The spoke includes: a first spoke portion and a second spoke portion longitudinally inboard of the first spoke portion and laterally outboard of the first spoke portion, including a transition surface therebetween. The spoke extends through the spoke hole and at least a portion of the transition surface is longitudinally outboard of the inboard entrance and the spoke is connected to the rim and/or hub at the first spoke portion.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel axle assembly having: an axle sleeve with first and second end faces and an axial opening having a radially inwardly projecting first engagement surface; and a control shaft with a radially outwardly projecting second engagement surface. The control shaft is axially retained to the axle sleeve by an overlie engagement at an engagement interface between the first and second engagement surfaces to limit the axial displacement of the control shaft in a retracting direction relative to the axle sleeve. At least one of: the first engagement surface is in an engagement element discreet from and axially retained to the axle sleeve such that the engagement element may be installed to the axle sleeve and/or removed from the axle sleeve; and the second engagement surface is in an engagement element discreet from and axially retained to the control shaft such that the engagement element may be installed to the control shaft and/or removed from the control shaft.

Abstract: A furniture assembly system including: a horizontal member; a vertical member arranged to cross said horizontal member as viewed in a plan view; a cross axis extending in an axial direction; a binding element to bind the horizontal member to the vertical member along the cross axis. The horizontal member crosses the vertical member at a crossover interface where the horizontal member is keyed to the vertical member at a keying interface adjacent the crossover interface to limit circumferential rotation therebetween about the cross axis.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel, including a rim, a hub, and a plurality of spokes, a first anchor to connect one of the spokes to one of the rim and hub at a connection interface. One of the spokes is pre-tensioned by a pre-tensioning means. The first anchor may be manipulated between: (i) a released orientation where the connection interface is longitudinally released from the spoke to permit independent longitudinal displacement therebetween; and (ii) an engaged orientation where the connection interface is longitudinally connected to said spoke to limit independent longitudinal displacement between the two and to maintain the pre-tension of said spoke. The pre-tensioning means is discreet from the first anchor.

Abstract: An axle assembly, including: an axle sleeve with first and second end faces, an opening, and a first engagement surface; a control shaft with an engagement end, a control end, and a second engagement surface. The control shaft overlaps the opening and is axially displaceable in extending and retracting directions. The control shaft is rotatable relative to the axle sleeve between: (i) a first orientation where the control shaft is retained to the axle sleeve by an overlie engagement between the first and second engagement surfaces to restrict the axial displacement of the control shaft in the retracting direction at a first axial position; and (ii) a second orientation circumferentially offset from the first orientation such that the first and second engagement surfaces are not overlying and the control shaft may be axially displaced in the retracting direction relative to the first axial position.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel axle assembly including: an axle extending along an axial axis having a first end and a second end axially opposed to the first end; a hub shell rotatable about the axle and about the axial axis; a frame element having a dropout for connection with the axle. The axle is a cantilevered axle with a first end removably connected to the dropout. The first end includes an axially outwardly facing first end face. The dropout includes an axially inward facing inboard face and an open slot to receive the axle adjacent the first end, with the open slot including an open entrance portion, a closed terminus region, slot sidewalls extending between the entrance portion and the terminus region. The axle is generally radially inwardly assembled to the open slot through the open entrance.

Abstract: A connecting system for a tensile element including a longitudinal tensile element and a connector. The connector has an external connector surface and an internal cavity with an internal surface with a pre-formed lateral connector surface extending generally laterally inwardly. The internal cavity sleevably overlaps at the tensile element in an overlap region. The connector is crimped to create a crimped joinder between the connector and tensile element where a portion of the external connector surface is pressed to plastically deform the connecting element and displace the internal surface laterally inwardly to deboss the external surface in the overlap region. The connector includes a laterally outwardly projecting overlie surface to provide an external overlie engagement for connection with a bracing element and to support tensile load.

