Patent ID: 7357460

Claim:
A tensile connector assembly comprising: a longitudinal tensile element having an end portion and a cross-section thereof, wherein said longitudinal tensile element is at least a portion of a vehicle wheel spoke and wherein said spoke has a first end connected to a hub and a second end connected to an outer rim; an overmolded connecting element; an additional element, which is one of said rim and said hub that anchors said longitudinal tensile element; a tensile axis of applied tensile load along said longitudinal tensile element; wherein said overmolded connecting element surrounds the cross-section of said longitudinal tensile element, with an overlapping engagement therewith; wherein said overmolded connecting element is joined to said longitudinal tensile element by means of an overmolded connection; wherein said overmolded connecting element comprises hardened molding material with a conformable and softened state and a solidified and hardened state; wherein said longitudinal tensile element is integrally fixed to said hardened molding material; including a second tensile element joined to said longitudinal tensile element, wherein said overmolded connecting element serves as a coupling element to join said second tensile element to said longitudinal tensile element; wherein said overmolded connecting element contacts both said longitudinal tensile element and said second tensile element; including an overlap region, wherein said longitudinal tensile element overlaps said second tensile element along said tensile axis at said overlap region; and wherein at least one of said longitudinal tensile element and said second tensile element includes a lateral offset portion, wherein said lateral offset portion is laterally offset from said tensile axis.