Wingnut (hardware)

A wingnut or wing nut is a type of nut with two large metal "wings," one on each side, so it can be easily tightened and loosened by hand without tools. It is sometimes called a thumbscrew.

Bicycles

Before the development of quick release skewers, bicycle wheels were held in place with wingnuts.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ Brown, Sheldon. "Quick-release Wheels". Sheldon Brown. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_q.html#quick. Retrieved 2011-07-11. "In 1927, Tullio Campagnolo was unable to reverse the rear wheel of his bicycle to change gears while racing over the Croce d'Aune pass in the Italian Alps. His frozen fingers were unable to loosen the wingnuts used to hold his wheels in place. This incident led to his invention of the quick release." 
  2. ^ Brown, Sheldon. "Singlespeed Conversions - Solid-Axle vs Quick Release". Sheldon Brown. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html#k7hub. Retrieved 2011-07-11.