Abstract: A hub assembly, including: an axle with an axial opening; a hub shell; a frame, including first and second frame members with respective first and second retaining surfaces; and a control shaft within the axial opening. The control shaft includes: an engagement end; a clamping end with an enlarged head portion with an inwardly facing grip face; a shank extending between the engagement and clamping ends; first and second engagement surfaces proximal the engagement and clamping ends respectively. The second frame member includes an open slot to receive the control shaft. The control shaft is axially displaceable between: a retracted position radially disengaged from both first and second frame members; and a pre-engaged position, where the first and second engagement surfaces are overlapping the first and second retaining surfaces in respective first and second radial engagements to radially retain the hub assembly with the first and second frame members.

Abstract: An axle connector adapter assembly, including: a frame element with a first frame member; an axle extending along an axial axis and including an engagement end with a first threadable portion; and an adapter with a second threaded portion for threadable engagement with the first threadable portion. The first frame member includes an open slot with an open entrance portion, a closed terminus region, slot sidewalls extending between the open entrance portion and the closed terminus region, a slot axis, an axially outward facing first outboard face, and an axially inward facing first inboard face. The adapter is assembled to the first frame member to include a rotationally keyed engagement between the adapter and the first frame member to limit rotation of the threaded portion relative to the first frame member about the axial axis. The adapter is preferably axially retained to the first frame member.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel axle assembly, including: an axle element that is rotationally stationary about an axial axis; a handle connected to the axle element that may be pivotally articulated relative to the axle element about a pivot axis and between an open position and a closed position; and a frame element with a first frame member to interface with the axle assembly. The handle includes a handle axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the pivot axis, a radially projecting lever portion, and a lever axis extending radially outwardly from the pivot axis and along the lever portion. The pivot axis is generally parallel to the lever axis. The axle assembly is secured to the first frame member by means of a threadable engagement. With the handle in the open position, the axle element may be manually manipulated by means of the handle to threadably adjust the threadable engagement.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel hub assembly including an axle extending along an axial axis, a hub shell with a hub flange that is rotatable about the axle, a bearing and at least one spoke assembled and connected to the hub flange at the opening. The hub flange includes an opening to receive the spoke. The axle includes an aperture that serves to provide assembly clearance to reduce or eliminate deformation of the spoke during the assembly of the spoke with the opening.

Abstract: An improved bicycle crankshaft assembly, including a crank axle with an 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: A vehicle wheel hub assembly including: an axle assembly that is rotationally stationary about an axial axis; a hub shell rotatable about the axle assembly and about the axial axis; and a frame member to interface with the hub assembly. The axle assembly is secured to the frame member by means of a multi-lead threadable engagement. This threadable engagement may be manipulated between a threadably engaged arrangement to provide a retaining means to retain the hub shell to the frame member and a threadably released arrangement serving to remove the retaining means.

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 vehicle wheel, comprising: a rim; a hub; a plurality of spokes with a span portion extending between the rim and hub; a bracing element including a hole with a central axis, and an engagement surface; and a connector connected to the bracing element, including an overhang. The bracing element comprises a portion of the rim and/or hub. The connector may be laterally displaced relative to the bracing element between a first lateral position and a second lateral position, where the connector may pass within the hole in the first lateral position and the overhang is engaged to the engagement surface in the second lateral position to limit displacement of the connector. The spoke simultaneously contacts the hole and the connector to maintain the connector in the second lateral position. With the connector in the second lateral position, the spoke is engaged to at least one of the bracing element and the connector to support spoke tension forces.

