Collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels
Embodiments of collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
1. A wheel comprising:
a hub portion defining a rotational axis;
a plurality of spokes extending from the hub portion;
a plurality of rim portions;
wherein:
each spoke of the plurality of spokes comprise an inner spoke portion and an outer spoke portion; wherein
each inner spoke portion is configured to receive one outer spoke portion;
each spoke of the plurality of spokes engages at least one rim portion of the plurality of rim portions;
the plurality of rim portions define a circle in an expanded configuration;
the plurality of rim portions define a rotational plane;
the rim portions comprise a thickness measured orthogonal to the rotational plane; and
each rim portion of the plurality of rim portions comprises a center section, a first end section, and a second end section; wherein
a thickness of the two end sections of each rim portion of the plurality of rim portions is less than a thickness of the center section; and
the first end section of each rim portion overlaps with the second end section of an adjacent rim portion in a collapsed configuration; wherein
the wheel can be configured in the expanded configuration or the collapsed configuration.
2. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein a portion of two adjacent rim portions of the plurality of rim portions overlap each other in both the expanded and the collapsed configurations.
3. The wheel of claim 2 , wherein there is greater overlap between adjacent rim portions in the collapsed configuration than in the expanded configuration.
4. The wheel of claim 1 , further comprising an axle, and a plurality of wheel sections; wherein each wheel section of the plurality of wheel sections comprises a rim portion and a spoke; and wherein the axle is configured to removably receive the hub portion of each wheel section by being insertable in a central bore of each wheel section being coaxial with the rotational axis of the wheel section, wherein the wheel is rotatable relative to the axle.
5. The wheel of claim 4 , wherein, in the collapsed configuration, each rim portion of the plurality of rim portions defines a segment of the circle defined in the expanded configuration.
6. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein each end section defines a recess, and wherein each recess on a single rim portion is defined on a same side of the rim portion.
7. The wheel of claim 6 , wherein the recesses of adjacent rim portions are defined on opposite sides of the rim portions.
8. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein the hub portion and the inner spoke portions are integrally formed; and wherein at least one outer spoke portion and at least one rim portion are integrally formed.
9. The wheel of claim 1 , further comprising a tire configured to be mountable on the rim portions in the collapsed position or the expanded position.
10. The wheel of claim 9 , wherein each rim portion comprises a tire portion.
11. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein the hub portion, the plurality of spokes, and the rim portions are not rotatable relative to each other.
12. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein each spoke is attached to one rim portion in the center section of the rim portion.