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US 12,441,135 B2Granted
Quick coupling for wheel-to-vehicle attachment
AssigneeAzak Inc.
InventorBenjamin Meager
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Mechanisms are disclosed for releasably attaching a wheel to a vehicle in a position where the wheel supports a weight of the vehicle. An illustrative quick connect system is described to include a wheel, a vehicle frame, and a coupling system that releasably attaches the wheel to the vehicle frame. The coupling system, when in a coupled state, may substantially prevent or oppose rotation between a wheel core and the vehicle frame.
Claims26
A vehicle, comprising:
- a wheel configured to rotate around a wheel core, wherein the wheel core comprises a motor that imparts a rotational force on the wheel causing the wheel to rotate around the wheel core;
- and
- a coupling system that couples the wheel core to a vehicle frame, wherein the coupling system releasably attaches the wheel core to the vehicle frame such that in a coupled state the coupling system substantially prevents rotation of the wheel core relative to the vehicle frame, wherein the coupling system comprises an electrical interconnect that provides an electrical pathway between electrical components provided in the wheel core and electrical components supported by the vehicle frame, and wherein the coupling system comprises a plurality of electrical pins that carry an electrical signal between the electrical components provided in the wheel core and the electrical components supported by the vehicle frame.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a wheel configured to rotate around a wheel core, wherein the wheel core comprises a motor that imparts a rotational force on the wheel causing the wheel to rotate around the wheel core;
- and
- a coupling system that couples the wheel core to a vehicle frame, wherein the coupling system comprises a coupling and a coupling receiver that accepts and secures the coupling in a coupled state, wherein the coupling system releasably attaches the wheel core to the vehicle frame such that in a coupled state the coupling system substantially prevents rotation of the wheel core relative to the vehicle frame wherein the coupling comprises a frame-side face, a wheel-side face, a bottom end, a top end, and at least two side edges that extend from the frame-side face to the wheel-side face and, wherein the coupling receiver comprises a receiver body and a receiver slot that accepts the coupling.
A wheel, comprising:
- a wheel core including a motor that imparts a rotational force on the wheel causing the wheel to rotate around the wheel core;
- a coupling mounted to the wheel core and configured to mate with a coupling receiver provided on a vehicle frame, wherein the coupling receiver and coupling, when in a coupled state, substantially prevent rotation of the wheel core relative to the
- vehicle frame;
- a wheel cavity;
- one or more internal components mounted within the wheel cavity;
- and
- a suspension system that absorbs at least some forces imparted on the wheel from transferring to the one or more internal components, wherein the suspension system is mounted in the wheel cavity.
4 more elements
A vehicle, comprising:
- a wheel configured to rotate around a wheel core, wherein the wheel core comprises a motor that imparts a rotational force on the wheel causing the wheel to rotate around the wheel core;
- a coupling system that couples the wheel core to an object, wherein the coupling system releasably attaches the wheel core to the object such that in a coupled state the coupling system substantially prevents rotation of the wheel core relative to the object, wherein the coupling system comprises an electrical interconnect that provides an electrical pathway between electrical components provided in the wheel core and electrical components supported by the object, wherein the electrical components provided in the wheel core include the motor that imparts the rotational force on the wheel, wherein the electrical components provided in the wheel core further include a power supply, and wherein the electrical interconnect comprises a plurality of electrical pins that carry an electrical signal between the electrical components provided in the wheel core and the electrical components supported by the object.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a wheel configured to rotate around a wheel core, wherein the wheel core comprises a motor that imparts a rotational force on the wheel causing the wheel to rotate around the wheel core;
- at least a portion of a power supply that provides power to the motor;
- and
- a coupling system that couples the wheel core to a vehicle frame or an object, wherein the coupling system releasably attaches the wheel core to the vehicle frame or the object such that in a coupled state the coupling system substantially prevents rotation of the wheel core relative to the vehicle frame or the object, and wherein the coupling system comprises a plurality of electrical pins that carry an electrical signal between electrical components provided in the wheel core and electrical components supported by the vehicle frame or the object.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.