Patent ID: 7562942

Claim:
A release mechanism to releasably couple an axle of a bicycle wheel to a bicycle, the release mechanism comprising: a skewer configured to pass through the axle of the bicycle wheel, the skewer defining a longitudinal axis; a first engagement member comprising a radially variable surface, the first engagement member configured to be disposed on the axle; a second engagement member comprising an interface surface configured to cooperate with the radially variable surface, the second engagement member configured to be disposed on the axle; a biasing member located at an end of the skewer and configured to bias the first and second engagement members into engagement; and a key being part of one of the first engagement member and the second engagement member; wherein the first engagement member and the second engagement member are rotatable relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the skewer and wherein the first engagement member and the second engagement member are rotatable between a first position in which the release mechanism is configured to retain the bicycle wheel on a pair of dropouts on the bicycle and a second position in which the bicycle wheel is releasable from the bicycle, the key configured to prevent relative motion with a keyway on one of the dropouts such that when key and keyway are engaged said one of the first and second engagement members is prevented from rotation with respect to the dropout.