Feet Attached To Rim Patents (Class 305/4)
  • Patent number: 11623481
    Abstract: A tread link assembly is provided for improving the performance of a wheel on loose surfaces. The tread assembly includes a plurality of linked plates forming a circuit around the outer circumference of the wheel. The linked plates include first and second linking structures and releasable fasteners for linking adjacent plates together. The together the plates create a tread surface that is wider than the axial width of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Jacqueline Coffin
  • Patent number: 10994571
    Abstract: A wheel, typically for use in conjunction with an agricultural irrigation system such as a pivot or wheel line. The wheel has a disc shaped body having a hub to attach to an external frame. The wheel has a plurality of feet attached to the circumference of the body. The feet are generally channel shaped having two ends at either end of the channel. The feet are positioned at the circumference of the body either on the circumference or in indentations or grooves on the circumference such that the ends of the feet overhang the body. Preferably the feet have a space, opening or void between the feet to allow for the passage of snow, mud or other material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventor: Benjamin Jensen Beck
  • Patent number: 8657215
    Abstract: A wheel apparatus includes a hub that is configured to be received by an axle of an irrigation system. The wheel apparatus also includes a rim assembly that includes a plurality of substantially flat feet that form a faceted circular arrangement. A support structure is disposed between the hub and the rim assembly to at least partially support the rim assembly. At least one of the substantially flat feet is coupled to at least one of the plurality of spoke structures. The wheel apparatus also includes at least one cleat disposed on an outside surface of at least one of the plurality of substantially flat feet to provide traction to the rim assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Benjamin D. Blum
  • Patent number: 7775610
    Abstract: A flotation drive wheel is provided for a self-propelled irrigation system such as a center pivot irrigation system, a linear irrigation system or a corner irrigation system. The flotation drive wheel of this invention comprises a hub portion which is directly attached to an associated gearbox of the conventional drive tower. A metal band or plate is welded to the outer periphery of the hub portion of the wheel with a plurality of pivotal flotation shoes being attached to the band or plate. The pivotal shoes include structure for preventing soil from being pushed laterally of the flotation wheel and from being pushed forwardly from the drive wheel. The flotation wheel of this invention substantially eliminates the creation of wheel ruts or tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Lynn W. Mettenbrink
  • Patent number: 6793026
    Abstract: A wall-climbing robot or mobility platform able to ascend and descend various horizontal and vertical surfaces having a chassis, a rotor rotatable with respect to the chassis, one or more prominences on the rotor, and means for adhering to a surface attached to the prominences. The robot is able to make a transition from horizontal travel to vertical travel. In certain embodiments, the means for adhering to a wall is a pressure sensitive adhesive. In addition, multiple rotor configurations and radio-control are used for remote operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: i Robot Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas L. De Fazio
  • Patent number: 6443466
    Abstract: An all-terrain bicycle is comprised of a bicycle frame having a front and a rear fork to which is removably secured a front and a rear wheel. Each wheel has a circular rim which is interconnected to the hub by spokes. The rear wheel has sprockets secured to the central hub and which is interconnected to a driving sprocket by a chain or other such belt-like drive connector. Each of the rims is provided with a surface engaging support shoes assembly to provide support of the bicycle on a surface. Such bicycles are particularly useful for riding on soft and also irregular surfaces which are deformable such as sand, snow or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Carl-All, Inc.
    Inventor: Antoine Trubiano
  • Patent number: 6099091
    Abstract: A drive wheel, having a cylindrical surface positioned at a radius from the center of the drive wheel, and a plurality of suction cup members disposed in a spaced apart relationship on the cylindrical surface, useful in a pressurized pool cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Letro Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Sanford F. Campbell
  • Patent number: 5839795
    Abstract: A variable outer diameter wheel includes a generally cylindrical pipe or drum having four equally spaced penetrating holes or receiving parts in the cylindrical wall, a diaphragm sealing member corresponding to each of the penetrating holes and fitted to the pipe support, and sliders forming a wheel peripheral face so that the sliders can smoothly slide in the penetrating holes. The sliders are pushed or activated and moved outward from the pipe in a direction so the wheel outer diameter is enlarged by compressed air supplied through a passage and a hole provided in an axle which support the wheel. Exhausting the compressed air causes the wheel outer diameter to decrease and restores the wheel to its original size. Variable outer diameter wheels permit safe operation of vehicles on frozen, snow-clad or irregular surfaced roads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Matsuda, Kaoru Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5366038
    Abstract: A robot traveling on wall face is capable of advancing or retreating on the wall face in a stable manner with a quick change-over of its traveling direction with the help of a plurality of movable adsorption discs designed for a close contact with the wall face, and a pair of fixed adsorption rods, while commencing to be moved by drive motors. The adsorption force by these movable adsorption discs is constantly so large that no worry of dropping the robot from the wall surface is needed. The frictional resistance of each frictional surface promotes contact between the robot and the wall face. Thereby, the robot works on the wall in a safe manner, instead of human workers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Nishiguchi Hidetsugu
    Inventors: Nishiguchi Hidetsugu, Nishiguchi Kenji
  • Patent number: 4759638
    Abstract: A wheel comprises a hub 11 and a plurality of ground-engaging pads 16 disposed around and coupled to the periphery of the hub by radial studs 17. Each pad is capable of at least a limited degree of angular displacement about the axis of its stud 17 whereby the hub may turn through such angle relative to any pad currently in ground contact. A resilient stop 30 is associated with each pad to return each pad to its undisplaced position when the pad has moved out of contact with the ground. In an alternative embodiment a resilient member between the hub and the pad serves to both limit angular displacement and return the pad to its undisplaced position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Inventor: Hugh R. McLaughlin