FACE TO RIM REINFORCING CONNECTOR OF A COMPOSITE WHEEL

A spoke to rim reinforcing connector of a composite wheel: the composite wheel having a rim portion comprising a shaped annulus formed about a central axis of rotation of the composite wheel and having a circumferential axis extending circumferentially about the central axis and around the rim portion, and a face portion comprising a generally circular shaped hub and a plurality of spokes which extend along a spoke axis that extends generally radially to the circumferential axis, the plurality of spokes extending between the rim portion and the hub to interconnect the rim portion and the hub, each spoke having an outwardly extending face surface, an opposing back surface and side surfaces therebetween, the rim portion has a complementary rim fibre layup therein and each spoke has a complementary spoke fibre layup therein, the spoke to rim reinforcing connector comprising: at least one spoke saddle comprising a seat portion which extends around an end portion of the spoke fibre layup about the spoke axis and over the face surface of the spoke fibre layup, and at least two spoke legs that extend over the sides of the spoke fibre layup; and at least two rim tabs, each rim tab extending from a spoke leg generally perpendicularly to the spoke axis, each rim tab configured to be incorporated into the rim fibre layup of the rim portion of the composite wheel, wherein the connector comprises a continuous body having a fibre orientation that extends substantially perpendicular to the spoke axis.