Abstract: A two-piece wheel may have a first section and a second section. The wheel has areas of varying diameter across its width, and the first section and second section are joined at the area of the wheel with the smallest diameter. The first section can be a spoke section with spokes extending from a central hub and the second section can be a barrel section.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a wheel comprising a rim (2) and a wheel center (3) interconnected to the rim (2). The rim (2) comprises at least one first contact area (12) and the wheel center (3) comprises at least one second contact area (13) which in a mounted state are aligned with respect to each other. According to the invention an intermediate layer (22) is arranged between the at least one first contact area (12) and the at least one second contact area (13) preventing at least partially direct contact between the at least one first contact area (12) and the at least one second contact area (13).

Abstract: A wheel assembly includes a rim, a rib surrounding and radially spaced apart from the rim, and a resilient member that engages the rib. The resilient member is tied to the rim, such that the rim is resiliently held in relation to the round rib at least in part by tension in the resilient member.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly and a method of making the wheel assembly. In one embodiment, a wheel assembly may include a rim, a hoop member, and a resilient member. The hoop member may be disposed around the rim and spaced apart from the rim. The resilient member may be disposed around the hoop member, and portions of the resilient member may protrude through openings in the hoop member toward the rim. A tying member may tie each protruding portion to the rim, and the tying members may remain in tension while the wheel assembly is unloaded. In other embodiments, the wheel assembly may also include a second hoop member, or a traction layer, or both.

Abstract: An elastic wheel comprises a rim for mounting a tire, a disk to be fixed to an axle, and a connecting apparatus for connecting elastically between the rim and disk, the apparatus comprising a pair of axially spaced internal flanges each provided on an inner circumference side of the rim and extending circumferentially, an external flange provided on a radially outer portion of the disk, the external flange disposed in a space between the internal flanges with an axial gap on its both sides and extending circumferentially, a pair of rubber dampers each disposed in the axial gap and connecting between the internal and external flanges, wherein each internal flange is provided on its axially inner side with a first groove, the external flange is provided on its both sides with a second groove so as to face each first groove, axial ends of each damper are inserted into the first and second grooves, and a radial gap is provided between the external flange and the inner circumference side of the rim in the space.

Abstract: A shock absorbing wheel assembly. In a first embodiment, the wheel assembly comprises a rigid hub adapted to be mounted on an axle, a first relatively elastic material concentrically mounted over and affixed to the hub and an annular wheel having a first outer diameter comprised of a second relatively inelastic material overlying and affixed to the outer perimeter of the first relatively elastic material. The first relatively elastic material is preferably a toroid comprised of a closed cell foam. In a second embodiment, the wheel assembly is a compound wheel comprising, in combination, the first embodiment of the wheel assembly wherein the first embodiment is elastically compressible, coaxially mounted adjacent to a relatively noncompressible second wheel having a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter.

Abstract: A solid rubber tire with a flexible drive hub having a multiplicity of hub ribs and grooves formed around the periphery of the flexible drive hub and a solid rubber tire tread replaceably mounted on the flexible drive hub having a multiplicity of interior tread grooves and ribs formed around an interior surface of the tire tread, the tread grooves and ribs sized and shaped for interlocking engagement with the multiplicity of ribs and grooves formed around the periphery of the flexible drive hub.

Abstract: The present invention provides exemplary wheel assemblies for use with a wide range of wheeled vehicles and apparatus. In one embodiment, a wheel assembly (800) includes a rim (810) having edges (816, 818). The wheel assembly includes a plurality of protrusions 822 disposed in a trough portion (820) between the rim edges. A resilient member (830) is disposed over the spaced protrusions, and an actuator (850) is disposed over the resilient layer. The actuator is adapted to at least partially compress the resilient layer between the spaced protrusions when the wheel assembly is loaded with a weight. In this manner, the wheel assembly is capable of providing energy return to the wheel assembly during rotation thereof.

