Back to results
US 9,944,349 B2Granted
Wheel spoking systems and methods of manufacturing and installing wheel spokes
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsAssaf Biderman, Carlo Ratti, Christine Louise Outram
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of wheel spoking systems and methods of manufacturing and installing. An electrically motorized wheel can include a wheel rim, a wheel hub, and a plurality of wheel spokes connecting the wheel rim to the wheel hub wherein first and second ends of each of the plurality of wheel spokes are connected to the wheel rim and a curved portion of each of the plurality of wheel spokes interface with curved spoke pockets of the wheel hub.
Claims25
A wheel comprising:
- a wheel rim;
- a wheel hub having a first side and a second side, each of said first sides and second sides having an external side surface with spoke pockets formed therein, the spoke pockets having a shape corresponding to an attachment section of a respective spoke for retaining and securing the attachment section of a respective spoke;
- and
- a first set and a second set of a plurality of wheel spokes providing a connection of the wheel rim to the wheel hub, each of the plurality of wheel spokes has a first end, a second end, and an attachment section therebetween, corresponding to one of the spoke pockets, the first end and the second end extending at an angle with respect to each other and attaching to the wheel rim,
- wherein each attachment section retained and secured by the respective spoke pocket allows for said connection of the wheel rim to the wheel hub.
2 more elements
A wheel, comprising:
- a wheel rim;
- a wheel hub having a first exterior side surface and a second exterior side surface, each of said first and second exterior side surfaces with spoke pockets formed therein, the spoke pockets having a shape corresponding to an attachment section of a respective spoke for retaining and securing the attachment section of a respective spoke;
- and
- a first plurality of wheel spokes providing a connection of the wheel rim to the first exterior side surface of the wheel hub, and a second plurality of wheel spokes providing a connection of the wheel rim to the second exterior side surface of the wheel hub, each of the first plurality of wheel spokes and the second plurality of wheel spokes having a first end, a second end, and an attachment section therebetween corresponding to one of the spoke pockets, the first end and the second end of each of the first plurality of wheel spokes and the second plurality of wheel spokes extending at an angle with respect to each other and attaching to the wheel rim,
- wherein each wheel spoke of the first plurality of wheel spokes engages with a respective spoke pocket on the first exterior side surface of the wheel hub such that the attachment section is retained and secured within the respective spoke pocket via an overhang of the spoke pocket, and each wheel spoke of the second plurality of wheel spokes engages with a respective spoke pocket on the second exterior side surface of the wheel hub such that the attachment section is retained and secured within the respective spoke pocket via an overhang of the spoke pocket.
2 more elements
A wheel, comprising:
- a wheel rim;
- a wheel hub having a first exterior side and a second exterior side, each of said first exterior sides and second exterior sides having a surface with spoke pockets formed therein, the spoke pockets having a shape corresponding to an attachment section of a respective spoke for retaining and securing the attachment section of a respective spoke, and
- a plurality of wheel spokes providing a connection of the wheel rim to the wheel hub, each of the plurality of wheel spokes has a first end that interfaces with a respective spoke pocket of the wheel hub and a second end that interfaces with the wheel rim.
A wheel comprising:
- a central hub having a first external side and a second external side, each of said first external sides and second external sides having a surface with spoke pockets formed therein, the spoke pockets having a shape corresponding to an attachment section of a respective spoke for retaining and securing the attachment section of a respective spoke;
- a rim;
- and
- a plurality of spokes providing a connection of the central hub to the rim, each spoke of the plurality of spokes comprising:
- at least one threaded portion inserted into the rim;
- and
- an attachment portion wherein each attachment portion is retained and secured by the respective spoke pocket allowing for said connection of the wheel rim to the central hub.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.