Patent ID: 8985709
Filing Date: 2015-03-24
Classification: B60B

Abstract:
1. A vehicle wheel, comprising: a peripheral wheel rim; a central hub with a central axle and an outer flange; a plurality of spokes extending between said rim and said hub with a first portion connected to said rim and a second portion opposed to said first portion and connected to said hub and a span portion between said rim and said hub; a bracing element including at least a portion of at least one of said rim and hub; a connecting element connected to said bracing element; wherein said spoke has a longitudinal axis, an external spoke surface, and a tensile axis of applied tensile load along said span portion; wherein said connecting element includes an external surface and an internal cavity with an internal surface adjacent said spoke; wherein said spoke overlaps said internal cavity along said longitudinal axis in an overlap region; wherein said connecting element is joined to said spoke by means of a crimped joinder wherein at least a portion of said external surface is pressed to plastically deform said connecting element such that said internal surface is plastically displaced in a direction laterally proximal to said external spoke surface in said overlap region; wherein said crimped joinder supports said tensile load at an engagement interface between said spoke and said connecting element; wherein said spoke extends between said engagement interface and the opposing one of said first portion and said second portion thereof; wherein said spoke comprises a singular unitary strand extending between said engagement interface and the opposing one of said first portion and said second portion thereof; wherein said crimped joinder causes said internal surface of said connecting element to impinge on said spoke; and including differential hardness between said external spoke surface and said internal surface of said internal cavity, wherein one of (i) said internal surface is harder than said external spoke surface such that said external spoke surface is deformed to conform to said internal surface by means of said crimped joinder and (ii) said external spoke surface is harder than said internal surface such that said internal surface is deformed to conform to said external spoke surface by means of said crimped joinder.