US 12,187,071 B2
Wheel with flexible wide-body spokes
Martin Connolly, San Marcos, CA (US)
Assigned to Spinergy Inc.
Filed by Spinergy Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/947,225.
Application 14/666,175 is a division of application No. 13/487,253, filed on Jun. 4, 2012, granted, now 8,985,707, issued on Mar. 24, 2015.
Application 16/947,225 is a continuation of application No. 16/273,110, filed on Feb. 11, 2019, granted, now 10,723,171.
Application 16/273,110 is a continuation of application No. 15/358,900, filed on Nov. 22, 2016, granted, now 10,201,998, issued on Feb. 12, 2019.
Application 15/358,900 is a continuation of application No. 14/666,175, filed on Mar. 23, 2015, granted, now 9,597,925, issued on Mar. 21, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0213775 A1, Jul. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. B60B 1/02 (2006.01); B60B 1/00 (2006.01); B60B 1/04 (2006.01); B60B 5/02 (2006.01); B60B 9/26 (2006.01); B60B 21/06 (2006.01)
CPC B60B 1/0261 (2013.01) [B60B 1/003 (2013.01); B60B 1/006 (2013.01); B60B 1/042 (2013.01); B60B 1/044 (2013.01); B60B 5/02 (2013.01); B60B 9/26 (2013.01); B60B 21/062 (2013.01); B60B 2360/32 (2013.01); B60B 2360/341 (2013.01); B60B 2900/111 (2013.01); B60B 2900/212 (2013.01); B60B 2900/311 (2013.01); B60B 2900/313 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/12 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/13 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/84 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wheel comprising:
a hub;
a rim;
a plurality of flexible spoke assemblies attached between said hub and said rim, wherein each of said plurality of flexible spoke assemblies is capable of bending without decrease in strength; and
a nipple corresponding to each flexible spoke assembly, said nipple fixed in said rim,
wherein each flexible spoke assembly of said plurality of flexible spoke assemblies comprises a flexible shaft comprising thermotropic liquid crystal fibers and having a first end and a second end and an anchor secured to said first end of said flexible shaft, the anchor configured to secure to a flange hole of said hub,
wherein a tube is secured to said second end of said flexible shaft and having a hub-end comprising a head with a width narrower than a width of a body of said tube, and
wherein each flexible spoke assembly comprises a bend in said flexible shaft at a point where said flexible shaft protrudes from said hub-end at a predetermined distance away from said nipple corresponding to the flexible spoke assembly at said rim.