Abstract: An elastic wheel includes a disk (1) having a base rim (2), a rim (3) for supporting a tire (10), and an annular elastic rubber body (4) arranged between the outer peripheral surface of the base rim (2) and the inner peripheral surface of the rim (3). A gap is formed between the elastic rubber body (4) and the outer peripheral surface of the base rim (2) or the inner peripheral surface of the rim (3). The elastic rubber body (4) with the gap has a spring constant that shifts from a smaller value to a larger value as the input load increases, so that it absorbs vibration under small input conditions while being prevented from undergoing substantial deformation under large input conditions. The elastic wheel ensures riding comfortablesess performance and provides improved vibrationproof performance and soundproof performance, regardless of whether the input load is small or large, without sacrificing durability and safety.

Abstract: An elastic wheel having a disk 1 equipped with a base rim 2 and a rim 3 for supporting a tire includes a pair of guides 4 fixed annularly on the inner peripheral surface of the rim 3 and a pair of wall portions 5 fixed annularly on the both side areas in the axial direction of the wheel on the outer peripheral surface of the base rim 2, where rubber elastic bodies 6 are fitted annularly between the side surfaces of the guides 4 and the side surfaces of the wall portions, respectively. The elastic bodies 6 being installed are able to absorb vibrations by their shearing deformations, so that especially the riding comfortableness performance, the vibrationproof performance, and the soundproof performance can be improved against the small input load. Regarding the soundproof performance, furthermore, it is extremely effective on a high frequency area of 100 Hz or higher.

Abstract: The present invention provides exemplary vehicle wheel assemblies for use with a wide range of wheeled vehicles and apparatus. In one embodiment, a wheel assembly (100) includes first and second rim portions (210, 212) having edges (220, 222). The wheel assembly includes a cartridge disposed in a trough portion between the rim edges. The cartridge includes a chamber portion (300) having a plurality of spaced protrusions (310), a resilient member (400) disposed over the plurality of spaced protrusions, an actuator (500) disposed over the resilient layer, and a traction layer (600) disposed over the actuator. The actuator is adapted to compress the resilient layer at least partially into the chamber portion when the wheel assembly is loaded with a weight. In this manner, the wheel assembly is capable of providing energy return to the wheel assembly during rotation thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is a non-pneumatic tire comprising a rim and one or more elastomeric materials bonded to the rim or to one another. The tire has an equatorial plane, an annular tread, and an annular elastomeric body having first and second spaced lateral sides equidistant from the equatorial plane and extending between the tread and the rim. The tire body has a plurality of equally spaced arches forming at least a first series of openings extending from the first side to the second side. The first openings having a height at least one-half the height of the tire side.

Abstract: A tire assembly for a wheeled vehicle has a ring-shaped integrally formed outer tire member made of relatively hard and relatively rigid material, and a ring-shaped integrally formed inner tire member. The inner tire member is made of a resilient material that is essentially incompressible but rather easily deformable, and has protuberances and recesses formed in its circumferential surface to allow for both radial compression and lateral expansion of its material, thereby ensuring resilient support of the outer tire member.

Abstract: A skate wheel includes an outer polymeric layer, an inner polymeric layer, and an intermediate layer. The inner polymeric layer has a hardness which is less than the hardness of the outer polymeric layer. The inner and outer polymeric layers are preferably comprised of polyurethane. The intermediate layer is made of a hard plastic or metal that extends through the cross-section of the roller wheel, separating the outer and inner layers. The intermediate layer prevents compression of the harder outer polymeric layer onto the softer inner polymeric layer. This provides a smoother ride while maintaining good precision and speed. The skate wheel may also include a decorative illumination device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a running wheel arrangement having a hub and a running wheel, which is rotatably supported on the hub. Furthermore, the hub includes an internal hub and an external hub which are provided substantially in a manner fixed for co-rotation and which are displaceable against each other in the radial direction. The running wheel further includes a spring which is provided between the internal hub and the external hub.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hub mounted shock absorber suitable for use in the wheels of in-line skates or other small wheel transportation devices such as scooters, street skis, etc. and to in-line skates utilizing wheels with such hub mounted shock absorbers. The hub mounted shock absorbers include an outer tube with an elastomer, preferably a low durometer elastomer between the outer tube and the axle of the wheel. The elastomer is prefereably sandwiched between the inner and outer tube with the axle passing through the inner tube. Openings may be selectively provided in the outer tube to further reduce the stiffness of the elastomer and flexure or other appropriate mechanism may be included which result in minimum stiffness for the shock absorber in the vertical direction only.

