NZ531830A - Collapsible wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible wheel in which the components of the wheel cannot readily become separated and misplaced includes a hub (1) adapted for rotation about a hub axis (2). A plurality of wheel portions (40) each have a rim portion (3) and a spoke (4i), (4ii), (4iii), 4(iv), 4(v), 4(vi) and an inner end of the spoke being releasable from the hub. Rim fastening means detachably fix the rim portions together to form the rim of the wheel. Hub-connecting means (5) are provided on the inner end of each releasable spoke for retaining the spoke on the hub when the rim portions are disconnected from one another and the wheel portions are rotated to collapse the wheel.

Description

PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Fee No. 4: $250.00 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional No: 531830 Dated: 18 March 2004 Collapsible Wheel I, Vincent Lin, a New Zealand citizen of 5a Frith Place, Burnside, Christchurch, New Zealand, hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 Collapsible wheel TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a collapsible wheel that can be reduced in size to a compact 5 arrangement for storage or transportation.

BACKGROUND ART The transportation of bicycles, wheelchairs and like vehicles has traditionally been difficult due to their size and weight. To address these problems, collapsible bicycles 10 and wheelchairs have been developed. Many of these collapsible vehicles utilize frame sections which are collapsible into smaller sections, allowing a user to reduce the overall bulkiness of the vehicle. One problem with this type of vehicle has been the ability to make these collapsible components simple to use without tools and without resulting in a number of small separate parts which can be misplaced. In 15 addition, even though the frame is reduced in size, the wheels remain bulky and difficult to store or carry.

Collapsible bicycles which utilize small and easily removable wheels are also known in the prior art. The problem with these bicycles is that the smaller wheels have major 20 disadvantages relative to more conventional full size wheels. Smaller wheels rotate at higher angular speeds and have increased rolling resistance; they generally have a lower maximum speed than larger wheels and are often believed to provide less stability.

Wheel assemblies for use on bicycles, wheelchairs and the like, which can be disassembled into smaller components are also known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5 205 573 discloses a collapsible wheel comprising a rim assembled 1 from a plurality of arc-rim segments. Disassembly of the wheel requires a tool for disconnecting the spokes from both the hub and the rim, resulting in a number of small separate components and fasteners which are susceptible to being misplaced.

Thus, there is a need for a full size wheel that can be disassembled into a compact arrangement, yet be quickly assembled while retaining the components together and maintaining the performance and characteristics of a permanent full size wheel assembly.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior 15 art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be 20 attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising' 25 is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice. 2 Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible wheel including: a hub adapted for rotation about a hub axis; a plurality of wheel portions each having a rim portion and a spoke, an inner end of at least one spoke being releasable from the hub; rim fastening means for detachably fixing the rim portions together to form the rim of the wheel, and characterised in that hub-connecting means are provided on the inner end of each releasable spoke for retaining each releasable spoke on the hub when the rim portions are disconnected from one another allowing the wheel portions to be rotated 15 to collapse the wheel.

By using hub-connecting means which cooperate with the hub to retain the spokes in this manner, the components of the wheel cannot readily become separated and misplaced, while at the same time allowing the wheel to be collapsed into a compact package.

The spoke and rim portion are preferably separate components connected together. Alternatively the spoke and rim portion may be formed integrally, for example, the spokes may be segment-shaped portions which when assembled together form a disc-type wheel. The rim fastening means preferably engages with the rim portions, 3 but alternatively, the rim fastening means may engage adjacent spokes so as to fix the rim portions together.

Preferably each rim portion is an arc-rim segment, the arc-rim segments being detachably connected to one another by the rim fastening means for forming the rim 5 of the wheel, and each releasable spoke has an outer end connected to one of the arc-rim segments, the hub-connecting means receiving the hub so as to allow for rotation of each releasable spoke about the hub axis when the wheel is collapsed, and wherein inter-engaging means connect the spokes to one another for common rotation about 10 the hub axis when the wheel is assembled.

The inter-engaging means are preferably provided on each spoke, being fixed thereto or formed integrally therewith. Alternatively the inter-engaging means may be separate from the spokes e.g. a key received in a keyway in each spoke.

Preferably the wheel is collapsed by releasing the rim fastening means to disconnect 15 the arc-rim segments, releasing the inter-engaging means and rotating the spokes about the hub axis generally into alignment, while the hub-connecting means retain the spokes on the hub.

Preferably each arc-rim segment is pivotally connected to an outer end of each spoke, whereby at least one wheel portion is further collapsed by pivoting the arc-rim 20 segment towards the attached spoke. In this manner the space required by the collapsed wheel is reduced still further.

