US 11,667,152 B2
Collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels
John A. Solheim, Phoenix, AZ (US); Eric V. Cole, Cave Creek, AZ (US); and Neil J. Clark, Lincoln (GB)
Assigned to Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed by KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed on Jul. 21, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/934,995.
Application 16/934,995 is a continuation of application No. 16/206,679, filed on Nov. 30, 2018, granted, now 10,717,320.
Application 16/206,679 is a continuation of application No. 14/945,577, filed on Nov. 19, 2015, granted, now 10,179,476, issued on Jan. 15, 2019.
Application 14/945,577 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/337,640, filed on Jul. 22, 2014, granted, now 9,981,501, issued on May 29, 2018.
Application 14/337,640 is a continuation of application No. 14/063,601, filed on Oct. 25, 2013, granted, now 8,833,864, issued on Sep. 16, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/719,634, filed on Oct. 29, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2020/0346489 A1, Nov. 5, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60B 9/04 (2006.01); B60B 19/04 (2006.01); B60B 9/26 (2006.01); B60B 25/00 (2006.01); B60B 19/02 (2006.01)
CPC B60B 9/04 (2013.01) [B60B 9/26 (2013.01); B60B 19/04 (2013.01); B60B 25/00 (2013.01); B60B 25/004 (2013.01); B60B 19/02 (2013.01); B60B 2320/10 (2013.01); B60B 2320/50 (2013.01); B60B 2340/30 (2013.01); B60B 2900/313 (2013.01); B60B 2900/351 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/86 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49513 (2015.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wheel comprising:
an axle;
a plurality of wheel sections, each wheel section comprising:
a rim portion;
a hub portion defining a rotational axis; and
a pair of spokes, each spoke connecting the hub portion to the rim portion wherein the pair of spokes are within one of the wheel sections of the plurality of wheel sections; and
a tire configured to be mountable on the rim portions in a collapsed position or an expanded position;
wherein
the plurality of wheel sections are rotatable relative to each other about the rotational axis from the expanded position to the collapsed position;
wherein the rim portions of the plurality of wheel sections cooperatively define a circle in the expanded position; and
wherein the plurality of wheel sections each define a segment of the same circle;
the tire comprises a plurality of track segments each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface; and
wherein:
the inner surface of the each of the plurality track segments is configured to engage the plurality of wheel sections.