Abstract: A tire assembly for a wheeled vehicle has a ring-shaped integrally formed outer tire member made of relatively hard and relatively rigid material, and a ring-shaped integrally formed inner tire member. The inner tire member is made of a resilient material that is essentially incompressible but rather easily deformable, so that the inner tire member may be deformed to position it inside the outer tire member with the outer surface of the inner tire member in interfitting relation to the inner surface of the outer tire member, and has protuberances and recesses formed in at least one of its circumferential surfaces to allow for both radial compression and lateral expansion of its material, thereby ensuring resilient support of the outer tire member.

Abstract: An improved magnetic wheel for a vehicle that moves over ferromagnetic surfaces. The vehicle includes an articulating, remotely controlled chassis that is constructed around a variable frequency motor. Drive axles extend from spring biased torsion hubs and are supported at resilient bushings at each wheel. Each wheel includes a number of adjoining annular permanent magnet pole sets. Permanent magnet disks are arrayed around the circumference of each pole set. At least one pole set is secured to a wheel hub and the others are supported from resiliently mounted registration pins. The resiliently mounted pole sets are able to flex with encountered irregularities at the work surface as the axle tracks and independently flexes with the surface changes.

Abstract: A cushion wheel assembly having a central hub coaxially surrounded by a resilient circular ring which is coaxially surrounded by a pneumatic tire on a mounting rim. The components are arranged so that axial compression of the resilient ring locks the components of the assembly into a cohesive unit, which is easily assembled and disassembled for convenient mounting to a vehicle and/or repair of high wear components.

Abstract: Hub apparatus for isolating the frame of a lightweight vehicle from shock imparted to a wheel on which the vehicle is mounted, the hub apparatus comprising an inner annular axle hub to which the frame is directly connected; an outer annular wheel hub surrounding the inner hub and connected directly to the wheel; an intermediate annular resiliently compressible spring engaged against opposing surfaces of the inner and outer hubs and separating the opposing surfaces of the hubs from each other; the intermediate spring being compressible such that shock imparted to the wheel is absorbed by compression of the spring between the opposing surfaces of the hubs.

Abstract: The tire for heavy load consists of a multi-layered flat ring held in the axial and radial direction by a two-part metal felloe and supported between the felloe by air.

Abstract: A sprocket wheel assembly of a crawler vehicle which comprises a first inner tube mounted on a drive shaft, a second inner tube rotatably mounted on a final reduction gear casing and fixedly connected with the first inner tube, and an outer tube disposed so as to extend over the outer circumferences of the first and second inner tubes. A first elastic annular block unit is interposed between the first annular tube and one end section of the outer tube and a second elastic annular block unit is interposed between the second inner tube and the other end section of the outer tube. A sprocket wheel for driving a linked-together endless track is fixedly mounted to the outer tube.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel equipped with an annular solid rubber tire having its marginal portions provided with beads resting in and held by lateral wheel flanges. The rubber tire extends around an annular channel into which the tire can partially deflect. The wheel flanges are spreadable away from each other by spring tension.

Abstract: Wheels of a crawler-type vehicle have rims that are laterally movable relative to the axis in response to a force subjected on the rim. The rim is biased by resilient material to return to its normal position in response to removal of the force on the rim.