In the preferred embodiment, the hub-connecting means allow axial movement of the spoke parallel to the hub axis. The hub-connecting means preferably receives the hub, but alternatively the hub-connecting means may be received in the hub e.g. 4 having a tongue received in a groove in the hub. The hub-connecting means preferably includes a hub-receiving aperture having a shape complementary to that of an outer surface of the hub for allowing both the rotation of the spoke about the hub axis and the axial movement of the spoke parallel to the hub axis. Preferably the hub-receiving aperture is circular for engaging a cylindrical outer surface on the hub. Most preferably the hub-connecting means of the spokes comprise a ring.

Each ring may have complementary abutting faces and preferably these faces extend radially. Most preferably the inter-engaging means comprise complementary (e.g. male / female-type) features provided on the ring. The inter-engaging means preferably includes a portion extending from the abutting faces in the axial direction for fixing the rings to one another.

In the preferred embodiment, the inter-engaging means connects any two adjacent rings for common rotation about the hub axis, such that an axially extending portion of the spoke is fixed to a first of the rings and the axially extending portion is received in a second of the rings, and wherein at least one of the rings is fixed to the hub. Preferably each spoke extends substantially radially and the ring is offset axially from the spoke by the axially extending portion. Preferably, at least one pair of identical spokes are fastened as described above by means of the axially extending portion of each spoke being received in respective slots in the rings. A second pair of identical spokes may be fixed, one on either side to the first pair, with the axially extending portion on each spoke of the second pair being received in a slot in the adjacent ring.

Preferably the hub is elongated in the axial direction. Means may be provided for reducing the length of the hub, particularly when the wheel is assembled to reduce protrusion in the axial direction. The means may include, for example, a detachable, pivotable or extendable end of the hub.

The rim fastening means joining the rim portions preferably includes a spring connector which is received in a circumferential opening in the rim portion. The rim portion and spoke may be connected by a fastener received in a radially-extending slot and the spring connector biases the rim portion radially outward.

This invention provides a wheel able to collapse to compact dimensions wherein the component parts advantageously remain retained together, reducing the possibility that important components become lost. The collapsible wheel is effective and efficient in operational use and has a commonality of parts, which allows it to be more economically manufactured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1a illustrates the collapsible wheel of the present invention in an assembled position; Figure 1b illustrates the wheel of Fig. 1 b in a collapsed position; Figure 1c is an exploded view of the wheel of Fig. 1a; Figure 2 is a side view of the wheel of Fig. 1 b (with the arc-rim segments removed for clarity); Figures 3a and 3b are front and side views of a first spoke of the wheel of Fig. 1 a; Figures 4a and 4b are front and side views of a second spoke of the wheel of Fig. 1a; Figures 5a and 5b are front and side views of a third spoke of the wheel of Fig. 1a; Figures 6a and 6b are front and side views of a fourth spoke of the wheel of Fig. 1a, and Figures 7a and 7b are top and side views of the arc-rim segments of the wheel of 6 Fig. 1a; Figure 8 is a detail side view illustrating the connection of the arc-rim segments of Figs. 7a and 7b; Figure 9 is a transverse section through an alternative rim for the wheel of Fig. 1b, and Figure 10 is a side view of an alternative hub for the wheel of Fig. 1 b.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, in which like numbers are used to refer to like components, 10 the collapsible wheel of the present invention is shown in Figs 1a and 1b in its fully assembled and fully collapsed positions respectively. As shown in Fig. 1c, the wheel includes six wheel portions 40 connected to a hub 1. Each wheel portion 40 has a rim portion in the form of an arc-rim segment 3, each of which are connected by a respective spoke 4i, 4ii, 4iii, 4iv, 4v, 4vi to the hub 1. The arc-rim segments 3 are 15 detachably fixed to one another (as described further with reference to Figs 7a, 7b and 8) for forming the rim of the wheel (Fig. 1a). The spokes 4i, 4ii, 4iii, 4v and 4vi are releasable from the hub 1, being connected thereto by means of the rings 5, whereas the spoke 4iv is rigidly fixed to the hub 1. In this manner, the releasable spokes 4i, 4ii, 4iii, 4v and 4vi are retained by the hub 1 when the arc-rim segments 3 20 are disconnected from one another to collapse the wheel (Fig. 1 b). The terms "axial" and "radial" are used with reference to the hub axis 2 about which the hub 1 rotates.

