# US 2015/0144239 A1 · Wheel or tyre > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0144239 A1 - Document ID: US20150144239A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/397,294 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-27 - Inventors: Roger Frederick Hiscock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150144239A1 ## CPC - B60C 11/03: Tread patterns - B60B 9/00: Wheels of high resiliency {, e.g. with conical interacting pressure-surfaces (resilient wheels comprising rail-engaging elements B60B17/0027)} - B60B 9/10: of rubber or the like - B60B 19/003: {Multidirectional wheels} - B60C 7/00: Non-inflatable or solid tyres (B60C1/00 takes precedence) - B60C 7/22: having inlays other than for increasing resiliency, e.g. for armouring - B60C 7/26: using bolts - B60C 9/18: Structure or arrangement of belts or breakers, crown-reinforcing or cushioning layers - B60C 2200/12: for bicycles - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - B60C: VEHICLE TYRES; TYRE INFLATION; TYRE CHANGING; CONNECTING VALVES TO INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIES IN GENERAL; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A wheel or tyre for a bicycle comprises a ground-contacting surface, at least a portion of the ground-contacting surface being carried on a movable portion having a degree of freedom about an axis parallel to a circumference of the wheel or tyre. The wheel or tyre may enable a rider of a bicycle, when cornering, to perform or simulate a drift, slide, broadside or skid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wheel or tyre for a bicycle comprising a ground-contacting surface, at least a portion of the ground-contacting surface being carried on a movable portion having a degree of freedom about an axis parallel to a circumference of the wheel or tyre. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wheel or tyre according to claim 1, wherein the wheel or tyre is configured such that the movable portion can move, in use, by no more than a predetermined amount. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The wheel or tyre according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined amount is measured relative to a plane of rotation of the wheel or the tyre, in use. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wheel or tyre according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion may be freely rotatable about the axis parallel to the circumference of the wheel or tyre. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The wheel or tyre according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined amount is no more than 90° or no more than 70° or no more than 60° in each direction from a central point. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wheel or tyre according to claim 1, wherein the ground-contacting surface is curved. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wheel or tyre according to claim 1, wherein the movable portion comprises a roller segment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The wheel or tyre according to claim 2, wherein the wheel or tyre comprises at least one stop means arranged to prevent the movable portion moving beyond the or a predetermined amount. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wheel or tyre according to claim 1, wherein the wheel or tyre comprises at least one resilient element connecting the or each movable portion to a fixed point on the wheel or the tyre. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The wheel or tyre according to claim 9, wherein the movable portion is resiliently tiltable or rotatable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The wheel or tyre according to claim 10, wherein the movable portion comprises a stud, a fin or a rib. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The wheel or tyre according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one resilient element connecting the or each movable portion to a fixed point on the wheel or the tyre and at least one stop means; wherein the resilient element(s) and the stop means are arranged such that, in use, the movable portion is resiliently tiltable or rotatable by no more than the or a predetermined amount relative to the or a plane of rotation of the wheel or the tyre. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The wheel or tyre according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of movable portions spaced around the circumference of the wheel or tyre. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The wheel or tyre according to claim 1, wherein the ground-contacting surface comprises a tread. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The wheel or tyre according to claim 1, further comprising a locking means which may be engagable to prevent or at least minimise movement of the movable portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The wheel or tyre according to claim 1, wherein the wheel or tyre is provided as a kit of component parts that may be assembled and configured by the user. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The wheel or tyre according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of separable tyre elements or rollers, which, when assembled, comprise at least part of a tyre. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The wheel or tyre according to claim 17, further comprising a plurality of separate spacers, separating each adjacent pair of tyre elements. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The wheel or tyre according to claim 17, comprising a plurality of rollers, further comprising a plurality of separate roller housings, each roller housing supporting a roller bearing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The wheel or tyre according to claim 17, comprising a plurality of tyre elements, wherein each tyre element comprises: a base portion configured to be at least partially received within a wheel rim; a head portion comprising a ground contacting surface; and a resiliently deformable neck portion joining the head portion to the base portion. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The wheel or tyre according to claim 17, further comprising an elongate, flexible member for securing the plurality of tyre elements or rollers to the wheel rim, each tyre element or roller having a through hole for accepting the elongate member. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The wheel or tyre according to claim 21, wherein the elongate member comprises a threaded portion at an end thereof. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The wheel or tyre according to claim 22, wherein the elongate member comprises a threaded portion at a first and second end thereof, and the threaded portion at the first end is left hand threaded, and the threaded portion at the second end is right hand threaded. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The wheel or tyre according to claim 23, further comprising a nut, the nut comprising a first and second threaded portion, the first and second threaded portions of the nut respectively corresponding to the threaded portion at the first and second end of the elongate member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 8) The wheel or tyre according to claim 8, wherein the stop means comprises a wheel rim. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The wheel or tyre according to claim 1, wherein the moveable portions are fixed to a base, the base being configured to be received within a wheel rim, and having a first and second end, wherein the first and second end of the base are adapted to be secured together by removable fastening means. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The wheel or tyre according to claim 26, wherein the removable fastening means is operable to tension the wheel around the wheel rim. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) A bicycle comprising at least one wheel or tyre according to claim 1. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) A method of manufacture or assembly of a bicycle comprising: providing a wheel according to claim 1 and a bicycle frame; and fitting the wheel to the bicycle frame. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) A method of manufacture or assembly of a bicycle comprising: providing a tyre according to claim 1, a bicycle frame and a bicycle wheel for fitting to the bicycle frame; fitting the tyre to the wheel; and subsequently fitting the wheel to the bicycle frame. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) A method of modifying a bicycle comprising replacing a wheel or tyre of the bicycle with a wheel or tyre according to claim 1.