Patent ID: 6666525
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: B60B

Abstract:
A spoked wheel apparatus, comprising:a wheel rim portion which includes a circular locus of spoke reception channels, a hub assembly which includes a first hub side and a second hub side, wherein said first hub side includes reception positions for outer, first-side spokes and reception positions for inner, first-side spokes, wherein said reception positions for outer, first-side spokes are oriented in a first circular direction around said first hub side and are oriented toward said circular locus of spoke reception channels at an outside-hub-to-rim angle, and wherein said reception positions for inner, first-side spokes are oriented in a second circular direction around said first hub side and are oriented toward said circular locus of spoke reception channels at an inside-hub-to-rim angle, wherein said second hub side includes reception positions for outer, second-side spokes and reception positions for inner, second-side spokes, wherein said reception positions for outer, second-side spokes are oriented in a first circular direction around said second hub side and are oriented toward said circular locus of spoke reception channels at said outside-hub-to-rim angle, and wherein said reception positions for inner, second-side spokes are oriented in a second circular direction around said second hub side and are oriented toward said circular locus of spoke reception channels at said inside-hub-to-rim angle, wherein said outside-hub-to-rim angle is greater than said inside-hub-to-rim angle, wherein said reception positions in said first hub side for said first-side spokes are offset from respective reception positions in said second hub side for said second-side spokes by a hub-reception-position offset angle, and an overall set of spokes interconnected between said wheel rim portion and said hub assembly, wherein said overall set of spokes includes a subset of spokes connected between said hub reception positions for outer, first-side spokes and said circular locus of spoke reception channels, a subset of spokes connected between said hub reception positions for inner, first-side spokes and said circular locus of spoke reception channels, a subset of spokes connected between said hub reception positions for outer, second-side spokes and said circular locus of spoke reception channels, and a subset of spokes connected between said hub reception positions for inner, second-side spokes and said circular locus of spoke reception channels, whereby, because said outside-hub-to-rim angle is greater than inside-hub-to-rim angle, said outer, first-side spokes and said inner, first-side spokes engage in interference contacts at respective locations between said circular locus of spoke reception channels and said first hub side, and whereby said outer, second-side spokes and said inner, second-side spokes engage in interference contacts at respective locations between said circular locus of spoke reception channels and said second hub side.