Low spoke count, high tension paired spoke wheels, for bicycles

Abstract

A bicycle wheel is disclosed. The wheel, which has a center plane, comprises: a bicycle wheel hub for supporting the wheel relative to an axle rotatably supported therein, a rim, a given number, at least three, pairs of first and second spokes, and adjustable threaded means for adjusting the tension in each of said spokes, independently of any adjustment to the tension in another spoke. The hub has first and second hub flanges axially displaced from one another, each on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the other. Each of the spokes of the given number of pairs of first and second spokes has a first and a second end connected to one of the hub flanges and to the rim, respectively, so that tension is applied by the first spokes between the first hub flange and a first plurality of points which are circumferentially spaced substantially evenly around the rim on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the first flange of the hub, and so that tension is applied by the second spokes between the second hub flange and a second plurality of points on the rim each of which is substantially circumferentially coincident with one of the first plurality of points, and is on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the second flange of the hub. The pairs of first and second points on the rim are sufficiently close to each other that the bicycle has improved resistance to speed shimmy or wobble or front wheel induced steering inputs by comparison with a bicycle with a conventional front wheel having the given number of pairs of first and second spokes.

1 . A bicycle wheel having a center plane and comprising: 
 a bicycle wheel hub for supporting the wheel relative to an axle rotatably supported therein, said hub having first and second hub flanges axially displaced from one another, each on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the other,    a rim,    a given number, at least three, pairs of first and second spokes, each of said spokes having a first and a second end connected to one of said hub flanges and to said rim, respectively, so that tension is applied by said first spokes between the first hub flange and a first plurality of points which are circumferentially spaced substantially evenly around the rim on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the first flange of said hub, and so that tension is applied by said second spokes between the second hub flange and a second plurality of points on said rim each of which is substantially circumferentially coincident with one of said first plurality of points, and is on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the second flange of said hub, and    adjustable threaded means for adjusting the tension in said spokes, independently of any adjustment to the tension in another spoke, wherein each of said pairs of first and second points on said rim are sufficiently close to each other so that the bicycle has improved resistance to speed shimmy or wobble or front wheel induced steering inputs by comparison with a bicycle with a conventional front wheel comprising 
 a bicycle wheel hub having first and second hub flanges axially displaced from one another, each on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the other,  
 a rim and  
 the given number of pairs of first and second spokes each having a first and a second end connected to one of the hub flanges and to the rim, respectively, so that tension is applied by the first spokes between the first hub flange and a first plurality of points which are circumferentially spaced substantially evenly around the rim and so that tension is applied by the second spokes between the second hub flange and a second plurality of points on the rim each of which is positioned halfway between adjacent first points  
   
     
     
         2 . A bicycle wheel having a center plane and comprising: 
 a bicycle wheel hub for supporting the wheel relative to an axle rotatably supported therein, said hub having first and second hub flanges axially displaced from one another, each on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the other,    a rim,    a given number of pairs of first and second spokes, each of said spokes having a first and a second end connected to one of said hub flanges and to said rim, respectively, so that tension is applied by said first spokes between the first hub flange and a first plurality of points which are circumferentially spaced substantially evenly around the rim on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the first flange of said hub, and so that tension is applied by said second spokes between the second hub flange and a second plurality of points on said rim each of which is adjacent to but circumferentially offset at least about 0.3 inch from the adjacent one of said first plurality of points, and is on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the second flange of said hub,    adjustable threaded means for adjusting the tension in said spokes, independently of any adjustment to the tension in another spoke, wherein each of said pairs of first and second points on said rim are sufficiently close to each other so that, when said wheel is mounted on a bicycle, that bicycle will have improved resistance to speed shimmy or wobble or wheel induced steering inputs or axle deflection by comparison with that bicycle with a conventional wheel comprising 
 a bicycle wheel hub having first and second hub flanges axially displaced from one another, each on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the other,  
 a rim and  
 the given number of pairs of first and second spokes each having a first and a second end connected to one of the hub flanges and to the rim, respectively, so that tension is applied by the first spokes between the first hub flange and a first plurality of points which are circumferentially spaced substantially evenly around the rim and so that tension is applied by the second spokes between the second hub flange and a second plurality of points on the rim each of which is positioned halfway between adjacent first points.  
   
