Patent ID: 7427112

Claim:
A vehicle wheel, comprising: an outer rim; a central hub with a central axle and an outer flange; a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub, wherein said spokes have a first portion connected to said rim and a second portion opposed to said first portion and connected to said hub; and wherein said outer rim includes a spoke bed wall with a spoke hole therethrough for connection with said first end of said spoke; wherein said spoke bed wall has a radially outboard surface; wherein said outboard surface includes a convex outboard surface portion defined by a radially outboard apex region and radially inwardly sloping sides extending from either side of said apex region; including an outboard edge created by the intersection of said spoke hole and said convex outboard surface portion; wherein said outboard edge includes a first axially spaced quadrant point, a second axially spaced quadrant point, a first circumferentially spaced quadrant point, and second circumferentially spaced quadrant point; wherein said first axially spaced quadrant point is radially inboard of at least one of said first and second circumferentially spaced quadrant points; wherein said first portion of said spoke includes an overlying engagement with at least one of said outboard edge and said outboard surface; and wherein said overlying engagement provides resistance to spoke tension forces.