Abstract: A bicycle hub and spoke arrangement is provided. The bicycle hub and spoke arrangement includes a bicycle axle supported for rotation by a hub shaft. A plurality of flanges extend radially from the hub shaft. Each of the plurality of flanges has a plurality of apertures. A plurality of spokes, each having a first end, an opposing second end and a body extending therebetween. The second end of each of the plurality of spokes is connected to an outer rim. The first end of each of the plurality of spokes is connected to one of the plurality of circumferentially oriented apertures of the plurality of flanges in a manner such as to create three areas of contact between the first end of each of the plurality of spokes and the associated flange, thereby strengthening a J bend area of the spoke and address spoke failure and shimmy.

Abstract: A flexible strap connector is disclosed. The connector comprises a strap having a buckle head at one end and a tongue at the opposite end. Ratchet teeth extend on one side of the strap and the ratchet teeth cooperate with the buckle head to permit movement of the strap in a first direction and to prevent movement of the strap in a second direction. A second slot is formed in the strap itself and it is a non-locking slot. When the strap is in the second slot, the strap is free to move further into the slot and free to be withdrawn from the slot. Embodiments where the buckle head and ratchet teeth are replaced with hook and loop fasteners are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible strap connector is disclosed. The connector comprises a strap having a buckle head at one end and a tongue at the opposite end. Ratchet teeth extend on one side of the strap and the ratchet teeth cooperate with the buckle head to permit movement of the strap in a first direction and to prevent movement of the strap in a second direction. A second slot is formed in the strap itself and it is a non-locking slot. When the strap is in the second slot, the strap is free to move further into the slot and free to be withdrawn from the slot. Embodiments where the buckle head and ratchet teeth are replaced with hook and loop fasteners are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible strap connector is disclosed. The connector comprises a strap having a buckle head at one end and a tongue at the opposite end. Ratchet teeth extend on one side of the strap and the ratchet teeth cooperate with the buckle head to permit movement of the strap in a first direction and to prevent movement of the strap in a second direction. A second slot is formed in the strap itself and it is a non-locking slot. When the strap is in the second slot, the strap is free to move further into the slot and free to be withdrawn from the slot. Embodiments where the buckle head and ratchet teeth are replaced with hook and loop fasteners are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible strap connector is disclosed. The connector comprises a strap having a buckle head at one end and a tongue at the opposite end. Ratchet teeth extend on one side of the strap and the ratchet teeth cooperate with the buckle head to permit movement of the strap in a first direction and to prevent movement of the strap in a second direction. A second slot is formed in the strap itself and it is a non-locking slot. When the strap is in the second slot, the strap is free to move further into the slot and free to be withdrawn from the slot. Embodiments where the buckle head and ratchet teeth are replaced with hook and loop fasteners are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved wheel rim, an improved spoke nipple and an improved wheel are disclosed. The rim has spoke openings and a threaded end of each spoke extends therethrough. An internal nipple with a threaded bore is connected to the threaded spoke end so that a first, ball-shaped, rounded end of the nipple is seated on the rim. A portion of the rim around each spoke opening is deformed or removed so as to define a portion of a socket with the same curvature as the first end of the nipple. This minimizes the required diameter of the spoke opening in the rim and maximizes the area of the rim socket surface. The invention also extends to an external nipple with a rounded collar in combination with a rim including a concave rounded rim surface formed in the rim itself.

Abstract: A spoke for a tensioned spoke wheel is disclosed. The spoke comprises a shaft having first and second ends. A first segment of the shaft, adjacent the first end, has a given cross-sectional area, while a second segment of the shaft has a cross-sectional area less than the given area. The second segment is adjacent, and toward the second end from, the first. The surface of a part of the unthreaded portion of the first segment is shaped to form at least two opposed, flat, torque transmitting surfaces.

