Collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11667152-B2
Application number	US-202016934995-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 21, 2020
Priority date	Oct 29, 2012
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

Embodiments of collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wheel comprising:
an axle;
a plurality of wheel sections, each wheel section comprising:
a rim portion;
a hub portion defining a rotational axis; and
a pair of spokes, each spoke connecting the hub portion to the rim portion wherein the pair of spokes are within one of the wheel sections of the plurality of wheel sections; and
a tire configured to be mountable on the rim portions in a collapsed position or an expanded position;
wherein
the plurality of wheel sections are rotatable relative to each other about the rotational axis from the expanded position to the collapsed position;
wherein the rim portions of the plurality of wheel sections cooperatively define a circle in the expanded position; and
wherein the plurality of wheel sections each define a segment of the same circle;
the tire comprises a plurality of track segments each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; and
wherein:
the inner surface of the each of the plurality track segments is configured to engage the plurality of wheel sections.

2. The wheel of claim 1 comprising the tire, wherein the inner surface of each of the plurality of track segments comprises a plurality of ribs projecting radially from the inner surface.

3. The wheel of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of ribs of each of the plurality of track segments defines a plurality of grooves configured to receive the rim portion each corresponding wheel section of the plurality of wheel sections, and further configured to allow the wheel sections to move relative to the grooves.

4. The wheel of claim 2 , wherein the ribs are generally parallel to one another.

5. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of track segments are interconnected to define a track assembly.

6. The wheel of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of track segments comprise a plurality of grooves corresponding to N number of wheel sections.

7. The wheel of claim 3 , wherein the grooves comprise a width ranging from 0.10 inches to 0.30 inches corresponding to a cross sectional shape of each of the plurality of rim portions.

8. The wheel of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of track segments comprises 2 to 20 grooves.

9. The wheel of claim 1 wherein the rim portion of the plurality of wheel sections substantially defines a path on a circumferential band around the wheel sections in the expanded position.

10. The wheel of claim 9 , wherein each of the track segments include a plurality of projections that extend from a central member, the projections partially defining a plurality of slots, a first side of the central member including N number of projections, and an opposing second side of the central member including N−1 number of projections, wherein the projections on the first side are configured to engage slots of a first adjacent track segment, and the projections on the opposing second side are configured to engage slots of a second adjacent track segment.

11. The wheel of claim 10 , where N equals 2.

12. A wheel comprising:
an axle;
a plurality of wheel sections, each wheel section comprising:
a rim portion;
a hub portion defining a rotational axis; and
a pair of spokes, each spoke connecting the hub portion to the rim portion of one of the wheel sections of the plurality of wheel sections; and
a tire configured to be mountable on the rim portions in a collapsed position or an expanded position;
wherein
the plurality of wheel sections are rotatable relative to each other about the rotational axis from the expanded position to the collapsed position;
wherein the rim portions of the plurality of wheel sections cooperatively define a circle in the expanded position; and
wherein the plurality of wheel sections each define a segment of the circle;
the tire comprises a plurality of track segments each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; and
wherein:
the inner surface of the each of the plurality track segments comprises a plurality of ribs.

13. The wheel of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of ribs of each of the plurality of track segments defines a plurality of grooves configured to receive the rim portion of each corresponding wheel section of the plurality of wheel sections, and further configured to allow the wheel sections to move relative to the grooves.

14. The wheel of claim 12 , wherein each of the track segments include a plurality of projections that extend from a central member, the projections partially defining a plurality of slots, a first side of the central member including N number of projections, and an opposing second side of the central member including N−1 number of projections, wherein the projections on the first side are configured to engage slots of a first adjacent track segment, and the projections on the opposing second side are configured to engage slots of a second adjacent track segment.

15. The wheel of claim 14 , wherein N equals 2.

16. A method of manufacturing a wheel comprising:
forming an axle;
forming a plurality of wheel sections each wheel section comprising:
a rim portion;
a hub portion defining a rotation axis;
a pair of spokes, each spoke connecting the hub portion to the rim portion of one of the wheel sections of the plurality of wheel sections; and
a tire configured to be mountable on the rim portions in a collapsed position or an expanded position;
wherein
the plurality of wheel sections are rotatable relative to each other about the rotational axis from the expanded position to the collapsed position;
wherein the rim portions of the plurality of wheel sections cooperatively define a circle in the expanded position; and
wherein the plurality of wheel sections each define a segment of the circle;
the tire comprises a plurality of track segments each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; and
wherein:
the inner surface of the each of the plurality track segments comprises a plurality of ribs.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising engaging the plurality of track segments comprising the plurality of ribs with the plurality of wheel sections.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of ribs project radially from the plurality of track segments.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of ribs of each of the plurality of track segments defines a plurality of grooves configured to receive the rim portion of each corresponding wheel section of the plurality of wheel sections, and further configured to allow the wheel sections to move relative to the grooves.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of track segments are interconnected to define a track assembly.

Assignees

• Karsten Mfg Corp

Inventors

• Solheim John A
• Cole Eric V
• Clark Neil J

Classifications

• B60B19/02

  convertible, e.g. from road wheel to rail wheel; Wheels specially designed for alternative use on road and rail · CPC title

• B60Y2200/86

  Carts; Golf carts · CPC title

• B60B2320/10

  Assembling; disassembling · CPC title

• B60B2900/351

  versatility, e.g. usable for different purposes or different arrangements · CPC title

• B60B2900/313

  Resiliency · CPC title