Patent ID: 8226172

Claim:
An axle for removably retaining a wheel on a vehicle, said axle comprising: a first end; a second end; a rotary-type connector at said first end; a cam assembly operatively connected to said second end, said cam assembly including a cam having an axis of rotation; a lever operatively connected to said second end of said axle, said lever being rotatable about an axis substantially parallel said axis of rotation of said cam, between an open position in which said axle is removable from and mountable on said vehicle and a closed position in which said axle is retained on said vehicle, wherein said lever is configured such that when said lever is in said closed position a substantial portion of said lever occupies a position within a recess of an adjacent vehicle component such that a portion less than a whole of said lever protrudes laterally from said vehicle; and a lever stop ensuring that an angle of maximum rotation for said lever from said closed position is less than 180 degrees.