Abstract: A seat for a bicycle comprising: a seating surface having a longitudinal length, a longitudinally forward portion, a longitudinally rearward portion, and a lateral width between a first lateral end and a second lateral end laterally opposed to the first lateral end; an underside surface below the seating surface; an opening extending through the seating surface and the underside surface; where the opening has an opening length between a longitudinally forward periphery and a longitudinally rearward periphery and an opening width between a first lateral periphery and a second lateral periphery laterally opposed to the first lateral periphery; where the seating surface includes a bridge portion longitudinally located between the opening and the rearward portion of the seating surface; and where the opening has a lateral width greater than its longitudinal length.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel having a rim, a hub, a plurality of spokes with at least one of the spokes having a first portion connected the rim and a second portion connected to the hub. The rim includes a spoke bed wall with a radially outboard surface and a spoke hole having a radially outboard entrance and perimeter edge. The spoke extends through the spoke hole and is engaged to the spoke bed wall by an overlie engagement at a bearing interface between a bearing surface of the spoke and the radially outboard surface to limit longitudinally inward displacement between the spoke and spoke bed wall. At least a portion of the bearing interface is laterally outwardly spaced from the first perimeter edge by a lateral distance of at least 0.7 millimeters.

Abstract: A tensile element connection, comprising first and second bracing elements and a tensile element having a first portion connected to the first bracing element and a second portion opposed to the first portion and connected to the second bracing element, and an applied tensile load along the tensile element. The tensile element includes a preformed rod that is comprised of reinforcement fibers in a matrix. At a temporarily elevated temperature greater than the service temperature, a localized region of the matrix is in a softened state of increased deformability such that a localized region of the rod is deformed under pressure to include a laterally outwardly projecting engagement surface. The tensile element is comprised of said rod with the engagement surface formed therein and is connected to one of the first and second bracing elements by means of an overlie engagement at the engagement surface to restrain the tension load.

Abstract: A handlebar-grip system and apparatus comprising: a handlebar, the handlebar comprising: a center portion, a handle attached to a first end of the center portion, the handle comprising: a handle outboard and extending along an axial axis; a handle engaging geometry located on the handle outboard end, the handle engaging geometry is noncircular about the axial axis; a grip configured to slide onto the handle outboard end, the grip comprising: a grip central opening; a grip engaging geometry located in the grip central opening; a first portion that is circumferentially offset and axially coincident relative to a second portion thereof, where the first portion has a greater radial thickness than the second portion; where, with the handle positioned within the grip central opening, the grip is circumferentially keyed to the handle to limit rotation therebetween about the axial axis.

Abstract: A furniture assembly system including: a horizontal member; a vertical member arranged to cross said horizontal member as viewed in a plan view; a cross axis extending in an axial direction; a binding element to bind the horizontal member to the vertical member along the cross axis. The horizontal member crosses the vertical member at a crossover interface where the horizontal member is keyed to the vertical member at a keying interface adjacent the crossover interface to limit circumferential rotation therebetween about the cross axis.

Abstract: An axle assembly including: an axle sleeve having first and second end faces, an axially extending through opening, and a radially extending first engagement surface; and a control shaft extending within the opening and having a radially extending second engagement surface. The control shaft is axially displaceable relative to the axle sleeve and is axially retained to the axle sleeve by means of an overlie engagement between the first and second engagement surfaces. At least one of the first and second engagement surfaces is radially displaceable between an engaged orientation corresponding to the overlie engagement and a released orientation corresponding to a release of the overlie engagement. The overlie engagement serves to axially retain the control shaft to the axle sleeve and the released orientation serves to remove the overlie engagement and permit the control shaft to be axially withdrawn and separated from the axle sleeve in the retracting direction.

Abstract: A seat for a bicycle comprising: a seating surface having a longitudinal length, a longitudinally forward portion, a longitudinally rearward portion, and a lateral width between a first lateral end and a second lateral end laterally opposed to the first lateral end; an underside surface below the seating surface; an opening extending through the seating surface and the underside surface; where the opening has an opening length between a longitudinally forward periphery and a longitudinally rearward periphery and an opening width between a first lateral periphery and a second lateral periphery laterally opposed to the first lateral periphery; where the seating surface includes a bridge portion longitudinally located between the opening and the rearward portion of the seating surface; and where the opening has a lateral width greater than its longitudinal length.