Abstract:
A bladed spoke wrench device used to retain the orientation of a bladed bicycle spoke to prevent unnecessary torsional displacements from being applied to the spoke during spoke tensioning and adjustment. The bladed spoke wrench includes two spoke retention slots of different widths to accommodate the most common bladed spoke thicknesses. The spoke retention slots extend both through the thickness of the tool on both sides and along one face of the tool, allowing the user to orient the tool in any of several ways that the user finds comfortable and efficient during use. The tool also includes one or more hook shaped areas that are adapted to open a bottle and further includes an opening at one end that defines a ring useful for attachment of the bladed spoke wrench to a peg on a tool board, a key ring or other hook.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to a bladed spoke wrench that is designed to maintain the orientation of bladed spokes when adjustments are made during the assembly or truing bladed spoke bicycle wheels. 
     Bladed spokes are used in some bicycle wheels to reduce aerodynamic drag, thus reducing the resistance to forward motion. Wind tunnel studies, as well as theoretical calculations show that bladed spokes permit a bike to go faster for the same power input than round spokes due to the reduction in aerodynamic drag. Another way to reduce aerodynamic drag in a spoked wheel is to reduce the number of spokes used in the wheel design. Simply reducing the number of spokes reduces the load carrying capacity of a wheel. To compensate, changes can be undertaken to increase the load carrying capacity of the wheel. One design change to increase load capacity is to utilize a heavier, stiffer rim. Another is to increase spoke tension. In order to reduce weight, some bladed spokes are made from thinner wire. 
     One drawback to bladed spokes over conventional round spokes is that they are torsionally more flexible than round spokes of equal cross sectional area. Spokes are placed under torsional loads when the technician is adjusting the spoke nipple during wheel assembly or subsequent truing. Bicycle wheel designs with fewer spokes are often under considerably higher spoke tensions and are also under increased torsional stress during spoke adjustment. This torsional flexibility is inconvenient when truing the wheel, since the technician must turn the spoke wrench, not only to adjust the spoke nipple, but to cover the elastic wind up in the flexible spoke. These torsional stresses, when combined with the tensile stresses in a tension spoke, may exceed the yield strength of the spoke, especially spokes made from thinner wire. Unless the torsional stress or the tensile stress within the spoke is controlled, some spokes may yield and permanently take on a spiral set when adjusted without using means for holding the bladed spoke. In order to control torsional loads during adjustment, tools having serrated jaws such as pliers, are sometimes used. These tools can mar or scratch spokes. Such tools are also less convenient to carry and handle. 
     In view of the above, it should be appreciated that there is a need for a bladed spoke wrench that limits excessive torsional loads on bladed bicycle spokes, to prevent permanent damage to the spokes from occurring and that is convenient to use. The present disclosure satisfies these and other needs and provides further related advantages. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure includes a bladed spoke wrench device used to retain the orientation of a bladed bicycle spoke and to prevent unnecessary torsional loads from being applied to the spoke during spoke tensioning and adjustment. The bladed spoke wrench includes two spoke retention slots of different widths to accommodate the most common bladed spoke thicknesses. The spoke retention slots extend both through the thickness of the tool on both sides and along one face of the tool, allowing the user to orient the tool in any of several ways that the user finds comfortable and efficient during use. The bladed spoke wrench also includes a square or a diamond shaped opening at one end that is dimensioned to fit popular spoke nipples, so that the bladed spoke wrench can be used to turn the spoke nipple during wheel adjustment or assembly. The tool also includes two hook shaped areas that are adapted to open a bottle and further includes an opening at one end that defines a ring useful for attachment of the bladed spoke wrench to a peg on a tool board, a key ring or other hook. The bladed spoke wrench is flat and elliptically shaped so that the tool fits comfortably in the user&#39;s hand. The bladed spoke wrench also includes a centralized recession that is adapted to permit the application of a branded logo or other decoration. The bladed spoke wrench, when used in the adjustment of bladed bicycle spokes, prevents unwanted torsional loads and torsional displacements from being applied to the spoke during wheel assembly or subsequent truing. 
     Other features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows in the accompanying drawings, wherein the embodiments of the disclosure are described and shown, and in part will become apparent upon examination of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the bladed spoke wrench; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the bladed spoke wrench; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the bladed spoke wrench; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the bladed spoke wrench; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the bladed spoke wrench; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the alternate embodiment of the bladed spoke wrench. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As illustrated in the drawings, a bladed spoke wrench  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , is designed to maintain the orientation of a bladed spoke during wheel assembly or subsequent truing, to prevent torsional loads from being applied to the bicycle spoke. 