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; and 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 adjacent the first apex portion and a seam between the first apex portion and the second apex portion. Including a spanning element to span across said seam to retain said first apex portion to said second apex portion.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel comprising a rim, a hub, and a plurality of spokes extending with a span portion between the rim hub. The rim and/or hub constitutes a bracing element. A connecting element is connected to the bracing element and includes an external surface, an internal cavity. A spoke has a longitudinal axis and an external spoke surface that that overlaps the internal cavity in an overlap region, and a pre-formed lateral spoke surface. The connecting element is crimped to create a crimped joinder with the spoke such that the connector surface is pressed and plastically deformed to displace the internal cavity toward the spoke surface in the overlap region to cause a lateral connector surface to laterally overlap the lateral spoke surface to create an overlie engagement and/or to increase a lateral overlap between a lateral connector surface and the lateral spoke surface in an overlie engagement. The overlie engagement supports spoke tensile load.

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: A quick release skewer assembly comprising a skewer shaft with a first end portion and a second end portion axially spaced from the first end portion, a first clamping element connected to the first end portion with a first grip face, and a clamping assembly adjacent the second end portion including an anchor element and a second clamping element with a second grip face. The first grip face is axially separated from the second grip face by a grip distance. The first clamping element is axially and rotationally engaged to the skewer. The anchor element is threadably connected to the skewer shaft such that the grip distance may be selectively threadably adjusted. The clamping assembly is operative to selectively displace the second grip face in a generally linear and axial direction between: (i) an open orientation wherein the grip distance is axially expanded and distal; and (ii) a closed orientation wherein the grip distance is axially contracted and proximal relative to the open orientation.

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: 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; and 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 adjacent the first apex portion and a seam between the first apex portion and the second apex portion. Including a spanning element to span across said seam to retain said first apex portion to said second apex portion.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel, comprising: a rim; a hub; a plurality of spokes; a bracing element including a hole, a hole sidewall, and an engagement surface outward of the hole; and a connecting element with a spoke opening and an overhang surface. The spoke is connected to the connecting element and the connecting element is connected to the bracing element at the hole, with the bracing element comprising one of the rim and hub. With the spoke maintaining alignment with the connector, the connecting element may be transitioned between an insertion orientation where the connecting element may be inserted in the hole and an engagement orientation where the connecting element is engaged to the bracing element, with a toggle angle between the insertion and engagement orientations. The hole is preferably a circular hole. The spoke opening preferably includes internal threads to mate with external threads of the spoke.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel hub assembly comprising an axle element that is rotationally stationary about an axial axis, and a hub shell element rotatable about the axle element, including a first end portion and a second end portion axially spaced from said first end portion. The axle element includes a control shaft that is axially displaceable relative to the hub shell element between an axially extended position and an axially retracted position. The control shaft includes an engagement end and a control end. In the extended position, the engagement end is axially distal from the second end portion and, in the retracted position, the engagement end is axially proximal to the second end portion relative to said extended orientation. Including a releasable axial retaining means to control the axial movement of the control shaft relative to the hub shell.

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: A vehicle wheel, comprising: a rim; a hub; a plurality of spokes with a span portion extending between the rim and hub; a bracing element including a hole with a central axis, and an engagement surface; and a connector connected to the bracing element, including an overhang. The bracing element comprises a portion of the rim and/or hub. The connector may be laterally displaced relative to the bracing element between a first lateral position and a second lateral position, where the connector may pass within the hole in the first lateral position and the overhang is engaged to the engagement surface in the second lateral position to limit displacement of the connector. The spoke simultaneously contacts the hole and the connector to maintain the connector in the second lateral position. With the connector in the second lateral position, the spoke is engaged to at least one of the bracing element and the connector to support spoke tension forces.

Abstract: A torque coupling assembly including: a driving assembly with a driving axle and a rotatable driving shell; a driven assembly with a driven axle and a rotatable driven shell; and a frame element. The driving and driven shells each include an axial projection. In an assembled position, the driving and driven assemblies are both connected to the frame and their respective axial projections are aligned to transmit rotational torque between the driving shell and the driven shell. In a removed position, one of the driving assembly and the driven assembly may be removed in a generally radial direction relative to the frame and the other of the driving assembly and the driven assembly. The driving and/or driven assembly may include ramped lead-in geometry. The driving and/or driven assembly may include shielding geometry to axially overlap at least a portion of the axial projection.