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US 12,017,477 B2Granted
Collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels
AssigneeKarsten Manufacturing Corporation
InventorsJohn A. Solheim, Eric V. Cole, Neil J. Clark
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
Claims12
A wheel comprising:
- a hub portion defining a rotational axis;
- a plurality of spokes extending from the hub portion;
- a plurality of rim portions;
- wherein:
- each spoke of the plurality of spokes comprise an inner spoke portion and an outer spoke portion;
- wherein
- each inner spoke portion is configured to receive one outer spoke portion;
- each spoke of the plurality of spokes engages at least one rim portion of the plurality of rim portions;
- the plurality of rim portions define a circle in an expanded configuration;
- the plurality of rim portions define a rotational plane;
- the rim portions comprise a thickness measured orthogonal to the rotational plane;
- and
- each rim portion of the plurality of rim portions comprises a center section, a first end section, and a second end section;
- wherein
- a thickness of the two end sections of each rim portion of the plurality of rim portions is less than a thickness of the center section;
- and
- the first end section of each rim portion overlaps with the second end section of an adjacent rim portion in a collapsed configuration;
- wherein
- the wheel can be configured in the expanded configuration or the collapsed configuration.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.