     The typical bicycle wheel is composed of a rim suspended with tensioned spokes around a center hub. Each spoke pulls on a section of rim. Spokes coming from the right side of the hub pull the rim to the right. Spokes coming from the left side of the hub pull the rim to the left. Having all the spokes tight with fairly even tension makes the wheel true and strong. Changes to spoke tension will pull on the rim and affect its true. This process is called “truing”. 
     Truing is occasionally needed to keep the rim running straight as it spins between the brake pads. Spoke tension is adjusted by tightening or loosening a threaded nut, called the nipple, at the end of the spoke. Spoke threads typically use right-hand threads. Although a common phrase among mechanics is to “tighten the spokes”, it is the nipple that is turned, not the spokes. Turning of the spokes creates a torsional force in the spokes since only the nipple turns. 
     To adjust tension at the nipple, a wrench must be applied to the nipple. It is important that the spoke nipple wrench is fully engaged on the nipple before turning. A wrench that is partially engaged may damage the nipple and make truing difficult. 
     Spokes and nipples should be considered “fasteners”, like any nut and bolt. Spokes have an elongated shaft portion and have threads at one end and a spoke head at the other. The elongated shaft portion can be either round for general bikes or flat (bladed) for racing applications. Generally, spokes should be as tight as the wheel allows. Too low of spoke tension tends to decrease the wheel&#39;s load bearing capacity. Too high of tension may damage the rim or hub by pulling too much. The rim may develop cracks where the nipple exits the rim, or the hub flange may crack. Spoke tension is best measured with a spoke tension meter (also called a tensiometer). 
     There are some models of wheels where the nipple is located at the hub. These wheels true the same as conventional wheels. Tightening a spoke will draw the rim toward the hub side where it connects. If the wheel has flat bladed spokes, it is often necessary to hold the spoke flat close to the nipple with an adjustable wrench to keep the spoke from twisting. The use of an adjustable wrench or pliers can mar bladed spokes, ruining their finish and possibly weakening the spoke. 
     As shown in the exemplary drawings, with particular reference to  FIG. 1 , the bladed spoke wrench  10  is relatively flat, having a top surface  12  and a spaced apart bottom surface  14 . The bladed spoke wrench  10  has a generally elliptical perimeter  13 , with a forward end  16  and a spaced apart rearward end  18 . While the preferred shape of the bladed spoke wrench  10  is elliptical or oval, other shapes for the wrench  10  are also contemplated, including tear dropped, circular or rectangular, among others. Elliptical is preferred in that it fits comfortably in the user&#39;s hand. The top surface  12  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  is relatively planar and includes a centralized recession  20  that is adapted to receive a branded logo or other decoration. The recession  20  protects the logo from unintended wear or scratching. The top surface  12  also includes a D-shaped aperture  21  located at the rearward end  18  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  that extends from the top surface  12  through the bladed spoke wrench  10  to the bottom surface  14 . The aperture  21  is adapted to permit the bladed spoke wrench  10  to be attached to a peg on a tool board or similar hook or placed on a key ring so that the bladed spoke wrench  10  is readily available for usage. Other shapes are also possible. 
     The bladed spoke wrench  10  is preferably manufactured from aluminum or steel, but it is contemplated that the wrench can be made from other materials, including plastics and various metal alloys. The material in which the bladed spoke wrench  10  is manufactured from is limited by the tool&#39;s ability to maintain its shape when force is applied to the bladed spokes or nipples of the bicycle rim. 
     The forward end  16  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  includes a pair of bladed spoke retention slots  24  and a nipple opening  26 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The nipple opening  26  is formed at the leading edge  28  of the forward end  16  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  and is adapted to engage and rotate a bicycle spoke nipple. The nipple opening  26  includes a passageway  30  which leads to a recess  32  that is adapted to engage the bicycle spoke nipple. While the recess  32  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  is square in shape, other shapes are contemplated that conform to the exterior dimensions of the various bicycle spoke nipples to be adjusted. The nipple opening  26  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  is positioned at the leading edge  28  to permit accessibility to the spoke nipples and allow for the greatest range of arcuate movement. 
     The forward end  16  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  further includes a pair of bladed spoke retention slots  24  as shown in  FIG. 2 . This includes a first retention slot  34  and a second retention slot  36 . The first retention slot  34  is positioned closest to the forward end  16  of the bladed spoke wrench  10 . The first retention slot  34  is open along the top surface. The first retention slot  34  also includes a bottom wall portion  44 . The bottom wall  44  is adapted to retain the leading edge  28  to the bladed spoke wrench  10  and also serves as a surface for engaging the bladed spokes. The first retention slot  34  is open along the top surface  12  in order to allow the user to retain the spokes at various tool positions to provide greater spoke access. 