     
     
         3 . A bicycle wheel as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first and second spokes of said at least three pairs are single spokes, as distinguished from crossed or uncrossed pairs or groups of pairs of spokes.  
     
     
         4 . A bicycle wheel as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the first and second spokes of said at least three pairs are single spokes, as distinguished from crossed or uncrossed pairs or groups of pairs of spokes.  
     
     
         5 . The wheel claimed in  claim 1  wherein said spokes are oriented tangentially relative to said hub flanges.  
     
     
         6 . A bicycle wheel having a center plane and comprising: 
 a bicycle wheel hub for supporting the wheel relative to an axle rotatably supported therein, said hub having first and second hub flanges axially displaced from one another, each on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the other,    a rim,    a given number, at least three, of groups of pairs of first and second spokes, each of said spokes having a first and a second end connected to one of said hub flanges and to said rim, respectively, so that tension is applied by said first spokes between the first hub flange and a first plurality of groups of points which are circumferentially spaced substantially evenly around the rim and so that tension is applied by said second spokes between the second hub flange and a second plurality of groups of points on said rim each of which points is substantially circumferentially coincident with one of said first plurality of groups of points,    adjustable threaded means for adjusting the tension in said spokes, independently of any adjustment to the tension in another spoke, wherein said groups of pairs of first and second points on said rim are sufficiently close to each other so that a bicycle on which the wheel is mounted has improved resistance to speed shimmy or wobble or wheel induced steering inputs by comparison with a bicycle where the aforesaid wheel is replaced by a conventional wheel comprising 
 a bicycle wheel hub having first and second hub flanges axially displaced from one another, each on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the other,  
 a rim and  
 the given number of pairs of first and second spokes each having a first and a second end connected to one of the hub flanges and to the rim, respectively, so that tension is applied by the first spokes between the first hub flange and a first plurality of points which are circumferentially spaced substantially evenly around the rim and so that tension is applied by the second spokes between the second hub flange and a second plurality of points on the rim each of which is positioned halfway between adjacent first points.  
   
     
     
         7 . The bicycle wheel claimed in  claim 6  wherein said spokes of said front wheel are oriented radially relative to said hub.  
     
     
         8 . A bicycle wheel having a center plane and comprising: 
 a bicycle wheel hub for supporting the wheel relative to an axle rotatably supported therein, said hub having first and second hub flanges axially displaced from one another, each on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the other,    a rim,    a given number of pairs of groups of first and second spokes, each of said spokes having a first and a second end connected to one of said hub flanges and to said rim, respectively, so that tension is applied by said first spokes between the first hub flange and a first plurality of groups of points which are circumferentially spaced substantially evenly around the rim and so that tension is applied by said second spokes between the second hub flange and a second plurality of groups of points on said rim each of which points is adjacent to but circumferentially offset at least about 0.3 inch from the adjacent one of said first plurality of groups of points,    adjustable threaded means for adjusting the tension in said spokes, independently of any adjustment to the tension in another spoke, wherein each of said pairs of first and second points on said rim are sufficiently close to each other so that, when said wheel is mounted on a bicycle, that bicycle will have improved resistance to speed shimmy or wobble or wheel induced steering inputs or axle deflection by comparison with that bicycle with a conventional wheel comprising 
 a bicycle wheel hub having first and second hub flanges axially displaced from one another, each on the opposite side of the wheel center plane from the other,  
 a rim and  
 the given number of pairs of groups of first and second spokes each having a first and a second end connected to one of the hub flanges and to the rim, respectively, so that tension is applied by the first spokes between the first hub flange and a first plurality of points which are circumferentially spaced substantially evenly around the rim and so that tension is applied by the second spokes between the second hub flange and a second plurality of points on the rim each of which is positioned halfway between adjacent first points.  
   
     
     
         9 . The wheel claimed in  claim 8  wherein said spokes are oriented radially relative to said hub.  
     
     
         10 . The wheel claimed in  claim 8  wherein said spokes are oriented tangentially relative to said hub flanges.  
     
     
         11 . The wheel claimed in  claim 6  wherein said spokes are oriented tangentially relative to said hub flanges.