Collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9981501-B2
Application number	US-201414337640-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2014
Priority date	Oct 29, 2012
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

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:
a plurality of wheel sections, each wheel section comprising:
a rim portion;
a hub portion defining a rotational axis;
a pair of spokes extending from the hub to the rim portion and being attached to the rim portion;

wherein the plurality of wheel sections are rotatable relative to each other about the rotational axis from a collapsed position wherein the rim portions of the plurality of wheel sections define a segment of a circle to an expanded position wherein the rim portions of the plurality of wheels sections define the circle.

2. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein the wheel sections are substantially fixed from rotation relative to each other in the expanded position.

3. The wheel of claim 1 , further comprising a tire configured to be mountable on the rim portions in the collapsed position or the expanded position.

4. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein each rim portion comprises a tire portion.

5. The wheel of claim 1 , each wheel section comprising a radially configured slot and a pin configured to be received in the slot of another wheel section, wherein movement of the pin of one wheel section inside the slot of an adjacent wheel section defines a range of rotation of the one wheel section relative to the adjacent wheel section.

6. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wheel sections define groups of wheel sections with each group comprising a pair of the wheel sections, and wherein the spokes of the wheel sections of each pair of wheel sections extend from the hub of the corresponding wheel section to the same rim portion.

7. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein the rim portions substantially define a path on a circumferential band around the wheel sections in the expanded position.

8. The wheel of claim 1 , further comprising an axle configured to removably receive the hub of each wheel section by being insertable in a central bore of each wheel section being coaxial with the rotational axis of the wheel section, wherein each wheel section is rotational relative to the axle.

9. A method of manufacturing a wheel comprising:
forming a plurality of wheel sections so that each wheel section comprises a rim portion, a hub portion defining a rotational axis, and a pair of spokes extending from the hub to the rim portion and being attached to the rim portion;
wherein the plurality of wheel sections are rotatable relative to each other about the rotational axis from a collapsed position wherein the rim portions of the plurality of wheel sections define a segment of a circle to an expanded position wherein the rim portions of the plurality of wheels sections define at least one full circle.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising forming a locking mechanism configured to substantially fix the wheel sections from rotating relative to each other in the expanded position.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising forming a tire configured to be mountable on the rim portions in the collapsed position or the expanded position.

12. The method of claim 9 , forming a tire section on each rim portion.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising forming a radially configured slot and a pin on each wheel section, the pin configured to be received in the slot of another wheel section, wherein movement of the pin of one wheel section inside the slot of an adjacent wheel section defines a range of rotation of the one wheel section relative to the adjacent wheel section.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising forming the plurality of wheel section such that the spokes of two wheel sections extend from the hub of the corresponding wheel sections to the same rim portion.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the rim portions substantially define a path on a circumferential band around the wheel sections in the expanded position.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising forming an axle configured to removably receive the hub of each wheel section by being insertable in a central bore of each wheel section being coaxial with the rotational axis of the wheel section, wherein each wheel section is rotational relative to the axle.

17. A wheel comprising:
a plurality of planar hub sections staked on top of each other to define a hub having a rotational axis;
a plurality of rim portions;
a plurality of spokes, each spoke extending from one of the plurality of hub sections to one of the plurality of rim portions and being attached to the rim portion;
wherein the hub sections are rotatable relative to each other about the rotational axis from a collapsed position wherein the rim portions form a segment of a rim of the wheel to an expanded position wherein the rim portions define the rim of the wheel; and
wherein the hub sections are substantially fixed from rotation relative to each other in the expanded position.

18. The wheel of claim 17 , further comprising a tire configured to be mountable on the rim portions in the collapsed position or the expanded position.

19. The wheel of claim 17 , wherein each rim portion comprises a tire portion.

20. The wheel of claim 17 , wherein each of the rim portions extends diagonally along a circumferential band defining the rim of the wheel.

Assignees

• Karsten Mfg Corp

Inventors

• Solheim John A
• Cole Eric V

Classifications

• B60B19/04

  expansible · CPC title

• Y10T29/49513

  Compression, e.g., nontension, spoke type wheel making · CPC title

• B60Y2200/86

  Carts; Golf carts · CPC title

• B60B25/02 Primary

  Segmented rims, e.g. with segments arranged in sections; Connecting equipment, e.g. hinges; Insertable flange rings therefor · CPC title

• B60B25/00

  Rims built-up of several main parts {; Locking means for the rim parts}(tools for assembling divided rims B60B31/04) · CPC title