     The second retention slot  36  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  is also open along the top surface  12 . The second retention slot also includes a bottom wall  52  that is adapted to engage the surface of the bicycle spoke. The second retention slot  36  has a width that varies from the width of the first retention slot so that the bladed spoke wrench  10  can be utilized for various spoke sizes. The second retention slot  36  is open along the top surface  12  to allow the bladed spoke wrench  10  be positioned at various angles to permit proper engagement with the bicycle spokes. While two retention slots  34 ,  36  are shown, it is contemplated that more slots may be positioned along the bladed spoke wrench  10  to accommodate spokes of varying dimensions. It is also contemplated that one or more of the retention slots may be positioned on the bottom surface  14  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  or that more than one nipple opening  26  may be provided to accommodate various sized bicycle spoke nipples. The first spoke retention slot  34  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  includes a first slot  88  located along the perimeter edge  13  of the body portion  95  of the bladed spoke wrench  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The first slot  88  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  is in communication with the first spoke retention slot  34  in that the gap between the first spoke retention slot and the first slot  88  are uninterrupted. The first slot  88  extends from the top surface  12  to the bottom surface  14  along the perimeter edge  13 . The first spoke retention slot  34  of the bladed spoke wrench also includes a second slot  90  that is located along the perimeter edge  13  and opposes the first slot  88 . The second slot  90  also extends from the top surface  12  through to the bottom surface  14  along the perimeter edge  13 . The second slot  90  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  is also in communication with the first spoke retention slot  34  in that the gap between the first spoke retention slot and the second slot  90  are uninterrupted. 
     The second spoke retention slot  36  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  includes a third slot  94  located along the perimeter edge  13  of the body portion of the bladed spoke wrench  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The third slot  94  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  is in communication with the second spoke retention slot  36  in that the opening of the second spoke retention slot  36  and the third slot  94  are continuous. The continuous slots permits the user to use the either the second spoke retention slot  36  or the third slot  94  of the bladed spoke wrench  10 , depending upon the user&#39;s preference or spacing restrictions between the bladed spokes. The third slot  94  extends from the top surface  12  to the bottom surface  14  along the perimeter edge  13 . The second spoke retention slot  36  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  also includes a fourth slot  96  that is located along the perimeter edge  13  and opposes the third slot  94 . The fourth slot  96  also extends from the top surface  12  through to the bottom surface  14  along the perimeter edge  92 . The fourth slot  96  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  is also in communication with the second spoke retention slot  36  in that the gap between the second spoke retention slot  96  and the fourth slot  96  are uninterrupted. The interconnected gaps of the various slots permits the bladed spoke wrench  10  to either have the top surface  12  oriented towards the bladed spoke, allowing the first or second spoke retention slots  34 ,  36  to be used or can have the perimeter edge  13  oriented towards the bladed spoke so that the first, second, third or fourth slots can be used to retain the spoke to lessen the torsional forces applied to the spoke while adjusting the spoke nipple. Also, if two bladed spoke wrenches  10  are used, one can be used to retain the position of the bladed spoke and the other can be used to rotate the spoke nipple to true the wheel. 
     The bladed spoke wrench also includes a pair of recesses  54 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , positioned along the sidewalls  56  of the bladed spoke wrench  10 . The recesses  54  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  include sloped wall portions  58  followed by a curved bottom wall  60 . The side walls  56  further include tabs  62  having an orientation that is adapted to engage and remove the pressed cap of a bottle. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate another embodiment of the bladed spoke wrench  10  that includes an opening  64  located at the rearward end  66  of the bladed spoke wrench  10 . The bladed spoke wrench further includes a recess  68  adapted to accept a branded logo or other decoration. The bladed spoke wrench  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , include a first retention slot  70  in the top surface  72  and a second retention slot  74  in bottom surface  76  of the bladed spoke wrench  10 . The first retention slot  70  includes a bottom wall  78  and the second retention slot  74  includes a bottom wall  80 . The bottom walls  78  and  80  are adapted to engage the bladed spoke. One of the retention slots  70  is dimensionally narrower than the other retention slot to accommodate various spoke thicknesses. The bladed spoke wrench further includes an arcuate aperture  82  positioned adjacent to the recess  68 . The arcuate recess  82  includes an arcuate lip  84  that is positioned along a wall  86  of the aperture  82 . The arcuate aperture  82  in combination with the lip  84  of the bladed spoke wrench  10  permits the wrench to be used to remove the caps from bottles. Also, shapes other than arcuate are anticipated. 
     Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the disclosure as shown and described. However, it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate, and that the disclosure is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.