Patent ID: 7434891
Filing Date: 2008-10-14
Classification: B60B

Abstract:
1. A bicycle wheel apparatus comprising: a circular rim having a tire receiving portion and a frame extending inwardly from said tire receiving portion, said frame having a wall opposite said tire-receiving portion, said wall having a hole formed therethrough, said hole having a diameter; a spoke positioning pocket body having a first end and a second end with a through hole extending centrally therethrough, said through hole at said first end of said body being a straight opening extending into said body, said first end of said body having a diameter less than said diameter of said hole, said second end of said body having a plurality of claws extending circularly around said through hole, said plurality of claws being spaced from each other by a respective plurality of slots, at least one of said plurality of slots having a generally circular opening formed at an end of the slot opposite said second end, said generally circular opening having a diameter greater than a width of the slot, another of said plurality of slots extending from said first end to said second end, said another of said plurality of slots opening through a wall of said body so as to communicate with said through hole, said another of said plurality of slots having a generally circular opening formed therein between said first end and said second end, said body formed from a single metal sheet, said plurality of claws defining a generally spherical chamber, said plurality of claws being flexibly expandable between a compressed state having a maximum diameter less than said diameter of said hole and an expanded state with a maximum diameter greater than said diameter of said hole, said plurality of claws extending through said hole toward said tire receiving portion; a spoke tip connector having a semi-spherical head received in said chamber, said spoke tip connector having a shank extending through said through hole of said body, said shank having a threaded interior passage at an end opposite said head; and a spoke having a threaded end threadedly engaged with said threaded interior passage of said spoke tip connector and extending outwardly therefrom.