US 11,912,063 B2
Aerodynamic wheels for a bi-directional vehicle
Christopher William Labadie, San Francisco, CA (US); and Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Stanford, CA (US)
Assigned to ZOOX, INC., Foster City, CA (US)
Filed by Zoox, Inc., Foster City, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 2, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/086,647.
Application 17/086,647 is a continuation of application No. 15/968,403, filed on May 1, 2018, granted, now 10,821,776.
Prior Publication US 2021/0114405 A1, Apr. 22, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60B 19/10 (2006.01); B60B 3/10 (2006.01); F16D 65/807 (2006.01); F16D 65/847 (2006.01)
CPC B60B 19/10 (2013.01) [B60B 3/10 (2013.01); B60B 2900/1216 (2013.01); B60B 2900/513 (2013.01); F16D 65/807 (2013.01); F16D 65/847 (2013.01); G05D 2201/0213 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle wheel comprising:
a hub disposed to rotate about a wheel axis;
a rim radially spaced from the hub; and
a fin comprising a surface extending between a first end coupled to the hub and a second end coupled to the rim, wherein at least a portion of the surface is angled relative to a plane to which the wheel axis is normal, wherein:
when the vehicle wheel rotates clockwise about the wheel axis, the fin pushes substantially all air impinging on the fin laterally in a first direction along the wheel axis; and
when the vehicle wheel rotates counterclockwise about the wheel axis, the fin pushes substantially all air impinging on the fin laterally in a second direction along the wheel axis, opposite the first direction.