Centerless wheel assemblies for vehicles
AssigneeOrbis Wheels, Inc.
InventorsMarcus G. HAYS, Scott STREETER, Kalleheikko KANNISTO, Stojan JANKOVIC, Brian SAID
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle is disclosed that may include a vertical axle, a support rod coupled to the vertical axle, and a wheel assembly coupled to the vertical axle via the support rod. The wheel assembly may include a centerless rim, a stationary hub coupled to the support rod and disposed at least partially within the centerless rim, and a roller guide supported by the stationary hub and shaped to roll along the centerless rim. The wheel assembly may be configured to rotate at least one hundred and seventy degrees relative to the vehicle.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- a vertical axle;
- a support rod coupled to the vertical axle;
- and
- a wheel assembly coupled to the vertical axle via the support rod, the wheel assembly comprising:
- a centerless rim;
- a stationary hub coupled to the support rod and disposed at least partially within the centerless rim;
- and
- a roller guide supported by the stationary hub and shaped to roll along the centerless rim;
- wherein the wheel assembly is configured to rotate at least one hundred and seventy degrees relative to the vehicle.
A wheel assembly comprising:
- a stationary hub, the stationary hub comprising:
- a plurality of arms extending outwardly from a central region of the stationary hub;
- a support arm link shaped to interface with a support arm of a vehicle;
- an axle connector projecting outward from a middle of the stationary hub;
- and
- a brake caliper;
- a plurality of roller guides, each supported at an end portion of one of the plurality of arms;
- a centerless rim, shaped to interface with the plurality of roller guides such that the plurality of roller guides roll along the centerless rim when the centerless rim rotates relative to the stationary hub, the centerless rim comprising:
- a rim gear with teeth oriented towards a middle of the centerless rim;
- an internal slanted portion angled inwards towards the rim gear and shaped to interface with at least one of the plurality of roller guides;
- and
- an external slanted portion on an opposite side from the rim gear and angled inwards towards the rim gear and shaped to interface with at least another of the plurality of roller guides;
- and
- a brake rotor physically coupled to the centerless rim such that slowing of the brake rotor causes a corresponding slowing of the centerless rim, the brake rotor positioned to correspond to the brake caliper such that when the brake caliper is activated, the brake rotor is slowed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.