Vehicle wheel including spoke attachment
DRIVE
March 5, 2003
The invention concerns an improved vehicle wheel (1) with spokes (2) connecting a peripheral rim (13) with a central hub, the latter having an axle (9) and an outer flange (16). The flange (16) has a plurality of cavities to each of which one or two spokes are joined to obtain a firm connection, preferably by deforming the spoke and/or the cavity and thus creating a deformed engagement region. In a preferred embodiment, the flange (16) is made of a softer material than the spoke (2), thereby undergoing elastic and/or plastic deformation upon engagement of the spoke, or vice versa. A polymer is a particularly well suited material for the flange (16), allowing easy fabrication by a molding process.
Discussion in the ATmosphere