Patent ID: 6364423
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: B60B

Abstract:
A retaining device for a bicycle wheel which includes an axle extending in an axial direction and having two axle ends to be carried by two prongs of a bicycle fork, and a wheel body includinga wheel rim, a hub body rotatably mounted on the axle between the axle ends, and including two ends disposed opposite to each other in the axial direction, two tubular mount members respectively disposed on and extending from the ends of the hub body in the axial direction, each of the tubular mount members having an inner peripheral wall surrounding and radially spaced apart from the axle to form an annular space therebetween, an outer peripheral wall disposed radially opposite to the inner peripheral wall, an annular edge wall extending radial to the axial direction and joining the inner peripheral wall with the outer peripheral wall, and a plurality of engaging grooves arranged to be angularly spaced apart from one another, each of the engaging grooves extending from the annular edge wall in the axial direction, and extending radially from the outer peripheral wall to communicate with the inner peripheral wall, a plurality of spokes connecting the hub body to the wheel rim, each of the spokes having an engaging end, and a plurality of spoke tightening members, each including a stem portion secured to the engaging end of a respective one of the spokes and of a dimension sufficient to be received in a respective one of the engaging grooves in the axial direction, and an enlarged head portion extending from the stem portion to form a shoulder therebetween to abut against the inner peripheral wall when the stem portion is inserted into the respective one of the engaging grooves and is tightened to tension the respective one of the spokes between the wheel rim and the hub body, said retaining device comprising: a pair of annular retaining members, each adapted to be interposed between the axle and the enlarged head portions of the spoke tightening members in the annular space, and each including an annular inner ring portion adapted to be sleeved on the axle from the axle end of the axle to a respective one of the tubular mount members, an annular outer ring portion surrounding and rotatable relative to said annular inner ring portion, and a rolling element disposed between said annular inner and outer ring portions; and a pair of securing members, each disposed to secure said annular inner ring portion on the axle such that said annular outer ring portion is adapted to face towards the enlarged head portions of the spoke tightening members radial to the axial direction so as to guard the shoulders against being loosened from abutment with the inner peripheral wall.