Abstract: A wheel for light vehicles and a disc member used therein. The wheel comprising a hub, a rim and a pair of disc members detachably coupled with the hub and the rim, wherein the wheel has the advantage of a spoke wheel that it is lightweight and has sufficient strength as well as the advantage of a disc wheel that it has less air resistance when it rotates, and further the wheel can be easily repaired when it is damaged.

Abstract: A deformable wheel useful for example as a vehicle wheel or as a gear comprises a tread which is incompressible around its periphery but flexible under radial forces and a tension transmission system connecting different points of the tread to substantially diametrically opposed points and designed in such a way that, under a normal load, the strength of the radial forces which act on part of the connecting system is sufficient to prevent the wheel from collapsing completely. The tread may be constructed of hinged plates or may be similar to a tire tread or may be provided with teeth, depending on the application of the wheel, and the wheel may also include a central rigid part or hub to which the connecting system is attached. The wheel may be used for vehicles, gearings, pulleys and so on.

Abstract: A noninflatable wheel is manufactured by fabricating a subassembly including a radially deformable tread of constant peripheral length and formed of a pair of inner and outer superimposed bands joined by cementing or vulcanization, the inner band advantageously consisting of side-by-side plates mutually hinged by imbedment in rubber, and cable loops having outer bands anchored to the inner bands and extending radially inwardly to inner ends. The subassembly is assembled to a concentric hub having peripherally rigidly formed peripherally spaced hooks which are nonresiliently directly connected to the cable looped inner ends. The hub may include a pair of relatively rotatable discs having the hooks peripherally located thereon and being mutually alternating, the relative angular adjustment of the discs controlling the cable tension.

Abstract: A multiplex spoke having metal parts at both ends of its fiber reinforced rod and an external thread portion at the end of one part is fitted to a rim for coupling the metal part to a nipple.

Abstract: A portable collapsible wheel is provided with fabric-type material spoke elements extending between the hub and the rim for performing the spoke function. The fabric-type material bears the weight of the load supported by the wheel in suspension from the rim. The spoke elements are secured to the hub and the rim and means are provided for tensioning the spoke material. The fabric-type material spoke elements diverge from each other toward the hub for triangulation and stability. The spoke elements may be in the form of disks or shallow conical elements secured to the rim as by hooks, and may be collapsed and folded into a small space. For tensioning, telescoping hub elements are described by way of example. A variety of rim constructions are also provided including a collapsible rim or segmented rim of a plurality of articulated polygonal abutting rim segments flexibly joined in sequence. Segmented rim may be folded and compressed into a circular arch with peripheral tread which forms the wheel tread.

Abstract: A wire spoke vehicle wheel and method of assembly wherein the wheel rim comprises separate rim segments permanently joined to each other preferably in a friction welding operation. The outboard rim segment includes at least a first portion which cooperates with the inboard rim segment to function as an outboard rim bead retaining flange, and a second portion which extends radially inwardly therefrom. A hub, which includes openings for mounting to a vehicle axle spindle, is centrally mounted within the rim by a circumferential array of wire spokes extending between the hub and the inwardly extending portion of the second rim segment.