Abstract: An improved tensioned spoke bicycle wheel. The wheel comprises a hub, a rim, spokes and spoke nipples. A spoke that is connected to the left side of the hub is paired, at the rim, with a spoke that is connected to the right side of the hub. For each pair of spokes, there is provided a spoke plate that is positioned between the rim floor and the nipples. Each of the spokes in a pair extends through adjacent spoke bores in the rim, through spoke bores in the spoke plate and into the spoke nipples. The spoke plates distribute the forces associated with the tensioned spokes over a substantial portion of the rim floor. The spoke plate may have a flat surface where it supports the nipples or a socket shaped surface. In the latter case, the nipples have a ball shaped lower end that seat in the socket.

Abstract: An improved tensioned spoke bicycle wheel. The wheel comprises a hub, a rim, spokes and spoke nipples. A spoke that is connected to the left side of the hub is paired, at the rim, with a spoke that is connected to the right side of the hub. For each pair of spokes, there is provided a spoke plate that is positioned between the rim floor and the nipples. Each of the spokes in a pair extends through adjacent spoke bores in the rim, through spoke bores in the spoke plate and into the spoke nipples. The spoke plates distribute the forces associated with the tensioned spokes over a substantial portion of the rim floor. The spoke plate may have a flat surface where it supports the nipples or a socket shaped surface. In the latter case, the nipples have a ball shaped lower end that seat in the socket.

Abstract: A spoke for a tensioned spoke wheel is disclosed. The spoke comprises a shaft having first and second ends. A first segment of the shaft, adjacent the first end, has a given cross-sectional area, while a second segment of the shaft has a cross-sectional area less than the given area. The second segment is adjacent, and toward the second end from, the first. The surface of a part of the unthreaded portion of the first segment is shaped to form at least two opposed, flat, torque transmitting surfaces.

Abstract: An improved wheel rim, an improved spoke nipple and an improved wheel are disclosed. The rim has spoke openings and a threaded end of each spoke extends therethrough. An internal nipple with a threaded bore is connected to the threaded spoke end so that a first, ball-shaped, rounded end of the nipple is seated on the rim. A portion of the rim around each spoke opening is deformed or removed so as to define a portion of a socket with the same curvature as the first end of the nipple. This minimizes the required diameter of the spoke opening in the rim and maximizes the area of the rim socket surface. The invention also extends to an external nipple with a rounded collar in combination with a rim including a concave rounded rim surface formed in the rim itself.

Abstract: A bicycle wheel is disclosed. The wheel, which has a center plane, comprises: a bicycle wheel hub for supporting the wheel relative to an axle rotatably supported therein, a rim, a given number, at least three, pairs of first and second spokes, and adjustable threaded means for adjusting the tension in each of said spokes, independently of any adjustment to the tension in another spoke. The hub has first and second hub flanges axially displaced from one another, each on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the other.

Abstract: A method for building a bicycle wheel and the wheel. Inserting a threaded end (106) of a spoke (100) through a hole (126) in the rim (102), through a spacer (118), and engaging the threaded end (106) with an internally threaded connector (104). The rim (102) and the connector (104) cooperate to maintain the axis of the threaded end (106) of each spoke (100) in a given spoke hole (126) so that it is skewed relative to the axis of a first portion of each spoke (100) extending from the hub to the rim (102). While the connector (104) is turned to tension the spoke (100), the spoke (100) permanently bends at a point (128) remote from the spoke's thread end (106).

Abstract: A low spoke count high spoke tension bicycle wheel having paired spokes that cross between the hub and the rim is disclosed. The wheel has a center plane and comprises a bicycle wheel hub having first and second hub flanges on first and second sides, respectively, of the wheel center plane, a rim, and nine or fewer pairs of first and second spokes each having a first end which is connected to one of said hub flanges or to said rim and a second end which is threadably received in a nipple which is seated at a spoke bore in said rim or in said hub. The wheel has excellent lateral stiffness which gives a bike on which the wheel is mounted excellent resistance to speed wobble or shimmy, in the case of a front wheel or to axle deflection, in the case of a rear wheel, and the spokes in the pair cross the wheel center plane between the hub and the rim, for added lateral strength. The first and second spokes of each pair are not connected to each other and have a combined static tension in excess of 200 pounds.

