Reinforced foldable hub with positive profile shift and integrated stop and locking mechanisms

A foldable hub comprising:

• a first plate configured to rotate about a hub axis, the first plate having a first opening defining a first curved pathway comprising a first rack, and a second opening defining a second curved pathway;
• a second plate concentric with the first plate and configured to rotate about the hub axis, the second plate having a third opening defining a third curved pathway comprising a third rack, and a fourth opening defining a fourth curved pathway;
• a pinion extending between the first curved pathway and the third curved pathway, and configured to engage with the first rack and the third rack and to rotate about a pinion axis, the pinion axis fixed relative to the hub axis;
• and
• a third plate concentrically disposed between the first and second plates, the third plate comprising an opening sized and shaped to rotatably receive the pinion therethrough, and a first set of one or more integrated tabs extending toward the first plate and slidably disposed within the second curved pathway, and a second set of one or more integrated tabs extending toward the second plate, and slidably disposed within the fourth curved pathway,
• wherein the first set of one or more integrated tabs is configured to prevent over rotation of the first plate relative to the third plate, and
• wherein the second set of one or more integrated tabs is configured to prevent over rotation of the second plate relative to the third plate.

A foldable hub comprising:

• a first plate configured to rotate about a hub axis, the first plate having a first opening defining a first curved pathway comprising a first rack, and a first groove extending inward from an outer edge of the first plate, the first groove having a first geometry;
• a second plate concentric with the first plate and configured to rotate about the hub axis, the second plate having a second opening defining a second curved pathway comprising a second rack, and a second groove extending inward from an outer edge of the second plate, the second groove having a second geometry corresponding with the first geometry;
• a pinion extending between the first curved pathway and the second curved pathway, and configured to engage with the first rack and the second rack and to rotate about a pinion axis, the pinion axis fixed relative to the hub axis;
• a locking pin having a geometry corresponding to at least a portion of the first and second geometries, the locking pin configured to transition between a locked state where the locking pin is disposed within the first and second grooves, and an unlocked state where the locking pin is disengaged from the first and second grooves, the locking pin configured to be biased towards the locked state;
• and
• a third plate concentrically coupled to the first plate and configured to rotate about the hub axis, the third plate comprising a third opening defining a third curved pathway aligned within the first curved pathway, and a third groove having a third geometry defining a cam path,
• wherein the third plate is configured to be rotated between a locked configuration where the locking pin is engaged with a lock portion of the cam path such that the locking pin is disposed within the first and second grooves, and an unlocked configuration wherein the locking pin is engaged with an unlock portion of the cam path such that the locking pin at least partially disengages with the first and second grooves, to thereby permit rotation between the first and second plates, the third plate configured to be biased towards the locked configuration.

A foldable hub comprising:

• a first plate configured to rotate about a hub axis, the first plate comprising:
• a first opening defining a first curved pathway comprising a first rack;
• a second opening defining a second curved pathway;
• and
• a first groove extending inward from an outer edge of the first plate, the first groove having a first geometry;
• a second plate concentric with the first plate and configured to rotate about the hub axis, the first plate, the second plate comprising:
• a third opening defining a third curved pathway comprising a second rack;
• a fourth opening defining a fourth curved pathway;
• and
• a second groove extending inward from an outer edge of the second plate, the second groove having a second geometry corresponding with the first geometry;
• a pinion extending between the first curved pathway and the second curved pathway, and configured to engage with the first rack and the second rack and to rotate about a pinion axis, the pinion axis fixed relative to the hub axis
• a third plate concentrically disposed between the first and second plates, the third plate comprising:
• a first set of one or more integrated tabs extending toward the first plate, and slidably disposed within the second curved pathway;
• a second set of one or more integrated tabs extending toward the second plate, and slidably disposed within the fourth curved pathway;
• and
• a third groove having a third geometry corresponding with the first and second geometries;
• a locking pin having a geometry corresponding to at least a portion of the first, second, and third geometries, the locking pin configured to transition between a locked state where the locking pin is disposed within the first, second, and third grooves, and an unlocked state where the locking pin is disengaged from the first, second, and third grooves, the locking pin configured to be biased towards the locked state;
• and
• a fourth plate concentrically coupled to the first plate and configured to rotate about the hub axis, the fourth plate comprising:
• a fifth opening defining a fifth curved pathway aligned within the first curved pathway;
• a sixth opening defining a sixth curved pathway aligned with the second curved pathway;
• a fourth groove having a fourth geometry defining a cam path,
• wherein the fourth plate is configured to be rotated between a locked configuration where the locking pin is engaged with a lock portion of the cam path such that the locking pin is disposed within the first, second, and third grooves, and an unlocked configuration wherein the locking pin is engaged with an unlock portion of the cam path such that the locking pin at least partially disengages with the first, second, and third grooves, to thereby permit rotation of the first and second plates relative to the third plate, the fourth plate configured to be biased towards the locked configuration.