Patent ID: 7434892

Claim:
A device for mounting a bicycle wheel onto a frame, said device comprising: an inner hub adapted to be rotatably mounted on a portion of the frame; an outer hub comprising a central zone of the wheel, the outer and inner hubs adapted to be retained against each other when the wheel is mounted upon the frame; a quick-tightening mechanism comprising: a male portion projecting from a first of said inner and outer hubs; a female portion provided in a second of said inner and outer hubs; an axial abutment arrangement for retaining the outer hub against the inner hub, said axial abutment arrangement including a plurality of balls; a positioning mechanism to position the axial abutment arrangement to position the outer hub against the inner hub, said positioning mechanism including ramps, said balls adapted to roll upon said ramps, said positioning mechanism being inactive upon completion of the tightening; a lever adapted to be pivoted by a user to provide force for axial tightening of said outer hub of the wheel against said inner hub.