Abstract: A low spoke count high spoke tension bicycle wheel having paired spokes that cross between the hub and the rim is disclosed. The wheel has a center plane and comprises a bicycle wheel hub having first and second hub flanges on first and second sides, respectively, of the wheel center plane, a rim, and nine or fewer pairs of first and second spokes each having a first end which is connected to one of said hub flanges or to said rim and a second end which is threadably received in a nipple which is seated at a spoke bore in said rim or in said hub. The wheel has excellent lateral stiffness which gives a bike on which the wheel is mounted excellent resistance to speed wobble or shimmy, in the case of a front wheel or to axle deflection, in the case of a rear wheel, and the spokes in the pair cross the wheel center plane between the hub and the rim, for added lateral strength. The first and second spokes of each pair are not connected to each other and have a combined static tension in excess of 200 pounds.

Abstract: An improved bicycle wheel is disclosed in which spokes (22) and spoke bores (18) are paired at the flanges of the hub (12) and the circumferential distance between adjacent pairs is grater than the distance between the spokes and the bores in a given pair, providing improved torque transmission and reduced spoke stresses at spoke crossover points. Such a wheel may be constructed to have reduced dish by comparison with a conventionally laced wheel. In this case, the wheel is one which, when laced conventionally, would be dished such as a rear wheel with at least one sprocket or a front wheel with a brake disk. In a rear wheel embodiment, the spokes extend from inside to outside, through a proximate hub flange and along the outside to inside through the opposed hub flange. In a front wheel embodiment, the spokes extend from inside to outside through the proximate hub flange along an inside or disk surface thereof.

Abstract: Improvements in torque transmitting wheels are disclosed. The improvements afford more balanced torque transmission as between the proximal spokes, adjacent to a torque transmitting member, such as a sprocket, sprocket cluster or disc for a brake, and the distal spokes which are opposite from the torque transmitting member. A wheel according to the present invention is provided with radially oriented proximal spokes and tangentially oriented distal spokes. This shifts the majority of the torque transmission task to the distal spokes which, in a torque transmitting wheel, are under less tension than proximal spokes under static conditions. A torque transmitting member is mounted on the hub, adjacent the proximal hub flange, and the distance from the proximal hub flange to a plane through the proximal edge of the rim is substantially less than the corresponding distance from the distal hub flange.

Abstract: An improved bicycle wheel is disclosed which has reduced dish by comparison with a conventionally laced wheel. The wheel is one which, when laced conventionally, would be dished such as a rear wheel with at least one sprocket or a front wheel with a brake disk. In a rear wheel embodiment, the spokes extend from inside to outside, through a proximate hub flange and along the outside or sprocket surface of the proximate hub flange and from outside to inside through the opposed hub flange and along the inside or sprocket surface of the opposed hub flange. In a front wheel embodiment, the spokes extend from inside to outside through the proximate hub flange along an inside or disk surface thereof and from outside to inside through the opposite hub flange and along the inside or disk surface thereof.

Abstract: An improved bicycle wheel is disclosed which has reduced dish by comparison with a conventionally laced wheel. The wheel is one which, when laced conventionally, would be dished such as a rear wheel with at least one sprocket or a front wheel with a brake disk. In a rear wheel embodiment, the spokes extend from inside to outside, through a proximate hub flange and along the outside or sprocket surface of the proximate hub flange and from outside to inside through the opposed hub flange and along the inside or sprocket surface of the opposed hub flange. In a front wheel embodiment, the spokes extend from inside to outside through the proximate hub flange along an inside or disk surface thereof and from outside to inside through the opposite hub flange and along the inside or disk surface thereof.

Abstract: Improvements in rear bicycle wheels are disclosed. The improvements afford more balanced torque transmission as between the proximal spokes, adjacent to the multiple sprockets and the distal spokes which are opposite from the sprockets. In one embodiment, torque balancing is achieved by providing the hub with a distal hub flange which has a diameter which is substantially larger than the proximal hub flange. Excellent results have been achieved in a wheel with a hub having a proximal hub flange with a diameter of X and a distal hub flange with a diameter of approximately 1.5 X. According to another embodiment, a wheel according to the present invention is provided with radially oriented proximal spokes and tangentially oriented distal spokes. This shifts the majority of the torque transmission tasks to the distal spokes which, as noted above, are under less tension than proximal spokes under static conditions.