Referring to Fig. 1c, each spoke 4i, 4ii, 4iii, 4iv, 4v, 4vi has an inner end formed as a ring 5 for connecting the spokes to the hub 1. The spokes 4i, 4ii, 4iii, 4iv, 4v, 4vi 25 further include an elongated radial portion 6 connected to the ring 5 by axially extending portion 7 and an outer end 8. Each outer end 8 is connected by a fastener 9 for pivoting movement about an axis parallel to the hub axis 2. In the releasable spokes 4i, 4ii, 4iii, 4v and 4vi the cylindrical hub 1 is received in each ring 5 with a 7 running fit allowing them (when the wheel is collapsed) to be rotated and moved axially along the hub 1.

The spokes 4i, 4ii, 4iii, 4iv, 4v, 4vi are fixed for common rotation about the hub axis 2 5 by inter-engaging means on the spokes themselves. When the radial faces 12, 13 of all the rings 5 abut, the radially extending portions 6 are aligned axially to lie in the same radial plane. Referring to Figs 1c and 2, an innermost pair (with respect to the hub axis) of identical spokes 4i/4vi are fixed by means of the axially extending portion 7 of each being received in respective slots 10 in the rings 5. A second pair of 10 identical spokes 4ii/ 4v are fixed, one on either side to the first pair 4i/4vi, with the axially extending portion 7 on each spoke 4ii/ 4v being received in a slot 10 in the adjacent ring 5. Similarly, two outermost spokes 4iii and 4iv are fixed one on either side to the second pair 4ii/4v. The axially extending portion 7 of spokes 4iii and 4iv is received in a slot 11 in spokes 4ii and 4v as well as in a slot 10 in spokes 4i and 4vi. 15 The spoke 4iv is fixed to the hub 1, thereby fixing the rings 5 to the hub 1 for common rotation about the hub axis 2.

In the Figs 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b each of the spokes is shown having rings 5 with parallel opposing faces 12, 13 that extend radially. The axially extending 20 portion 7 extends axially from face 12. Axially extending aperture 14 is provided in the outer end 8 for receiving the fastener 9.

Figs 3a and 3b show spokes 4i and 4vi, each with the five slots 10 and the axially extending portion 7 at equal angular spacings (at 609 for the preferred six spoke 25 wheel).

Figs 4a and 4b show spokes 4ii and 4v with the slot 11 angularly spaced (at a 60Q) from the axially extending portion 7. The axially extending portion 7 of spoke 4ii is 8 longer than that of spoke 4i, such that the radial portions 6 are aligned axially when assembled.

Figs 5a and 5b show the spoke 4iii, the axially extending portion 7 of which is longer 5 than that of spoke 4ii to align the radial portions 6 axially.

Figs 6a and 6b show the spoke 4iv connected to the hub 1 and having an axially extending portion 7 of the same length as that of spoke 4iii.

Fig. 7a and 7b show the arc-rim segments 3, each having a first end 15 with a radially slotted aperture 16 receiving the fastener 9 for limited radial movement of the first end 15. At the second end 17 a circumferential slot 18 is provided for receiving a spring connector 19 (see Figs. 1b and 8) for connecting adjacent first and second ends 15, 17.

As shown in Fig. 8, the spring connector 19 detachably fixes the arc-rim segments 3 biasing the first and second ends 15, 17 together and radially inward. The spring connector 19 is formed as an open loop, with a closed end 23 connected to two opposing arcuate arms 20 terminating at ends 24. The closed end 23 is received in 20 the slot 18 and biased against face 25. The arcuate arms 20 are received in a circumferential opening 21 (see Fig 7a) to bear against the surface 22 and the fastener 9. The fastener 9 is received in the radially-extending slot 16, such that the spring connector 19 biases the arc-rim segments radially outward. In this manner the spring connector 19 also provides a degree of resilience or "suspension" action to the 25 wheel as the fastener is displaced along the slot 16. The ride of the wheel may be further enhanced by forming a solid elastomeric tyre 26 on the outer surface of each arc-rim segment 3. 9 To hold the wheel in its assembled position, all the rings 5 may be held together axially as illustrated in Fig. 10. This alternative elongate hub 1' may be assembled from a two parts 30, 31 fixed together by an internal spring 32. The detachable protruding end part 30 of the hub 1' may be withdrawn and rotated through 5 approximately 90Q while being retained by the spring 32, thus reducing the protrusion of the hub from the assembled wheel.

In use, the assembled wheel of Fig. 1a is disassembled to its collapsed position (Fig. 1b), by disconnecting the arc-rim segments 3. This is performed by removing the 10 arms 20 of the spring connector 19 from the opening 21. All the rings 5 are then separated axially to release the inter-engaging axially extending portions 7 fixing them for common rotation about the hub axis. The spokes 5 are thereby free to rotate separately and are rotated about the hub axis 2 generally into alignment, while the rings 5 remain retained by the hub 1. Lastly, the arc-rim segments 3 are pivoted 15 through angle A (Fig. 1 c) to reduce the angle between the arc-rim segments 3 and the spokes 5 and so as to produce the collapsed wheel of Fig. 1b.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without 20 departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (25)

WHAT l/WE CLAIM IS:

1. A collapsible wheel including: a hub adapted for rotation about a hub axis; a plurality of wheel portions each having a rim portion and a spoke, an inner end of at least one spoke being releasable from the hub; rim fastening means for detachably fixing the rim portions together to form the rim of the wheel, and characterised in that hub-connecting means are provided on the inner end of each releasable spoke for retaining each releasable spoke on the hub when the rim portions are disconnected from one another allowing the wheel portions to be rotated to collapse the wheel.

2. The wheel of claim 1 wherein the spoke and rim portion of each wheel portion are separate components connected together.

3. The wheel of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the rim fastening means engages with the rim portions.

4. The wheel of any one of the preceding claims wherein each rim portion is an arc-rim segment, the arc-rim segments being detachably connected to one another by the rim fastening means for forming the rim of the wheel, and each releasable spoke has an outer end connected to one of the arc-rim segments, the hub-connecting means receiving the hub so as to allow for rotation of each releasable spoke about the hub axis to collapse the wheel, and wherein inter-engaging means connect the spokes to one another for common rotation about the hub axis when the wheel is assembled. 11

5. The wheel of claim 4 wherein the inter-engaging means are provided on each spoke, being fixed thereto or formed integrally therewith.

6. The wheel of claim 4 or claim 5 wherein each arc-rim segment is pivotally connected to an outer end of each spoke.

7. The wheel of any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the hub-connecting means allows axial movement of the spoke parallel to the hub axis.

8. The wheel of any one of the preceding claims wherein the hub-connecting means includes a hub-receiving aperture having a shape complementary to that of an outer surface of the hub for allowing both the rotation of the spoke about the hub axis and the axial movement of the spoke parallel to the hub axis.

9. The wheel of claim 8 wherein the hub-receiving aperture is circular for engaging a cylindrical outer surface on the hub.

10. The wheel of claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the hub-connecting means of the spokes comprise a ring.

11. The wheel of claim 10 wherein each ring has complementary abutting faces and these faces extend radially.

12. The wheel of claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the inter-engaging means comprise complementary features provided on the ring. 12

13. The wheel of claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the inter-engaging means includes a portion extending from the abutting faces in the axial direction for fixing the rings to one another.

14. The wheel of any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein the inter-engaging means connects any two adjacent rings for common rotation about the hub axis, such that an axially extending portion of the spoke is fixed to a first of the rings and the axially extending portion is received in a second of the rings, and wherein at least one of the rings is fixed to the hub.

15. The wheel of any one of claims 10 to 14 wherein each spoke extends substantially radially and the ring is offset axially from the spoke by the axially extending portion.

16. The wheel of any one of claims 10 to 15 wherein at least one pair of identical spokes are fastened by means of the axially extending portion of each spoke being received in respective slots in the rings.

17. The wheel of claim 16 wherein a second pair of identical spokes are fixed, one on either side to the first pair, with the axially extending portion on each spoke of the second pair being received in a slot in the adjacent ring.

18. The wheel of any one of the preceding claims wherein the hub is elongated in the axial direction.

19. The wheel of claim 18 wherein means are provided for reducing the length of the hub to reduce protrusion in the axial direction.

20. The wheel of claim 19 wherein the means provided for reducing the length of the hub include a detachable, pivotable or extendable end of the hub.

21. The wheel of claim 3 wherein the rim fastening means joining the rim portions includes a spring connector which is received in a circumferential opening in the rim portion.

22. The wheel of claim 21 wherein the rim portion and spoke are connected by a fastener received in a radially-extending slot and the spring connector biases the rim portion radially outward.

23. A wheel substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

24. A method of collapsing the wheel of any one of claims 4 to 23, including: releasing the rim fastening means to disconnect the arc-rim segments, releasing the inter-engaging means and rotating the spokes about the hub axis generally into alignment, while the hub-connecting means retain the spokes on the hub.

25. The method of claim 24 further including the step of collapsing the wheel portions by pivoting the arc-rim segment towards the attached spoke. VINCENT LIN by his authorised agents JAMES & WELLS ft* 14